Chapter 648: The Story

As soon as Oliver responded, all surrounding sounds vanished, leaving a profound silence that made his ears ring.

The shock of Oliver’s statement was that significant.

Both the Holy Knight and the Dark Sorcerer were equally stunned.

In hindsight, it was only natural.

His declaration that he could, or rather would, stop all the Holy Knights here by himself, was nothing short of audacious.

It was a statement that transcended mere arrogance.

The problem was that it didn’t sound boastful at all.

As proof, the Holy Knights stood frozen, radiating shock, fear, and tension. The Dark Sorcerers stared at Oliver in silence, more shocked than when they were attacked by the Creatures.

Even without solid evidence or proof, they believed what Oliver said.

This was despite Oliver being a frail Dark Sorcerer they had just met today.

But thinking about it, that wasn’t so strange.

Contrary to popular belief, faith resides in the realm of emotion, not reason.

No matter how unbelievable a story may be, given the right circumstances, one could easily believe it.

A brief but lengthy silence filled the strange atmosphere, until someone finally broke it with laughter.

It was Roderick, the High Priest.

“…Puhahaha!”

Roderick’s laughter broke the silence, causing the Holy Knights to flinch. He then raised his hand to indicate it was alright.

Despite the Pater Church’s role in maintaining the world’s order and the fact that Roderick’s authority as a High Priest had been directly challenged, he wasn’t the least bit displeased.

With his Warlock’s Eye, Oliver could see that Roderick was not only unoffended but actually quite satisfied.

Just as Oliver had anticipated.

As time passed, Roderick’s laughter subsided, and he finally spoke.

“Dave… Do you think I would be scared by that?”

Oliver shook his head.

“I didn’t mean to imply that. I just think that Your Excellency wouldn’t want the Pater Church’s rule to be shaken.”

Roderick silently agreed with Oliver’s correction.

The idea of the Pater Church’s ruling system being destabilized was contrary to his philosophy.

Oliver had accurately deduced this through their conversation.

“I’m not sure how to respond. What exactly is bothering you?”

When Roderick asked this, Oliver instinctively looked around.

Among the many Dark Sorcerers, he could see refugees.

People chased by the Holy Knights, trampled by fleeing Dark Sorcerers, bleeding from the forehead, and covered in dust.

“…Isn’t it a waste? After all the effort you put into persuading them, to see it all end like this, with bloodshed.”

“Ho… Is that so?”

Roderick smiled without a hint of belief before he paused to think.

“It certainly wouldn’t be good. If the Holy Knights here were stopped by a single Dark Sorcerer, it would be a blow to the Pater Church’s rule. But then again…”

Roderick’s voice trailed off, adding emphasis to his words.

“To prove that, it would first need to be demonstrated that you have that much strength, wouldn’t it?”

The moment Roderick finished, twenty Holy Knights who had been standing in a line behind him moved in unison.

They gathered the brilliant light emanating from their bodies into their swords, which they swung at Oliver all at once.

Twenty sword strikes flashed like beams of light.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-gang!

Just as the swords flying towards Oliver from every direction were about to hit, a shrieking metallic sound echoed, and the blades stopped in mid-air.

The blades trembled and quivered.

What stopped them was a Zombie Puppet wearing a mask and holding French Knives made of flesh in both hands—the Zombie Puppet-Flesh Cook, with Child-Fourth inside.

Ka-ga-ga-gak…

Forcing his way from Gallos to protect Oliver, Fourth used his two flesh-knives and the dozens of blades they emanated to block all of the Holy Knights’ attacks.

His skill with knives and Dark Magic items had improved significantly, likely due to the extra incentive Oliver gave him (several dozen Randa).

Seeing their attacks blocked by the Zombie Puppet, the Holy Knights’ eyes widened.

The Flesh Cook, controlled by Fourth, crossed its arms, swept them forward, and with sheer strength, pushed all the Holy Knights back.

Shaaaa!

The Holy Knights, overwhelmed by the force, were sent flying backward, kicking up dust, while Fourth laughed and was about to charge forward.

“Stop, Fourth.”

As Fourth moved, Oliver commanded him to stop and stepped forward, using his Quarterstaff to block a massive ball of light that shot toward them like lightning.

───!

When the Quarterstaff and the ball of light collided, intense golden and black lights intertwined, and the ensuing booming noise drowned out both sight and sound.

Except for Oliver, who was the only one unaffected.

As the Holy Knights were pushed away, Oliver saw Roderick drawing Saint Power from his body and molding it into a Warhammer, ready to strike.

“Shall we continue?”

Oliver asked, and Roderick lowered his Warhammer, smirking.

“No, let’s talk instead.”

***

Amidst the bizarre scene where countless Creatures were subduing Dark Sorcerers while facing off against Holy Knights, Oliver and Roderick entered a nearby house to have a private conversation.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Sure.”

Roderick answered as if nothing had happened, and Oliver, similarly, went to a small kitchen nearby and brewed coffee.

He left some bills on the shelf to cover the cost of using the kettle, water, and beans.

“Thank you for humoring my demands.”

Oliver handed Roderick a cup of coffee and expressed his gratitude.

For a Dark Sorcerer who had summoned countless Creatures, overwhelmed more than twenty Holy Knights with a Zombie Puppet, and enforced his will, it was a remarkably humble attitude—or perhaps he was just insane.

Roderick replied.

“No need to thank me. You were simply strong enough to enforce your demands.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“I believe you. I know well enough that you’re not that devious.”

Through his Warlock’s Eye, Oliver could see Roderick’s emotions.

He truly trusted what Oliver said.

“Even if it were a lie, it wouldn’t matter. I don’t dislike such behavior—wielding power, wealth, and influence. I don’t think it’s necessarily bad. After all, despite my weak faith, I joined the Pater Church for power.”

Roderick spoke without hesitation, saying something that others might view as worthy of criticism. However, Oliver had no intention of criticizing him.

Roderick indeed sought power and strength, but in reality, there were very few who didn’t.

Whether in magic, Dark Magic, or ordinary studies. The difference lies only in the degree; the fundamental desire for achievement aligns with what Roderick pursued.

Even Oliver saw such desires as a virtue.

Unless the process becomes excessive, that is.

“I’m glad to hear that… So, shall we discuss what to do with the Dark Sorcerers now?”

“Ah, why do you bother? You already know that I don’t consider dealing with the Dark Sorcerers to be important.”

Roderick cut off Oliver’s words.

It was a move not of disregard for Oliver, but of a growing desire to get to the main point.

To prove this, Roderick half-apologized and then began.

“Forgive me, I thought you were playing dumb.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“You don’t? Then let me tell you. Quite frankly, I don’t care if all the Dark Sorcerers here die or not. I’m serious. You can tell by now.”

Roderick gestured between Oliver’s eyes and himself.

It was an indication for Oliver to read his emotions.

“Why don’t I care? The answer is simple. Compared to what’s imminent, this is a non-issue.”

“…”

Oliver remained silent.

Roderick began to recite a passage, interpreting Oliver’s silence as an answer.

“Tick-tock. At the moment a giant hole appears at the world’s end, the clock begins to move.”

The passage was an apocalyptic prophecy.

“A black sun rises from the earth, a monster that devours everything stirs in the Western Sea, the false gatekeeper’s key is retrieved, and the wandering child becomes a boy… You know what this is, right?”

“…It’s the prophecy.”

Roderick nodded.

The cunning smile he once had disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.

“That’s right. As expected of an Archive disciple… Each of these represents one of the five stages of the end. Surprisingly, the Pater Church believes that three of these stages have already occurred.”

“So, it’s an interpretation and not a certainty?”

“Perhaps. Prophecies like these are often wrong, but we believe it’s accurate. The Pater Church’s finest minds reached that conclusion.”

“Is that so?”

“You don’t seem too surprised, or is that just my imagination?”

“It’s hard to grasp. It’s such a grand tale… And as you mentioned, Your Excellency, it could be wrong.”

“Oh, I also hope I’m wrong. But no matter how I look at it, I don’t think I am.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Of course I do. This world deserves to end.”

Roderick answered Oliver’s question definitively.

And once again, he was completely sincere.

“Why, does that surprise you?”

“Honestly, yes. This world deserves to end?”

“I don’t understand why that surprises you. Just look around. It’s obvious. Look at the people on the streets. Love, morality, and conscience—virtues that humans should hold dear—were lost long ago, replaced by the worship of gold and the pursuit of pleasure. We built superior strength and civilization but only use it to oppress others. And yet— we arrogantly call ourselves the chosen nation.”

“That’s surprising. Isn’t the term ‘chosen nation’ coined by the Pater Church?”

“…The Pater Church is an ancient and massive organization. Not everyone in the organization agrees with its philosophy.”

“Well, I suppose that’s fair.”

“That’s why I’ve been interested in the apocalypse prophecy since my Holy Knight days. Seeing the world’s state, it seemed like a crisis was inevitable. It might sound arrogant, but if I were God, I would’ve wiped it clean long ago.”

“…”

“Of course, the apocalypse didn’t happen. Not even after I climbed the ranks as a Holy Knight, eventually becoming a High Priest. I was thrilled. Every day I lived with gratitude, thinking that even this sinful world was loved by God.”

Roderick’s gaze changed.

“Then one day, I received a report. A strange force had been observed at the world’s end, in the Land of Ice.”

The Land of Ice at the world’s end.

Oliver recalled his first duel with Merlin.

“Of course, the Pater Church sent people to investigate. And shockingly, they found an energy force akin to a great catastrophe. Like a hole, connecting the human world to Hell.”

“What did you do about it?”

“We sealed it. To do so, we made tremendous sacrifices.”

“…”

“Since then, the once-stopped clock began to move. A shift occurred in the steadfast finger, which had remained unchanged for centuries. The first was the Flesh Cook, who despite his enormous power, craved only wealth. This monster, content with accumulating riches in the back alleys of Gallos, suddenly tried to summon a demon at great cost, intending to sacrifice all the citizens of Ravely… Ah, you were there, weren’t you?”

“I was sent by the Tower of Magic.”

“The Flesh Cook, who craved wealth despite his great power, did something uncharacteristic and was eventually taken down by the Archive. Where his body is now, I have no idea.”

Roderick subtly referenced the Zombie Puppet made from the Flesh Cook.

Even though it was masked, Roderick saw right through it.

However, Oliver didn’t react. Given Roderick’s subtle reference, he knew it wouldn’t become an issue.

And even if it did, he could just argue that it was a gift from Merlin.

“People were shocked by the event caused by the Flesh Cook but never questioned why he did it.”

“Do you think it’s related to the prophecy?”

Roderick smiled instead of answering.

“After the Flesh Cook incident, traces of a demon descending directly to this land were observed—on the New Continent. You were there too.”

“I was commissioned on the New Continent.”

“A sea monster once sealed by the Archive resurfaced and was eventually defeated by the current Archive and its disciple. Once again, you were there.”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

“My point is, this world has gone slightly mad. The world is steadily moving towards the apocalypse, while most people continue to accumulate sins as usual, without a clue. Even those who are aware either try to find a way to survive alone or are too afraid to act at all. Every time I ponder this, a chill runs down my spine.”

Roderick, who had been sincere throughout, now spoke with a glint of horror.

“But do you know what the most frightening and despairing thing of all is?”

“What?”

“That our Father in Heaven may be wishing for it too.”