novelnext Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Translator: AkazaTL Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
“The Southern Continent can be defined in one word,” said Zeppelin Gold, standing with the sea behind him.
“Paradise.”
Paradise—an unthinkable word in the Iron Kingdom.
“The Southern Continent is a land of peace. Warm all year round, without floods or typhoons. No monsters—too far from the northern continent—and no dangerous regions like the Sky Mountains or the Great Forest. Most of its land is fertile plains. And the people who live there are gentle, peace-loving folk.”
“Is that possible?”
“It is the land of pilgrims. People who worshiped various gods—pilgrims who were lost at sea during their journeys—discovered it. When they arrived, they said the Southern Continent was exactly as the scriptures had described paradise.”
A land discovered by pilgrims— even the phrase carried holiness.
“The natives who already lived there were peculiar. Many races lived together as one people without discrimination, because they worshiped the same deity—the Sun Goddess Revrua. And she wasn’t the only one; other gods were found there as well. Thanks to the discovery of the Southern Continent, the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses were first known to the world—the sixteen gods who created it.”
“A symbolic land, then.”
“Yes, a sacred one. Because they truly felt the presence of the gods, the natives didn’t fight or quarrel. They believed this world was merely the middle realm, and that after death they would face divine judgment for their sins. Karma—‘Karma,’ as they called it.”
Zeppelin looked toward the horizon.
“It was fortunate the first to find that holy land were pilgrims. They made pure exchanges with its people. When they returned, they spread the Southern teachings, and more pilgrims sailed back. The Southern Continent became the land of peace, of paradise, of the faithful—a truly sacred ground. So sacred that no one dared to defile it.”
“I see.”
“Other continents also felt the presence of the gods—they had witnessed miracles, and, thanks to the case of the Witches, even the wrath of the divine. Thus, the Southern Continent remained untouched and peaceful for a long time. Of course, some tried to interfere.”
“Tried?”
“Being sacred, it couldn’t be invaded by force—so they used subtler means. They tried to undermine its ideology. The nations of the South were ruled by Popes who served as both spiritual and temporal leaders. Other powers argued that such a rule was unjust. Were these Popes truly agents of the gods? Even if they were, did that make them good rulers? Naturally, their arguments failed—the Popes could perform real miracles and commune directly with their deities.”
Attacking ideology… humans truly were creative creatures.
“There were other attempts too—introducing the worship of money, tempting them with trade and enterprise, convincing them that gold was another god beyond the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses…”
“Sounds like something straight out of the Black Archipelago.”
“Ah, well, yes. That was us. But it didn’t work. The Southerners, living in abundance, felt no greed for more. They said, ‘We can’t take wealth with us into the arms of the gods,’ and simply gave their excess to us instead. The ‘Red Bank’ was so moved by their purity that its cold-hearted bankers made enormous donations in return—it’s a famous story.”
“……”
“Anyway, the Southern Continent was a land of opportunity and paradise, but no one could touch it. And since its people weren’t greedy, trade was difficult too. The continent was open only to pilgrims and travelers. For anyone else, there was nothing to gain. Frustrating, yes—but no one dared invade.”
“For fear the gods might intervene?”
“Exactly. A land ruled by Popes who could speak with gods, populated by people without sin—if someone burned it or massacred them without cause, who knew what divine retribution might come? No one wanted to vanish like the nameless empires that once hunted Witches.”
It was fascinating. But the more I listened, the stranger it seemed.
“From what you’re saying, war shouldn’t even be possible there. So why am I needed? And how could the great powers be fighting over such a peaceful land? No one would dare set it ablaze.”
“They wouldn’t need to set it ablaze,” Zeppelin said softly.
“Wouldn't you need to?”
“My lord, everything I’ve told you so far is history. Not the present. The Southern Continent is burning—and the fire was set long ago.”
“What do you mean?”
Zeppelin answered calmly.
“The people of the South once thought their world was the whole world. They lived in peace—until they learned there were other lands, other gods. Some of the sixteen gods, they discovered, did not condemn sin. And though most of the Southerners resisted temptation, it only takes a drop of filth to cloud clear water.”
“……”
“Imagine a faithful wife and her husband—happy together—until one night, the husband spends it with ten enchanting courtesans. He’ll never be content with his wife again. There’s a difference between never knowing temptation and knowing it but trying to resist.”
Zeppelin’s golden eyes gleamed.
“After the Age of War—the most horrific era—the people of every continent began to question their gods. The Southerners did too. One doubt spread like ripples through water. Their faith, their way of life began to shift. It was natural—no world can share a single belief forever. Ideally, they’d reconcile their differences peacefully. But the Southerners could not. They were believers. They couldn’t accept the difference.”
“……”
“Thus, the first cracks appeared. And the outside world noticed. When the Iron Kingdom conquered the Six Free Cities and tensions began to rise, the world’s powers saw their chance. They infiltrated the Southern Continent and began spreading hatred and division—through religion.”
“Horrific.”
“Horrific, yes—but effective. Religion is one of the most powerful weapons in war. In the South, it became a raging inferno. Anyone who believed differently was branded a heretic. Murder, theft, arson—all justified in the name of faith. Armies of zealots without guilt, convinced that every blow of their sword was righteous justice. Tell me, my lord, what army could be more terrifying than that?”
Beyond the horizon, land began to appear.
“The great powers seek to divide the South, to strip it of its sanctity. Once its holiness fades, it will no longer be untouchable. Then it becomes something else entirely—a land of limitless resources and opportunity.”
Smoke rose from the coast—thick, black smoke.
“Greed from the outside world has poisoned it completely. Now, nations funnel money, weapons, and soldiers into the South—each preparing to claim a share when it all collapses.”
“……”
“The Black Archipelago may be greedy, but we don’t cross certain lines. We’re supporting small nations—the ones sure to be oppressed—and securing future alliances instead. Conquering and enslaving them would yield less in the long run. Life without will or creativity loses its value.”
“Why take that approach? It would be easier to act like the others.”
“Our Godmother forbids it. She remembers the Era of War—its horrors. She swore never to repeat them. And above all…”
As we neared the shore, screams pierced the air.
“We don’t believe in one-sided deals. Trade must benefit both sides. The blood of the Fair Scale runs in my veins, and it will not allow such injustice.”
The paradise, the land of peace— was now defiled by flames, smoke, weeping, and death. Zeppelin Gold gazed at it with genuine sorrow.
“Well, Lord Arhan, don’t you think you’re sorely needed here?”
Perhaps. But seeing it with my own eyes, I doubted any single person could stop this. The reality of war was far more brutal than any War Duel I’d witnessed. Those battles had been desperate sieges near the end; this war had no end—only endless hatred and killing, evil consuming evil.
No matter how it ended, the Southern Continent could never return to what it once was. They were too stained now—too far gone. The paradise Zeppelin spoke of, the pure faces of the pilgrims, were gone forever. You can’t gather spilled water.
“Why are they carrying crosses?”
“They’re showing whom they worship. Look closely—some carry crosses, others wear pentagrams, some hold prayer beads. But yes, those with crosses are the majority. Their faction is strongest here.”
Zeppelin sighed.
“They call themselves the Crusaders.”
***
「Young descendant.」
Zeppelin’s ship neared the dock at last. The voyage was ending.
「In this land, you must not become a hero.」
Under the blazing sunlight of this new world, my master’s voice resounded.
「The people of the South are children of the Sun. They have lived believing that heaven would save them from a cruel world.」
“……”
「But as you’ve seen, heaven saves no one. The Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses give no answer when the powerless cry out. They turn away. They watch in silence.」
His voice grew heavy.
「They call themselves the creators and judges of all things. But to them, this world—and the seven races within it—are nothing more than tools. Tools to use and discard.」
“……”
「They have no reason to save mortals. And so they never reach down to help. Every time this fragile world stood on the brink of ruin, salvation came not from heaven, but from mortals themselves—from the small, weak beings who refused to die quietly.」
Under a clear sky, Liam’s voice echoed.
「Teach them what truly matters. Show them that salvation lies within themselves.」
“……”
「Make them worship not the heavens that never answer, but you—who walks forward on your own strength. Make them follow your sword.」
The sunlight scattered like shards of glass.
「Do not be a hero. Be a myth.」
“A myth…”
「That is the key to transcendence.」
Liam’s gaze turned toward me.
「As I said before, I will aid you.」
“How?”
He smiled.
「It’s time you learned the true Karavan sword.」