Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Holy Order (3)
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The Holy Sovereign led Demian Haksen to the audience chamber.
The audience chamber had a ceiling entirely made of glass, offering a clear view of the blue sky.
Thanks to this, bright sunlight illuminated the entire room.
The Holy Sovereign dragged her uncomfortable body to the holy throne at the center and sat down.
At that sight, Demian couldn't help but freeze.
Memories of visiting this place in his previous life surfaced. It was when he had come to breach the citadel on Archlich Dorgo's orders.
Back then, Demian had led undead soldiers here to capture the Holy Sovereign.
Incredibly, the Holy Sovereign hadn't fled but had sat right there, waiting for Demian.
She was dragged before Dorgo by the undead Demian brought with him.
The undead showed no mercy to the old man. They grabbed him by the hair and dragged him like a dog.
Even as his skin scraped against the floor and his bones broke on the stone protrusions, the Holy Sovereign did not weaken. The same held true when Dorgo hurled all sorts of insults at him.
-The leader of the church is a hunchback? For someone supposed to be God's closest proxy, that's an ugly appearance.
-It is shameful. To hear such words about my ugliness from you, who is nothing but bones, when I still have flesh and blood.
-...Do you not grasp the situation? Your life hangs by a thread in my hands right now.
-I am not afraid of death. Ah, you wouldn't understand. That's why you're clinging to life even at the cost of becoming that wretched form.
Enraged, Dorgo ordered Demian to kill the Holy Sovereign.
-You are suffering.
The Holy Sovereign whispered softly to Demian as he approached.
-Do not give up. If you do, your sins will only grow greater. Remember this. You are the only hope....
Even as his head was severed, the Holy Sovereign had kept his eyes on Demian.
"Demian Haksen, come closer."
At the Holy Sovereign's words, Demian snapped out of his past memories.
Demian stepped toward her but halted at the edge of the red carpet.
"Demian Haksen, your merits are too numerous to list one by one. You slew Yulan's executive Agito, and after that, you've executed black mages multiple times or reported those who used black magic."
The Holy Sovereign continued.
"That alone leaves our order greatly indebted to you, but the subjugation force matter has placed us in yet another debt too heavy to repay."
She was referring to the events in the dungeon of corpse manipulation.
Thanks to Demian, the order had greatly reduced casualties in the subjugation force.
"Because of you, many Holy Knights and soldiers were saved."
"It was only what needed to be done."
The Holy Sovereign's face lit up with a smile, pleased by Demian's response.
"And on top of that.... I've heard you recently slew another wicked being."
At her words, Demian drew out the Demon Sword's core. The Holy Sovereign's eyes widened slightly upon seeing it.
"So this is the core of the Demon Sword that shook the Kingdom of Appel."
"I wish to offer it to the order."
"As expected of one so devout."
The Holy Sovereign made the sign of the cross as she spoke.
"We planned to repay your service in rescuing the subjugation force with access to the annex, but this Demon Sword core.... I know not how to recompense it. Is there anything specific you desire?"
In response, Demian retrieved the holy sword from his subspace.
"The holy sword was destroyed in the battle with the Demon Sword. If possible, I would like it repaired."
Holy swords were forged by the Holy Order. He assumed repairs would be straightforward.
Yet the Holy Sovereign's reaction was odd. She wore a troubled expression.
"Sir Demian, lower-tier holy swords cannot be repaired once destroyed."
It was something he'd never heard before.
"We can mend the broken parts and make it whole again, but we cannot reinfuse it with holy power."
"Then...."
"That holy sword can no longer be used."
Demian gazed down at the holy sword with a shocked expression. It was a blade he had greatly favored, making the loss all the more regrettable.
After much deliberation, the Holy Sovereign spoke to Demian.
"While repairing your holy sword is impossible, in recognition of offering the Demon Sword's core, I shall grant you a mid-tier holy sword."
A mid-tier holy sword.
At those words, Cheongyeom reacted with greater shock than Demian.
"Your Holiness! There has never been a single instance of granting a mid-tier holy sword to an outsider!"
Lower-tier holy swords offered only the effect of protecting the user with holy power. But mid-tier holy swords were different.
They were imbued with miracles.
Miracles referred to the supernatural abilities manifested by priests or knights using holy power.
The miracle bestowed upon mid-tier holy swords was no ordinary one. It was powerful enough to alter the course of battle.
Thus, even Holy Knights had to accumulate great achievements and meet qualifications to receive one starting from mid-tier.
"Considering Sir Demian's merits, I believe granting this much is only right."
"But...."
"Moreover, Sir Demian joined the subjugation force—a matter unrelated to him—and aided our order. That makes him one of our own already."
Conflict appeared on Cheongyeom's face at the Holy Sovereign's words.
"And who knows. Perhaps one day Sir Demian will truly become one of us."
The Holy Sovereign spoke with a gentle smile, but her eyes blazed with fervor.
It was the exact same gaze as Agnes, who had tried to recruit Demian as a Holy Knight. He felt cold sweat trickling down his back.
"I am still too lacking to follow God's will."
"Then once your lacks are filled, you shall join our main order at once."
"There are far too many shortcomings...."
With no intention of joining the order, Demian desperately made excuses.
"Then there's no helping it."
The Holy Sovereign relented with a regretful expression. Demian let out a sigh of relief.
The Holy Sovereign called over a priest standing by the door.
"Go fetch Molta. Tell him I wish to consult regarding a holy sword."
The priest bowed upon hearing her words and exited.
Moments later, someone entered the audience chamber.
"Your Holiness! You summoned me, so I've come!"
The figure scurried over and knelt before the Holy Sovereign.
"You wish to consult about a holy sword? Does that mean you've finally approved my proposal for the 'Holy Sword for the Final Battle Against Great Black Magic: Light-Holy Pulverizing Army-Annihilating Blade'? As expected, Your Holiness recognizes the value of my proposal!"
Demian glanced sideways with mild surprise.
A squat stature like a child's.
A sturdy build packed with muscle.
A bushy beard covering his entire face.
A dwarf.
One of the subraces renowned for possessing the world's finest craftsmanship and skill.
"Molta, that's not why I called you."
"Pardon? Then why summon this busy dwarf? Of course, being called by Your Holiness is an honor, but I have mountains of more urgent tasks...."
"I intend to grant a mid-tier holy sword to Sir Demian here. I need your expert eye."
Molta turned to look at Demian. He jolted in surprise, as if only now noticing Demian's presence.
"Your Holiness, my eyes must be crooked. He doesn't look like a Holy Knight no matter how I see it."
"You see correctly. Sir Demian is not a Holy Knight."
"Not a Holy Knight, you say.... Then he's an outsider?"
"Indeed."
"You're saying.... you're granting.... a mid.... tier.... holy sword.... to an outsider?"
"Yes...."
Before the Holy Sovereign could finish, the dwarf bellowed.
-I absolutely cannot allow it!
His resounding shout shook the entire building. Dust sifted down from the ceiling.
"Do you know with what feelings I forged those children? I begrudge giving them even to Holy Knights, and to an outsider? An outsider, you say? No! Absolutely not! Even if it means pouring molten metal into my eyes, I refuse!"
"But considering Sir Demian's achievements...."
"Achievements be damned—he's an outsider! Do you know what a mid-tier holy sword is? To hand such a cute, adorable, lovable child over to some random outsider's hands.... Who knows what might happen!"
Molta bellowed at the top of his lungs. The Holy Sovereign gazed at him with a weary expression.
"Molta, Sir Demian has offered us the core he obtained after slaying the Demon Sword this time."
At those words, Molta's body twitched.
"D-Demon Sword core, you say? Where is it? I happen to need more information on Demon Swords to refine my 'Holy Sword for the Final Battle Against Great Black Magic: Light-Holy Pulverizing Army-Annihilating Blade'...."
"In exchange for it, we agreed to grant Sir Demian a mid-tier holy sword."
Molta looked up at the Holy Sovereign in dismay.
"Y-Your Holiness! Th-that...."
"If you continue opposing, I'll exclude you from researching the Demon Sword core."
At her firm words, Molta's face fell as if he'd lost his country.
Molta clutched his head and agonized. He groaned so intensely it was audible.
"Then I have no choice but to exclude you from the core research...."
"Please wait! Instead! If he proves his worth, I'll hand it over!"
Molta replied swiftly, drawing a puzzled look from the Holy Sovereign.
"Prove his.... worth?"
"Yes! If Sir Demian passes the Trial of Iron, I won't oppose any longer!"
The Holy Sovereign frowned at Molta.
"Molta.... You can't throw such a tantrum just because you don't want to give away a holy sword."
"Wh-why not! Even our order's Holy Knights must all pass the Trial of Iron to obtain one!"
"The Trial of Iron is only for Holy Knights receiving spirit-grade holy swords."
At the mention of spirit-grade holy sword, Demian's eyes flashed.
Holy swords forged by the order were graded as lower, mid, high, supreme, or special.
But occasionally, holy swords received a special grade.
That special grade was spirit-grade.
To forge a holy sword required long-term infusion of holy power into metal.
In this process, metals occasionally mutated due to the holy power.
The mutated metal had an entirely different structure and properties compared to before. It was as if reborn as a new metal.
Holy swords made from this mutated metal grew stronger and sharper with each battle. Not only that, the amount of holy power they emitted increased.
Ultimately, they gained a new miracle unprecedented in this world.
In short, a spirit-grade holy sword was a growing holy sword.
It was incomparable to a mid-tier holy sword.
"Very well, let us do that."
Demian said. Both turned to him.
"Sir Demian? What do you mean?"
"Haha! Outsider! Good thinking! To receive a fine weapon, one must prove one's value!"
Molta exclaimed gleefully.
"But know this. If you fail the trial, I won't yield the mid-tier holy sword...."
"In exchange, if I pass the Trial of Iron, grant me a spirit-grade holy sword."
Molta's face filled with consternation. The Holy Sovereign wore a similar expression.
"Sir Demian, even so, a spirit-grade holy sword is...."
"Fine! So be it!"
Unlike the hesitating Holy Sovereign, Molta declared loudly.
"Not that I think you can pass the Trial of Iron!"
Molta grinned confidently, convinced Demian would fail.
The Holy Sovereign glanced between them and sighed deeply.
"....Since both sides agree, I cannot object. If Sir Demian passes the Trial of Iron, we shall grant a spirit-grade holy sword."
"Heard that? Follow me now!"
Molta beckoned Demian.
Demian bowed to the Holy Sovereign and Cheongyeom before following Molta.
* * *
As soon as the two left, the Holy Sovereign's body swayed.
"Svetlana!"
Cheongyeom rushed over and supported her.
"What did you see in that man to leave you so shaken?"
With no one watching, Cheongyeom dropped the formal speech.
"Brother...."
The Holy Sovereign called him familiarly as well. She swallowed dryly and spoke.
"....I saw a mountain of corpses."
Cheongyeom's face hardened at her words.
"Corpses blanketed the entire world. So many that there was no place to step. Blood flowed like rivers."
"....You saw such a vision?"
The Holy Sovereign Svetlana possessed a special ability: peering into people's inner selves.
It was the power she gained upon first awakening her holy power.
Through it, she had rooted out countless heretics until now.
"Shouldn't we lock him up right now?"
At Cheongyeom's words, Svetlana shook her head.
"There.... a black knight was weeping."
"A black knight?"
"Yes. A knight so enormous he scarcely seemed human, clad in thick armor."
Svetlana recalled the scene she had just witnessed.
The knight shed tears of blood. He let out agonized screams filled with torment.
He tore at his own body with his hands, pummeled it with his fists. As if that weren't enough, he gashed himself with a dagger.
It was a brutal, eerie.... and profoundly sorrowful sight.
"I don't see Sir Demian as a dangerous person."
Saying so, the Holy Sovereign gazed long in the direction Demian had vanished.