Chapter 537: Sharp, yet Pure

Altius, the one and only god…In fact, Altia, humanity’s hero.

A great and holy being.

It was because of her that humanity was able to repel evil. She was a hero who, with both arms, rescued humanity from the brink of despair.

There was no doubt that she built a nation to protect the dignity of humanity.

…But right now, she was more hideous than all the ugliness in this world.

I unfolded the parchment with my fingers still on the treasure sword.

A detailed map of the Gharast Kingdom. As expected of a nation-made map, it was incomparable to any crude map one might find.

The road to the Cathedral was clearly recorded.

And it was not just any highway. There were also several hidden routes mapped, including those used by members of the royal family when visiting the Cathedral.

After all, the territory under the Cathedral’s jurisdiction was originally part of the territory of the Gharast Kingdom. In other words, only a few knew about those hidden paths. Perhaps, the Royal Family knew more about them than the people at the Cathedral.

It would take me a few days to get there if I rode my horse alone. Light clothing would be enough. The moonlight hit my cheeks, and I raised my eyebrows.

Suddenly, a voice called from behind me.

「…Hey! Hey! At least answer me! 」

The door was still closed. No one was inside the room except me. The voice came from outside the window. But this was the second floor.

I instinctively pulled out my treasure sword and turned around.

I aimed the tip of my sword at the window and…I saw Shad, lying upside down, with her hair disheveled.

What the hell was she doing?

「You’ve already eaten downstairs. Go to bed. 」

「What did you say? You’re so rude! I’m not here to beg for food! …But I’ll take it if you have some with you! 」

I opened the window, and Shad came in without any hesitation.

Leu was under her arm. Leu’s face was more expressive than I’d ever seen it before.

I meant it in a negative way, of course. She looked quite upset.

「I’ve come to tell you something important. So treat me well! 」

「…Eat and then go to your room. 」

I rang the doorbell for a maid to come. I asked her for a simple midnight snack, but she strangely brought me bread sandwiches filled with meat and salad.

Leu ate just one piece, while Shad ate about five and looked satisfied.

It was the first time I’d seen Leu look so contemptuous towards someone.

「…Lord Lugis. We didn’t actually come here to eat. 」

What did she want exactly?

Shad continued to eat her bread with such delight that I seriously doubted her intentions.

Perhaps, Leu’s words had finally convinced Shad, and she shook off the red hair that had stuck to her cheek and puffed out her chest.

「Okay then! You’ll face Zebrililith next! That’s where you’ll use my wisdom…」

「…No, Zebrililith is irrelevant. 」

Shad’s eyes suddenly widened and she tilted her head.

Her sharp eyes spun around.

「So what will you do? The Spirit God is an abnormality, different from both the Giant King and the Great Dragon. He doesn’t destroy or steal; he’s a god who blesses and conceals. As long as he’s here, his demonic nature will never fade. 」

Shad calmly spoke of Zebrililith’s name and form. It was as if she’d seen Zebrililith with her own eyes.

「Shad, I understand that you want me to kill Zebrililith. But I told you, that’s irrelevant. 」

Shad looked dissatisfied, and Leu, still munching on the bread, seemed to have no idea what was going on.

The moonlit room was strangely bright.

「I’m going to the Cathedral’s territory to kill Altia. That’s my only goal. 」

Even now, the mere fact that she was alive made me feel uneasy.

For a moment, the words of the Demon Eyed Beast Doha Surah came back to my mind. He said that Altia was trying to do justice.

Perhaps Altia was a true savior.

Perhaps her method was the most brilliant and required some sacrifices.

And perhaps I was a great evil that disturbed the peace of the world.

But such things didn’t matter.

The idea that justice required some sacrifices was the logic of someone who had never been a victim.

And so, those who became victims had the right to grit their teeth and resist, while those who sacrificed were obligated to accept revenge.

「Not only did she take the body of my childhood friend, but she also trampled on the dignity of those I know. I must kill her. Otherwise, I will never be able to face them again. 」

My childhood friend, Ariene, and the sun-like hero, Helot Stanley.

I was impressed that she was able to touch places where humans didn’t dare to touch.

I noticed a rattling sound the moment I gripped the treasure sword tight enough to make it creak.

Suddenly, I looked up.

Before me, Shad was trembling. I noticed that her knees and shoulders were shaking.

「So…So…A…Altia has also been resurrected? 」

「I don’t know if she’s resurrected or not, but the one who took my childhood friend’s body called herself that name. She said she enjoyed salvation and happiness. 」

The moment she heard this information…Shad put her legs over the window she had used to enter. It was a very dashing movement.

「In that case, I’ll just stay hidden until it’s all over! Do your best! I’ll be cheering you on from the shadows! 」

「Wait, what? You should know some shame. 」

「You idiot! You won’t have time to feel shame once you’re dead! 」

Unexpectedly, it was Leu who stopped Shad as she tried to fly away. Shad was carried back into the room, clutching her stomach.

A sobbing woman being dragged by a child was a very strange sight.

「Lord Lugis…are you going alone? 」

「That’s right, this is my problem. Keep it a secret from Philos and Matia. 」

I couldn’t involve anyone else in something like jumping into enemy territory. Besides, going alone would be less conspicuous and would increase my chances of success.

Leu looked at me intently with those red eyes, then twisted her lips.

「…Lord Lugis, you’re being cowardly. 」

「Yes, you are! If Altia is indeed walking this earth again, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would never have come! 」

「No. 」

Leu twisted Shad’s ear. A shriek could be heard. It seemed like a bit of discipline.

But what did she mean to be cowardly? It was not that she was angry, but Leu wasn’t the kind of kid who said meaningless things.

She was a girl of few words, but it seemed she had something to say right now.

「Are you dissatisfied, Leu? But this is for the best, you know. 」

「…I don’t know anything about nations or war, but I know how terrible it would be if Lord Lugis was gone. 」

「…I don’t know about that. I don’t think everyone is that weak. 」

「But I do know. 」

Leu said those words with her round eyes that looked like they might roll around, while her head was swaying.

Perhaps it was because she had been transformed into a magical devilish being before. There was a strange power in her words. Her eyes sparkled like jewels.

「At least, that’s what Agathos thought. With Lord Lugis gone, everyone will be lost. They would no longer be able to fight the demonic forces. Many would be sacrificed. 」

These were clumsy words from a young girl.

And yet, her words were strangely convincing. It was as if I was actually seeing each word come to life.

So, Agathos and Leu shared some of their thoughts and memories. Agathos’ many years of experience gave Leu’s powerful words.

Leu spoke in a voice so powerful that it sent chills down my spine.

「…Lord Lugis, are you going to sacrifice everyone by abandoning us? 」

I sat there, speechless, lost for words in my chair.

I remained silent for a few seconds. Silence filled the room. I couldn’t find the right words to say.

I closed my eyes, covered my mouth, and finally muttered.

「…That worked wonders, Leu. 」

I felt so pathetic I wanted to crawl into a hole.

I’d made a young child like Leu worry about me and even had to be told off. She should be the one being looked after and protected.

Ah, damn. She got the better of me.

Leu was just like that. No matter what logic I twisted and turned, forcing others to sacrifice themselves for my own ends didn’t make me any different from Altia. It was not like my death alone would solve anything anymore.

I sheathed the treasure sword back into its hilt.

「Sorry, Leu. It was my bad. All you’ve said is true. If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me. 」

「Then, if you say so. I want to eat a cow, okay? 」

Shad, still held by Leu, said those light-hearted words with her arms and legs moving happily.

Leu was glaring at Shad with contempt. There was so much emotion in her gaze that I wished she had tone it down a bit. I’d be in a lot of pain if she glared at me like that.

Seeing this, I sat back down in my chair and narrowed my eyes.

Leu was right.

If I moved around freely in my current state, then the wound would only get worse. We were still weak. It would be foolish to think that I could easily kill Altia.

If we were weak, then we should fight like weaklings.

…I just needed to find a way to put an end to the Cathedral in one hit.

That way, Altia would be forced to show up.

I snapped my fingers.

This was going to be a battle to see who was more spiteful, me or Altia.

I had no intention of losing.

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Go Lugis! I like it when he’s confident!

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