Chapter 191

Omen (1)

Word quickly spread that Ludwig had sparred with Kkobong and Namu ppareumbo.

Not only through the Gallery, but in the real world as well—especially among the people of the Holy Kingdom.

Ash, Kadir, and Asella might have been extremely renowned, but there were more famous figures in the Holy Kingdom than one could count on both hands.

Furthermore, while the Hero was primarily regarded as a symbol, Ludwig was the Guardian of El Dorado.

He had devoted his entire life to his homeland and the Goddess Ares, and many people had benefited from his service.

"Thankfully, he seems to be doing well... But is he really in the Forest of Four Seasons?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? He’s in the Forest of Four Seasons! That damned Papal Court forced him into it!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! What will you do if they arrest you?"

"Let them arrest me if they can! Now that even Sir Ludwig is gone, there aren’t any true holy knights left in the Holy Kingdom!"

A middle-aged man, seemingly drunk in broad daylight, shouted at the top of his lungs.

Normally, people would have glared at him for causing a disturbance, but no one tried to stop him.

That was simply the state of El Dorado at present. His claim that no true holy knights remained struck a painful chord.

"How did even Sir Ludwig end up like this...?"

"I’m telling you, the Pope is the root of it all. He purged everyone he didn’t like."

"They shoved him into the Forest of Four Seasons, and now they’re saying what? That he went missing? What a joke."

The shouting middle-aged man was hardly the only person harboring discontent.

They were fortunate that this was another city and not the capital. Had they been in the capital, they would have joined the protests long ago.

"What’s the situation in the capital right now?"

"It’s chaos. It feels as if everything could explode at any moment."

"Has the Papal Court said anything?"

"Of course not. At most, they’ll claim it’s an unfounded rumor from the Gallery and shouldn’t be trusted."

"I’m sick and tired of them blaming the Gallery for everything."

Public sentiment toward the Papal Court had plummeted to rock bottom.

Countless incidents and scandals had steadily filled a powder keg, and Ludwig’s testimony had lit the fuse.

It was destined to explode with the slightest spark—and even without one, it would inevitably blow.

The propaganda dismissing everything as false rumors from the Gallery was no longer effective.

The press had even begun saying that just as Ludwig had cut away his rotten foot, El Dorado needed to do the same.

The rotten part was, naturally, the Papal Court. They were effectively calling for its head.

The government had been driven to the brink of complete collapse.

Considering everything the Papal Court had done, it was only natural.

At the same time, however, people were afraid.

"Who knows what the Pope might try next...?"

"Exactly. He’s the kind of bastard who beheads everyone he doesn’t like."

No one could predict what the cornered Pope might do.

He had concealed his corruption by controlling information through the press.

Yet the ugly truth had unexpectedly been exposed in the Forest of Four Seasons—and through the Gallery, no less.

The Forest of Four Seasons was a demonic realm beyond even the Pope’s control.

To make matters worse, Ludwig had revealed everything from within it, driving the Pope into a corner.

A cornered rat could become vicious enough to kill a cat.

After purging Ludwig and seizing control of the military, there was no telling what the Pope might do.

"If only the Hero were here at a time like this..."

Someone muttered quietly, and the mood immediately grew solemn.

The Hero.

It was a symbol that stirred complicated feelings.

What was a Hero?

The Hero was the Holy Kingdom’s symbol and pride.

Throughout history, its Heroes had fought Demon Kings and preserved the peace.

The previous Hero in particular had sacrificed himself by perishing alongside the Immortal King.

Although the Papal Court had pressured him into making that sacrifice, it did not diminish its value.

"...Do you truly believe the Hero will destroy our country?"

"Wasn’t it a prophecy?"

"What if the Papal Court fabricated that prophecy?"

"Come now. How could anyone fabricate a prophecy? Divine punishment would have struck them immediately."

"There were plenty of witnesses, too. Far too many people testified to it."

However, the current Hero was different.

Her fall had been every bit as dramatic and shocking as her once-radiant prestige.

A prophecy had been delivered declaring that the current Hero would destroy El Dorado.

Following that prophecy, the Hero had been branded a traitor and forced to flee.

She had even taken the holy sword, Revolution, with her.

Naturally, the citizens of the Holy Kingdom could not help but worry.

"Even so, isn’t a prophecy merely a prophecy? The way I see it, the Pope is the one who’s going to destroy our country."

"That may be true, but... it’s still frightening. We’re talking about destruction. The destruction of our entire nation."

"I heard the Hero was an exceptionally kind person. Couldn’t there have been some mistake?"

For better or worse, El Dorado was directly and indirectly connected to the Goddess Ares.

It was a nation founded upon faith. Naturally, its people could not ignore a prophecy delivered by the object of that faith.

That was why the prophecy that the Hero would destroy their homeland weighed so heavily on them.

"Would it really be so bad if the country were destroyed? Maybe it means she’ll sweep away the entire Papal Court."

"I hope that’s what ’destruction’ means."

"Ah, forget it. Let’s just drink. The Papal Court is rotten, the Hero is a traitor... What a sorry state this country is in."

Complaining was all they could do. The people let out weary sighs.

"Maybe we were better off when we knew nothing."

"Our minds might have been at peace, but future generations would have suffered horribly."

"We should consider ourselves fortunate that we’re the ones enduring the hardship first."

Thanks to the existence of the Gallery, information traveled remarkably quickly in this world.

Falsehoods occasionally became mixed in, of course, but its influence was still tremendous.

In fact, institutions known as the "press" had originated from groups of people who gathered to distinguish between truth and falsehood on the Gallery.

That was why journalism had developed to an unusual degree for this era.

It was also why the Papal Court was desperately trying to suppress both the press and the Gallery.

It was a policy of keeping the populace ignorant. Controlling information meant controlling the citizens.

After all, they had successfully suppressed the truth about the Immortal King.

At least until an unexpected variable appeared in the Forest of Four Seasons.

"This country is so... unsettled. We’ll still be able to return to the capital, right?"

"..."

There were two people witnessing this public sentiment firsthand.

Two women in robes were sitting nearby, eavesdropping on the conversation.

One was Reis.

The other was Asella, the woman whose name had repeatedly come up in the citizens’ conversation.

"...Sis."

"Yeah. Go ahead."

"Do you think I... No, do you think the Hero really will destroy El Dorado?"

Asella asked in a dejected voice.

They were currently returning to the capital.

Originally, they had intended to continue evading pursuit, but a succession of incidents had forced them to change their plans.

The decisive event had been Ludwig’s exposé. His testimony had proven the innocence of everyone associated with him.

Furthermore, the situation had grown so volatile that civil war seemed ready to erupt at any moment, prompting them to hurry back.

"The Hero? How exactly would she destroy it?"

They still had to watch what they said. Their pursuers had not completely given up.

At Reis’s question, Asella appeared to ponder for a moment before closing her mouth.

As though she had expected that reaction, Reis chuckled softly and took a sip of her drink.

"Don’t worry about it too much. It’s only a prophecy, isn’t it? The Goddess Ares must have some purpose behind it."

"So you’re saying the prophecy itself isn’t wrong."

"..."

Reis gave a bitter smile.

She could not deny that.

The prophecies of Ares were famous for coming true in one form or another.

There were even records stating that people’s desperate attempts to avoid a prophecy had themselves been part of its fulfillment.

Therefore, Asella was destined to fulfill the prophecy.

It was truly tragic.

"Well... who knows? Even I can’t say anything for certain when it comes to something like this."

"I see."

"But you’re still going to protect El Dorado until the very end, aren’t you?"

"...I have to protect the citizens."

Protect the citizens.

That single statement revealed just how much Asella’s feelings had changed.

Previously, she had insisted that it had to be a misunderstanding or that the Pope had simply misjudged the situation.

She had trusted the Pope implicitly, but recently, seeds of doubt had begun to sprout within her.

Ludwig’s revelations had been the decisive blow. Her faith in the Papal Court had fallen sharply.

If an armed conflict breaks out, am I supposed to stop it?

Could she, when she had been branded a traitor?

Would she even be allowed to?

Although they were hastily returning to the capital, she had no idea what would happen once they arrived.

Just as Asella sighed—

Bang!

Someone violently flung open the shop’s door.

It was an obviously deliberate act, as though meant to draw everyone’s attention.

"What is it?"

"Why are the holy knights here?"

"Did they hear us cursing them?"

The people who entered the establishment were none other than holy knights.

The patrons were briefly puzzled by their appearance, but soon responded with indifference.

Now that even Ludwig had been purged, they believed no true holy knights remained in El Dorado.

"Everyone, pay attention! We have received intelligence that a traitor is currently hiding here."

"A traitor? Do you mean the Hero?"

"No, he means the Pope."

"Ha! You’re right about that!"

These were people who had been drinking since broad daylight. There was no chance of polite words being exchanged.

The holy knights were met with nothing but mockery.

They frowned, but quickly ignored the jeers and continued with their duty.

"We will now conduct an inspection. Everyone, remain seated and cooperate."

"An inspection? What kind of bullshit is this?"

"Go back and arrest the Pope, you bastards!"

"You have enough strength to hunt the Hero, but apparently not enough to arrest the Pope!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The establishment instantly erupted in laughter.

It was laughter filled entirely with ridicule.

At last, one of the holy knights roared.

"Silence! How dare you slander His Holiness! Do you not fear the wrath of Lady Ares?"

"I’m more afraid of my wife’s wrath!"

"Hahaha! He’s got a point!"

"I’ve had enough! Arrest all these wicked men! They have publicly insulted His Holiness!"

At their captain’s command, the holy knights moved forward.

The citizens did not particularly resist and quietly allowed themselves to be dragged away. Their behavior showed not the slightest shred of trust in the holy knights.

Startled, Asella sprang to her feet, but Reis hurriedly grabbed her wrist.

"S-Sis?"

"Not yet. Those people bought us some time. We need to escape now."

"B-But they’re being arrested merely for insulting the Pope..."

"They’ll probably be released after a brief interrogation. But if you’re captured too, El Dorado really will be finished."

Confronted with Reis’s realistic assessment, Asella had no choice but to prepare to flee.

Just as the holy knights were leading the citizens outside—

Crash!

"Huh? Th-There they are! Catch them!"

"Damn it! Why did it have to happen now?"

The two women smashed through the window beside them and fled.

Upon seeing them, the holy knights hurriedly gave chase.

"What? The Hero really was here?"

"She did look suspicious."

With the holy knights pursuing the fugitives, the detained citizens were naturally set free.

They watched the chase for a moment before returning to their seats as though nothing particularly important had happened.

"The Hero is still far better than them. If the country is destroyed, it’s the country that disappears—not us, right?"

"That’s true."

"I hate the Hero."

Everyone else had spoken in the Hero’s defense, but one man criticized her.

It was the shopkeeper, who had been cursing the Pope alongside them just moments before.

When the others looked puzzled by his abrupt change in attitude, the shopkeeper heaved a deep sigh.

"I’m going to hate her until she pays for that window."

"Hmm... That’s fair."

"Tell her to compensate you later."

"As if she would."

Public sentiment in El Dorado continued its vertical plunge.

How was the Papal Court reacting now that it had been forced to confront that hostility directly?

Was it considering voluntarily stepping down?

Or was it contemplating a more extreme option?

"Understood. I only need to do as you’ve instructed, correct?"

"Yes, Your Holiness."

"And if it fails?"

A cardinal answered Pope Louis II’s question.

"We will have no choice but to mobilize the army. We possess sufficient justification."

"I’m certain the Goddess Ares will forgive us as well."

Mobilizing the army was something no leader should ever propose lightly.

Under normal circumstances, an army should only be mobilized against a foreign invasion or an internal rebellion.

The army was the citizens’ sword and shield. That truth must never be forgotten.

Any sane person would naturally have rejected the proposal.

However—

"Very well. I authorize it."

"Thank you, Your Holiness."

"There is nothing I would not do for the Goddess Ares."

Those driven mad by power rationalized their actions.

After all, they claimed, signs of an internal "rebellion" had already begun to appear.

And so the Pope firmly stamped the document.

Before long, the cardinal withdrew, leaving him alone.

That bastard Ludwig has finally caused trouble.

Louis II clicked his tongue.

None of this would have happened if Ludwig had simply stayed quiet.

At the very least, this disaster could have been avoided if he had not posted everything on the Gallery.

What is he doing right now? If he starts spouting any more nonsense—

What else would he be doing?

"Hey! I told you to put it here, not over there."

"I did put it there."

"No! How can you be this bad at working?! You’re a soldier, aren’t you?"

He had been transformed into an excellent source of manual labor for Grylls.

Wasn’t that cruel to someone with an injured leg?

So what? He’s still way stronger than I am.

Grylls did not care about such trivial details. Ludwig’s hands worked perfectly well, so there was no problem.

"You’re not human..."

"What are you mumbling about? You work too. This is the house you’re going to live in."

"Bad man. Truly bad man."

"Want me to stop feeding you?"

"Actually, kind master."

They were getting along quite well in their own way.