Chapter 412: The New Martial King (5)

The black monster collapsed, and darkness burst outward like light in every direction. A faint shape of a soul appeared amid the collapsing and flowing darkness.

It was the soul of a mother holding her child, the soul of a fallen martial king, and of a mad fanatic. The soul was tightly bound by Tesranach's restraint in the form of black chains.

Beltia, of course, was not a direct subordinate of Tesranach. However, it was also true that she had once served as the Saintess of Destruction, one of the three pillars of the Black God's Church.

As such, a powerful restriction had been placed upon her so that, upon death, her soul would return to Tesranach. It was also the cause of Tesranach's misunderstanding, since she would return to her the same as his other vassals.

But there's no way I can return a soul as powerful as this to the enemy, thought Karnak.

He began to cast his technique. Darkness seeped into the black chains, unraveling the complex spells one by one. The problem came next. If Beltia's soul were freed like this, what should be done afterward?

Under normal circumstances, he would have rewritten the mark on the chain and bound her soul to himself. A martial king's soul would have become an immensely powerful asset.

However, Beltia's situation was different from that of other enemies. She had not been forcibly made into Tesranach's subordinate. She had become a fanatic by her own choice. To enslave someone like Beltia, he would need to shatter her soul, dismantle it, reassemble it, and brand it. She would be fully corrupted in the process.

It was just as Karnak, the former Monarch of Death, had once done to the three archmages and the three martial kings. Only then could he control her without worry.

But... was that truly the right thing to do? Suddenly, he recalled the conversation he had shared with Serati just before the battle.

***

"If we defeat Beltia, what will happen to her soul?" Karnak questioned. If they turned her into a Death Knight and bound her into service, she would undoubtedly become a formidable asset. "Of course, I know this is an evil act. But isn't this a different case?"

Tesranach's power was overwhelming. If there was any way to increase their chances of victory, it had to be done. This was not a time to choose methods or hesitate over means.

Besides, the Beltia of this era was undeniably evil. How many people had she killed just to save her single daughter?

Was it truly right for someone who had committed so many sins to meet a peaceful death? Would it not be more fitting for her to atone for her past deeds, even if it meant becoming a Death Knight?

"Ah, of course, I know I'm not really in a position to say this," said Karnak.

Serati let out a small chuckle. "You're definitely not the one who should be saying that, Lord Karnak."

Then she asked quietly, "What do you want to do, Lord Karnak?"

"That's why I'm asking. I don't know."

"I mean not what you think you should do, but how you feel."

Not what must be done, but what he wanted to do. "What I want to do?"

Karnak was taken aback. Certainly, in the past, he would never have worried about something like this. He would have simply made her into a death knight immediately, then asked afterward, "Oh, was I not supposed to do that?"

But now, "For some reason, it feels like I shouldn't do that."

Serati nodded. "I think so too."

If judged purely by cold logic, Karnak's reasoning would have been correct. Throwing away a chance to save countless lives because of personal feelings could, at first glance, be considered foolish.

Serati added, "But isn't that what it means to live like a human?"

***

Karnak spoke the final incantation. "Break."

The black chains shattered into countless fragments, melting away into the air. And they did not reform. Freed, Beltia smiled peacefully.

Now, she was no longer bound, to Tesranach, to Karnak, or to anything at all. The two souls, Beltia and the child, merged into one and slowly began to fade away.

Watching the two souls drift farther and farther away, Serati asked, "What will happen to her soul now?"

Those who served the seven goddesses and lived righteously were said to ascend to the goddesses's paradise after death. Those who committed evil deeds fell into hell, a place swarming with demons, dragged down by the weight of the darkness within them.

That was what people believed. And Beltia had certainly immersed herself in darkness and committed many evil acts.

Serati asked, "Will she still end up in hell?"

Karnak shook his head. "That's not how someone ends up in hell."

He was well-versed in necromancy, which meant he understood the true nature of hell. Hell was not a place for the wicked. It was a place for those who had sold their souls to demons.

Even if a righteous person had been deceived into selling their soul, or sacrificed against their will, once they fell into a demon's grasp, they would still be dragged into hell.

He explained, "They will cross over to the other shore, like all the others."

Death was merely the end of life. One simply passed from this shore to the other. If a soul had shed all lingering attachments, it would dissolve into the flow of the world. If remnants of attachment remained, it would wander the world before slowly fading away.

At last, the souls of Beltia and her daughter completely vanished. Watching the Shadow of Doom drifting nearby like storm clouds, Grateria sent a message.

—Gather the darkness, Serati.

—Yes.

Serati raised her sword and pointed it at the darkness. The Shadow of Doom began to flow naturally into her. It was something she had done repeatedly over the past months. She was thoroughly accustomed to it by now. Soon, the darkness mingled with light and transformed into the Grace of Twilight.

Once all the Shadow of Doom had been gathered, the ash-haired girl approached the two of them. "Thank you, for saving my master."

Serati could not respond right away. She wasn't sure how to treat the girl. Sensing her hesitation, Lapicel tilted her head. "I'm not really sure myself yet. I still feel like me, but at the same time, I feel like I've suddenly aged a lot. It's kind of unfair, honestly."

Then she gave a soft smile. "Just treat me like you always have."

Though puzzled, Serati nodded for now. "Okay, I will."

Meanwhile, Karnak examined Lapicel with a worried expression. "Your body... is it alright?"

He couldn't understand it. How could she remain so normal after recalling the memories of the martial king? He himself had implanted such horrific memories.

"Well," Lapicel placed a hand over her chest. "It turns out. I am also the Saintess of Twilight."

A faint light flowed from her fingertips. It was a dark crimson glow, like the light of dusk.

Serati blinked in surprise. "Th-that's..."

Just like herself, Lapicel was also emitting the Grace of Twilight. It cradled her soul, stabilizing it, and gently mending her shattered mind. "I can't use it as consciously as you can, though."

Dumbfounded, Serati turned to Karnak. It was true that he had cared for Lapicel nearly as much as he did for Serati, but it was still ironic. This is like hurting someone and then giving them medicine afterwards.

In any case, defeating Beltia did not mean the battle was over. Because she had rampaged so violently, this area had become completely empty, but fighting was still raging elsewhere.

Lapicel turned her head toward the fallen popes. "Then we should deal with them too, right?"

"Indeed." Karnak lifted himself into the air, then activated Wind Walk and swiftly flew toward the other side of the battlefield.

Serati and Lapicel immediately followed. Serati spoke while staring at Karnak's back. "Hey, Lapicel."

"Yes?"

"I don't know if it's right to ask you this now, but..." Since Karnak might hear, she lowered her voice instead of using telepathy. "Have you forgiven him?"

For a moment, Lapicel's eyes sharpened. "Do you think what he did is something that can be forgiven?"

Then her expression softened again. "I simply agreed with the plan."

According to the plan, he would eventually pay the price for what he had done. Until then, she intended to observe and fight alongside him.

"I have seen that even immutable evil can change."

Serati's expression grew more complicated at Lapicel's answer. It was true that Karnak had devised a plan to save the world.

But... I don't think he sees that as atonement at all...

***

The firebird, Splendia, who had been fighting Drel and Dios, now found herself facing even the Saintess of Twilight. "Has Sir Beltia fallen?"

The water serpent Valeria, who had been battered by Varos and Milia, was now confronted by Karnak. "Damn it, it's already too late to retreat!"

As for Beneville, the earthen giant desperately battling Leven and Alius, an ash-haired girl wielding golden aura joined the fight. "What! How is that child using the power of a martial king?!"

In truth, the fate of the three fallen popes had already been decided the moment Beltia fell. They had failed to secure the upper hand even in two-on-one situations.

Now, with a martial king, the Saintess of Twilight, and Karnak himself joining the fray, what chance did they have?

The fallen popes steeled themselves. There was no other choice. They would face death and return to their god.

However, their resolve was in vain. They could not return even in death. Tesranach had already lost Leoslav and Relfiana. Naturally, wary of Karnak, he had placed yet another return spell upon his subordinates. The problem was that on this side stood Grateria, the dragon emperor.

—If it's Tesranach, he would have reinforced the spell like this.

—Then we can reconstruct the technique in this manner.

Having already anticipated even Tesranach's follow-up measures, they completely suppressed the souls of the three fallen popes as they attempted to escape.

However, even with Grateria's guidance, it was impossible to convert them into Karnak's subordinates. As with Leoslav and Relfiana, the best they could do was strip away the darkness and allow them to ascend. Soon, a radiant light enveloped the restrained souls of the three fallen popes.

Soundless screams erupted. As before, the process brought unbearable agony. But there was a difference this time. Grateria cast an additional spell.

The small white cat let out an adorable cry. The sky split open, and through the clouds appeared the illusion of a colossal woman. She was a beautiful woman with red hair.

Serati blinked. For some reason, that immense woman's face looked very familiar.

—Is that me?

Grateria replied shamelessly.

—It is the Twilight Goddess, Serakal.

—That's clearly me.

—I did aim for that effect.

The illusion of the woman cast a glow of twilight. The souls of the three fallen popes ascended. The enormous Serati cradled the souls in her arms, then vanished together with the light of dusk.

Cheers erupted among the soldiers.

"It's the goddess!"

"Serakal, watch over us!"

Grateria continued her message, sounding pleased.

—See? The result is good, is it not?

Serati shot a glare at the white cat. Was it because he was a dragon emperor who had transcended the mortal world? In a different way from Karnak, he seemed completely detached from ordinary common sense. What he did really felt questionable.

Ah, whatever. It'll work out somehow.