novelraw Chapter 138 : Chapter 138
Chapter 138 : Chapter 138
Chapter: 138 Devil and the Church (9)
The Church suspects everything.
This is because the method they are confident in is only possible when there is a suspect.
Wimar chose to lay in wait.
He already had a suspect. Two of them, in fact.
“When did you know?”
“The true devil offered you its heart.”
That was already four days ago.
Wimar remembered that time.
It was the same for the devil suspect, Rosen.
He just hadn't shown it.
Until the suspects made contact, and the moment those two became devils.
“You must have been itching to act.”
It was a terrible obsession, and patience.
He was different from a novice like Seria.
Unlike her, who would apologize to suspects, Wimar was a true priest.
The priest that the regressed Harad remembered.
“You bewitched me.”
“I didn't.”
“You made a fool of the Church. Yes, devil. Did you enjoy it?”
Wimar spoke like a betrayed man.
His emotions did not waver. Divine power. What was felt from that light was only a terrible killing intent.
“Come here, Ellen.”
The reason he didn't charge in immediately was because of Ellen, who stood pale-faced next to Harad.
Ellen was the most troubled person here. She didn't want either Rosen or Wimar to die.
That's why she came here to confirm Rosen's identity. That action provided Wimar with conclusive evidence.
“Ellen. He is a devil.”
“……Wimar.”
Ellen’s pupils shook violently.
Her gaze went back and forth between Harad and Wimar.
That was all. Ellen did not go to Wimar.
Her hesitation was not because she couldn't choose.
“He's not a devil, he's a mage, Wimar.”
Ellen wanted to persuade Wimar.
I smiled bitterly and pushed Rosen into the merchant guild building.
“He's a person like us.”
“Ellen, you have been bewitched too.”
Wimar's face contorted.
Only then did he look like a betrayed man.
“I haven't been bewitched. Not me, not Wimar.”
Ellen said.
“You experienced it too, Wimar. Harad is a person. A person you liked and cherished enough to force him as your grandson-in-law.”
She seemed to still hold onto hope.
The possibility that the past life's Elaine had given up on, that there might be priests who could understand mages.
“Magic differs depending on the Origin. You're a priest, Wimar, so you should know. Harad is a mage, but he's not a mage who can bewitch someone.”
The past life's Harad had also acknowledged that possibility.
But it was just a possibility. He had never found such a priest.
“That is what it means to be bewitched. You are already bewitched beyond redemption.”
A priest does not listen to the words of a devil.
Nor to the words of someone bewitched by a devil.
“I will purify you quickly.”
Wimar drew the dagger stuck beside his heart.
To him, Ellen was now also a target for purification.
“What reason would we have to bewitch you, Wimar?”
“There is no reason for a devil's amusement.”
“Wimar.”
“Shut up, Ellen.”
“Please. We don't want to kill you.”
Ellen spoke as if pleading.
Did she want to save Wimar that much?
That couldn't be the only reason.
Ellen must have also thought of Seria. If she couldn't persuade Wimar here, she would have to become enemies with her too. That must have been her thought.
“That's enough.”
I walked out and stood in front of Ellen. Wimar's eyes, looking at him, gleamed with light and killing intent.
“You are the root of this.”
“Do you truly believe I'm bewitched?”
“Shut up, devil.”
“Then discard that light. It can't even stop a mere magic.”
“Do you blaspheme Laan? Truly like a devil. That is your true nature.”
Light scattered in all directions. It rippled like flames. I smiled faintly.
“You are weak. You can make this all go away. You've already retired.”
“Purification is to chip away. The messenger of God who comes after me will use my traces as a stepping stone to chip away at you.”
It was the same as how dozens of priests died to the magical beast of the small forest, and how that magical beast died to Wimar.
Even if it was a devil they couldn't handle, the Church does not retreat.
Through martyrdom, they leave even a small wound.
As those wounds accumulate, the devil dies.
“Finding out about your daughter and granddaughter would be nothing.”
“Threaten me as you wish.”
Persuasion and threats didn't work.
“I don't want to kill you.”
Pleading was a method Ellen had already used.
“Then you can just die quietly.”
Wimar was a priest.
“My apologies, I have much to do.”
I smiled bitterly.
* * *
Divine power is highly versatile.
That light can become anything. It can become a blade or a shield, a rope to bind a suspect, or a hand to move objects. Most commonly, it is used as a light of healing.
The next most common is fire.
As it is interpreted as the light of the sun, divine power was often manifested as fire.
“Existing from the beginning, may you be immortal.”
Wimar's prayer sounded holy.
Tadak! The light imbued with his voice acted as a flame. A pure white fire lit up the night, clung to Harad, and soon consumed his entire body.
A pure white fire.
I let myself be absorbed by that fire.
The white flame of the sun came to mind. That is magic.
That lukewarm fire is divine power.
But I felt that pure white fire as fire.
It's not that Wimar's divine power is special.
Even in my past life, I had felt that way.
Divine power is indeed an ambiguous thing.
“Die, devil.”
Wimar's voice was heard.
His figure was not visible. The pure white fire was completely swallowing Harad. It felt like being burned at the stake. It would look that way from the outside.
“Fire won't work.”
From the divine power that had turned into flames, I felt no threat.
I couldn't understand it, but... it was probably because it had become fire. Thus, divine power is also as ambiguous as magic.
“I am fire.”
A crimson fire flared up all over my body.
The crimson flames flowed downwards, washing away the pure white fire that covered my entire body.
It was a sight as if washing away filth with water.
The melted divine fire spread on the floor like filth.
“Devil of fire!”
Wimar's eyes widened.
Sun and Moon. Among them, the devil that the sun could not tolerate the most was before him.
The light that had been scattered like dust and strewn on the floor gathered together and stood up. It was in the shape of a giant cross.
“Please, descend.”
The giant cross settled upon Wimar.
With a roar that shook the ground, his figure disappeared.
Kagagak! Sparks flew from my neck. A dagger was scraping my neck. The steel ring. If it weren't for that magical item I received as a reward from the Grand Duke, my neck would have been severed.
“Wicked one.”
Wimar was right in front of Harad.
I looked down at him. That was all.
“It's not too late.”
Ellen did not wish for Wimar's death.
I wanted to grant her wish. But in Wimar's eyes, looking up at him, the shape of a cross was stuck.
A god had descended into his body.
The Church says so, but it was nothing more than strengthening the body like aura.
“Who on earth ordered you to do this? To kill the devil.”
“It is His will.”
Does God truly exist?
It is a meaningless question. Divine power. As long as that faith exists, they will hunt devils.
“Who on earth heard that will?”
When the Otherworld retreated to the far pole?
Even then, mages were not devils. They were just enemies.
Wimar did not answer.
Perhaps he couldn't. His mouth was shut tight. His body moved without rest. It must have been that he had finally closed the distance.
Sparks constantly flew from his entire body, which had turned like steel.
The dagger that shot out with every strike was so fast that it looked like it was stretching.
Kagak! Divine power that flew with the sparks solidified its shape from all directions. It was a short, sharp spear. As soon as they were shot, they melted in the crimson flames I had raised.
That was all. The flames melted the divine power and disappeared. I did not draw my sword.
Wimar's dagger beat on me relentlessly. With the remaining divine power, he created weapons and aimed them at me constantly, and they disappeared in the newly risen crimson flames.
“Devil!”
Wimar knew that he wasn't being attacked.
How could he not? He was a veteran priest.
“You devil.”
The dagger struck my chin.
For a moment, it felt like my head was floating. If you hit it, it breaks. This tempered magical item had become much better, but in the end, there was a limit.
However, it wasn't just me being beaten. Wimar gradually slowed down. And grew weaker. It was proof that his divine power was being chipped away. I felt that he was aging in real time.
But Wimar did not stop.
It was a movement as if denying the reality of aging.
“Devil.”
No, it wasn't just aging.
The reality he was denying even included this situation.
“Why, why a devil. Why you……”
Tuk. The dagger touched my left chest.
The function of the steel ring had already stopped, but the dagger barely pierced the skin, let alone reach the heart.
That old body had reached its limit.
And his heart too.
“……I thought we would become friends.”
“We can.”
Wimar shed a tear.
Only then did he look like a betrayed man.
“We cannot.”
* * *
The dagger fell to the ground.
Wimar's hand, which had dropped it, was trembling. His whole body was. It was all he could do to stand. It was because all the divine power that had supported his frail body was depleted.
“Wimar.”
“Don't come.”
Wimar showed his palm to Ellen, who was trying to support him, and stopped her.
“Since when?”
“I've been a mage since birth.”
“Yes. That's right. Devils are such creatures.”
Wimar laughed hollowly.
“The devil pillars that were targeting you. Was that a setup?”
“That was real. Because I dislike them.”
“A devil being hostile to a group of devils.”
“I'm also hostile to the Otherworld. Because I am a Serzila.”
A devil against a devil.
Wimar muttered as if he couldn't believe it.
“So Serzila knows about the devil that is you.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke took me hostage. Before I was caught by the Church.”
“To the Church.”
“Harad of Iagar.”
Wimar's eyes widened.
He seemed to know about Iagar, which had been reduced to ashes.
“Was it your fire?”
“If not. Would you believe me?”
“……”
Wimar did not answer.
His expression was unreadable. He had his gaze lowered. I supported Wimar, who was about to collapse. An old hand pushed away the help.
“You've already retired.”
I said again.
“I was honest. It's your turn. Just go quietly. Live quietly with your daughter and granddaughter.”
“My daughter and granddaughter are in Alfenor. It's a land in the eastern Empire.”
At those words, I furrowed my brow.
“Are you telling me to kill them? To go to the end?”
Wimar chuckled.
“Try it. You're not that kind of person.”
“Then why did you do this, knowing that?”
“I am too old. There is no time to change.”
Wimar's face, when he lifted his head, was very old.
Perhaps even more so than I had seen before.
“You picked the wrong person, you bastard. The Church doesn't preach to the dying either. They do it to the young. That way, there's time for their faith to deepen.”
“…….”
“Just deliver my last words to Alfenor. That I, Wimar Tegen, went without regrets.”
I couldn't answer.
The possibility that the past life's Elaine and Harad, and the current Ellen, felt... Wimar was showing and saying it.
A priest who worries about a devil and his future, the regressed Harad had never seen one.
“Tsk. Ellen.”
As I didn't answer, Wimar turned his gaze. Ellen flinched.
“You deliver my last words.”
“…….”
“The Great Devil. He laid a curse on me. Before I fell into hell, I simply purified myself with His fire.”
Wimar stated his cause of death.
Purification. He would become ashes. Wimar spoke to Ellen, but it meant that the one who killed him had to be Harad.
“You kill me, Harad. Because you are a devil.”
“Must it really be so?”
“If I live, I will report to the Church. That you are a devil, and that Serzila harbors a devil. So kill me.”
Wimar could not compromise on his faith.
It was also his past life.
“Wimar.”
Ellen, who had come to her senses late, ran over and supported Wimar, helping him up.
Wimar did not stop her.
“No need to make that face. I was going to die soon anyway.”
“Why are you doing this.”
“Didn't I tell you. You picked the wrong person.”
“…….”
“Find another priest, not me.”
Ellen gripped Wimar's arm tightly.
“It hurts.”
“S, sorry.”
Ellen was startled and released her grip.
Her face was a mess.
“You are still young. You will need care. Harad, you will have to do it.”
Wimar smiled mischievously.
“You cherish her a lot.”
“Because she is a Serzila.”
“Is that all?”
“It's complicated if I say it.”
“Foolish man. If you possess fire, act like fire.”
I smiled bitterly.
I was reminded of the past life's Elaine.
“Someone told me to kill my temper.”
“Who. If there is such a person, set them on fire. Fire is to be shown off. Not hidden.”
“I'll try setting them on fire next time we meet.”
I realized that this was his last will.
Wimar turned his gaze. This time, it was his turn to leave his last words to Ellen.
“I said purification is to chip away. Preaching is not much different. You just have to not give up. That is what's important.”
“…….”
“In my eyes, that devil gave up long ago. Everything about him is old-fashioned for his age.”
Wimar pointed at Harad and clicked his tongue.
“You are not, Ellen. You are strong and full of life. You are not someone who would give up even if told to. You just have to continue to be that way.”
“…….”
“Just give up on me.”
Ellen bit her lip tightly.
“There is a weight to everything. Think about what is precious. Is it me, or is it him.”
“…….”
“You know the answer. You are also a smart child. Now, say a word. So that the road ahead is not lonely.”
Wimar smiled and stroked Ellen's head.
For that moment, that old hand did not tremble.
“……You were like a grandfather.”
“You were like a granddaughter.”
“You said Harad was a friend.”
“Because that guy isn't his age. Being young is good.”
Wimar chuckled.
He waited quietly for Ellen to let go.
It didn't take long.
Ellen's face, a step away, was even more of a mess than before. But she didn't look weak. She was a strong human.
“I will definitely visit.”
“Bring that devil too. And the priest you preached to. I have to see who dared to break the doctrine.”
Ellen smiled faintly.
Wimar did too. A gentle smile was directed at Harad. I drew my sword. Then Wimar erased his smile.
“I told you to kill me with fire.”
“It will hurt.”
“Since I have sided with a devil, I will die like a devil.”
Wimar was stubborn to the end.
I respected that stubbornness. A pure white flame rose at Wimar's feet. It was a white flame.
Wimar's eyes widened slightly upon seeing it.
Then he looked at Harad and smiled faintly.
“You're overdoing it.”
Blood was flowing from my eyes.
“I don't like it. White fire.”
“Foolish man. Is that the same?”
Wimar chided him.
What was conveyed was only the fondness I had grown accustomed to.
“See you in hell.”
“It'll take a while.”
“Anytime.”
The crimson flames swallowed Wimar.
His figure was clearly visible beyond the flames.
Wimar did not struggle.
He just stood still, waiting for death.
“It's warm. More than I thought.”
A small voice echoed.
No pain was felt in that voice.
Whether it was because of his faith, his mental strength. Or because of another unknown ambiguity, I did not know.
“……A devil, you say.”
But it was certain that Wimar's voice had become quieter than a breath.
His figure was shrinking.
“……”
A weight was felt from the side. Ellen was leaning against me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. Like that, we faced the flames without a word.
Until Wimar's figure disappeared completely, the fire disappeared, and the sun rose.