Chapter 107
He himself had personally observed the deserted Snowfield City last night using Od and a telephone, so this statement is quite reasonable.
The observations over the past two days have also revealed a vast Od carrying 'malice' besides that of the First Pope. However, in a mere instant, like the wind, the power transformed from madness and violence to gentleness and warmth, further confirming this statement.
The First Pope, who appeared during the Holy Grail War, wanted to prevent the people from being harmed by the 'rudeness' of many Heroic Spirit. In order to protect the people in the Holy Grail War, he enveloped the entire city with something similar to a Reversal Reality Marble.
Reality Marble is a powerful Magecraft, even in the world of Magecraft, often referred to as close to True Magic itself. It can even distort the laws of physics and use a 'world' to cover reality.
The Reverse Reality Marble, however, does not replace reality with the mental world, but rather seals real things into the mental world.
"However, according to Ciel, that girl has also run into Snowfield City. What is she planning? If she wanted to do something bad, she should have killed her beforehand. But that brat previously asked me to get rid of those old bastards who wanted to harm Be'ze; it took me quite a bit of effort to deal with them..."
Those guys are really getting old and wanting to eat bear's heart and leopard's gall. They actually set their sights on Be'ze for the sake of immortality, and even went so far as to join forces with the Dead Apostle for it. They should be thankful for her, I guess...
Although he was only fourteen years old, the boy's expression was completely different from that of a normal person his age; he looked more like an old man in the appearance of a child.
"Speaking of which, Ciel had previously sent Suhou Nao Naoki, whom Narubareck had picked up, to a strange Coffee in Japan to observe two young girls working there... Oh well, let's not delve into it this time; it'll just make up for the favor she did me by saving me before."
Mario's apparent identity is that of the Cardinal's adopted son and grandson, but in reality, he is the form that Lord Laurentius himself has created by using the abilities left behind by someone who defected from the Church.
It should be noted that Lord Laurentius is considered one of the strongest contenders for the next Pope, and he has adopted more than twenty sons.
Cardinal are not allowed to marry, and in principle all their offspring are adopted. However, all of Laurentius's adopted sons bore a striking resemblance to him, and many believers viewed him as a "worldly man who lusts after beauty and power."
Mario, on the other hand, claims to be the illegitimate son of the old man and his mistress, born when the old man was over a hundred years old.
In the world of Fe, Lord Laurentius is the Pope the Holy Church in the 2030s.
Lord Laurentius knew better than anyone what kind of person he was. Now he was like a 'Ghoul,' and eventually, one day, he would even forget what he looked like, gradually becoming unrecognizable and devoid of dignity... Before he completely fell into depravity, he would definitely take care of himself.
However, all he did was to become Pope, and he did meet the most basic requirements of the Church, at the very least he did not arbitrarily exploit the Church funds that were distributed through him to help the poor or those affected by disasters.
Well, how should I put it? After all, when you join the church, you swear an oath to "all people are one body and should help each other." In Lord Laurentius's view, although it's just a slogan, he's recited it so many times. Even if he doesn't necessarily really think that way, he should still try his best to do it...
While infighting is permissible, it cannot be allowed to damage the Church's reputation. This has been an unspoken rule within the Church since the fifth century. Conversely, it is also to prevent going too far and causing another 'Fifth-Century Cataclysm'.
The Church has more information about Avia, the King of the Huns who once led the Dead Apostle, the Phantasmal Species, and various other creatures to destroy the Western Luo Empire and the former head of the Church than any other faction.
Just as Augustine wrote and published * the City of God * after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the original version of it, which remains within the Church today, states:
The glorious the City of God, whether traveling through time among the irreverent, or living by faith; or leaving behind holy words, making amends for all, you whom I Faith most, for whom I undertake this work and promise you that even if no one understands, the world will surely see it clearly.
After the destruction of the Western Rome and the main branch of the Church by Avia, Augustine, who remained in the Eastern Rome Augustine and was groomed by Jerome as his successor, held not only the titles of 'Holy Teacher' and 'Saint', but also the position of the new Pope of the united and rebuilt Church.
At first, most people thought the "you" he referred to in his article meant the one and only God of the Church, but over time, they naturally became confused about the meaning of "even if no one understands, the world will see it clearly."
But as the Church members delved deeper into the interpretation of the Book, they came to understand Augustine's meaning more and more.
Among them, including but not limited to:
All things were created by the Trinity God: the Father created existence from nothingness, the Son of God provided the form for all things, and the Holy Spirit made all things good.
A person who possesses the virtues given by the Holy Spirit is so righteous that he will love his enemies; he loves his enemies so much that he will want to correct those who hate or slander him and make them his companions.
Even so, when we talk about God, we cannot say there are two or three in the beginning, nor can we say there are two or three God. We can only say there is one God, or the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. We still acknowledge that each of them is God, rather than saying, like the Heresy of Sabellius, that the Father and the Son of God are the same, and that the Holy Spirit is the same as the Father and the Son of God.
Instead, it should be said that the Father is the Father of the Son of God, the Son of God is the Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the spirit of the Father and the Son, neither the Father nor the Son of God.
The Spirit is another being besides the Father and the Son, for He is neither the Father nor the Son.
God breathed on them and created them into living souls, and then breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Since Augustine had put it so bluntly, the believers of the Church, who were not truly obstinate, naturally understood what Augustine meant. The Pope Novia, was the Holy Spirit of the Trinity, and the King of the Huns Avia was the identity in which he manifested because of the 'broken' Church.
Having grasped this level of Church dared not overly stigmatize Avia and Attila, who accompanied him.
Therefore, Avia's nickname has always been simply King of the Huns, without much embellishment or any impressive-sounding title.
Perhaps to elevate Avia's status, Attila, who was his deputy, was referred to as the Scourge of God.
Think about it. If the deputy is the Scourge of God, then what was Avia's status as the Supreme Being in the Huns Empire? Think about it carefully yourself.
"The old man really wants to see Lord Novia..."
Lord Laurentius had always disliked the old man, the current Pope who was clinging to his position and refusing to step down. However, he had to admit that the person who could become Pope possessed a certain charisma and conduct that inspired awe, even though he knew that those who could reach the highest position were not simple.
"That's true. Who in the Church wouldn't want that? After all, it's the Holy Spirit who shaped the Church and has endured to this day. I want it too, which is why I'm determined to become Pope no matter what."
Life is short, and this world is too vast, so vast that it's frightening.
From the very beginning, from the moment Lord Laurentius realized he was growing old, he suffered because of it, struggling desperately in every nightmare, and unable to stop himself from crying when he opened his eyes.
What followed was Wrath, Greed, and regret for not yet becoming Pope.
In the human world, there are countless precious material and spiritual things for countless people.
For Lord Laurentius, he had strived with all his might, climbing upwards day and night with hope and ambition, without ever wasting a moment, but death was already close at hand.
Therefore--
I don't want to die, I mustn't die, I can't die.
He didn't crave immortality; he simply struggled with all his might and exhausted every drop of energy.
I want to repay this organization that is willing to spread good, I want to get closer to that person, and I want to become that person as much as possible.
I've wanted to since I was a child.
Although among the countless figures hailed as heroes and great men, only those who have contributed to human progress truly deserve respect, and only those whose extraordinary deeds align with human progress have true value.
Heroes who can turn the tide in the face of darkness, Warrior who stand firm against evil, and people who never easily frown in the face of pain are all worthy of praise and recognition.
When Lord Laurentius grew up, he discovered that the era he had entered was completely different from what had been portrayed in the propaganda.
Simply taking action is no longer enough to climb to a high position.
When he first joined forces with them, what was he thinking when those guys extended the invitation?
I can't remember it at all now.
To this day, I only remember my initial wish.
I want to become Novia's 'Inheritance'.
Mario stepped out of the room and headed to the temporary camp, where he saw many believers watching over the silent Snowfield City.
Then he stared with those eyes at the aging, current Pope, who was standing close at hand.
"Thinking about it now, death is truly terrifying," he said. "Old man, do you think I'll still be in this position before I die?"
"Well, who knows? Maybe if you work harder and the Crowd recognizes you, then it will all fall into place naturally."
"You're keeping me hanging on again, aren't you, old man? My long and agonizing life doesn't need to continue any longer, even though I'll still die after you. I'm still incredibly young, though. But if you die, I'll definitely suggest keeping everything simple; a little straw mound will suffice."
"What you're saying is exactly what I've been thinking. If someone dies, they're dead. There's no need to waste too much energy on them. We should focus more on the living."
The old Pope, who had come all the way to Snowfield City specifically to meet Novia, said this.
Do you even believe what you're saying?
The Cardinal grinned self-deprecatingly, then reached into his pocket, spread his fingers, and sighed contentedly.
"But come to think of it, what I've always wanted has always been in my pocket, hasn't it?"
In his hand, a rusty, old Cross gleamed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
Holding the Cross I'd received since childhood as if it were a sacred object, the afterglow of the setting sun illuminated the rust on the Cross from the horizon.
At a glance, it's clear that it symbolizes an old man who spares no effort for his ideals at the beginning of his life, striving tirelessly for them.
In that instant, Lord Laurentius whispered:
"We actually obtained the 'key' from Lord Novia long ago, so why should I seek it from external sources again?"
The old Pope nodded, seemingly deep in thought, then suddenly asked, "Tell me, is there any possibility...?"
"... Oh? Old man, just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush."
Although Lord Laurentius outwardly accepted his Fate of not becoming Pope with composure, one can imagine that in the quiet of the night, the thought of not becoming Pope would still make him want to shed a few tears.
Goethe once said, "Error is to truth as sleep is to wakefulness. I have seen people awaken from error, just as they awaken and move toward the truth again."
The old Pope said with a smile,
"Lord Laurentius, the will of the Pope that emerged during the Holy Grail War just told me that you are now the rightful 'Inheritance'."
191: Brother-in-Law! I've brought some men to beat you up (4k)
In Snowfield City, in Central Park, the brilliant sunshine shines down.
Now back on the ground, Novia looked with a hint of curiosity at the Silver Arabesque that had appeared in her hand.
Earlier, after he defeated Beelzebub with a single blow from his Holy Sword, the Egg that had been hatching the Lord of the Flies was also shattered.
However, at that moment, the green liquid emanating from the giant egg rapidly turned purple, and in an instant, it seemed to materialize and tremble violently, as if a raging tide was about to erupt, dancing... and finally condensed into this thing, born in his hand.
In some ways, the silver patterned sculpture looks like it has been broken off by Treta Yuga.
However, Novia also felt that it seemed to have a slight resemblance to the Cross hanging on her chest, which she had obtained out of Cross after returning from Rome.
But just as he was about to go back and think it over, a cheerful voice reached his ears—
"Brother-in-Law!"
Novia looked up at Charlemagne, who had suddenly appeared before her.
I was slightly taken aback when he called me 'Brother-in-Law'.
Some things were unexpected, but in fact, they were also within expectations.
After all, Charlemagne was destined to unify Western Europe. If so, he would inevitably find the Giant God Ruins beneath the Alps, thus coming into contact with the Alien Star Key. Naturally, he would call Attila his sister, so it would be normal for him to call himself his Brother-in-Law.
In fact, Novia had already considered how to bring Attila, who is still on the moon to this day, out in a reasonable way. However, she was delayed by the matter of how to deal with Alcides in the Holy Grail War and had not thought about it much.
To be fair, given Novia's strength, resolving the Alcides issue as requested by Human Order would have been quite easy. However, he didn't want to simply eliminate them, because even though their actions were forcibly distorted, the Avenger's reasons for seeking Revenge were perfectly reasonable...
In this respect, Novia also saw in him the same Wrath that Typhon had felt back then.
After careful consideration, he provided enough Od to allow the gods of Olympus to descend upon the world he created, enabling dialogue between the two sides. He also offered some support to the Avenger.
However, after Novia dealt with Beelzebub, he also sensed that the Avenger' Spirit Origin and similar Spirit Origin had been destroyed.
This is probably the best possible ending for a man who is willing to do anything for Revenge.
At the same time, he also sensed that some auras supported by his 'Mystic Code' had gone outside the real Snowfield City and were doing something. Although he should know that it was all the Pope after him, they were hesitant to appear or Telepathy to him, probably because they were a little embarrassed.
"It's you, Charlemagne."
"Haha, actually, I wanted to come find you as soon as I heard you were here, Brother-in-Law." Charlemagne looked at the silver-haired young man before her, her heart surging with emotion. "But various circumstances delayed me for two days, but now I'm more than satisfied to finally see you in Brother-in-Law!"
"But I didn't expect you to participate in the Holy Grail War."
That's the truth. After all, in Novia's memory, the Saber of the Holy Grail War in the Snowfield should have been Richard the Lionheart.
"Actually, I didn't initially intend to do this. It was mainly because of El-Melloi, or more accurately, because of Brother-in-Law -Brother-in-Law in-law. Since you were the Lord of the El-Melloi, when El-Melloi exuded that aura of wanting to live, I rushed out in front of Richard."
Charlemagne looked up at the scorching Sun, and then—
"And it's so great that I can see you like this, Brother-in-Law."
Novia looked at him, and the 'real' Carl the Great, who appeared as 'fantasy', showed a nostalgic expression.
"Your golden age, generally speaking, isn't this time. Your golden age was when you were the king who connected Germania, religion, and Rome, and built the concept of the Western Europe Community."
Even so, even if it's just once, I'd still prefer to see you and my Brother-in-Law looking younger.
Carl the Great squinted, as if reminiscing about his youth.
That happened long ago, after we entered the Giant God Ruins in the Alps.
The moment he came into contact with the Alien Star Key, the young boy plummeted into the darkness.
Falling is the process by which the soul receives something.
The howling Gale and the heavy pressure on their Limbs tempered the young man's soul.
In just a few seconds, countless possibilities and endless points of light flowed in.
One after another, Charlemagne was completely bewildered.
However, an unbelievable number of possibilities was emerging.
The Alien Star Key, though bearing the name of a Velber. It bestowed upon Attila, whose guiding power was originally meant for him without Avia by his side, all its power upon this young prince—his Future, his destiny.
He is destined to Future Western Europe, a holy Righteous King, the overlord who will unify Western Europe, and the one who will usher in the Middle Ages.