Chapter 89: Your Thoughts (35)

"Along with the Mist Mountains, there also appeared a holy cathedral forged from the bones of every race, and within it stood a holy statue of a young girl with her head bowed in prayer."

"Divine spirits are difficult to utterly fall, especially those ancient gods born from the world's origin."

"For Them, death is not an ending. They are forever waiting for an opportunity, and once the time is ripe, They can be reborn once more."

"However, the ancient god's resurrection plan ultimately failed in the end. All of His power was suppressed by that holy statue."

"The Holy Maiden, at the very end, transformed everything of herself into this holy statue, suppressing the divine spirit day after day, never giving Him a chance to revive."

"And the Mist Monastery was established for this very purpose—to inherit the Holy Maiden's last wish, guard the seal, and never give this ancient god any opportunity."

The Archbishop raised his head to look at this cathedral space, which, having changed with the passage of time, could no longer reveal its original savage appearance of bones, and gave a slight nod.

Almost there.

Just about to succeed completely.

"It is estimated that in another thousand years, He will utterly perish, utterly merging into the Sea of Chaos."

"..."

Herbert's brows were tightly furrowed. Having finished listening to the epic story, he was indeed greatly shaken, awed and amazed by the heroic feat of that peerlessly fierce woman.

But although the story did feel very moving, he always felt that something about it wasn't quite right.

But at the same time, he also thought of a key point.

"Your Grace the Archbishop, is there perhaps some hidden circumstances within this?"

"Oh?"

Herbert squinted his eyes, carefully observing the posture of the holy statue, completely unable to sense any pain or struggle from it.

She most likely did this of her own volition.

"If the Holy Maiden could suppress the ancient god even after death, then why didn't she utterly destroy Him at the time?"

If his guess was correct, the Holy Maiden had the upper hand in that confrontation.

You really are fierce...

"You actually noticed this point."

The elder nodded approvingly, then shook his head and sighed softly: "Just as you thought, the Holy Maiden ultimately suppressed the ancient god, and could have utterly digested Him, completely replacing Him."

She needed only to take one more step forward, and she could have seized everything from the ancient god, ignited the divine flame, raised the divine throne, and utterly ascended to the heavens.

But she gave up, refusing to become a god ascender.

"The Holy Maiden did not do so, on one hand because of her past insistence on not being willing to become a deity, and on the other hand, perhaps because of her universal love."

"For this Holy Maiden who loved all things in the world, even an evil ancient god, I fear, could be saved."

Herbert fell silent.

Did the Holy Maiden go soft at the final moment and turn into a saintly mother?

But he truly did not think that a being with the boldness to storm into a divine kingdom would change her mind at the final moment because of such a laughable reason as 'a moment of softness.'

Did she discover something at the final moment?

"Child, do not overthink it."

While Herbert was letting his thoughts run wild, the Archbishop's voice once again pulled him back from his confusion.

"This is her destiny."

"The Holy Maiden Nie Nasha, because of that love of hers that could be called a strong desire, willingly walked that road paved with fresh blood and thorns."

"She saved all living beings, and ultimately met her own end in that salvation."

"This is her love—a great love twisted enough to be called such."

"For her—love, is salvation."

"Whether for the saved, or the savior, it is a salvation."

The instant he heard these words, Herbert's mind involuntarily recalled the soft, mocking whisper that the Cacophony God had once carried, tinged with some annoyance and derision:

【"Love, is a curse."】

He regarded the love of all living beings as a curse, attributing all sins to it.

This view clearly ran counter to the Holy Maiden Nie Nasha's thoughts, yet Herbert couldn't help but faintly feel that the two seemed to be connected in some way.

The two share the same origin, yet repel each other.

So, since the 'Holy Maiden Nie Nasha' has already utterly died, then what is the deal with the 'Cacophony God Nie Nasha' that I know?

Is He the Holy Maiden's returning soul? Or an ancient god who stole someone else's name?

Or perhaps... both?

So, my dear ally, who exactly are you?

After silently pondering for a long while, Herbert pressed down all his thoughts and looked toward the old man who had been quietly watching him.

"Your Grace the Archbishop, I don't quite understand... why did you deliberately tell me about this?"

Weren't you summoning me here to demand an explanation?

Why are you telling stories instead?

The Archbishop shook his head, not answering his question directly, but instead asking: "Child, after hearing this story, what are your thoughts?"

"Thoughts..."

Here it comes.

Herbert squinted his eyes, knowing that the truly crucial turning point had still arrived, and that his answer next would affect all future developments.

"..."

A moment later, Herbert took a deep breath, straightened his back, and looked directly into the old man's eyes.

He frankly uttered the treasonous, fallen words that absolutely could not be spoken to others within the monastery.

He said:

"I feel that... not all magical creatures are evil."

"They are a different race, not heretics."

These were words of blasphemy.

"They too can be trusted."

He once again expressed his own view.

"Among the scenes you let me see, one of them left a very deep impression on me."

"Among the followers behind the Holy Maiden, there were not only humans, but also a great many magical creatures — yet they did not harm one another, instead fighting and working together as one."

"Therefore, so long as the conditions are right, magical creatures too can be tamed and put to use by us."

These were words of corruption.

He was, in this, questioning the correctness of the Church's canon.

Herbert knew.

This was a gamble — mishandled, it would mean utter ruin with no return.

This point, he too knew.

But he still had to say it out loud.

Thump, thump, thump, thump...

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, his adrenaline surging, plunging his entire being into a state of fierce exhilaration.

Herbert was gambling.

His intuition told him that the Archbishop had deliberately told him so many stories because he surely had something special he wished to say to him.

And it was surely nothing ordinary.

"Your Grace the Archbishop... is my thinking wrong?"

Once again, an unbearable silence fell over the cathedral.

After a long while, just when Herbert was beginning to suspect he had gambled wrong, the white-haired, white-bearded old man let out a soft laugh.

He nodded in satisfaction and said gently, "Child, you are very kind, and very brave as well."

"Because you are kind, you think about the plight of magical creatures and feel compassion for the innocent weak among them."

"Because you are brave, you risk being severely punished to come and ask me..."

At this point, the old man even asked with a teasing air, "Child, aren't you afraid of being sentenced to death by fire?"

"I'm not afraid!"

Other punishments, never mind — but death by fire, now...

Heh↓ heh↑

If that's what you're bringing up, then I really am not afraid.

Go ahead and burn me to death if you dare!

Fire's delight is me.

Herbert's spine was ramrod straight, his gaze resolute, his fists clenched tight, and he said in a deep voice:

"If sentencing me to death by fire alone can make others reflect, then I am willing, for the sake of those innocent ones who have been persecuted... to walk into the flames!"

(End of chapter)