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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 190
"[You're asking me to help forge the sword? You're... insane. Do you think I'll agree to that?]"
Kaina spoke with a voice full of disbelief.
"[That's no different from you, the fake, staying in the Sanctuary.]"
"Why? Didn't you call me a fake? If the sacred swords are completed, do you think the Six Swords will maintain their form with a fake like me?"
"[Trying to provoke me is useless. It's an offer I cannot accept.]"
"Fine. Then I'll stay here. It would be better to simply take the position of the sword-bearer under the Celestial Demon."
"[Grr...]"
When Kaylen responded like that, Kaina found herself in a dilemma.
‘If the opponent isn't just a Celestial God but a Celestial Demon wielding demonic power... If they don't absorb the fake Infinity, they’ll be lacking in strength.’
If the opponent had been the Celestial God that Ernstine faced a thousand years ago, the accumulated strength would have been enough to oppose him without needing to absorb Kaylen's Infinity.
The Dragon God Meier had strengthened over a millennium and was now far stronger than before.
‘But to think that the White Demon King was actually the Celestial God…’
The White Demon King, who had demonstrated power equal to the Celestial God, was seen as the next major opponent after defeating the Celestial God.
But to learn they were the same being all along meant every plan laid out so far needed to be revised.
‘The fake's Infinity is more crucial than ever.’
When she hadn't known the true identity of the Celestial God, she thought Kaylen's Infinity would be useful but not essential. Even if the Dragon God resurrected without it, victory over the Celestial God seemed certain.
That's why she had made arrangements, like implanting the Dragon Flame in Kaylen, just in case.
‘I believed that once the Dragon God revived, everything would be over.’
But now the situation had changed.
If the opponent was a Celestial God wielding demonic power, the Dragon God needed to gather every possible strength.
If the Dragon God absorbed Kaylen?
‘Then, no matter how powerful the Celestial Demon is, the Dragon God would surely win.’
That's why the Celestial Demon sought to restrain Kaylen, to prevent that outcome.
Whose hands Kaylen ended up in could be the decisive factor in the battle between the two gods.
‘The fake knows this too. That's why he's resisting…’
Given the circumstances, she was willing to accept almost any request.
But the proposal to forge the Six Sacred Swords was something she simply could not accept.
‘Once the sacred swords are forged, I won't be able to absorb the fake's Infinity.’
No matter how much she considered Kaylen a fake, she never underestimated his abilities.
If his Six Sword Path wasn't disrupted by the sacred swords, absorbing his Infinity would be nearly impossible.
It would be the same as having Kaylen sealed within the Sanctuary.
"You seem to be deep in thought, Kaina."
"[...]"
"Then let me ease your worries. Once the Six Sacred Swords are complete, I’ll fight the Dragon God immediately."
"[What do you mean…?]"
"No matter how much the sacred swords maintain their form, if I lose, the Dragon God will be able to absorb Infinity easily. Don’t you think so?"
To challenge the Dragon God after completing the sacred swords?
Hearing those words, Kaina smirked.
'He overestimates his strength. The fake.'
Even if his Six Sword Path remained stable, Kaylen was still just a human.
Did he truly believe a mere human could stand against the Dragon God?
He didn't know his place.
'In that case, it's worth forging the sacred swords.'
Thinking so, Kaina accepted Kaylen's proposal.
"[Under those conditions, fine. Let the final sword be received at our castle.]"
"Alright."
"[Then hurry and escape. We never know when the Celestial Demon might strike.]"
As the flames of the Dragon Flame extinguished and her connection with Kaina was severed, Kaylen turned to look at Theresia.
"Theresia."
"Yes..."
Theresia stood staring blankly at something.
Kaylen followed her gaze.
Outside the cathedral.
The landscape of the Sanctuary was solemn and beautiful, yet eerily devoid of life.
"They're... all fallen."
The group of paladins who had rushed to stop Kaylen’s invasion.
And the priests who had followed to support them.
They all lay collapsed on the ground, lifeless.
"Why did they fall?"
"It seems there was a problem with the Celestial God's relics. Maybe because the Holy Emperor died..."
"The Celestial God's relics...?"
"The crown, the staff, and the holy grail."
Theresia looked down at the fallen with somber eyes.
"The three relics, along with the sacred sword, were the foundation that upheld the Sanctuary. The crown acted as the eyes watching over all within the Sanctuary, the staff allowed for spatial movement, and the holy grail halted aging and granted eternal life."
"I see."
With the grail no longer functioning, had they all perished as a result?
Kaylen studied Theresia’s condition.
Unlike the others, she seemed unaffected.
Perhaps, being a saintess, the grail's failure didn’t affect her.
"Now that the Sanctuary has collapsed, the surface's dungeon guilds will likely cease to function properly as well."
"That makes sense. Perhaps the imperial territories under the Starn Empire's direct control might manage, but other kingdoms will face difficulties."
"Well, considering the gods' battle that's about to unfold, the dungeon guilds might be meaningless anyway."
After enduring so much in just one day, Theresia had grown despondent.
The Sanctuary she had devoted herself to had completely fallen.
The Holy Emperor regarded humans as nothing more than sacrifices for high elves.
And the Celestial God she had worshipped all this time turned out to be the very one who made the Middle Realm a colony of the Demon Realm.
Despite the shock of the world turning upside down overnight, the fact that they were still holding on was remarkable.
"Is the place where the relics are located far from here?"
"It's a bit of a distance, but for you, Lord Kaylen, it won't take long."
"Then let's go and check their condition. Astella's replica is here as well, right?"
Though some time had passed since the dark barrier was broken, and the Celestial Demon hadn't reappeared, Kaylen decided to retrieve the relics.
"Yes. I'll guide you."
Grasp.
Unlike her initial shyness, Theresia now naturally nestled into Kaylen's arms and pointed in a direction.
"First... the Holy Grail is to the north."
Holding Theresia, Kaylen shot towards the north like an arrow.
At the northern edge stood a long, solitary bridge of pure white.
At its end lay a sacred magic circle, intricately drawn, and atop it sat a tarnished, bronze-colored cup.
"...The Holy Grail has lost its power."
"Let's take it anyway."
Even powerless, it was still a relic.
Perhaps it would prove useful elsewhere.
Thinking so, Kaylen secured the Holy Grail and proceeded to the west and south, collecting the other relics that had similarly lost their light.
"And to the east... there's Astella's replica."
"Right. We'll retrieve that and leave."
Though he moved quickly, the entire process took over ten minutes.
Throughout, Kaylen kept pondering the Celestial Demon.
'If he intended to trap me, he would have descended again.'
Ten minutes might seem brief, but to the Celestial Demon, it was ample time to act.
Yet, the fact that Kaylen was still moving freely through the Sanctuary meant...
'He's plotting something.'
Before long, Kaylen and Theresia reached the final destination—the bridge where Astella's replica lay.
"Astella hasn't lost its power."
—Of course, Master. No matter if it's a replica, how could I be compared to mere relics?
The sacred sword, Astella, gleamed with radiant light.
It bathed the entire complex magic circle in a pure white glow, shining with an air of dignity.
"Let's retrieve it."
"...Wait. Please, Lord Kaylen."
"What is it?"
"If we take that, the Sanctuary will collapse to the ground. Are you really sure about this?"
"Theresia. Wasn't the Sanctuary ultimately a resting place for elves, created by the Holy Emperor?"
"That's true. But... now that the Holy Emperor is gone, couldn't we repurpose this place for humanity?"
"No. That would only be possible if we submitted to the Celestial Demon. Didn't you see how he appeared so suddenly earlier?"
At Kaylen's words, Theresia hesitated before speaking cautiously.
"...Given the situation, wouldn't that be better?"
"What?"
"If the Celestial Demon and Dragon God clash, the surface will become a living hell. Shouldn't we at least shelter some of humanity here, to prepare for the future?"
The saintess's cautious tone grew faster, her voice rising with emotion.
"There is no longer a Holy Emperor to privatize the Sanctuary for his own purposes. We can use this place as we originally intended—as humanity's final refuge."
"Lord Kaylen, the opponent isn't some former Demon King. It's a god. The Celestial Demon, who rules both the heavens and the demon realm. And the Dragon God, whom even he fears.
Even if you've reached the level of a Grand Sword Master, isn't it still too difficult to fight against gods?"
Logically, her words were correct.
This opponent was overwhelmingly strong.
When the Celestial Demon proposed a pact of sword and faith, perhaps it would have been better for humanity if they'd accepted his additional demand for ownership of the Sanctuary—to use it as a refuge for mankind.
"You're right. It's difficult. For a mere human to challenge a god... there's almost no chance of victory."
"Then, wouldn't it be better to entrust humanity to the Celestial God...?"
"Celestial God? No, he's no longer a god who cares for humanity. He's the Celestial Demon. Asking him to safeguard humanity would be like shouting into the void. Didn't you see him scatter countless humans over Geysir's fortress?"
"Moreover, after he subdues the Dragon God, he will never leave me alone. That, I can be sure of."
The thing the Celestial Demon feared most was the Dragon God, who possessed Infinite Mana—Infinity.
And once the Dragon God was subdued, Kaylen would be the only remaining being with Infinity.
"To eliminate future threats, he will find a way to remove me."
"If we beg for his mercy somehow..."
"Mercy? Do you think mercy will work on him?"
"And..."
Step. Step.
Without hesitation, Kaylen walked towards the place where the replica of the sacred sword lay.
"Even if the chances of victory are slim... it's not impossible."
"...!"
"There is a way."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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