*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
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ENJOY~ PYUUN~
*****
Prophecy of the End (2)
“Good grief…”
In the previous timeline, Park Sihoo and I reaped all the benefits, riding the wave of the ‘game’ without following the proper quest procedures. We obtained hidden pieces and leveled up at a cheat-level pace, easily clearing the game.
Even though I was reincarnated as an extra and had to train in spear techniques until exhaustion, I can’t deny that my growth became significantly easier thanks to the elixirs Sihoo provided.
We quickly grew stronger, earned the recognition of others, and formed a high-powered, highly efficient party. But still, there were limits.
Take wealth, for example.
No matter how much money a player earned, it was still only a few thousand gold coins.
Raising a passenger dragon like Hræsvelgr, which is considered endgame content, requires at least fifteen thousand gold coins.
To establish a Guardians office and hire a personal mercenary group, you need to earn at least twenty to thirty thousand gold coins.
Of course, there are limits on the amount of money a player and their party members can spend on equipment and items.
“Korin, the invoice for this month has arrived. There’s too much budget left over, so I brought in a circus, chefs, and body care specialists to lift our spirits. Come get a massage with me~”
Three Hræsvelgrs.
Fifty-six high-grade wyverns.
A handful of elite members, the 300-strong Warsky Mercenaries, 300 Ardens swordsmen, 400 former Tower slaves… all equipped with the best craftsmen in the kingdom.
And of course, only the finest food and supplies.
“Korin, darling! We’re distributing the new prophecy to cathedrals all across the kingdom. The military supplies are being prepared diligently! The Old Church members’ faces were priceless! Kya-ha-ha!”
Estelle, the Saintess of the Zion Church.
Originally, she was supposed to collaborate with the Old Church to throw the kingdom into chaos, but instead, she carried out a massive purge.
The Pope and Cardinals were culled, leaving only ignorant believers who blindly trust in her miracles.
And Estelle was using this monopoly on trust to its fullest, 200% of its potential.
Originally, the prophecies of the end by the Zeruem Church were supposed to come true, plunging the kingdom into turmoil and expanding Zeruem’s influence. This would have inevitably affected the final battle, which is an all-out war.
But what’s happening now?
Thanks to Estelle countering the false prophecies with her own, the people’s confusion was being redirected.
Towards the ‘New Sun,’ the savior.
The ‘New Sun’ Estelle speaks of… there’s no doubt that she’s referring to me.
This woman is serious. She seriously plans to elevate me to a divine status and have me worshiped.
And the effect has been tremendous.
“The New Sun will rise!”
“Saintess Estelle speaks of salvation from the end!”
“Who is the New Sun?”
The prophecy of the Saintess, being actively spread by the Zion Church and the media, was echoing throughout the entire kingdom.
In other words, the despairing prophecy of the end was being wrapped up with the hopeful message of salvation.
It was my plan to steer things in this direction, but I didn’t expect the propaganda and falsehoods to be so effective.
“This isn’t just easy mode.”
The unbelievable wealth of Dunareff… and the absolute authority of the Saintess…
At this point, isn’t this too easy?
“And now, the composition of the Northern Expeditionary Force will be announced!”
In the royal palace’s parade ground, reminiscent of a military departure ceremony, King David himself was making the announcement.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be his role. Officially, this was just a weather survey by the meteorological department.
The upper echelons of the kingdom still considered the prolonged winter to be a temporary abnormal weather pattern, neither taking it seriously nor being able to.
They probably thought it was just a case of the weather going crazy.
“This expedition is tasked with investigating the source of the current abnormal weather and verifying the prophecy of Saintess Estelle. It bears a heavy responsibility.”
Here, the prophecy of the Saintess was added.
In this world, where the divine is tangible, the words of the most revered woman, directly connected to God, were law. Who would dare challenge that?
“The Saintess has prophesied that the root of this issue lies in the North. Therefore, the size of this expedition has been increased, and in the event of an emergency, an expeditionary force will be dispatched. All troops are to prepare for winter.”
Of course, the Old Church tried to challenge the Saintess for distorting their ‘prophecy of the end,’ but Estelle consistently responded in this manner:
“I heard it directly. It’s true.”
“Didn’t I tell you? I heard it from the Lord.”
“Don’t you believe me? I’m the Saintess, aren’t I? If I say it, then it’s true, so why are you still talking?”
I’ve paraphrased it a bit, but that was pretty much her response. As a result—
“I hereby grant Baron Korin Lork the authority to lead this expedition, and the formation of the expeditionary force is left to his discretion. I also grant Estelle Hadatha El Rath the authority to organize the Holy Expeditionary Force.”
I was granted the authority not only to lead an expedition to investigate the abnormal weather but also to move an expeditionary force in the event of an emergency. The Holy Expeditionary Force may be under Estelle’s jurisdiction, but it’s all coordinated, so it doesn’t make much difference.
“It’s about to begin.”
“It’s all going according to your plan.”
Master Erin smiled and took a seat beside me.
The first expedition will consist of 800 members. But the level of these 800 members is ridiculous.
Master Erin, Lady Josephine, Marie, Hua Ran, Alicia… and myself.
Six elite forces. The remaining 794 members are all knights and mages.
“With this, we could wage a war.”
Lady Josephine pushed her glasses up as she commented on the absurd composition of the expedition.
“Most of them are reserve Guardians brought in under the Association’s authority. Three hundred of them are slave mages, so the official number of expedition members is five hundred.”
“Is that what they mean by ‘wording makes all the difference?’”
“That’s exactly right.”
I had placed reserve Guardians in strategic locations to prepare for the wars that would soon erupt. The rest were every available person we could muster.
With this 800-strong force of knights and mages, a veritable army…
[Side Quest: The Fallen Valkyries]
※ Difficulty: S
※ Deadline: April 31st.
“Our first destination is the Northern Wall.”
A place that, according to the original storyline, should have fallen into ruin and devastation.
Where more than half will die, ultimately fleeing and leading the player to the Northern Valkyries.
We must protect the Wall, which will defend them and countless others from Tates Valtazar.
Since the beginning of winter break, Rashed, now a second-year student, had been engaged in a rare father-son collaboration.
“Mmff… mmmff! Mmmff!”
It was ironic that he, who had tried to escape the shadow of his assassin family, Hashin, to walk the path of chivalry, was now working with its leader.
Kidnapping, reconnaissance, assassination, and sabotage.
For the Hashin family, a clan born in darkness, these tasks were as routine as eating a meal.
Ever since he entered the academy, Rashed had been uncomfortable with the idea of asking his senior knight for such favors.
To this, Korin had patted him on the shoulder and said:
“I’m not saying the ends justify the means, but there are too many bastards in this world.”
“Are you talking about yourself?”
“Damn it! Don’t look at me like that! I know! I know!”
Anyway, the tasks Rashed had set up to entrap his father and paid a hefty sum of gold for were finally starting to yield results.
- Screeeaam!
- Please! Please stop!
In the basement where screams echoed, Rashed felt conflicted about how far removed this was from the chivalry he once aspired to. But looking at the collected data, he couldn’t help but think it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Bastards, the lot of them.”
The truth was more shocking than he expected. Rashed realized that when you discover a shocking truth, it can make you feel oddly calm.
“Phew~ He’s tougher than I thought.”
Rashed’s father, Sinan Ibn Salman Mustali, emerged from the creaky metal door of the basement. The familiar scent of burning and the smell of blood clung to him.
“Is the job not going well?”
“Men with strange convictions don’t open their mouths easily. But it will be over soon.”
“You should hurry. I’ve heard they’re preparing to form the expeditionary force.”
“Fast. It’s an issue that should take months to resolve. It seems their employer’s political influence is extraordinary.”
That’s… probably all thanks to the women, Rashed added mentally.
Korin was a knight worthy of respect.
He was a hero, someone who could be looked up to as a mentor in chivalry. But…
‘He’s surrounded by too many women.’
It’s not that he’s a lecher, but there are just too many women around him. All of them, without exception, are extraordinary in one way or another.
Rashed had once predicted that Korin’s efforts would only bear fruit by May at the earliest. But May?
Thanks to the endless wealth of Dunareff, the might of Arden, the unwavering support of the royal family, and the false prophecy of the Saintess, everything had been resolved at lightning speed, almost as if they were bending causality itself. It was so effortless that Rashed began to worry about what kind of backlash it might bring.
“Heh…”
“What is it, my son?”
“Nothing. I’ve just realized… some people deserve to have their limbs torn off.”
“…How grievous must their sins be for you to say that.”
Although he respected his senior, Rashed couldn’t help but worry about what kind of ending awaited him.
‘He’ll be torn apart, won’t he?’
The saying ‘What you live by, you die by’ crossed Rashed’s mind.
The El Rath Kingdom, which occupied most of the continent, had distinct characteristics by region.
The East, connected to the trade routes with the Orient and boasting strong military power.
The South, wealthy with its vast plains and abundant resources.
The West, the holy land of religion, and the capital, the center of culture and administration.
Each region of the continent had its unique traits, but when it comes to the North, it can be categorized in two ways.
First, the Northern region of the El Rath Kingdom.
Geographically classified as the North from the kingdom’s capital, but due to various reasons, it’s a barren land with a sparse population.
The kingdom, for the most part, had neglected this region except for the ‘Wall,’ so it was known as a place untouched by central administration.
Thanks to this independence, the end of the Wall was home to the Iron Tower, known as the Magic Tower, a sanctuary of magic in the Iron Islands. This was one of the few things that kept the region alive.
The fundamental reason for this barrenness was not just the harsh land but also the frequent invasions by barbarian tribes that had plagued the kingdom since its founding.
The kingdom had constantly tried to suppress these northern barbarians, but it was never easy to drive out those who lived in such a harsh land.
In the end, the kingdom built a massive Wall that encompassed the North Kingdom, effectively blocking their incursions.
Now, this was the North from the kingdom’s perspective.
So, what does the other North mean? This refers to the larger division.
Beyond the Wall built by the kingdom.
A vast, frozen land as wide as the continent itself.
A cursed land where it seems impossible for life to exist, yet they survive there.
“Sister, the homing pigeon has arrived.”
“Let me see it, Hild.”
The woman with snow-white hair, reminiscent of the snowy plains, read the letter the pigeon carried.
[Mist is holding the line. Frost Giants have appeared. Some sisters have defected. We are at our limit.]
The message from her sister was bleak.
Niflheim. The remnants of a myth that had disappeared from this world along with Ragnarok.
This magical realm, which should have remained buried and forgotten, was being revived by one man.
Tates Valtazar.
His goal… is to bring about the end of the world.
“Sister… do we really have to stop him?”
“Hild…”
“Think about it. If he succeeds… we could regain our former glory. If we stay like this, we’ll just fade away in ruin. That’s why the spear sisters… Olrun and Alvitr have joined his side…”
“The man with the spear will give us a new purpose.”
A prophecy from a sister who reads fate. That prophecy split the sisters in two, with half joining Valtazar’s vanguard.
Because of this, the white-haired woman could understand her sisters.
After the fall of the gods, they had failed to fulfill their duties and had fallen into ruin. Now, a being had appeared to give them a new battlefield.
But this also meant abandoning the current world.
“Hild, just across that small stream lies the village of Geron and his children. For generations, I have delivered their children.”
But that’s not all.
“Beyond that village lies the forest of the wardens, who tend to nature and commune with spirits, helping them survive the harsh winters.”
“Sister…”
“And that’s not all. There are also the half-giants, who, despite their lineage of ancient giants, share their hunted meat with others.”
The white-haired woman, Brynhild, recalled the thousand-year history she had witnessed on this land. The history of why she, who was meant to serve the gods and fight in the final battle, had to continue living.
“They have nowhere to go. Without us, they won’t survive.”
Soon, the beasts and giants will descend. The master of winter will come, and the world will tremble.
Brynhild wanted to save the inhabitants of the North from being swept away by this storm.
“We should have died back then. We missed our glorious end.”
“I know.”
They had lived for too long.
Far too long… mingling with humans.
The Valkyries, who had failed to meet their glorious end for the gods, had fallen into ruin.
“But even if we fight to the end… we’ll all die. To survive…”
“We’ll have to cross the Wall that blocks us from the kingdom.”
“They won’t accept us. In their eyes, we’re all savages.”
“…”
She knew this as well.
But for survival, there was no other choice.
If necessary… they would have to gather their sisters and tribes to break down that Wall.
*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
*****
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