Ch.228Report on the Collapse of Patience (21)

The once-brilliant spear was now blackened. What had once shone bright enough to burn one’s eyes now spewed black smoke. The smoke was so caustic that it made the stone walls crack with a harsh sound whenever it touched them.

Yet Kain did not back down. Despite countless collisions, the scabbard remained unmarked. It was still light, solid, and blunt.

Günther’s attacks grew more persistent, as if frustrated that Kain, smaller than a little finger, kept deflecting him. His wildly swinging spear demolished the fortress walls. Every time he rolled his feet, the knights felt their knees weaken.

The knights weren’t idle either. They shot arrows, offered prayers, and launched holy fire. But the arrows bounced off, the flames were consumed by other flames, and there was no one to answer their prayers.

His body, covered in scabs, was different from before. While Kain bought time, they somehow managed to thrust weapons into him, but swords broke, axes chipped, and halberds shattered.

“Penance! Penance! Sweet and joyful penance!” Günther sang in ecstasy. Even this was a sweet flagellation to him.

“Forgive me for allowing evil to persist!” A hero who didn’t fear martyrdom. He seemed to admire Arius, the Apostle of Temperance, who had sacrificed himself first.

“I am not wrong! I do not regret! I follow only Your will, so use me as Your instrument!”

Was faith rewarding him? Blood boiled from his wounds like lava. The wounded angel spread his blood-soaked wings. Gripping his spear firmly with both hands, he struck down. Struck down. Struck down!

Kain didn’t let go of his sword. Though it felt like a mountain pressing down on him, he endured. His posture remained steady, but there was nothing he could do about the spear’s weight.

He had to hold on. Somehow he needed to restrain this monster. Until they found a way to win, he couldn’t afford to lose.

But in the next moment, Günther took flight. Perhaps due to his injuries, he couldn’t fly high. But that slight flight was enough—enough to crush and pulverize his irritating opponent.

Kain knew he couldn’t block it or dodge it. Even if the magic sword could withstand it, there was nothing he could do against that weight and pressure.

The priests knelt. The knights’ screams could be heard. But he didn’t retreat. Instead, he changed his stance from purely defensive to a thrusting attack.

A cut for a cut. A thrust for a thrust. But stronger. Just as Liliana had taught him. Time slowed down. Günther’s spear moved slower than walking.

‘Come on.’ Kain waited.

He gripped the handle tightly. He thrust forward the utterly ordinary magic sword, the magic sword called hope.

Still the spear didn’t come. In the tedious wait, thoughts intruded.

Demons descending from the sky, not from the ground. An angel rampaging on earth in religious fervor.

A boy who received a revelation that he was a hero, rose from death, only to realize it was all meaningless. A manufactured Demon King.

And a sword that wouldn’t be drawn from its scabbard. Yet grandly bearing the name of hope. And himself, clutching that hope.

What differentiates monsters from humans? What separated heroes from those who weren’t? What difference was there between that fanatic and his own beliefs?

Both he and Günther had hidden their identities as they worked. Both moved for a greater cause. Both experienced failure. And both tried to fix their failures.

Both wanted the world to improve.

But why.

Why?

The spear touched the tip of the scabbard. A slight impact. Kain closed his eyes. The realization reached his body before his mind.

He had lost.

This was unavoidable.

It wasn’t about technique or luck. He was overwhelmed by pure strength. He felt no resentment. He had blocked it with this scabbard that couldn’t cut even a sheet of paper—that was enough.

Because there were people behind him. And they had finally captured Laios. They had uncovered the truth about the heroes.

That was enough.

‘I have walked the path I needed to walk.’

His feet slid back.

‘Said what I needed to say.’

His knees buckled.

‘Accomplished what I needed to accomplish.’

His body bent.

In the silence, Kain closed his eyes. He waited for the end. The strength left his grip. He let go of the sword. Finally, the moment of freedom had arrived.

Then.

The sword’s handle stuck to his hand.

As if alive, it moved on its own. Light leaked from between the scabbard and the handguard. Faint and weak, but enough to awaken the eyes of one in darkness.

Like a watchman awaiting dawn sensing the rising sun beyond the horizon. Like someone cold and tired finding joy in rest, knowing those behind them will enjoy another precious day.

– What makes a person human?

The question flowed into Kain’s hand. His frozen hand grew hot. Strength returned to his arm as blood circulated. His stopped heart beat once more.

– What separates humans from beasts?

– What separated you from your adversary?

– What distinguishes you from those whose hearts have broken?

– What made you who you are?

It was neither a man’s voice nor a woman’s. Not a child’s nor an elder’s. It was questionable whether it was even human or perhaps a beast mimicking human speech.

But it was speaking. It was asking Kain.

He hesitated. Too many answers came to mind. It was as good as being unable to speak at all. So he chose one.

“Hope.”

– That is not your answer.

The scabbard closed again. The light disappeared.

– But neither is it his answer. Patience that has lost patience will receive only unripe fruit, and all efforts thus far will be in vain.

But it didn’t let go of Kain’s hand. Rather, it pulled him forward. Instinctively, Kain gripped the sword again and thrust it forward.

The angel’s spear shattered. The blunt, dull tip of the scabbard broke through the solid, sharp spear as it advanced. The crumpled spear burst from the angel’s hand. The angel with the severed wrist wailed.

“My God, my God! Why have You forsaken me!”

The force holding Kain’s hand also disappeared. The sword was just as blunt and dull as before. Just an ordinary sword with nothing special about it.

The angel’s left fist struck down at Kain.

Snap.

The angel’s hand was bound in chains. Much darker than those of the priests. Even darker than what had been made earlier.

“Maria!”

With relief, Kain looked back. But his smile quickly faded. Maria was forcing herself to smile. She looked anxious and uneasy.

With an ominous feeling, Lily also looked at Maria. It was because she sensed something terribly wrong, something dangerous happening.

Maria moved her lips.

‘I’m sorry.’

She raised her left hand. She snapped her fingers. Fire erupted. Black flames. Darkness devouring darkness, blacker than night—it was pitch-black fire.

“I was right! I was right! That is a demon! That is…!”

Snap.

A line was drawn. Black and thin, yet straight. A merciless and straight line beyond God’s providence. A line that only humans could draw.

Maria trembled. She forcibly suppressed something rising from within her, making choking sounds. The power she had rejected all her life, the power she hadn’t properly trained, but which had been suppressed inside her body waiting for its time, defied her.

“Cough.”

She coughed. A stream of blood flowed down her mouth. Lily put down her broken weapon and ran to her. But Maria shook her head. Looking straight at the angel, she finally pronounced judgment.

“The heretic.”

Maria pushed in her left hand.

“I destroy.”

The thorns embedded in the angel’s body swelled. From the center of his chest, they expanded in the shape of a cross.

Downward, they pierced through his groin and into the ground; sideways, they burst through his shoulders, arms, elbows, and into his palms. Piercing through his neck and above his split head, a ring of light burned brilliantly before finally extinguishing.

The angel crucified on the black cross struggled. But eventually he trembled, lamenting. As if to protest, he looked up at the sky, but there were only demons there.

“It is not finished.”

With an utterly desolate soliloquy, the angel dropped his head.

Icy rain fell from the blackened sky. It was like needles, so sharp that it cut people’s faces and tore their clothes.

Lightning and thunder shook the sky. The cross was lifted up. The demons could be seen rejoicing, tearing at the angel’s flesh.

Everyone turned away from the sky. There was much to do. They had to save those who had fallen. They cleared away stones and pulled out the injured.

Kain and Lily ran to Maria. Under the stark white lightning, her face was excessively pale.

“I, I was, going to, to say. I was going to, say…”

“It’s okay. Stop. Please stop.” Lily hurriedly covered her body. Together with Kain, they supported her. It wasn’t critical, but she needed to be moved to a comfortable place.

“I’ll take care of her.” Lily nodded. Kain stood up with the scabbard. He approached Laios, who was still kneeling.

A bear-like man blocked his way. He was holding something long in his hand. Kain tensed briefly, but Alegerieri was extending Kain’s staff. Kain accepted it with thanks. But Alegerieri shook his head.

“You have opened our eyes.”

His tone was bitter. But he was the Grand Marshal. He had much to do, much to manage.

“This one, will you take him away?”

In the space he stepped aside from, Laios was kneeling. He was captured and neutralized in a net of light.

“I will.”

“Then do so.”

Kain looked at Alegerieri questioningly. The Grand Marshal of the Mercy Knights looked up at the sky. He saw the demons tearing at the dead angel’s body.

Something like black smoke fell from the sky. Crawling like a snake, it entered Laios’s body. Laios twitched as if itchy, but didn’t do anything else.

“Does he still look human to you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“We cannot hold beasts accountable for their sins. They won’t improve. But we can hold humans accountable. Because they can improve. Of course, they can also get worse or stay the same. That happens more often. But I still think it’s worth trying.”

“Do you believe in people?”

Kain shook his head.

“No. That person will live as they please. It’s their life. But we who deal with them shouldn’t be that way. Our attitude isn’t dependent on them, but is determined by ourselves. At least that’s what I believe.”

The rain grew heavier. The calls of staff officers could be heard from all directions.

“There are supply wagons at the eastern exit. They will help.”

“Thank you.”

“Killing monsters and saving people is also the duty of our knightly order.”

Alegerieri left. It was to quell the confusion.

There was much to do, much to manage, much to report. Everyone was in shock. Even if they moved according to their training now, great confusion would come tomorrow.

That’s why Grand Executor Alegerieri didn’t bother telling his subordinates about the four people, one sword, and one supply wagon that had disappeared.

“Stand up.”

Kain said. Laios looked up at him blankly. As Kain was about to urge him again, he spoke.

“Take it off.”

The shadow covering his body had disappeared, but he was still wearing his helmet. Kain grabbed his helmet and slowly lifted it. As soon as it was removed, it vanished into smoke.

There are no heroes. He wasn’t the Black Knight who had terrorized the world.

What was there was a young man with brown hair. An oval face. Distinct features. Not enough to catch the eye of every passerby, but not a common face either.

His face was soaked with rain, ice, and tears. As if annoyed by the hair sticking to his face, he frowned slightly.

“…I was not a hero.”

“No. That never existed from the beginning.”

He bit his lip.

“Ismene too…?”

After a moment’s consideration, Kain made his decision. There was no reason to hide anything now.

“Asas doesn’t create heroes; it only causes addiction and hallucinations. Even the fruit, if eaten raw, is nothing more than a tasty fruit.”

“The Demon King.”

“The Demon King was manufactured. The revelation too was a lie.”

Laios’s shoulders trembled. But Kain knelt on one knee.

“We must go, Laios.”