Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
‘Sacrifice.’
A word which was better off involving others than it was of involving themselves.
Contrary to expectations, after the First High Reverend’s passionate speech, the Wise Mad King’s hesitation grew, and he replied, “I wish to speak with the Director about this.”
It turned out that the three High Reverends answered to someone even higher in rank than they were. From the Wise Mad King’s hesitation, it could be ascertained that speaking to this director was nowhere as easy as making a phone call.
The other two High Reverends fell silent. After a few moments had passed, the First Reverend broke the silence with a voice filled with grievance. “If that is what you — the architect of this plan — have decided, then I will respect your decision.”
A few more moments passed in silence, then the Wise Mad King heard a voice echo in his mind.
‘I saw what transpired. Proceed with your plan. Do not fail me.’
The reply only contained three short sentences, which had taken only two seconds to relay, but the Wise Mad King looked as though he was just doused with a large bucket of water. The beads of sweat dripping down his forehead had completely drenched his garments. It was as though he had just returned from a short trip to the Underworld.
“The Lord most gracious, the Lord most wrathful…” The Mad King uncontrollably muttered under his breath, his voice croaking. He was desperately trying to rid himself of the fear that was consuming his mind. He never liked “talking” to the Director, but the present situation, which was a desperate one, had called for it.
He took some time to stabilize his breathing and heartbeat, and only then did he finally speak to the other two High Reverends, saying, “The Director said we shall proceed as we’d planned.”
“It looks like there is no other choice, huh… Three Demigods will be sacrificed. Damnit! I feel bad; believe me,” exclaimed the Third Reverend. However, his tone of voice oozed schadenfreude.
“A small price to pay. As long as our plan succeeds, even Demigods will be nothing more than ornaments to the history we would write!” The First High Reverend passionately said.
“However, we still don’t know how the Second High Reverend plans to convince those three Demigods to give up their lives,” said the Third Reverend to the First High Reverend.
The Mad King coldly sneered, “You’re speaking as though the Faustian Tattoos and Power Marks were not made for this purpose.”
As Godsfall’s High Reverends were hurriedly making changes to their plans, Baiyi was on his way to rendezvous with his students, completely oblivious to the fear and chaos his actions had wrought.
He was still in a discussion with the Voidwalkers, trying to discern the purpose for which the altars had been set up, and by extension, the next plan that the enemies sought to make.
“Hmm, that altar really gives me that flashback feels, man. In fact, it reminds me so much of this old friend of mine,” the Devil Walker said. “The runes surrounding it, and the way with which altar was set up, makes it look like Molocchus’s work. I have seen it a few times. Although some details on that altar were a little different — which may mean that its function would be different, as well — it still resembles his work.
“Molocchus is an Abyss Lord, who was famous — or rather, infamous — for being sly. Although he was physically weaker than Thaas, he is a harder opponent to defeat. Unlike other demons, Molocchus admires the culture of humans. In the past, he stole a large number of human books and abducted academic sorcerers. He had even gone on to place spies within human academic organizations, such as the Doors of Conundrum.
“Taking inspiration from humans’ knowledge of formations, he once designed a set of sacrificial altars. The amount of power possessed by the offerings determined how much power the person who was making the sacrifice would gain. This was akin to a trade by barter. However, there was a catch: if the person who made the sacrifice did not make more sacrifices afterward, Molocchus would ruthlessly rob them off every ounce of strength they possessed, including their souls.
“Hence, after making a sacrifice, if one sought to live longer, they would have to commit vile acts in order to obtain strong offerings, which were good enough to satiate Malocchus’s desires. It was akin to a loan scheme, which had exponential interest rates, and in the end, the creditor would end up claiming the debtor anyway,” the Devil Walker finished.
“Which idiot would fall for that?” Baiyi scoffed.
“The more unassuming a trap is, the more people fall for it. Do you not remember Steam and other free-to-play mobile games back on Earth?” The Devil retorted. “Besides, there are humans so thirsty for power, they would do anything to gain it. And that is how we demons have managed to live off your humans. This is why our influence over you lot is so vast.”
Baiyi was unable to refute the claim.
“Besides, do you want to know who first saw military potential in Leapers? It was Molocchus. He even trained a herd for himself. Leapers are stronger and more useful if trained; however, their physique remains so much weaker than other demon breeds. It is hard to whip them up to standard, I tell you. It is even harder to control them. No one has the patience to try,” the Devil Walker explained. “For instance, that Leaper you battled earlier, it was strong enough to lead a herd of its own, yet it seemed to take orders from a superior. Thus, if I am not mistaken, that Leaper must have been trained since it was young, by its master. From that, we can deduce that Molochchus is one of the players in this.”
“Another Abyss Lord? Well, I’ll buy it. It does answer a question I have always had about Godsfall,” Baiyi said, musing over the Devil Walker’s information. “The cult’s expansion into such a powerful organization, despite the Church’s interference, would not be enough to draw in some humans. One would need to control an organization as powerful as a nation — a very powerful nation.
“Godsfall still does not have total influence over places like the Nothern Lands of Isythre or here, Marle. Hence, it would make sense if there are other forces backing them, and if one of the backers was a real Abyss Lord, not a lightweight like Thaas was, then it would make even more sense. After all, bewitching human with carnal delusions is what demons do best.
“So, does this mean that back then, during the demonic invasion, the reason why so many demons — including some of Thaas’ former lapdogs — were able to infiltrate my academy was because of this Abyss Lord?” The Apprentice Walker suddenly asked.
He had never truly recovered from that event. Seeing the academy that was once his pride and had his name slowly deteriorate had stung and enraged him, and his tone of voice proved this.
“Pfft. What is loyalty to demons? It’s nothing but a strange, insignificant concept. The only everlasting truth that we demons understand is ‘rebellion’! So there’s no such thing as ‘former lapdogs’; there’s only the subjugation of the servants of others, and that was what Molocchus must have done after Thaas’ demise. Back then, they might have only mentioned Thaas’ name to fool everyone,” the Devil Walker said with a cruel chuckle.
“You said that that altar reminded you of Molocchus’s handiwork, but to me, it resembles something I saw in the past. Do you remember the time I visited Mia’s hometown?” Baiyi suddenly said, slowly immersing himself in a flashback.
“Back then, we saw a large complex of runic formations, and as it turned out, what we saw was just a small part of a super-massive Empire Complex. We told the Church about it, but nothing happened since then. Looking at how quietly it was resolved, I believe that their work had been destroyed by the Church. Now, though, It looks like they’re at it again.”
” Ohh ho ho ho! They are going to create a Nationwide Transmutation Circle! Trying to create the Philosopher’s Stone, aren’t we?!” The Alchemist Walker suddenly chimed in excitedly. The idea of “offerings” and “super-massive complex” had reminded him of something 1 .
“Did you just picture the Wise Mad King as the Dwarf in the Flask or Father?” Baiyi muttered under his breath. “Why did you not go a step further and say that he was trying to use that Transmutation Circle to obtain the Truth, in order to become some sort of God?” 2
“Hey, those are some old references you just made. I don’t think these newbies get it,though,” the Archmage suddenly said. However, there was a chance that he also did not know where those terms came from.
Suddenly, another Voidwalker who almost never partook in discussion joined the fray.
“This thing right here is the symbol of the God of Power, Deilos!” The Bard Walker cried, sharing with everyone a picture of something he had seen before so that they could compare it with the symbol Baiyi had shared.
“Oh? Please, do continue.” Baiyi quickly replied. He had to admit that he had never believed that the Bard Walker, who was a Master Gentleman, would be useful in a conversation like this.
“As we all know, other than the One True God of God’s Grace, other gods do exist. One such example is the War God, who our crappy moderator, Hope, has established connections with. This God of Power, Deilos, is similar. Legends have it that he controls power; he is also rumored to be the benefactor who gifted humans mana and combat chi.
“He used to have his own followers and religion, but they died off after the rise of God’s Grace. I learned about Deilos from the ancient books and records I collected. This is also how I know that this symbol represents him,” the Bard Walker said, finishing his elucidation, thereby showing his usefulness, for the very first time.
“You actually collect books? I thought all you ever collected were women’s undergarments,” a random Voidwalker muttered.
The Bard Walker jumped when he heard this. “Would you pay me some goddamned respect? I’m a scholar, for crying out loud! My voyage into the world of women is just a hobby I nurse after hours. Besides, beautiful women are attracted to my devilishly handsome looks and immense knowledge. I’m not idiotic, but I am a cute male bimbo!”
“Besides, do you even know that creating songs, poems, and epic poetry require an incredible number of materials, including knowledge of heroic stories throughout the ages? I’m a bard who composes moving poetries, not some Webnovel writer. I’m not allowed to make sh*t up!”
As someone who had exchanged memories with the Bard Walker, Baiyi knew this to be true. It was true that the Bard Walker was actually very knowledgeable in historical and cultural subjects. If it were not for his lustful lifestyle, he could have been a great literary master.
