WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 173: Truth
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“House Myatro was once royalty. It seems that blood runs through my veins as well.”
At Johan’s words, the Cardinal’s gaze turned cold.
“...Royalty. You have just made a rather dangerous statement.”
Johan spoke calmly.
“I merely stated a fact. House Myatro was indeed royalty, and we once ruled the entire South.”
The Cardinal gave a dry chuckle.
“Since you seem well versed in history, allow this old person to ask you something. Do you know why the Grand Duke of Myatro was stripped of their title?”
Johan nodded.
“Of course. I know very well.”
“I would like to hear it. Would you explain it in detail? In your own words.”
A faint gleam appeared in the Cardinal’s lowered eyes.
There was clear mockery in them.
Though slightly irritated, Johan did not show it.
“The Southern Grand Calamity was the direct cause of their titles being confiscated.”
Three hundred years ago, Cowell Myatro, the eighth head of House Myatro, descended into Narak and met with disaster.
Tempted by a demon, Cowell became that demon’s slave.
The blasphemer Cowell opened Narak’s Third Zone, turning the South into a living hell beneath a flood of demons.
Every form of evil trampled the southern part of the continent.
Countless people were killed or wounded.
The Kingdom, Holy Kingdom, and Empire organized innumerable Subjugation Forces and dispatched them south, but they could not root out all the evil.
Curses had already spread throughout the South.
Their remnants remained even in the present day.
The South had been permanently tainted by Madman Cowell Myatro.
The one responsible for overseeing all demonic matters in the South had instead unleashed every evil upon it.
Cowell was dragged to the Empire and burned at the stake.
Naturally, House Myatro’s authority collapsed.
Their rights and titles were taken, and they were reduced to nobles of the Kingdom.
Fortunately, the house itself endured.
The world still needed a Watcher of Narak, and the Moon permitted only Myatro bloodlines to enter Narak.
Had it not been for the Moon’s Blessing, House Myatro would have vanished completely.
The survivors were confined to the southern frontier, where they barely maintained their lineage.
History called this chain of events the Southern Grand Calamity.
The Cardinal spoke.
“Correct. The Southern Grand Calamity. From that event, we learned one lesson. ‘A madman is born among the Myatro line from time to time. They must never be granted more rights or power than necessary.’ That realization has endured to this day. We applied that lesson well, and the South remained peaceful for nearly two hundred years. That is, until you became its Watcher, Johan Myatro.”
The moment Johan appeared, several demonic incidents had broken out in the South.
The Cardinal was pointing that out now.
Johan answered calmly.
“That is certainly true. Demonic incidents increased because of me, and as a result, one Apostle was completely destroyed. It is the first time in the continent’s long history that an Apostle has been annihilated.”
The Cardinal smiled gently.
“Of course, you are an extraordinary individual. It would be fitting to call you the return of House Myatro’s first head. But what of those who come after you? Even if your efforts restore House Myatro, can you guarantee that another madman like Cowell will never appear? I repeat, House Myatro must not possess excessive power.”
Johan spoke.
“There is one important fact I have not told you, Your Eminence. In this generation, I intend to drive the darkness known as Narak entirely from this world. No matter what sort of bastard succeeds me, there will be no further demonic incidents in the South.”
The Cardinal stared silently into Johan’s eyes.
“...You intend to erase Narak itself?”
Johan nodded.
“And every Apostle while I am at it.”
Silence followed.
The Cardinal’s incredulous laugh broke it.
“You are consumed by ideals. You are still young, so this old person understands your youthful passion.”
Johan replied without expression.
“You may not know this, Your Eminence, but Narak’s First Zone and Second Zone have already disappeared. Besides Apostle Beris, another Apostle, the World Tree Elquines, has also been destroyed.”
The prisoners of the First Zone, the Elves, had all been killed by Mapheltan. Their prison, Narak’s First Zone, had consequently collapsed.
The World Tree, god of the Elves, had also become a Demon Core and been absorbed by Mapheltan.
Two Apostles and two zones of Narak had already vanished completely.
The Cardinal stiffened slightly.
In a low voice, the Cardinal muttered, “Narak’s First Zone and the Seventh Apostle are gone from this world?”
“Precisely.”
The Cardinal’s voice trembled faintly.
“Th-That cannot be.”
Johan snickered.
“Your information travels more slowly than I expected. You will soon learn that my words are true, Your Eminence.”
Nothing concerning the First Zone or the World Tree had yet spread into the world.
There had been no opportunity to release that information.
Now would be an appropriate time.
The Cardinal signaled to a Holy Knight with a glance.
The Holy Knight bowed.
“By your command. I shall verify it.”
A special task force would soon be organized and sent to Narak.
The truth of Johan’s words would be revealed to the entire world.
His authority would rise even higher.
The Cardinal looked at Johan.
“...I hope this is not the boast of an immature youth.”
Johan shrugged.
“See it for yourself, then we can speak again. I enjoyed our conversation today.”
The Cardinal’s gaze turned to Shaperia.
The question of Holy Flame had not yet been resolved.
The Cardinal wished to pressure Shaperia further, but could not bring themself to act.
A more urgent matter had arisen, and Johan’s determination to protect his knight was too strong.
For now, retreat was the proper choice.
After a brief pause, the Cardinal made the sign of the cross.
“Sir Johan, this has been a fruitful meeting. I would like to speak with you again someday. Please visit the Holy Kingdom sometime.”
If Johan went to the Holy Kingdom, he would have to follow its laws.
Johan had no intention of visiting before becoming king.
He did not want to be manipulated by religious fanatics.
He returned the gesture with the sign of the cross.
“I will visit soon. Enjoy the banquet to your satisfaction before you depart.”
The Cardinal turned and walked away.
The Cardinal would head straight for Narak to confirm Johan’s claims.
A banquet was no longer important.
* * *
After hesitating for some time, Shaperia spoke.
“My lord, I apologize. You engaged in an unnecessary argument because of me.”
Johan shook his head.
“I cannot allow my sword to rust.”
Had Shaperia displayed Holy Flame, the Cardinal would have taken her to the Great Saint Church by force.
Interrogations and investigations would have followed.
Depending on the circumstances, there was a chance Shaperia would have been broken.
Johan did not want that.
He needed Shaperia’s strength.
“My blade may already have rusted. An unknown power, not the Great Saint’s Blessing, now clings to it.”
She had doubts about her newfound power.
The crimson Holy Flame was clearly not the Moon’s Blessing.
An unknown Authority. According to common belief, it would be the power of a heathen.
Johan said, “I heard the rough details. You wielded red Kalpa Flame, did you not? Like the Sun itself.”
Shaperia swallowed dryly.
“...The Sun.”
Johan nodded.
“You must already sense it instinctively. The source of the power you awakened is indeed the Sun.”
Shaperia looked up at the sky.
The enormous Sun shone down with brilliant light.
“I heard its voice.”
“It introduced itself as a being that shines by its own power, did it not?”
Shaperia was startled.
“H-How does my lord know that?”
She clearly remembered the revelation she had heard from the heavens.
━━━I am a being that burns by its own power. I have come to grant you the strength to illuminate the world.
Johan shrugged.
“Is there anything I do not know?”
This was not a situation for jokes.
Shaperia was serious.
“My lord!”
Johan snickered.
“Very well. I will answer your question. In the distant past, humanity worshipped the Sun, and records of it remain in House Myatro’s library. As the Watcher of Narak, how could I not know of the Sun God?”
The instant Johan finished speaking, Shaperia looked around in every direction.
Fortunately, no one was listening.
“A god? There are no gods in this world besides the Moon!”
Johan gave her a playful look.
“What about the god’s father? I mean the Sun. Does that still trouble you?”
Shaperia cried out desperately.
“Please, my lord!”
The amusement faded slightly from Johan’s expression.
“I am no longer confident that I can explain the Sun any better. The Sun created the Moon. The Sun needed eyes that could watch over the world even at night, and the Moon is its agent. The Sun created the Moon to illuminate the night.”
Johan was the person Shaperia trusted most.
Yet Johan was saying something absurd.
Had anyone else said the same, she would have ended the conversation by telling them to stop spewing nonsense.
She might even have drawn her sword.
But now was different.
Shock coursed through her entire body.
“M-My lord. What exactly are you saying...?”
“You need only accept my words as they are, without interpreting them. The Moon’s father has chosen you. Put simply, that makes you something like the Great Saint’s younger sister.”
Shaperia felt dizzy.
She could barely process the situation.
Was it because she was drunk?
She slapped herself hard across the cheek.
Smack.
Her mind cleared a little.
“I did not hear you correctly. I sincerely apologize, but would you please say that again?”
Johan snickered.
“I will repeat it as many times as you need.”
He told her the exact same thing.
Shaperia gradually stiffened.
“...Are you perhaps putting me to the test?”
Johan shook his head.
“Why would I do something that old monsters of the Holy Kingdom would do? It would be a waste of time.”
He disparaged the Great Saint Church without hesitation.
He seemed somewhat different from usual.
For some reason, Shaperia found Johan unfamiliar.
“My lord, I am honestly far too shocked.”
Johan answered calmly.
“I understand, but you must accept it. Then keep moving forward. You have mountains of work to do.”
Shaperia’s expression went blank.
“...”
Johan continued.
“Your essence has not changed. Follow your convictions. Help the weak and cut down evil. The weapon in your hand has merely changed from the Moon to the Sun. Do not cling to religion or the church. Do the good that you believe in. Is that not, in the end, the Great Saint’s teaching?”
The Moon had never once called itself a god.
The Great Saint Church had simply deified the Moon. In truth, Marziel was merely one of the saints.
Of course, religious people of the present age did not know that.
Johan’s words were far too unfamiliar to Shaperia as well.
Had another person said them, she would surely have considered them a demon’s whisper.
But because the speaker was Johan, Shaperia was at least willing to listen.
She spoke.
“...I, I need time to think.”
Johan shook his head.
“I am sorry, but there is no time for that. I will show you proof, so follow me.”
He began walking alone.
Shaperia stared blankly at Johan’s back.
“Come quickly. Time is gold to us.”
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