Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: New Myth (1)
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Five years after the birth of the Demon King and the Hero, in the year 260 of the Empire.
In the Empire's grand palace banquet hall, a place so magnificent that all the praises of this world combined could scarcely do it justice-a spot shining brightest amid the radiant splendor. Opposite the throne where the Emperor sat, a choir sang a hymn praising the Hero.
"Urim Eriel
Hero of Glory
Mir's chosen Sonain
Lahav Gadol
Raise your sword
Hutvana
Sonain Lahav Ur
The Empire's sword has risen
Sho'a Amal
Evil bows its head
Parash
Lahav Avah
Follow
Shamar
Protect
Romam
Perish
Elyon Eriel
Great Warrior
Ariel Bakar Sonain
Sonain chosen by the Brazier
Lahav Gadol
Aim the sword's tip
Sonain
Or Eriel
Golden Hero
Mishhat be'ad Tohorah Or Yatsa
Holy light emerges beside the Princess
El Miflas
Berakhah
Bestow blessings
Natsar
Protect
Hayah
Save
Mofet Pa'al Nefesh
Bringer of suffering
Olam Yesha Mashiah
Sonain chosen by the world
Yerutsa Rahav
Inherit the sword
Hayil Eyilut
Kol Aven Avadon Matza
The breaker of all sins approaches
Eyilut Aven Kohen
Wretched Demon King
Paga Marah
Flee
Pa'al Mofet
Suffer
Yeshuah Merkhav
Be annihilated"
"Where is the guest of honor at the feast going?"
Mariel Sonain, the Empire's Princess and saintess of the Secular Church, asked Bulki as he stepped into the corridor. Aside from his hardened expression and the golden hair that had grown a bit longer, Bulki, who had slipped away into the unlit night of the palace, looked much the same as he had five years ago.
He shrugged uncomfortably and replied, likening the banquet to a uniform that didn't suit him.
"It just doesn't fit me, Princess."
"You still need to stay by my side."
Mariel said with a smile. She looked breathtaking walking the palace corridors, like the moon blooming between clouds in the dead of night. Bulki nearly blushed at how endearing his fiancée's smile was, but he had no room for smiling now.
"I've informed His Majesty the Emperor. Then I'll head to the great archive."
"Are you still studying about the gods and the Mir?"
"Yes. To exterminate the demons, I have to do everything I can. And for your sake too."
Bulki reassured the Princess with a wry smile.
Five years ago, from the day he lost his friend, he had studied mythology without fail, not missing a single moment. Of course, his research was based on the contents of the letter his friend had left behind-but that was information known only to Bulki, not to anyone else in the Empire.
"Then, may I come along?"
The Princess's eyes sparkled like stars. She clearly had no intention of letting Bulki go tonight. Worried that she might tire herself out because of him, Bulki bowed his head.
Just then,
"Sis?"
A young boy with a still-childish face and dark brown hair cascading to his shoulders. Yet he perfectly resembled his father, exuding innate dignity.
"Father's calling for you. Come on, quick."
The identity of the boy blushing shyly in front of Bulki was Lui Sonain, the Empire's First Prince.
In this situation with the Princess, Bulki was glad to see him, and since the Prince followed him so devotedly, he approached first, meeting his eyes.
"Your Highness, what if you catch a cold coming out like this?"
"Ah! I'm fine, Hero. By the way, when will you take a look at my swordsmanship?"
"Since Your Highness is now fifteen, if the diplomatic talks with the Sional dwarves go well this time... Ah, of course, right away if the Princess permits it."
The Prince bowed politely and took the Princess's hand, not hiding his joy in the slightest. The Princess kept smiling, but she never once smiled while looking at the Prince.
"Then rest early, my Hero."
"Thank you. Someday, I hope we can'talk in peace. Farewell."
The Princess headed to the banquet hall with the Prince, not hiding her chilliness at all. Her fists clenched tight, as if something were lacking or anger simmered beneath, but Bulki simply thought she felt the same regret as he did and let out a bitter sigh watching her back.
Then he dragged his heavy footsteps straight to the great archive to organize what had happened so far and set a new course.
***
[Don't trust anyone.]
Bulki reread the final line of the letter-what his friend had left behind-under the dim light of a small lantern.
Why had his friend left these words for him before dying, right before the uprising? Sitting in the corner, Bulki wrote letters to his heart that would never receive replies.
"There must be missing sentences or words."
The irregular gaps scattered throughout the letter had felt like a riddle to Bulki over the past five years.
Especially the part about the Holy Brazier, where swords are drawn for a knight's sacred duty-he couldn't fathom what his friend had intended by writing it.
"Holy Brazier, sin, true enemy, overcoming fate, true Hero."
Aside from those five words Bulki murmured, the entire paragraph was gone.
"Our memories-nothing more to think about there. He was thinking of increasing the number of knights, and right after that, these five words... No, first increase the knights. To do that, I need to know exactly about the Holy Brazier. Where was I last time?"
Bulki immediately opened the books he had piled up to learn about the Holy Brazier. In the empty great archive, relying on a small candle, the sound of pages turning rustled as someone pursued the truth alone. Soon, he pulled out the thickest book from the deepest shelf.
It was the myth of the three great Els and the Mir who remained as legend, the chronicle before the founding of Sonain.
***
In the beginning, there were three great Els.
Or of light, Neshef of dawn, and Miplas of harmony-they were those.
They cherished one another deeply but had no mouths to speak of love nor hands to touch. Thus, they felt joy and sorrow not through the five senses but through other means, and those origin emotions intertwined to birth the Mir into this world.
Cheret the Glory Mir symbolizing purification, Yam the Vast Sea Mir symbolizing life, Agagthur the Blazing Mir symbolizing evolution, Ets the Flowing Wind Mir symbolizing cycles, and finally Iveldra the Dark Mir symbolizing death-they were those.
They each took form and, drawn by the origin, created this world. The western continent of Gehenna, the eastern continent of Helred, and the great ocean dividing them between-that day was the day of creation.
The three great Els learned emotions through them and soon took form themselves.
The Els with form mingled with the Mir and birthed races.
All races loved one another, and much time passed, pleasing in the eyes of the Els.
But among them, the eldest, Neshef of dawn, saw the demons she birthed crawling underground in fear of light and raged, ascending even to the place of Or of light and his descendants the celestials.
In the First Demon Invasion, the heavens crumbled, the world shook, and the sun vanished.
No one could stop Neshef of dawn; all celestials perished, and the second El, Or, lost his radiant light and died at that time.
Then the world received sin: the sun rising by day was veiled by clouds, unseen, and the world lit only by the moon rising at night.
Thus, Miplas of harmony felt grief like the world collapsing and, with all Mir of every hue except Iveldra the Mir of death, created the world's essence: Yerutsa Rahav. This they placed in the Holy Brazier.
The Mir who made the essence scattered wearily across the world like dying embers, and Miplas of harmony sent forth Cheret, the Glory Mir, into the world.
Thus, Cheret the Glory Mir chose a Hero in place of the other four Mir to annihilate Neshef of dawn, drawing the sword from the Holy Brazier.
The Hero chosen by the Glory Mir was Sonain.
Sonain and his companions slew Neshef and buried her body in the ocean's depths.
Having ended all, Sonain named his nation after his holy and valiant self, and from then all races used the Imperial Calendar.
Thus the Empire inherited the sword to achieve harmony representing all races.
***
"Yerutsa Rahav."
The Empire's knights draw swords from the Holy Brazier following the first Hero. Bulki had questioned this succession of swords, and after his friend-who harbored the same doubts-died at the hands of demons, Bulki strove to become the true Hero in his stead. But Bulki thought this wasn't all his friend had meant to say.
The Hero's true fate. Surely something erased lingered in his friend's book.
Bulki buried his face in the book again. This time, lacking specialized records on the Holy Brazier, it was a compilation of songs about knightly qualifications.
***
What must a knight be?
In this world veiled by the sun, if one must draw light, I would draw knights. Legends of ancient adventures through history. I gather them and leave them in this book.
First, what is a knight?
A knight is one who, having served as a squire with qualifications, draws the sword from the Holy Brazier for a greater mission. I wish to discuss their pain and anguish more, but it is beyond measure, so I refrain and state once more.
A knight is not merely one who drew a sword, but one who draws the previous sword anew for greater power-that is, one who inherits the sword.
Many squires, witnessing sublime sacrifices, must engrave their own inadequacies into their bones. If only I had been a bit stronger, more powerful, I could have protected everyone. I could have aided the world. Lost in such torment, one suddenly realizes.
That drawing the sword was not merely to grow personally strong, but because strength was needed first to protect someone. And that it was the reason to sublimely sacrifice one's life.
Then, what must a knight become, having become one to protect?
The way of the knight exists to follow good. Also, the way of the knight follows the intentions of predecessors and passes good to the next generation. Thus infinitely inheriting the sword.
Then finally, what must a Hero be?
A Hero is the guiding star of all knights, their hope, the righteous will to strike the enemy-that is, good itself.
Protecting the Holy Brazier and the saintess, the world thus turns right.
Is purified.
***
And at that moment, someone was approaching the great archive.