248
trust
‘Oh my god···.’
Brighton looked to the terrible thing in the distance for God.
That thing looking down from beyond was so horrifying that it was hard to open my eyes and look at.
It was a representation of hell. A huge hell that seemed to reach the sky, made of people as dough. Crumpled and broken people were its components.
Those who were stuck together with their limbs twisted and broken were screaming incessantly. They should have died long ago, but it seemed as if death was not permitted.
That was the being the Empire called God. Everyone was in despair at the disgusting horror of it.
Brighton bit his lip at the familiar aura it gave off. Blood burst out and dripped down, wetting the corner of his mouth.
‘How can I feel the divine power?’
I felt the divine power that Brighton had dealt with before writing his revised Bible. No, not to the extent that I could feel it.
The guy himself was a divine being.
Brighton realized why the Empire had changed the Bible.
He wasn’t just taking the lives of the continental people. He was thoroughly harvesting their souls and even their beliefs.
All the prayers that were holding onto the Bible and seeking answers were directed at him.
‘ah···.’
The one he had served as a god his entire life was actually that horrible demon.
Brighton was left in deep despair when he finally reached the truth.
After completing the Bible, I was confident that my faith was now stronger and that I would never waver again.
The malice, hatred, and presence that the bastard exuded weighed on Brighton. Brighton gritted his teeth and held on somehow, but the others did not.
Those who had been holding weapons and radiating heat just a moment ago were now bowing their heads in despair. They were kneeling as if in worship.
Everyone felt it.
That the opponent is God.
‘···god.’
It was an undeniable fact. As you can see, the bastard was clearly a very evil spirit.
Even the evil gods were gods.
The journey to the capital was so smooth that I was a bit puzzled, but now I know why.
He didn’t feel the need to stop it.
As Brighton’s knees began to bend in growing despair, someone grabbed his shoulder.
“It is blasphemous.”
It was Joanna, covered in bright light.
Joanna had a polite expressionless face, but blood was streaming from the corners of her mouth and veins were bulging on her forehead. She seemed to be doing her best to resist.
Joanna only held Brighton back from going down any further, but did not lift him up.
As if it were his own share.
Brighton chewed his lips. He tightened his grip on the Bible and quietly sought God.
Brighton had once again had their faith shattered and been tested, but they had overcome trials before.
Brighton’s wrinkled hands were filled with veins. Every time he looked for God, light rose between his long, curved fingers as he held the Bible.
‘Even if I walk a dark path-.’
As he kept repeating this, the oppressive feeling began to ease. As if the blocked blood was flowing back, his body became more energetic. Soon, Brighton was able to stand up straight.
The light became even stronger.
At that, Joanna nodded. Brighton exhaled and looked around.
The condition of those who had been blessed by Brighton was relatively good. Of course, that was only barely holding on.
The other figures were still worshipping, craning their necks and prostrating themselves as if waiting for God’s judgment.
The battle hasn’t even started yet, and I feel this helpless.
Even though I came to my senses, the situation was hopeless.
at that time-.
The red dragon opened its mouth wide. Its huge mouth opened wide as if a mountain was splitting apart.
······························································!!!
Soon, a deafening roar filled the surroundings.
A loud howl tore through the silence that had been forced into submission.
Jo A-rin’s sense of defeat was shattered.
Those who had been prostrating themselves in worship came to their senses and raised their heads.
The first thing they saw was-.
He was their king, who advanced alone riding a red dragon.
He was advancing proudly against the countless soldiers lined up and the gigantic god beyond.
As if telling me to follow.
Brighton chewed his lip as he watched Aaron’s back.
How can one be so bold in facing God?
As I looked at him, I remembered what Aaron had said.
[I’ll do what I’m good at···.]
The red dragon opened its mouth wide again. The surrounding air was sucked in, and soon a fierce flame burst out.
At that moment, the imperial forces simultaneously emitted a blue light. It was the imperial aura. The combined aura rose like a gigantic tidal wave-.
It split a fierce stream of flames.
The accumulated auras blocked the red dragon’s flames as if they knew the law of the jungle.
It seemed like I could hear Aaron’s voice.
[The abbot should do what he does best.]
Brighton sat up, his knees buckling. His old knees screamed, but he ignored them and turned his head away.
‘What I do best-.’
There was no need to worry. There was only one thing Brighton did well.
‘What I do best-.’
Brighton muttered Aaron’s words like a prayer and hurriedly searched for Adela. He found Adela quickly.
“Gi- Sa- A- Del- La-!!”
Adela was lying face down and screaming.
Adela woke up trembling as she shared her divine power.
“I can’t defeat Adela like this.”
All the necessary people gathered around the sacred object. Adela, shivering, was the first to go up and stand in the center. Vivian went up a little awkwardly.
Now only Brighton remained. As he was about to ascend the relic, Brighton’s eyes met the bard beside him.
He was a young-faced minstrel. If he had been Aaron, what would he have done?
“Would you like to play something exciting?”
Brighton inspired the bards with divine power.
The minstrels, whose faces were startled by this, suddenly stood up. Like soldiers gathering their swords, the minstrels each picked up their instruments and began to play.
Piri-ri-ri-ri-piri-ri-various sounds rang out.
‘That’s why Aaron talks nonsense so often.’
Brighton sat down at the shrine with a bitter smile.
“Gi-sa- Adela! I came here to defeat the evil spirit and protect the continent!!”
Adela shouted, diligently putting on her safety gear.
Brighton turned his gaze to the Bible. It was worn and worn from the hands.
I still couldn’t figure out what was right, or whether resistance would be useful against that god.
However, there was a man who took the lead.
I just trusted that back.
‘Emeritus Cardinal wouldn’t be bad either. Tying him up with Joanna······.’
Brighton smiled and opened his Bible, finding Aaron’s reaction amusing.
The light that had been flickering burned brighter than before.
***
The light that started from behind spread softly as if carried by the wind.
As I received that light, the heavy feeling of oppression was relieved.
First, Balhar Khan only then came to his senses.
‘Damn, the hypocrisy was that bad-.’
Balhar Khan chewed his lip as he looked at the hypocrisy in the distance. He knew that the hypocrisy was strong, but he didn’t expect the difference to be this overwhelming.
Even after I pulled myself together, the feeling of defeat continued to grow.
‘What the hell is that guy······.’
Balhar Khan muttered a curse under his breath as he watched Aaron head towards Hypocrisy alone.
Even the red disaster that I felt would come from a myth was so different that it seemed like a small bird in front of Hypocrisy.
There was no way he was in his right mind to run forward without hesitation against such hypocrisy. He was clearly crazy.
However, the war has begun.
Now that I am faced with hypocrisy, I realize it even more keenly. If I cannot catch hypocrisy, the entire continent will become hell.
Balhar Khan shook his head to collect himself, then pulled the soldier next to him.
“Tell the commanders to report.”
As the soldier was still unconscious, Balhar Khan swung his fist. The soldier who had been hit in the face regained consciousness and screamed at the magic tool.
‘Is that why he starts with his fist?’
Balhar Khan looked at his fist and exclaimed in admiration. Despite the order, his movements were somewhat sluggish. It seemed that he had not completely escaped.
It’s already like this before we even start.
‘You can’t even follow behind? You useless things-.’
Balhar Khan muttered a curse and snatched the magical tool away. Then he began spewing out harsh insults.
At that moment, a rough laugh was heard from somewhere.
“Follow the star! Hahahahaha!”
She was a huge woman. Her body was not inferior to that of men, but her face under the helmet was strangely beautiful.
The woman ran out swinging her huge spear. She was drooling as if she had lost her mind, and the pressure she felt was considerable.
There were men following the woman in the lead. They were wearing somewhat crude armor, but their size and spirit were enormous.
‘···The survivors of the Kingdom of Byzant.’
Balhar Khan was slightly shocked.
Their notoriety was quite famous among the imperial knights.
Of course, the Western Front was held because of orders from above, but even without that, they were vicious.
They were the kind of guys who would do anything to win. They didn’t care about the means to win, whether it was throwing their comrades’ entrails at them or hiding under hot sand.
‘Actually, it actually adds to it.’
They were running wild like animals that had been released after a long time. Their rough movements woke up the frozen battlefield.
The sight of cutting off the opponent’s head and drinking his blood was somewhat gruesome, but it brought a sense of realism to the battlefield. The smell of blood filled the air, creating a sense of crisis.
Those who had been cowering at him as a signal flare began to move according to their respective commanders.
A noisy war began, with screams and blood pouring from all sides.
The situation was extremely disorienting, but there was no way I could get lost.
Because you just have to look at the king’s back and follow him.
Then, the light grew more intense. The light emanated from the monstrous contraption even more powerfully.
As if the sun had risen-.
The expanded light gently swept across the battlefield again. Balhar Khan noticed that the erosion and aura had ceased.
It wasn’t just Balhar Khan’s story. From the knights emitting auras everywhere, to the imperial army that was filled with blue auras.
As if it were a lie, all the auras disappeared.
This one wasn’t flustered. It was something I’d experienced several times on my way here.
but-.
‘···I’m disappearing too.’
Balhar Khan looked down at his sword and chewed his lip. The effect had become stronger than before, and Balhar Khan could no longer summon an aura.
There were also those who did not lose their power. Strong people like the people’s knight Ben, the second eldest son, and the fifth eldest son, although weaker than before, still showed their power.
‘That’s why I said I had to sell only one.’
Balhar Khan clicked his tongue and surveyed the situation.
At that moment, the two sides clashed in earnest. It was a pure clash without any aura. In an instant, the front line shook greatly.
Surprisingly, this side was pushing through right away.
‘It’s even more useless if you can’t use Aura while you’re not rational.’
Balhar Khan quickly assessed the situation.
What the soldiers were dealing with was an aura caused by erosion. When you exclude that aura, all that remains is the irrationality.
The current imperial power was weaker than before. In fact, they were helplessly pushed back by the Byzantros.
The Byzantine guys kept bursting into laughter as if a banquet was being held. They laughed even when they were stabbed with swords, wondering what was so good about it.
‘This is worth doing.’
Balhar Khan nodded. The battle situation was rather overwhelming on their side.
but-.
···Hypocrite, if only he could do something about it-.
Balhar Khan chewed his lip as he watched Hyokseon quietly looking down.
The others could be dealt with somehow. But Balhar Khan knew.
The important thing is that it’s hypocrisy.
All the other things added up were not enough to make up for the hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy was the center. If you couldn’t catch the bastard, then getting rid of everything else would be of no use.
‘That’s probably why he went first, because he knew that.’
Balhar Khan raised his head high.
A red dragon that had risen so high that it seemed to touch the sky was constantly spitting out fire, melting the soldiers.
I thought there was nothing greater than the Red Calamity.
The evil spirit that was quietly looking down from across the way made the huge red disaster look like a bird passing by.
‘The opponent is a god. No matter how much of a bastard he is…’
It was then that Hypocrisy shot a long thorn at the red dragon.
It was a thick, huge thorn made of a human. Its speed was faster than the knight who had raised the aura could run at full speed.
The red dragon tried to evade him with graceful flight that was not befitting its size, but the number of thorns was so great that it had limitations.
Kwaaaaaaaang-!
The red dragon crashed down with a huge noise.
Into the middle of enemy territory-.
The sky was empty without the red dragon.
I had to face the presence of God as it was.
Balhar Khan bit his lip and drew his sword.
“······Forward! Protect the King!!”
At that moment, the area next to me became very bright.
When I turned my head towards him, a woman named Joanna passed by with a very stern face.
She leapt toward the imperial army without hesitation, emitting a splendid, pure white light.
***
“Hey-. Are you awake?”
I patted the shell of the BbungBbungIl’s leg, which was stuck there so badly.
[It’s fine.]
BbungBbungIl answered softly.
‘I guess I won’t be able to fly for a while.’
Contrary to the calm answer, BbungBbungIl’s condition was not very good.
There were strange thorns embedded all over BbungBbungIl’s body.
Among them, the huge thorn deeply embedded in his shoulder was fatal. It was stuck right where his wing was connected. It seemed like he would no longer be able to fly.
Perhaps because of the difference in class, BbungBbungIl’s solid armor was unable to put up even the slightest resistance.
‘That’s terrible.’
The thorns he shot were made of people. Perhaps to make them more agile, their contents were crumpled up even more.
Eww! Eww!
The people in the thorns kept screaming in horror. They were all alive, even though they were crumpled into a square shape.
‘This sucks.’
I grabbed the thorn, muttering a small curse. The thing on the part I was holding tried to bite my hand. I swung my fist to relieve it, then grabbed it again.
The other guys were begging for their comfort too.
“Oh, wait.”
They seemed to have little patience and started cursing at me. Why are you doing this to me? – I clicked my tongue and grabbed the thorn.
“Stinging.”
I tried to pull it out with force, but it just wouldn’t come out. Upon closer inspection, I found that the thorn wasn’t simply stuck in there.
It was stiff because the thorns that were made up of them glowed and grabbed the flesh.
As he pulled out the thorn with more force, the flesh that had been eaten fell off at the same time. It wasn’t a very pleasant sight to see those with only their faces left, gnawing away.
················!!
Bbung Bbung Il breathed out long streams of flame, melting those who approached. It seemed to be its own scream.
He clicked his tongue and carefully put down the thorn he had pulled out.
A lot of people looked at me and cursed me.
‘This is clearly hell.’
He gestured to the fire-breathing BbungBbungIl. BbungBbungIl then lifted its front paw and crushed the thorn. Red blood soaked the floor.
I turned my head away, muttering curses at the awkward silence. The hypocrisy seemed far away.
‘It’s so damn big.’
He muttered, trying to relax his tense hands. That thorn was the one who shot me. Since he doesn’t shoot me now…
‘Are you telling me to come on foot?’
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the horrific and gigantic gates of hell that existed on the castle walls in the distance.
It seemed like there was only one entrance.
I took stock of the situation in the brief moment of peace I gained thanks to BbungBbungIl’s flame breath.
‘I thought you were prepared for aerial combat.’
I think I became impatient without realizing it because the gazes looking at me were heavy.
How could he have known that he would sting me with his thorns? It was something I couldn’t avoid, but there was a little impatience mixed in.
‘Not good.’
I had an idea of what was going on in my head, but the outlook wasn’t very good. There were too many appetizers before the main course.
I clicked my tongue and diligently stretched my body.
Eventually, the wind blew and the fire went out, revealing the swarms of guys everywhere.
The pure white armored men stood in the center and surrounded me. It felt like the whole world was filled with them. I raised the corners of my mouth to shake off the pressure.
“Tail swishing!”
[···.]
BbungBbungIl swung its tail obediently, making a trembling sound. BbungBbungIl’s huge tail moved roughly as if it was sweeping the ground.
Because the size of the BbungBbungIl was so large, even if it only swung its tail, it would cause a major disaster. The imperial troops were swept away without a hitch, but then suddenly its tail stopped.
‘······apostle?’
There were huge ones among the imperial forces. They looked similar to apostles, but they were emitting a blue light as if their aura had not been sealed.
‘They’re not apostles, but rather they were originally imperial knights.’
He clicked his tongue as he looked at the imperial emblem engraved on the armor.
They didn’t have the same intimidating feel as the apostles I had encountered back then, but they were not easy guys because they had an aura about them.
They all struck the tail of the stopped BbungBbungIl. Its shell split, but it wasn’t a deep wound.
It looked just like an ant eating a giant bug.
‘The closer you get to Hypocrisy, the stronger they become.’
I clicked my tongue and kicked the ground. The bastards let go of their tails and ran towards me.
They didn’t draw their swords.
As if they were trying to capture me-.
‘How cheeky.’
I swung my sword lightly. Compared to the apostles, they were insignificant. Their movements were slow and they had no reason.
The problem was that the mat was quite thick.
I cut off the neck, but the leather resisted as if it were made of iron. I drew out a crimson aura. The half-inserted sword easily sliced through the neck.
As soon as I cut down one, another one rushed at me. Instead, I stepped forward and calmly observed the other one.
‘There is no reason, but each movement is different.’
I cut off his arm first. Even though his arm was cut off, he didn’t move at all. He fell down only after I cut off his neck. His lack of reason was troublesome in another sense.
This time, three guys showed up.
‘There are so many.’
He swung his sword while muttering curses.
He caught three and swung his sword twice.
After chopping up the three of them amicably, I took a breath and looked around.
There were still a lot of guys wearing white armor. No, there seemed to be even more of them.
I felt like I was left alone in a world full of them.
I clicked my tongue at the familiar feeling.
‘This is becoming annoying.’
They closed the distance and pressed me.
Of course, being surrounded by these guys wasn’t a crisis.
There was a difference in class between them and me, as if hypocrisy had been thrown away lightly.
However, the situation was not good.
To end this, I had to catch the hypocrisy that was far away.
Just from the presence he exuded here, I could tell he was a very tough opponent. I didn’t even have any information about him.
It wasn’t good to waste my energy on these guys when I wouldn’t be able to get a good estimate even if I fought in full condition right away.
However, there was no choice.
‘Let’s not think hastily.’
I had to focus on what was in front of me right now. I had to get to him anyway, whether I wanted to make an estimate or not.
How long did you hold it? When your hand starts to feel a little sore-.
A white light poured out from one side of the white men’s barrier. The light seen through the gap grew stronger.
‘Where have I seen that?’
As he muttered softly, the one at the end split vertically, and a familiar face appeared.
‘···Abandoned?’
It was Joanna, full of a pale white light.
Joanna swung her greatsword as easily as if it were her own hand, literally slaughtering the men.
It was such an incredible performance that it was questionable whether she was the same person as Joanna, who used to hide and sleep like a full cat.
Joanna’s light must have had some effect, because they fell more easily than expected.
Their white armor and their huge bodies were gently sliced by the light Joanna was holding. Like cake.
In addition, Joanna’s swordsmanship, which had felt a bit lacking, was now flowing. It seemed that the blessing had completely filled in the missing parts.
Following Joanna, the Mini Lungs and the others pushed in. The large structure surrounding them began to collapse.
‘Even the lungs are good at something.’
At that moment, the waist of the guy right in front of me split horizontally. As the guy’s upper body fell off, Joanna, covered in blood, was revealed.
Joanna’s shoulders shook roughly, perhaps because she had been pushing herself a bit too hard.
Nod.
Joanna, whose eyes met mine, nodded firmly.
As I nodded in response, Joanna smiled brightly. Then, Joanna very cautiously extended her fist.
It was a timid attitude that was completely out of place with the way she had cut a man in half with a sword. When we clashed fists, Joanna smiled coolly again and pointed behind me.
It seemed like he was going to open the way. It was very believable.
The old man who only ate cake was showing such dignity. I almost cried. Of course, I didn’t cry.
Since it was Joanna who was a retired officer, her dignified back figure was particularly impressive.
“When I go back, I will buy you cake for the rest of your life.”
When I threw some motivational words at him, Joanna stopped dead in her tracks.
Joanna, who had cut the man rushing at her in half, hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly without looking this way.
Seeing Joanna’s greatsword grow even stronger, it seemed like her motivation was working.
“O Star of the First Star-! We have come!”
At that moment, a rough voice was heard from behind. The battlefield was filled with laughter that did not fit the battlefield. It was the ignorant desert people.
“Wet our throats with the blood of the imperial bastards! Fill our bellies with their flesh! Hahaha!”
They laughed so hard that drool flowed from their mouths as they advanced. I chuckled at that.
“It’s still urgent.”
Vermunt, who had come up behind me, spoke. Vermunt’s eyes, which had been as if he were dead, were now alive.
“I need to finish quickly and eat dinner.”
Vermunt chuckled at my answer. It was the lively look I had seen on the battlefield before.
“Save your strength. We will open the way.”
Vermunt, who seemed to have become ten years younger, tapped my shoulder. Vermunt’s eyes looking at me were not heavy.
As I nodded to him, Vermunt spun his sword around and leapt forward.
“Let us honor the stars that fell with the blood of the imperialists!”
Vermunt’s scream continued for a long time. The deserters followed Vermunt.
The knights of the temple on Joanna’s side were excellent in terms of military force, but they were somewhat awkward in formation, but the deserters filled him with instinct. It was a movement that came from long experience in war.
Then Ben and the five eldest sons, including the eldest, arrived. They seemed to have rushed forward for my sake.
“Are you okay?”
“Are you okay?”
Their speech was different, but their expressions were similar. Their eyes looking at me were heavy.
“What about Kanna?”
I asked, scratching my neck for no reason.
“I have placed the knights and second eldest son of the noble alliance. As we advance, the center of gravity will be on this side, so the rear will be safe. Also, there is winter in the north over there-.”
When the five elders and Ben hesitated, the eldest answered quickly. As expected, he was a quick worker.
‘They said that winter in the north will not come forward.’
There was no need to bring the wizard to the forefront of the battlefield in the first place. His specialty was long-range attacks.
If the second eldest son and the noble allied forces were attached there, the rear would be safe. It was a great job.
“You are the eldest brother now. Everyone should call him hyung.”
I patted the first guy on the shoulder and chuckled.
Ben nodded, and the five elders looked like they had chewed shit. Looking at him, I got a sense of how to motivate them.
“The one who caught the most today is my brother.”
To put it mildly, their expressions became serious. The five eldest sons in particular were full of energy.
Five-Elder jumped out first, and Ben followed. He pretended not to care, but it seemed like he didn’t want to go under Five-Elder. It was unclear whether the two were on good terms or not.
The first one opened his mouth as if he had something to say.
“What is it?”
“······Can you really catch that?”
The first one looked at me with fearful eyes and asked. His eyes were very heavy as he looked at me.
At that moment, the white light surrounding the battlefield became more intense.
Brighton seemed to have had an epiphany.
Or maybe rejuvenated.
Anyway, everyone was enthusiastic.
“Faith, hope, and murder, the greatest of these is-”
I turned my gaze away, raising the corners of my lips.
Unreliable guys were advancing.
They foolishly believe that I will catch that huge hypocrite-.
I was desperately trying to open the way.
I had to trust them, just as they trusted me.
“···Faith.”
Looking at the back of another person I hadn’t seen in a long time, I adjusted my grip on the sword, which had become much lighter.
