Chapter 53

103: The Arrival of the Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg

Despite the intense scrutiny surrounding the destruction of the Wales Great Cathedral, the news remained largely unknown to the inhabitants of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empire due to the strict secrecy imposed by the Church headquarters. They only knew that a beautiful scene had appeared on the distant Island of Britain in the far north.

However, within the Rome in the Western Roman Empire, the matter sparked a fierce debate. After all, so many people had died and so much wealth had been lost; someone had to be blamed. Ultimately, the internal authorities identified the perpetrator as—

Wandering Magecraft, remnants of the Dead Apostle, and some kind of Phantasmal Species, along with those of Island of Britain Faith on the British Isles, all require harsher punishment; otherwise, how can Faith be strengthened?

The surviving Dead Apostle swordsman, Be Ze, was spared the pursuit and punishment similar to that of the Dead Apostle Kouhaku Alcatraz, who attempted to defy the Church's judgment decades earlier, because of his 'rule-abiding' nature and considerable combat prowess.

The deaths of a few easily replaceable personnel did not pose a significant problem for a large organization that has existed since the Roman Empire. In fact, the deaths relieved some pressure.

But overall, everything was peaceful and prosperous.

Even though the Roman Empire, which lasted for four hundred years, was split into two parts for various reasons, it was by no means something that could be arbitrarily invaded by Heresy or people of unknown origin. Since the establishment of the Church as the state religion, no enemy has been able to enter the heart of the empire and can only live a miserable life in the border regions.

After all, this was already proven in 300 AD, and presumably it will remain so from now on.

The Holy Church is so confident.

The sky was clear and sunny, and although the afternoon sun shone, a cold wind still blew.

The city of Constantinople Eastern Roman Empire, once known as the 'New Rome' and invested in and developed by Nero to control the eastern part of the empire, is now the capital of this eastern empire.

Despite the continuous influx of wealth from the eastern Mediterranean Sea and Western Asia into Constantinople, impoverished areas were naturally present, which was inevitable.

Rows of small, dilapidated houses stood side by side on both sides of the narrow street, all of them low and somewhat dark.

An adult could easily touch the ceiling of the house, and because there was little open space, the streets between the houses were dark and damp, making one feel as if they had entered a pitch-black tunnel.

In this environment, there is a room. Although the interior space is not large, it is arranged in an orderly manner. The walls of the room are decorated with some simple decorations, including dried flowers, hand-woven trinkets, and some small ornaments.

These items, though not expensive, exude a simple yet warm aesthetic.

"It's so hard."

Just as Avia opened her eyes, she happened to hear this sound.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the Black-Haired Girl had been covering her mouth for some unknown reason immediately sat up straight.

Her clothes were completely black, without any decoration, but despite being a single color, one could sense an indescribable air of authority emanating from the girl.

Then, with bloodshot eyes devoid of any emotion, she looked at Avia lying there and quietly raised a long spear.

"This is yours."

A cold, arrogant voice.

Avia nodded, not quite understanding what this Dead Apostle girl wanted to do, but since they were going to have a conversation, it was best to get up.

After all, he was just a little tired at the time, and wasn't actually seriously injured...

He couldn't quite explain why he felt so tired, but part of the reason was probably because he had made up his mind.

It is imperative to rectify the enormous organization that was born from us, even if it means its destruction, because it has, since some unknown time, already been close to becoming corrupt.

Moreover, there is no natural external force that can easily change it now; its immense Violence has made it an organization that surpasses even the Clock Tower.

"... Who exactly are you?"

The black-haired girl asked calmly.

She was somewhat confused. This should be the person the Grand Sorcerer had sent to find... but was he really a person?

Although physical characteristics and aura are unique to humans and conform to human traits...

The taste was so fragrant, but I couldn't bite into it no matter how hard I tried. I almost wore down the tips of my teeth. What on earth is this Flesh made of?

"If you ask my name, it's Avia; if you ask who I am, I'm Huns."

The Silver-Haired Boy smiled naturally in response to the Dead Apostle's question.

"And what about you?"

"I am... why should I tell you?"

The girl didn't seem to appreciate Avia's goodwill, continuing to speak coldly and showing no regard for Avia.

"Fu!"

Seemingly to demonstrate its master's attitude, the White Demon Hound barked fiercely, its eyes looking as if it wanted to devour someone, and even waved its paw.

However, it was precisely because of this peculiar cry that Avia naturally came to know the identity of the Black-Haired Girl who had suddenly arrived in Britain. After all, the White Beast, the Primate Murder, the master of Kathy Palug, and the only master in the Nasuverse besides the Magus of Flowers.

There is only that black-clad princess left, but since the White Princess will not be created until the twelfth century, she is the rightful 'princess' at this stage.

At the sight of her pet's arrogant attitude, Altrouge Brunestud merely narrowed her blood-red eyes slightly.

"I forgot to mention."

The girl turned her head to the side, glanced coldly at the pet on her shoulder, and said in a voice even colder than her expression:

"Who gave you permission to call me that without my consent?"

Just leaving behind this one sentence is enough to imagine how dark Fou's mood must be right now. The White Demon Hound, being scolded by its master for the first time, is trembling with sadness.

"Haha, the little girl finally found it!"

As a voice rang out, a White-Haired Goddess old man with a vibrant expression appeared. Although he had the face of an old man, he was 1.9 meters tall, strong and sturdy, with a very straight back.

"But let me introduce myself first, after all, I'm not the kind of girl who throws tantrums for no reason, hahaha..."

After laughing, the old man stroked his beard and slowly said:

"Greetings, Your Excellency. My name is Kishua Zelretch Schweinorg."

104: A Born Savior

Avia was well aware of the name of the Grand Sorcerer had mastered the Second Magic and killed Crimson Moon.

However, although Kishua appeared physically robust, there was a subtle sense of listlessness about him, as if something was constantly eroding him.

In fact, since arriving in the year 400 AD, Avia had been puzzled as to why Kishua would stand idly by while the Clock Tower fell into ruin, and why he didn't even offer help to Kouhaku of Solomon, when he was being hunted down. He shouldn't be that kind of person...

Now, at this moment of meeting in person, Avia finally understood, because the Second Magician, who should have been immortal, was actually dying in an extremely bizarre way.

Perhaps noticing Avia's surprise, the White-Haired Goddess old man immediately continued after introducing himself:

"So-called True Magic is indeed something that cannot be compared to Magecraft; it is a power far surpassing it."

The mastery of the Second Magic proved the existence of Parallel World. Thanks to this, the world's lifespan was extended, giving hope to Planet that were gradually losing their dreams.

The Grand Sorcerer is capable of using the Second Magic to transfer to "gems" in different worlds, including time travel. In addition, there is the alteration of records and the rewriting of phenomena, which is equivalent to the operation of Parallel World. He can be described as an existence with infinite energy.

"However, four hundred years ago, my junior fellow Kouhaku, inspired by the Pope Novia, studied something with the support of the Church."

In this rather simple room, one can glimpse the cold, steely blue sky through the plain window, hear the whispering wind outside, and feel the constant rattling of the small house.

Altrouge Brunestud listened attentively to the Grand Sorcerer's explanation, as she was also curious about how Kishua had lost. After all, the scene of the moon being mirrored and the endless Ether energy cannons... that was truly shocking to her.

"Two hundred years ago, Kouhaku finally succeeded in developing it." The Grand Sorcerer sighed slightly. "Magecraft, Faith —it is a unique fantasy that people tirelessly pursue to fuse these two. It is neither a precious Book recording divine pronouncements, nor... nor a tangible object."

"Inspired by the Pope Novia, the ultimate goal of the thought of Kouhaku and many other Church Saint is the unique miracle created by the Church itself, a Love of God unparalleled in the world."

Upon hearing Kishua's description, Avia knew what it was: the Codex Trithemius. But why was Kouhaku, who possessed the Holy Scripture Tretine, being hunted down...? He couldn't help but feel puzzled again.

While Tredin can indeed transform into a human, under the Kouhaku, she shouldn't go too far.

But then, Kishua's words dispelled Avia's confusion, for the White-Haired Goddess old man said:

"The intangible Love of God is not the main reason for my injury. Rather, it was the person the Church sent during our joint effort to kill Crimson Moon, a born Saint who received the unique recognition of the illusion 'Love of God' itself, and was even hailed as the new Savior— "

"Mabul Kihara."

The Grand Sorcerer couldn't help but recall the year 300 AD. Even he himself had to admit back then that she was indeed a born Saint. During the battle of the Millennium Castle, she treated Magecraft, Church members, and Dead Apostle equally...

At that time, even Kishua believed that with this person's charismatic leadership, he could indeed ensure the coexistence of all factions after the killing of Crimson Moon, thus adding vitality to the Planet's continuation...

However, this Saint, who appeared smiling on the battlefield of his great battle with Crimson Moon, and who, through some unknown means, stripped away the Infinite Ether Cannon and the mirrored moon—

"Her mastery of 'fantasy' and the Church's immense Faith severely injured me, causing my physical condition to deteriorate rapidly. As a result, I can no longer observe Parallel World. In other words, she used these two forces to shatter my True Magic."

Rome, beneath the Papal Palace.

Despite being underground, it was illuminated by numerous torches, and the lights were powered by Od, making it a place where the Sun never sets.

Here, intricate patterns are carved everywhere, each stroke brimming with artistic power. These patterns gleam in the light, as if alive, displaying solemnity and Divinity.

The air in this underground space is filled with a faint scent of incense. This fragrance, mixed with the calming aroma of ancient wood and stone walls, evokes a deep sense of tranquility and reverence. It is as if time has stood still here, and every moment is filled with Divinity and solemnity.

Are you going to die again?

A soft voice emanated from someone seated atop a throne crafted from pure gold and inlaid with various jewels.

Following the direction from which the sound came, one could see a person nailed to the wall.

"A hundred years have passed, and you can still reincarnate. Just as you said, you are some kind of god or descendant, Ate? Beelzebub? Or the foreign Evil God you've been longing for? Well, never mind, it's all the same."

That wall seemed to belong to a completely different world from this one, permeated with dampness, mold, and the smell of blood, filled with an atmosphere of desolation and decay.

"However, I have already prepared the materials for your reincarnation again, so continue to contribute your strength. Speaking of which, if you hadn't personally appeared in Millennium Castle and before me that year, I probably wouldn't have been able to capture you. But if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have understood what the great cause the Lord wanted to accomplish when he founded the Church."

"For that, I should thank you."

As the sound faded again, a corpse was thrown to the bottom of the wall. Then, under a thin line of Od invisible to the naked eye, the person above the wall immediately lost all life. At the same time, an unknown thread of power traveled from the person on the wall to the corpse below.

In less than a second, the person who was supposed to be dead opened his eyes, but was immediately nailed to the wall again. In his eyes, there was only Wrath.

"Francesca, as always, just contribute your meager Divine Power and prepare to welcome the New World that has yet to arrive."

"In other words, let's make some necessary sacrifices for my plan, for the great cause that Lord Novia was unable to complete."

105: I'm leaving, so you have to stick close to me.

Mabul Kihara

Although it's just a similar name, considering what Kishua said about being a born Saint, Avia could only guess that the destined Savior, Kiara Sessyoin, had descended to earth more than a thousand years early.

However, based on the explanation given by the Grand Sorcerer, Avia probably understood the question that had been troubling her for so long: why the Church had gradually decayed since 300 AD. It was highly likely that this was the work of the eccentric Saint, Kihara.

I'm truly sorry for saying so much irrelevant stuff.

Even so, Kishua still gave a hearty laugh and continued:

"In short, a hundred years ago, the only points of Future I could observe after my defeat were the vague information of 419 AD and Britain. All other points of future had vanished. Avia, to be honest, I can't guarantee that person was you, but since you were chosen by Altrouge Brunestud, then it must be the current Planet's instruction."

Altrouge Brunestud stared silently at the Grand Sorcerer before her, then cast a suspicious glance at Avia beside her, clearly not having heard any logical connection between her choice and the Planet's instructions.

Avia understood this, because it was clearly stated in Tsukihime R that only when Altrouge Brunestud and Arcueid, born in the 12th century, truly fought to the death could the victor become the true 'ONE,' which is Earth's UO.

After all, the hybrid of the True Ancestor and the Dead Apostle was created from half a Planet.

"Fine, whether it's me or not, I'm definitely going to take action against the Church."

Avia spoke without hesitation, as if she had already made up her mind.

"Hahaha, that's good. In that case, I'll be going now. Otherwise, if Mabul catches me, the consequences will be dire; my power will be continuously drained..."

Just Tathagata, it appeared because of sound, and it will leave because of sound.

After the lively White-Haired Goddess old man left, Avia and Altrouge Brunestud began a silent stare-down.

What I expected to be a few dozen seconds of silence turned into a silence that lasted four or five minutes and still hadn't ended.

The White Demon Hound now lay on the ground, seemingly exhausted, clearly Sorrow by its master's cold attitude.

The Black-Haired Girl exuded an air of mystery that suggested she wouldn't easily approach others, along with a certain aura, as if she herself was an anomaly regardless of her background.

To be honest, even though she knew that this princess's appearance and physique were within the range of a fourteen-year-old, Avia still felt like she had encountered far too many of these things.

Bang bang bang.

There was a knock at the door; it seemed someone had come to visit.

With a cold sigh, Altrouge Brunestud stood up, glanced at Fou without a word, and then the White Demon Hound jumped up and opened the door.

"My Lady, it's terrible! We've been exposed!"

The blond man who appeared before them, with his disordered breathing and inexplicably upturned eyes, made Avia realize that this was the same Dead Apostle had appeared in the Labyrinth, claiming he could only survive by buying blood from the hospital...