Time rewinds back to three weeks ago, when Ivan was still imprisoned in a half-dead state in the chamber, receiving the queen’s sole care.
“It’s really maddening.”
Eugene sat blankly in a chair, his face filled with despair.
“Eli Eli lama sabachthani….”
He recited the only Hebrew phrase he knew, but there was no change. Just in case, he tried carving a cross, roughly drew a Virgin Mary statue, and filled a bowl with holy water to pray, but it was all meaningless acts.
His status window remained half-broken, only flickering.
He even thought about whether he should get stabbed once while hanging on a cross, but he shook off such shameful thoughts from his mind. It didn’t seem like the god of this world would resurrect him within three days.
“No, rationally speaking, right? If I was given a status window upon being transferred to this world, it shouldn’t be taken away! Or at least give me a cheat before taking it away!”
To be honest, the status window rarely provided him any substantial help. What good was a warning saying it was dangerous just before dying?
But the difference between having it and not having it was like heaven and earth. The status window was virtually Eugene’s only asset in this world.
Moreover, what was even more infuriating was that it had not completely disappeared.
[Connection to live service server has been lost due to signal interruption.]
[To honor your achievements, we will reveal additional content to you.]
The status window had frozen on the last page he checked. Occasionally, sparks flickered, but that bluish window had not completely vanished.
However, what use was that? No matter how he manipulated it, the screen wouldn’t switch and no feedback was coming back.
It was like pulling the plug on an online game. To put it plainly, that was the meaning behind it. The half-broken screen had just solidified.
Eugene sighed deeply and glared at the status window.
“What good is it for me now…?”
His swordsmanship was inferior to glass.
He couldn’t even use magic.
Now that his divine power had vanished, he was useless as a priest.
The only real use of the status window was to gather information, but that had become useless too.
Really, what should I do now…?
Yujin sighed and began to reread the status window. After all, since it was the only information resource he had at the moment, he hoped he could at least make use of what he could see.
Soon, he discovered something strange.
[You have killed a god.]
[Now you are free.]
This sentence sounded like a warning. It felt like a chilling threat or perhaps a mocking challenge to see if he could survive.
And then came the next sentence.
[Due to signal interference, the connection to the live service server has been terminated.]
“…The tone changes.”
Not only that, but the handwriting was also subtly different. A minuscule difference that’s hard to notice.
[In honor of your achievements, we will unlock additional content for you.]
“We will?”
In other words, the entity that typed this beyond the status window is plural…?
Yujin quickly straightened his posture and began to scan through the status window. Was there any other information he could deduce?
[You have killed a god.]
Considering that Ivan’s nickname suddenly became ‘God Slayer,’ it seems the object that killed the god is Ivan. However, the status window does not distinguish between Ivan and him.
Reflecting back, the quest assigned by the status window did not concern itself with who the target was. As if there was no need to differentiate from the status window’s perspective.
Like a creator looking down upon mortals.
Like a god…. In fact, if this object were created by some other being rather than a god, that would be the stranger thing. This is an object that cannot be explained by magic.
Then it can be inferred why the status window broke down when the divine power disappeared. Didn’t the status window say, “signal interference”? In other words, if it means that the signal with a sort of “heaven” that transmits divine power was cut off.
There is not just one god.
And [there is now no god in this land.]
“The Bible said that God is the only being. The priests who can use divine power are only produced within the united kingdoms… in the same branch. Thus, it could be believed that God only means the absolute being of this religion…”
“If there is not just one God, then isn’t the doctrine itself messed up?”
Eugene began to read the other messages on the status window with a cold, sinking gaze. Soon, he stopped his gaze at one sentence.
“Impossible-level quest. Doctrine War.”
The moment Eugene uttered that sentence, he stood up from his seat.
The term “Doctrine War” is easy to understand. It must be a dispute over faith.
War means a struggle between opposing parties. However, if an event worthy of being called a doctrine war occurs within a church that is otherwise intact… especially if it’s described as ‘impossible-level,’ that means the church is undoubtedly divided.
“I don’t know when my brother will wake up…”
Fortunately, there is at least one more person in this country who can provide counsel regarding such a situation.
Coincidentally, this person has a close relationship with Ivan, has served on the same frontlines, and holds significant authority and influence within the church.
“I need to see the Saint.”
*
“Doctrine War, huh… Heh, that’s an interesting phrase, Brother.”
“Uh… Do you believe my words?”
“Didn’t you say it was the Lord’s decree? Even though Brother Yenigeb isn’t an ordained saint, didn’t he swear to the three virtues of purity, obedience, and poverty? Hmm, could it be that you’re lying to the church’s saint right now?”
“Definitely not, Dean.”
“Yes, I believe you.”
The Saint spoke, holding her pure white hands together with a smile. To be honest, if she suddenly said there was a word from the Lord… who would believe it? But it seems she genuinely believed him without much thought.
Noticing Eugene’s expression, the Saint chuckled softly and said,
“Well, it was something I expected. Even without mentioning the Lord’s word, I would have believed you.”
“Really…? Expected?”
“If the church remains quiet at a time when divine power has vanished, wouldn’t that be something frightening in itself?”
The Saint continued to smile without a hint of disturbance.
“Brother Yenigeb is being mentored by Kirilz… no, by Brother Ivan, right?”
“Yes…? How did you…?”
“I have many ears that listen.”
The Saint offered a cup of tea to Eugene with a smiling face. As he took the teacup, she smiled and began to speak softly.
“Are you perhaps considering being canonized as a saint?”
“Ha! What?!”
“Oh dear, please use this tissue.”
“Cough, ahem. Yes. Thank you… Wait a moment. A saint?”
Suddenly, a second class advancement event here?
The Saint couldn’t use divine power, so what would change with a second class advancement?
Eugene’s head was spinning.
“Where should I start? The gospel you heard, brother. Yes, let’s summarize it. The Doctrine War, the Warriors become Stars, the Prelude to the Great Collapse, the Morning Star’s Embodiment, for true freedom. Am I right?”
“Yes, Dean.”
“Here, the Doctrine War probably refers to the war that will occur within the Church. Let’s set this aside for now.”
Eugene wondered if it was okay to set that aside, but he nodded for now.
“Warriors become Stars. That’s Drovian.”
“Drovian…?”
“That region is completely unconverted land. Mixed with traditional myths, somewhat… somewhat interesting doctrines have spread. They are not considered heretical enough to be decreed as such, but they are certainly far from traditional doctrines.”
It is said that the warriors of Drovian who died honorably in battle engage in eternal warfare by the Lord’s side.
The direct evidence of that war is the stars in the night sky. Generally, the Lord gazes upon the earth through the sun, so nighttime is the time of demons.
Beyond that night sky, the warriors stand by God’s side, fighting. The traces of their struggles are the stars in the night sky. The spears, arrows, axes, and swords thrown by warriors tear through the night sky, inscribing the daytime light upon it.
So, if they are called the warriors who became stars…
“The brothers of Drovian are likely to ‘martyr’ in large numbers.”
“…Dean, there’s one more thing I must tell you.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard… no, the Lord’s words.”
While it wasn’t a common occurrence, whenever a quest of ‘???’ level… that is, a ‘ near impossible’ quest, arose.
“When the heroes of the Hero Party ‘martyred’, I heard those words.”
“That means you heard those words when Brother Jill Ber and Brother Veolgrin ascended to heaven.”
“Yes.”
“Then the mention of Drovian… might perhaps be related to Brother Einar.”
The Saint continued to smile placidly, but her eyes were quietly sinking.
“The Avatar of the Morning Star signifies Brother Maximilian. The Morning Star shines bright even on the darkest night. Historically, heroes have often been compared to the Morning Star.”
“Yes….”
“In that case, with the same implication, the Prelude to the Great Downfall… this could be inferred to be Sister Enrique. The true freedom… must be Brother Ivan.”
“I think… so too.”
“It seems the Lord believes we all must die.”
At the Saint’s words, Eugene firmly shook his head.
“No. The Lord has always warned me of this and told me to ask.”
The dark cloud hanging over Tylesse.
The condition must surely have attached to the survival of Jill Ber. In other words, it implies that Jill Ber must be kept alive.
In extension of this, in Kalion’s quest, ensuring Veolgrin’s survival was also one of the objectives.
The only individual that the status window commanded him to “must kill” was one.
Ivan Petrovich Yeremov.
Eugene swallowed that last word. It wasn’t something he needed to say to the Saint.
“Hehe… Yes. This means the Lord has not forsaken us. Then, finally… shall we return to the Doctrine War?”
“Yes, Dean.”
“Though we haven’t named it the Doctrine War, it had already been foreseen over a decade ago.”
“…Yes…?”
“To call it foresight would be a bit ridiculous. We did not hear the Lord’s gospel directly like you did, nor did we gain prophecy… To put it bluntly….”
We had been preparing for this to happen.
And the Saint quietly smiled.
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