Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Three Stories
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Gaon told three stories during that long dawn.
The story of the prince, the story of the three children who survived and became knights, and the story of Godel who had sealed Agagtur-that was it.
"They're all connected, but since the people who heard each of those three stories were different..."
Gaon told the first story, the one about the prince, in his own voice.
"The part about Godel's prince is like a fairy tale I knew. Or maybe it's more like a prophecy. The gist is that Godel's monarch was betrayed and killed by his brother and the queen, and the prince fled. But the real protagonist of this tale isn't the prince-it's Godel's warrior who protected him. Agagtur's agent, the one who kept anyone in the empire from invading Godel."
"Agagtur's agent?"
At Gil's question, Gaon continued as if reading from an old fairy tale book.
"Long ago, when the great Hero Sonain founded the empire and the knights began inheriting their swords, there were those who weren't incorporated into it. Atheists, or people who believed in their own gods, or that the true El was elsewhere. Of course, it's just a short fairy tale I found in the imperial grand library, so I don't know much, but after Sonain died, one of the succeeding dynasties tried to invade Godel. Naturally, the empire believes in Miflas, so they didn't start a direct war-they sent knights under that pretext."
"And what happened?"
As Bison asked curiously, Gaon grinned again and replied.
"The dispatch of knights continued for generations, but they never found the hidden entrance to Godel. Godel's guardians always refused the empire's visits, just like always. Armed clashes were inevitable, and whenever their many spells couldn't defeat the knights, 'he' would appear, as always. Agagtur's agent. The incarnation who burned the knights while clad head to toe in armor like red scales, wielding Agagtur's sword. Emperor Luiel Sonain VI even stepped forward, calling himself the Knight King to fight him, so the grand library has the only record related to Godel-his. Of course, he died when Godel's former king was assassinated."
"He died protecting the prince. So couldn't they just make another agent after that?"
"Oh dear, you know one but not two. The agent who helped the prince escape was the last one. After that, something strange happened in Godel. A truly horrific experiment."
Gaon now began the second story, about the three children who survived and became knights.
His own story, and that of his friends.
***
I, Riu, and our other young friend barely escaped Godel just as the experiments began. We were natives there.
That's why we know more about Godel than anyone. Thinking back on the situation then, even if I don't know the true nature of those experiments, they were definitely connected to what the empire called the mark of the demons. The beastkin living near Godel were all involved too.
Yeah, it's weird that beastkin are suddenly involved, right? But that's for the next story. What matters now is that the two knights who escaped with me crossed into the empire.
We three made a vow. We'd become knights, grow strong, and one day return to Godel. We'd end those brutal experiments. And so we became knights. That's when we met him.
The Hero Eden Sonain.
He was the 1st Knight Order Captain at the time, and he taught us like his own disciples. Of course, all of us who had inherited swords followed him wholeheartedly. Well, the ending wasn't happy, but the man I remember was righteous.
I told him about Godel, and he even investigated it on his own-something the empire neither supported nor acknowledged.
Then he said the witch had the answer and vanished. The empire, which had called him a Hero, acted like they'd forgotten him and didn't search at all. Riu and I parted ways in opinion.
Riu wanted to wait for him in the empire, but I refused. We'd clearly been abandoned by him. Or maybe he'd been abandoned by the empire.
So I left the knight order and pursued the truth on my own. As a wandering knight.
Of course, I knew leaving the knight order and roaming freely was impossible. But I'managed it. I wasn't officially assigned to any order because my sword spirit was missing despite manifesting, and no knight except Riu could stop me.
Of course, even Riu lost to me.
Anyway, the title of Sword Emperor was making some noise back then, but I seem to have been forgotten just like Eden. You two, who follow Lord Graveheim, don't even know my story. Ah, it was Lord Graveheim who helped me leave the empire safely. After I officially beat Riu and things got messy, he stepped in and settled me in Ennaun.
I continued my investigations from Ennaun. It was a long time, but not without results. While traveling the continent gathering stories about Godel, I heard news of Riu and returned to Ennaun. That's when I'met him. The seed merchant from Godel.
Yeah, that's when I heard the story of Godel, who had sealed Agagtur.
***
"You want to hear about the experiments in Godel?"
I'met that strangely shaped seed merchant in an alley in Ennaun. I remember it was raining, and he had a fishy scent. I definitely remembered that smell. It was the same one that wafted around near the monarch's tower in Godel.
"Ah, then that's good. No need to report you to Ennaun's guards."
I noticed the scent and realized he was truly connected to Godel. I considered interrogating him right there, but instead threatened him into sharing info by promising not to call the guards.
"In that case, I should show you the seeds."
He pulled a small seed from his pocket. It was a bizarre thing that scattered black powder. No, it wasn't quite an object-more like an unquenchable flame.
Anyway, I couldn't think of an imperial word for it. Ah, Godel uses a different language from the great empire, naturally.
"Is that the seed? Tell me what's really happening there and why you've brought it here."
"Experiments are ongoing in Godel. Something like turning humans into demons... I just came from a seed cultivator, but it's not something I can confirm for sure... If you could give me just a little guba, I could tell you more..."
I gave him some guba without argument. What did a bit of money matter if he'd share info I couldn't get anywhere else on the continent? Anyway, he continued.
"All I'll say about why I'm here is that it's a deal between the seed cultivators and the imperial grand cathedral."
I pieced it together. This seed cultivator was running experiments in Godel to turn humans into demons, and somehow the grand cathedral-and maybe even the princess-was involved.
"Then you know the situation in Godel. Here's more guba-where can we talk more? I'll even buy all those seeds. They don't look dangerous."
I pressed him for more info.
"How could the escaped prince of Godel not know about the seeds?"
But he knew who I was.
***
"Wait, hold on!"
Gil stopped in the middle of the desert, unable to sort through Gaon's story or decide which of his many questions to ask first. His lips just moved soundlessly.
"Why? This is where it gets important."
"I'mean... the empire is involved in experiments in Godel making something called seeds?"
"No, it's that they're involved in experiments using seeds."
"That's not the point!"
The most important question he'd carefully selected was this: Why was the empire involved in experiments related to the mark of the demons? It would make sense if it was to eliminate it, but from Gaon's story-and the seed merchant's words-this affair was shrouded in far more secrecy and suspicion than that.
"No, until I see proof with my own eyes, I won't be certain about any of this."
Gil shook his head, forcibly holding onto his wavering sense of justice by reserving judgment on his current question. Bison, swallowing his own questions with lips moving just the same, seemed to feel likewise.
And well he might. Beastkin were involved too-beyond his own tribe, the fate of all beastkin.
But as if their reactions were amusing, Gaon continued nonchalantly.
"Seems like me being the escaped prince doesn't matter much. Heh. Anyway, I know what you're both thinking, but the most important mystery in all these stories is just one thing."
Gaon set off again into the Tohou Desert.
"What are the kin of sin?"
But Gil and Bison weren't the only ones mulling over the story inside. Gaon was too. He recalled why these two were necessary for his plan. But he swallowed it. Talking more would lead to no end. So he turned the question back on them.
What, exactly, were the kin of sin?