novelnext Chapter 184 : Chapter 184
Chapter 184 : Chapter 184
Translator: AkazaTL Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
The Southern Continent was the land of the sun. Lives born upon the soil shaped under the warm grace of the sun naturally worshipped it. The first god they served was the Sun Goddess.
With their small offerings, the Sun Goddess Revrua revealed herself, and before her manifested form, all offered their faith.
When the sun set, night followed. Lost lambs wandering the dark world walked guided by the stars.
The first travelers worshipped the stars that served as their milestones and guides. With their small offerings, the Goddess of the Stars, Astra, revealed herself. Thus, the lives of the Southern Continent could receive salvation at all hours of day and night.
With comfortable days and nights repeating endlessly, lives cultivated the land. Those who could not live alone formed groups, and from those groups, culture grew, and cities and nations were born. As nature dictated, the prosperous and the poor emerged. Some fed themselves well, and some starved.
A hierarchy was formed. All living creatures harbored desire. Without desire, one could not progress forward.
Desire turned into greed. Greed manifested in every shape. The rich wanted more, and they wished to keep others beneath them. Discrimination, violence, torture, murder—unspeakable evils were born alongside greed. Those dying at the bottom cried out in resentment.
Grant us order, save us, judge those who steal wives, trample young lives, and crush them to death. Give us sin and punishment.
A cross was erected upon the grave of one who pleaded in injustice. And beneath the bloodstained cross, another god revealed himself.
The god bound to the cross did not grant gentle blessings like the sun, nor guide like the stars—rather than the abstract doctrines of the sun and stars, he delivered a doctrine far more concrete and clear.
A punishment befitting the sinner.
“Ah, the desert sunlight is blinding.”
The City of Stars, Antoine.
A man in a blood-red priest’s robe appeared amidst the drifting desert sands. He carried a huge cross on his back. On the worn cross, chunks of flesh and dried blood were smeared openly—like the blade of a slaughtering knife.
“The heretics hung on the observatory are still swinging so disgracefully. Their blackened, rotting bodies—how filthy. A fitting end for sinners, everyone.”
Around him stood Crusaders clad in iron armor. Each metallic clank of their steps made the passersby startle and flee.
“Brothers Crusaders, as you heard during worship, our Holy War has not been smooth. Many hardships exist, but the most painful trial is that the Great Warrior Ismael succumbed to Satan’s wicked temptation and betrayed the cross. With the betrayal of one who should have been noble, the faith of our believers faltered, and our god was deeply grieved.”
“……”
“We must uphold the faith of our believers and lessen the sorrow felt by the Son of Sin and Punishment. To do so, we must judge as many sinners in this land as possible. Especially those who oppose our doctrine… those who chase the stars.”
The man—Abel, an Inquisitor of the Order of the Cross—spoke with vigor. According to him, their mission held great importance. The City of Stars, Antoine in the Perry region, was land of little value. In a normal war, the Crusaders would never waste strength on Antoine. But this was not a normal war. This was a Holy War.
“Brothers!”
What values did the Order of the Star claim? Forgiveness, salvation, acceptance, harmony. The exact opposite of the Order of the Cross.
“Sinners must! Be punished!”
The more the Crusaders trampled and burned the Southern Continent, the more, paradoxically, the number of the Cross’s believers would grow. Loved ones die, lifelong homes burn, everything collapses.
One’s heart splits with rage—and yet the Order of the Sun calls it a trial for ascetic growth, and the Order of the Star demands forgiveness for the sake of harmony.
“Forgiveness? How can one forgive? Can you forgive those who killed your mother, your father, your child, your siblings? Those who defiled them? Those who starved prosperous families to death? Forgive a man who stole your wife? Forgive the one who stabbed your child’s chest? Even if forgiven, you will never forget. Harmony cannot exist. Salvation does not exist. Forgiveness is nothing but a despicable tool to soothe the guilt of sinners!”
Mortals could not do such things. Humans were not great. Humans were not sublime. Humans were not noble.
“The man who stole my wife must have his back broken! The one who stabbed my child’s chest must be burned alive! The ones who starved my family must be starved in return! The only comfort for the oppressed is severe punishment. Only a punishment befitting the crime can give salvation to the crying!”
The doctrines of the sun and stars were all too noble. Thus, when the harsh world struck, they were abandoned. Humans who had lost something inevitably wished for others to lose something as well. In the central continent, of all the chivalry novels overflowing in number—what was the most popular? Revenge tales. Sinners punished, the righteous rewarded. Typical, common stories.
“We sought to teach the ignorant the correct doctrine of the cross. But the priests of the stars shielded sinners, cared for them, and said forgiveness was the only path to salvation. How could such a world be allowed? For the innocent, such a world must not exist. It must never exist.”
Inquisitor Abel pointed toward the observatory. The bodies hanging there swayed in the wind.
“Brothers, today we shall again spread the doctrine of the cross. We will hang the heretics holding misguided beliefs, and cast them into hell. Because…”
Under the gazes of the Crusaders, Abel lifted the cross from his back and slammed it into the ground. With that, the authority granted to one qualified as Inquisitor began to envelop Antoine.
“Because that is what our god desires.”
***
A chilly silence spread. Upon hearing that the Crusaders had arrived, everyone hid beneath tables or pushed into the inn’s back corner, trembling with their heads in their hands. The little girl in the priest’s robe hugged the vacant-eyed Frey tightly, clasping her hands in prayer.
“O Star who shines even in the darkest night, lead our path away from the sandstorms. Grant your servants starlight, grant us a single ray of light…”
Her prayer differed from those of the Cross’s priests or Crusaders. It did not call down divinity. It was simply a pure, powerless prayer.
“…Quiet.”
Someone whispered.
“Don’t make a sound. Do you want them to hear?”
“But at least… let me pray—”
“Pray? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think the stars will listen to the prayer of a child who isn’t even a proper priest? The Goddess of the Stars watches only at night. This is midday. There isn’t even a trace of stars…”
“……”
“And when has the Goddess ever answered us? Even during Antoine’s most prosperous times, she remained silent. Even while her priests were trampled, their hair torn out, hung alive and screaming!”
The girl had no reply.
“Traveler, don’t defend that kid.”
“What do you mean?”
“That child isn’t a real priest. Never received any baptism. She was abandoned. The Order of the Star took her in. Found her drifting in a worn basket down a river and saved her. Can’t you tell by how she prays to the stars in broad daylight? She picked up a priest’s robe and plays priest out of childish delusion.”
Harsh words. But the girl had no strength to object.
People murmured.
“The Inquisitor must be here again. That madman—how many will he kill this time? Killing all the priests of the stars wasn’t enough for him—he pinned outrageous charges on others and slaughtered them.”
“Let’s fight. Barricade the entrance.”
“No chance. Unless we have a priest capable of performing a miracle to counter theirs…”
With that, many glanced at Priest Frey. But Frey had lost her earlier clarity and was smiling blankly again. A broken woman could offer no help.
Someone muttered in despair:
“Then let’s submit.”
“Submit?”
“Let’s accept the Order of the Cross. The priests are dead or gone. No matter how much we pray, the Goddess Astra never answers. And honestly… I can’t accept the doctrine of the star anymore.”
“Blasphemy…”
“The Inquisitor asked—can anyone forgive the one who killed your family? My heart dropped when I heard that. If my daughter died… I would never live normally again. Forgiveness? Don’t make me laugh.”
“……”
“The Southern Continent will be ruined anyway. Whether the Crusaders devour it, or the terrifying fleets from the Central Continent arrive… we’ll be trampled. Whatever ending comes, small people like us will be swept away. And I—I cannot forgive those who took from me. Part of me thinks those Crusaders are right. They’re not wrong. How can sinners be forgiven? Then everyone would sin. Sinners must face punishment. That’s—”
Clank. Crusader footsteps.
“…that’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Suddenly, the man who had been muttering leapt out. Before anyone could stop him, he flung the door open and shouted:
“Sinners who hide in fear of punishment are inside!”
His voice thundered like a storm.
“Judge their sins! Now!”
The Crusaders halted. And.
“Excellent.”
From their ranks stepped the man in blood-red robes.
“I, Inquisitor Abel, commend you. To uphold doctrine without being swayed by petty sentiment—that is admirable. Even in this faded City of Stars, there is a proper believer.”
Abel patted the kneeling man’s head and slowly entered the restaurant.
The floorboards creaked.
“Sinners, come out now. If you hide like rats, your sins grow heavier. If you shield others, your sins grow heavier still. Keep protecting those filthy sinners, and you will end up like those priests of the stars whose heads were torn out and hung on the observatory.”
People breathed raggedly.
“Wh-What do we do? Should we go out?”
“Are you crazy? Have you already forgotten what they did last time? They’ll commit crimes and smash our skulls!”
“Then… let’s say we will join them.”
“You serious? Submit to those who destroyed Antoine and murdered the priests? Just to survive?”
“The living… must live…”
“……”
“Then you die preaching forgiveness. And forgive me for betraying. Isn’t that what your star goddess preached? Forgiveness and harmony…”
Hmph. Things were turning ugly.
‘A fundamental flaw of religion.’
The Order of the Star preached forgiveness. But was forgiveness ever meant to be unconditional? Of course not.
They focused on doctrine and not the essence— just like Great Warrior Ismael had.
“I—I'll go out. I must survive.”
“Then me too—!”
One by one, people ran out.
“There are sinners inside!”
“W-Wait! Let me speak first! This guy supported the star doctrine—he’s a heretic!”
“When did I ever! You filthy bastard—!”
Chaos erupted. Inquisitor Abel watched with delight.
“Splendid. Absolutely splendid.”
As if watching a well-made play. Then.
“There is a priest of the stars inside! The last one! And a disrespectful brat pretending to be a priest even after seeing our doctrine!”
Fear peeled away their humanity.
“How interesting.”
Abel gestured toward us. Crusaders marched forward, armor clanking.
Their heavy steps approached. Frey remained blank-eyed.
“…Traveler.”
The little girl spoke.
“Thank you… for the meal earlier.”
She forced a trembling smile, then grabbed Frey’s hand and dashed out.
“You cross-carrying murderers! We’re right here!”
She yelled with all her strength, but her voice was thin, trembling. Her hands and lips shook visibly.
“Murderers? We bear the noble duty of judging sinners. If so, little girl, fathers who wield swords to protect their sons—soldiers who fight to defend the weak—are they all murderers as well?”
“T-That’s not…”
“What difference? According to your star doctrine, they’re all killers. The Order of the Star demands forgiveness no matter what.”
“T-That’s…”
Abel did not flinch at the girl. He only smirked.
“You call us bad simply because we are not on your side. Those of the star are good, those of Antoine are good, all others bad. How narrow-minded.”
“……”
“You grew up hearing foolish doctrines. Just a child, shouting her own thoughts without understanding anything. Tsk. If you lack learning and hold false beliefs, you should feel shame. Yet how do you stand so proudly? I truly dislike children. Hahaha.”
Abel extended his hand; a Crusader gave him a mace.
“Your sins: ignorance of shame, spreading false words, refusing to admit wrongdoing, hiding after committing sin. For this clear heresy… the punishment I give you is death.”
And.
“Do not worry. It shall not hu—”
“—Since when is it a sin for a child to not know shame?”
Priest Frey finally spoke.
“Children aren’t shameless—they’re pure. All young lives are pure, and because they are pure and clean, they are beautiful. A child who learns the world too early evokes sadness. And if a child spreads wrong words, the blame lies with adults who believed them without question.”
Frey stepped in front of the girl.
“The doctrine of the star does not tell us to forgive everything. All beings in this world are imperfect—imperfect beings make mistakes, commit faults. If we demanded punishment for every fault, no one would dare to step forward. Thus we respect those who lead, understand mistakes, encourage the fallen, and support those who limp. For all who follow the stars.”
“……Huh.”
“You said you dislike children? How foolish.”
Her silhouette shimmered faintly. Like a star.
“All adults were once children. But few remember that. You seem to be one of those who forgot.”
“…Trying to lecture me?”
But despite her moment of clarity, Frey was still just a middle-aged woman.
Powerless.
“Brothers. Seize her.”
Crusaders grabbed her arms and forced her to her knees. Abel glared with fury.
“You shall not die easily.”
Frey did not resist. She couldn’t.
I exhaled quietly.
‘I thought she’d show something more. Guess not.’
She had shown a spark— but nothing beyond that. Finding further clues about the sword in this chaos would be impossible.
Meaning—‘I can’t let her die.’
It was my turn.
‘Eight Crusaders, one Inquisitor.’
In my current state, with the Golden Star’s restriction, I shouldn’t be able to win.
Those were human weapons.
But.
『The Free City Crowley did not live up to its name. Because we believed the city had long lost its freedom.』
Even if I had lost my strength—
『To reclaim freedom, someone had to soil their hands with blood.』
—I had not lost my swords.
It was time to fight. In my way.