Ch.229Spoiler(1)

The God of Light and Hope, Luminus, and the Papal Kingdom of Sabre founded solely to worship him.

The Papal Kingdom of Sabre was established immediately after the end of the Demon War, when humans created Sabre to honor Luminus who had saved them.

During the Demon War, Mora and Hirt were also present, but they didn’t accomplish as much as Luminus did.

To explain in more detail, Luminus bestowed blessings upon those who fought on the frontlines, Mora provided a veil to hide the fleeing refugees, and lastly, Hirt gifted the seed of the World Tree to the elves.

Because of these circumstances, Luminus’s achievements stood out more prominently, and especially the weak humans had no choice but to worship him.

In the dire situation of having to fight demons with their bare bodies, it was Luminus who granted them divine power.

As heroes tend to emerge in times of chaos, numerous heroes were born under Luminus’s protection during the Demon War, and many heroes perished gloriously without even leaving their names behind.

The Papal Kingdom of Sabre was established at the end of this process. Any civilization built for a god tends to display tremendous power.

Moreover, unlike Earth, the gods in this world not only exist but continue to exert great influence. Until its social culture developed to its current state, Sabre, intoxicated by its power, committed terrible atrocities.

They arbitrarily defined the demon race as devils and massacred them, and oppressed neighboring countries under the pretext of “holy war.” They persecuted anyone who didn’t believe in Luminus, labeling them as heretics with absurd justifications.

But even Luminus seemed to think this was going too far, quickly intervening through divine revelation, and if ignored, he kindly bestowed “divine punishment.”

Thanks to this, the Papal Kingdom of Sabre was barely able to correct its wayward path, and now it has established itself as both a powerful nation and a neutral country.

Since most humans believe in Luminus, temples have been built in every country, and with financial support, they were financially robust.

However, they had to maintain a strictly neutral stance, so they rarely interfered in political affairs. Unlike in the past, other countries weren’t weak, and they didn’t feel the need to intervene.

At least until the Biography of Xenon and the subsequent emergence of demon worshippers.

“So, Cardinal Kate. May I ask why you’ve summoned us?”

Around a round table emblazoned with the sun symbol representing the Papal Kingdom of Sabre and Luminus, four people were seated at the cardinal points.

Among them, an old man sitting in the east, Deimos, directed a question at Kate who sat opposite him. His caterpillar-like eyebrows nearly covered his eyes, and his abundant beard was impressive.

At this, everyone except Kate shifted their gaze to her with curious expressions. One was a middle-aged man, and the other was a middle-aged woman.

You might have guessed by now, but these people summoned by Kate are the Cardinals of Sabre. In other words, they are figures who possess powerful authority and prestige second only to the Pope.

They must all be busy with their own affairs, yet they gathered at Kate’s request, which gives some indication of how formidable Kate’s influence is.

Unlike other cardinals, she also holds the position of Grand Inquisitor, which puts her a step above the others in terms of rank.

It’s fortunate that Kate isn’t particularly interested in politics; if she had set her mind to it, she could have easily become a power player. Thankfully, her common sense regarding human relationships is somewhat twisted, so the others could relax to some extent.

“Everyone’s here. How long has it been since we all gathered like this?”

Kate responded to the furry cardinal Deimos’s question with a gentle smile. When Kate, famous for her beautiful appearance, smiled, it created an illusion that the surroundings brightened.

Seeing that smile, Deimos let out a hearty laugh, and the middle-aged man cleared his throat and shifted his gaze. It was a smile so beautiful that they could hardly look directly at it.

Except for one person, the middle-aged woman. She looked at Kate with an indecipherable smile and then spoke in a sly tone.

“Still with that beautiful smile, Cardinal Kate. Seeing that you’ve become even more beautiful, I suppose something good happened during your pilgrimage?”

The name of the middle-aged woman who was clearly showing her dislike was Hera. She might have been quite beautiful in the past, but now she was just a wrinkled middle-aged woman.

Others frowned at her mocking tone, showing their displeasure, but Kate, who was the target of the remark, nodded and gave a positive response.

“Yes, that’s right, Cardinal Hera. Something good happened, and I hurried back here.”

“Something good? Could it be…”

At the answer that something good had happened, Hera opened her eyes wide and trailed off. Not just her, but the others as well.

The reason Kate embarked on her pilgrimage is already publicly known. It was to meet Xenon.

Therefore, her return implies that she met Xenon.

“No. I didn’t meet Lord Xenon. I just realized what I needed to do.”

But Kate shook her head, shattering their expectations. She had indeed met Xenon, or rather Issac, but this was a fact that needed to be kept secret at all costs.

At this, Hera responded with a deflated “I thought as much.” But soon after, the middle-aged man addressed Kate.

With a moderately grown beard and connected sideburns, plus distinct features, he was a man who still exuded handsomeness despite being middle-aged.

“What do you mean by what you needed to do? Can you tell us what that is?”

“Of course. But before that, Cardinal Bark?”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Cardinal Bark, how long has it been since you prayed to Lord Luminus?”

After asking this question, she looked around at the others and posed the same question.

“I’m curious about the rest of you as well. How long has it been since you prayed to Lord Luminus?”

“I did so before Cardinal Kate arrived.”

Hera answered first. She still looked uncomfortable, but she was answering the questions diligently.

“The same for me. If I didn’t offer prayers even for a day, Lord Luminus would be disheartened.”

Next, Deimos with his distinctive caterpillar eyebrows answered. His faith was as sincere as his kind appearance suggested.

The last remaining person was Bark. Kate shifted her gaze from Deimos to look at Bark.

When Bark met Kate’s green eyes, he flinched and then gave a bitter smile before carefully answering.

“Ah… I… I’ve been too busy lately to offer prayers.”

“I see.”

“Cardinal Hera knows this too, doesn’t she?”

Perhaps feeling a bit uncomfortable about not having prayed, Bark quickly sought agreement from Hera.

Hera stared at him for a moment, then blushed shyly and quietly spoke.

“…Cardinal Bark has been so backed up with work lately that he probably doesn’t have time to pray. I can vouch for that.”

“I understand. If you’re busy with work, it can’t be helped. Then, Cardinal Bark.”

“Yes?”

“Have you read the new volume of the Biography of Xenon that was recently released?”

This might seem like an abrupt question at first glance. But as you know, the world treats the Biography of Xenon almost like a book of prophecy.

It brought to light the truth about the World Tree root contamination and demon worshippers, and even opened up the possibility of Magic Engines that could advance technology to the next level.

At this point, it would be stranger not to believe it. Especially for clergy who have a close relationship with the gods.

Bark blinked at Kate’s question, then nodded and answered in a reluctant voice.

“Yes, well… I have read it.”

“I see. And the others?”

“I’ve read it too.”

Unlike Deimos who answered in a gentle tone, Hera just nodded. Kate confirmed their responses and smiled even more deeply.

A smile similar to before yet different, somehow eerily so. The other cardinals couldn’t help but flinch, sensing something off.

Meanwhile, Kate slowly looked around and then voiced another question.

“Then, everyone. Do you know the saying ‘it’s darkest under the lamp’?”

“Darkest under…”

“The lamp?”

“You keep saying things I can’t understand.”

As expected, the responses indicated they didn’t understand at all. Kate nodded at these expected reactions.

She herself didn’t understand what that phrase meant until she heard it from Issac. She had just kept it in her heart, too busy dealing with demon worshippers.

But as time passed and after much contemplation, she realized what the phrase meant. Coincidentally, with the release of the 17th volume of the Biography of Xenon, it became clear.

It’s darkest under the lamp. Just hearing it, one might question why it would be dark under a lamp.

But the area under a lamp is pitch black due to its shadow. While the surroundings are brightly lit, there’s darkness that can’t be readily seen.

“It’s darkest under the lamp. Just hearing it, you might not understand what it means. But surprisingly deep darkness lies under a lamp that illuminates its surroundings. It’s a saying used when the cause is right in front of you, but you’re searching elsewhere.”

“How interesting. ‘It’s darkest under the lamp’… Is this an insight you gained during your pilgrimage?”

Deimos slowly stroked his abundant beard and spoke as if impressed. Most clergy who embark on pilgrimages tend to gain insights through physical and mental suffering.

It seems Kate had a similar experience. Deimos was guessing that while he wasn’t sure about physical pain, she might have been mentally strained from dealing with demon worshippers.

But that guess was completely off the mark. While Kate nodded in agreement to Deimos’s words, she also made a shocking statement.

“Yes. That’s why I’m telling you all this fact. That our Sabre is no different.”

“What?”

“What do you mean…!”

“…”

Was that statement shocking? Their reactions varied, but they all looked at Kate with expressions of astonishment.

To say that Sabre, founded for Luminus, is no different from the darkness under a lamp. It’s a dangerous statement that could even lead to charges of blasphemy.

No matter how much of a cardinal Kate is, disrespect towards Luminus is never tolerated.

However, Kate herself didn’t seem to mind, still maintaining her smile and composure. In fact, she went even further.

“Sabre is a lamp so large it can’t be compared to anything else. Accordingly, a massive shadow is cast beneath it. This means that demon worshippers, who are worse than vermin, are hiding under the name of Sabre.”

“H-how can you be so sure? Even for Cardinal Kate, that statement is very dangerous. Can you handle the consequences?”

Even Hera, who usually disliked Kate, seemed to think this was going too far and urgently tried to dissuade her. Not just her, but the others felt the same way.

But Kate was adamant. She met each of their gazes one by one and then spoke in her characteristically gentle voice.

“The Biography of Xenon.”

“What?”

“That’s how I gained my certainty. Since you’ve all read it, this will be easier to explain. The identity of the person who attacked Jin and Lilly at the end is a high-ranking clergy member of the Holy Nation.”

As soon as Kate said this, a quiet silence descended upon the room. Both Deimos and even Hera wore expressions indicating they didn’t know how to react.

And for good reason—the conversation had flowed from “it’s darkest under the lamp” to the Biography of Xenon, making it seem like a stream of consciousness.

With the exception of just one person, Bark. As soon as he heard Kate’s conclusion, his lips trembled, and then he opened them wide.

“Hahahahaha!!”

“…”

At Bark’s sudden burst of laughter, everyone’s attention turned to him. Deimos and Hera still looked like they couldn’t grasp the situation, but only Kate remained calm.

Meanwhile, Bark, who had been laughing hysterically while holding his stomach, wiped away the tears that had formed at the corners of his eyes. How funny must it have been to bring him to tears?

Then, chuckling, he looked at Kate. Kate’s face was still close to expressionless.

“I was wondering what you were talking about… Cardinal Kate.”

“Yes, Cardinal Bark.”

“It’s quite an amusing story. It seems your sense of humor has improved during your pilgrimage.”

Kate tilted her head at Bark’s words. Being deficient in common sense, she couldn’t understand what Bark meant.

Meanwhile, Bark looked at her and clicked his tongue, then spoke in a gentle, patronizing manner, as if scolding a child.

“Cardinal Kate. I’m well aware that the Biography of Xenon is treated as a book of prophecy. I also know that due to the constraints placed by the gods, even Xenon cannot freely reveal his identity.”

“…”

“But you’re making too many assumptions. Sabre is a nation established under the protection of Lord Luminus. It’s a place where not even a shadow can exist.”

A statement showing deep trust in Luminus. Each of Bark’s words was correct, so the other cardinals couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Honestly, everything Kate had said was difficult to accept, and it was all just ‘predictions’ anyway.

Moreover, her statements were of such a level that she could be charged with blasphemy, potentially causing great confusion in Sabre.

“I’m beginning to wonder if Cardinal Kate is the one doubting Lord Luminus. I cautiously ask if it’s because you can’t believe in Lord Luminus’s light that you have such thoughts.”

“…”

“Still, it might be good to be cautious as Cardinal Kate suggests. I’ll look into it…”

“Cardinal Bark.”

“I’ll… Yes?”

Bark had to stop mid-sentence. Clearly, Kate’s voice, which had been gentle until just now, had become incredibly low.

Moreover, a terrifying aura was emanating from her. Unable to control her emotions, a palpable killing intent was seeping out.

As everyone swallowed hard and turned their attention to Kate, Bark could clearly see it.

“How dare you…”

The face of a fanatic filled with rage.

“How dare you doubt?”

Purer than anything else.

“His words?”

Madness.