Episode 142
Before I could say anything, Alderson raised one arm, making a fluid movement as if he were drawing a semicircle with his hand.
The arm that was going up stopped at shoulder height.
At that moment, like a curtain falling, threads fell down my arms.
Sweet… … .
And a doll tied to a string also appeared.
Although it was a sudden appearance with no warning, I was not surprised.
Because magic is like this.
“This is the doll before it was injected with ‘information.’ What does it look like?”
“It just looks like an articulated doll made out of wood.”
The doll had no clothes and no facial features.
The curves of the body were so hard that it was hard to tell if it was a man or a woman.
It was literally a wooden doll with only the bare minimum form.
If you inject information there, will your appearance change like Delac or Leone that you just fought?
It would have been hard to believe it if you hadn’t seen it with your own eyes.
“The dolls I have produced are of such high perfection that they can be counted on one hand even in the Empire, but that does not mean they are without flaws. First of all, processing information is a job… … . In the case of the two dolls that fought with you just now, the process alone took about 10 years.”
“It’s inefficient.”
“It was unbecoming a wizard.”
Alderson nodded and continued.
“There are cases where the injected information does not match the wavelength of the doll’s body, and then the doll’s body just collapses. Even if you succeed after much effort, it is not possible to perfectly realize the original. As you’ve seen, you can’t use divine protection, and since it has mana built in, there’s a limit to the amount of mana you can hold. Its operational power is also less than half. At least I can keep up with my physical abilities… … .”
“What is the main point?”
I cut Alderson off rather rudely. This is because I felt that his words were too long.
Alderson continued speaking without any sign of offense.
“Leone was in first place on the top rankings, but now that you’re here, she’s in second place. Anyway, I only injected the doll with the ‘information’ I gained when Leone climbed the tower. “There is nothing more or less in the process.”
Somehow, the words are a bit strange.
I said with a slightly serious expression.
“Wait. “That statement could not have been-.”
Alderson nodded.
“Leone had evil blood flowing from the beginning.”
her.
My body relaxed slightly.
“Are you saying that Leone was the leader of a small sect?”
“To even know about the existence of the Little Cult, you are very knowledgeable about the Dark Cult… … .”
Alderson looked a little surprised and nodded.
“But it’s different from a typical small religious leader. Leone… Aside from that, it’s very special.”
“… … .”
“Perhaps because of that history, Leone’s ‘information’ had a very strong personality. In general, feeding information into a doll does not make it behave like a real person. It only carries out the information entered. Leone was different. “There was self-consciousness, and even conversation was possible.”
I thought now would be a good time to ask what I was most curious about.
“Who on earth is Leone?”
“I don’t know.”
“… yes?”
Alderson continued.
“I am very knowledgeable about the Dark Church, hell, and the devil, but I know almost nothing about Leone except for the fact that he was a minor cult leader.”
“I heard you got some information.”
“Physical information. “You can’t tell the traces of a climber’s life just by looking at them.”
“… … .”
That’s true, though.
“Actually, I only found out that he was a small religious leader because Leone told me.”
“I found out because you told me? “What you’re saying is a bit strange.”
“okay. Strange. I told you. “Leone is special.”
Alderson said with a bitter smile.
“Leone doesn’t follow my orders. “What I don’t want to say is that I won’t open my mouth even if there’s a knife at my throat.”
“… … .”
This is an amazing confession.
Perhaps it’s not because Alderson’s skills are poor, but because, as he said, Leone is special… … .
“… Then you can go find the real Leone, not the doll.”
“It’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s already dead.”
“… … .”
I closed my mouth.
Alderson said with a serious look on his face.
“… Iron Bloodsmith Delac C. Badnicker. Demon hunter and executioner, sword of the royal family, charisma of a great family – most of the modifiers attached to Delak came from the process of killing demons.”
“yes. And the Dean said: “The matriarch said he could be friends with the devil.”
“… … .”
“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”
The dean laughed and said at my words.
“I can’t take responsibility. And I hope you don’t report to Sanghyeolgong that I said this.”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“Why?”
“The Sanghyeolgong of today is a completely different person than he was back then.”
Only then did I understand Dean Alderson’s words.
Of course, people’s thoughts constantly change until they die.
I know that better than anyone else, having lived a pathetic life.
So, it is completely understandable that Sanghyeolgong’s thoughts are different from when he was younger.
but… … .
It came as a great shock to me to hear that Sanghyeolgong, who was no other person, had once hoped for harmony with the devil.
What kind of events did Sanghyeolgong experience and change?
“I’ve said most of what I can say.”
After saying that, Dean Alderson closed his eyes.
It’s like waiting for a verdict.
“… … .”
Whatever the reason, Alderson revealed his true feelings fully.
He could have overpowered me with force, but he seemed to be confessing the truth and hoping for leniency from me.
The Archmage of Seven Colors.
Dean of Cartel Academy.
Even considering his status, it is not easy for an old man who has lived for more than a hundred years to show this kind of attitude towards a child with no blood on his head.
Of course, you can’t kill me for this.
Even if it’s like this, I’m a Badknicker.
‘but… … .’
I liked Dean Alderson’s attitude.
Moreover, I had the theory that if the other person revealed everything, I should also reveal some of my true feelings.
“You said there might be good devils.”
“I see.”
“Then can a good demon lord also exist?”
“what?”
Alderson looked at me in bewilderment, but closed his mouth when he saw my expression.
“hmm.”
He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts, then slowly opened his mouth.
“… Devil. We call them that, but in reality they are gods. Even among gods, he is an incredibly powerful being. “Do you know why?”
It’s a fact I’ve heard several times recently, but I thought about it carefully before answering.
“The Empire’s official religion, the 72 Churches, is a polytheistic religion that believes in seventy-two gods. In addition, there are more gods believed in by each family, tribe, and region, and if you add them all up, there are probably hundreds.”
God bless you.
A power given by God to the lineage of a great family.
In other words, to put it simply, there are only [Number of Divine Protection] gods that exist.
Gods who are friendly to the empire and humans.
“On the other hand, there are only six beings called evil spirits. “It is a situation where only six gods are the biggest threat to the empire, but to put it simply, one evil god has the same power as dozens of good gods.”
Alderson nodded.
“I see. In the past, evil beings called the 13 evil gods drove the continent into an abyss of chaos… … . I swear. “The six evil gods of today are much stronger and more terrifying than the thirteen evil gods of ancient times.”
“It looks like he’s much stronger than the 13 evil gods.”
“I’m not saying this simply because of the power it possesses. What I fear most is hatred… “They are completely unaffected by reverence or faith.”
I tilted my head.
“What does that mean?”
“Every god needs believers. Without faith, God cannot exert a strong influence… … . “This may be the reason why the concept of the ‘forgotten god’ exists in the world.”
“hmm… … .”
“Only the Demon King is an exception to that premise. Because faith is a good thing for them… … . Even if we completely eradicate the cult from this continent, the power of those terrible beings will not diminish one bit.”
This was a fact I didn’t know… … .
When I heard it, it was a truth that I naturally understood.
Nine or tang tatta.
Could you see any love or mercy in their treatment of their worshipers?
First of all, I couldn’t find it.
The Nine equally reduced their believers and enemies to blood… … .
Tangtata also did not care about anyone who made him feel interested and entertained.
In other words, they are probably good.
Whatever happens to believers.
‘And the ambassadorial punishment.’
The strength of the Great Master is a monumental tower built entirely by himself.
You won’t be influenced by anyone’s worship or beliefs.
“I asked if a good devil exists. My answer is no. “If such a being had existed in the first place, it wouldn’t have been called the Demon King.”
“… … .”
“but… … .”
Alderson spoke in a cautious voice.
“You never know. “Maybe there’s a secret we don’t know about.”
“What does that mean?”
“Do you know the most mysterious demon king?”
I answered.
“Isn’t he the colorless devil?”
“okay. Although it destroyed a country in ancient times, it has never caused a major disaster since. The number of believers is also the smallest among the denominations… … . “The priest has also never been exposed.”
“… … .”
“The country that the Colorless Demon King destroyed was a kingdom named [Setitus]. “Today, it is a country of which almost no records remain, but in some documents it is described as an [evil empire].”
“hmm.”
“Of course, that doesn’t make the sin that erased so many lives go away. Even if that country was an empire of sin, it is difficult to affirm the massacre. But isn’t good and evil inherently subjective?”
Alderson continued.
“Apart from the punishment, if there are circumstances behind such actions, they cannot be defined as simple evil. You never know. Maybe the colorless demon king has a story we can sympathize with… … .”
“… … .”
Story.
I don’t know if that’s an understandable story.
However, I felt like I needed to know that story until I reunited with my brother-in-law.
I think that only then will I be able to know for sure how to deal with the ambassador.
“… hmm.”
Meanwhile, Alderson injected mana into the wooden doll in his hand.
Saaaa-.
A faint fog enveloped the wooden doll, and its appearance slowly began to change.
It was a magical sight.
There is no other word to express the fact that a hard wooden doll suddenly transformed into the shape of a girl other than magic.
Leone opened her eyes.
The red eyes blinked a few times, looked around, and then turned to me.
“Oh, you were there too. It was a pretty fun fight after a long time. “I’ll praise you.”
I asked Alderson, ignoring Leone’s condescending greeting.
“Even though the doll was broken, I still remember what happened just now. “Is there a separate container for storing memories?”
“That’s accurate. “I took the motif from Richie’s Life Vessel.”
“aha.”
Alderson called Leone.
“Leone, the boy in front of you is the son of Iron Blood Lord.”
“Ohh… … .”
“Do you want to explain?”
What kind of explanation are you talking about?
Leone, who heard Alderson’s push, laughed and said.
“refuse.”
Then Alderson sighed deeply and waved his hands.
Swoosh – Leone is back as a wooden doll again.
“It seems the order cannot be enforced.”
“I told you. Leone doesn’t follow my orders. “I just pretend to listen when I feel like it.”
“Where on earth is this guy from? “No matter what, you can probably figure out where he’s from.”
The academy’s admission requirements are strict.
But Alderson shook his head.
“I don’t know. “What kind of life you lived before coming to the academy is all unknown.”
“What is that… … .”
“There is a special selection process at the academy.”
“Special admission?”
“It’s about climbing the tower of asceticism to the end. If you succeed in climbing, you will be admitted regardless of race, age, or origin. “You don’t have to pay any tuition until graduation.”
“aha.”
I still don’t know what’s on the 5th floor.
From my impressions after briefly fist-bumping with Leone, it didn’t seem like climbing would be difficult for him, regardless of what was up here.
“Have you ever threatened anything?”
“It’s meaningless. Because I don’t feel any pain and I’m not afraid of it stopping. I’ve tried many conversations over the past 10 years, but I haven’t really found out much. “To be honest, I have no idea what you’re thinking.”
“hmm… … .”
“There are rare times when Leone is in a good mood. In those cases, he told me the church’s secrets one by one without anyone asking, and the value of that information was incalculable.”
“For example.”
“It was thanks to Leone that the Empire was able to find out about the position of the minor leader of the church.”
“ah… … .”
I was convinced right away.
“Then I guess the 72nd Church and the Sun Bridge are also aware of Leone’s existence.”
“Only a very small number of bishops and cardinals.”
“hmm.”
“Unlike the devil, I also define the church as an enemy that must be eliminated. Because their ideas are too dangerous… … . And the person who will change this terrible situation is Leonail.”
The more I talked, the more I realized how important that black-haired girl was.
Alderson sighed without knowing how many times he had already done so.
“Leone said. “If you want to know more, bring another leader of the Dark Church.”
hmm?
“Isn’t this an absurd request? No one, not even the person himself, can know who the cult leader is until the seed of evil germinates! In fact, the person who taught us that was none other than Leone himself… … !”
While I was silently listening to Alderson shouting like I was gritting my teeth, I suddenly tilted my head.
… what?
fantasy,
