28. O Seed, Come to Me
Today, most people believe in the faith of Lux Stella.
They hold onto the myth that a deity from another realm ended the painful Era of the Gods and ushered in the age of humanity. However, most believers, who cannot read the scriptures, do not know the truth of how Lux Stella led humanity to victory.
This ignorance was intentional on the part of the Church.
While people think the Era of the Gods has ended, the Church’s leadership knows the unsettling reality: the fear lurking behind the terms “the twilight of the Era of the Gods” and “the dawn of the age of humanity.”
Even though there are power struggles, the Church’s traditional teachings have always remained the same.
The races of the Era of the Gods have not yet accepted their twilight. They will grow their power in places where the starlight of the new age does not shine and will seek to restore the old gods.
And on the day the old masters return, the thin dawn of the new age will again be shrouded in the darkness of the early morning.
The Church, adhering to this teaching, has largely destroyed records related to Lux Stella. Only a few who have shown dedication to the clergy or practice and have been recognized for their piety, have been able to hear the erased myths.
Sertel was one of those few.
After years of working closely with the abbot, Sertel had finally heard the story.
“The Church feared that the followers of the old gods would return and sought to prevent the analysis of Lux Stella’s miracles by destroying all related records.”
The reason why humanity, which was inferior and weak in all respects, was able to defeat the superior beings of the Era of the Gods was only one.
“Brother Sertel, you know that the first stage of devotion is the miracle of invulnerability. You’re curious about the second stage, aren’t you?”
“…Is it still insufficient?”
“Would you believe if I said that the miracle of invulnerability is a miracle of the first stage of devotion, bestowed without any vow or offering?”
Lux Stella’s miracles were powerful enough to overwhelm other gods.
However, Lux Stella never easily grants such powerful miracles. Only after observing the sincerity of a vow and whether it’s properly fulfilled does Lux Stella bestow miracles.
“The miracle of the first stage of devotion is the stigma.”
“The stigma? At the first stage? But…”
“Yes. You and I have no stigma. Even though time has passed since we made the vow.”
And indeed, if the resolve and determination are truly sincere, the stigma may be granted even before fulfilling the vow.
Sertel could never forget the moment the abbot spoke these words. The abbot, whom Sertel had thought only pursued personal gain, revealed a face full of regret for the first time.
“To the gods, our pledged vow is not sincere.”
“But… then, why is the stigma so precious?”
“Lux Stella must see many who are not even worthy for the first stage of devotion.”
Lux Stella was a resolute deity.
The notion that making a vow of abstinence without any possessions was beneficial was not widely accepted. Sertel recalled and fully understood the countless teachings written in the scriptures.
Abstinence has meaning in practice, not merely in the cutting off of desires but in mastering them. Remember that inability is not abstinence but a limitation.
To you, who seeks to offer your life to the gods.
Remember these words before making a vow.
“Who… can do that?”
“Not many.”
That day, the abbot lifted a cup of wine and sneered.
“So here I am, and you’re covered in blood.”
Unfortunately, reality was harsher. Sertel, gripping his sword, looked up at the altar. He was now facing the boy who had become an object to be protected, a figure to look up to.
“Then is the stigma not as great as one might think? Is it merely a miracle of the first stage of devotion?”
“Hmm. The only thing I could know is one of the effects of the stigma.”
“Even with the status of the abbot?”
“As the abbot, I was able to know at least one thing.”
A thin shirt and eyes that shone like obsidian. A mouth raised in a mocking grin. Skin that appeared clearer than calm water and whiter than polished marble.
Among these, the most noticeable was the stigma glowing with a bluish light on the back of the hand.
“The bearer of the stigma…”
Narva wrapped his sword handle with the bluish stigma. Displaying a grip and posture that made it hard to believe he was only twelve years old, he aimed the sword at Sertel.
Sertel could not take any action in front of him. Then Narva stepped forward and began to swing his sword.
Once, twice, three times.
Multiple sword strikes followed one after another.
Narva discarded the skillful techniques he had used against other monks. Instead, he relied on strength and speed, wielding his sword relentlessly, putting continuous pressure on Sertel.
Sertel, facing this assault, backed away and calmly wielded his sword. But the moment the their steel clashed, Sertel’s face hardened instantly.
“Strength increases with the fulfillment of the vow.”
A tingling sensation ran through the sword handle. A heavy resonance stiffened his fingers and pounded his shoulder. Trying to sidestep too late, it was already too late.
As Sertel was thrown off balance by the shock, Narva was already swinging his sword.
“While fulfilling the vow, one does not tire.”
The sack of grain burst. Sertel grasped the gaping wound, trying to stop the spilled grains. He had long since discarded the sword he had been holding.
“Ugh, ugh. Ugh.”
He felt no pain. Only the thought of needing to gather the spilled contents filled his mind. Sertel tried to collect the spilling entrails and blood, but they continued to slip through his fingers like sand.
At that moment, the sharp tip of the sword poked his neck.
“Shaking so much over just one torn wound.”
“L-Lord!”
“Is this how you’ve lived, cutting down people?”
There was no hope of mercy. He wanted to live. Reason and emotion pointed fingers at each other. He no longer felt anger seeing Narva’s scornful and mocking smile.
Instead, Sertel blurted out whatever came to his mind.
“Please spare me. L-Lord. Since you have the stigma, please…”
“Hmm.”
“The doctrine of abstaining from killing…”
At that moment, Narva adjusted his grip on the sword and took a step back. To Sertel, whose vision was clouded by blood, this action seemed like an act of mercy.
Sertel was overwhelmed with joy at the thought he might live. Even as the blade was being driven into his neck, he was happily smiling. He couldn’t grasp reality until the very moment his body was falling apart.
“Do not hope for leniency.”
It wasn’t until his body rolled away that he saw a hint of shock on his face.
“Prove your innocence, will you?”
It was when Narva drove the tip of his sword into the head that was rolling on the ground.
***
Leaving the blood-stained main hall and looking at the rising sun was quite a refreshing change.
It had truly been a tiresome and eventful night. I would have liked to sit down and rest for a while, but all I found rolling around were corpses, so I gave up.
Of course, the dawn revealing the monastery’s devastation also played a part.
It was similar to the story of Master Wonhyo’s skull water. Didn’t Master Wonhyo drink from a skull during the dark night and refrain from vomiting in broad daylight? It was fine when it wasn’t visible, but seeing it more clearly made my stomach churn even more.
Sitting here and staring at the dead bodies would surely make me faint, and with the world still full of believers, one could hardly expect no ghosts. Although I’m not particularly scared of ghosts, I didn’t want to give them any reason to hang around.
Just like how an elementary school classmate who wasn’t close suddenly contacts you, offering insurance, water purifiers or even cult advice. I will not forgive those who, having been indifferent to me while alive, come to see me only after death.
As I resolved this, a familiar voice came from behind.
Your Highness! That was a magnificent victory! I knew I could trust you!!!
When I turned my head, John was handing me a large beer mug. Wondering what it was, I accepted it and was immediately hit by a rich fruity aroma. It was definitely an expensive wine made in the monastery.
“Did you loot the underground storage while I was holding the divine trial?”
“Oh, come on. They were all going to be killed anyway. With your victory assured, it’s better to bring you something rather than just watching.”
Damn… Even though John is often clueless and obtuse, his gestures like this make it hard to dislike him. I was moved by John’s consideration for his lord.
“Actually—”
“Tsk. I thought I’d bring some snacks since we finally had some entertainment, but it seems you’ve already cut them all down.”
Now that I noticed, he was mumbling with a piece of jerky in his mouth. John even looked into the main hall with regretful eyes. So much so that it almost disgusted me.
“You were so disgusted by Topa’s corpse, weren’t you?”
“Ugh. I can’t even watch the butchering of prey because it’s so gruesome.”
“?”
I had no choice but to question him in disbelief.
“But the divine trial also involves beheading?”
“Huh? Isn’t that the lightning thing?”
I had once preserved the dreams of simple-minded people in modern times, like believing in the existence of Santa Claus or house elves. Rather than torment John with a few malicious words, I just nodded in agreement.
“Yes. The lightning split the neck.”
“Wow. No wonder. It was flashing, so that was the reason.”
John’s eyes lit up with interest like a child, and he began chattering about various things. I took a sip of the wine John handed me and responded appropriately.
Then, a sudden question came to mind.
“By the way, did you give any to the knights?”
“Oh.”
Seeing John’s stupid reaction, I subtly pulled my lips away from the cup. Without hesitation, I turned the cup upside down and spilled the wine on the ground.
“Oh, Lord! How could you waste such a precious thing!”
“I… have never drunk wine. Just know that.”
“Huh? You were drinking it until just now.”
“Spit it out too. I’ll discuss things with Brother Terbear from now on.”
If there’s something suspicious, stay as far away as possible from the scene.
I smacked John on the back, making him vomit out the wine, and then reentered the main hall. However, the knights who only ate, fought, and drank had keen senses of smell.
“Hmm. Sniff sniff.”
“Why? Sniffing around like hunting dogs.”
“Maybe because they’re monks? Even amidst this bloodstain, there’s the smell of wine. Quite refined.”
“Really?”
Seeing the knights sniffing around and looking around, I felt my shoulders stiffen. If John had given the wine to the knights too, they would have drank it freely without hesitation.
Though I couldn’t hide my regret inwardly, there was someone who was even more regretful–or rather, obsessed.
As soon as I entered the main hall, my second brother Terbear stared at me with fiery eyes.
“Narva. You should become a knight.”
“Brother.”
“I told you. Your talent is innate. The amazing skill you showed today–though others might not see it–my comrades and I recognize it. You might even have the talent to surpass me.”
“You mentioned aiming for the monastery knights, didn’t you?”
“Do you still think that way after seeing what the monks did? At least I don’t. There’s no reason to be tied to the monastery knights. With your skill, you could make significant achievements as my vassal on the battlefield.”
I was sure of it. Terbear would not back down easily.
Terbear, being a noble, believed that one should become a knight. Having seen my skills, he was determined to drag me into harsh battlefields with tenacity reflected in his sticky words and gaze.
However, my response was already decided.
“Brother, my intention to join the clergy is purely to benefit the family. And also for personal training.”
“You could contribute just as much as a knight. That’s not the issue…”
“However, I would not receive the patronage of the Holy See.”
Given the knights who I detest, the idea of becoming one myself?
I already saw a future where I’d be in iron armor, charging and only able to attack. Living with barbaric fools like them was nothing short of torture.
“All of this is ultimately to build a force to confront Yubas. Brother, remember that fact.”
“…Hoo. I thought I had found a decent vassal for once. These days, those with neither skill nor talent, or even if they have both, lack the will…”
“Brother.”
“Ha. Fine. Alright… Narva, I concede. I lost. I lost.”
Terbear sighed deeply, as if lamenting. Just as I thought Terbear might slump in defeat, he suddenly glared and raised his right index finger.
“Since I lost, I’ll give you one, no, three steps back. How about you fight me, and if you win, I’ll do as you say?”
“Brother, is that a proposal for fighting a twelve-year-old?”
“Ugh…”
Terbear began to struggle between the desire to gain an excellent vassal and the shame of fighting a twelve-year-old boy. Ultimately, the latter won out.
Terbear let out a deep sigh and drooped his shoulders.
“So. What are you planning to do now? This monastery has no value anymore. Most of those who lived here are dead and unable to perform their functions.”
That was true. There was nothing left in the monastery. The insane ones, blinded by riches, killed their fellow brothers, and later the attackers from Yubas killed everyone, with Terbear finally cleaning up.
Of course, there might be sacred objects or valuables, but it was too wasteful to spend time searching for them. It didn’t seem like there would be any special relics in a place filled with such people.
In fact, the more groups that come to plunder the monastery’s wealth, the better. They would erase our traces. After making this judgment, I decided.
“Since we’ve dealt with the attackers, we should now move to achieve our original goal.”
“Original goal?”
“To make contact with the Holy See. Originally, I intended to go through Bishop Poivis, but from what I see, he has no such intention. Staying in the Poivis diocese would certainly expose us to constant assassination threats.”
So, instead of Yubas, the followers of Poivis would become potential enemies. Yubas’s plans are easier to grasp due to their large scale, but the characteristics of Bishop Poivis’s plans make them difficult to prevent.
The church or monastery’s closed and exclusive nature, and its dismissive attitude toward external assistance should not be underestimated. The church is everywhere, making it hard to avoid scrutiny.
Returning to stay by King Aesterton was not an option either. Given the repeated attacks by Yubas within Poivis’s domain, it couldn’t be guaranteed to be safe.
Having said that, Terbear nodded.
“Narva. Wouldn’t it be safer to act as my vassal instead?”
Perhaps it was not understanding but just a desire to take me as a vassal.
“There is actually one place that’s safer than a battlefield.”
“Narva, I’m not dismissing your dreams, but I’m concerned about your safety.”
“There really is such a place. A force that will protect me from the bishops opposing Yubas no matter what happens.”
“…Where is that place?”
Terbear looked as if he was going to break down the place I was talking about. However, once Terbear hears it, he will have no choice but to slap his knee in realization.
I spoke with confidence.
“The direct jurisdiction of the Holy See, the Bishopric of Illeniput.”
As expected, Terbear’s reaction was immediate.
Terbear briefly pondered and then, with his mouth agape, slapped his knee.
“Illeniput is within Yubas’s domain!!!”
