The Dogs Bark, but the Caravan Moves On (3)

…The distant past rose like a mist. One year, ten, a hundred, then a thousand passed. Those days couldn't be expressed in terms of time, those distant memories of the Holy Age. God was still alive then, and Quay was a devout believer. Since there was only one God in that world, everyone except God was a believer.

—What do you think today's divine revelation will be?

—Haha. I'll just write down anything and accept it graciously.

The believers of the Holy Age received revelations from God and spent their days interpreting them. His body and mind were filled only with the revelations of God. A life in harmony with God, each creature dedicated solely to the one who created them.

In that great era, Quay was happy. Every moment was full, and every fragment was insightful.

—Quay. This revelation is significant.

A strange revelation came without any warning. To Quay, the revelation was interpreted as follows:

[Your indulgence will bring me to death.]

The indulgence of believers and the death of God. Quay was shocked. He belatedly toured this village, looking at the faces of the believers with suspicion. Eventually, he realized that they were different from him.

—…

The complexion of the believers looked tired. They seemed bored as if something other than God had entered their hearts. Time had corrupted their beliefs.

—We must restore our faith! Look at this revelation! Otherwise, God will be in danger!

Quay tried to persuade them, but all he got back was a dry answer.

—Quay, the interpretation of a revelation varies from person to person. The difference is how you take it.

—There is no question of interpretation in this revelation! God doesn't discuss his death!

There was controversy over the interpretation. Quay engaged in a fierce fight with the other followers, but his efforts were vain. Not long after, God's death occurred.

—…?

That day of doom was strangely ordinary. The air was rather clear and refreshing, and the wind brushed his hair to comfort him. Thanks to such a gentle touch, Quay knew.

The 'divinity' in the atmosphere had been extinguished. God had been murdered.

—Drip, drip.

Quay opened his eyes to the sound of the falling rain. He stared up at a glowing chandelier in an otherwise dark mansion.

"Are you awake?"

Deculein called out to him. Quay looked around.

"…"

He was reading a book in the library, with his staff set at an angle on his desk. Quay looked at him and nodded.

"Yes. I dreamed for the first time in a long while. A dream of the Holy Age."

"Did you have fun?"

"No. It was of despair. It was the day God was murdered."

Slowly turning the page, Deculein smiled.

"What's so funny?"

"I can see your body breaking like mine."

"…Pfff."

Quay snorted. A doll's body had limitations, after all. The dream would be proof that he was nearing that limit.

"Enough time to see the end."

"Me too."

Quay stood and adjusted his clothes. Then the knight behind Deculein grabbed her sword.

"…It's a forget-me-not."

Quay didn't even look at Julie but instead pointed to a flower on the desk, the forget-me-nots that Lia gave Deculein. Deculein glanced at it and said.

"Do you know the language of flowers?"

"Flowers do not speak. It's just a man-made thing."

Drip— Drip—

At that moment, the rain picked up, drumming against the roof.

"'Don't forget me."

Deculein said. Quay turned away and looked out the window.

"In the flower language."

"…"

"God is coming, Quay."

Rustle-

Deculein turned the page as Quay's face contorted.

"God is already dead."

"No. I can feel him. Now I will make his way with the lighthouse."

Deculein closed the book. Then, he looked at the rain outside.

"…That's probably why she sent me down."

Suddenly, with a smile on his lips, he looked back at Quay.

"Quay. She pities you."

"…"

"She wants you to find your worth on your own."

Quay remained expressionless. Nevertheless, Deculein continued.

"Her name is… Rain."

Rain is the screenwriter for this game. The God who framed this world and perhaps brought me here.

"She's always been on this continent, watching the creatures. She affirms whatever choices people make and loves their free will. And she worries about you."

Quay shook his head.

"You will find out soon. Who is right."

Drip— Drip—

Quay looked back out the rattling window and took a step forward. At that moment, the space changed.

Swoooosh…

To the forest outside the Yukline mansion. Quay raised his head to the dark clouds.

"…Rain."

Looking up at the falling rain, Quay wore a dark smile. As time went on, the doll's body weakened, and as he encountered strong humans such as Kreto, Epherene, and Deculein, Quay became suspicious. He tested his faith.

Quay already knew why.

"I have known for a long time that Deculein's faith is stronger than mine."

His infinitely strong belief, his mental power stronger than causality, shook his faith. It was being stained by a stronger belief.

Quay let out a scornful laugh.

"…Oh, God. Yet I still believe in your death, and I am convinced that the descendants of the God killer live on this continent."

Therefore, because his faith was shaken, the dead God couldn't come back. No, you mustn't come back.

"But if you weren't dead. If you just pretended to kill yourself and watched from afar."

There was a small amount of anger in Quay's voice. His hands trembled as he clenched them.

"The countless years I waited and prayed for you…."

Please support our website and read on site

A prayer of ten thousand years of dedication, perhaps even more distant than that. Infinite years, only waiting for God to return and isolating his existence from the world.

"…They will become meaningless."

'So, if you want to comfort me after I prayed for ten thousand years without a single word, suppose that's the case…'

"I would rather kill you…."

Drip—

Rainwater seeped down Quay's face as he quietly closed his eyes.

Swooooosh…

He baptized himself in the falling rain.

* * *

Deculein suppressed the Demon Blood and threw them into the painting prison. He looked for them through the desert, slaughtering 70% of the Demon Blood population. He also broke down all calm in the process.

All those who could be called the pro-Imperial powers judged everyone else to be on the Demon Blood's side, torturing them until they confessed. In addition, Deculein wrote a statement of declaration of war on the kingdom closest to the Empire. Some kingdoms who heard the news fell to their knees in surrender before the war broke out.

In this way, Deculein became a triumphant general who won the war without even fighting. He simultaneously shoved aside the media that attacked him and officially warned the Floating Island.

"…There are many resistant forces in the kingdom, principality, and this empire~."

Ganesha said in the Masal conference room surrounded by stacks of documents. Lia put down her newspaper and nodded.

"Yeah. Deculein is a contributor."

Deculein wielded the power and prestige of the emperor. It was only for the sake of the Altar's destruction and their great empire, according to him.

"Not only the Empire but the commoners and nobles of the kingdom, everyone hates him. The evidence of the crimes he committed has been collected."

Ganesha pointed to the papers. It was all evidence, but they couldn't reveal it right now. Deculein's prestige was overpowering the continent, so they'd have their heads cut off before even reaching trial.

"…Should we just wait?"

"Yeah."

Lia nodded.

"The end is decided anyway."

Lia already knew the last part of this questline. In the end, they would have to go to Annihilation and reach the lighthouse.

"Deculein will prepare his magic in his lighthouse."

"Oh~, let's aim for the moment he'll turn on that lighthouse~. Is that what you mean?"

"Yeah."

Deculein would activate the lighthouse, and that was their chance. Sophien and the Imperial forces, the Demon Blood survivors, and Masal would preemptively attack them.

"There will be a chance to strike back. Soon."

—Meoooow.

The two looked up in surprise. The red-haired Munchkin was looking down at them.

"…Your Majesty?"

—Leave that moment to me.

The Munchkin said.

—I will pierce his heart.

With a hardened face, her tail held upright.

* * *

Annihilation was swarming with life, all members of the Altar. They were bowing down, looking at the tall lighthouse built in the middle of their barren lands.

"Impressive."

Kreto said. I turned to him and nodded.

"Yes. It is. It's a building that will not be corroded by dark energy."

The lighthouse was sturdy. The property of 'never break' was endowed in its stones. No matter what happened, it would remain on this continent.

"What are you going to observe with that?"

"I will make way for comets and observe God."

"…The comet?"

"Yes. The comet shall destroy the continent."

Some devotees behind me trembled.

"Then the continent won't prosper."

"Things that can perish will perish. Not me or you."

"…"

Kreto silently smiled. I purposely hardened my expression.

"The most thorough class system will arise."

I said for the others to listen. Lia and Ganesha's informants from the Demon Blood probably watched my every move.

"A continent full of filth and garbage will finally be cleansed."

"…Filth and garbage. What is filth and garbage to you? Are the members of the Altar included among them?"

Kreto asked.

"Of course. Those who returned to the Altar are no different from the wastes left by the Empire. I'll use them and throw them away, that's all."

In other words, those who gained prominence by drinking the elixir.

"They will be the first to be ruled out."

Then, a hoarse cough sounded from behind us, and Relin approached.

"Um… Count."

Relin had a hesitant look.

"What's going on?"

"Er… the underground area of the tower…"

When I heard it, I knew immediately what he meant. It must mean Louina and Ihelm escaped.

"I asked what was going on, Relin."

I asked just that. But with Relin's personality, it was clear that he'd hesitate and run away.

"Oh, it's nothing. There was a minor problem, but I can solve it on my own!"

It was a response that didn't deviate even one inch from the expected. I nodded.

"It'll be worship time soon. So you can take care of the little things."

"…Oh, yes. Yes…"

Relin fled. I watched him go, and Kreto placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered.

"…Then work hard.:

I knew what he meant. Kreto was Quay's closest aide, and he heard everything from him.

"Yes. A person who wants to become a God seems weak against you, Your Majesty."

"…I guess so. It's curious for me too."

Kreto softly smiled. Behind him, a familiar face flashed past.

I hid my smile and turned to Kreto.

"Goodbye."