Chapter 112
Translator: uly
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Pact
It was a very long war.
No, perhaps it was a time of genesis, redefining the laws of this world-something too profound to even call a war.
In that genesis, the only force allowing life to endure was the Saintess, who gathered and united them to convey the will of the great El.
She interpreted the oracle from the archangel of prayer who beheld the future, inspiring the others and forging their wills into one. She was the king established by Harmony Miplass, compelling the other gods and Mir to erase their individual natures and pursue only the kin of sin.
That much was acknowledged by everyone gathered in this hall. With her harmonious, beautiful smile-or her azure hair and eyes, her unique grace that belonged to neither celestial nor demon-her slender fingers' every movement, the subtle heave of her ample bosom with each heartbeat... all her beauty had led them like a beacon of hope.
But what was this situation now?
Why was everyone clapping for those two? Why wasn't anyone looking at her beauty?
The Saintess scratched at her chest with her fingernail.
It had all been impossible without her. This glory should have been hers alone...
"Ah."
The Saintess hastily plastered on a smile and mimed applause.
It was because her eyes had met those of her most beloved Hero Sonain, his one and only little brother. If the silent angel in the lowest seat caught wind of her thoughts, it would be disastrous-so she decided to bide her time.
"Enough reunion pleasantries. Let's get to the agenda. None of us particularly enjoy being cooped up together like this. Without the Saintess, this gathering wouldn't even exist in the first place, right?"
The Mir of Gentle Breezes, Etz, continued in his ominous tone.
At the sight, the Saintess thought, Yes, someone like you I can grant a place in the Promised Land I'll rule after this damned assembly ends.
"Fair enough. Even we who fought this war without proxies-hating the presence of others-can agree on that. The war's over now. Let's wrap up the loose ends quickly and all prosper together. I've still got plenty I want to try. Hey, old hag, what's next?"
"'Old hag'? Have you lost your mind? Watch your tongue."
The Mir of Blazing Fury, Agagthur, spoke without hiding his rage, his characteristically expressionless face turning murderously fierce, as if ready to lunge.
"Hah, this inscrutable brat dares speak to me, who has returned chewing on vengeance..."
"Enough. Cheret, you too."
She spoke benevolently, like a mother indulging her spoiled young family.
In the briefly heated but chaotic atmosphere, it was indeed time-as the Mir had said-to swiftly establish all laws and rules.
Yam rose from her seat and addressed the Demon King, the Hero, and the Saintess.
"For the sake of those established as kings by the great El's will, and for our Mir's proxies and representatives of our children, we should proceed with the formalities. First, let's consider calmly... There are three agenda items. Demon King, if you would."
Following Yam's voice-which calmed like a serene sea without a single wave-the Demon King Lucifer van Ivelhac took Iveldra's hand and sat at the round table in the hall.
"The first matter is the disposition of the kin of sin we've gathered thus far."
At Yam's words, Lucifer replied while gazing only at Iveldra.
"As all know, and through everyone's power and sacrifice, every kin of sin lies dormant within me by Neshef's authority. With the final madness sealed in this battle, they shall never awaken in the world again. Not unless Neshef herself vanishes."
"That's correct. Just as Or's authority I wield is light, Neshef's is to quell. Ah, of course, Harmony Miplass's authority is for us to live harmoniously without fighting. That's why we've gathered here at the Saintess's words, isn't it?"
Archangel Sonain's words rang true. Of course, at that time, only the Saintess followed Miplass, so they believed her authority-"cannot harm those who follow harmony"-applied to everyone.
At his words, the Saintess thought with ecstatic joy.
El Miplass, that angel is mine. Give him to me, even if all others die.
"Then we entrust that sublime duty to you, the Demon King-the king Neshef manifested through. Next, following Agagthur's words, we must forge a pact with the messengers of the gods, the Mir, and the representatives of all races who joined our war."
"Miplass will remember all these pacts, so let me go first!"
Sonain stood boldly, raising both hands high before addressing everyone again.
"As decreed by the exalted Or, let each impose one constraint to follow light and dawn. These constraints shall be absolute, passed down through generations for each race to uphold."
"No need for everyone to declare theirs-have the three kings established by the gods state theirs first."
At Etz's words, Sonain nodded and replied.
"We celestials who walk with Or shall never leave these exalted heavens; Yam's children, the dwarves, shall guard the volcanoes; and Cheret's children, the sun fairies, shall protect the forests."
"Then demons shall refrain from world-destroying magic; night goblins, children of celestials and demons, shall pursue only research tied to life, not death. Agagthur's children, the Red Blood Savages, shall not eat intelligent beings; and Etz's wolfkin shall form no packs to restrain their power."
The Demon King placed a hand on the kin of sin within his chest and continued.
"I, Demon King Lucifer van Ivelhac, shall oversee this in my name. But there are no children of Miplass or the Mir-nor Or or Neshef. Other gods and Mir's descendants will multiply on this land... Of course, while I claim to be Demon King and demonkind, what of those like me or the Saintess, who belong to no race? And for new races to come, what then?"
At the Hero and Demon King's words, all eyes turned to the Saintess.
Finally satisfied, she enacted the words Miplass had spoken upon manifesting-her grand first plan.
"I shall tend to future races, guiding them to follow harmony, not sin."
No one in the hall noticed the arrogance brimming in her words, reeking of foul corruption. They simply admired the Saintess who had led them, now pledging her life once more to guide them all.
"El Miplass, Saintess. Our children shall do the same."
Sonain said with a benevolent smile. Agagthur, watching, scraped the round table with his sturdy finger, drawing everyone's attention with a horrific screech, then spoke threateningly.
"A contradiction. You, son of Neshef, and Or's angels are directly tied to gods-so only those born of gods sharing emotions with us are called 'races' on this land, Ivelhac? We Mir have shared emotions to birth many other races. Some possess intelligence; others can't speak but enrich the world. Who manages them? Who protects them? What of the pacts already set?"
The Mir of Blazing Fury, Agagthur-who symbolized evolution-included not only the hundreds of animal species he'd created borrowing other Mir's powers, but also Joins born from Mirs' emotions, beastkin, and more.
Iveldra answered him.
"We too shall have children, and that worries me-the ones outside the pact. So if there are unintelligent beings or those oppressed, how about all us Mir join forces to aid them? So they too follow light and dawn, like us. Just as celestials have their faith, we'll create faith in Neshef alongside the Demon King."
Iveldra's meaning: all the myriad flora, fauna, beastkin, and new races filling this land should be guided by all Mir together to follow Neshef's new faith, just as they did light and dawn.
At her words, the Saintess thought, You mad bitch-every thought and plan of yours will crumble utterly. The only faith this world needs is harmony, unity.
"Very well. Then what's the final item, Yam?"
The Saintess betrayed no thoughts, urging Yam to end this pointless farce quickly. After all, it would be irrelevant in the new world harmony would bring.
But for some reason, her words and actions sent chills crawling over Promnain's skin. Instinctively, she sensed that in this gathering, only Miplass had no place.
"Ah, then the final agenda is this. With the kin of sin subdued and all pacts set, peace has come to this world. Let's hold a festival-the festival of life we'd all fought weary days anticipating. Cheret, will you announce it?"
At Yam's words, Cheret-who'd been sullen-replied as if with no choice.
"A rite to proclaim Iveldra and the Demon King joining as one."
Iveldra and the Demon King's wedding. But Promnain realized the Saintess alone wasn't smiling.
The Saintess thought inwardly, Then what of me and the Hero?
Ugly emotions surged-a jealousy like that which drove Iveldra to defeat her brother, symbolized by the solitary kin of sin, Ullam, in deep, dark violet.
"Stay the night here then, friend."
With that one sentence from Sonain, this world's tragedy began.