Chapter 699: The Unforeseen Event

Crunch… Crunch…

A crack appeared on the staff that contained the Holy Power of the entire world.

Everyone held their breath, eyes widening as they stared at the staff.

In their minds, only one thought echoed: ‘No way…’

This thought filled the minds of the Priest, the Holy Knight, Joanna, Kevin, and even the Devil.

‘No way,’ was all they could think.

Why? Because this was simply common sense.

For the staff, which contained the Holy Power that maintained the order of the world, to crack was akin to the sky collapsing.

This was something that neither should, nor could have occurred.

So even though they saw it with their own eyes, they couldn’t help but doubt, thinking ‘No way.’

However, as if mocking their doubt, the power bestowed by God’s most beloved son shattered into countless pieces with a single word from Oliver.

………!!!

The staff, which had turned the selfish light around them into darkness, shattered and disappeared like smoke. As it did, the ordinary light that had been obscured by the Holy Power regained its brilliance and the world returned to its original state.

Slowly, the light and scenery around them began to return.

Amidst this, the Woman on the Camel, who had lost the staff, flailed her hands in the air, while the Priest and Holy Knights covered their mouths with their hands in shock, their jaws dropping to their limits.

They looked as though they had seen something they should never have witnessed.

Or perhaps, not just looked, but had truly seen something forbidden.

For the Holy Power that had maintained the world’s order—a sacred force that was undoubtedly proof of God’s love for humanity—was shattered and gone.

It had disappeared so easily, utterly leaving them in futility.

Sadness? Shock? Anger? They were at a loss as to what emotions to feel, only a terrible confusion overwhelmed them.

Indeed, when the earth collapses and the sky falls, what emotions should humans even feel?

This was no different for Joanna and Kevin, who had faced the Devil without fear.

The only one who remained unshaken by the destruction of the Holy Power was Oliver, who had shattered it in a single word.

He combed back his disheveled bleached hair, looking up at the Woman on the Camel.

The Woman on the Camel stared silently at the hand that had once held the Holy Power, repeatedly clenching and unclenching it.

It was as if she couldn’t believe what had just happened, even though she had witnessed it herself.

It was a long time before she finally spoke.

[…How did you do it?]

The Woman on the Camel asked the most pressing question on her mind.

How did you destroy the Holy Power?

Oliver replied as he had in the past.

“I simply imitated you, Woman on the Camel.”

At his words, the Woman on the Camel’s expression became enigmatic.

Surprise, admiration, curiosity, respect. Her expression, surprisingly, made her seem human for a brief moment, despite being a Devil.

Through Oliver, that is.

Just as the Woman on the Camel was about to speak, Oliver spoke a bit faster.

“It seems that you have failed.”

She swallowed her words and listened to Oliver’s assertion.

“You mentioned you had come to reclaim the Holy Power on someone’s orders, but as you can see, you have failed. The Holy Power has been destroyed… Is there anything I said that was wrong?”

[No. Your words are completely accurate.]

The Woman on the Camel acknowledged it without hesitation.

Oliver continued:

“Then I suppose it’s time for you to leave. Now that the results are clear, you no longer have any reason to linger here… Am I wrong in thinking so?”

[No, you’re correct once again. It’s only natural to leave after completing one’s task, no matter the outcome. Yet, I feel somewhat reluctant to leave just like this.]

“Do I owe you an apology?”

Oliver asked, looking directly at the Woman on the Camel.

There was a firmness in his tone, quite different from the past.

Noticing the firmness, the Woman on the Camel also smiled slightly differently, shaking her head.

There was respect, not only kindness, in that smile. A deeper, more sincere respect.

[No. The failure of my mission is due to my negligence and arrogance. You have no reason to apologize. In fact, you don’t need to apologize under any circumstances, no matter what you do.]

Oliver silently listened.

[Still, how should I phrase this? I’m curious. If I chose not to leave and instead continue with what I was doing…]

The Woman on the Camel trailed off, glancing at the people around her—the Priest, the Holy Knights.

Of course, they also looked at her.

Though she appeared weakened after losing the camel’s head, the fear she induced was still so great that most found it hard to even breathe.

While the Woman on the Camel had merely lost the camel’s head, they had lost both the Holy Power and their faith.

They had lost the sword and shield that could stand against the Devil.

In contrast, the Devil’s presence remained unchanged. Even without the Holy Power, she could potentially erase the Holy Capital from existence.

And so, she continued.

[…What would you do? Would you go to the trouble of trying to stop me here?]

Oliver did not respond immediately to the Woman on the Camel’s malicious question; instead, he turned around to survey those around him.

Kevin and Joanna, who had lost their strength but not their will. And the Priest and Holy Knights, who had lost their courage and faith along with the Holy Power.

Most of them felt fear, averting their gaze when their eyes met Oliver’s, who had destroyed the Holy Power.

Oliver then turned back to face the Woman on the Camel.

“Well… I’m not sure. I don’t really know my own heart. Not stopping you seems wrong, but if I do, I’m not sure if I could actually stop you, Woman on the Camel.”

Oliver declared that he couldn’t stop her with his own power.

“But there is one thing I’m certain about.”

[What’s that?]

The Woman on the Camel raised a hand made of intertwined nun’s arms.

Oliver answered in his usual calm manner.

“If you act according to your own feelings even after your mission is complete, I will be very, very disappointed.”

[……]

“Not only in you, Woman on the Camel, but in all of you. I would be very disappointed.”

Oliver, who rarely spoke definitively and always remained neutral, now spoke with rare certainty.

And perhaps because of that sincerity? The Woman on the Camel slowly lowered the hand she had raised.

[You’re more intimidating than I thought.]

“I’m not intimidating; I mean it.”

[That makes you even more intimidating.]

The Woman on the Camel said this with a smile.

Oliver, guessing what that smile meant, chose not to press the issue further. Instead, he asked to confirm.

“Then, will you back down?”

[Yes, because I’m afraid of being hated by you. However, there’s one condition. I’m too embarrassed to leave just like this.]

This unexpected statement drew everyone’s attention to the Woman on the Camel.

Only Oliver remained calm and asked:

“What is the condition?”

[If we ever meet again, would you treat me to good food and drink? I have a fondness for the food of this world, but rarely get the chance to enjoy it.]

Whether it was a joke or serious, nobody could tell. But Oliver nodded.

After all, offering good food and drink in exchange for the Devil’s peaceful retreat was a bargain.

As Oliver nodded in agreement, the camel without a head folded its legs made of nuns’ limbs and sat down.

When the camel sat, the Woman on top dismounted to stand on the ground.

For the first time. Her respect and acknowledgment for Oliver could be seen in that single action.

The Woman on the Camel, made of 56 nuns, was so tall that Oliver had to lift his head to look up at her, but she knelt on one knee to meet his gaze.

Because of this, Oliver could lower his head slightly.

“Do you have something to say?”

[Do you remember your promise? O noble one.]

The Woman on the Camel asked about a promise.

At the word ‘promise,’ Oliver’s mind momentarily flashed to The Burned One.

As if reading this thought, the Woman on the Camel spoke again.

[I’m glad you remember. You asked him to spare the city built on sin from the flames.]

Oliver affirmed it with silence. Indeed, he had done so. A request he could make only because of his ignorance. The weight of those words hit home once again.

[In exchange, you promised to find a way to clear the terrible sins that would outlast any fire.]

Once more, Oliver fell silent, pondering.

Is there really a way to clear sins without fire?

He hadn’t known then, and he knew even less now.

He couldn’t even imagine a way to cleanse the world’s terrible sins, other than turning them into ashes and dust.

For sins don’t just disappear. No one’s sins do.

The Woman on the Camel spoke again.

[Personally, I believe you’re right, O noble one. Cleansing sins with fire is a joyous and pleasurable task, but as you said, it leaves nothing behind. However.]

She paused briefly, preparing to emphasize her next words.

[No matter how right a statement is, if you lack the ability or will to carry it out, it’s as good as nothing. That’s why we remain silent. There’s nothing more wretched than empty words.]

Oliver remained silent. Anticipating what she would say next.

His prediction was correct.

[But you once again declared that you would fulfill that promise. Not choosing the easy path, but the thorny one.]

Oliver closed his eyes. Understanding her words entirely. Knowing the weight they carried.

A sense of crushing burden and a weight that dug into his shoulders tormented Oliver.

“I am—”

[You will suffer greatly and be in terrible pain.]

Promise? Prophecy? Whatever it was, these words came from the Woman on the Camel.

[Perhaps even more than you are now. But regardless of the outcome, I will support and watch over you.]

The Woman on the Camel respectfully raised the hand formed by the nuns’ arms.

[I hope you become the great being you promised to be. So please accept this humble blessing.]

An unknown prayer spilled from her lips.

Oliver did not accept nor reject this prayer or blessing, simply staring at the Woman on the Camel.

After a while, the prayer ended, and the Woman on the Camel rose.

She then looked around and declared as if placing a period at the end of the matter.

[The end is coming.]

With that declaration, the body of the Woman on the Camel, composed of 56 nuns, crumbled into a pile of corpses, and as the morning sun rose, it cast its light on the ruined Holy Capital.