episode_0181

Even in ruins, sprouts emerge.

“Catch him!!!” “Catch the Swordsman Sarzohn!!!”

“Ugh… this is driving me crazy!!! Why do Saintesses and Priests have such amazing physical abilities, contrary to common sense!!! Whoa?!”

Gid Looprian, who had swiftly escaped from Grobel where Merzel and Viola were engaged in a fierce battle, was greatly flustered as priests and saintesses pursued him with arrows and divine power, causing him to hurry through the forest. When an arrow or divine power grazed right past him, Gid flinched in surprise and somehow managed to deflect the incoming arrows and divine power with his sword, escaping from them. Eventually, Gid found himself cornered at the bottom of a cliff. He flinched in surprise and looked back, only to see the saintesses and priests, realizing he was trapped, slowly beginning to draw their weapons.

“Oh, dear…. Of all places, I had to end up in a dead end like this…. Did I use up all my luck today?”

“Swordsman Sarzohn. You have interfered with our sacred duty and committed heresy by destroying the statue of Goddess Camilla. Your sentence is….”

“Isn’t it death penalty anyway? Everyone who chased me was raging like fire, saying it was the death penalty…. How about you stop acting so calm and just express the anger you’re holding in?”

“….. You are arrogant, Sarzohn. What exactly do you believe in to show such a demeanor? Unlike you, we are believers who bear a sacred duty, receiving the protection and faith of Goddess Camilla. Do you still not understand that our mindset is different from yours?”

When Gid provoked them, telling them to stop suppressing their anger and just express it, just as other priests and saintesses had done to him, an enraged priest picked up a thick greatsword and asked Gid why he was so confident, saying that they were blessed by Goddess Camilla. Gid then smirked and dropped the conical hat he was wearing onto the ground before speaking.

“Ah…. Then do you know this? All your comrades who knew this reacted with surprise. My name isn’t Sarzohn, but…. Gid Looprian.”

“Gid Loo….?! Loo…. Looprian?! Th-this crazy…!! Inform the other saintesses and priests!! Sarzohn is Zeke Loo….!!!”

“Oh my… so that was your true intention, wasn’t it?”

As Gid revealed his true name, the saintesses and priests who heard it were startled. When one priest urgently shouted to inform the other saintesses and priests of this fact, Gid, as if realizing their objective, quickly pierced the priest’s abdomen with his sword, silencing him. The priest, pierced by Zeke’s sword, cried out in pain and collapsed on the spot, while the other priests and saintesses were startled and began to scatter and flee.

“Hurry and tell them this fact!!! Sarzohn’s true identity….!!!”

“I’m sorry, but…. you think you cornered me here. But I actually lured you here.”

“Ugh….!!!”

Just as the fleeing saintess, scattering and trying to shout Gid’s true identity to others, was about to scream, Gid pierced her from behind with his sword, saying that he had actually lured them here. The priest watching this from nearby shrieked in horror.

“Wh-what in the world?! Why…. Why can a mere human move so fast…. No…. What exactly did you mean by that last statement…?!”

“While fleeing, I fully grasped the terrain of this place. And…. I’m also someone who knows how to use tools as well as Zeke…”

“What does that mean….”

“Aaaaaahk!! What in the world is this… ”

“Aaaaaahk!!!”

As Gid revealed that he had actually lured them to this place, and simultaneously, the screams of their comrades echoed from nearby, the priests flinched in surprise and looked around. They then saw several priests and saintesses caught in various forms of traps, suffering severe leg injuries or having their bodies pierced by small knives, under counterattack, and muttered in bewilderment.

“Wh-what happened…? The saintesses and priests couldn’t detect the traps…”

“Indeed, you can sense objects around you through divine power. But if those traps can be created by nature and completely assimilate with the surrounding environment…. then unless one is very strong, they cannot be detected. Thanks to that, the wooden traps I scattered around as I fled….”

“Don’t talk nonsense!! Do you really think a mere wooden trap can pierce the skin of a priest or saintess?! Our bodies are protected by that Being, so we have skin that cannot even be scratched by such wooden traps!!”

“Ah…. The wood used to make the traps isn’t just any wood either. It’s made from Provelitu wood, said to inhabit near the World Tree…. Hmm… some dirty legacy left behind by the Alraunes, or something like that.”

“….?! Kaem Wood, you say?!”

When Gid explained that the material used for his traps was not just any wood, but wood that had grown near the World Tree, the priest was greatly shocked by his words and understood why his comrades had fallen victim to Gid’s traps. Gid then spun his two swords, held them straight, and began to approach the priest, speaking.

“Thanks to fighting you all for five years now, I know that even mere low-ranking priests and saintesses like you can use detection and healing abilities through divine power. So, before your comrades can escape the traps and heal their injuries…. I’ll have to take you all down.”

“Damn it…!! Why on earth are you interfering with our work…!! What is your objective in doing this?!”

“Me? It’s annoying that you’re making the world dirty, but… since it could hinder my nephew’s journey, I’m just stopping you for personal reasons…. The problem is, I’m not as gentle as my nephew. So if you even try to go for my neck, I’ll send you straight to the afterlife.”

“You madman…. You’ve been obstructing our sacred mission because of such personal desires…?! You crazy heretic!!!”

As Gid revealed that he had been obstructing them because he disliked their interference with his nephew Zeke’s journey, the utterly dumbfounded priest pulled out a mace from his waist and immediately charged at Gid, shouting. Gid easily blocked the mace swung by the priest with his left sword, then swung his right sword to cut the priest’s leg. Just as the priest, unbalanced due to the leg injury, cried out in pain and was about to fall, Gid straightened both swords and simultaneously slashed both of the priest’s shoulders.

“Aaaaaaaahk!!!”

“Hooo… The swordsmanship and techniques I learned in foreign lands really come in handy at times like these…. It feels like just yesterday I was grumbling about making traps out of wood…. Alright, listen up!! You don’t seem like the type to surrender like this one… but if anyone wants to surrender, hurry up and….”

“Shut up, heretic!!!”

“We will never betray Goddess Camilla!!! This divine power is a power that embraces everyone…!! And the one who bestowed this divine power is none other than Goddess Camilla herself!! Why would you reject such a warm and gentle power!!!”

When the priests and saintesses declared their refusal to surrender, asserting that they would never betray Goddess Camilla and questioning why he rejected such a warm divine power that embraced everyone, Gid’s mood soured, and his face hardened. He then rapidly spun his two swords and began to slowly stride towards them, answering in an annoyed voice.

“Embrace everyone? Are you still saying such things after seeing people worshiping Camilla in a state of madness because of you?!”

“Everyone is worshiping Goddess Camilla now because everyone has accepted divine power!!! Those who found the light of Goddess Camilla’s divine power shining in pitch-black darkness are worshiping her….”

“You are the ones who should shut up, you fanatics!!! What?! People are worshiping like that because they found the light of your god’s divine power in the darkness?! Cut the bullshit!!! Do you think such mad talk will work on me, who already knows what your disgusting plan is!!! You who made people worship Goddess Camilla by exploiting their emotions…. You’re spouting nonsense about kindness!!!”

As the saintesses and priests tried to say that everyone had accepted Goddess Camilla’s divine power, Gid, enraged by their words, declared that he already knew their plan and quickly rushed towards the saintess who was struggling in the trap. The saintess then freed herself from the thread-like trap binding her leg and immediately began to gather divine power in her hand.

“O, Omnipotent One in the heavens!! Divine judgment upon those who obstruct Your will….”

“Then this sword is the people’s punishment to bring you fools to your senses!!!”

“….!! Cough…..”

Just as the saintess finished her prayer and was about to shoot a beam of divine power, gathered in her hand, towards him, Gid struck her face with the hilt of his sword. The saintess immediately collapsed, bleeding from her nose, and Gid, seeing a priest suddenly appear next to him, attempting a surprise attack, struck his face with the hilt as well, just as he had done to the saintess, knocking him unconscious. He then shouted at the saintesses and priests still struggling in the traps.

“No matter how strong you are, unless you are as powerful as Viola, you are no different from the saintesses and priests I’ve fought so far!!”

“Damn it….!! Of all people, the one unaffected by our divine power is… such a strong one…!!”

“It’s not that I just happen to be unaffected by your divine power; it’s that people like me have already vaguely sensed your true intentions! Even if you turn this world into ruins with your disgusting schemes, sprouts always emerge from ruins…!! Your plan to create that abnormally perfect world will never succeed!!!”

“Shut up!!! Our noble mission to turn the impossible into the possible will not be stopped by the likes of you!! Hurry and inform others of his identity!!!”

“As if I’d let you!!!”

As the priests and saintesses clamored to quickly inform their comrades of his identity, Gid rushed at them with both swords raised. In the forest, sounds of explosions, stabbings, and collapses continued to echo, and only after about 20 minutes did the forest finally fall silent. And the one who stood last in that chaotic place was….

“Hoooo…. I guess I underestimated them quite a bit. My neck almost got cut off for real. Well then…. Now I need to go find the sprouts. The sprouts that will gather to become a mighty tree.”

Gid left the fallen saintesses and priests behind and calmly began to depart the area, searching for people to help them. As he recalled the saintesses and priests he had just fought, Gid’s mind seemed troubled; he scratched his head and mumbled with a discomforted expression.

“Haaaaa…. Their skills are weak compared to those I met in Grobel. But if all of them are that strong, and their influence is so vast that they’ve been continuously appearing for five years… we won’t be able to keep resisting. So…. if my guess isn’t wrong…. there are still many people in this world who will help us… no, who will stand against the cult with us. Especially…. those who received Zeke’s kindness, like Lady Yuria or Lady Cecilia, will surely join us…”

In Grobel, Gid had realized that Zeke had shown goodwill to many people and surmised that there would still be individuals in this world, unaffected by the cult, who felt gratitude towards Zeke. Convinced that those who had received Zeke’s kindness would surely come forward to help them, Gid began to deduce Zeke’s travel route. He pondered what places Zeke and Aria, whose last known whereabouts were the Herlos region’s Revarude facility, might have visited and what ominous legends might have existed there. As he considered all this, Gid vaguely recalled Dio V Runner-nim’s group, scratched his head, and made an uneasy expression.

“They must also believe that there are still sane people like us in this world, just like me. While I am as strong as them…. from what I’ve heard so far, I seem to be the weakest among them…. But even if I’m the weakest, I have to do everything I can…. I wonder if they are safe…”

Although Gid was strong enough to defeat the saintesses and priests, he knew that he had done so using strategic methods, not because he possessed overwhelming power like theirs. He had resolved to do what he could. However, after parting ways, Gid became worried about their safety and stopped, turning back. But he soon shook his head, pulled himself together, and punched his own head as he thought.

‘Pull yourself together. Dio V Runner-nim said he would trust me….!! Not just him, but the others also trusted me and left. So I must succeed in this task. Before they expand their influence further, and before the minds of those enchanted by them go even crazier…!!’

“There they are, catch them!!!”

“….?! What, have I been discovered already?!”

The moment Gid, who had inwardly vowed to succeed in his plan since everyone was trusting him, strode forward, he suddenly heard shouts from somewhere, saying someone had been found and to chase them. Gid was startled and worried if he had been discovered already. At that moment, Gid happened to see some women being chased by someone through the trees in front of him. Realizing that those chasing the women were priests and saintesses, he flinched in surprise and thought.

‘People being chased by saintesses and priests…? Could it be that they are still sane, unaffected by divine power?! Damn it…. As it is, I’m a bit drained from just dealing with the saintesses and priests…? Oh, right…. That’s right, I’m someone who knows how to use tools well, just like Zeke, aren’t I?’

Realizing that people unaffected by divine power were being chased by priests and saintesses, Gid began to ponder how to save them with his current drained state after the recent battle. Then, by chance, Gid put his hand into an inner pocket of his clothes, discovered some metal balls inside, and with a smirk, he immediately started running in the direction the women had fled. Meanwhile, the saintesses and priests had surrounded and cornered the three women they were chasing.

“Now, stop resisting and accept divine power! All your actions have been deemed heretical acts!”

“Our minds being controlled by others is no longer acceptable…!! If it’s come to this, that song….”

“Uhh…. Unnie!! You promised…!! That song is….”

“If I can’t protect you, that promise is meaningless…!! If it’s to protect you, I’ll gladly…. Huh?”

“….?! What is this fire?! Aaaaaaahk!!!”

Just as one woman decided to sing a certain song and slowly inhaled, a sudden flame enveloped their backs, startling the saintesses, who began to writhe from burns. As the fire started to engulf other saintesses and priests, the women watched in bewilderment. At that moment, Gid urgently grabbed the hands of the women who were about to sing and frantically began to flee. However, due to the sudden flames, the saintesses and priests didn’t notice their escape at all, and Gid recalled the metal ball-shaped device he had just used, and began to chuckle.

“Hahahaha…!! What incredible power, Dio V Runner-nim!! To think the gift you gave me for self-defense would be used for such a good cause!!”

“Y-you…. You’re unaffected by divine power…?”

“I am unaffected, young ladies! It’s truly wonderful to meet such sane people like yourselves!! So, how about we talk while we run? My name is Gid Looprian, and….”

“Gid… Looprian….?! Mister, are you related to Zeke Oppa?!”

“Ah, yes! That’s…. Ugh?!”

Gid, greatly pleased to meet other sane people, revealed his name was Gid Looprian while fleeing, at which point the green-haired woman was startled and asked if he was related to Zeke. Gid affirmed, but then belatedly realized the women knew Zeke, and was startled, stopping on the spot. Gid and the women then stared at each other with dumbfounded expressions, and the red-haired woman stammered to Gid.

“This is unbelievable…. You’re related to Zeke-nim…. W-we are wandering bards who received various help from him and the Black Saintess Aria-nim… I’m Rie…. This is Tia…. And this is Melian…. Have you perhaps heard of us from Zeke-nim….?”

“….Could it be… the Fairy Sisters of Melodian, mentioned in Zeke’s adventure log…?”

When Rie revealed that they were wandering bards and asked if Gid had heard their story from Zeke, Gid remembered seeing a story about the Fairy Sisters of Melodian while looking through Zeke’s adventure log in Ruam, and was bewildered. To encounter individuals connected to Zeke again in such a short time… no, such a rapid succession, Gid couldn’t help but be utterly bewildered.