The Eleventh Study - Inflection Point of Fate (3)
Even when Tellorian offered to rescue her son, the Redeemer could only respond with a bitter smile. The endless agony had crushed even the saintess’s goodwill.
“I don’t want to waste my energy on empty hope. I simply wish to rest.”
In response, Tellorian lowered himself to meet her gaze at eye level.
“The Sun God abandoned you.”
“…”
“You defied the Sun God’s command in order to save the souls of your people. The Sun God is infinitely merciful while you remain within his embrace, but once you step outside it, he becomes infinitely cold.”
The Erbonians, who worshipped the Sun God, had desperately prayed after their invasion of the elves failed. A divine oracle returned, ordering them to repent for the invasion and seek peace. Yet the Erbonians refused and instead summoned the Devil King.
“The Erbonians abandoned good and chose evil. By the standards of heavenly justice, it would have been perfectly reasonable for every one of their souls to fall into the grasp of demons.”
The Sun God is endlessly generous toward those who know no good, but he shows no mercy to those who knowingly choose to become evil.
Sun God Lore Unlocked!
“From that moment on, the Invincible Sun resolved to cast every last Erbonian into Hell.”
He commanded his Chosen to take only the righteous and the children and flee the cursed land. It was, without question, a fair and just verdict.
But she had accepted the Devil King’s proposal of marriage.
“You should have refused the Devil King’s proposal and left Erbonia. If you had, the Sun God would have personally hurled Erbonia into the Seven Hells, and the Devil King would never have achieved his wicked goal of establishing an outpost on the surface.”
The Sun God.
He is stern justice.
Stern justice does not bind itself to sentiment.
“The good receive reward. The wicked receive punishment.”
That is.
The Sun God’s principle.
“Yet you, bound by affection, accepted the Devil King’s proposal… and because of that, Erbonia remains the devils’ outpost to this day.”
Redemption.
It is a right granted solely to gods.
“Yet you, a mere human, wished to atone for the sins of your family and your people. That foolish choice is what brought about today’s suffering.”
At that, the Redeemer smiled sadly. It was a decision she herself had regretted without pause. If only she had obeyed the Sun God’s words, today’s pain would never have existed.
Redeemer of Erbonia Lore Unlocked!
“Nevertheless, I would call that nobility.”
“…”
“You gave up your soul and your faith to grant the Erbonians a second chance. That they failed to escape evil until the very end was their own choice, not your sin.”
This was.
The basis on which he opposed the Sun God.
“And we are human.”
“…”
“If you can watch everyone you ever knew fall into Hell to suffer eternal torment and feel nothing, then you are not human.”
True saints would have accepted even such a verdict as the rightful price of sin. But the Redeemer of Erbonia had never been a true saint.
“You were simply human.”
“…”
“And I am someone who seeks to represent humanity.”
Heaven and Hell.
Paradise and the Abyss.
“They force upon us good and evil. Order and chaos.”
But.
The world of humans is not so simple.
“Within our souls, good and evil coexist. The desire to uphold principles and the urge to follow instinct exist side by side.”
Therefore.
“You only abandoned principle for a single moment for the sake of your family and your people. You may have turned your back on heavenly justice, but you never abandoned your own nobility.”
That is why.
“Your son possesses the same noble quality you do.”
Though only a very small amount.
It is still completely different from having none at all.
“That boy is an irredeemable swindler and a cruel tyrant… yet he is also a filial son who wishes to help his father and grant freedom to his mother.”
How had he grown up that way?
In the Seven Hells, where wickedness was encouraged?
“It was because of the love you gave him.”
“…”
“You never hated him for being an unwanted child, nor cursed him for carrying devil blood. You simply cherished him as his mother.”
Thanks to that.
Lucifeles had grown into a strange being who, despite being a devil, still craved his parents’ approval.
“That will become the weapon with which to judge the Devil King.”
“…”
“And it will also become the key to freeing your son from his cursed fate.”
New Hope Bestowed Upon the Redeemer!
EXP: +10
Lore Points: +1
Progress to Level 31: 60/100
Current Lore Points: 19
“…What would you have me do?”
“Is there any object that might remind him of you?”
“…”
“It would be best if it were based on the memory he cherishes most.”
The Redeemer thought deeply.
Then she recalled something. “When Riancal created a subspace that resembled our homeland, I melted down the holy relics I had brought from my parents’ house and made him a necklace.”
A golden light gathered in the air, and a silver necklace appeared. The exquisitely crafted pendant was engraved with stars and a moon.
◈ All Stats +4
◈ Holy Power +100%
◈ Highest-grade Protection Against Evil
◈ Sun God’s Blessing (Destroyed)
“It was a necklace Riancal loved as a child, but as he grew older he found it embarrassing. So when he ascended as Archduke of Gehenna, he left it behind here.”
Tellorian accepted the necklace.
“Now, can you grant me rest?”
“…”
“I have granted your wish, after all.”
The Redeemer no longer had any will to continue existing. But if her soul were destroyed, it could never be restored. Above all, her soul was only half complete. Even if destroyed now, it would not grant her true rest.
“You must meet your son before you go to your rest.”
“…”
He held out the necklace.
“Sleep here for now.”
“…”
“Riancal will surely rescue the other half of you as well. When that time comes, bid your son farewell in your complete form and enter eternal rest.”
She was the Redeemer who had shouldered the sins of an entire kingdom alone. At the very least, he believed she deserved to close her eyes in her homeland while receiving a farewell from her only blood relative.
“I hope this isn’t the beginning of yet another pain.”
“I will make certain it is not. Lezenis.”
“…It has been a long time since I heard that name.”
Yes.
Once, that was what they called me.
“Then… I will trust you one last time.”
“Rest now.”
With a soft chime, the good Lezenis melted into the necklace. If the wicked Reginis were placed inside as well, her soul would become whole once more.
‘Then I suppose it’s time to go meet that boy.’
He tucked the necklace into his robes and began walking toward the corner of the room where his old friend was sulking.
＊＊＊
The amphitheater of Gehenna was vast enough to seat tens of thousands of spectators at once. The actors on stage delivered flawless, passionate performances.
Yet in the audience sat only a single devil archduke, his expression dark and gloomy.
“Warrior King Halfdan, I presume.”
Beside the archduke.
The mage appeared.
“The story ends with the woman he had been tormenting as a trophy realizing she is his long-lost mother, and choosing to take her own life, correct?”
…The devil archduke offered no reply. He simply watched the actor choose death upon realizing he had violated the woman who had given birth to him, tasting in advance the misery that would soon befall him as well.
“You’ve been overwhelmed by the future.”
“…”
“Then why not revisit the past?”
Thud.
He set it down on the armrest.
The necklace his mother had given him.
“…What kind of trick is this?”
At last.
The devil spoke.
“What scam have you come to pull this time?”
“I did not come here to deceive you today.”
“…?”
From his subspace, he pulled out a thick paper bag. Inside were heaped golden-brown kernels that gave off a savory aroma.
“Try some.”
“…”
“It’s a food from my homeland. It’s delicious.”
…Lucifeles, unable to refuse a guest’s offering while in the position of host, reluctantly accepted the snack Tellorian held out and took a bite.
“!”
It was delicious!
So sweet!
“Eat the whole bag.”
“…”
“I have more.”
Lucifeles inhaled the entire bag of snacks in one go. More and more empty bags began to pile up beside the Archduke of Gehenna…
“…What is this food?”
“Fried corn kernels.”
“?”
“It’s my first time frying them in hellfire, but they turned out to be quite the delicacy. I’m thinking of calling them Gehenna popcorn.”
They were perfect for soothing a melancholy mood.
They also reminded him of home.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I only came because you invited me.”
“…”
Something.
Something felt ominous.
His heart would not settle.
“What is your true purpose, mortal?”
“I literally came to hang out.”
“Stop playing word games——”
A vein bulged on Tellorian’s forehead.
“You looked like you were struggling, so I came to comfort you! The fact that I have to explain this one by one shows just how pathetic your social skills are! You ignorant cambion bastard!”
…What?
Comfort?
Friendship Lore Unlocked!
“Human relationships are not composed solely of swindlers and victims! Ordinary people do not live with special malice toward others. They want to help those with whom they share a connection!”
…!
Unbelievable! This can’t be real!
“That is the humanity you inherited from your mother! So stop living like a shut-in and come out of that corner! What kind of behavior is it to throw away today by despairing over events that haven’t even happened yet, you idiot!”
Stupid fool!
Useless son!
“It’s ridiculous to watch the guy who used to toy with other people’s lives throw a tantrum the moment his own life gets toyed with! If it were anyone else I’d laugh my head off, but having to comfort you is honestly annoying!”
You!
Let’s make a deal!
Lucifeles of Gehenna felt completely overwhelmed by Lore Master Tellorian. Even though the man did not possess the transcendent power of his father.
“Become my friend!”
“…”
“Then I will help you get revenge on your father!”
“!”
“And…”
He lifted the necklace.
And held it out to him.
“I will also save your mother.”
“…”
“I won’t give you false hope. Your mother no longer has the will or reason to continue living. But at the very least, I can grant her rest.”
With this.
He had proven his friendship first.
“…What reward do you seek?”
“March the armies of Gehenna.”
“You mean to invade the lofty heavens? That is impossible.”
He shook his head.
“Invade the Abyss.”
“?”
“The demons have vacated their seats at the moment.”
Inflection Point of Fate
Caused internal strife among the devils!
Research Clues: 3/5
EXP: +10
Lore Points: +1
Progress to Level 31: 80/100
Current Lore Points: 21
“And one more thing.”
“…”
“Leave this in your family’s conference room.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes.”
It was the core of the plan he had prepared this time.
The one thing that would make even the ever-composed Devil King lose his composure.