Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 425

“Holy One,” he said.

“Welcome, Harmon.”

Harmon knelt to greet her. Ilia looked at him, tilting her head slightly.

“Only halfway there, I see. That’s rather unexpected.”

“Sorry?”

He thought he knew what she meant, but he pretended not to understand.

The Saintess quickly changed the subject.

“No, never mind. I heard reports through the communication, but I wanted to hear it directly from you. It’s a little different from what people are saying…”

Watching her eyes gleam, Harmon spoke the words he had planned to say.

“My sword went through his heart. People are saying he is badly hurt, but he cannot live.”

The Saintess smiled at his lie.

“Hmm. Well done, Commander Harmon,” She said. “This must have been a task you might not like.”

“Not at all. How could I not do what the gods want?”

He had practiced these words many times, but they still sounded too real. It sounded natural because he had said things like this his whole life.

The Saintess nodded, seeming satisfied.

“Anyway, you saved us some trouble.”

“Sorry?”

“You know about the evil power in Maclane, right?”

“Ah, yes. I heard something about it…”

Harmon, who was trying hard to sense the Apostle’s power, was surprised by her question. Unexpected words came from the Saintess.

“It seems Logan Maclane’s animal is not holy, but from demons. If things went wrong, we were going to start a holy war because of that. But luckily, we can wait.”

“…Wait… it?”

Not stop it?

Harmon was surprised and asked.

The Saintess looked puzzled, then shook her head with a small, dry laugh.

“It’s clear God Aria’s message was not clear to you, Commander.”

“I-I am sorry. I am not good enough…”

“I understand, you must have been busy. But now that you are back, I hope you will pray more.”

Pray more.

Harmon knew this meant she was sending him away. But he couldn’t leave yet. He had to be sure about what he heard earlier, those very worrying words.

And he had not yet fully grasped the Saintess’s, no, the Apostle’s, combat prowess. He needed more time.

“Yes, of course, Holy One. But is it truly necessary to wage a holy war?”

Ilia’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at the question.

She looked annoyed, but fortunately, the answer came easily.

“Have you heard of people called ‘Forsaken Ones’, Commander?”

“…Ah, yes. I think so. People say that sometimes, people are born who are not affected by holy power.”

“Those rare people are just mistakes that happen sometimes. But the situation in that kingdom is different.”

Harmon’s lips moved a little when he heard “mistakes.” He already didn’t trust them, and this word seemed to show how the gods saw humans.

Ilia, not noticing Harmon’s thoughts, continued casually.

“In Maclane, Forsaken Ones are appearing a lot.”

“Ah!?”

“And it’s all because of Logan Maclane, that evil person.”

“Sorry?”

“He is also known as someone who can change what is meant to happen. This time, this person is from the family of Zibric Cassel, so things are too out of control…”

The Apostle frowned, looking worried, and then said shocking words with a blank face.

“This happened sometimes in old times too. And each time, the Apostle who came to earth would start a holy war to destroy all the Forsaken Ones. To put fate back on the right path.”

“!!?”

His eyes widened, and he could not help but gape. The content was too shocking to maintain his composure.

‘Certainly, there are records of holy wars when Apostles appeared, but…’

He never imagined it meant this.

A chill ran down his spine.

Ilia, whether she did not see Harmon’s expression or simply did not care, continued speaking calmly.

“Therefore, this time as well, a holy war must occur, without fail.”

For your own benefit, you mean.

Harmon barely swallowed the words of truth that rose to his throat.

He tried to quietly agree and move on, but his seething heart could not help but utter a word.

“…Wouldn’t the sacrifice of innocent citizens be too great?”

Oh dear.

Even as he spoke, Harmon felt his heart sink.

‘This was the time to appease her.’

Harmon, feeling the gaze of Ilia, no, the Apostle, piercing him, bit his lip in self-reproach, but after a moment of silence, she brought up something unexpected.

“A long time ago, there was a man who was called by the arrogant name of Sword God. He, too, was one who changed fate.”

“Sorry?”

“To deal with the remnants of Zibric, the gods chose to watch over him.”

“Uh…”

What on earth was she talking about?

Harmon could not understand at all, but she continued without regard.

“It was a great mistake. You do not yet know how great a price ‘we’ paid to erase that man and deal with his descendants, to correct the twisted fate.”

You do not yet know.

‘I don’t want to know, you lot.’

He had spoken of the sacrifice of the citizens, but she only spouted nonsense. It meant that the Apostle, the gods, did not care about the sacrifices of the people.

Feeling his betrayal towards them growing once more, Harmon gritted his teeth inwardly.

Of course, he made an effort to manage his expression outwardly.

Seeing him, the Apostle smirked.

“You may not understand what I mean yet, but you will soon come to know it naturally. So, pray diligently.”

“Yes, I will.”

There will never be another time in my life that I pray to you.

Harmon gave an answer that was completely different from his inner thoughts and lowered his head, but she brought up another unexpected matter.

“Ah, and please prepare for a pilgrimage.”

“Sorry?”

“We know Logan Maclane is dead, but others like him are still alive. We need to find the holy objects in other places and pray to the gods using them.”

Harmon’s face hardened at those words.

Why now?

Now?

He could predict what their intentions were, but Harmon made an effort to look surprised.

“H-Holy objects, you say?”

He could feel his eyes twitching and the corners of his mouth stiffening. He had failed to manage his expression.

Harmon gritted his teeth inwardly, but fortunately, the Saintess did not seem to find it strange.

“Hmm. You may find it disconcerting. I, too, am aware of the reason why the holy objects of the Nine Gods are scattered among various temples. But now is the time when that power is needed.”

Needed by you lot, you mean.

“It is a time when the respected priests of the continent must use the holy objects to realize the will of the gods.”

So, you intend to increase the number of Apostles?

He had expected it, but why at this time?

Harmon quickly changed the subject.

“…I believe there are still two holy objects remaining in Noviens.”

Of the three holy objects that maintained the Great Barrier, one, Licentia, belonged to him. The other two….

“On the day Commander departed for Maclane, Flamma was given to former Pope Austin, and Terra was given to Priest Zile.”

“Sorry!?”

“I understand your surprise, but if those individuals, including the Commander, were to fully utilize the power of the holy objects, it would become a greater force than the Great Barrier.”

“Ah…”

The holy object of Flamma, the god of fire and food, was given to Austin, its highest priest, and the holy object of Terra, the god of earth and death, was given to Zile, its high priest.

Sententia, famous as the Pope’s judge, was originally the holy object of Amunda, the god of the sea and change, and he himself was the highest priest of Aria, the god of the sky and freedom.

He felt he could now confirm the minimum conditions for the descent of an Apostle, which he had vaguely guessed at. Of course, that realization would not solve the current situation.

‘Surely, there aren’t already three Apostles?’

It couldn’t be.

It mustn’t be.

Harmon bit his lip, concealing his anxious heart.

“Then are you planning to find the owners of the other holy objects as well?”

“Because that is what is needed. We must destroy the descendants of the Great Demon Zibric Cassel this time. That is the will of the gods.”

Harmon could not add another word to that resolute statement.

“So, please prepare for the pilgrimage. Former Pope Austin and Priest Zile will also join us.”

“…Yes, Holy One.”

He had to hurry more than he thought.

Thinking so, Harmon quickly turned and left the audience chamber, and only after walking a few steps outside the door did he realize a fatal fact.

‘…I couldn’t read her.’

He had been distracted by the unexpected story, but there had been enough time. Nevertheless, he could not read the Apostle’s level of soul.

Was it because she was the incarnation of a god?

Or was it because even the level of the incarnation was higher than his?

‘If it’s the latter…’

It was the worst.

The situation was already short on time. The Pope’s pilgrimage, an event escorted by numerous holy knights and priests, with countless processions following behind, was scheduled.

‘I have to deal with the Apostle before that.’

Harmon bit his lip and quickly moved his feet.

Two more people he had not expected to check on had appeared.

* * *

“Fortunately, Lord Austin and Priest Zile have not yet been corrupted. Tomorrow night, I will use the excuse of wanting to briefly examine the holy objects to receive the two holy objects from them. You will come with me and immediately carry out the operation. After that, if we disappear from Noviens with the holy objects, our mission will be complete.”

Victor, having listened to Harmon’s words, opened his closed eyes with a small sigh.

The progress of the work was about to become faster than expected. And there was another problem.

“Will they give up the holy objects so easily?”

“I intend to say that I want to study them in comparison to Licentia. Even if Priest Zile doesn’t, Lord Austin will surely give it to me. If he refuses, I will pressure him to take it.”

Harmon’s status in the Holy Kingdom was not merely the commander of the Holy Knights. That meant it would be entirely possible to carry it out.

“I see. Then, will Evelyn and Cassandra be alright? We have to do the work in just two days.”

The original plan was for a week.

Of course, whether it was two days or a week, it was equally tight, but the perceived difference was bound to be even greater.

“…Evelyn and Cassandra seem to have settled in well. Both are quick-witted and have good sociability. If I introduce them to the Saintess tomorrow and they officially become court ladies, there will be no problem issuing an introduction order the next day.”

“Still, it seems too rushed…”

“It can’t be helped. With the order for the pilgrimage preparations officially issued, the only time we can drag it out is just three days.”

Victor, realizing that what Harmon said was the best course of action, had no choice but to nod.

But as he spoke, the most important content was missing.

“Do you have any idea of the Saintess’s combat power?”

“That’s… the problem.”

Seeing Harmon’s face cloud over immediately, Victor could only sigh once again.

“It’s highly likely that I just didn’t feel it because she’s the incarnation of a god. So, you don’t have to worry too much.”

Words that were too hopeful without any basis.

But Victor slowly nodded at those words.

It wasn’t because he believed Harmon’s words.

– Lord Victor, when you come to find me, that’s when I….

The last words left by the person he respected and cherished more than anything.

Because he believed those words.

‘Saintess, I will save you soon.’

Tears, he had lost count of how many, fell between his tightly closed eyes.

And the two days passed in the blink of an eye.