458 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

**Chapter 458** "Things have unfolded like this…." In a forest just slightly removed from the main road, a man with brown hair and brown eyes sat by a campfire, letting out a soft laugh and a sigh. He wore a look of relief, akin to someone who had just completed a monumental task. Across from him sat an old man missing his right arm. He added with a sly smile, "With this, the Kassel Tower will no longer be able to reveal itself so directly." “We can’t be sure. They might just ignore it and appear anyway.” The man with brown hair, actually Logan in disguise, said this as a counterargument, but in truth, he didn’t believe it himself. "If they want to face the Holy Kingdom with the dwindling forces of the Empire after our war, that is." The old man nodded with a chuckle, acknowledging the point. "Regardless, it’s definitely a favorable move for MacLine, albeit…" “Oh... Is it about using the shrine at will…?” “No, no. It's of no concern. By now, whether it's the shrine or the gods, they all just tire me out." The old man, Harman, looked at the disguised Logan and gave a wry smile. Though he wasn’t in a state threatening to collapse at any moment, he still appeared about twenty years older than his actual age. Having aged drastically in but a moment, Harman let out a deep sigh as he spoke again. “I want to rid this land of false faith, but that must be difficult, right?” “Yes. Probably.” To eradicate the religion of the Nine Gods, they would need to expose the gods' betrayal and prove that they are not the absolute deities that uphold the world. The problem is that not only is there no method to uncover such truths, but even if they did, the devout believers are bound to reject the evidence. This is what it means to be ensnared in faith. One must believe and revere, as doubt is sin. Thus, to the eyes of the non-believers, fanaticism and devoutness appear no different. “But why do the gods think that once Gibrik Kassel descends, their faith will vanish?” Logan’s response to the pure, untainted question of the former holy knight was straightforward. "…It's possible to erase it with blood. Though it will take many years." “Blood…” Harman’s aged face twisted instantly, understanding the implications at once. Destroy the Holy Kingdom and kill the priests. Oppress and kill those who believe in the faith of the Nine Gods. If one could continue this over an extended time across the continent, then the faith rooted over thousands of years could eventually vanish. But executing such a plan would require someone greater even than the Emperor of the Empire—a ruler of the continent, at least. And even with such capability, who would undertake such a deed just to erase a false faith with bloodshed across the entire continent? ‘Only someone who doesn’t see people as humans, who isn't in their right mind, could.’ In other words: “Gibrik Kassel is indeed someone who would do such a thing, I assume?" "Yes, quite." Harman didn’t question Logan speaking as if he knew Gibrik Kassel. As the enemy incarnation targeted and sought to be killed by the gods themselves, it wouldn’t be strange if Logan knew something about him. "The Kassel Tower intends to resurrect such a madman, and their ultimate goal is…" "Yes. They intend to use me as a sacrifice. Or so my reliable source tells me." "The gods claim you are his incarnation, but…?" "It seems the Kassel Tower has a different view. But whether it's as a sacrifice or an avatar, both are dreadful propositions for me." Logan's bitter smile confirmed Harman’s conviction. "There’s no helping it, then." "...?" "In truth, disillusioned by the gods’ antics, I once wondered if the Kassel Tower was the bearer of justice." "That couldn't be." "Indeed.” With a deep sigh, Harman lowered his head as if he were going to plunge it into the crackling fire. Then, raising his head with renewed determination, he continued. "Neither the gods nor the monstrosity Gibrik should exist in this world. Having driven out the apostles, it’s now time to stop Gibrik. I will stand with His Majesty." Logan's face lit up with joy at Harman's words. "Thank you, Sir Harman." Though now seemingly frail, Harman was gradually regaining his former strength as someone who could harness the power of the soul. Given time, he might even partially recover his old appearance. ‘The right arm, though, is beyond saving.’ Losing his sword-wielding right arm was a severe handicap for a knight. But skills don’t just vanish. With a bit of regained strength, he could handle any ordinary aura user with ease. Thus, Logan gradually increased their travel speed, matching Harman's recovery. Thankfully, as the affairs at Castle Kyle had been resolved swiftly and favorably, there seemed enough time to proceed at a leisurely pace. Yet, there was another reason for his deliberate pace. ‘There are scars, albeit faint, on my master’s soul. But Sir Harman is fully recovered.’ The difference was significant. If Harman fully recovered, he might again challenge the realm of an Aura Master. And this was the decisive difference between his master’s forced revival and the ‘resurrection’ Harman and the saintess achieved more serendipitously. A method to revive a soul that isn’t yet complete. To eventually awaken Clayton, Logan wished to keep Harman by his side. “Please, there’s no need to express gratitude. It was His Majesty who saved me. I’m just returning the favor, so please, think nothing of it,” Harman replied, understanding Logan's intentions. He recognized that Logan, who had transcended beyond his reach, faced a monumental barrier. Thus, Harman was determined to meet those expectations. ‘If anyone can do it, it’s King Logan. Defeating the Kassel Tower, those crazed ones, and perhaps even…’ He might find a way to deliver a blow to the gods in a way I never imagined. **The God's Enemy, His Incarnation.** For Harman, the fact that he could look upon such a being with such confidence was both heartbreaking and infuriating. Yet, he knew that for now, he had to set aside those feelings. 'I must first gather my thoughts clearly.' To convey the knowledge about the gods and divine power held behind his dramatic resurrection. Harman’s blue eyes deepened gradually, and Logan watched him with calm, steady eyes. And then, several days later, as they were speeding towards Rusfelheim past the empire's borders one evening, Harman, who was preparing their camp, suddenly spoke up. "I believe I can now properly explain the soul revival you mentioned earlier. My mind has finally settled." His expression was much more at ease, as if he had finally found peace after wrestling with inner turmoil. Even his age-weathered face seemed to regain some color. "…Please, I’m all ears." At Logan's eager response, Harman hesitated for a moment before beginning his account with a small sigh. As a human, it was inevitable that explaining the falsehood of the truths he had trusted all his life would pain him deeply. Therefore, he resolved to keep his explanation as succinct as possible. "...Priests devote themselves to their faith with a pure heart, striving to hone their worship for the gods. I was no different. Yet, why did I feel such betrayal when my soul, destined for the gods, was consumed?" "I was curious about that too." "As a believer, my hope and devotion lay in spending eternity at the side of the gods after my death, enjoying eternal bliss in paradise. However…" Harman's expression became twisted, as though he was recalling painful memories. "The moment my soul began to be consumed, I realized it immediately. That I would no longer be myself." "…??" Logan tilted his head in confusion at the unclear explanation, prompting Harman to wet his dry lips and continue. "Simply put, the gods extend their existence slightly by absorbing my being. They assimilate my soul into themselves. Gaining a body to act in this world is just a bonus." Even this explanation was difficult for Logan to grasp. "Becoming one with a god doesn't seem like such a bad thing for priests, doesn't it?" After all, he had just acknowledged his commitment to devotion moments ago. At Logan’s question, Harman’s face contorted further. Then, as if expelling something bottled up inside, he began to speak rapidly. "Would Your Majesty consider that the pork you ate yesterday has become one with you? Even if you did, would the pig now think the same? Simply put, from the gods’ perspective, I was nothing more than a well-prepared dish suited to their taste." Harman’s metaphor was scathing and intuitive. "The existence I devoted my life to, thought I would follow even in death…." Harman paused, taking a breath to steady his emotions. "…perceived me as no different from food. Knowing this, who could celebrate it? Perhaps there are a few madmen out there who would, but thankfully, I am not that far gone." Grinding his teeth, Harman finished his explanation. The pain of betrayal burned within him. "Ah…" Logan let out a small gasp inadvertently, awkwardly averting his eyes as Harman regained his composure with a dry face. Then, forcing a smile, the old knight resumed with a calm voice. "Yet, from this, I also gained something. The instant I was being consumed, the brief connection with a god allowed some, very little of their knowledge to flow into me." God’s knowledge? The mention of this made Logan’s red eyes sparkle with unmistakable purpose and desire. Understanding this, Harman gathered his thoughts once more and resumed with a simpler analogy. "Why do you think fallen clerics can still wield divine power?" "…Because they still believe in the gods?" "Exactly. Then why can't devout believers who are not clerics use divine power?" "…Ah?" Logan was left speechless by the unexpected question. Forced to think, the only answer his strained mind could produce was— "…Because they lack understanding of the scriptures or faith?" "You've heard about priests who couldn't manifest divine power despite years of training, right? Why do you think that is?" Logan's expression hardened further as he pondered. Seeing this, Harman sighed briefly and managed a bitter smile at the corners of his lips. "A devout believer unable to use divine power simply does not resonate with the god's frequency. That's all it is." "What?" "The gods desire to obtain as much human faith, as many souls, as they can. It feeds their ego and enhances their being. Thus, they want to scatter divine power like seeds, hoping to leave their mark on human souls. It's akin to writing their name on something they own. But when they can't imprint this mark, it's simply because the wavelengths don't align." "All because of that…?" "Yes. That's really all it is. No matter how powerful they may be, those who have ascended to higher dimensions can no longer directly descend into this world. Creating apostles through relics is the only countermeasure, though it demands a heavy price." "A heavy price?" "That part, I’m not entirely sure. It seems to incur some great loss. Perhaps that’s why the temples magnified their workings every time apostles descended." Harman's face had taken on a sarcastic smile as he spoke. "To the Nine Gods, humans are merely nutrients to nourish themselves. This world itself acts as a sort of farm to them." Harman’s words, spoken in a cold, heavy voice, resonated acutely with Logan—a truth that cut deep, even as a non-believer.