Will

Just from their eyes meeting, it felt like his entire body froze.

The eternal-seeming instant was shattered by those who arrived afterward.

“The Silver priest is dead.”

Four priests occupied the four directions. They were all S1 and S2 Magi.

Just the mana they let flow made his entire body tingle.

“Since the one who should provide explanations is dead, there’s no way to clarify this. What shall we do, High Priest?”

The priests kept their gazes fixed on Klein and Pernok while seeking an answer.

Arisha looked back and forth between the Silver priest and the hole drilled in the ground, then answered gently.

“The evidence that the head cleric’s investigation lacked must be inside there. And that one wrapped in darkness is the result.”

The high priest looked down at the Silver priest’s corpse and spoke with a voice tinged with sorrow.

“How could Dawn, which claims to advance toward the future, have turned back to the past by coveting darkness? The future depends on magic, yet you merely clung to the past to hide your weakness.”

The high priest shook her head.

“Jealousy is a desire that makes humans grow. I neither deny nor despise it. You were simply that kind of person.”

The high priest, who had bid farewell to the Silver priest, turned and commanded the priests.

“Judgment upon the Silver priest who caused countless sacrifices through impure research. And all those who helped him and their traces must also pay the price.”

Then she turned her gaze to Klein and Pernok.

“The darkness and all things befitting it.”

Anger mixed into her clear voice.

From just the slightly leaking mana, both of them felt it.

They would die.

Without the Magi even needing to step forward, just Arisha moving lightly could very easily crush the two exhausted men.

‘This is the first time.’

Arisha’s soul, which Pernok viewed with his Observation Eye, formed a perfect shape.

It was both the soul of one who had already achieved great feats and a vessel worthy of being called an absolute being.

‘Encountering a monarch-level in the mortal realm.’

Even if he poured out all his techniques at full strength, could he even leave a scratch on that body?

‘At minimum, the synchronization rate would need to be 70 percent or higher to even gauge the match.’

Even if he barely escaped Arisha, the priests were the problem.

They possessed power similar to or greater than the Silver priest.

While his feet were caught by the Magi, the tens of thousands of troops residing in the capital would swarm here.

He couldn’t think of a way to avoid the worst-case scenario he’d worried about.

Even though he’d dealt with the Silver priest quickly, Arisha boasted even greater capability and stood blocking Pernok like a wall.

[Don’t worry.]

Then, Klein’s Origin was transmitted to Pernok riding the darkness.

[I told you there’s a method.]

Suddenly Klein scattered darkness toward the priests.

Pernok reacted immediately but couldn’t approach Klein.

Because darkness extending from the shadows had caught Pernok’s ankles.

And the situation ignited.

“Foolish tricks!”

The most belligerent Priest of Light among them stepped forward.

He spewed blazing red flames matching his curved eyebrows and clashed with the darkness.

Klein bled but grinned while shaking the night.

“It’s definite darkness.”

When the Priest of Benevolence clapped his hands together, both the fire and darkness were snuffed out.

Pressure that would crush his body before the night could touch him poured down on Klein.

Crack!

Klein gritted his teeth and shed bloody tears.

The cracks swelled uncontrollably.

Conversely, the darkness grew even more vigorous.

‘Offering his life to Origin?’

It was a method forbidden by Origin.

Lord of Despair had repeatedly warned his disciples as well.

[No matter how urgent the situation, you must not be tempted by Origin. Even if it becomes part of your body, Origin can always covet you. Origin desires its owner’s life, so the moment you’re seduced, you’ll gain power beyond your limits, but in exchange, you’ll wither and die.]

Lord of Despair had cried out in grief about what consequences burning oneself brought.

Klein couldn’t not know that price either.

Yet he kept colliding.

So that Origin would be further stimulated by the Magi, and his life would be burned so the darkness would grow larger in rebellion.

“The Silver priest created a masterpiece.”

The other priests who had been watching also joined in.

Crushed by pressure, burned by fire, slashed by blades.

Before various Magus Arts, Klein looked like he would precariously extinguish.

“High Priest, that seems to be the darkness that caused the incident from 30 years ago.”

“But didn’t they say it clashed with the previous Pope?”

“There’s also the possibility it was staged. Or perhaps the experiment was incomplete, making control impossible.”

Arisha nodded.

“Dangers that cannot be controlled should rightfully be judged.”

Even Arisha, who had been carefully watching the situation, stepped forward.

Just the mana she slightly revealed made the darkness in the vicinity stir.

Pernok’s heart beat roughly.

Crack!

Gritting his teeth and forcibly soothing his churning insides, he barely managed to raise Mana Reinforcement.

He couldn’t activate either mana or spiritual power.

If he burst Over Impact, his body, which had reached its limit, might explode instead.

Though he had infinite spiritual power, because his synchronization rate was insufficient, he couldn’t draw it out, so it was merely a beautiful picture.

There were no remaining means.

But with the single thought of protecting his retainer’s successor, Pernok shook off the shadows.

[It’s fine now.]

Then, Klein wore a smile.

[Because the high priest’s judgment has been passed down on me.]

And he burst the darkness exploding from his heart in all directions.

[Don’t worry about anything.]

The swollen darkness instantly covered the surroundings with thick smoke.

Klein and Pernok were swallowed, and it pushed the priests outward.

The Priest of Light frowned and tried to burst flames.

Arisha extended her hand and blocked the flames heading toward the smoke.

“It’s dangerous.”

“What?”

Arisha swept the smoke with her finger. Mana seeped inside it.

“It’s a special form that absorbs mana. If the absorbed mana happens to explode, the damage might spread all the way to the city streets.”

“I’ll block it.”

When the Priest of Benevolence stepped forward, Arisha shook her head.

“If all of you get injured on top of the Silver priest dying, we don’t know what action Rakis might take. And there’s something that doesn’t sit right.”

“What do you mean?”

“At first I thought both were the silver’s works, but the darkness’s hostility was directed at everyone.”

“Perhaps, you mean that one who was standing still?”

“Yes. Including him, the darkness showed killing intent toward us. And now the darkness has swallowed him.”

“If he’s someone caught up in this place…”

“Though his strength was exhausted, he was definitely a Magus.”

To the surprised priests, Arisha spoke calmly.

“There’s no need for all of you to get hurt. Even if we don’t forcibly open it.”

Try to break it.

But you must also bear that much damage.

While sweeping the smoke that seemed to contain resolute will, Arisha wore a faint smile.

“Because this smoke will disappear soon.”

* * *

Inside the smoke where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, Pernok used the darkness still connected to transmit his intent to Klein.

[You burned your entire life for this to block them!]

Klein silently received the emotion mixed with anger.

[No, this is just the groundwork for escape.]

[The priests will pierce through it.]

[They absolutely can’t. If they forcibly open it, those guys also have to bear the damage. But the high priest is a very cautious person, so she won’t permit such sacrifice.]

[For now, show yourself! I’ll try devising a new escape plan!]

[Hahaha, you know well too. The high priest and four priests are surrounding this place. There’s no method for both of us to survive. Even if we had Radiance.]

Pernok’s expression hardened stiffly.

[Even at full strength, the possibility looked nonexistent. Actually, I expected this and dealt with the Silver priest quickly, but the high priest was a monster. Just in case, I even scattered Origin, but I had no idea she’d arrived so close.]

[It’s still too early to give up.]

[I’m grateful for the words, but there’s no other choice. Really, even if you escape this place by some extraordinary method, I don’t have time.]

Unlike his seemingly helpless words, his intent was strangely bright.

[Where should I explain from? Actually, there’s a part I didn’t plant in the memories I handed over to you. When I rescued the kids and stabilized their Origins, I wavered quite a bit.]

[So cracks formed in your Origin from that time.]

[It was a faint crack. If I took time, I could have repaired it plenty. But I got tortured by the priest and missed the opportunity. I didn’t want to show the priest weak aspects, so I overlaid new Origin over the cracks. Perfectly enough to fool everyone.]

A low laughter came along with it.

[It was stubbornness squeezed out from my limit. The time remaining to me was at most about a year. Then you came. When you called out for Lyle, I thought even if I died here, I must retrieve the Saint’s remains. Because it was the last chance left to me. Thanks to you, I could shake off one regret.]

From the beginning, Klein had no intention of living.

If he’d die soon anyway even after fleeing, he staked his life to find the Saint’s remains at the end.

[Ah, the kids all got away.]

And this smoke wasn’t only preparation needed for escape.

It was to spread the swollen Origin to catch the Magi’s attention on himself.

Because Marco, the children, and Armin were at a distance fairly far from here.

For the Magi, narrowing that much distance was nothing.

And he didn’t know whether Arisha, who’d detected the darkness, might attack Marco.

He deliberately spread his Origin excessively so they wouldn’t feel the children’s faint Origins, catching their attention while also buying time to flee.

[I’m glad. That I can carry on Master’s will.]

Lord of Despair’s Origin is the abyss hidden in darkness.

Klein held the shell of darkness and placed the abyss in a ring to give to Marco, so Origin would continue being transmitted.

[Thank you. For shaking off all my regrets.]

With a body dying, the regrets he could never achieve were resolved thanks to Pernok.

He safely protected the Saint’s remains, killed the priest trying to devour Origin, and Lord of Despair’s will now passed to Marco.

He let out laughter that sounded truly relieved.

[Repay what you receive. Master always used to say that. I’ll give a gift to you who gave me the chance to revive hope.]

And Klein’s intent became resolute.

[Kill me.]

[…What?]

[The Silver priest often said it. That the high priest is a priest unlike priests who desire reform.]

From the start, Klein, who had no intention of fleeing, thought of one method in case the priests surrounded them.

It was the path of becoming the masterpiece the Silver priest created.

[The Silver priest made me to overthrow the Holy Kingdom, and you become the hero who stopped it. If you take the Dawn Temple’s sacred relic together, the Holy Kingdom will owe an enormous debt.]

[…You had no intention of going with me from the start.]

[Though it’s not much as a substitute, I’ll ask you to look after the kids. You’re the only person left in the world who knows about Origin.]

The smoke thins.

“You fought priests, so you’ll know. Things like Mercenary King or possessing S2 Magus Arts are insignificant compared to great nations. The darkness draped before you is far thicker and more ominous than the darkness that swallowed me now.”

The darkness draws an ominous silhouette.

“If the sturdy shield called the Holy Kingdom is added, wouldn’t it be a fight worth trying?”

“I wanted you more than that.”

“Hahaha, thank you. I’m really grateful, but…”

Eventually, in the spot where the smoke was sucked in, Klein, wrapped in hideous darkness, revealed his appearance.

[Don’t hesitate. Do your best so no regrets remain in my life.]

With even his eyes painted pitch black, he burst the Origin in his heart.

At that moment, rampaging power covered Klein’s entire body, and even the Magi surrounding the area covered their hands and withdrew.

Only the high priest watched quietly.

Klein’s Origin, which had burned even his last life, aimed at Pernok.

“I’ll kill you and spread the God of Dawn’s greatness across this land!”