Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: God's Absence
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The dark clouds blanketing the skies above Vaticanarezero parted, and the massive bell atop the Papal Palace let out a majestic, resounding toll.
This was the lavish overture announcing a new era.
'It's over.'
Today, I would deal with everyone who had committed vile deeds while hiding behind God's name.
Swish—
As I raised my sword above my head, light poured through the parted clouds, illuminating the castle in radiant splendor.
The glare was so dazzling it felt as though a mystical power enveloped the entire fortress.
Clank.
A knight from the Strange Family, commanding this expedition, rode up on horseback and saluted with his sword.
"Family Head, as you instructed, we've taken care of all the knights stationed inside the Papal Palace. The priests have all been herded into the barracks."
I scanned the low-lying mist creeping along the ground and replied.
"Even so, there must have been quite a few knights inside the Papal Palace. You handled them faster than expected."
"It was no trouble at all, thanks to you clearing the path ahead, Family Head. Most of the soldiers lost their commanders and were too busy fleeing, and those who could wield holy power couldn't properly handle their weapons, relying solely on their abilities."
Well, excluding the soldiers sent to the front lines, those inside the castle lacked any real combat experience.
'That's what happens when you only fight monsters.'
Having never faced enemies with human-level intelligence, they fell so easily to a surprise attack.
I opened the carriage door and spoke to the bound Pope.
"Didn't God tell you about this? That the sword of Strange would come here today."
The Pope pointed tremblingly at the sky.
"This is punishment for all of us who failed to properly understand His Holiness's will."
"Punishment?"
"Yes. If only I had been a bit more diligent in spreading God's will to more people."
"......"
"Then, those who received my seed—the ones who could hear God's will—would have been far greater in number. This never would have happened. Absolutely never—"
I grabbed the Pope by the scruff of his neck and whispered.
Thwack!
"You senile old fool just won't stop spouting nonsense."
"Guh, guhuk."
"Shut up and repent while you're still alive. You're going to die soon anyway, but at least I'll let you draw your last breath under the light, not in darkness."
That was when it happened.
"Waaaaah!"
From the entrance to the long passage leading to the underground prison, ragged figures emerged, shouting in jubilation.
"Freedom! We're free!! It's the light!!!"
"The Saintess is here.... She really came to save us!"
"Cough, cough. Didn't I tell you? God would surely save us!"
Having heard the grand toll of the massive bell, they looked upon the one who would become the new master beneath Vaticanarezero's Papal Palace.
Maria Theresa had taken her seat atop the shattered statue and was explaining to the released prisoners everything she had endured in the Strange Family up to now.
Along with that, she delivered a message of mercy and forgiveness, infused with a powerful call to hope.
"Now, those who follow God's will are all of you gathered here. Everyone will be the master of oracles, and please use the holy power for peace."
Maria Theresa's speech gave the prisoners not fear, but the chance for change and a new beginning.
Moreover, her mere presence became a beacon of hope illuminating the future for those assembled, an inspiration to all seeking light in the darkness.
"Behold."
As Maria Theresa gestured toward the distance, the crowd before the shattered statue turned their heads as if entranced, following her direction.
"Wh-what?! That, that's—!"
"It's the Pope! The Pope!!"
"Why is he in a place like that...."
Where their gazes stopped, Strange Family knights were preparing to hang the Pope from the gallows.
In the past, some among this crowd might have stepped forward to save him.
But those who had endured the underground prison would never do so.
They knew the Pope, who dared call himself God despite being mere human, and acted as he pleased. And the priests who followed false oracles for power beside him.
And the plight of the countless commoners sacrificed because of them. So they had no intention of throwing away their lives for the Pope.
"For God's will, the path of light, and glorious splendor—save me!"
the Pope shouted toward the prisoners.
Yet those gathered before Maria Theresa didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow as they witnessed his execution.
Instead, they clasped their hands, praising his death and offering prayers to embrace the new era.
I lightly patted the Pope's back on the gallows and said.
"Go join God."
"...Damn you, Strange. God's curse will swallow you all."
With those final words, the Pope's neck was severed before the eyes of thousands.
Splurt!
I grabbed his severed head and raised it high toward Vaticanarezero's sinners.
"God created not only light, but darkness as well. I know not if what I have done here today is good or evil. But know that this, too, is heaven's will."
Ragnarok, where those bearing God's blood reside, and at its heart, the colossal tree that serves as its pillar.
The World Tree.
Its roots piercing the earth spanned an area the size of an entire nation.
Timeless, having arrived somewhere amid those roots, spoke to the white-haired elder there.
"It's been a while, Timeless."
The white-haired elder's eyes gleamed as he smiled faintly in response.
"Indeed. I've seen the other Timeless ones often, but it's truly been ages for you. My duplicate reborn as the master of time."
"Have you been well?"
"For me, nothing's changed since we last parted. I always stay here, after all."
"Not bad."
"No choice. As the first Timeless, I must guide you all."
Timeless, descending from the tower, removed his mask and bowed politely.
This was not only to show respect to his other self, the first Timeless, for holding the post all this time, but also to express admiration and gratitude.
With greetings easing the tension, the Timeless from the tower began recounting his experiences one by one.
His failed revenge against Strange as planned from the tower, and even using force because the other Timelesses weren't cooperative.
"So, you found and devoured the body of Dirgoff, sunk in the lake, along with the Papal Palace's Juda?"
"Yes. The one called Bess, having spent a long time with Strange, asked for a little time, so I agreed to wait."
"Asked for time?"
"He said he couldn't decide easily whether to be devoured by me or join me in revenge."
"...Has time weakened his resolve?"
"Probably. The others gave the same answer."
The white-haired elder rose from his seat with a weary expression.
His body was so frail he could scarcely take a step, so the apostle from the tower stayed by his side to support him.
"I'll meet all the remaining Timelesses elsewhere too, so don't worry."
"What do I have to worry about now? I just can't understand those who had the same past as me but chose differently."
"I feel the same. But our plan won't change."
"Right. After all the years I've spent here to end them. It absolutely cannot happen."
The white-haired elder emerging from the World Tree's roots gazed up at the sky.
Unused to the sun after so long, he squinted and asked.
"What did the tower's master say?"
"I didn't speak with him. But someone came on his orders to find me, and since the plan had gone awry anyway, I killed him."
"You killed another apostle?"
"Yes."
"That could derail our plan."
"No, they can't stop us anymore. With the power I have now—the pinnacle of magic from Grand Sage Dirgoff, and the holy power of Archbishop Juda at its peak—no one can."
"......"
"And if I devour Bess too, I'll wield master-level swordsmanship. No one in this world but a god could stop me."
The white-haired elder chuckled and nodded vigorously.
"Not bad at all."
"First Timeless, everything will proceed as it should. Just watch my revenge."
"If I had even a shred of strength left, I'd have you take me and see your memories."
"If you want, why not take me now?"
"...No. If I tried with this decrepit body, who knows what might happen. If it bursts from your power, everything would be for naught."
The tower's Timeless squeezed his eyes shut.
"A pity. It would have been good to have you along."
"No need. I'll watch from one step behind. Make sure this long tale ends on a high note."
"Understood, First Timeless."
"Thank you, my brother."
The apostle from the tower, eternal master of time, having finished speaking with the first Timeless.
The one who had devoured Grand Sage Dirgoff and Archbishop Juda, gaining the power of ultimate spells.
He ascended to Ragnarok via Midgard, the lower part of the World Tree, and met the Rothschild family head, said to bear God's blood.
"The tower's master hopes for your return,"
Apostle Ordine intoned from his throne.
Timeless fluttered his cloak and hovered, tilting his head with an annoying expression.
"Do you think I'll go back there?"
"No."
"Then why say such nonsense? You know why I left that place."
"I merely follow the tower master's orders. I concern myself with nothing else."
"Is that so? And yet a guy like you begged the tower master to alter causality for one woman?"
"......"
"Ordine, there's one reason I came here today. From the past, present, and future I've seen as master of time—and a chance that exists in none of them, never to come again. I'm giving it to you."
"You're saying you'll free me from causality."
"Yes. A chance for Rothschild to become master of Strange. I'll create that opening for you."
"...And the conditions?"
"None."
"None?"
"Yes. Just declare war on Strange. Send your forces and annihilate them. I'll handle the rest."
Ordine found it hard to believe, but the offer was too tempting.
In the cycles of history repeated countless times, toppling them had been impossible. Yet the one called master of time offered the very opportunity he desired—how could his heart not waver?
"The tower's master won't forgive you."
"He won't forgive me. But it doesn't matter for you, right?"
"That's why I'm asking. I don't understand why you're going so far to destroy Strange."
Timeless smiled brightly, slowly distancing himself from Ordine as he replied.
"You don't need to know that. Consider your answer to my proposal heard. Move immediately once decided."
"...Understood, master of time."