Chapter 112
“This cannot be.”
Everything that Seonghwang had built was collapsing. The crown, the symbol of Seonghwang, vanished from Mitor’s head. The glorious goddess’s crown was now placed upon Altahaf, the next Seonghwang.
From somewhere, a beautiful song seemed to drift through the air. It was the heavenly sound that only a Seonghwang in their forties could hear.
“I have been waiting for this day.”
A shiver of satisfaction echoed within Altahaf. In this moment, brimming with passion and joy, nothing could harm him.
“To wear the crown of Seonghwang on such a glorious day… the goddess’s blessing shines so brilliantly.”
Altahaf expressed his sentiments to the kings of each nation. This day was a shared holiday among the countries that had adopted Kaner as their state religion.
It was a day to appoint a new national religion, and conversely, a day when a nation could renounce it. But in the height of his joy, Altahaf completely forgot the most basic fact.
“Seonghwang Altahaf.”
A dry voice echoed through the assembly hall. Only then did Altahaf notice how unusually quiet it had become inside. The gaze of those dancing joyfully under the crown fixed on the representative of the Reyan Empire. The representative, as if waiting for this moment, stood and declared:
“The Reyan Empire hereby declares its renunciation of the state religion.”
“……What did you just say?”
He asked with a smile, but no reply came. Instead, other nations also began rising from their seats, declaring one after another that they were abandoning the state religion.
“The Levnon Empire…”
“The Rubios Kingdom…”
“We renounce Kanerism.”
Those who had moments ago supported Altahaf and placed the crown upon his head now turned their backs without hesitation.
Only the Emperor of Piechen did not renounce the state religion. He looked up at his new master with a bewildered expression, though he too knew nothing.
“……You jest too much.”
Altahaf forced a smile. Yet, the icy atmosphere showed no sign of thawing. Everything had been a game laid out by him, and soon the entire continent would lie at the goddess’s feet.
“How long did you think you would uphold the temple?”
A king scoffed. After Altahaf became Seonghwang, he was supposed to receive the mining rights of a minor state that the temple had claimed. Naturally, the rights were to return to the king.
“I can no longer crawl at the feet of the temple.”
History had long been intertwined with the goddess. Humanity had marveled at her miracles and grace, yet wars and conflicts had sprung from them. Civilizations had progressed on their own, and evidence of this could be seen in Gilfurs.
The continent began embracing Gilfurs’ culture, choosing to improve and advance without relying on the goddess’s power.
Those gathered here had made arrangements with emissaries and formed new contracts with others. Eventually, the final contract’s principal appeared.
“The crown suits you well.”
Tarahan, who had been watching this farce unfold, walked into the hall. The face of the new Seonghwang stiffened at the sight of him.
The Duke watched the entire spectacle from the back of the hall. Paladins stepped forward before the Seonghwang, drawing their swords. At the same time, the guards of each nation also drew their weapons.
But what they held was not a sword. What wound into their hands was a bare rod. A faint scent of gunpowder clung to its metallic sphere. It was an object unlike any sword or spear. When a paladin swung at it, a deafening explosion erupted, shattering the pillar beside him.
“You’d better not move.”
Tarahan issued a warning. Something unknown, escaping from a mysterious object, had sent the pillar flying. While the paladins scrambled in confusion, Altahaf recalled a memory he had forgotten. He had faced this situation before.
It was when he had been kidnapped by that demon. At first, he had assumed the Duke had killed the paladins with dark magic.
He had not been worried then. The Duke’s magic tools were mere trinkets, and weapons made from them had fatal weaknesses.
Magic tools were delicate and sensitive; such carefully crafted weapons could kill only one person at most. Yet, the paladin holding the magic tool remained poised, ready to fire again at any moment.
“A demon… a demon’s device!”
The temple forces cried out in unison, condemning the magic tool. Calling it a demon… Yet ironically, those most resembling that word were themselves.
“You and I share the same intent.”
On the day the Crown Prince appeared on the battlefield, those words had stopped Tarahan’s blade. The Crown Prince could not understand the emperor obsessed with the temple. He dismissed the divine as merely a type of power, never truly believing in the goddess.
To resist the power that forced people to obey, greater strength was needed. That strength was closest to Gilfurs’ belief. For a long time, the Crown Prince had collaborated with Gilfurs to send his people there.
Yet, he could not immediately achieve what he desired. Weapons made from magic tools were too fragile and broke easily. The Duke discovered the solution.
The older a mana stone, the higher its purity. The Duke mined a large amount of high-purity mana stones from the northern mountains, which, through the Crown Prince, were ultimately forged into guns.
Everyone present had experienced the lethality of guns. These weapons were so powerful that they became decisive in determining the outcome of wars.
“The era where gods ruled over humans is over.”
The Duke’s voice echoed between the barrels aimed at the temple. Any movement would result in flesh being torn apart, as it had shattered plaster earlier.
Now, the Emperor of Piechen cowered behind the new Seonghwang. For a ruler of a nation, he looked pitifully weak. A palace official rushed forward and whispered to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, the Empress…”
The Emperor’s face turned pale. In the palace, a rebellion orchestrated by the Crown Prince was about to begin. Michael had gathered forces to oust the emperor obsessed with the temple. With the temple restrained, the remaining task was solely the Crown Prince’s.
“Mitor was better. I shouldn’t have trusted you.”
The emperor bit his nails as he blamed Altahaf. Even his masochistic tendencies had been things he could only indulge as emperor. Hastily, the emperor left the hall. The new Seonghwang now stood as the ruler of a kingdom emptied of its kings.
“How dare you… dare to abandon the goddess’s embrace—!”
Altahaf tore at his own fine hair in frustration. His blood-red eyes did not seem human. The guards, aiming their barrels, tightened the circle around Seonghwang. Paladins attempting to protect Altahaf were struck down by the magical bullets before they could swing their swords.
“You will regret this! I told you the goddess’s curse would be upon you!”
Altahaf’s curse targeted the Duke. Yet the Duke did not even let out a bitter laugh. He had long been cursed. His dealings with the Crown Prince ended here. Now it was time to search for his daughter. The consequences of the curse would come later.
The Duke left the hall, filled with screams, and rode toward the Promaia’s main temple.
The meeting place was a forest path east of the capital. There, Baias waited. He met eyes with Tarahan and revealed a child hidden beneath his robe. Ellen clutched Baias’ hand anxiously.
At the edge of the golden land where the temple stood, there was a re-education center suppressing the barbarians. Only a few tribe members survived in the last remaining center.
Altahaf had imprisoned the now-useless saint in the center. Baias, posing as a lowly barbarian, protected Ellen and escaped at the right moment.
“Duke…?”
A child, her hair still patchy with discoloration, looked at him. Before letting Ellen go, Baias spoke to the Duke.
“The Crown Prince said that your goal is not only to drive out the cruel goddess’s forces but also to liberate the minority tribes.”
Tarahan had always despised his own birth. Breaking this disgusting cycle was why he had been born. His revenge against Piechen and the goddess was now heading toward its final act. He finally noticed the things he had sacrificed for revenge.
Tarahan reached out to Ellen. As the child looked up at the one holding her hand, Baias released her without hesitation.
“That will do.”
Once, he had cared for a woman. Now he stood here for two reasons: to settle past regrets and to free the tribe.
“Duke!”
“I hope we never meet again.”
Baias watched as the child ran toward the Duke before vanishing. Finally, Ellen stood before him.
