Ch.82Cathedral Nightmare (1)

# [San Moriano Cathedral]

The various parchments looted from a nearby monastery contained much information about ancient ruins.

[Once a place that most fervently praised the heavenly grace, but now a fallen sanctuary with a painful history of having to surrender everything to pagans. The darkness of the Papal States.]

Durin hastily absorbed information in his office. Having been cut off from the human realm for hundreds of years, there was much to examine. As a demon born after the previous generation that fought against the celestial realm, everything was new to him.

The same would have been true for Lucretia, who had descended to the human realm earlier, but that woman had already established her foundation. She had quickly figured out what to acquire in place of the Demon King’s power. Had she acted that way during her time on the throne, she might have had quite an admirable reign, but her innate rebellious nature ruined all prospects ahead.

[The fallen ones dwelling in the cathedral still cry out to the heavens today.]

[We shall have revenge, we shall hate the angels who did not listen to our voices.]

[Having no fear in seeing holiness directly, we shall gaze into the darkness of night rather than the sun.]

“I see a certain characteristic in these pagans.”

Durin looked up. Ludmila, smiling across from him, asked:

“Can you finally see it?”

“Yes. They do not worship anyone else.”

Faith is engraved based on sincere devotion to the celestial realm that wells up from deep within one’s heart. This manifests as holy power when combined with human will.

“They only desire revenge.”

Another form of intensity that humans can emit.

A persistent will that, like a cleric looking toward God, focuses on one direction but expresses itself in a different form.

“What we can gain from that place is the same.”

Durin spoke of the flow of fate he wished to choose.

“Revenge.”

“Against the Demon King? Or for the demon realm?”

“It could be specified as someone in particular, but seen differently, it could encompass the entire world.”

The regent put down the parchment. The letters engraved on the paper, yellowed with the passage of time, revealed themselves in the lamplight.

[The Dark Order. Those bearing that blasphemous name gather at San Moriano Cathedral to begin their missionary work.]

[O forsaken ones. When He comes, He will grant your wishes.]

[He will give you the power to silence the mouths of the deceitful and cut out the corruption that branded you as heretics.]

[The Primordial Demon King commands: find the hidden truth and bide your time.]

The only trace demons left in the human realm.

The reason demonic energy, which feeds on human fear, could still be maintained.

[The day will come when all foolish followers will be driven out, and you will be valued in the new celestial realm.]

[The times will grant your wishes, so draw your swords on the day certainty comes.]

Though stained with age, the joy of the one who had conducted the missionary work back then could be felt.

[The false crowd will fall by the hand of the awakened one.]

A fragment of the new power Lucretia had obtained.

He could glimpse it, if only briefly.

#

The ruins, once crumbled by human flesh and blood, were reborn as a demon’s dwelling.

No one could approach this land carelessly, where undead vanguards stood guard without gaps. As if to prove this, all human armies, including the Crusaders, were retreating. They seemed to be preparing countermeasures while predicting Durin’s next move.

“The first great demon to descend to the human realm since the Primordial Demon King—it’s understandable.”

“They have realized it too. Indeed, Your Excellency’s greatness exerts power even in the human realm.”

Durin ignored Berdia. He gave no answer as she was spouting unnecessary words while reporting on the systematization of the fortress and the troops to be deployed in the future. But this situation was familiar to Berdia as well. The conversation continued like a slippery snake.

“It seems Heaven is also frightened. The Crusaders have retreated significantly.”

“They want to observe the situation, I suppose.”

“It seems they’re hoping for mutual destruction with the traitor.”

Berdia gritted her teeth. She didn’t hide her disgust at seeing such un-warrior-like behavior. Her yellow eyes trembled so much, but they soon calmed at a small movement from Durin.

“For now, we’ll act as they wish.”

“Pardon?”

This was a completely different answer than what Berdia had expected, who thought he would say, “I will never dance to their tune!” Her clenched fist quickly relaxed.

“Is… is that true?”

“Yes. Soon we will march toward the ruins occupied by the Dark Order. There’s a fine cathedral in the west.”

“I’ll prepare the troops immediately.”

“Not necessary. Prepare for any contingencies here.”

When Durin firmly rejected her, Berdia closed her mouth. Though she tried not to show it, her disappointment was gradually becoming apparent. She had expected to play an active role in the human realm, but was only performing guard duty, so she couldn’t help but be dissatisfied.

“You are the only commander I can trust here, Berdia.”

Whether intentional or not, Durin said this while looking at her. Though the depth of trust couldn’t be measured, the content conveyed in his monotone voice was clear enough.

“Your Excellency!”

Berdia’s eyes widened. Her trembling lips revealed what emotions she was feeling.

“You bear the heavy duty of reporting our situation to the Demon King and procuring troops if necessary.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“The same goes for the other demons who came as the vanguard. It is because of you all that I can move freely.”

He raised his head and looked around. Undead soldiers who had gathered without notice were looking at the regent.

The excitement of coming to the human realm for the first time and excessive enthusiasm. Durin managed these two unmixed elements.

“Continue to show your loyalty. Soon we will crush those weak humans and establish our kingdom.”

“Kingdom…”

“Work hard.”

Durin turned and passed by Berdia. Soldiers knelt wherever he went.

Some were sobbing inside. Excessive emotions overflowed.

“As you command!”

“Glory to us.”

Ludmila, who had been quietly watching the scene, left a brief comment.

“He really knows how to handle them.”

#

The legion enthusiastically added strength to the fortification work, and Ludmila continued to gather necessary information by controlling scout beasts.

One final step remained in the plan to invade the ruins occupied by the Dark Order and weaken Lucretia’s forces.

“Ugh.”

“What should we do about this.”

The hero party that had crossed over to the human realm with the regent. Kael, the resurrected one, was still dazed.

He always lacked focus. Only the single reason of wanting to revive his dead comrade moved him.

He was not in a suitable state to carry out the operation.

“If there’s a problem with you as a guide, the contract is void, Hero.”

“……”

Kael, who had been looking up at the cloudy sky, turned his head. The great demon’s intimidating gaze was staring at him.

The elf and dwarf dared not intervene.

A silence descended.

That uncomfortable atmosphere was broken when the hero spoke first.

“The Dark Order, the ruins, and the location of the monastery. You’ve told me a lot.”

“Your body is needed for this task. Follow without complaint.”

“Are you asking me to cut down fellow humans?”

A question contained in his hollow voice. It further aggravated the discomfort.

“Don’t cross the line. I followed you to save my comrade, but I have no intention of helping bring about the downfall of our world.”

“The downfall of the human realm.”

“Isn’t that what demons ultimately want?”

A perception commonly spread among humans. Demons as beings who destroy the world and bring everything to death.

That’s why they feared and rejected them. It was the reason they had to cling to God.

“Heaven has made great efforts to bewitch humans.”

Durin sneered as if he had heard a child’s delusion. The hero’s expression twisted slightly at the mockery.

However, it didn’t lead to anger. Pure curiosity followed.

“Then what do you live for?”

“We struggle for a lifetime. Angels and demons. Neither gives way. Even if fate stands before us, we never back down. So, Hero, let me ask you this: what would become of us if the object of our struggle disappeared?”

“That’s…”

Kael closed his mouth. No suitable answer came to mind.

Durin’s sneer deepened.

“Humans are beings that allow us to struggle. They breathe holy power into angels through faith so they can exert their strength, and they draw out the fear that becomes the source of demonic energy by fearing death.”

Angels and demons. Both are beings that live on human emotions as fertilizer.

The two administrators created by God are destined to coexist without the destruction of either.

“I wonder what this destruction you fear so much is.”

“Death, literally. The end of all living beings.”

“There are already many dying in the demon realm from struggle. It’s a waste.”

“Then what is this moment for?”

The hero asked. His eyes still lacked focus.

It wasn’t a question directed at Durin. It was a voice directed at himself, sprawled in this place.

“I was given the power of the Creator God to eliminate those who threaten the human realm, but before me stands someone who doesn’t desire destruction.”

“It may not be destruction, but it could be catastrophe.”

“If that were the case, I would have tried to kill you with that power. But now it’s different.”

The hero looked down at his hands.

“What am I fighting for?”

Asked the one who had awakened from death. Having seen the final hell that demons were said to drag one to, he had no fear left.

“Clearly I’m facing a demon who will kill countless humans.”

“……”

“Yet I feel no will at all. Even at this point of descent to the human realm.”

Saying so, he looked up at the sky. The place he was looking at was still blocked.

It was dark like night.

“For humans who cannot know the future, this is more frightening than death. The fact that one is powerless even with the Creator’s power.”

That was the end of his rambling.

The hero, having spent all his strength, collapsed on the spot. The startled elf and dwarf stood by his side.

Once again, he was just sitting there, having lost his will.

“I’ll come back another time.”

Durin didn’t push the hero.

As there was still plenty of time, he planned to finish examining the ruins and return slowly.