Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: 95. If You Meet God, Kill God (2)
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"A god from another world?"
"That's right."
Sidhurst said.
"If I had to put a name to it, it's a god. One that treats us humans like insects."
"Be more specific."
"I don't know the details myself. Thanks to my dimension-manipulating magic, I can barely even perceive its existence."
"No way..."
Yuri let out a groan.
He had lived through his previous life, but even then, he hadn't known the full details of the empire's situation. After Brioll fell, he'd wandered as a mercenary, picking up rumors here and there.
He had guessed that Cedric summoning a being from another world was tied to what happened in the Holy Kingdom.
But he hadn't realized it was a being powerful enough to be called a god.
As he recalled Sibylla, who had died corrupted by black magic, Yuri clenched his fist.
"Doesn't matter. Whether it's a god or not, it doesn't change what we have to do."
"Exactly."
Sidhurst smiled.
"Just cut them all down with that sword of yours."
Sidhurst's sudden shift to full cooperation made Hernando and Marie Rose exchange glances and whisper.
"Looks like he got beat pretty good?"
"Seems like it."
Oblivious to their irreverent thoughts, Sidhurst nodded at Yuri.
"Yuri Brioll. I believe in you."
"Good. Just trust me."
"Hahaha..."
Yuri burst into roaring laughter alongside Sidhurst and stood from his seat.
"Well then, shall we head back? Let's leave the Mage Tower and denounce the empire. With the Mage Tower's Master endorsing it, they won't have any way out."
"Indeed."
"That leaves just one thing."
Yuri said in a low voice.
"Everyone, steel yourselves."
The empire had only one choice as well. And with Sidhurst joining them, that future would come upon them even sooner than expected.
War.
Countless lives would be lost.
Sidhurst swung his staff, and the scenery around them began to blur.
Moments later, they were back in the Mage Tower's meeting room as if by magic.
They opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
Yuri asked,
"What about those overseas-study knights?"
"I chased them out of the tower. They either left first or are waiting..."
As they talked and exited the Mage Tower, the overseas-study knights were huddled on the street, debating among themselves.
"Oh, there they are!"
One of the knights spotted Yuri's group and jumped to his feet.
"No way... That elder there—is he the Mage Tower's Master?"
Yuri nodded on his behalf.
"And?"
"Master! I've longed to meet you!"
He rushed past Yuri and spread his arms wide before Sidhurst.
"Tell me! The truth of the world!"
"Huh?"
"The true source of magic isn't some complicated theory—it's the goodness in all our hearts, right? That's the secret of magic the Mage Tower's been hiding! All that math and theory is just their ploy to monopolize magic's mysteries from the masses. Please, the truth..."
Yuri's hand moved.
In an instant, the knight took a strike to the temple, his eyes bloodshot as he crumpled to his knees and passed out. Yuri caught his body and said,
"Felt like I had to do that."
"Well done."
Sidhurst glanced over the remaining overseas-study knights.
"Hmm..."
Then he stepped forward and spoke.
"Very well. I'll answer your questions. My field is magic, so I can at least tell you the truth about that."
"Ooh..."
"Listen well. Magic is..."
The overseas-study knights leaned in. Even Hernando and Marie Rose watched Sidhurst with tense expressions.
Sidhurst declared firmly,
"Talent."
He struck the ground with his staff.
"And effort!"
Light flowed from Sidhurst's staff, spreading out like sparkling fireflies.
Sidhurst smirked.
"If you're talented and you put in the effort, you become a great mage. That's it—no other secrets. So stop spouting nonsense and work hard. Effort! Effort, I say!"
"Ah..."
The moment "effort" came up, the knights deflated.
Sidhurst pointed at Hernando and Marie Rose in turn.
"Look at these two. Do they seem like good-hearted people? They're a bit flawed in that department."
"Pardon?"
"What?"
"But they were lucky enough to be born with great talent and brains, and they put in the long hours at the Mage Tower. That's how they became amazing mages. That's the truth. Want to be recognized knights? Then put in the effort!"
Yuri, who had been nodding along to the part about character, winced as Marie Rose pinched his side.
"Ugh, as expected..."
"Expected what?"
"Nothing."
After Sidhurst's speech and scolding, the overseas-study knights slouched off, trudging away.
Yuri said,
"Truth is cold, isn't it."
"Why are guys who studied abroad acting like that?"
"Frogs in a well want to turn away when they see the big world."
Brioll's knights were excellent, but no one denied the empire was the continent's strongest nation. And the Parssent Knight Academy drew the empire's brightest talents.
These knights, who were mere regional ones back in Brioll, had probably felt the wall.
"Those who get discouraged stop. Those who grit their teeth and push forward grow."
"Haha..."
"They got the message, so let's move."
With Sidhurst in tow, Yuri returned to Matehorn Castle.
Aynzer Yustam welcomed them warmly and prepared a feast.
The table was so laden with food it felt like a small banquet.
Yuri's group sat along the long table. Yuri at the head, Sidhurst to his left, and Matehorn's lord Aynzer to his right.
Aynzer addressed Sidhurst.
"I hear you're Sidhurst. It's an honor. To think I'd live to see the Mage Tower's Master..."
"This old man's nothing special."
"Hahaha..."
Yuri patted Aynzer's shoulder.
"I told you to find the Mage Tower's Master, but I ended up doing it. Reflect on that."
"I'm ashamed."
Before leaving to gather the Overlord Flag, Yuri had instructed Aynzer to help locate the Mage Tower's Master. But Yuri had been the one to succeed.
Aynzer scratched his head.
"I can't compete with Your Highness."
"Things don't move unless I step in."
"My apologies."
"Can't be helped. Not everyone can be great."
"Pardon?"
"Anyway, let's prepare for the next steps."
Yuri turned to Sidhurst.
"How do you plan to announce your stance on black magic?"
"Hmm..."
"Just write a long statement for the press. If it's a hassle, I'll draft it for you. You can just edit."
"No need."
"Oh, are you confident in your writing?"
"No."
Sidhurst shook his head.
"Why would I need words?"
"Then?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll announce my position on black magic soon enough. I'll condemn the empire as strongly as you want."
"Perfect. When?"
"Within three days."
"Understood."
Yuri grinned and looked around the table.
"On a slightly different note, things are going well in the Holy Kingdom too. Orichalcum-plated weapons will arrive in Brioll soon. They're infused with power that resists black magic."
Sidhurst reacted.
"You got orichalcum? That means you met dwarves?"
"Fate brought us together."
"Hoo..."
"Plating them should allow for a good number of weapons, and every nation opposing the empire will use them."
"Orichalcum would definitely work."
"And through the Ireine Merchant Guild, we'll import martial artists from the East."
"The East?"
"Yes."
Then Jared, who had been sitting quietly, asked,
"Like a ronin unit?"
"Stronger than that. True heavyweights from the Eastern martial world. Knight-level at least on our continent."
"Will they come? They're not desperate like ronin."
"Sometimes there are values more important than material things."
Yuri grinned and revealed the new fact.
"The empire is the sworn enemy of the Eastern martial artists."
"Their sworn enemy?"
"They call him the Heavenly Demon. The empire's 'Shadowless Sword' is none other than the Eastern martial world's public enemy, the Heavenly Demon Dan Sochen."
"What? No!"
"Impossible!"
Jared and Sidhurst exclaimed simultaneously, then looked at each other.
"Y-You know something about the Heavenly Demon?"
"No..."
"Then why?"
"Felt like someone had to react since no one else would..."
"I see."
"What about you, Sidhurst? Know anything?"
"I thought everyone knew, so I stayed quiet to not stand out..."
"No one knows."
"What a waste."
No one knew who the Heavenly Demon was.
Yuri continued,
"Anyway, the Heavenly Demon is the leader of an organization called the Demonic Cult, hated by the entire martial world. Once it's revealed he's serving the empire, we can lure in their top experts."
Simon, sitting in the corner, tilted his head.
"Master Moyong Chan was very pessimistic about the martial world. Said it was corrupt. Will they really come?"
"The Eastern martial world may be rotten, but true chivalrous heroes who value justice and righteousness exist. I'll put my faith in the ways of the jianghu."
"Convincing them will be a heavy task for the envoy."
"Yes."
"The Ireine Merchant Guild basically monopolizes the route to the East right now. Not sure if they'll cooperate."
"They will."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm the honorary chairman of the Ireine Merchant Guild, with an equal stake to Ireine herself as a major shareholder."
"Pardon?"
Another bombshell. All eyes turned to Yuri.
Yuri said,
"I can say I built up about eighty percent of Ireine."
As everyone gaped in shock, only Hernando nodded knowingly, arms crossed.
He had accompanied Yuri long ago on a trip to meet Ireine.
"S-Sir Hernando knew?"
"Not to this extent, but I knew he had ties to the Ireine Merchant Guild. Your Highness was their initial investor."
Hernando gazed into the distance.
"Back then, Lady Ireine was barely keeping a tiny, crumbling guild afloat. Then Your Highness showed up and deposited a fortune. Predicting the mugranja boom, no less."
"Ah, that explains why you're always tangled up with Ireine..."
"So Your Highness is the shadowy figure behind all the Ireine rumors?"
"I thought the 'black curtain' of Ireine was just gossip..."
"They say he runs the whole guild in practice."
"He sees the future!"
Yuri shook his head.
"I've given ongoing advice, but those rumors are exaggerated. I'm just maintaining an equal partnership with Ireine."
"Ooh..."
"Of course, my influence is why Ireine pushes Eastern trade so hard. I'm planning to send Cheongun of the ronin unit as envoy with one of their caravans. Natives know their homeland best."
"Ah, that guy's sharp."
"The empire isn't just our continent's problem. As you said, Sidhurst, it's already under black magic's sway. And they've summoned horrors from another dimension. If we leave it be, the whole world falls to darkness."
Yuri thumped his chest.
"We'll stake our lives and stop the empire by any means. Black armies, mystery monsters, gods from other worlds—kill them all. Get ready."
His fierce gaze sobered the mood.
Yuri grinned.
"So eat up today. If you die later, you'll regret not finishing your plate."