Chapter 110
Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Or's Memory
A day, no-even the sun and moon were absent, so it would be more accurate to say that much time had passed.
Exhausted from battling the Archangel Tehila, Bulki fell asleep without even meeting Jemira and his comrades or hearing their explanations. The others carried him to Or's head, and while the angels treated him, everyone else remained here at the temple, listening to the Archangel Jemira recount the past events.
"This was all a test to see if the Hero could inherit Or's will."
Yam and the archangels had stayed here, anticipating the Hero's arrival and preparing for it. Of course, this was possible only through the revelation-a power and blessing granted to Jemira, the Archangel of Prayer. Even though the god who had bestowed that revelation directly was dead, she could transcend time through his will lingering in this divine corpse.
She could see the future.
And she had seen Yam and Hoshekh Hatar approaching Or's corpse, accompanied by Saar-the progeny of sin.
"What does that have to do with the test of inheriting Or's will?"
"It's connected entirely to the progeny of sin, Sun Fairy."
Inheriting Or's will was tied to the progeny of sin? Everyone in the temple wore puzzled expressions at Jemira's words. It made sense; they were born in an era when they didn't need to know about such things.
"Angels-or rather, what you call the celestial race-were born precisely to stop the progeny of sin. We fought alongside Or to drive them back and brought peace to this world. Until the Demon King killed Or, we lacked free will."
The location at Or's head was so intact-no ruins or decay-that only pillars upholding the blue sky, the altar, and the temple built around it remained. Angels serving Jemira moved about, but their stone-hard skin and expressionless faces gave an eerie vibe.
In the center of this temple-perhaps the banquet hall where gods once gathered-Jemira sat in the seat of honor, her face distant with longing as she continued.
"When Or died, we gained the chance to become human. The freedom to escape our destined fate of vanquishing the progeny of sin. But we stayed here. We had to prevent the progeny of sin from spreading across the world again. However, in my revelation, one of the great sins-now divided among successors-had already been severed, and the progeny of sin had appeared. We angels had to deliberate."
Jemira rose and approached the obelisk behind her. Or's will must have been there, but she chose not to extract it recklessly, merely touching the stone. She was drawing the one who had been the lowest, the mute.
"The tale of the progeny of sin, us, and Promnain. It'seems it'll be a long story."
The Archangel of Prayer turned back and resumed.
"If Miplas dies, there's no one left to stop the progeny of sin. We know her sin, but we can't kill her. To prevent chaos, harmony is inevitably required."
The great sins had divided, covenants between races broken in the midst of their inheritance, and now adventurers sought Or's will to stop the Demon King-this wasn't knowledge for them yet.
"Hmm... Th-the explanation is still lacking, Archangel."
"It's fine. We still have time, so there's plenty of opportunity to share tales older than myth. Anyway, our tests are over. From now on..."
Jemira understood why the cute half-dwarf was grumbling and beckoned another archangel behind her-Jeker, the Archangel of Judgment. Jeker approached Rondnel in the group. Rondnel nearly fainted in shock but stayed put upon sensing no malice.
"Yam has now sealed Saar, and the Hero has passed the test to receive Or's will. As atonement for involving you, our strongest, Jeker, will train the dwarf and the Sun Fairy. Of course, the Hero will have Tehila show him Or's memories so he can receive the will. And... the healer will speak with me."
Liliet listened quietly and nodded.
The conversation between angel and witch could only be about how to carry on Promnain's will, but she had no choice but to agree.
With roles assigned once more, everyone dispersed. Left alone, Liliet recalled this place from Neshef's memories. The brilliant sky of an era alive with light and dawn, the days when angels sang.
Jemira knelt before the obelisk in prayer, singing. Her voice was heavenly. Liliet sat silently and joined in the song.
「אוֹר (Or)
Or's
נֶשֶׁף (Neshef)
O Neshef
שָׁוְא (Shav)
False
מַפֶּלֶת (Maphelet)
Corpse
מֵעָל מִזְרָח (Me'al Mizrah)
Sunset and sunrise
מִפְלָשׂ (Miplas)
Harmony
אל עֶלְיוֹן (El Elyon)
Most High El
אֱלָהּ סָבַב אֵל (Elah Savav El)
Father of all
תֹּהוּ מִפְלָשׂ (Tohu Miplas)
Chaos's Miplas
אוֹר (Or)
Light
נֶשֶׁף שֵׁם (Neshef Shem)
Dawn's name
מִפְלָשׂ (Miplas)
Miplas
נֶשֶׁף יֶלֶד (Neshef Yeled)
Neshef's child
אָוֶן כֹּהֵן (Aven Cohen)
Demon King
הֵילֵל הֶבֶל זקח (Helel Hevel Zakhar)
Lucifer van Ivelhac
אוֹר רֵעַ (Or Re'a)
Or's friend
אֶרְאֵל (Er'el)
Hero
שוֹא נָעִים (Sho'a Na'im)
Sonain
שָׁכַח שֵׁם (Shakakh Shem)
Forgotten name
פלום נָעִים (Promnain)
O Promnain
זָכַר עָדַר סוּר (Zakar Adar Sur)
You leave memories behind and depart
אֲנַחְנוּ זָכַר (Anakhnu Zakar)
We shall remember
אָע גָּג לוּט (Agag Tur)
Agag Tur
צֶרֶת (Cheret)
Cheret
יָם (Yam)
Yam
עֵץ (Etz)
Etz
דה לה הֶבֶל (Iveldra)
Iveldra
הוּא מוֹת עַל (Hu Mot Al)
Through her death
חֹשֶׁךְ שָׁרַי (Hoshekh Sharai)
Tragedy began
אֱלֹהִים מוֹת רֶגֶל (Elohim Mot Regal)
After the gods' deaths
אֶרְאֵל (Er'el)
The Hero
כֹּל מִין (Kol Min)
All races
חַד מָקוֹם קָהַל (Had Makom Qahal)
Gathered in one place
שְׁבוּעָה (Shevu'ah)
The covenant
הָיָה (Hayah)
Was fulfilled
מַעַל מָצָא (Ma'al Matza)
Betrayed
זָכַר עָדַר סוּר (Zakar Adar Sur)
You leave memories behind and depart
אֲנַחְנוּ זָכַר (Anakhnu Zakar)
We shall remember
נֶצַח (Netzach)
Truth」
"Shall we begin the story now, witch?"
The Archangel of Prayer, Jemira, asked kindly, and the witch Liliet nodded once more. Together, they headed behind the obelisk to Jemira's chambers-the house once belonging to the first Hero.
***
"How's your body faring, Hero?"
Archangel Tehila appeared before Bulki, who was dressed in the robes angels wore for hymns.
"Somehow... it feels too big, doesn't it?"
These were ceremonial garments. Loose on angels, they looked utterly ridiculous on a human like Bulki. Tehila chuckled dryly, wondering if this was truly the Hero who had deployed a Mir and charged at her, then rose from her seat and gestured for him to follow.
"Come."
To the well in Or's chest where holy blood flowed.
"Is this... where the holy blood begins?"
Traveling from the central chest up to Or's neck, a ceiling had formed, revealing a cavern filled with blue light. Like an aqueduct, the path of holy blood dominated the center-deep and wide enough to navigate by boat.
The archangel walking its edge knew this wasn't truly called holy blood but a river of milk and honey, yet found answering tedious and simply proceeded in silence.
"We're here."
At the true origin of the holy blood stood a massive fountain in the cavern. In the center, giant wings gathered in pairs like a flower, with blue essence gently pulsing. From its roots, the stream of holy blood began.
"From now on, I'll train you. Your spirit is noble enough to pass the test, but your body can't yet withstand Or's immense will. Proof is your failure to control the Mir deployment. Through training with me, you'll grow accustomed to deploying Mir and prepare your body for the will. But first and foremost, I'll reveal the truth to you."
The archangel ascended the stairs along the well's edge with Bulki. Aesthetically, they fit well, but why would winged celestials use stairs? Bulki held back the question. After all, he'd left his sword and Cheret behind.
"Now, are you prepared?"
"Prepared for what?"
"To hear the tale. After long ages of hardship and causality, you've arrived here. At the origin of what you call holy blood. This is the memory of the dead god, El Or."
Bulki gazed at the clear, vibrant blue water at the flower's heart, as Tehila spoke.
"Or's memory."
What would this familiar memory show him?
"What's in there? The mythic era of the gods?"
"No, perhaps an even older tale. Gods possess only will and memory. This memory will merely aid you in choosing and walking your path forward."
Bulki nodded quietly at Tehila's words and stepped into it.
"Enter. And realize the truth of god and Mir. For a higher purpose, you must awaken. You seek to unite the great sins and sever their inheritance, but that path ends only in the gods' deaths. Killing Miplas brings only chaos. Behold the truth again. Hero-no, Bulki Sonain."
Tehila watched his back as he headed to the center, treading the path once walked by Or's most faithful servant, the most radiant Archangel of Glory, Sonain.
"This is..."
Blue light spread in an instant, and the Hero began to see visions.
***
Now, everyone beheld, heard, and experienced the god's memory.
"I..."
Among them, Iven-immersed in the darkest memory, Neshef's-didn't know where he was. He had no horns, no wings, no alien body, no wretched eyes bearing sin's flame. Just Iven. Naked, he plunged endlessly into the abyss.
His consciousness faded, and he finally closed his eyes.
"Lije..."
And there was darkness, then dawn, then light.
In the beginning, there was the great El.
"Haa."
Words failed him. Iven rose from the bed and looked in the mirror. An unfamiliar face stared back.
"Awake, brother?"
Beyond his chambers appeared Sonain, an archangel: bird-winged yet not like Joins, with holy dignity, three pairs of wings, and golden hair. He spoke.
"Come. Or calls."
Against his will, Iven nodded and followed-as the lowest mute, Promnain.