Cursed Scripture (2)
Cursed Scripture (2)
At the center of the underground study, a massive stone tablet stood alone.
It didn’t look like an ordinary piece of rock. Its surface was pitch black to the point of being ominous, and the engraved letters were as red as blood.
Over ten skulls were clinging tightly to the stone tablet, as if trying to cover the engraved words.
Johan was a little taken aback, but he spoke as calmly as possible.
“So you finally found the Forbidden Archive.”
The stone tablet before his eyes was an item that had been sleeping in the Forbidden Archive.
“The lamp shines brightest under the lampstand. I didn’t expect it to be sitting so openly beneath the lord’s castle.”
The Miyatro Territory was vast. Since the Abyss was included within the territory, people assumed the baron’s treasure vault was buried within the Abyss.
Because of this, no bandits or grave robbers easily targeted the treasure vault.
Illea was different.
She did not fear the Abyss, and she had already roughly grasped the location of the Forbidden Archive.
It was thanks to the legacy of the Great Witch ‘Rahel.’
The Forbidden Relic sleeping within the Forbidden Archive had continued to lure Illea.
In a sense, she had a guide. Thanks to this, Illea had been able to become the first to discover the Forbidden Archive in the original work.
“You found it sooner than I expected.”
“You’re not very surprised.”
“I knew you would find it eventually. It was just sooner than I anticipated.”
“It’s all thanks to you, young master.”
Illea smiled with her eyes as she looked toward the round table.
Raguel was sitting there. He flinched and lowered his head.
“Y-Johan. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to……”
In order to access the Forbidden Archive, the blood and fingerprint of a Miyatro family member were needed. Without Raguel’s help, even Illea would not have been able to descend into the Forbidden Archive.
Illea patted Raguel’s back and spoke.
“Johan, don’t scold him too much. It was because of my suggestion that the young master had no choice.”
She must have used some sort of magical trick.
‘In the original, she used Baron Grian, but this time it’s Raguel.’
The development had changed a bit.
That level of change was of no concern.
“Raguel, don’t lose heart. I’m not blaming you.”
Illea let out a small sound of admiration.
“You’re so magnanimous. Since it’s you, Johan, you wouldn’t mind sharing the Forbidden Archive with me, would you? It’s really…… beyond words.”
Her eyes flickered with desire.
Anyone who laid eyes on the Forbidden Archive would be the same.
All the more so for a witch, she could not help but feel greater interest.
Johan fell silent for a moment in thought.
‘It was inevitable that Illea would discover the Forbidden Archive.’
He had prepared for this long ago.
He had considered various solutions and run simulations according to the situation, but in truth, the conclusion was always the same.
‘Monopolizing the Forbidden Archive is impossible.’
There was no reason to restrict access, and trying to forcibly stop her would only cause a major conflict.
Since they were working together, it was best to avoid damaging the relationship.
For now, it was right to share.
Johan nodded.
“You found it with your own effort, so you have the right to the Forbidden Archive as well.”
“That’s a very unexpected reaction.”
“However, rules will be necessary. Since we will be using it together.”
“I agree. What specific rules?”
“We’ll discuss the details later. For now, I would like to hear your explanation about the Cursed Scripture.”
Johan looked at the massive stone tablet.
“As expected, you recognize it.”
The true identity of the stone tablet was the Cursed Scripture.
To be exact, it was the original Cursed Scripture. Chapter 1, among them.
“Why did you take it out?”
“To research your identity, Johan.”
“With the Cursed Scripture?”
“Yes. It will be the first step in our research.”
The Cursed Scripture was a cursed relic that automatically recorded deeds that contributed to the world’s end.
If the Bible was a hymn for heroes and gods, the Cursed Scripture would be a requiem for demons and apostles.
What kind of research could she possibly conduct with such a thing? Johan couldn’t understand.
“Explain it so I can understand.”
Illea smiled softly and nodded.
“Before we begin, let me share a few of my suspicions.”
She approached Johan closely.
Since the sun had already set, Johan had transformed into his demon form.
“Like now, Johan changes species depending on day and night. There is no precedent for such a constitution. Furthermore, you spoke from birth and possessed perfect perception. According to my father’s testimony, at least. Is this all correct?”
There was another reason regarding language and perception, but Johan could not tell the truth.
After all, he couldn’t confess that he had possessed a character inside a novel.
“It’s as you say.”
“Additionally, Johan can directly intervene with souls. Using that power, you threatened Baron Grian and turned the knight Rail into a puppet.”
It was true. As a side effect of the authority ‘Soulkill,’ Johan could even see the souls of others.
He could even identify the Guihon that witches possessed.
Johan’s gaze naturally dropped to Illea’s chest.
“So you can see it. My true form.”
A dark red Guihon was flickering there.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Please don’t stare too much. It’s embarrassing.”
She jokingly hugged her chest.
Johan let out a sigh and spoke.
“We’re getting off track. Back to the point, what about direct intervention with souls?”
“I’ll be direct. Johan’s authority is extremely blasphemous. It’s a power that challenges the authority of God. According to the scriptures, even if the body is destroyed, the soul is eternal. And when the body dies, the remaining soul is supposed to ascend, but your power takes even that opportunity away. It denies the very doctrine of the Order.”
The people of this world believed in the afterlife.
The authority Soulkill robbed them of the chance to return to God’s embrace.
From a religious standpoint, it was undeniably an atrocious authority.
“It’s hard to believe such power would be allowed to a mortal.”
“So, what’s your conclusion?”
“One last thing. Johan did not even flinch in the presence of the Apostle. Rather, you trampled him.”
No matter how strong one’s mental strength was, before a great being, they would instinctively shrink back.
Johan hadn’t shown a single sign of that.
It was inexplicable.
“From these circumstances, I have reached a single hypothesis.”
Illea pointed to the Cursed Scripture.
“Would you like to touch it? If my thoughts are correct, there will surely be a reaction.”
The original Cursed Scripture could only be read by apostles.
“……I see what your hypothesis is.”
Illea was suspecting Johan of being an ‘Apostle.’
“But you’re wrong. There are only twelve apostles in this world. It’s an unspoken rule.”
Illea shook her head.
“We know nothing about this world, not even the tip of the iceberg. We lack far too many pieces to be certain of anything. If we remain tied to truths and unspoken rules, we won’t even uncover the outline of the world.”
It wasn’t wrong, but Johan was skeptical.
There was a valid reason why the apostles numbered twelve.
He knew this because he had read the original work.
As she observed Johan’s expression, Illea spoke.
“There’s nothing to lose by trying. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Johan shrugged.
“Well, at most I’ll just lose a few minutes.”
It wasn’t much of a loss.
Johan approached the massive stone tablet.
He slowly began to reach out his hand.
A subtle expectation flickered in Illea’s eyes.
In contrast, Johan’s expression was emotionless.
As Raguel hiccuped, Johan’s hand touched the Cursed Scripture.
***
In a dark alleyway, during a late hour under a curfew, a man and woman in black hoods were whispering.
“That’s all you have to report?”
“Yes, Inquisitor. It’s only the first day, so there’s nothing special to report yet.”
“No, that’s enough. The fact that the baron doesn’t know the whereabouts of the knight Rail alone allows us to make many inferences.”
“……To be honest, it’s understandable that the baron wouldn’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“The actual power in the lord’s castle is not held by Baron Grian Miyatro. He has stepped back from the frontlines of power.”
“Have you identified who has replaced him?”
“Not with certainty, but it seems to be the baron’s eldest son. I actually spoke with that boy about everything.”
“The baron’s eldest son should still be a child, shouldn’t he? And blind, too.”
“I heard they brought in an illegitimate child as an heir due to succession issues. His name is Johan Miyatro. Despite being quite young, he was very sharp, and it didn’t seem like he had any difficulty ruling the territory.”
“It sounds like he left quite an impression on you. Let’s hope it’s not too subjective.”
“……His reputation inside the castle is also excellent.”
“Very well.”
The inquisitor muttered softly.
“A Gakgwi appearing in the South, an Apostle manifesting for the first time in 500 years, and now a sudden appearance of an illegitimate child who’s taken over the territory. This once peaceful backwater has become quite chaotic.”
The inquisitor lifted his gaze as if looking at the distant mountains.
The towering lord’s castle filled his pupils.
“How ominous.”
The old fortress, weathered by time, was more dignified than worn, but it was too ominous to be called beautiful.
The mist surrounding the castle looked like a serpent, and the silence that lay all around felt like a voiceless scream.
The inquisitor shivered at the chill.
He spoke.
“Shaferia, let’s end here for today. Continue investigating the matter regarding the knight Rail. I will continue working outside like this.”
“Yes, understood. Then I will take my leave……”
She stopped.
“But Inquisitor, what is that in your cloak?”
A purplish light was leaking from the inquisitor’s chest.
He immediately reached into his cloak.
A pitch-black book popped out.
Shaferia’s face turned to one of confusion.
“W-why do you have the Cursed Scripture!”
“Shh! Quiet.”
Possession of the Cursed Scripture was considered one of the Seven Deadly Sins. If caught, one would be strapped to the torture rack.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Inquisitors would not be punished for possessing the Cursed Scripture.
Due to the nature of their work, they often confiscated the Cursed Scripture from heretics and sometimes used it when disguising themselves as heretics.
Inquisitors and the Cursed Scripture were inseparable.
Shaferia knew this well.
That was not why she was surprised.
“……Why is the Cursed Scripture glowing?”
“I don’t know either. This has never happened before.”
The inquisitor quietly stared at the Cursed Scripture. An ominous purplish light continued to pour out from the pitch-black book.
“Stand back for a moment.”
Bracing himself, he opened the book.
The expressions of the two beneath the black hoods turned to shock.
New text was being recorded in the Cursed Scripture.
『 Chapter 13, Book of Deceit and Chaos 』
─ Raise your head, Mother of All Evil, let us sing the thirteenth end.
Letters as red as blood continued to be engraved.
The Cursed Scripture, which had contained up to twelve chapters, was now writing its thirteenth chapter.
It could mean only one thing.
The birth of a new throne. The thirteenth apocalypse was beginning.
The inquisitor immediately tucked the Cursed Scripture back into his cloak.
He spoke in a trembling voice.
“I need to contact the central office immediately. We’ll meet again soon.”
“Wh-what should I do?”
“Stay put for now.”
With those words, the inquisitor hurriedly turned and left.
Left alone, Shaferia blankly looked up at the night sky.
The things she had experienced in the past few days had been so extreme that it didn’t feel real.
It felt like she was dreaming.
“……What on earth is happening.”
She drew a pentagram in the air toward the moon.
“Great Saint Marziel. Please allow us to overcome this chaos.”
Whether her prayer reached or not, it scattered into the moonlight.
Shaferia remained in that spot for a long time.
The shadow that had been watching her disappeared into the alleyway.