This battle was our victory.
There was no room for doubt about that.
The Majin side lost both Majin Tiltitz and her authority, and they also lost the power of the Papal Palace at the same time.
We could say that it was impossible for them to launch an attack on the institution again, having also lost all the fanatics (which amounted to a staggering 200).
Of course, our losses were by no means insignificant.
The so-called undefeated commander, Sergey, and the former head of the imperial guard who had once reached the position of the Empire’s greatest sword, both superhumans, perished.
Over 500 civilian casualties were reported.
Among them, 122 had died.
If we add the casualties from the soldiers and guards, a total of 154 deaths occurred.
This is not a number to be taken lightly, but considering it was the result of two Majin attacks, we could call it a miracle that the death toll was so low.
In accordance with the wishes of the deceased, the funerals for Sergey and the head of the imperial guards were held as a joint ceremony rather than a state funeral, together with civilians.
I can only imagine how much the ministers struggled to dissuade Aria, who insisted on holding a grand state funeral.
I have no doubt Sergey would have wanted it this way.
“Lord Schlus, it’s your turn.”
And I was assigned to deliver Sergey’s eulogy.
I glanced at Roman, who whispered in my ear, nodded, and stood up.
Originally, it would have been appropriate for Roman to deliver Sergey’s eulogy, but I took it instead.
Of course, I didn’t actually steal it, as Roman had yielded his turn to me.
My desire to deliver Sergey’s eulogy had significant political motives.
I couldn’t just shed tears over the deaths of superhumans like everyone else.
I had to come up with a way to exploit their death.
“Hello, everyone.”
I stood on the platform, cleared my throat, and spoke out loud.
No need for a microphone.
The Majin’s voice was loud enough to reach everyone gathered in this vast plaza.
“I was taught by Professor Sergey von Freust at the Imperial University. Though it was not a long time, it was enough to understand his warm and devoted nature.”
It might sound a bit ridiculous.
Here I was, trying to act knowledgeable after learning from Sergey for just one year.
But I knew Sergey better than anyone else present.
“It may sound unfamiliar. The Sergey von Freust you remember might be quite different. The undefeated commander. A ruthless leopard that leaves nothing behind in his wake. Perhaps more people will remember him as a weapon of war rather than as an educator. But the Sergey I knew was warm, compassionate, and always vibrant—an outstanding educator.”
At first, I put on a façade, saying some things I think Sergey would have liked to hear in his lifetime.
But the key point is that it all came from the heart.
“I believe many were puzzled when Professor suddenly retired. There were murmurs suggesting conflicts with the military, pressures from the palace, and so on. However, in my view, he was simply seeking his true calling. As both a soldier and an educator, he remained consistent. He devoted his life until the end for his students. We now live in a world without Sergey von Freust. We stand on the land he shaped with his blood, stepping over his corpse. There is also a responsibility for us who have survived. The responsibility to carry on the will of the deceased. Thanks to the professor’s sacrifice, we were able to bring down the Majin, who were believed to be invincible from their eternal throne. Thanks to the professor’s sacrifice, we were able to strip the legendary weapons of the Majin. Thanks to the professor’s sacrifice, we are now on the verge of victory.”
Killing Tiltitz does not bring comfort.
Just because the Papal Palace has fallen and we managed to root out a multitude of fanatics doesn’t mean we can breathe a sigh of relief.
At the moment of relaxation, everything we’ve built so far could come crashing down.
And the unyielding barricade that must never crumble is none other than willpower.
Not my will, nor Aria’s will, but the will of the people.
In other words, we need an unwavering determination that can never dwindle.
“I, Schlus Hainkel, solemnly swear here that I will inherit the will of Sergey von Freust and destroy every last Majin.”
A simple yet powerful declaration was enough to draw out that will.
*
“Is this truly the legendary sword, Durandal?”
“Yep. That’s it.”
In the underground storage of the palace, I entered the safe and stroked the blunt blade of Durandal.
This massive sword.
It sent me to another dimension, killed the Imperial Knight Commander and Sergey, and slaughtered people along with many structures of the institution.
“A thing that devoured myths…”
Finally, I recalled Durandal’s lore.
A thing that devoured myths.
When an object’s reputation becomes vast enough to shake the entire continent, there’s a low probability that the object will absorb the user’s myth and gain unknown power.
Notably, both Durandal and the Vafe residing in my right hand were examples.
Both had become legendary due to the sheer number of humans they had slain during the great wars, so it’s not surprising they hold such immense powers.
“It’s pitiful.”
“…”
Aria snorted.
As she said, it was indeed pitiful now.
Now it was nothing more than a large chunk of metal.
All the strength remaining inside had been absorbed by Sergey.
“Right. At this point, it’s just a decorative sword.”
“Then it’d be better to melt it down. We could probably get three swords out of this-”
“No way we’re melting it down…”
As Aria kept pushing for disposing of Durandal, I had to struggle to stop her.
Is it even logical to melt down a legendary sword?
No matter how impractical it was, this item still had its symbolic value.
It would be nice to keep it in a museum later.
“Enough admiring it. Let’s get moving before I lock it in the Black Steel Safe.”
“I could probably still get out even if I’m locked in.”
“No matter how much of a Majin you are…”
The end of Aria’s smirk gradually faded.
She sincerely believed it.
Black Steel was a material said to be immutable by physical force.
I hadn’t tried it, but for some reason, I felt confident I could break through the walls of the Black Steel Safe now.
Ever since I completely absorbed Tiltitz’s powers, my body felt overflowing with strength.
“You seem full of vitality. Come up with a plan. Lately, I’ve been thinking about whether to rebuild the fallen Papal Palace…”
As I walked out of the safe, Aria sighed heavily.
Now that I thought about it, the Papal Palace had also collapsed.
Pope Branden Hainkel was found under the ruins in a bunker.
The vast laboratory inside had not been completely incinerated, revealing the Pope’s inhumane experiments and research to the world.
Branden Hainkel was excommunicated and sentenced to life imprisonment for his betrayal and corruption, and the Papal Palace was temporarily disbanded.
That was quite a heavy blow for the human side too.
Until now, it was possible to label the Asylum as a cult because of the presence of the Orthodox Church headed by the Papal Palace.
But now the religion that could respond to the Asylum had disappeared.
For thousands of years, the Papal Palace had established the legitimacy of morality and propped people up by introducing gods, but it turns out they were merely leeching off the Majin who sought to exterminate humans.
The shock this incident would bring to people cannot be articulated.
“I doubt I could come up with a clever plan.”
“Don’t say that… Hah… Just give me an opinion. Hah… I won’t blame you if it goes wrong.”
“…?”
With heavy steps, Aria, clutching her skirt, ran after me, out of breath.
I only then realized my pace was too fast.
But it’s not like I was running; it was just a brisk walk…
“You need to exercise.”
“Exercise… I do it every day…”
“What kind of exercise?”
“I walk in the garden.”
“That’s not enough. I’ll tell Pelaine to set up your exercise schedule.”
“That monstrous beast must not! Ah, no. More importantly… just give me any opinion!”
How did I fail to divert the topic?
Aria was now holding onto my arm to ensure I wouldn’t walk ahead.
As for the countermeasure regarding the collapse of the Papal Palace,
I had no brilliant ideas to offer.
All I had dealt with up to now were matters that required brute strength; I hadn’t had to think at all.
In terms of politics, surely I couldn’t come up with a clever solution that Aria hadn’t even imagined.
Nevertheless, I had to pretend to mull it over.
“How about introducing a new religion?”
“Ack. A new religion? I can’t accept the religion of those furballs from the Great Forest. Nor can we take the ones from the Earls.”
“…”
I imagined the rumors spreading that the Emperor of the Empire called subhumans ‘furballs’ and elves ‘ears’.
Would I not make a gaffe outside?
I was a little worried.
It wasn’t new for Aria to speak her mind, but…
“Hmmm. Right. That might work. We could just create a god…”
“Creating a god?”
“Since you absorbed the entire power of the Majin Great Sage, you now have the strength equivalent to the combined authority of two Majin! So, you’re the closest thing to a god right now.”
“What are you trying to say—”
“If you become a god, it all gets solved! How did I not think of such a simple thing until now?”
“…”
An unexpected statement tumbled out of Aria’s mouth.
What? Me becoming a god?
