The Final Crusade (5)
Glenn frowned.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Rukia will be fine for the time being."
"So what are you doing! Do you think she held it in because of the pain?"
"It's better than Angel, isn't it?"
"That's wrong! They might as well have taken drugs—accepting help from heresy is something the Rami Church would never—"
"G-Glenn."
At Rukia's voice, different from before, Glenn flinched and turned his head.
"I'm… okay now."
Faced with the calm in her eyes, Glenn had no answer.
"Why?"
He clenched his fist.
"I know how it looks. Yahweh only treats Emotion Sickness in those who fight for the world."
If there were no such criterion, everyone would beg Yahweh for help.
"But we are priests of the Rami Church. Helping you is the same as denying our faith."
"There's no need to call it denial. I only suppressed Rukia's Emotion Sickness."
"You've destroyed my standards! If you save Rukia, you'll have to save everyone! You can't—everyone in the world will condemn you!"
"Then let them condemn me."
Glenn went blank.
"What matters is achieving a better result, not clinging to my rules. I don't do this to be loved or praised. I just…"
There was only one thing he wanted.
"I want everyone to be happy." A brief silence settled.
The apostle watched Shirone with a reverent expression. Glenn bowed his head.
"Damn—"
A hand landed on his shoulder.
When he turned, Rukia—supported by Ares—was smiling.
Her expression said it all.
"I'm sorry."
Glenn looked back at Shirone and spoke again.
"I lost my head from impatience. Give me a chance to explain. Rukia and I—"
"I know. There were articles about you two in the Holy See's official paper. I heard you were excommunicated."
Rukia said.
"Glenn and I are in love. But to become a senior priest you must keep the doctrine of celibacy. High Priest Maximus scolded me—told me to leave Glenn. I got angry, and then…"
She lifted her left hand.
"A new ability activated."
"An ability?"
Glenn asked. Rukia explained.
"Rukia has a power so great even the Holy See has no equal. That's why the High Priest disliked me—Rukia's future could be ruined because of me."
"Glenn."
"I don't blame him. I'd have done the same. In any case, Rukia's power is enormous. They call it the Right Hand of God."
Rukia stepped closer to Shirone.
"I'll show you."
Frigi and Argan moved forward, but Shirone stopped them.
"It's all right. I want to see it too."
"My right hand—" Rukia gently took Shirone's wrist, and strength drained from his whole body.
"Huh?"
Rukia supported Shirone's back and laid him down on the ground.
"It relaxes every living thing to the extreme."
It wasn't binding.
A pleasant, exhausted feeling. Not even the fingers could move, yet there was no anxiety.
"No one has escaped this state so far. There were yaksha and even banya among them."
It was undeniably powerful.
"But if it's you, you might be able to get out."
Shirone, who had been lost in thought, raised his hand. Glenn's eyes widened.
"How…?"
Rukia helped Shirone to his feet and said, "Scholars call it an abnormality, but in the Rami Church we call such phenomena miracles."
Both belonged to the realm of faith.
"I can touch a subject's heart. It feels like water. Decisions are made there. Unlike the mind, the heart has no defenses, so to overcome the Right Hand of God the heart itself must be strong."
Rukia looked bitter.
"The moment I grabbed your wrist I honestly felt dizzy. It wasn't like touching water—it was like sinking into the sea."
She had felt Yahweh's heart.
"With this power I reformed countless evildoers. But whether it was because of the evil in some hearts or because I was being scolded by High Priest Maximus, another ability awakened."
Rukia raised her other hand.
"The Left Hand of the Devil."
A Rami Church priest only called it "devil" because that was the truth.
"Any creature my left hand touches twists and collapses in on itself. I pulled my hand away quickly, but High Priest Maximus broke his elbow."
"…Incredible."
At the blunt answer, Rukia nodded.
"Yes. The power of this left hand rivals the Right Hand of God. I won't deny calling it 'devil.' I'm ashamed and it makes me sick, but…"
"Because of that ability."
"Yes. Like an abnormality, a miracle is also an action of the heart. I was excommunicated for it, but I'm certain that if I can subdue the devil in this left hand, it will prove my faith."
That was the story.
"Yahweh—no, Shirone. Though our beliefs differ, I saw that your heart is not unlike mine. So please…"
She bowed demurely.
"Take me to the Pyramid of Truth."
Ares's whisker twitched at the corner of his mouth. Glenn averted his eyes and muttered, "…It could certainly help."
Shirone exchanged looks with Kanis, Arin, and Julu, then nodded.
"All right."
Zaib Kingdom.
Two days before the Crusade, rulers from across the world were arriving one after another.
"Tomorrow's the eve festival."
The man on the throne was in his mid-thirties and wore a neat beard.
Steel King Gis.
He had purged King Mayer and become Zaib's ruler through election.
"It's also the day I become the world's king."
Zaib's annual GDP was 3,224 trillion gold, with 44 trillion gold spent on defense.
Nine certified first-class mages lived there, and the nation had produced the era's Buddha, Nane.
"Hey! Your Majesty!"
With a bang the doors opened and an archangel taller than a human strode in.
Satiel, the Archangel of Dissolution.
"How long do you expect me to wait? I want to disassemble Ikael as soon as possible."
A ripple of calm passed over Gis's eyes.
"You'll be able to go out tomorrow. Think of it as holding back so you can take revenge."
"Hmph. I never planned to negotiate with humans anyway. The angels under me are more than capable."
"Even if you destroy the vessel, you can't destroy what's inside. Trust me. Ikael will be made to weep blood."
If there was one thing Ikael couldn't bear, it was Shirone falling into the abyss.
That task could only be done by humans—that was why Satiel had allied with Zaib.
Things were going well.
The Crusade was held in Zaib because the existing Three Imperial Realms had readily approved.
'They must have their reasons. But whether I know them or not, will it change anything? Angels don't break contracts.'
Zaib already had the military might.
"Your Majesty, the participating nations are arriving. Tormia, Kashan, and Corona have crossed the border."
"Hmm."
Gis enjoyed the feeling of being at the center of the world. He rose to his feet.
"All right. Shall we go greet them?"
"Enter! The Kingdom of Tormia!"
Tormia's delegation rode through Zaib's massive outer gate.
Shirone stood beside King Pony, and behind them the guard unit Gangshin formed a defensive wall.
Guard Captain Ozent Rai gave orders.
"Beware of snipers. If anything suspicious appears, respond at once. I'll take responsibility for the result."
"Yes."
As his subordinates swept the area with sharp eyes, an old man's voice spoke from the side.
"The new captain's fired up."
Mercodaine Albino, head of Tormia's think tank Yongroe, gave a wink.
"Don't wear yourself out early. All the nations at the Crusade are at war. You don't shove the person ahead when walking a tightrope."
Rai did not waver.
"Tormia is a relatively weak country. Something happening wouldn't be surprising. Don't worry—we won't fall behind."
"Good to hear."
Tormia's annual GDP was 1,700 trillion, with 24 trillion gold for defense.
There were three certified first-class mages.
But they had Yahweh of Universal Love, Miro—an era-defining force—and they monopolized elemental bomb technology.
A guiding nation, then.
Albino's smile twisted into something almost grotesque as he looked past the guard.
'Heh heh heh, this might be a gamble worth taking.'
Meanwhile, Shirone watched Corona's procession pass through the wide avenue.
The Ivory Tower's people were there in force, and among them were the faces of the stars.
'Minerva isn't visible. Is she busy holding off Baal? Or… keeping an eye on Shing?'
"Shirone."
Lupist led Flu and Dante up to him.
"Where's Gaold?"
If Miro and Gaold joined Tormia, the balance of power would shift.
"They haven't linked up. Let's wait a bit. If they were dead, I wouldn't be here either."
"…I see."
Shirone turned.
Behind the officials' procession marched troops, and behind them their attendants.
Reina, the court musician, led the group; beside Maya stood Kayden.
'Where's Kuan? Is he in the teachers' procession?'
Among the teachers attending the Humanity's Future Forum was Shiina.
'Knowing his temperament he wouldn't come to meet me. Then again, maybe he's right beside me.'
The pinnacle of asymmetry was just that effective.
Contrary to Shirone's expectations, Kuan had left Tormia's line and hovered high above.
What filled his view was Kashan's procession—the wind banner guarding Uorin.
'I'll go trip him up.'
Guard Captain Kido's brows twitched.
"I've been annoyed all this time. Feels like someone's watching from above. Shall we pull him down?"
The wind banner remained silent. Uorin said,
"Leave him. You couldn't catch him anyway."
"You're openly ignoring me now. If you're going to do that, why was I made captain?"
"Hohoho! I'm bored. I expect this Crusade will be full of stress."
Just as Kido widened his eyes, Kando said, "Your Majesty, look."
In the enormous square leading into the inner city, Tormia, Corona, and Kashan had collided.
'Who goes in first?'
Corona's king, Udlae, spoke.
"Heh, this is awkward. Instead of a pointless pride contest, why not enter in order of arrival?"
Corona was about five seconds faster.
Uorin turned with a sly smile.
"It's a Crusade—there should be ceremonial precedence. Kashan will go first."
"Ceremonial precedence, huh."
Udlae's mouth curled.
"Of course Corona is new to the Crusade. But Your Majesty of Kashan should understand it's not because our national power is weak."
"Is that so? I doubt it. Has there ever been a nation stronger than Kashan?"
"Ha ha ha! Very well! If the fallen empire's princess is offended in her pride, I'll humor you this once."
At that moment, smoke curled up behind Uorin and everyone's hearts sank.
"What—what is that?"
How had they not noticed?
The man sitting behind Uorin was taking a long drag from the drug Asker.
"Fuuuuu."
Shirone's eyes hardened.
"Satan."
Gustav Havitz.
To be continued in the next volume.