Ch.215215. Time of Trial

The execution ground reminiscent of Rome’s Colosseum had transformed into a debate hall for the second time.

The audience seats still had silence magic cast on them to prevent disruption of the debate, and in the VIP section, the King of Orpheus and his close associates were seated, looking down at us.

The arrangement itself was a bit unusual.

Rather than having Lucia and me on the same side, it was more like a three-way confrontation, with Mul joining in, creating a triangular formation where we all faced each other.

Me, the Dark Spiritmaster.

The Saintess and the bishops following her.

And Mul with the bishops following him.

Though divided this way, ultimately the debate would flow with Lucia and me cooperating.

“First, I’d like to remind everyone that the purpose of this debate is to discuss the meaning and qualifications of the Dark Spiritmaster position.”

The voice of Arch Mage Rockpellican, who was moderating, resonated through the mana-infused microphone.

“I ask the Reform Faction, who raised the objection, to present their opinion first.”

The Reform Faction referred to Mul and the bishops following him.

The microphone in front of Mul lit up blue, and he smiled gently while looking around at the audience.

“Greetings, Greyford. Everyone living in this beautiful city like a divine beast.”

Still.

His smile contained a devilish charm that reassured others.

If it were just about first impressions, I’d have to admit he had the upper hand.

“Today, I have come here to reveal the truth to all of you.”

He continued speaking in a gentle voice, extending both hands, enchanting others.

A voice like the smell of freshly baked bread that anyone would like.

“However, this truth is not some deeply hidden secret. Nor is it some profound and dark mystery of the continent that you don’t know about. It’s a very simple fact that we all know.”

Mul took a breath before continuing.

“It’s about life after death. The glorious time that the gods have prepared for us.”

For a moment, his warm smile looked like that of a snake to my eyes.

Very cunning, and enjoying deceiving others.

“Those who serve the Goddess Hertia become beloved angels after death. Those who serve the Goddess Yustia rest in the goddess’s embrace, and those who serve God Bellas will hold feasts soaked in pleasure and joy in his palace!”

Life is hard.

Religion typically emphasizes the happiness reserved for people after such hardships, enchanting them.

If only that were true.

“But look at this man before you! He calls himself a Dark Spiritmaster! He claims to act for the dead! Yet he guarantees nothing after death!”

As a Dark Spiritmaster, I didn’t go around explaining to people that death is nothing but peaceful rest.

That was ultimately a truth that would shake the foundations of religion, and I didn’t want to break their deeply rooted truths.

From the beginning, religion meant something slightly different to me.

It was one of the measures.

A kind of fence.

Society functions and order is maintained because we act according to laws.

Religion was one of the strongest laws of order that individuals hold in their hearts.

Regardless of whether it was true or false, I also believed that religion was necessary for the balance and peace of the continent.

So I didn’t reveal the truth.

“Deus Verdi! Why don’t you bring them to God after death? No, you probably can’t!”

His finger points at me.

Unwavering, resolute.

“Why? This man who used holy power. This man who used God’s power right here, claiming to be chosen by God. Why would that be impossible for him?”

I had anticipated this.

When thinking about what would be my most painful weakness, it was the holy power I had shown at the first great debate.

That was the most powerful weapon Mul had brought today.

“It’s because he wasn’t chosen by God. The holy power he wielded was temporary, and at that time, he was merely committing fraud.”

After all, Romulus is also a god.

It was natural to expect that he would grasp and attack this point.

Lucia glanced at me.

I responded with a gesture not to worry to her concerned eyes.

“Did I say something wrong, Deus Verdi?”

At Mul’s question, the gazes of everyone around turned to me. The sensation of thousands of needles pricking my body.

“Do you know why he’s been strutting around the kingdom under the name of Dark Spiritmaster?!”

Mul’s voice grew more intense. With clear hostility, he shouted.

“Because he’s a Black Mage! As a necromancer who handles souls! He has only deceived us all in a wicked way! Far from guiding souls to God’s embrace, he has only filled his own belly!”

It was fortunate that the audience’s voices couldn’t be heard thanks to the silence magic.

Otherwise, there would have been such an uproar of jeers that it would have been difficult to proceed.

“I believe he should not be in the position of Dark Spiritmaster! How can we entrust those who have departed to such a man!”

Mul, openly criticizing me, met my eyes. Pretending to be a zealous prophet executing justice.

He was acting.

After Mul finished speaking, it was my turn.

The microphone in front of me, illuminated with blue light, would capture even my breathing and resonate throughout the debate hall.

In a situation where I had to be careful with every single word.

“That’s right, I cannot wield holy power.”

I boldly declared a frontal breakthrough.

Though silence magic was cast, I could still gauge the citizens’ actions and atmosphere.

Even amid the stirring scene, I continued speaking.

“The reason I could wield holy power at that time was because I had obtained a sacred object called the Holy Grail through a coincidental opportunity.”

Since some people had doubted the existence of the Holy Grail itself, my mentioning it was shocking.

To the increasingly restless audience, I continued my bombshell statements.

“And I returned it to the Saintess here.”

“That’s correct.”

Lucia nodded in agreement.

“I confirmed it personally, and Deus Verdi returned the Holy Grail to the church.”

Mul’s brow slightly furrowed as he looked back and forth between Lucia and me.

The bishops supporting Mul behind him also seemed disturbed, showing signs of wavering.

“No, why didn’t you reveal such an important thing until now?!”

A voice of condemnation burst out simultaneously. One of the bishops supporting Mul finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“I thought it would cause confusion.”

Lucia maintained her composure and answered calmly.

“Although it was an act for the kingdom, he ultimately deceived everyone.”

“For the kingdom?! Is that something that should come from the mouth of a Saintess!”

“I, I… ugh!”

“What would Stella have said if she were here!”

The bishops on Mul’s side clicked their tongues and sighed toward the Saintess who was taking the side of me, a Black Mage.

Mul deliberately said nothing but didn’t stop the criticism either.

He was just enjoying the flow coming to his side with a smile still on his face.

Like a surfer riding a wave.

[Why are they calling me?]

Stella, standing quietly beside Lucia, added a word with a sulky expression.

“How is pretending to wield holy power a lie for the kingdom?!”

“That’s fraud! Saintess Lucia! I fear what sigh God will breathe seeing you!”

“Unable to wield holy power yet sitting in the position of Dark Spiritmaster? That’s absurd! He’s unqualified!”

With Mul not speaking, the bishops behind him thought it was their turn and attacked even more fiercely.

But naturally, the bishops behind the Saintess also fought back.

“Yet Saintess Lucia still wields holy power! This means God still chooses her and acknowledges her choices!”

“Even if the holy power was false, we should look at his path and achievements!”

“In the first place! The position of Dark Spiritmaster was chosen by His Majesty! What does holy power have to do with it?!”

Watching them fight among themselves, raising their voices while leaving the main debaters alone, I felt like a general leading an army.

Thud!

“I ask for silence.”

When Arch Mage Rockpellican, today’s moderator, gently struck the table with his mana-infused fist, mana scattered like a wave from that point.

The hall immediately fell silent.

Rockpellican’s gaze slowly turned to me.

“It was still Deus Verdi’s speaking time. Please continue.”

He added that he would give Mul a speaking time penalty because his bishops had interrupted.

I brought my mouth close to the microphone again.

“I am deeply sorry for deceiving you with holy power, but I needed an opportunity.”

It was natural for them to fixate on holy power. Lucia had also asked if it would be better to get through this time using the Holy Grail again.

“With that opportunity, I have walked this land busily for the past year.”

But I deliberately chose not to.

It’s been less than a year since last year’s great debate began.

A judgment seat that came a little early.

“Bearing the name of Dark Spiritmaster, I have comforted many dead and sent many evil spirits to rest.”

Had Dark Spiritmaster Deus Verdi given confidence to the citizens over the past year?

“I have shown you my best, and now it’s time for you to choose.”

Had all the work I had done moved their hearts?

“Do you need me?”

This place was for confirmation.

* * *

The debate continued vigorously.

Since it became known that Deus Verdi couldn’t wield holy power, our side seemed to be losing ground.

However, as many people who had received help from him appeared as witnesses, the tide gradually began to turn.

“At that time, there were many evil spirits in the academy. For whatever reason, thanks to PROFESSOR Deus Verdi, the academy was able to return to its original state without a single casualty!”

Starting with the pot-bellied dean of Robern Academy who appeared as a surprise witness.

“During the Marias tribe’s invasion, I saw many souls interfering with the great warriors. Not only that, but he also spent days and nights saying he would comfort them.”

The attack from the tribes from the Marias Great Forest in the east.

A soldier who was on the battlefield at that time testified to Deus’s achievements.

“And so Saintess Stella departed with a smile. She was saved by the many people she had saved. It was thanks to the Dark Spiritmaster.”

Finally, when the head of Ellia Convent testified with tears, even Mul’s bishops couldn’t help but be perplexed.

The important thing was.

No one could testify that he had forcibly handled souls like other necromancers.

In fact, even the bishops supporting Mul had followed Deus’s various actions and investigated thoroughly, but couldn’t find a single piece of evidence or witness.

Their knowledge of Black Magic was too narrow to commit perjury.

It would take considerable courage to present false witnesses before Deus, a Black Mage.

If they made a mistake, there would be an irreversible backlash.

“The tide seems to be turning? Owen! Bring some popcorn!”

Findenai, watching the situation through the screen connected to the waiting room, exclaimed loudly.

The fact that not only was Deus Verdi defending himself, but many people were stepping forward to defend him.

For Findenai, it felt good to see the man she loved being acknowledged.

“As expected of the Dark Spiritmaster!”

Owen, who brought the popcorn, was also moved that so many people recognized the good deeds of Deus, who was like a mentor to him.

“……”

Aria, who was with the two, was also cheering with her fists clenched.

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking from outside.

Instantly, the gazes of all three turned to the door.

“Don’t open it.”

Findenai, with her sharp senses, instinctively realized that the presence outside was an enemy.

She immediately took out an axe, pushed Aria and Owen back, and the moment she opened the door.

“Hello.”

Standing there were the believers who had entered Greyford following Mul.

All of them were women, smiling brightly, but with a unique creepiness in their smiles.

“Do you want your head split open?”

Findenai growled deliberately as a warning, but the woman standing at the front of them reached past Findenai.

She pointed at Aria.

“We’ve come to escort the savior of this land.”