motivated by personal reasons, it’s important to remember that leadership and responsibility carry their own weight. It is not enough to act out of guilt or the fear of dishonor. You must find a purpose that transcends your own feelings and embodies the ideals that the Church stands for. The burden of command is heavy, and the path ahead may be fraught with challenges that test your resolve. Are you prepared to face such trials not only for yourself but for all those who depend on you? You must ask yourself whether your motivations align with the higher calling of your role, as the Crusaders will look to you as a beacon of hope.”
Alus pondered over the words of the Second Apostle. The fiery resolve that had brought him this far now must be tempered with wisdom and foresight. The shadows of doubt lurked at the edges of his thoughts, but he steeled himself, convinced more than ever that he could not turn back. As he dawned his armor and steeled his heart for the journey ahead, he felt the weight of his oath bearing down on him.
The dawn of a new day approached, slicing through the darkness that wrapped the world in its embrace. The expedition to Pandora loomed ahead like a beast to be tamed, and it was his mission to lead that charge into the unknown, armed with faith, sacrifice, and honor.
Their conversation continued late into the night, as a legend and an aspirant forged a bond strengthened by an understanding of the trials ahead. Their destinies intertwined, they prepared to take on a land steeped in conflict and uncertainty, knowing that greatness would demand far more than they could foresee at that moment.
“There is no need to be so tense. Sariel has been freed from the yoke of the Apostle and is surely living happily now.”
“Is it true that as an Apostle, you can know such things?”
With a hint of sarcasm, I couldn’t help but let those words slip.
It is hard to believe that Sariel is in such a conveniently pleasant environment.
“This is not my opinion, but the words of the Third Apostle Michael… It is likely the truth. Do you know why Sariel has become a permanent missing person?”
“No… It’s just that she suffered an unthinkable defeat as an Apostle, and thus God did not forgive her.”
“That is incorrect. The one who truly moved Sariel’s heart has appeared.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means exactly what it says. There was someone who made Sariel abandon her faith. They call it a permanent missing person, which is an exaggeration… It is nothing more than a petty outburst of jealousy because she had her favorite daughter taken by another man.”
“……”
As a cardinal, no, as a fellow Christian, I couldn’t affirm Abel’s words.
However, Arus felt no urge to yell in denial. Hence the silence.
“You are a man who has become a cardinal. You must have long understood that the ‘White God’ is not as merciful and generous as many believers think. He is quite capricious and does not hesitate to toy with people, much like a human tyrant.”
“Lord Abel, even though you are an Apostle, such words are too much.”
“Ah, I apologize for burdening you with such nonsense. In any case, what I wanted to say is — if you find Sariel over there, just leave her be.”
“Indeed, Lord Sariel has betrayed the Crusaders and is still alive.”
“Betrayal or not, it was we who forced her into slavery. To say a slave has betrayed after being freed is a complaint of a foolish master.”
“I… I have never thought of myself as Lord Sariel’s master, even once. However, it is true that I have used her. If you truly say she is happy now, then, Second Apostle Lord Abel, I will accept your advice honestly.”
Thank you, Arus deeply bowed his head.
For Arus, who carried feelings of guilt toward Sariel, those words were perhaps the greatest comfort he could receive.
“However, I am already the Commander-in-Chief of the Crusaders. I cannot ease my hand on the conquest of Pandora solely for the sake of Lord Sariel’s happiness.”
“That is only natural. As Christians, we cannot go against the will of the White God — Arus, Cardinal, it seems you have made quite an extensive preparation over this year.”
“Yes, I have exerted all the power I could muster.”
As a result, it led to strengthening the Crusaders of the Sinclair Republic.
Even Cardinal Mercedes, who should have been dragging down the opposition faction, has shown a willingness to cooperate, however passively, and, along with this, other cardinals and neutral factions have tilted their support toward the Pandora Expedition Crusaders.
By showing unity beyond the factions of the Church, the movements of the nobles who had been reluctant to dispatch troops have also become active.
Hundreds of thousands of troops have already been sent to Pandora, and even more soldiers will be dispatched, along with settlers beyond that.
Since the Galahad War, the movements of the Crusaders, which seemed to stagnate, have undeniably accelerated since Arus’s appointment as Commander-in-Chief.
“It must be said that your skill is truly remarkable. The momentum of the Crusaders heading to Pandora has reached a flow that can no longer be stopped by anyone.”
Conversely, it could be said that until now, there still remained a possibility of stopping.
If everyone began to pull back because the Pandora Expedition was not worthwhile, the invasion would naturally cease.
However, due to Cardinal Arus’s efforts, both the Church and the Republic have leaned toward the conquest of Pandora, for better or worse.
“This battle will never end until either Pandora or Sinclair falls.”
“Since this is a battle that began with a divine oracle. That is what both God and we, the believers, desire.”
With a resolve to pour the full power of the Cross Religion, Arus replied.
“Let us take care of the other business… I came here not only for Sariel, but also to give you something.”
Suddenly, Abel placed a small wooden box on the table.
It was a plain wooden box that looked like it had been carelessly loaded onto a cargo ship.
Receiving the intent to open it, Arus carefully opened the box.
Inside was something wrapped in a beautiful white silk cloth… perhaps dishware or something.
The moment he unraveled the smooth fabric, Arus gasped.
“Is this… could it be…?”
“Ah, the Holy Grail.”
The Holy Grail.
It is the holy relic that represents the Cross Religion.
“This is one of the three Great Holy Grails I possess, the ‘Pureblood Holy Grail of the Virgin Aria.'”
It was a tarnished golden, ancient cup.
It was not adorned with magnificent decorations, nor did it shine with powerful magical energy.
It looked like a second-hand piece that no one would pay attention to, lined up by some dubious street vendors.
However, as if fearing to even touch it, Arus’s body froze.
“There is no need to be so tense. As long as the seal is not broken, this is merely a metal cup.”
“But, a real Holy Grail… this is the first time I’ve seen one.”
There are many sacred items publicly used or displayed, including the exclusively used weapon of the Apostles, the ‘Armed Scriptures.’
However, the ‘Relic’ said to directly harbor the power of the White God is particularly special among them.
And the Holy Grail is the most famous and symbolic of those relics.
The Church possesses the three holy grails called the three Great Holy Grails, but none have ever seen the light of day.
“I have only used this once in the past. Since then, I have kept it with me… well, this is also a divine oracle. I entrust this Pureblood Holy Grail to you.”
“I, me? The Holy Grail…?”
“Will you not accept it?”
Meeting the serious shine in his blue and black eyes, Cardinal Arus received the Holy Grail into his hands.
“Leave it to me. I, Arus, have indeed received the ‘Pureblood Holy Grail of the Virgin Aria.'”
On the 20th of the Month of Clear Water.
At last, the Crusaders completely subdued Spada Royal Castle and completed the occupation of the capital.
However, the Spada Army, which had been engaged in a desperate defense battle in the capital along with a number of civilians, escaped through a teleportation from the royal castle, and the fierce battle ended rather anticlimactically overnight.
Now, there is no one to stop the Crusaders in the capital of Spada, but the figures of the demon race they should slay have also vanished. The people of Spada in the capital either teleported away, fled outside taking advantage of the battle, or have already been captured. Even if there are a few remaining who have evaded the eyes of the Crusaders, it is only a matter of time before they are discovered.
Into the now empty capital of Spada, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Crusaders, Arus, stepped.
There were no enemy shadows anywhere, and more than 100,000 Crusaders were stationed in the city, with the Eighth Apostle Ai waiting in the royal castle. Commander-in-Chief Arus boldly walked along the secure main street toward the royal castle.
Until now, the Command Headquarters of the Crusaders had been located in Daedalus Castle, but having crossed the Galahad Mountain Range, a route for invasion into various parts of the continent has finally opened, leading to the relocation to Spada Royal Castle.
Combined with the appointment of the new commander and the relocation of the headquarters, it was indeed a hectic state, but — on that evening, Arus descended into the basement of Spada Royal Castle, accompanied only by his direct guards, the Holy Knights.
Originally, the basement of the royal castle seemed to be an ancient ruin.
The Spada people who had taken refuge in the royal castle used the massive original monolith found in this basement to escape.
And deeper underground, in the deepest part, there was a wide hall called the ‘Cocytus Chamber,’ which was an ancient sealing device. It was already known that the Eighth Apostle Ai, captured during the Galahad War, had been imprisoned here.
Now that Ai has been released, there is no one imprisoned in this seal, which is said to “stop time.”
However, when Arus entered the ‘Cocytus Chamber,’ there was one individual standing there.
“——It’s been a while, Bishop Judas.”
“Indeed, it has been a long time, Cardinal Arus.”
The benefactor who once entrusted the Seventh Apostle Sariel to me. Since then, I have been helped by his powers many times… but I have never trusted this old man named Judas.
He stood there with the same white hair and beard he had when I first met him, a sturdy figure despite his old age.
“Let me congratulate you on the establishment of the Fifth Laboratory.”
“I too appreciate your swift approval.”
When I marched toward Spada, the members of ‘The White Relic’ led by Judas, who had been based at the Fourth Laboratory in Daedalus, had accompanied me.
It seemed they had already grasped that there were similar ancient ruins in the underground of Spada, and this was their chance to take advantage of that. They had also formally submitted a request for the establishment of a laboratory to me as the commander, and since I granted the approval, the existence of the Fifth Laboratory is not a closely guarded secret.
Despite having suffered defeat in the earlier Galahad War, ‘The White Relic’ had garnered support from the Crusaders by providing various new weapons, including the chimera soldiers which are perfect as disposable pawns and the ancient golem ‘Taurus,’ which demonstrates great power in siege warfare. Many hope that they will develop even more powerful new weapons in the future.
However, that is not enough reason for Arus to specifically come to meet Judas at night, avoiding the public eye.
The reason for coming here is undoubtedly Judas’s earnest wish, and I could not refuse the request of such a benefactor.
“So, what is the business at hand?”
We were not on such casual terms to exchange pleasantries. Arus decided to ask directly for the reason for this summons.
“Do you know what this place is for?”
“It is called the ‘Cocytus Chamber’ and is said to be a facility for housing special prisoners in Spada, using an ancient sealing device, but… I cannot imagine how it was used in ancient times.”
As a cardinal, Arus had a fair understanding of the secrets of ancient ruins.
I knew the reason for the ancient tablet known as the ‘End of History’ in Sinclair, as well as about the original monolith. I knew much more about the ancient truths than average archaeologists and could also decipher ancient languages.
However, the mysteries of antiquity are too numerous, and I do not possess the passion to speak fervently on my theories regarding them. Hence, I would merely respond that I do not know what I do not know.
“This is merely an entrance. It seems the Spada people have been here for hundreds of years without being able to open it even once. Perhaps they chose to keep it closed after opening it once.”
“That sounds ominous. Is there some ancient monster sealed within?”
“There are no monsters here. What lies beyond is—”
As if saying that it is quicker to see than to explain, Judas began to chant.
At his first word, the magic circle here reacted, and a massive formation spread across the floor, emitting a bluish-white glow.
Surely, the incantation was woven only in ancient language, and Arus simply watched.
Before long, when Judas’s voice that resonated in the hall came to a stop — gogo, the back wall began to move with a sound.
It appeared similar to the operation of a hidden door, which is occasionally seen in ancient ruins. However, the part that opened was much larger than a door, resembling a gigantic gate.
What kind of ancient mystery might be sleeping beyond this?
“…What’s this? There’s nothing here.”
Unable to hold back, Arus let those words slip.
Contrary to his expectations, there was particularly nothing noticeable in the space that was opened.
There were no massive stone slabs like the original monolith, no exquisite ancient altars, and certainly not a single treasure shining brightly.
It was simply a spacious area.
The floor, for some reason, was neither stone nor metal, but rather dark, somewhat moist earth.
And the only thing that caught the eye in this place was — a wooden frame standing in the center.
“No, this is definitely the place. I have finally made it here…”
Murmuring in an unusually sentimental tone, Judas walked straight toward the mysterious frame.
Arus followed silently, but even up close, it could only be described as a “frame.”
Its dimensions were wide enough for people to pass easily, towering about five meters in height. However, in such a wide space with a lofty ceiling, it looked all too small and shabby.
The material, once presumably painted red, had most of the paint peeled off. The wood grain showed underneath the paint, clearly indicating it was wooden.
Two vertical pillars and two more that crossed at the top formed a large rectangle; its shape was excessively simple. While it was certainly not just a random assortment of logs, it was refined… But I could hardly believe that such a makeshift wooden object would be the ancient relic sought by a person of Judas’s stature.
“What on earth is this wooden frame?”
“It is called ‘Torii,’ which means ‘a place where birds may reside.'”
“Torii…?”
I had never heard of it, nor could I fathom why such a mere wooden frame would need a name, Arus thought.
“It has been hidden in such a place. That Torii must surely wield immense ancient power, right?”
I unintentionally blurted out a sarcastic remark.
Without paying any mind to Arus’s words, Bishop Judas replied.
“Oh yes, it does. This is the gate leading to another world.”
“Another world? You don’t mean the realm of foreigners—”
“Cardinal Arus, I have lent you my strength to a fair extent until now.”
Judas confronted me directly with that statement.
To that question, I had no denial.
“Yes, thanks to you. I am a cardinal and the Commander-in-Chief of the Crusaders.”
“Now is the time for you to repay that debt.”
“…… I see, that explains why until now, I have been asked for no tangible reciprocation.”
Regarding Sariel and the subsequent assistance, I had not specifically paid anything to Judas.
However, he had not said that everything could be free of charge.
All of that was a loan, and I had been told that one day, the time would come to repay it.
During that time, I had thought that perhaps Judas was waiting until I reached a higher rank than him, and that I would amass great power and fortune…
“Bishop Judas, I truly appreciate your support. Now, let me repay you for the care you’ve provided until now.”
Resolved, Arus replied.
What exactly had Judas sought in return —