360. Branching Out (1)
360. Branching Out (1)
- 1 -
Mid-November.
In the human world, it was the season when golden fields were being harvested in full swing and hands were busy preparing for the coming winter.
Beneath the dawn sky, looking down upon the pale earth.
In the underground of Clarent Citadel, two Rituals of the Ultimate had just concluded.
Kurrrrng...!!
The storm of mana that had shaken the space finally subsided.
On both sides of the underground plaza, two crystallized masses of mana rose toward the sky.
A vivid violet and a bewitching crimson 'flower bud.'
At a glance, they merely looked beautiful, but upon closer inspection, the buds were so massive that the sense of scale felt strange.
Swaaaa —
A sound like waves brushing against a shore echoed out.
Ssssss —
The flower buds gradually shrank in size.
The fiercely burning beams of light slowly softened into a gentle radiance, and the surface of the closed buds wriggled as if alive.
'They're coming out.'
Inside the flower buds, they began to organize their mana.
Jijik!
Soon, cracks began to form on the two flower buds.
From the violet bud, fine cracks started from the tip before scattering transparent shards of light like glass splitting and flying away.
Meanwhile, at each crack on the crimson bud, it swelled greatly, as if lava were trying to break through a shell and flow out.
And then.
Charareureuk!
At last, the two buds fully bloomed.
"... Huff."
"Haaaaah..."
Along with the subdued breaths that broke the stillness of dawn, the waves of mana that had filled the plaza and surged just moments ago slowly faded.
Two beings stood before me.
Beings clearly different from before, radiating an aura that now felt comparable to my own.
Sarak.
The first to reveal herself was Yuran.
Seven pitch-black, glossy tails waved elegantly.
My black Monstrous Celestial Fox.
The violet and golden flames that had enveloped her swirled like a storm and then vanished.
Slowly, very slowly, she opened her eyes.
In her bewitching yet ice-cold gaze, not even a hint of emotion lingered.
It was merely because she had only recovered a part of her past power.
"Amazing...!"
The other one was Serica.
As if unable to contain her overflowing vitality and mana, she had unconsciously bloomed a dreamlike garden around herself, entwined with blood-red flowers and bushes.
A garden where not only the red flowers, but every other flower was entirely dyed crimson as well.
In the midst of it, a single black lily stood out.
A color full of her will, proving her feelings for me.
I smiled in spite of myself.
"Congratulations. To both of you."
To my words, the two responded in different ways.
Yuran lowered her head gracefully with courtesy and lifted the corners of her lips in a profound smile.
"It is all thanks to your grace, my lord husband."
On the other hand, Serica cheered and immediately ran to me, throwing herself into my arms.
"Incredible, Rita! I'm overflowing with so much power...!"
Bursting with pure, childlike joy, she rubbed her face against my chest and did not hide her emotion over the overflowing power.
"Yes. You were truly magnificent."
I stroked Serica's sparkling golden hair and exchanged satisfied looks with Ran.
In her eyes, I could read the same conviction as my own.
The center of our power had been firmly established.
They were my first and second handmaidens, and had become high-grade Dungeon Lords.
They would now change the paradigm of this world alongside me.
'Now, it is time to set the branches.'
I looked north. The direction where the Kingdom of Haisen lay.
In its capital, Hylash, I intended to firmly seize control starting from the very center.
- 2 -
That same afternoon, at the Black Temple located in Hylash, the capital of the Kingdom of Haisen.
In this magnificent marble building erected after tearing down the old grand duke's residence, hundreds of followers gathered again today.
Nobles and commoners, adventurers and merchants, even those with dark pasts—people from various classes looked up at the platform with reverent expressions.
However, today's preacher was not Esther as usual, but someone more special.
"God is not a mother-like being who helps with anything and everything."
A soft, whispering voice from atop the platform.
The gentle expression of the woman in the simple yet elegant ceremonial robe, with a black base and silver embroidery, captured everyone's gaze.
Her voice did not carry any particular mana.
Yet it possessed a strange allure that captivated the listener.
"If someone approaches you and whispers, 'If you believe in me, all will be resolved,' do not lend your ears to those words."
Philia Elskopf.
The power behind the Grakheizen Alliance, and the one guiding those who sought to follow a new religious entity called the 'Sun Cult' in this Black Temple.
Esther called her the 'Cult Leader.'
"They are those who seek to exploit your weak hearts and delusions to fill their own selfish desires—false prophets merely trying to lead you away from the true path of God."
The inside of the lecture hall was silent, as if water had been poured over it.
The followers were careful to make not a single breath or rustle of clothing.
"The true God is within your hearts."
She paused her speech for a moment and slowly looked around at the followers.
Those who met her gaze unconsciously bowed their heads, or looked at her with even more steadfast eyes.
"Build God in your hearts. Carry out the will of that God. The deeds you perform will become God's warm touch that someone in despair encounters, and the voices you convey will allow a new God to dwell in their hearts."
With each of her words, people nodded their heads or made gestures of being greatly impressed.
"It is only people who help people. Miracles happen when a person reaches another person."
Her hand spread toward the sky, then pointed at the people.
A small stir arose among the followers.
They clasped their hands in prayer or turned their gazes toward where Libertas's hand was pointing.
"Those without strength shall gain new power."
Among the people, Halai and several middle-aged adventurers bowed deeply.
Those who had once enjoyed a brilliant prime, but retired due to the weight of age and injuries.
They had been transplanted with dungeon cores or monster cores provided by Libertas, and regained the glory of the past, or even greater power.
In their eyes shone gratitude for a new life and absolute loyalty to Libertas.
They were beings whom people regarded as the embodiment of miracles.
"Those who harbored wicked hearts shall repent their past errors and reform."
In one corner of the lecture hall, several figures in shabby clothes prayed with their eyes tightly shut and hands clasped together.
They were former criminals who, under Libertas's influence, became monsters and regained their chance at life.
It was only natural for a being turned into a monster to instinctively hold deep affinity and loyalty toward their own Dungeon Lord.
Even they themselves did not know that they had no choice but to follow the Dungeon Lord.
In people's eyes, all they saw was a criminal sincerely atoning for their sins.
"The sick who groaned in agony shall be able to rise again and plant their feet firmly on the ground."
A woman shed silent tears.
She had long suffered from an unknown incurable disease and wandered the threshold of death, but rose from her sickbed by the 'miracle' Libertas bestowed.
She would never know the fact that her diseased organs had been completely replaced with something else.
She would not have cared even if she knew. For that very thing was the salvation of God to her.
A gentle and benevolent smile appeared on Libertas's face.
"If you truly desire and yearn for it, I shall help you achieve that miracle. I shall erect an unshakable pillar of faith within your hearts. Therefore."
She softly placed her hand on her chest and spoke as if whispering.
"Seek God. Not outside, but within yourselves."
Those who prayed, those who silently shed tears, those who closed their eyes and muttered something fervently.
Followers of various statuses responded to her words in their own ways.
A new 'prophet' was being engraved in people's hearts.
"I shall help with that. Whether as your master, or as the master of your faith."
Libertas directed her gaze beyond.
Toward the true goal.
"I shall say once more."
Her hand clenched into a fist, and a dark light leaked from behind her.
"God is within you. Do not forget. I am merely the one who helps you."
The powerful force known as faith was blooming in a new form within her hands.
- 3 -
After the sermon at the Central Temple of the Sun Cult had ended.
I returned to the private room prepared within the temple and caught my breath.
"You—you're really telling me you're completely better?"
"I told you, didn't I? Look. Just walking a little fast used to tire me out, but now I can run without any problem."
Outside the window, followers whose excitement had not yet subsided could be seen gathered in small groups, revisiting the contents of today's sermon or chatting away about the 'miracles' I had performed.
It was a sight of the seeds I had sown sprouting little by little, yet unmistakably.
Tok-tok.
- Lady Philia. Visitors have arrived to see you.
"Let them in."
- Yes.
Before long, several visitors entered my office, guided by a priest.
Only recently they had been submerged in despair, but now they were people who had been reborn by my 'touch.'
"Lady Philia. It is an immeasurable honor to meet you again."
The first to step forward was an old man who was once a renowned author, but had lost his eyesight due to a sudden eye disease and gave up writing.
Having received the transplant of the eyes I provided, he said he now saw a world brighter than before.
He had brought a newly written piece to show me.
"Thanks to you, I have been able to rekindle the lantern of my lost literature. I hope this small fruition will contribute to the coming era that you, Lady Philia, shall open."
Next was a middle-aged man who was a brave knight in the past, but retired after being crippled in battle.
He received transplanted monster arms and legs, gained strength even mightier than before, and was now devoting himself as a holy knight of the Sun Cult's temple.
He saluted me with respect and said.
"By Lady Philia's grace, I have been able to hold a sword again. This body, I shall gladly dedicate it to the Sun Cult. I am passing great hope to the young ones among those who have recently joined the temple and were lost, like my past self."
Lastly, a young trainee priest with a youthful face approached carefully.
He was someone who had long felt disillusioned with the corruption and impotence of the established Church and was about to abandon his faith, but was inspired by my sermon and the 'living miracle' I showed, becoming one of the first trainee priests of the Sun Cult.
"In Lady Philia's teachings, I have finally seen the true face of God. I shall devote myself further so that I may pass on this enlightenment I have received to others."
I listened to their stories, then answered in a low voice.
"Your transformations and devotions are the very proof of the miracle I wish to realize on this earth. Shine that light ever brighter from your respective places, and convey hope to even more people."
Not long after they withdrew, Esther entered.
Behind her, Leticia followed, personally carrying refreshments.
"Master. You have worked hard today."
"There is no need for such undeserved praise. I hardly did anything, after all."
After a brief time spent drinking tea, I stared at Esther and asked.
"Has an answer come?"
Esther nodded.
With a cold face.
"They refused."
Dalkak.
I placed my teacup down and was silent for a moment.
There was nothing to be particularly regretful about. It was what I had expected.
"I see. Then I have no choice but to go myself."
Esther asked worriedly.
"Will you be alright? That place is strictly an enemy nation."
"It will be fine."
I chuckled lightly, carrying an air of ease.
"Because I'm only going there to have a little 'talk'."
The time to extend the first branch was approaching.