Dawn's Sacred Relic

In the vast plains stretching wide to the west, the oppressed children of the gods gathered.

Aru, God of Light.

Rake, God of Dawn.

Bloom, God of Benevolence.

Three religious orders serving each god united in harmony and formed a nation.

That place now divides the world alongside the Rakis Empire of the east—it is the western ruler.

The nation where three religions harmonize, the Holy Kingdom.

“Holy Kingdom……”

Rio had explained the Holy Kingdom to him before.

That place doesn’t follow a hereditary system like the Rakis Empire.

The highest priests selected from each order.

Among them, the seven strongest are chosen as priests, and the high priest who becomes their leader manages the three religions.

In the future, the high priest becomes the Pope and governs the Holy Kingdom—this was the structure.

“That place other nations particularly guard against?”

Naturally, various countries where royal authority and noble factions hold strong power don’t favor the Holy Kingdom.

They were reluctant to establish relations with the Holy Kingdom out of concern that if temples were built in their territories, the people’s hearts might turn toward them.

“Right. Though the Holy Kingdom’s prestige now rivals the Rakis Empire’s, in the early days it established good relations with other nations. Admeis is the regional name from before that time.”

“Before the Holy Kingdom……”

“Admeis was the foundation where the three religions gathered, and what was built there became the Holy Kingdom’s capital, Armosa. We barely found this old story while digging through records ourselves.”

“Is there any other information?”

“Actually, while investigating Admeis, we obtained a collaborator……”

When Kelt began reading the room, Pernok nodded as if it didn’t matter.

“……Well, it’s a record cleric from the Holy Kingdom.”

“A record cleric?”

“The Holy Kingdom has three types of priests. sacred clerics who spread the gospel, battle clerics who protect the nation, and the remaining one is the record clerics who manage the temple archives.”

“Did you have a connection point with the record cleric?”

“It seems our research team’s historian had a personal friendship with the record cleric. When investigating Admeis, we received the record cleric’s help. And when we casually mentioned the word Origin, the record cleric told us something interesting.”

Pernok’s eyes sparkled.

“Did he say he’d heard of Origin?”

“No. He doesn’t know whether it’s Origin or what, but it seems there was an incident on their side. It happened decades ago, and though things are disappearing one by one from the archives, the form seems related to the Origin we’re looking for.”

“What did the record cleric say?”

“We were badly burned by Avala at the Knight King’s tomb, weren’t we? I held back my words to approach cautiously. If you permit it, I was thinking of revealing more information about Origin to the record cleric—what do you think?”

He didn’t ask whether the person was trustworthy.

Because Pernok had already made his decision.

“I’ll see for myself and judge. If he’s a trustworthy person, the moment we share information, I’ll immediately commence investigation in the Holy Kingdom.”

“Then I’ll also……”

“You stay here and retrace history based on the information I give you. If things happen to go wrong, I won’t have the leeway to look after you as well.”

The capital Armosa’s vigilance is known to be particularly strict.

Any disturbance within the Holy Kingdom is immediately considered a hostile act and severely punished, so moving alone can minimize the danger.

“If Origin is discovered in the capital, I’ll have to accept conflict. The scale will be different from Avala’s case.”

“Mmm, that’s unfortunate. But it can’t be helped. Clinging on as baggage like during the Knight King’s tomb—I’d also decline on my side. Hahaha!”

Kelt laughed and placed a slip of paper on the table.

“The record cleric’s name is Armin. He reveres Bloom, God of Benevolence, and right now he manages a regional archive in the Holy Kingdom called Prasillia. Go to the tavern there called Abundance.”

“A tavern? Are priests permitted alcohol?”

“Hahaha, do you think the Holy Kingdom is some place that practices asceticism? That place is also where people live. However, Priest Armin is a priest who’s somewhat unpriest-like.”

“……?”

“Once alcohol enters him, he becomes a hero.”

“I think I know what type he is.”

Kelt chuckled and raised his beer glass.

“I’ll pray for your journey to be safe this time as well.”

“As I explore Origin, I’ll bring new information.”

“To our forgotten history!”

The glasses clinked, and the two people shared stories about Origin and Radiance until the day ended.

* * *

The Holy Kingdom is divided into seven regions centered around the capital.

Each region is managed evenly by temples of the three religions, and Prasillia had many followers of Bloom, God of Benevolence.

Unlike other nations that avoid it, the Holy Kingdom doesn’t reject outsiders.

When he created suitable identification and presented it, he easily entered the southern region of Prasillia.

The faces of the many people walking the well-paved roads were filled with smiles.

He could tell how peaceful this place was.

“May the gods’ grace be with everyone!”

“Since light has arrived, the world will be filled with blessings!”

“Brothers and sisters, everyone come!”

Apprentice priests serving the God of Light and the God of Dawn were walking around the streets gathering believers.

Seeing even outsiders getting their ankles caught and being forced to listen to explanations, Pernok quietly hid his body in the crowd.

Prasillia is divided into a district where the Holy Kingdom’s people reside and a district where outsiders stay.

The tavern ‘Abundance’ was in the outsider district.

“You damned—!”

He entered the tavern that was so noisy that curses could be heard even outside.

Two people were arm wrestling on top of a barrel while the rest watched.

They were all ordinary people without the orders’ symbols embedded on them.

Pernok glanced at them briefly and called an attendant.

“Welcome! Are you alone?”

“My companion is supposed to come. They said you’d know if I mentioned a drinking buddy?”

“Ah, are you perhaps talking about the tall priest?”

“I don’t know if he’s tall, but he should be a priest.”

“Hehe, please come this way. There’s a separately reserved seat.”

The attendant guided Pernok to the second floor.

There were five rooms, and he entered the room at the very end.

“The priest said to serve food when a guest arrives—shall I prepare it right away?”

When Pernok nodded, the attendant closed the door and left.

Surprisingly, the sound from the first floor disappeared completely.

‘This is quite a secretive place.’

A sealed room without a single window.

It was a good space for having important conversations.

Knock knock.

“I’ll bring in the food.”

The attendant opened the door and brought out the pre-ordered food along with alcohol.

While he was looking at the drinking table set abundantly, a tall man wearing priest’s robes with the symbol of the God of Benevolence embedded entered.

Blue eyes resembling the sea and thick lips that felt stubborn.

Overly developed muscles and an unusual soul color.

Even the mana flowing through him was well-developed.

“Hahaha, sorry to make you wait first. I’m Armin.”

“Perda, who explores history.”

They exchanged handshakes while appropriately using false names.

Armin’s palm was covered with calluses.

The two people sat facing each other.

“You’re different from what I heard. For a record cleric, your body is sturdy.”

“Hahahaha! You’re a friend with poor imagination! What era’s priest are you talking about! These days, priests farm and carry pitiful commoners on their backs! Physical strength is an essential element for priests!”

“But your considerable mana doesn’t make you look like a record cleric.”

“That’s also true of you. For a history student, your mana is exceptional.”

They smiled at each other.

“That friend told me you’re a history student, but you’re a mage, right?”

“I’m not from the Association. As I conveyed through the story, I came all the way here independently because I’m interested in Admeis. By the way, aren’t you a battle cleric?”

“Everyone sees my sparkling muscles and mana and misunderstands. But I’m a record cleric. Magic is more like an innate byproduct.”

As if telling him to watch carefully, Armin waved his finger and the wine glass floated in the air and spun around.

It appeared to be magic manipulating wind.

“As you can see, I’m using it usefully when carrying books.”

“For a level-4 mage to be serving as a record cleric, the Holy Kingdom must overflow with talent.”

“What can I do about innate talent? But combat absolutely doesn’t suit me, so I rejected all proposals and now faithfully follow benevolence.”

Armin grinned.

“I think I’ve introduced myself enough, so shall we seriously discuss the business that brought you all the way here?”

“I want to know additional information about Admeis.”

“That’s basic—how about sharing the other side with me as well?”

“Hmm.”

Pernok crossed his arms and stared fixedly at Armin.

Kelt said he’d casually mentioned Origin’s faint information.

If Armin reacted sensitively enough to that, wouldn’t it mean Armin also knew something?

“The stories we share here absolutely won’t go outside. I promise on the god I serve!”

He was a man who seemed loose-lipped.

Whether he could guarantee trust was an unknown quantity.

Then he had to examine whether Armin had useful value.

Pernok lightly tested how much and what necessary information he might have.

“I want to hear about Admeis first.”

“Shall I recite the Holy Kingdom’s entire chronology?”

“No, I’m curious about why the Holy Kingdom’s capital was built in Admeis.”

Armin smiled and nodded.

“Most people don’t know the word Admeis. No matter what history of the world you examine, Admeis has been forgotten. I also only heard about Admeis from my master. But my master said this. The priests of each order gathered seeking a sacred aura, and that place was precisely Admeis.”

“Sacred aura?”

“They say light descended from the heavens. It was said to be like a god delivering an oracle. And my master also said this.”

Armin rolled his wine glass while recalling memories.

“In the place where heaven’s aura gathered, souls would dwell, and the world of the dead and living would reverse, and the world would face new change.”

Pernok’s eyes narrowed.

“My master said Admeis is a boundary line.”

“Boundary line……”

“That’s all I heard too. Well, I just thought it was that sort of thing trying to grandly explain that it’s land where the gods’ grace dwells, but I was surprised when someone suddenly appeared looking for it.”

Armin smiled while gazing at Pernok.

“I believe in benevolence, but I don’t forgive even those who deceive and exploit. So tell me. What are you really looking for?”

He spoke his true feelings frankly, yet he was a meticulous type who was considerate so that the content wouldn’t be heard outside.

In his secretive appearance unlike his outward appearance, Kelt briefly overlapped.

“We mentioned on our side that there was a mage who rules darkness.”

“Right. It was similar to a certain incident I know.”

“I heard it was decades ago. Exactly when was it?”

“It’s been 30 years. Now it’s probably already disappeared from the archives too. The temple concealed the records.”

“Then does that mean I can’t obtain any information?”

“No, actually I smuggled it out before that incident was discarded.”

Armin grinned.

“Clearly, it seemed like an important record, but their scheme trying to erase it absolutely didn’t sit right with me. My master also always told me to record things as they are without distinguishing between good and bad records. I acted according to the teachings. I have that time’s records now.”

He still couldn’t be certain whether he was a trustworthy person.

But it was definite that he was someone worth sharing information with.

Pernok released information.

“Did that mage perhaps freely manipulate darkness?”

Armin also thought that a full-fledged conversation was starting, so he withdrew his smile and answered seriously.

“It wasn’t recorded that far. But there was exactly one unusual passage. It was the testimony of the priests who witnessed the incident at that time, and they all recorded it like this.”

Armin flowed a low voice.

“The darkness erased the light.”

At that moment, Pernok clenched the hand he’d lowered under the table.

When dark magic clashes with its opposing magic, an impact occurs.

But the Lord of Despair’s Origin is close to an abyss that swallows all things.

Darkness that swallowed light.

That definitely resembles the characteristics the Lord of Despair’s Origin possesses.

‘They exist.’

Those who inherited the Lord of Despair’s Origin are living and breathing in the Holy Kingdom.