Chapter 66

But at this moment, Typhon felt the same way Altrouge Brunestud had before him: this person was definitely showing off, wasn't he?

Damn it, this is so frustrating!

"I... I understand."

Typhon's face was clearly smiling, but his tone was somewhat agitated, as if he couldn't swallow his anger over something.

"I never imagined that this so-called Greece Primordial Dragon, the Progenitor of All Demons, would be so easy to deal with... This was completely unimaginable before."

When Meli first met Typhon, his expression, his eyes, and even the heart hidden within them were like Kuchiki and dead ashes, worn down and weakened by years of sealing. And that Pureblood Dragon now seemed like a human.

It's obvious without much thought that, given Typhon's personality, no one would feel threatened.

It's true; you could say that love can rob a person of their judgment and abilities.

However, upon witnessing this naivety, and through the aid of Rhine Gold's observation, the still immature Magus of Flowers felt as if he had been forced to eat a pile of candy until he was stuffed.

Although I actually really enjoy eating it, after a while... I eventually start to get a little annoyed.

133: Before North Africa was occupied, take over Persia.

The place where Avia was living at that moment would probably be considered by people born in the Roman Empire to be just a temporary tent.

This is normal. On the Eastern European Steppe, the Huns do not have fixed dwellings, but they do have tents made of felt and sheepskin. The interior of the tents is blue and has a wool carpet.

Although I've only returned once every few years since I went to the Western Rome with Attila, I still feel like I'm home every time I come back.

Summer has fully arrived, and the breeze blowing in through the open door is gentle and pleasant, cooled by the surrounding greenery of the grassland, carrying with it the fragrance of verdant greenery.

The silver-haired youth enjoyed the comfortable breeze while turning his gaze back into the tent.

The sounds of training, rest, and conversations created a lively and bustling daily atmosphere that drifted into the tents on the wind.

Ahead of Avia's gaze was a simple map of Europe.

Earlier, he received news that the "Bagaudae Revolt," which had lasted for more than a year in Gaul, had been suppressed. It was estimated that the death toll was in the hundreds of thousands, since the most prosperous city in Gaul had been razed to the ground. He could roughly guess that it was Kihara who had taken action.

It's understandable that he possessed the strength to severely injure Kishua a century ago, but the question is, why did he only make his move now?

Unable to find Answer, Avia set the question aside and focused his thinking on the Huns Empire and the Western Roman Empire.

In reality, in terms of economic strength, the Western Rome was no match for the Eastern Rome Constantinople, the emerging cities and more active trade in the east have exacerbated the disparity between the east and west. The east supplied the west with silk, jewels, and Crops, while the west only had people and warhorses to exchange for, and the amount of gold coins was also decreasing. This was manageable before the empire split, but now that it had, it was no longer able to function.

From the third century onwards, Europe experienced more famines, diseases, Flood, and other natural disasters than before. Initially, the Church's support was sufficient, but as time went on, instances of embezzlement naturally began to emerge.

In addition, although the Christ Faith prevented any serious uprisings and even led to the Faith of various people to Christ, the Church itself developed a discrimination against those who later became "barbarians" over time. Furthermore, since almost none of the church's senior members were "barbarians" Christ Faith, this exacerbated the unspoken discriminatory policies within the Church.

Moreover, the Western Rome's reliance on the Church had clearly created political chaos. The Rome emperor was still the same emperor, but the Rome Empire was no longer the same empire... Even so, it was by no means an existence that the Huns Empire at this time could contend with.

After all, this is a world with Magecraft and other abilities.

Therefore, Avia has already decided that he does not intend to transform the Huns, who retain many vestiges of tribal kinship regimes, into the prototype of an authoritarian state.

Therefore, what will become of Europe after everything is over depends on the choices of the Rome have lost their empire, the Germans scattered throughout the land, or the Huns with their new empire.

So let's wait and see when the Vandals will launch their murderous attack on North Africa, the food lifeline of the Western Roman Empire.

At that time, unrest will naturally ensue within the Western Rome, making it the perfect opportunity to Western Rome.

Although the Bagaudae Revolt was brutally suppressed, it also reflected that the Christ Faith, which had been suppressed for many years, was about to be unable to contain the anger of various social classes within the Western Roman Empire. Sooner or later, a series of uprisings would break out in various parts of the Western Rome.

Therefore, Avia decided that before North Africa was occupied by the Vandals, a branch of the Germans, he should first set his sights on the Sasanian Empire in Western Asia and see if he could conquer Persia.

"Oh? Someone's here?"

Just as the silver-haired youth were planning their Future development, an aura appeared at the Dnieper River, completely undisguised.

"However, this aura... it belongs to Dead Apostle. Is it because of Princess Ji?"

This made Avia unconsciously and naturally smile and shake her head.

"We should still go and check on this uninvited guest."

On the Eastern European Steppe, at the Dnieper River, the fourth Taiga in Europe, there is a boat floating on the water.

Its scale is truly epoch-making, with a total length of one hundred meters.

With a width of 21 meters and a gross tonnage of 63,000 tons, every single figure speaks to the sheer size of this ship, which can be described as a pure white Castle.

It has seven floors and is said to be able to accommodate about two thousand people. It is so large that it can remain unmoved even in strong winds and waves, and people inside will not feel the slightest sway.

Just looking up, it's as if I'm about to lose my sense of distance, and for that reason—

In the sunlight just past noon, the blond man, the White Knight Brad, stared at the large ship before him, or more precisely, at the man at the bow who wore a cane, and a disdainful smile appeared on his face.

"It really is you, but I have absolutely no interest in your blood, Van Fem."

That being said, Brad did not underestimate Van Phim, one of the oldest Dead Apostle. The seven Demon Castle he created were massive weapons with a curse concentration high enough to cause physical destruction.

In the Lord El-Melloi II adventure, Van Phegham simply manipulated the Demon Castle using only the concept of repulsion to directly block Zagreus, who was using Typhon's Authority. In the end, he even used only the Demon Castle to knock Zagreus had changed his name to Bai Ruolong, into the sea and made him bleed. This was his strength before he even opened the gates of the Demon Castle.

Although the Deity have been weakened in modern times, their strength can still be described as formidable.

However, Brad, the White Knight who was able to personally destroy the Fifth Demon Castle, naturally possessed corresponding strength.

"Completely exposed, though I don't care at all." Van Fem grinned broadly, his smile unpretentious. "I've come to pay my respects to Your Highness, and I wonder if the White Knight could inform you of my presence."

"Lord Ji will not welcome you."

The White Knight, showing no respect to the Fourteenth Ancestor, suddenly emitted a ghostly blue light on the Dnieper River in front of him, clearly visible even in daylight. This light gradually formed a phantom ship exuding murderous intent, upon which were numerous figures—this was Brad's Reality Marble, the Ghost March.

"Though I have come with sincerity, I am not one to be easily captured. Today, I will avenge my beloved daughter."

Van Femme used a salute to signify the declaration of war, and the blue handkerchief on his chest swayed like a rose.

However, just as things were about to escalate—

"Brad, who is this?"

What happened next was somewhat unexpected for Van Fem. After all, in his mind, this person who had suddenly arrived was just a human. But for some reason, the White Knight, who could be considered an old-fashioned fellow, showed great respect.

The respect has reached the point where the prepared Reality Marble should be immediately dispelled.

This inevitably aroused doubt in Van Fem's mind. Could this person actually be a human body possessed by the soul of the Princess? But she shouldn't be unfamiliar with me...

"Your Avia, this is Van Phim, who is ranked fourteenth among us in the Famous Church."

The White Knight's respect for Avia stemmed not only from the fact that he had provided them with a place to live and obtain blood, but also from Avia's own formidable strength. After all, as the Dead Apostle Ancestor, he and the Black Knight could have easily done so if they wanted to, but the Princess Lord forbade it, which is why the Royal Guard and the two knights had been forced to live by drinking animal blood.

The real reason for his respect lay with Princess Altrouge Brunestud. After all, he had personally witnessed his lord carrying this human to Constantinople and keeping her in his own quarters for several months. He had even inadvertently seen the princess occasionally try to bite Avia but then give up...

"I see."

Then, looking up at Van Fem at the bow of the ship, the silver-haired youth said this.

"Would Van Femme be so kind as to invite me aboard?"

"This is a rare opportunity, and I am naturally extremely happy to take it."

134: Altrouge Brunestud, you are just a failure.

The interior of the ship can be viewed as an unusual dark alleyway. This is not a matter of actual light levels; the concept itself is one of darkness. In other words, it is not a natural phenomenon, but rather the result of mysterious intervention.

A Magecraft Bounded Field —specifically designed to repel sunlight —Bounded Field was set up inside this large ship.

Even with everything illuminated by the Sun on the horizon, this place remained an unsettlingly dark and gloomy spot.

Inside the almost empty ship, the silver-haired youth was led by Van Fim, and soon they arrived at an elegant terrace.

Although it's just a terrace, the sandalwood table and the cabinet with wine glasses exude an irresistible elegance, probably because the furniture was custom-made.

Then, standing in front of the table, Van Fem thudded his cane and turned his head.

"Avia is rather special."

Why?

"In my opinion, the only one who could make Brad treat me like this is the runaway princess."

"It can't be just that."

"Well, indeed, your situation is quite special, as if you suddenly appeared, and you can't see the past or the Future." Van Fem readily admitted. "Then, it was you, Avia, who killed the Kraken, who was able to kill Kraken that shouldn't have died in its present state."

"Shouldn't Kraken be dead now?"

Avia didn't deny it, but asked the future Dead Apostle Ancestor, who would later be known as the Financial Demon King, with great interest.

"In a sense, this was the Planet's choice. After the Age of Gods in Norse mythology ended, it should have remained hidden in the North Sea. After its mystery faded, it would have been described by those who had seen it as a creature similar to those from another Planet. But since you killed it, naturally another creature will take its place."

The man in the top hat spoke eloquently, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

His tone was very calm, which is probably how those who sing ancient and mythological songs do as well.

"Valeri Fernand Vandirshtam, what brings you here?"

As the two were talking, a girl's voice came through.

In that instant, Van Fem nodded apologetically to Avia, then looked at the black-haired princess who was slowly walking towards him.

"Your Highness, you must have met Kishua before."

"... So what if it is? Why are you asking this?"

"That guy must have said a lot to you, and given you a lot of hope."

For some reason, Altrouge Brunestud knew that Van Fem was about to say something very unusual.

Suddenly, she felt a sudden surge of fear.

She dared not listen, for what Van Fem was about to say was about to be decisive.

Looking down from where Altrouge Brunestud stands, one can catch a glimpse of the azure color—the blue of the sky and the ocean.

Because of the ship's height, the view is expansive, allowing one to see the distant horizon of the sea. What one sees is the azure color that comes to mind when talking about the sea, as well as the unfamiliar, deep blue of the azure ocean.

The water's surface was devoid of not only humans or other animals, but also the clear air where insects and birds roosted. It reflected the clear blue sky, and the edges of countless waves shimmered with subtle, mysterious crystalline blue.

It is radiant and brilliant, yet filled with a deep, dark hue that keeps its secrets hidden. The azure color conceals a clear part of the darkness within.

"Yes, that's right, but I came here after discussing it with White-Winged Duke."

As Van Fem let out what seemed like a heavy and long sigh, he made the Cross on his chest.

"You are our only Queen. Since we have no Future, let us defy the Planet's original choice and join forces to annihilate the Queen who is still in the process of being born and will not appear for another eight hundred years. From then on, you will be the 'strongest' on the Planet and will become the Primordial 'One'."

Van Fem's expression changed slightly, and his words, like a confession, resonated in that moment.

"What... what do you mean...? The Princess hasn't even been revealed yet... and what's the strongest...?"

Then, Van Fem spoke.

Say what Altrouge Brunestud wants to hear.

"Kishua Zelretch Schweinorg, my friend, ever since the battle of Crimson Moon, I have been watching and waiting for the factor that would end the Crimson Moon problem for him, but I have given you illusory expectations. For this, I must apologize to you. My lady, you should be the leader of us Dead Apostle, Lady Altrouge Brunestud."

On the terrace of the steward's room of the Ship of the Dead Apostle, overlooking the view of the Eastern European steppes.

The ship remained anchored on the Dnieper River, but even with its large size, it couldn't completely stop rocking.

The boat rocked as if slightly puzzled by the countless sights of the Nightless City, admiring what it saw. From behind the man who was squinting on a chair on the terrace, voices rang out.

"Lord Van Fem, I've brought it."

One of the six puppet sisters brought a beautifully shaped Wine bottle. As she picked up the glass filled with Wine, Van Fem admired the aroma, tilting the glass slightly while smiling coldly.

His eyes looked through the Wine towards Altrouge Brunestud, and he said:

"If it were me thousands of years ago—no, at least a hundred years ago—I shouldn't have done this, nor did I need to. But if I were to say that, even Kishua and my friends would probably despise and look down on me."

Listen attentively.

The sound of waves could be heard.

Humans came from there, all living things came from there, and most Deity are no exception.