Chapter 168: Southern Continent (2)
Chapter 168: Southern Continent (2)
"The Southern Continent can be summed up in a single word."
With the vast sea as his backdrop, Zeppelin Gold spoke.
"Paradise."
Paradise. It was a word that felt utterly alien to the Iron Kingdom.
"The Southern Continent is a land of peace. It enjoys a warm climate year-round, with calm weather devoid of the floods or typhoons common elsewhere. Because it is so far from the Northern Continent, monsters are nowhere to be found, and dangerous regions like the Sky Mountain Range or the Great Forest simply do not exist. Most of the land consists of fertile plains. Furthermore, those who call the Southern Continent home are gentle souls who seek only harmony."
"Is such a thing even possible?"
"The Southern Continent is a land of pilgrims. It was discovered by faithful travelers serving different gods, drifting at sea after being shipwrecked. The pilgrims who first reached its shores described it as the very paradise depicted in the holy scriptures."
A land discovered by pilgrims. Even the sentence itself carried an air of sanctity.
"The indigenous people who originally settled there were unique. Multiple races lived together as one, without a hint of discrimination. This was because they all worshiped the same gods—specifically, the goddess who presides over the sun, Goddess Rebrua. Besides her, many other deities were discovered in the Southern Continent. It was through this land that the Seven Races learned there are a total of sixteen gods who created this world. They became aware of the existence of the Seven Chief Gods and the Nine Goddesses."
"It is a symbolic land, then."
"Yes, a symbolic land. Because they felt the presence of the gods so strongly, the natives lived in peace, without strife or quarrel. They knew this world was merely the Middle-world, and that after death, they would be judged by the gods for their deeds. They believed in retribution... or 'Karma,' as they call it."
Zeppelin Gold looked out past the horizon.
"It was fortunate that pilgrims were the first to discover this sacred ground. Upon reaching the Southern Continent, they engaged in pure, honest exchange. Those who returned spread the teachings of the south, and even more pilgrims flocked there. It was a land of peace, a paradise, and a holy sanctuary for the faithful. As such, it became an inviolable place."
"I see."
"Creatures on other continents felt the presence of the gods as well. They had witnessed divine miracles and, through the example of the Witches, had even witnessed the gods' wrath. Thanks to that, the holiness and peace of the Southern Continent were preserved for a long time. Of course, there were attempts to target it."
"Attempts?"
"Since it was a sacred land, they couldn't launch a direct invasion with legions, so they resorted to dirty tricks. For instance, they tried to undermine the ideology of the Holy Empire in the Southern Continent. The nations there are ruled by the Popes of each religion, and outsiders picked fights, claiming that such theocratic rule was flawed. They questioned whether the Popes were truly Divine Representatives, and even if they were, whether they could be good monarchs. Of course, it didn't work. The Popes of the Holy Empire could perform actual miracles and were true representatives who could speak with their gods."
Attacking their ideology. Humans truly were a creative lot.
"Beyond that, there were attempts to corrupt their thoughts. They tried to teach them the 'greatness' of money to lure them into commerce rather than religion, hoping to draw the Southern Continent into the global market. They tried to tell them there was another god called Gold besides the Seven Chief Gods and Nine Goddesses..."
"That sounds like a very Black Archipelago-esque ideology."
"Ah, yes, that was indeed us. But it didn't work on the people of the Southern Continent. Those who live in abundance do not grow greedy for more. On the contrary, they said they couldn't take anything with them when they returned to the gods' embrace, and they gave us their surplus for free. It’s a famous anecdote that the cold-hearted bankers of the 'Red Bank' were so moved that they left behind a massive donation."
"..."
"Anyway, the Southern Continent was a land of opportunity and a paradise, but it remained untouchable. Moreover, since they lacked greed, it was difficult to establish trade. The continent is open to pilgrims and tourists, but anyone else found it hard to gain anything from being there. It was frustrating for the rest of the world, but they couldn't just launch a sudden raid either."
"Because the gods might intervene?"
"Exactly. A land where Popes communicate directly with gods and where faithful people who have never committed a sin reside... No one knows what would happen if such a place were burned and its people massacred without justification. No one wants to perish like the nameless empires that carried out the Witch Hunts. No one."
It was an interesting story. However, the more he heard, the more something felt off.
"From what you're saying, it sounds like a place where war cannot happen. So why am I needed there? Furthermore, how on earth is a war between the Great Powers breaking out in the Southern Continent? You can't just suddenly set fire to a land of peace."
"Because there is no need to set the fire."
No need to set the fire?
"My Lord, what I've told you is an old story. It is not the reality of the Southern Continent today. Currently, the Southern Continent is already blazing from a fire someone else started."
"What do you mean by that?"
He was curious. Zeppelin Gold soon replied.
"In the past, the people of the Southern Continent lived well in their peaceful isolation. But they learned that there was a wider world. They learned there were other gods, and they learned that among the sixteen deities, there are those who do not care if one commits sins. Moreover, even if most did not succumb to temptation, there are always a few who do. A single drop of filth in clear water spreads in an instant."
"..."
"A man content with one faithful wife can never return to that simple happiness after a single night with ten alluring courtesans. Living without knowing stimulation and enduring it after having tasted it are two completely different realms."
Zeppelin Gold's eyes sparkled with a golden light.
"Since the most horrific era, the Age of War, doubt regarding the gods has spread across all continents. The people of the Southern Continent also began to question. There is a saying that one muddy fish fouls the whole pond. The first doubt spread quickly; the attitude toward the gods shifted, and their perspective on life began to change. It was only natural. Not every being can live with the same values. But while they should have coordinated their opinions and acknowledged their differences, that is impossible in the Southern Continent."
"..."
"They are believers. They cannot acknowledge 'difference.' A small crack formed, and the outside world recognized it. As soon as the Iron Kingdom occupied the Free City and the geopolitical atmosphere shifted, they saw their opportunity. Various forces from the outside world infiltrated the Southern Continent and began to incite hatred and division. With what? Religion."
"That's terrible."
"It is terrible. But it was very effective. My Lord, religion is one of the most powerful weapons in war. In the Southern Continent, it became a massive conflagration. Anyone who believed in a religion different from their own was branded a heretic. Murder, robbery, arson... every sin was justified in the name of faith. A legion of fanatics who feel no guilt, believing the blade they wield is justice itself—where else could you find such a terrifying army?"
Beyond the horizon, land was slowly beginning to appear.
"The Great Powers of the continent intend to divide and split the Southern Continent. They intend to turn it into a land that is no longer sublime. If holiness disappears, the Southern Continent ceases to be an inviolable land. Instead, it transforms into a land of opportunity with infinite resources and endless utility."
Smoke was rising from the land. Pitch-black smoke.
"The malice that seeped in through the greed of the Great Powers has succeeded in defiling the Southern Continent. Now, outsiders are pouring money into the region, supporting factions with legions and weapons. All to claim their share one day and plant their flags in the ruined land."
"..."
"We, the Black Archipelago, are greedy, but we try not to cross the line. We will support the small, weak nations that are bound to be persecuted, and through exchange with them, we will secure future profits. That is far more valuable than destroying free will and turning them into colonies. A life that has lost its will and creativity loses its value."
"Why do you do that? It would be easier to do as the other Great Powers do."
"Our Matriarch dislikes it. As someone who remembers the Age of War and its horrors, she declared that she would never do such a thing. And above all..."
As they drew closer to the Southern Continent, sharp screams could be heard over the waves.
"She doesn't like one-sided deals. A deal must always involve partners who bring profit to each other. The blood of the 'Fair Scale' flowing in my body does not permit such a deal. Never."
A land of peace, a paradise. The land once called so was being defiled by blazing fires, pitch-black smoke, sobbing screams, and death. Zeppelin Gold surveyed the facets of the Southern Continent with a face of sincere regret.
"Well? Doesn't it look like they desperately need you, My Lord?"
I wonder.
Seeing the face of war before his eyes, he honestly doubted whether he, as an individual, could stop it. The reality was even more horrific than the sights he had seen in the War Duel. The war between Han and the Great Land was a fierce siege at the end of a conflict. But the war unfolding in the Southern Continent was not an ending. It was a war filled with fresh malice, burning with tireless hatred, where people killed each other without a moment's hesitation.
No matter how this war ended, the Southern Continent would likely never return to the state Zeppelin Gold described. They had been too defiled to go back. The image of paradise and the pure faces of the pilgrims were gone. Spilled water cannot be gathered back into the cup.
"But why are they carrying crosses on their backs?"
"To reveal which god they believe in. If you look closely, some carry crosses, some wear pentagrams, and some hold prayer beads. Of course, those carrying crosses are the most numerous. Their influence is the greatest here."
Zeppelin Gold spoke in a regretful voice.
"They call themselves the Crusaders."
* * *
「My young descendant.」
Zeppelin Gold's ship drew close to land at the end of its voyage. Now, the massive vessel was merely waiting for the moment to dock at the harbor.
「In this land, you must not become a hero.」
Amidst the sparkling sunlight of the new land, the Master spoke.
「The people of the Southern Continent lived chasing the sun, firmly believing that the Heavens would grant them salvation in the face of a harsh world.」
"..."
「However, as you have felt, the Heavens do not save those cast into a harsh world. The Seven Chief Gods and Nine Goddesses do not respond when the lowly and insignificant desperately pray for salvation. They merely turn away and stand by as bystanders.」
The Master's voice echoed heavily.
「The Seven Chief Gods and Nine Goddesses call themselves the creators, judges, and absolutes of all things. But in the end, this world and the Seven Races are nothing more than tools to them. Tools to be used and discarded.」
"..."
「They have no reason to save mere mortals. Therefore, they do not reach out with a hand of salvation. In every moment of greatest desperation, every time this insignificant land faced the threat of vanishing, it was ironically mortals who saved it. It was not the Transcendents living in the Heavens, but the insignificant beings living in this insignificant world who protected themselves.」
The sky was clear while Liam's words rang vividly.
「Young descendant, let them know what is most important. Awaken them to the fact that they are the only ones who can protect themselves.」
"..."
「Make them worship not the Heavens, which grant no salvation, but you, who move forward by your own strength. Make them follow your Sword.」
Under the clear sky, the light fell as if shattering.
「You must not be a hero; you must become a myth.」
"A myth..."
「That is the key to transcendence.」
Liam, who had called it the key to transcendence, turned his gaze toward him.
「Of course, I will help you, as I promised.」
"And how will you help me?"
Liam was smiling.
「It is time to learn the True Caravan Sword.」