311. Frostbite Dream (2)
“Saint, thank you so much.”
“Thanks to the saint, stability has been restored here.”
“How can such a precious person even care about the slums of other countries…?”
In the rough landscape of a slum in the Kingdom of Terrasia, there was a woman wearing a pure white dress that did not match the landscape at all.
Saint Bernice of Innocence.
Her pink eyes draw a half-moon shape and smile at the residents living in the slums.
The eyes were smiling, but the inside was not like that at all.
She grew up in a difficult environment from an early age.
It wasn’t because the slums were dirty.
‘Is there no such thing as slum relief?’
Even though the Order of the Golden Lion, which was the pillar of the organization that dealt with the demons of the Kingdom of Terrasia, disappeared and a newly selected order of knights came in, the kingdom was still engulfed in tribulation.
Taxes were raised to create a new order of knights, and slums were growing as if they were eating away at the city.
More than anything, what the newly founded Blue Hawk Knights did was not that different from the Golden Lion Knights.
They were still incompetent and helpless.
It was only natural that the ‘tail’ was cut off and the ‘head’ was not changed.
There was no way the wicked demons wouldn’t dig into that crack.
‘I should say I’m glad that everyone still seems to have the strength to smile.’
The fact that the slums, where the stench of her demons had disappeared, still felt vibrant was the only reason she was able to smile.
However, Bernice knew very well that even that would not last long.
The pressure the Kingdom of Terrasia was putting on her Silver Wing Knights was increasing. He told me to stop paying attention because this was enough.
‘I hope that what I planned goes well.’
Bernice shook her head to relieve her worries and got into the carriage that was waiting for her.
When you get on the carriage, you can see the faces of Knight Commander Inez and Vice-Captain Eclin.
“Please recite it.”
Bernice opened her mouth as soon as she sat down on her chair.
In response to her instructions, Eclin cleared his throat and cleared his throat.
“Hmm, the investigation has been completed to some extent.”
“Did you say it was a blood religion?”
“Yes, the blood cult that is active in the East is said to be a group of fanatics centered around a cult leader called ‘Blood Demon’ and made up mostly of blood wizards.”
“There is a cult leader there too. Are they similar in nature to the Dark Church?”
“I don’t think that’s the case at all. To be precise, it’s hard to say that we believe in a divine being. In general, it is a heterogeneous group of blood wizards who are known to not form groups and work alone, so there is no leader, or blood wizard. They regard demons as gods and appear to worship blood magic itself, the power to manipulate blood.”
As Ecklin said, blood wizards do not share their power and knowledge with each other due to the difficult production process of bloodstone.
“It’s definitely foreign. It’s arrogant.”
“Even if they form a group, they would prefer an equal relationship, and in a blood cult where the top and bottom are clear, it is presumed that the cult leader probably holds the largest share of blood stones.”
“I think it would be more appropriate to use a different expression than the leader, vice-captain.”
At Inez’s point, Eclin nodded her head and continued her speech.
“Yes, the blood demon is a person named Gu-hwi. He was an ordinary child living in the slums of the protectorate, but it is said that he was taken in by a force that teaches martial arts of a certain school called ‘Hwasanpa’. Then, there was an ‘accident’, and Gu-hwi has been missing since then. It is known that he died by falling off a cliff at the same time…”
Ecklin turned the page of the report he was holding.
“But one day, Guhwi, who was thought to be dead, suddenly appeared as a blood demon and destroyed the entire volcanic sect in just one night.”
“What if it was an accident?”
“There is no particular information known about him.”
“What does it mean to ‘become’ a blood demon?”
“Well… They say that blood demons and blood religion existed before. According to the Murim Alliance’s investigation, it is presumed that he may have saved the martial arts major, who was being handled by the first generation blood demon, from a cliff. Guhwi is the second generation blood demon.”
“Are you saying that Guhwi, who fell into a cliff and was on the brink of death, was lucky enough to pick up a grimoire that could use powerful blood magic from the cliff?”
“Exactly.”
Eclin clicked his finger in response to Bernice, who interpreted an Eastern story in a Western way.
“As the Blood Cult is a group of blood wizards, it appears that they have been carrying out evil deeds that are no different from demons without hesitation, including human sacrifice for blood stones, kidnapping, murder, and cannibalism, all while wearing human skin.”
“If it weren’t for Dongbang, it would have long ago been singled out as the number one target for condemnation by the Holy Kingdom.”
Inez, who was crossing her arms, added in a voice without a raised voice.
“Inez is right. It’s just that the Lord’s will was not reaching us because we were physically far away.”
Bernice tries to smile.
Iñez, noticing that she was blaming herself in her smile, opened her mouth again.
“To be honest, the relationship between the East and the Holy Kingdom is not very good. The people I have met in the East seem to believe more in fists and swords to keep their nights safe than in God. Well, the structural structure of the East “When you look at the problem, it seems like a reasonable choice.”
In the East, there are fewer demons than in the West, but it is said to be infested with blood cults, bands of thieves, and monsters, which are hot topics these days.
If you suddenly wonder what the ‘Yokai’ is, it is said that in the past, there was a workshop in the East where so many monsters were made that you could get stepped on while walking down the street.
Bernice remembered hearing during her education an anecdote about a saint of the time visiting the workshop in person and slapping the blacksmith on the face to stop him.
“I heard that since there are not many demons, it has become difficult to feel the need for priests, and missionary work has also become difficult.”
“Yes, maybe that’s why there is always a shadow on the faces of priests who go on business trips to the East.”
“I guess everyone is enthusiastic. I hope this provides an opportunity to publicize the greatness of Heneris who was given to the lands of the East.”
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Well, missionary work was still a low priority.
The highest priority was to eliminate ‘Blood Demon Guhwi’.
Soon, Inez looked at the bundle of reports that Eclin was holding and opened her mouth.
“By the way, is it really true that the Blood Cult made a deal with the demons? If it weren’t for that, it would have been difficult for us to get permission from the Pope.”
As can be seen from the explanation given earlier, this operation by the Holy Kingdom, which did not have a very good relationship with the East, to go on an expedition to the East and eliminate the blood demons could cause various political problems.
So, we had to get permission from the Pope, who was the most powerful figure in the Holy Kingdom…
“I personally persuaded the Pope. I think it was just information he had heard, but for some reason, his voice was full of confidence. Considering what had happened so far, I didn’t suffer any loss by listening to him, right? “
…Surprisingly, Bernice easily succeeds in persuading him.
“When the informant said, ‘He who returned from paradise,’ the Pope said so. Since the Lord is with him by his side, this must also be the Lord’s will, so he readily allowed it.”
“Now that I think about it, the Pope met with Zeto some time ago. What did they talk about?”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t hear that either. The smile didn’t leave the Pope’s face while he was talking to him.”
“Oh, I thought the Pope didn’t smile much unless it was something serious.”
“That’s right!”
When Inez gave Zeto a good evaluation in a serious voice, Bernice loudly retorted.
“”……””
Inez and Eclin quietly cover their mouths and laugh at her excitement.
They both knew right away that there was a strange atmosphere flowing between Bernice and Zeto.
“…Hmm, excuse me.”
Bernice, who had suddenly become the butt of their teasing, cleared her throat for no reason and lightened her mood.
“Anyway, according to his information, there will be a gathering of leaders from Eastern countries held every few decades in a few days, and the Blood Demon will come there.”
“The investigation into that ‘meeting’ just ended right before departure.”
“Can you tell me?”
“Yes, to know the beginning of the gathering, we must go back to the time of the ‘Conqueror King’ who was the only one to unify the East.”
“Ah, he is the ‘Conqueror’ who went on an expedition to the land of the demons.”
“It is said that after the conqueror conquered the East for the last time, he tied a ‘knot’ to a huge pillar that did not fall even during the war.”
“A knot?”
“Yes, they say it was a chain to be precise. The King of Conqueror tied the chain to a pillar and said, ‘Whoever undoes this knot will one day take control of the East.’ It is said that he said something like this.”
“Could it be a prophecy?”
“Well, he was the only person who unified the East, so it wouldn’t be strange to say that he could make prophecies, but he actually had a similar effect.”
“Kings from all over the world gathered to untie the knot.”
Inez, who was listening to Eclin’s explanation, caught the main point.
“Yes.”
“Isn’t it okay to just untie the knot?”
Bernice expresses doubt as if he cannot understand.
“If it had been released that easily, there would have been no need for periodic meetings. It certainly seemed to have a symbolic meaning at first. It was a magic chain that would not break no matter what impact was applied and could not be loosened by any means. .”
“If it’s a magic tool, shouldn’t you just call a wizard?”
“In fact, the kings of the East also tried their best to invite the magic tower lords, but surprisingly, it is said that none of the magic tower lords were able to untie the knot. Since they are anonymous, it is not clear exactly which magic tower lords participated, but they also had many “I think I’ve tried it before.”
“Hmm, maybe I was embarrassed.”
“This is an article written based on a tip from an anonymous magic tower owner at the time.”
Ecklin gives Bernice a newspaper article from the stack of reports.
After receiving this, Bernice slowly read the title written in large letters on the article.
“The magic tower lord says… Even a wise man can’t solve this… Hmm, that’s an interesting article. If it’s a magic tool that even the magic tower lords can’t control, I don’t think it was artificially created.”
“In any case, it is said that the leaders of each country worked hard to untie the knot and take control of the East. When the invasions of those who tried to touch the huge pillar where the knot was hung became frequent, the Patriots proposed a meeting.”
“Are you saying we want to have a fair opportunity?”
“Still, the fact that the knot is in the land of the patriots doesn’t change, so isn’t the patriots at an advantage?”
“That’s right. That’s why each country appoints a separate person to monitor each pillar and communicates with them on a regular basis. They also monitor each other.”
“You’re being needlessly thorough.”
Inez drooled and touched her chin.
“But is there really no way to solve it? For example, if you attack the pillars…”
“Even so, here is a famous anecdote related to the pillar. There was once a patriotic king who gave up on untying the knot and tried to pull out the pillar itself, but was assassinated for daring to practice witchcraft on the sacred knot. . And that too to his subjects.”
“I wonder if there is some mysterious power…”
“Ah, there was actually a pillar pulled out. It was pulled out, but the chain didn’t budge, so I had to restore it to its original state.”
Ecklin, who was shuffling through a bundle of documents, answered like that. After going through everything down to the last page, she slapped her report on her lap and put it away, and Bernice immediately continued her story.
“Anyway, that’s why the leaders were meeting periodically, and it won’t be long before the blood demons will attack that place.”
“Rather than that, he jumped in alone? Where the generals guarding the kings of each country would be gathered?”
“I also have some doubts about him. He said that the Blood Cult is planning to carry out a diversionary operation, and even if he were to prevent it, I have doubts about whether the troops gathered there will be able to reliably defeat the Blood Demon.”
“So you called the saint?”
“Huh, I heard there is no clearer solution than mine.”
Bernice smiles brightly and raises his fist.
On her white gloves, there were dark blood stains from the demons hiding in the slums.
The demon died without leaving a single word behind.
This was because she was a little excited at the thought that she would be able to meet Zeto in a few days.
“…You look quite happy.”
“Of course. It means that my knight is relying on me.”
“Well, it’s the saint’s knight…”
Eclin thought to himself as he glanced sideways at the corner of her mouth that had gone up and had no intention of coming down.
‘Just a few days ago, you were exhausted…’
Bernice communicated with Zeto once through her crystal ball, and she was full of vitality, as if she had become a new person.
‘You’ve been very busy with the Academy and Terrasia.’
Is it true that there is no medicine as great as love?
Bernice looked out her window, humming to her as she remembered Zeto and felt good.
While looking out her window, a question arises and she asks Eclin.
“By the way, where did the Conqueror King get such a strange chain? To be honest, after hearing the story, I’m more curious about it than about her blood demon.”
“Well, maybe only the Conqueror himself knows that, right?”
***
“…So, the intention is to untie the knot and achieve the unification of the East once again. What king wouldn’t be greedy? Of course, it seems to have a great symbolic meaning.”
“It’s a knot that will never be undone no matter what you try…! Can’t you already feel the mystery…?!”
“Lucia, this is not a game like locking and unlocking.”
“If it’s Mr. Amon’s muscles, I might be able to loosen it!”
“There is no chain that the muscles of the Caligus family cannot break.”
“Ah, I heard. I heard. Did you say that when your matriarch was captured alive for the sake of his men, he broke dozens of layers of chains?”
“It’s a legendary story. They said it was so dangerous, but that guy actually destroyed it?”
While the cadets were chatting, a voice that would normally not be heard comes in.
Not many people can call Maxim Caligus, Amon’s father and the head of the Caligus family, ‘that nobleman.’
The identity of the voice was Instructor Raina.
For some reason, she was sitting in our carriage. My relationship with other instructors is a bit awkward or something.
“Then shall we test how many layers of chains our proud Amon Calligus cadet can undo?”
“Good!”
At Raina’s suggestion, Lucia raised her hand and shouted.
“……”
Actually, Amon had a troubled look on his face.
“Come on, Amon. Stand for a moment.”
“Do you think I can’t solve it?”
“I’m doing it because I think I can solve it.”
“Yes, yes! Mr. Amon, this way!”
While watching their prank that started so suddenly, Sierra’s voice echoes in her head.
[ It is a knot that will never be undone. That’s interesting. Is there anything that touches your memory? ]
At her question, I sighed and laughed lightly.
‘…I have no idea.’
I couldn’t recall any memories related to knots, so I laughed out loud.
‘In the diary, in the chain… I wonder if there was so much left behind…’