Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Episode 43.
A space filled only with darkness and silence.
The three inhabitants of this place had spent so many long years together that most of their time was filled with silence.
They had already repeated the stories they had to share thousands, tens of thousands of times.
But now,
laughter and boisterous sounds echoed in the silent space for the first time in a long while.
“Ugh! Finally!”
The Pillar Servant leaped from his seat, shaking his body and dancing merrily.
The chains bound to his body pulled taut, making a sound like flesh being scraped.
But even that sound, which had always etched pain, now felt like a festive instrument.
“Gunter has finally ascended in Rank. Let the music play~.”
Even the Saintess, who always stayed in a corner, jumped up and down like a child, repeating his words.
“Let the music play! Gunter has ascended in Rank… Ow!”
She slumped down mid-sentence, her face contorted in pain.
But her expression remained bright.
Even the solemn Knight King watched her, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
Though he couldn’t react boisterously due to his ingrained dignity, his heart was undoubtedly stirred.
‘…Gunter, your progress gives us the strength to laugh and talk. Thank you.’
While Gunter’s other growths had been dazzling, his Rank was a different story.
For humans, Rank was akin to a god’s ‘Aura’.
They too had once been human, had built up their Rank, and experienced ‘Ascension’, so they knew its weight better than anyone.
Only when Gunter’s Rank increased would higher doors open, and heavier chains break.
‘You can do it.’
The Knight King unconsciously swayed to the Pillar Servant’s singing.
“Oh, look, he’s dancing.”
“……”
He stopped immediately at the pointing finger.
The Pillar Servant grinned mischievously and approached, placing a hand on the Knight King’s shoulder.
“If this continues, will we be able to regain our Aura someday?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll have a day when we escape this damned prison and feel the cool outside breeze again, drinking a beer.”
“We will.”
The Knight King closed his eyes for a moment and added,
“And we’ll meet the faces we miss again.”
Clank-
The Saintess, who had been sitting, also approached, her chains clanking, and clasped their hands tightly.
“Yes, definitely. We must!”
Hundreds of years ago.
They had made a pact, given up all their Aura, and accepted Prohibition to be imprisoned here.
Though it was a path chosen with the resolve for eternal suffering, they couldn’t help but feel their hearts flutter as a clue to escape appeared.
The Knight King had even experienced a slight recovery of his Aura.
As the Karma Gunter had shed reached him, some of the chains binding him had loosened.
…Though he couldn’t enjoy that freedom for long, as he immediately shouldered the chains of his companions.
“Honestly, such a lingering attachment. Anyway….”
The Pillar Servant clicked his tongue and got to the point.
“What do you think of the Divine Rank Gunter just contracted? Is it ‘One Who Flies Before the Wind’? Have you heard of it?”
The Saintess immediately shook her head.
“It’s an epithet I’ve never heard. It was like a young Spirit Beast that had just gained its divinity in our era.”
Having traveled through all sorts of remote mountains and wildernesses to gather herbs, she knew almost every Spirit Beast and Demon.
The fact that she said ‘I don’t know’ meant it was a truly unfamiliar being.
The Pillar Servant smiled bitterly, realizing the passage of time anew.
“Huh, such a little thing is a Properly Positioned God…”
The Knight King calmly added,
“Gunter seemed to want to ask that young god about the Forgotten Era. I doubt if he’ll know anything about it.”
“Well, Gunter will probably filter what he hears. You saw him making a deal earlier, right? He’s no pushover.”
“…He’s certainly more trustworthy than you.”
“Oh, are you saying that because I pointed out your dancing earlier?”
“That’s a big misunderstanding.”
It was then that the Saintess sighed.
“If Gunter contracts with another god… I hope it’s one of our companions. We’re already short on Karma, so it’s a waste to give it to an ambiguous Divine Rank.”
The Knight King answered immediately.
“You mean ‘Claw’. He could certainly give Gunter the power he needs.”
‘Claw’ was the epithet of a companion, presumed to be connected to the Scarred Man.
It was also the only ancient god whose clues had been revealed so far.
The Pillar Servant shrugged, adding with hope,
“Who knows, maybe others are waking up somewhere? They’re diligent folk.”
This was something they wouldn’t have even hoped for in the past.
They knew better than anyone how persistent the Seven Evils and their followers were.
But recently, they had learned of an organization called the Society of Oblivion.
The fact that there were modern humans delving into history, the ‘Forgotten Era’, which they thought had been completely erased by Rutien.
The Knight King murmured lowly,
“…Even if that’s the case, finding them will be Gunter’s task. Our hands will never reach them until this prison is broken.”
The Three Gods hoped Gunter would chase the footsteps of the ancient gods.
Though they had been defeated by the Seven Evils in the distant past, they still had latent power.
If ‘Gunter’, the ‘inheritor’, could revive and inherit that Aura…
He would undoubtedly be the single hope to save this world destined for ruin.
Clap-
The Pillar Servant clapped his hands, shaking off the heavy atmosphere.
“Enough! Let’s just cheer him on. Our Gunter is on his way to make new friends, isn’t he?”
In an instant, the darkness receded, and their vision brightened.
Gunter, the sole passage connecting them to the world.
His first step towards the Night Crow's induction ceremony was being taken.
* * *
The induction ceremony takes place at the Night Crow’s most secret base, the ‘Sanctuary’.
Among the attendees are executives from each unit, as well as the ‘Grand Crow’ whom Rutien is desperately pursuing, so the security is, naturally, unimaginably thorough.
The Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of the lower levels.
Though it appears to be a long-abandoned foundry from the outside, a completely different world is hidden beneath.
Descending by elevator reveals a fortress built with machinery and magic.
The walls are lined with double-layered steel, with numerous magic circles overlaid upon them.
Dark, heavy drones float silently in the corridors, monitoring any movement.
Not only that.
All sorts of Interference Magic, Perception Jammers, and Spatial Distortion Preventers are in operation.
To bypass these and interfere with the ‘Sanctuary’ would be impossible even for ‘Nushi’, the legendary Arcane Runner whose abilities are said to rival those of a god.
And finally.
After passing through all of this and entering the depths, one finally arrives at the induction ceremony venue.
“Preparations?”
“Proceeding smoothly. The majority of the 45th class are either en route or have already arrived.”
“Majority… How many have withdrawn?”
“A total of three.”
Initially, twenty-three candidates had expressed their intention to join.
Nine for combat units, seven for intelligence units, six for support units, and one for the execution squad.
Of those, three had withdrawn.
It was common for people to change their minds just before the induction ceremony.
‘They suddenly disappear or fail to respond to summons.’
…It wasn’t an incomprehensible act.
It required immense courage to throw one’s remaining life into a battle with no apparent chance of victory.
In fact, it was the same even after joining.
Even among the carefully selected members, the moment they accurately understood ‘what’ they were fighting against.
It was rare for them not to waver.
Their main enemies were not mere religious states.
They were overwhelming Evil Gods from outer space and their lackeys.
Before such transcendent beings, human resolve and vengeance often faded.
Running away was the better option.
Some went mad, and some defected.
But… there were those who remained.
“……”
The Grand Crow glanced sideways.
A woman with red hair, wearing a wolf mask, stood silently in her place.
Only those who had resolved to fight to the end, burning with an unparalleled hatred, remained under the wings of the Night Crow.
“…Moon Wolf.”
“Yes, Master.”
“By now, that individual… the new recruit you’ve been watching must be heading to the Sanctuary as well.”
“That is correct.”
“What do you think of him?”
Moon Wolf did not answer immediately.
This was surprising to the Grand Crow.
For her, who always made cool-headed and decisive judgments, to hesitate in evaluating someone.
Tap-tap-
She tapped the parasol in her hand on the floor a few times and replied calmly,
“I don’t know. It’s difficult to predict.”
“…Is that all?”
“However… if he endures, he might bring about some welcome change.”
The Grand Crow smiled faintly at that answer.
“Someone who will lead a welcome change, eh. Golden Fox also submitted a similar report.”
Her one visible eye, not hidden by the eyepatch, turned towards the entrance of the Sanctuary.
It was as if she could see the future of a new recruit candidate walking through that very entrance.
A low murmur followed.
“He received the highest evaluation from that difficult Golden Fox, noticed Eating Snake’s stealth, and achieved excellent results in the induction test with you. Most importantly….”
Moon Wolf continued,
“…he eliminated the Sub-god Class Mother we were tracking, dealt with Rutien’s allied gang, and then rescued all the captured sacrifices.”
“Indeed, the support unit members were astonished. They said the candidate, who they thought was a good-for-nothing, was an extraordinary individual.”
The Grand Crow said with a benevolent smile,
“A candidate, not yet inducted, achieving such merits… No one has received such expectations except you. Isn’t that right?”
“Me…?”
“Well, if anything, it was more than this. Not less. A young girl came bearing the bishop’s head. Even now, the mere memory of that night sends shivers down my spine.”
“……”
“Anyway-”
The Grand Crow stroked his beard with one hand, narrowing his eyes.
Though his lips were still smiling, his gaze deepened.
“Based on all the reports so far… I think it might be acceptable to assign him to ‘that squad’.”
Before Moon Wolf could express any concern.
A sharp voice from behind interjected,
“You must be joking, Master. If such a rookie were to enter there, they’d be carried back in a coffin within three days.”
“…Cheongmae.”
Cheongmae of the execution squad.
Slender build, tall stature.
The eyes beyond the mask held a cold, clear blue light.
Her short, grass-like hair glinted sharply like blades whenever it caught the light.
The massive longbow slung over her back, far exceeding her height, all combined to create an impression truly like a raptor.
…Though her personality was somewhat different.
“Cheongmae.”
“What!”
When Moon Wolf called out, Cheongmae reflexively let out an irritable sound.
Because Moon Wolf always spoke to her in a chiding tone, her body reacted first.
As expected-
“I know you’re upset about rejecting the candidate you recommended, but please set aside personal feelings in a public setting.”
“…That’s not it. Do you think I’m a petty person? And! Can you really handle official duties so carelessly?”
“What do you mean?”
Cheongmae snorted and continued,
“Your candidate! You hyped him up as an unprecedented talent, but when I actually saw him, he was completely pathetic. Did he even take the test properly?”
Even at the words disparaging the candidate she had personally chosen, Moon Wolf remained calm.
“Did you go to see the candidate? When did you go?”
“…Hmm.”
“It seems regulations are meaningless to you.”
Cheongmae’s ears turned bright red.
“Th-that’s… Is it not allowed for a squad leader to go see a new recruit? Eating Snake even went out to escort him, and he’s not even a squad leader!”
Now it was Moon Wolf’s turn to be flustered.
“Eating Snake…? Escorting the candidate?”
“Yes! He said he’d bring him himself and went to the rendezvous point earlier.”
Cheongmae finished speaking in a disgruntled voice.
“Anyway, let’s see what kind of ‘Blessing’ your great candidate receives.”
“I’m looking forward to that as well.”
“…Honestly, you never back down from an argument.”
At the end of the induction ceremony.
The new recruit candidate would face the god who cared for the Night Crow, the ‘One-Eyed King’ who had contracted with the Grand Crow.
This was the so-called time of verification.
His eyes pierced through many things.
The candidate’s past, true nature, and potential.
Those lacking in skill or harboring ulterior motives were immediately exposed and expelled.
Only after passing this second verification would they receive a ‘Blessing’ and a ‘Codename’.
A powerful Blessing, which could be a weapon, a skill, or a trait.
‘This is where it really begins.’
The One-Eyed King was a strict meritocrat.
The quality of the Blessing varied greatly depending on the candidate’s potential and abilities.
‘Let’s see if he gets a better Blessing than my candidate.’
The candidate Cheongmae recommended had recently been assigned to a combat unit, against the opposition of the acting commander, Moon Wolf, who had denied his entry into the execution squad.
Now, seeing someone who seemed far inferior to him entering the execution squad, Cheongmae was understandably resentful.
“Alright, alright, everyone, stop.”
The Grand Crow, watching the two subordinates bicker with a grandfatherly smile, raised his hand.
“You’re in front of your juniors, so seniors must maintain their dignity.”
Thump-
Just then, several silhouettes, their faces covered with hoods, entered through the common entrance.
At the very front of these individuals, walking as if groping their way, unable to see anything.
The escort, Eating Snake, Jedriel, silently mouthed.
‘I’ve brought the kids!’
The new recruit candidates.
They would undergo the induction procedures after a day’s grace period.
“Hmm….”
And as if by agreement, the gazes of the three were drawn to one spot.
Towards the candidate in the middle of the formation, who displayed a particularly composed demeanor.
“……”
“Hoho.”
“Tsk.”
Various reactions followed.