Chapter 67

“Hey, do you know? Lady Saintess?”

Upon hearing the voice of the saintess, I was reminded of old memories as I came to realize love. Back when I was imprisoned in the deepest dungeon of Babel Tower, Tartarus…

“What is it that you speak of?”

“That time I dismissed all your talk about love as nonsense.”

“Yes, I remember every moment spent with you, Mr. Joker.”

“Does love have energy? A form, mass, or magic power?”

Back then, my answer was no. But now, yes. Though I didn’t know it then, I know it now. Why? Because I’ve experienced it firsthand.

To move one person is easy. Humans are creatures of change after all.

To move a demon is hard. Demons are ruled more by their nature and savagery.

To move me… I thought it was nearly impossible. Even the Lord and Heavenly Hero failed.

But the saintess succeeded.

Thus, I acknowledge love. I pay respect to the saintess who made me an apostle of love.

Of course… it’s all subjective love.

“Hahaha, that’s quite a compliment.”

“Not at all. But why bring this up?”

“Well, we’ll soon need to explore that love.”

“Do you happen to know about Saintess Irolwel?”

At the word slipping through my parted lips, the sound of rosary beads on the other side paused momentarily as if recalling something.

“Are you speaking of the Reformer Saintess?”

“Yeah, the one who was Langwang’s lover… or rather, the one he loved.”

“She’s famous. Once she set her mind on something, she’d pursue it till the end… She was the saintess from around 300 years before my time.”

“Do you know anything about Irolwel’s life? I lived during her time, but since I was stuck in the Demon Realm, I don’t know much.”

“I’ve read books about her, but why ask about Saintess Irolwel all of a sudden?”

There’s a sharpness in the saintess’ question, like a thorn piercing through.

I know why she’s acting this way. Jealousy. Since Saintess Irolwel was also a woman, she might think I’m trying to keep her around like Aru and Beatrix.

“Hahahahaha! As expected, your jealous face always brings a laugh!”

“Ah, please answer quickly! Why bring up Saintess Irolwel out of nowhere!”

“Hmm… It’s been a while since I’ve made someone cry. Saintess, I understand what you’re worried about, but you can let go of that concern. This era’s Irolwel is already dead. It’s currently Year 414 of the Empire. She’s been gone for a long time.”

“Ah… I see. I must have forgotten amidst my dullness.”

The saintess, feeling ashamed for experiencing such inappropriate jealousy, lets her words trail off. If we were still locked together in Tartarus, I would have teased her endlessly, but alas, my call time is limited.

“In any case, as for Saintess Irolwel, she is famously known as the Reformer Saintess. Especially renowned for her drive in pushing matters forward, she was considered the best in the continent.”

The saintess quickly returned to the original topic, assured that I had no intentions of meeting Saintess Irolwel directly.

“Do you know anything about the history of the Holy Order’s marriage system?”

“Originally, the Holy Order did not permit priests to marry, citing the reason that priests serving God must remain pure and chaste.”

“Yes. However, following Messiah’s doctrine of ‘Be fruitful and multiply,’ the order began allowing clerics to marry starting from Year 114 of the Empire. But… as with many religions, the Holy Nation gradually declined and became corrupt. The despicable clerics violated the doctrine that allowed only one spouse, frequenting brothels, and the order mostly turned a blind eye to these actions.”

Though spoken calmly, there’s a subtle sorrow hidden within. The saintess embodies the doctrines of her faith; confessing the blemishes in the history of her own religious order must be difficult, even if she herself wasn’t responsible.

But the saintess doesn’t hide it deliberately. Her values prioritize constant self-reflection and repentance. She acknowledges past sins, reflects on them, and moves forward. That’s Saintess Maria.

Saintess Irolwel also shared similar thoughts.

“But not everyone led lives steeped in decadence. Saintess Irolwel demanded reform from the fallen order early on and eventually went so far as to amend the doctrines under her authority. Specifically, in Year 394 of the Empire, a major event occurred where all clerics within the order were strictly forbidden from indulging in lust.”

“So that’s why she’s called the Reformer Saintess.”

“Yes, though many followers left the order due to the reforms, they ultimately succeeded in cleansing it. The Holy Order regained its piety akin to its early days, drawing closer to spiritual cultivation. As a result, by the time I was born in Year 700 of the Empire, the Holy Nation was regarded as the most benevolent country in the continent.”

That’s why Saintess Irolwel continues to receive so much love even in the future. No wonder she’s hailed as one of the greatest clerics alongside Saintess Maria after Messiah.

“It’s not just that. When the empire announced its plan to exterminate the Demon Forest across the continent, most nations agreed with the decision, but Saintess Irolwel opposed it. She argued that the Demon Forest was part of the natural ecosystem and the sole habitat for certain creatures. When the empire insisted on pushing forward with the plan, Saintess Irolwel personally ventured into the Demon Forest alone.”

“Two hundred years later, it was revealed through Langwang that Irolwel passed away in the Demon Forest. Langwang himself professed his deep love for her. He truly was a great lover, wasn’t he? Even after centuries, upon returning to the civilized world, he continued to reminisce about Irolwel.”

“I’ve heard about that. Is that all you needed to know? Was it helpful?”

Carefully asking, the saintess inquires. Unconsciously nodding toward her invisible presence, I replied.

“Yeah, it helped. My hazy memories became clearer.”

Indeed, the memories resurface vividly. I mused over them.

Twenty years ago, wasn’t it?

Back then, Demon King Canos declared his intention not to invade the continent for the next 200 years.

He reasoned that compared to himself, the continent was far too weak to be worth invading.

While this was undoubtedly good news for the continent, it also created another headache.

The “Hero Party” cultivated in preparation for Demon King Canos’ invasion.

They were crucial forces indispensable for the final battle against the Demon King, but if the Demon King chose not to fight, they were nothing more than budget-draining nuisances.

Think about it. Training just one hero requires hundreds of people—numerous top teachers, education, and annual support for premium food, housing, servants, power, etc., etc., etc.

And it’s not just one hero. There’s also the mage, archer, warrior, baggage carrier, and various other members of the Hero Party—all of whom require full support from the nations.

Why? Because the Hero Party is noble. They bear the great destiny of saving the world. It’s hard to ruin them by framing them as villains.

Even if they’re truly despicable individuals, the truth must be covered up. If the fantasy of the Hero Party being chosen by the gods were exposed as dirty, it would directly affect royal and divine authority.

In short, they’re useless burdens. Ideally, they could be used as war forces, but the Hero Party’s discipline restricts them to moving solely for the continent’s peace. After all, the Hero Party consists of the most talented individuals selected from each continent and educated by the empire.

As the empire pondered what to do with this burden, they finally devised a plan. The cursed land between the continent and the Demon Realm, the Demon Forest, is forbidden territory for continent dwellers.

They plotted to destroy the Demon Forest. More accurately, they planned to use the Demon Forest to eliminate the Hero Party.

Either way, it benefits the empire. The useless Hero Party can be packaged as noble sacrifices, and destroying the Demon Forest earns them fame for eliminating the continent’s evil land.

However, the plan hit an unexpected roadblock when Saintess Irolwel opposed it, declaring it unjust.

After that, it’s as discussed earlier with the saintess.

“Could it be… you intend to meet Langwang?”

The saintess asks as if sensing something.

“What? Good catch!”

“At this time, the only person residing in the Demon Forest is him. You’ve thought this through well. Langwang has no reason to interfere with the human realm, so history won’t be altered, and with his formidable strength, having him on our side would be a great asset… And…”

“And?”

“Langwang is a ‘man,’ isn’t he? <Hehehehe->”

A somewhat sinister laugh echoes in my ear.

“…”

What turned the Maria I knew into this? Ah, it’s because of me.

Hmm…

Maybe I should bring along some female companions. At this rate, 300 years from now when I meet the saintess again, she’ll stick to me like glue all day.

***

There’s a wooden shack. It’s not particularly aesthetically designed. It’s purely functional and convenient.

Inside the shack sits a middle-aged man. His chin is covered in scruffy beards, and his muscular frame is draped in animal skins.

His appearance at night could easily be mistaken for a gorilla or some beast. However, contrary to his savage exterior…

“Love…to…”

He utters a clearly articulated ‘sentence.’ It’s the language of the continentals—a rarity among the monsters permanently residing in the Demon Forest.

A silver cross is clutched in the barbarian’s hands. A subtly glowing cross. The barbarian holds it close to his chest, covered in muscles and chest hair, as if it’s a treasure beyond compare.

“Hunting…today…”

Despite being clearly alone, the barbarian mutters to himself as he rises. His towering figure stretches to the ceiling.

It was a struggle to retain language and writing. An aim that would never occur to those unaware of the barbarian’s circumstances.

Creak-.

The crudely constructed wooden door, made of vines and tree branches, opens. The massive barbarian, crouching low to squeeze through the small door, steps out into the sunlight.

“Hello! I’m Oscar from the <Moonlight Wolf Association>, here to gift you peaceful and convenient revenge for all your vengeance dreams! Currently just a salesperson, but someday I’ll be the president of the <Moonlight Wolf Association>!”

A man dressed in a white suit, wearing a white hat and mask appears before the barbarian. The man spreads his arms wide and loudly proclaims incomprehensible words with cheer and vigor.

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