Chapter 677: Confession

People love to rank things.

It may seem sudden, but no one would argue this.

Whether it’s due to a base instinct, curiosity, or simply boredom…

The exact reason is unknown, but people are passionate about ranking.

Who is bigger, who is stronger, who has more… Simple and childish topics often arise.

This is true for both children and adults.

And for the past few decades, the ‘United Kingdom’ has held the top spot in such questions.

This small island nation located in the north.

Though not extensive in size, its vast colonies have made the United Kingdom the largest in terms of territory.

So, what about the smallest nation?

Including even the savage and uncivilized lands?

Surprisingly, the answer to this question also lies within the chosen nations.

That nation is none other than the ‘Holy Empire’.

A city-state located in the south, opposite to the northern United Kingdom.

This small city-state houses the main temple of the Pater Church, known as the ‘Holy Emperor’s Palace’.

Strictly speaking, the Holy Emperor’s Palace was established first, with the Holy Empire founded to support it.

Nevertheless, the smallest nation in the world is the Holy Empire.

Its territory is smaller than a district in Randa, with a population of less than a thousand.

To be frank, it’s hardly even the size of a proper nation.

Yet, shockingly, no nation in the world dares to underestimate the Holy Empire.

Of course, the reason lies with the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

The main temple of the Pater Church, the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

But why?

Is it out of faith in God and respect for the Pater Church?

That’s not wrong, but there’s a more direct reason.

The Holy Emperor’s Palace has drastically aided each nation. Specifically, every regime.

The standing of royal families and governments could change based on the words of the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

But that’s not all.

Beyond such matters, the Holy Emperor’s Palace offers irreplaceable aid to nations.

They dispatch Holy Knights and the Sisterhood to maintain security and welfare.

They use offerings from countless believers to support the finances of various nations.

High priests like Dark Priests serve as counselors, diplomats, or politicians for nations.

Prime Minister Armand in Gallos and Archpriest Roderick who advises various small royal families in the Central Continent are prime examples.

Because of this, even in this era where gold surpasses faith, nations can’t ignore the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

While they can’t excommunicate sovereigns like in the past, the Holy Emperor’s Palace still wields influence over nations.

They could withdraw the Holy Knights and the Sisterhood, creating administrative holes… Or they could pull their funding, causing economic collapse, or close diplomatic channels, isolating a country.

That’s why even leaders without faith pretend to have it within the walls of the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

And the Holy Emperor’s Palace utilizes their secular power to maintain faith and order.

As shown by the ongoing secret meetings between the Dark Priests.

“We must dispose of him! I don’t see why I even need to argue this!”

In the heart of the Holy Empire, on a towering hill.

Underneath the pristine and solemn Holy Emperor’s Palace,

in a secret meeting room known only to a few, a Dark Priest strongly argued.

At his words, other Dark Priests, both present and attending via mirror, nodded in agreement.

Each nod caused murmurs, which echoed around the meeting hall.

The atmosphere became increasingly uproarious.

Then, a Dark Priest quietly raised his hand. The murmurs subsided.

Though ranks were equal, influence varied.

Everyone turned their attention to the priest with the raised hand.

He was one of the key figures behind this operation.

It was none other than Archpriest Roderick, who had brought the cursed being hiding in a fallen city into the light.

When he raised his thick hand like a lump of steel, the assembly went silent, giving him the floor, albeit with displeased expressions.

“Speak, Lord Roderick.”

The presiding elder of the meeting, an old man, spoke.

Even among the mostly aged Dark Priests, this elder was the oldest.

Given permission to speak, Roderick opened his mouth.

“I oppose disposing of him.”

Roderick stated exactly what he had advocated for days without changing a word.

The response was predictably the same.

“There he goes again…”

“Why… on earth…?”

“Could it be because of that…?”

Whispers and puzzled expressions filled the hall as they exchanged glances.

Though they maintained their dignity befitting their high positions, the room became as noisy as a marketplace.

‘No, considering the situation with humanity’s fate at stake, this is rather orderly, isn’t it?’

Roderick thought. Just then, someone else raised their hand.

Another Dark Priest, aligned with a more moderate faction.

“May I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you. Since I have permission, I will be direct… Is it because of [Deus Ex Machina] that you oppose disposing of him?”

[Deus Ex Machina]

A secret project led by the hardliners to counter the Apocalypse.

As a secret project, only a select few, apart from the Dark Priests, knew about it.

Coincidentally, everyone present was aware of it, at least in broad strokes.

The project aimed to create the son of an angel artificially.

The questioner knew this as well.

If translated bluntly, his question would have been something like this:

‘Are you planning to spare that cursed being for the sake of that blasphemous and dangerous project being pushed by the hardliners?’

‘Is humanity’s fate being wagered in the political games of the Pater Church?’

Roderick, more a secular politician than a religious figure, understood the implication and responded appropriately.

“That’s not exactly it.”

Murmurs arose.

Roderick raised his hand to calm them and continued.

“What I’m saying is, there’s no need to kill the one we’ve captured now. Isn’t it more dangerous to provoke him unnecessarily when he’s calm?”

Everyone here knew how that ‘being’ was captured.

It would have been stranger if they didn’t.

Hundreds of Holy Knights, and thousands of servants, had witnessed it.

So despite the disbelief, they were forced to believe.

That the prince of hell, who could open the gates of hell and bring about the Apocalypse, had revealed himself and surrendered quietly.

Incidentally, that prince of hell was currently confined deep beneath this secret meeting hall, in a prison so deep it doesn’t officially exist.

For days, he hasn’t slept, eaten, or drunk, simply gripping his Quarterstaff.

Roderick pointed this out to bolster his case.

“So acting rashly is unwise. Rash actions can lead to unforeseen disasters.”

Several Dark Priests, who were in Roderick’s camp, agreed vocally, quickly supported by others.

Each of them was a prominent figure, but when people gather, they tend to become gullible.

As if it were a law.

However, every law has exceptions, and the Dark Priest who questioned earlier was one such exception.

“That’s why I argue we must dispose of him now.”

The Dark Priest calling for disposal rebuked openly.

“He may be calm now, but who knows what will happen later. I understand killing him is a reckless idea; this being managed to slay our Pater Church’s nemesis, the Pied Piper, after all.”

At that moment, someone else responded. A hardliner Dark Priest.

“But what if he’s not the prince of hell?”

All eyes turned toward the speaker.

What did he mean, not the prince of hell?

The defender explained.

“I’ve heard it too… That he declared himself the prince of hell and wielded an unbelievable power…”

The meeting hall became loud again.

All the Dark Priests in the hall had received reports of the events caused by that being.

With just a gesture, he had reduced the Pied Piper to dust, forced others to their knees under an incomprehensible pressure, and made people explode just by walking.

They hadn’t seen it firsthand, so understanding was limited, but considering the mental trauma suffered by kings and agents or the Holy Knights who couldn’t return to duty, it was clear something terrifying had happened.

Because of these reports, no one doubted that he was the prince of hell.

“But can that really be considered proof? Ultimately, we can only guess at what the prince of hell really is.”

The murmuring grew louder.

Despite employing every method for centuries, the Pater Church hadn’t managed to figure out what the prince of hell or the prince of angels actually was.

It wasn’t surprising.

Even though the Pater Church claimed to represent mankind before God, they hadn’t even glimpsed God’s face.

“Above all, wasn’t he cooperative with us? Reigning in the Dark Sorcerers in Gallos.”

“Are you suggesting we use him?”

“No, not quite that… But consider, if he’s the prince of hell, would he have any reason to kill the Pied Piper?”

The counterargument came immediately.

“That was before he fully awakened. He extracted all of the Pied Piper’s wrath. This aligns exactly with the content in the Apocalypse doctrine!”

“Take the key from the false gatekeeper…”

Someone murmured.

“Yes! Exactly. ‘Tick tock. As a giant hole forms at the end of the world, the clock ticks. A black sun will rise from the earth, a beast will stir in the Western Sea, the false gatekeeper will surrender the key, and the wandering child will become a boy.’ This is the prophecy of the Apocalypse, and we’re nearing its end!”

Bang!

The Dark Priest calling for disposal slammed the table.

It was a violent act, but no one stopped him.

“Hell opened in the land of ice years ago and continues to this day! Yet we’ve done nothing! Absolutely nothing! And you want us to keep waiting?!”

The Dark Priests fell silent at his roar.

“Even if we concede that he’s not the prince of hell, is it really wise to spare him? What guarantee do we have that he won’t become the new Pied Piper? No! It’s even worse! According to the intel I’ve received, Dark Sorcerers are already trying to rally around him!!”

The Dark Priest, calling for disposal, rattled off words like a machine gun, and it was all true.

Right after he defeated the Pied Piper, the Dark Sorcerers present dispersed and spread that rumor to the underworld.

The one who defeated the Pied Piper, the strongest Dark Sorcerer, or perhaps the devil himself.

It was beyond the control of even the Pater Church.

Because of this, the underworld was in chaos, even the Black Hand was disturbed.

The Fingers, a vast organization of Dark Sorcerers.

Having lost their core members, the Fingers were rumored to be rallying around him.

If things went wrong, the world might witness a Dark Sorcerer organization, stronger than the Pied Piper, with an unprecedented power.

“Even if we concede a thousand times that he’s not the prince of hell, sparing him is too dangerous. With the Apocalypse looming, this is more dangerous than ever. Gallos, Central Continent, United Kingdom, every key nation is in turmoil!!”

This time, no one could refute it.

With the death of the Flesh Cook, Gallos had been plunged into chaos, barely recovering only to be thrown back into disarray because of this being. The Central Continent, the epicenter, was also in turmoil.

Though for different reasons, Randa was in chaos too.

Attacked by an army of the dead, thought to be led by the Puppet.

Had the Kingdom’s army, clearing warlords and gangs around Randa, not come to their aid, the city might have been destroyed. While they survived, they were now embroiled in a struggle over autonomy with the Royal Family.

In any case, as the Dark Priest said, the world was getting more chaotic as the end approached.

“Therefore, I ask you, Lord Roderick, what if that being below decides to leave tomorrow? What will you do then?”

All eyes turned silently toward Roderick.

“If the being currently imprisoned here no longer wishes to be confined and decides to act on his own will, what will you do? Can you stop him?”

Roderick was silent.

Rising to the highest rank as both a Holy Knight and a priest.

“I argue that instead of trying to use him, we should dispose of this ticking time bomb, especially since humanity’s fate hangs in the balance!”

The Dark Priests quietly contemplated this rational conclusion, based on a thorough analysis of the current crisis and their options.

Hearts began to waver.

Archpriest Roderick was about to speak to break the atmosphere.

“I’m opposed.”

At that moment, someone else spoke first.

It was Archpriest Armand.

Prime Minister of Gallos, one of the leaders of the moderate faction, and most importantly, a key figure in capturing that being alongside Roderick.

Everyone was surprised by his opposition.

The one who captured and maintained silence over this being suddenly opposing its disposal.

Someone objected.

“What do you mean by that? Are you…”

A Dark Priest asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

He seemed close to accusing him of engaging in a personal deal.

Using that being to bring Gallos’s Dark Sorcerers under his control had become too well-known.

Armand shook his head.

“Don’t misunderstand, I have a different reason.”

“A different reason…?”

The Dark Priests were puzzled. Armand kindly explained.

“There’s another being with as much stake in this issue as our Pater Church… The Archive.”

A silence deeper than usual settled in the hall.

The Grand Mage Archive.

A mage who seemed unrelated to the Pater Church and, officially, that was true, but unofficially, it was different.

For centuries, the Pater Church had maintained a close relationship with the Archive over matters related to the Apocalypse.

And now, the Archive was at the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

Here, under the pretext of being the temporary mentor of that being and a watcher of the Apocalypse.

His authority was not something even the Pater Church could ignore, and so for the past few days, he had held off the Dark Priests by overriding their opinions.

This is why the meeting had dragged on for days; they couldn’t act hastily because of him.

He had accomplished much, as well as possessed a practical force capable of standing against the Pater Church.

However, today, he was not present.

Someone belatedly realized this and spoke up.

“Why hasn’t the Archive attended today?”

Some Dark Priests, who had resented his presence and had been relieved not to see his face, now consented and inquired about the Archive’s whereabouts.

Archpriest Armand responded.

“He went to meet that being.”

Silence filled the room.

***

In the heart of the Holy Empire lies the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

Beneath it, deep and dark, is an underground chamber.

So secret that even some associated with the Pater Church are unaware of its existence.

And deeper within this chamber lies a prison.

A massive prison, like a vault.

“Is this it?”

An old man stepped inside, asking.

It was Merlin, the Archive, an ally of the Pater Church.

A nun, who had cut out her tongue as part of the Vow of Silence, nodded in response.

“Open the door.”