Ch.310Ascension Altar. Gaylord City (1)

“What the fuck is that…”

Guooooo….

The Sky Warden, with a mass of 1 million tons—more precisely, 1.05 million tons—majestically cut through the clouds, filling the eyes of those looking skyward.

Adventurers heading to Gaylord momentarily lost themselves gazing at the overwhelming sight of the steel behemoth blocking the sky. They trembled with fear and awe at the sight of the densely packed cannons attached like whiskers on a whale.

“Who on earth owns that ship? I’ve never seen it before.”

While the Sky Warden was well known as the flagship of the Sun God, rumors of its renovation into a massive battleship exceeding 1 million tons had not yet spread. People wondered about this enormous vessel that barely resembled the original Sky Warden.

In truth, painting the Sun God’s emblem on the outer armor would make it easily recognizable, but Sun God Victor wasn’t particularly concerned with aesthetics. Additionally, religious issues arose—how dare mortals gossip about and decide on a symbol representing a god? Thus, despite being a deity, he ended up without even a symbol representing himself.

Of course, Victor was aware of this, but he didn’t particularly feel the need for a symbol representing the Sun God.

After all, since all heat and radiance in this world originated from the sun, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the entire 13 continents, the surrounding oceans, and the sky itself were his symbol.

“Three more days until we reach Gaylord City, my lord.”

“Good. We’re almost done with this Rayshion continent.”

Victor listened to the navigator’s report while stroking his wife’s back as she nestled against him.

Finding her cute reactions amusing, Victor stroked her several times before turning to the navigator as if something had occurred to him.

“By the way, how is the current state of the Two Moons Order?”

“Ah… please wait a moment. I’ll bring the Sage.”

“Very well.”

As Victor nodded, the navigator bowed his head and closed the door behind him.

A few minutes later, Victor saw Simon opening the door and entering, noticing a tablet in his hand.

“Simon. Begin your report.”

“Hmm. I knew you’d ask about that first.”

Simon grinned as he manipulated the tablet, then informed Victor about the current state of the Two Moons Order.

“Overall, conflicts with the Four Gods Order are intensifying. Even with our Layer Archive knowledge and craftsmen, it’s far from enough. We who possess only part of the world cannot stand against those who possess it all…”

Victor nodded with a sorrowful expression.

Even now, the world was ruled by ungrateful people who failed to show gratitude for the sun’s blessings.

However, since this was Nariakira Saburo’s way of liberating humanity, Victor couldn’t condemn them. This greatly troubled the earthly Sun God.

“But it’s not all bad news. We’re gradually expanding beyond the lower classes to the upper echelons, with nobles and royalty pledging allegiance to the sun and moon.”

“Oh? Those who have much?”

“The more one has, the more enemies one makes. Think about it—our order is virtually the only faith where the wealthy can ‘safely’ protect their assets.”

“Hmm… now that you mention it…”

The Four Gods each demand sacrifices for their respective wishes, whether one likes it or not.

Karil was particularly disliked by the wealthy as he required endless arms races for struggle; Medina risked squandering rather than earning money due to her association with pleasure and entertainment; and Logos required too many resources and capital to accumulate knowledge.

Moneta’s faith was most appealing to the wealthy, but fundamentally, she too urged people not to protect what they had but to venture out to acquire what they didn’t have—making faith an obstacle for the wealthy who simply wanted to live comfortably.

Then, voilà, the Two Moons Order was revived.

The Sun and Moon, deities of the Two Moons Order, had an existentialist teaching that humanity could and should enjoy everything in this world under their blessing. They neither rebuked those who protected their wealth nor criticized excessive charity or aid that might undermine others’ self-reliance.

The Sun himself had ascended to godhood through desperate human effort, which said it all.

The fundamental teaching of the Two Moons Order was essentially: “Live as you please. I’ll clean up after you until the end of the world.” Considering this, it was inevitable that the wealthy, nobles, and even royalty would be drawn to the Two Moons Order.

“Anything else?”

“Ah, yes. Aren’t you curious about your hometown?”

“Parcival?”

“Yes.”

“Did something happen?”

“They’ve erected a statue in your honor, based on how you looked when you left.”

“Ha! That’s funny.”

When Simon showed him the statue that closely resembled his face at age 13, Victor laughed until tears appeared in his eyes—something he hadn’t done in a very long time.

In truth, Victor’s feelings toward Parcival were close to love-hate.

It was his hometown, a place that had tried to kill him, and also where he had grown up.

Not everyone there was bad, nor was everyone good—ultimately, Parcival was just a human city.

“And I’m not sure if you remember, but… do you know a woman named ‘Eileen’?”

“…Eileen? Of course. She took care of me. She was the only woman I could trust in Parcival.”

At the mention of Eileen’s name, Victor reminisced with obvious delight.

Eileen, oh Eileen. How long had it been since he’d heard her name?

After leaving Parcival and embarking on adventures wherever he went, he had completely forgotten the taste of the hodgepodge stew she used to make.

Was she still alive and well?

“She’s dead, Victor. I’m sorry.”

“…Cause of death?”

“Acute myocardial infarction, they say. She was old. It’s not particularly unusual. Besides, in her later years, adventurers who had heard of your exploits provided her with funds, so she lived comfortably. That ruin where you stayed… it’s become a proper hotel now.”

“Ah… I see. That’s good… really good… she deserved that. Yes, absolutely.”

Victor’s eyes trembled urgently before gradually calming.

Eileen was only about 40 years old—not particularly old—but as a middle-aged woman with no support, she had driven away thieves from her building and continuously shared what little money she had to make stew for others. Her physical strength must have deteriorated far beyond her actual age.

Moreover, being poor, she likely couldn’t seek treatment when ill.

Still, in her later years, the ruins were redeveloped into a proper building, and she was treated as a benefactor by other adventurers due to the success of the man she had considered a son. It could be considered a good death.

“She’s dead… damn it. Even the heavens are heartless… Even though I’ve become a god, I can’t determine the fate of a single woman…”

“Don’t be too disheartened, Victor. Where there are meetings, there are partings. She’s gone to a better place, regardless of which god she believed in.”

Victor nodded. She certainly deserved heaven.

Having fought endlessly for others throughout her life, she deserved entry into Valhalla; having lived generously for others, she could enter Ataraxia; having worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk despite her old age, she would receive residency in Utopia; and having taught children fairy tales and fables, she was more than qualified to be a librarian in the Great Library.

And if Saburo and Maria saw her soul, they would smile with infinite compassion at the one who had embraced the past of their former self, granting her eternal rest.

Thinking this, Victor stroked his wife’s back.

All humans die eventually.

Whether he cherishes them or not.

“Never have I resented the principles of birth, aging, sickness, and death as much as today. I can only think that heaven needed a good person.”

“If that makes you feel better.”

Simon simply nodded without offering any advice.

This was the realm of emotion, not reason; of nature, not intellect.

“Rest in peace, Eileen. Woman of the ruins. Your clothes were shabby, but your spirit was beautiful; your body was weakened, but your soul was stronger than anyone’s. In the name of the sun, may you find rest in radiance and warmth.”