Ch.252The Black Coast of Yenisei. Lorelei Federation (8)

Year of Extinction 1202, August 22.

At last, the peace negotiations have begun.

Kairalie and its allied nations agreed to acknowledge themselves as war criminal states and admit to their illegal interference with black pearl harvesting and deliberate environmental pollution. They also agreed not to maintain any regular military forces for the next 30 years and to pay 20% of their national budget as war reparations for the same period.

Defeat on all fronts, along with the complete annihilation of their navy and air force, had made any further strategic movement impossible for the Kairalie Alliance. Though they tried to hold out as long as possible, they ultimately collapsed.

Upon hearing this news, citizens of the Lorelai Federation took to the streets in celebration. Days later, the returning federal troops held a grand military parade, injecting the citizens with a lethal dose of national pride.

“We’ve won! Long live the Federation! Let the Alliance fall into the abyss!”

“This is poetic justice! The righteous shall always triumph under heaven!”

From my high vantage point, I watched the soldiers marching in goose-step and the crowds cheering them on.

How childishly they rejoice…

“Luminator. Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Ah… it’s quite to my liking. The other mercenary captains could have enjoyed such a feast as well.”

“They aren’t Apostles, are they? Even we aren’t in such a comfortable position. What good are black pearls if we don’t have money to spend right now?”

This was the finest hotel in the Lorelai Federation’s capital, and they had rented the entire penthouse to host a lavish banquet in my honor for my significant contribution to the victory.

Naturally, the host was the Federation’s Chairman, who praised us greatly and willingly paid 1.3 million gold coins in a single payment.

“I suppose that’s true. Just because I work as a mercenary like them doesn’t mean we’re of the same rank.”

I am an Apostle.

An Apostle is the lowest extension of a deity, a terminal, whose very existence possesses the power to drive away evil and unholy things.

For example, as the Apostle of the Sun, a collection of heat and light, dark magic users cannot cast any spells in my presence.

Much like how Crusader, the Apostle of Karil, drives surrounding soldiers into a frenzied state by his mere existence.

It would be fair to say that placing such beings on the same level as ordinary humans would be an insult to those who have ascended to the seat of Apostlehood.

Of course, the hardship ordinary people face when confronting such transcendent beings goes without saying.

“What are your plans now? Aside from reconstruction.”

“Well… first, I’ll reorganize the remaining troops into a lightly armed rapid response force, then move on to maintaining public order in Kairalie and its allies. We’ll extract some technology, kidnap talented individuals, and build up our national power. In 30 years, the name Kairalie will no longer be found on this map.”

The Chairman’s words were laced with cold anger and deep-seated hatred.

It was a natural outcome after nearly 1,000 years of accumulated resentment. Even a grudge formed overnight can justify the annihilation of an entire family; how much more so when that period spans a millennium—it would be painful to even speak of.

“Then you’d better act quickly. Once a sword is drawn, it’s not easy to sheathe it again. The wicked always end up plotting evil schemes.”

As I said this, the Federation Chairman furrowed his brow and nodded.

Perhaps today would be the last day he could relax, as he would likely become much busier from now on.

“Anyway, it wasn’t a bad banquet. I’ll be on my way now. The repairs should be completed by now.”

“Farewell, Luminator. Please bring the light of the sun and moon back to this world.”

I left the hotel, receiving the Chairman’s farewell.

It was time to begin my pilgrimage across the Yenisei continent.

*

I returned to the Sky Warden.

The damaged armor plates had been smoothly welded back together, and the fallen turrets and gun emplacements had been impeccably restored.

“My lord. How was the banquet?”

I saw the division commander and his staff officers who had come to greet me, and proceeded with them into the vessel.

“It was fine. Though it was too luxurious for my taste. You should have seen how wide their eyes got when I told them I came from the streets.”

“Haha. That would have been a sight to see. Anyway… the repairs are complete. Thanks to the local residents who went all out to help us.”

“The radiance of the sun has blessed them as well. It is everyone’s right to step forward for those who have sacrificed for them.”

After saying this, I took a deep breath, savoring my final breath of Lorelai air.

Pilgrimage is such a distant journey. Despite having come this far, I’ve only visited the fourth continent.

Faerun, Miriam, Meridia, and now this Yenisei continent…

By the time I complete my pilgrimage of the nine remaining continents, how much stronger will I have become?

“Have all the soldiers boarded?”

“Yes. We’ve also taken on all the locally recruited soldiers.”

“Good. Then let’s depart now. Begin takeoff.”

“Understood!”

-By our lord’s command! Sky Warden, commence takeoff!-

Whirrrr….

Along with the radio transmission, the sound of engines starting resonated through the frame.

Soon, a heavy sensation of ascent enveloped my body, and as the Sky Warden gradually distanced itself from the ground, I headed toward the bridge with my staff officers.

*

As always, the Yenisei continent had four famous landmarks.

The historical site was ‘Moros Gorge.’

During the Dark Age, it was where humanity first began to counterattack against monsters.

In that time without the sun, humans were one-sidedly hunted by creatures of darkness. It was here on the Yenisei continent that people first lured monsters into the gorge, surrounded them, and annihilated them.

After the sun rose, this historical fact was discovered while organizing relics from the Dark Age. They say that even now, the bones of the slaughtered monsters form layers in the gorge’s strata.

The most beautiful place was the ‘Seraphim Floating Mountain Range.’

It was a peculiar place where an entire mountain range levitated in the air. The view from its high altitude where one could touch the clouds with their hands, and the waterfalls flowing from the floating mountains, were said to be the epitome of scenic beauty.

The place of great religious significance was Lake Ceres, the hometown of Maria Taylor who ascended as a deity alongside the sun during the Imperial era.

The birthplace of great achievements was the Turianic Plains, where humanity first succeeded in refining orichalcum.

“Set course for Moros Gorge.”

“Understood. Change course to Moros Gorge!”

“Yes, sir!”

The landmarks of this continent that I planned to visit in the order of Moros-Ceres-Turianic-Seraphim didn’t excite me as much as they once would have.

Is this what it means to become an Apostle, to transcend humanity?

My senses were gradually dulling, and I was beginning to forget why I had set the goal of making a pilgrimage to the 52 scenic wonders of the world.

I had become immortal by accepting divinity, but what meaning is there in immortality if one merely exists? People inevitably live by constantly being influenced by the world and others, but… I was no longer a person.

It’s like how games that were so much fun as a child lose their appeal when you become an adult.

Is this growth? Or deprivation?

I pondered these questions as I watched the Sky Warden begin to move forward and the landscape start to change.

All gods exist for humans…

Then should all humans exist for gods as well?

“So you were on the bridge, Party Boss.”

“Simon.”

“What are you brooding about? Having ascended to Apostlehood, you should be enjoying yourself a little.”

“I can feel my soul being consumed by divinity. My old sensations are being replaced by new ones, and things I once pursued are beginning to seem meaningless… even the pilgrimage I started…”

I looked at Simon with a dejected expression.

How much more will I forget and lose in the future?

If I even forget that I grew up as an orphan on the streets of Parcifal… would I still exist as myself?

“That’s the fate of all Apostles. Divinity is a power that humans cannot withstand. If you do withstand it, you’ll ascend to the seventh divine seat. But don’t worry too much. Even as an Apostle, if you forget everything, you cease to be human, and a non-human entity cannot exist as an Apostle. So no matter how divine, it won’t touch your sense of self.”

“…That’s a relief then.”

“Come now. You’re still young, yet you wear an expression like you’ve seen it all. Leave such expressions to this old man. Go back to your captain’s quarters and spend time with your wife. Brooding is a job for the elderly.”

“Hahaha… if you put it that way… alright. I’ll leave the bridge to you.”

I patted Simon’s shoulder and headed for the captain’s quarters.

That’s right…

What does it matter if I’m human or not?

In the end, what defines our lives are our actions.