Ch.328Bloody Paradise. Creeks Hall (7)

“Hmm… I see my mood isn’t particularly good.”

Rather than my mood not being good, it’s more that I feel bad.

This is Karil’s ascension ground. The fact that I crossed the river of no return with Karil here doesn’t necessarily mean that all of Karil’s followers will turn against me.

Even among Karil’s followers, their scale is enormous. There are those who have embraced his ideal of eternal struggle enough to become apostles, but the vast majority are ordinary people living normal lives, like students who offer rice cakes at temples hoping to do well on exams.

Even Karil doesn’t have the authority to order his followers to enter into all-out war against the Sun.

Of course, his apostles would gladly follow his commands, but Karil himself said that going to a battlefield where death is certain would be foolish unless one’s rational judgment has been completely stripped away.

Karil has fallen into a dilemma that is truly his own battle.

Karil’s identity is about personal development and cultivation through endless war and struggle.

True to the old adage that survivors are strong, individuals who survive life-or-death combat take the spoils of battle, monopolize glory and victory, and in the process, hone their bodies and minds to become even stronger.

And that was the entirety of the Blood Faith.

If the fundamental premise of self-reflection through struggle collapses, the Blood Faith becomes nothing more than a pile of text, no different from settings scribbled in the notebooks of emotionally sensitive students writing amateur novels.

However, the fact that this absurd concept actually functions as a miracle that generates divinity means that humanity has no means to restrain the fundamental desire for “struggle” in human nature.

Considering that the average human psychology involves meticulously planning murder just because someone threw a coat hanger at them, it’s simply an unsolvable problem.

This applies not only to Karil but also to Moneta, Medina, and Logos.

Struggle.

Happiness.

Prosperity.

Knowledge.

The four elements that make humans “human” have all attained divine status, so they can be weakened but not killed.

The Four Gods Faith gained prominence due to world-ending events like the empire’s collapse and the imperial family’s tyranny, but even setting that aside, this was precisely why the Four Gods could replace the Yangwol Faith.

Too high above to lend any power to catch criminals, yet for 300,000 years repeating only “I believe in human potential” while chasing clouds—the Yangwol Faith served as a social lubricant when state authority and discipline were properly maintained, but when the Era of Eclipse began, accumulated dissatisfaction erupted, and it was quickly overtaken by the Four Gods Faith.

“But not anymore.”

Through his recent dialogue with Karil, Victor could draw one conclusion.

If he could one-sidedly manipulate Karil, the strongest of the Four Gods in pure combat power, wouldn’t it be possible to bring all Four Gods under his command?

Then as now, faith occupied the largest share in human life.

Moral views, ethical standards, social systems, and customs—if you trace the foundations of what we call “culture,” they’re all ultimately connected to religion.

Even in Earth’s era when the existence of gods was uncertain, bloody conflicts continued for thousands of centuries because of religion.

And when different cultures merge, the first thing that happens is the integration of myths that form the basis of religion.

One cannot definitively say that this cannot be utilized now.

“Sun.”

“…?”

As he was thinking this, one of Karil’s many apostles was calling to him from behind.

Victor only then realized that he had been standing still for quite some time with his eyes closed and his hand on the monument.

Removing his hand and looking at Karil’s apostle, he saw the man looking at him with crimson-dyed irises as he spoke.

“What were you doing there?”

“I was conversing with your god.”

“Ho. You say Karil granted you conversation? Then show me the proof.”

Victor suddenly looked at his left palm.

Though it must have happened in the mental realm, there was a clear scar on his left hand.

“You mean this?”

When Victor showed the scar on his left hand to the Crusader, he nodded and struck the end of his halberd staff on the ground with a thud.

Bang!

“Clear the way! This is one recognized by Karil!”

As the Crusader shouted this, the hostile gazes that had been subtly directed at him disappeared at once.

“Welcome to Krix Hall, God of the Sun. From now on, no one in this land will hinder you. This I swear in the name of blood and war.”

“Then I too shall respect your honor in the name of fervor.”

As Victor said this, the Crusader nodded very slowly but distinctly.

What conversation Victor and Karil had was not disclosed.

As mentioned earlier, this was a matter of honor.

*

“My lord. You’ve returned.”

At the hotel where officers were staying in Krix Hall, Victor crossed the hall to meet the Legion Commander.

He wanted to inquire about the Sage’s whereabouts.

“Commander, is the Sage inside?”

“No. He went to the repair shop to supervise repairs.”

“I see. Then I’ll head there as well. How is the control of the troops?”

“Since this is Karil’s ascension ground, we’re having some difficulties. The soldiers are generally… excited, shall we say?”

“Hmm.”

‘Excited’ was likely a very euphemistic expression.

Even though they had become servants of the Sun, this was Karil’s ascension ground—the place where Karil’s influence was strongest in this world. No matter what other god’s blessing they received, they couldn’t avoid being influenced.

Moreover, Karil, who was undoubtedly angered by the recent dialogue, might specifically strengthen his influence over the Sun’s servants.

“Is there anyone besides the Sage at the repair shop?”

“I believe a few Conduct Officers accompanied him.”

“I see. Then continue your good work.”

“Yes, my lord. Take care.”

Victor mounted his Bruiser and realized it had been a very long time since he rode alone.

His wife had gone to the elf sisters to nurse Cassia, so this was essentially the first time he was riding the Bruiser by himself.

“I wonder how Spotty is doing now.”

Although Spotty was born a pack horse, he fulfilled all the roles Victor wanted. It’s been three years already, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Spotty might be dead and turned into raw meat by now.

It was somewhat burdensome to keep both the Bruiser and Spotty, so he eventually had to sell him, but Victor still couldn’t forget the “real adventures” he had with Spotty.

At least back then, he didn’t have to maintain a grand perspective like founding an empire, and he could roam the world freely and find great joy in small things.

Riding the Bruiser alone, he couldn’t help but reminisce about those times.

*

And shifting the perspective briefly to the hospital in Krix Hall.

Befitting a hospital proudly operating in a place known for war, there were people there who were just heads floating in potion concentrate, barely alive. They paid expensive hospital bills to revive, then fought in the Colosseum to pay off those debts, and then visited the hospital again for injuries sustained there… a peculiar cycle demonstrating what creative economy truly is.

Among them were two women watching Cassia, who was wrapped in bandages all over her body, munching on tasteless hospital food.

“Are you feeling better?”

Cassia tried to say something but then realized she was chewing hospital food, so she just nodded to express her response.

Lucia was just blankly staring at her sister, but whenever her eyes fell on Raisha, that blankness instantly disappeared.

Raisha vaguely understood the meaning behind her gaze but deliberately ignored it. It wasn’t a question she could answer.

“Third-degree burns all over the body with lacerations from fragments… As expected of an Aura user, recovery is fast. If she were an ordinary person, it would have been instant death or a year of complete bed rest.”

The doctor muttered, adding an unnecessary comment.

“It’s been a while since an Aura user came to the hospital. Most Aura users heal injuries of this level on their own… Well, anyway. You can be discharged tomorrow.”

“The hospital bill…”

“Ah. The Sun’s forces paid it and left earlier.”

Lucia, who was about to open her wallet to ask about the bill, closed her mouth and lowered her hand.

As soon as the doctor left, the oldest of the three women addressed the youngest.

“Raisha…”

“No.”

“I haven’t even said what I was going to do yet.”

“Whatever you’re planning to do, take it up with my master. If it’s a personal matter, handle it yourself. You are party members, and he is the party leader. So speak to him, not me.”

Raisha cut off Lucia’s words.

She had a woman’s intuition and already knew what she was going to say.

But they shouldn’t handle matters by simply informing her.

They were members of the Iron Walker party, after all.