~Chapter 120~
There were many people injured at the hunting festival.
Noble children, who had always grown up without even a scratch, made a huge fuss over even small injuries.
Their exaggerated reactions spread quickly as rumors.
People said, “Did you hear nobles were hurt at the hunting festival in the Travium lands? Hurt? But isn’t the hunting festival just a fun event? But I heard a monster suddenly appeared!”
The rumors changed into, “Maybe the war with monsters that once terrified the Eastern Empire is starting again.” This made people afraid.
‘Hmm, everything is going exactly how the villain wants.’
Riden attended a temple event and watched people from the side.
People were scared, so they rushed to the temple with donations. This was exactly what the villain wanted.
‘But isn’t it all a bit obvious?’
The temple took the chance to plan many events.
They held prayer meetings every day, asking people to “show their wish for safety” by giving donations.
They also held a large purification ritual, saying it would protect the empire from monsters. They sold holy water, talismans, and blessed items.
‘It’s like they already knew monsters would appear at the hunting festival.’
But it seemed Riden was the only one who found this strange—everyone else was busy buying things at the temple.
Riden stared at a man holding his bought holy water tightly as he left, and she wondered with a suspicious look,
‘Does that holy water really work?’
[It can’t. Siraka is asleep, so only she can make the real thing.]
Oh, only Siraka can make true holy water.
Wait a minute…
‘I have similar powers to Siraka, don’t I?’
Like how I breathe life into Ethan, kind of healing him.
Of course, it’s nothing compared to Siraka’s power.
‘Then can I make holy water too?’
That stuff is fake anyway.
If I make even a little real one, how much money could I get…?
[Try it if you want.]
Berbes answered flatly.
‘Fine, never mind.’
She was going to be a duchess soon and already had the count’s family fortune, so she would never run out of money. But it was funny how she still thought of making money whenever she saw a way.
Riden looked away from the expensive temple items and asked,
‘What is Ethan doing right now?’
She was at the temple’s event hall, while Ethan was with the Holy Knights. Riden and Berbes were talking mentally, long-distance. This became possible after the hunting festival.
Even when she wasn’t near Ethan, she could now talk to Berbes.
Berbes answered shortly:
[Working.]
‘Working at what?’
[Don’t know. Just working.]
‘You’re just watching Ethan, right? Don’t bother him. If you do, I’ll bother you instead.’
Then Berbes, using Ethan’s voice, shouted in her mind:
[Hey, human.]
‘?’
After a pause, Berbes continued.
[Stop looking down on me. If you keep annoying me, I might—]
‘Go ahead.’
[?]
‘Do it if you want.’
Berbes was silent, surprised.
She knew it was just an empty threat.
‘You’re so desperate to find Siraka, you’d never kill your only helper—even after more than a hundred years of searching.’
From their talks, Riden had learned that Berbes missed Siraka deeply and wanted to find her.
Berbes had originally planned to make the emperor drink his blood, so he could control the emperor’s body and search for Siraka.
But by accident, the Duke of Kenwolf drank the blood instead. And instead of being controlled, the duke’s family fought off Berbes for generations.
After a pause, Riden spoke again.
‘I think we could be good partners. You want to find Siraka, right?’
[……]
‘So stop saying scary things. Please?’
[There’s no such thing as a nice evil god.]
‘Really? To me, you just look like a god who misses someone. But it’s okay if you never see her again…’
[I want to see her.]
Riden smiled. He was kind of cute when he was honest.
After the festival, Riden had looked through some of Berbes’s memories.
They were all about Siraka.
Siraka was truly a healing god.
She was gentle and soft-hearted, and couldn’t ignore suffering humans.
She traveled, healing the sick and hurt, asking for nothing in return.
Berbes hated this part of her.
Siraka spent so much time helping humans, she left Berbes alone.
The more she did this, the more Berbes hated humans.
So, he sent out monsters to attack them.
But Siraka, realizing people were suffering because of him, left Berbes in disgust.
He brought that on himself.
‘But do you really have the power to grant my wish?’
[……]
Berbes didn’t answer, but she could imagine his shocked face.
Still, she needed to check.
‘You’re not really Berbes himself… how should I say it? You’re just very weak now.’
Siraka was split into six relics and hid in the human world.
She didn’t just run away—she punished Berbes for hurting people, which made him lose much of his power.
[How many people do you want dead that you care about my power so much?]
He misunderstood.
‘That’s not what I want!’
‘There are just people I want out of my way. I want to know if you can help.’
[Tell me, how many?]
‘Four.’
[Hahaha!]
Berbes laughed so loud her head rang.
‘Please, don’t laugh like that using Ethan’s voice. It feels weird.’
[So you want me to use my power just to get rid of four people?]
‘I said not to kill them!’
[But you said you wanted them out of your way.]
Evil god was evil for a reason.
He only thought of killing, never other solutions.
No wonder Siraka left him.
‘…I won’t kill them, but I know you could. Just know, that’s not what I want. What I want is right there.’
Riden whispered, pointing at someone.
She pointed to Nation, a high priest in the temple.
The temple’s main hall was packed with hundreds of worshippers—far more than usual.
Nation climbed up to the altar and spoke in a grand voice.
“Believers, during this time when darkness threatens the empire, God has given us a special blessing.”
He lifted a crystal ball in his hand.
“Today, I will interpret the will of God before your eyes.”
He stared at the crystal ball, bringing it close to his ear.
Suddenly, his eyes flashed with madness.
“I can hear it! The voice of Lord Berbes, who gave us strength in the war against monsters, is speaking now!”
‘Berbes isn’t saying anything. What an actor.’
Riden had planned to use High Priest Nation, but now that Damian was so involved with the villains, using Nation, the villain’s right hand, was too dangerous.
‘Unexpectedly, Berbes showed up at the right time.’
The crowd began to murmur with excitement.
Nation closed his eyes, then slowly opened them, staring at the crystal.
“I see it. Red monster eyes glowing in the darkness. But behind them, a golden shield… Ah, yes, God…!”
He raised his hand dramatically.
“Monsters will surely attack, but those who are faithful will receive the light of protection! But this protection is not free. Your devotion and dedication are needed!”
Someone in the crowd shouted,
“What should we do?”
Nation smiled and answered,
“You need absolute faith, devotion, and trust.”
He held the crystal ball even higher.
“So, from today, we will start special fortune-telling services. High priests like myself will interpret your fate. With the same holy power that defeated the monsters before, we will tell you about upcoming dangers and how to overcome them!”
He paused to see everyone’s reaction.
Seeing their eager faces, he shouted louder,
“But this is a sacred service. Bring your sincere offerings and devotion. How can you come to hear the word of God with empty hands?”
“Yes!”
“We believe!”
People shouted in agreement.
Suddenly, Berbes’s voice came to her.
[What exactly do you want from me?]
Riden smiled.
‘Did you see that priest trick everyone with lies? I want you to trick just one person like that.’
