Chapter 797: Betrayal and Fanaticism (4)
“I understand that the Ascendant’s body enshrined in the Infinite Void was the Pontiff’s vessel.”
Lennok spoke, gazing at the vessel sinking endlessly into the dark river below.
“But Dorye being the Pontiff himself, and the Pontiff using Dorye’s vessel, are completely different stories.”
“……”
“Which is it?”
Lennok pressed again, looking at the silent Priestess.
“Was Dorye, the Berserker who existed centuries ago, the Pontiff himself?”
The shocking truth that the Pontiff had used Dorye’s body, and had existed as a Berserker who challenged ascension in the past. It was a hollow acknowledgment that Lennok had known next to nothing about the Pontiff after all.
Yet, there was still a story the Priestess needed to tell.
The case of Dorye being the Pontiff himself, and the Pontiff merely borrowing Dorye’s body, were entirely different scenarios.
Lennok knew that this was the point where he needed to clarify that fact.
[According to the doctrine, when His Holiness descended, he existed unbound by the shackles of the flesh….]
The Priestess looked silently at Lennok, then clasped her hands and began to pray. The Priestess naturally recited the doctrine of the cult.
[And he held no attachment to his own vessel. Therefore, the vessel existing in the Infinite Void is both Himself and not Himself.]
“I’m not interested in wordplay borrowing from cult doctrine. I told you that.”
Lennok scoffed, shaking his head.
“What I want to know is whether the Pontiff has been hiding his identity like that for centuries….”
Suddenly, Lennok’s voice trailed off.
Ironically, that explanation itself seemed to point not to the Pontiff, but to someone else entirely.
Suppressing his tremor, Lennok swiftly regained his composure and asked.
“Whether he has continuously adapted and existed as a different being.”
“……”
“Has the Pontiff existed in this world by borrowing other vessels besides Dorye’s?”
Perhaps it was because Lennok’s voice wavered for a moment as he posed the question.
The Priestess stared at Lennok, then opened her mouth.
[As one handles the cult’s rituals from generation to generation, there are times when one can recall the memories of past Priestesses.]
“…”
[It started with a very small trigger. It was not something His Holiness ardently wished for.]
In a voice so faint it seemed on the verge of breaking, as if struggling to draw breath, the Priestess murmured.
[But because there was something that had to be accomplished, even if it meant sacrificing everything….]
“…”
[He made a choice….]
The Priestess seemed to hesitate even in mentioning it, as if recalling that memory.
For a moment, Lennok looked at her and felt an ineffably complex swirl of emotions within him.
Who was the Pontiff?
Who did he think he was?
What did he see and return with after choosing the path of a martial artist in the first world and unraveling its secrets?
What did he think as he looked back at the ruined world after successfully ascending to the next?
The flow of time and causality that only he could remember was too profound, too dense, for one to dare to fathom his impressions.
His journey, which might have started similarly to Lennok’s.
His existence, continuing in memory even after abandoning his physical body.
Would it be strange if his actions, leaving traces by borrowing different names, seemed so different yet, in some ways, overlapped with Lennok’s?
“……”
It was quite a long time later that Lennok, who had remained silent for so long, finally spoke again.
“When I first met you, you said you were heading to Yorta to undo Jinwa’s Spell-Word.”
“……”
“You said that even if it meant risking the death of your body, there was something you absolutely had to do as a spirit.”
Lennok murmured.
“At the time, I thought those two statements meant the same thing, but….”
The reason Priestess Seina Naydree, even after being condemned to death by Jinwa, continued to drag her dead body towards Yorta. It was not only to undo Jinwa’s Spell-Word placed on her body within the Infinite Void but, conversely, also to confirm the Pontiff’s old vessel stored within the Infinite Void.
Lennok now understood that the Priestess Seina Naydree’s resolve, her repeated vow that she had something she absolutely had to do even if she died, was connected to Dorye’s corpse.
“Even though Dorye’s remains were enshrined in the Infinite Void a long time ago, why is the cult trying to touch them now?”
“……”
“Is there a reason for your Pontiff to move again through the remains of an Ascendant he’s already used and discarded?”
The Priestess was the most outstandingly capable priestess within the Guido Cult, which numbered hundreds of thousands of followers.
If the cult’s Priestess, possessing such talent, was moving on behalf of the Pontiff’s vessel, wouldn’t it be the result of the Pontiff’s own will?
What if the Pontiff’s past remarks to Lennok were a premonition and arrangement for this future?
What if a grand plan, requiring the Pontiff to act directly, was being prepared?
Just understanding the secret hidden in the Infinite Void caused countless conjectures to swarm, making it impossible to grasp the situation.
This was because the time that the cult’s master had endured was so profound and complex that merely deciphering one secret could not hint at his true objective.
But the Priestess, with a faint expression, shook her head at Lennok’s words.
[If His Holiness’s manifestation were even slightly imminent, the entire cult would already be holding a grand festival.]
“Then?”
[After the Ascendant’s vessel had served its purpose, His Holiness made a pact with Yorta and had it enshrined beyond the Infinite Void.]
The Priestess said.
[The traces left by His Holiness are so precious to us that the Priestesses of the cult have always watched over even that vessel. However….]
The Priestess’s spirit body, which had stopped speaking, began to emit a chilling cold.
[Recently, the ritualistic connection with the remains left by His Holiness has begun to break.]
“…The connection with the remains has begun to break?”
[The Papal See believes that this situation is due to the Court of Soul Pacification tampering with His Holiness’s vessel.]
The Priestess slowly lifted her head, her face turning impossibly cold.
[The spirits trapped in the old Night Parade have dared to break their promise with His Holiness and invade the sanctuary.]
“…”
Did this mean that the Court of Soul Pacification was coveting and beginning to tamper with the Ascendant’s body stored in the Infinite Void?
Surely, it wasn’t for a logical reason like carefully preserving the Ascendant’s body or managing it with devotion.
The reason why the Military Spirits, having lost their bodies and fallen, would tamper with a masterless vessel.
The Priestess knew that their purpose was impure and based on a desire that could never be tolerated.
[I can accept that a vessel, having served its purpose, would fade and be forgotten by the flow of time. I can also accept it being passed on as His Holiness’s legacy.]
The Priestess said.
[But if what is enshrined in the Infinite Void begins to be misused against His Holiness’s intentions… I can never allow that.]
“…”
[Before even this spirit reaches its end, I intend to fulfill my final duty as a Priestess.]
Leaving Lennok without a reply, the Priestess asked.
[Sir. Would you please help me fulfill my mission?]
Upon hearing Seina Naydree’s words, Lennok finally realized the Priestess’s true purpose in coming to Yorta.
From the beginning, she had no interest in dispelling Jinwa’s Spell-Word or observing the flow of curses.
Was she, even in death, dragging her body forward solely to uphold the cult’s mission, fulfilling her final duty?
Though he couldn’t understand the fanaticism that demanded the sacrifice of others, Lennok understood how desperately the Priestess clung to her mission.
“Helping the cult’s mission, that’s ridiculous.”
Lennok, who had been silent, replied with a cold laugh.
“I don’t like the cult’s crude fanaticism. There’s no need to explain how broken a faith twisted from its very object of belief must be.”
“……”
“I don’t know why I should watch such a pathetic display of choosing the clearly wrong answer and crawling into it. But—”
Lennok looked at the composed spirit body of the Priestess, who remained calm even as her doctrine was denied before her eyes.
“If we consider it a transaction involving the Ascendant’s body, there’s no reason I couldn’t lend a hand.”
[…A transaction?]
Lennok turned away from the now silent Priestess and asked.
“If the only goal is to prevent the Court of Soul Pacification from getting their hands on Dorye’s remains, then it shouldn’t matter if I manage it instead, should it?”
“……”
“Especially if, as you said, you don’t mind it being treated as a legacy.”
The moment Lennok confirmed Dorye’s remains enshrined in the Infinite Void, he knew what immense value that relic held.
The body of a Berserker who had gained the qualification to challenge ascension. What did it mean that it was the very vessel the Pontiff himself had used and incarnated into?
Just by observing and investigating that vessel, he could discover incredible new possibilities.
Lennok, who had learned Dorye’s martial arts through training with Lansia, knew how absurdly immense that potential was.
‘Just mixing the Ninefold Dorye Eight Views with Ouroboros created counter-attacks that distorted physical laws.’
Lennok thought, watching the deliberating Priestess.
‘The strange sense of unity between Dorye’s martial arts and Ouroboros. At the time, I thought it might be a coincidence….’
Why Ninefold Dorye had suited Lennok so well.
Why the power of Ninefold Dorye Eight Views had been incomprehensibly strong compared to the time taken to learn it and its underlying principles.
Could it be that the martial art created by someone who existed as a martial artist long ago had been passed down to Lennok much later?
Upon realizing the true nature of Ascendant Dorye, he could now attach concrete answers to the doubts he had felt back then.
He had only learned a fraction of Ninefold Dorye, just a few simple movements, from Lansia.
But by investigating Dorye’s remains and the magic contained within, he could uncover many more facts.
Though he had no intention of human experimentation, merely researching the composition of an Ascendant’s body could yield tremendous results.
“Let me be clear, I’m framing this as a transaction to leverage your ability in Yorta.”
Lennok looked at the Priestess and slowly adjusted his mask.
“Even if you refuse, I’ll act as I said if I enter the Infinite Void, so decide for yourself.”
While leveraging the Priestess’s ability would make things easier, he had no intention of backing down if she refused the transaction.
Since performing the task directly was Lennok’s responsibility, handling the Ascendant’s remains after everything was over was also up to him.
At this point, it didn’t matter if Victor’s identity became hostile to the cult.
The Priestess seemed to understand Lennok’s words, nodding with a bitter smile.
[If forced to choose between the Court of Soul Pacification and the Demon Warband… I suppose one must side with the outlaw rather than the traitor.]
“……”
[Understood. After everything is done, I will leave the next matter to your will.]
It was certainly not a straightforward acceptance of Lennok’s proposal.
It was more like an acknowledgment that if the situation came to that, she would be powerless to stop him.
Was it because that was the extent of the authority she could grant? Or was there another reason?
Just as Lennok was about to say something to the Priestess, the Ghost Ship shook violently, and a heavy impact resonated.
Thump!
“…Have we arrived?”
Lennok turned his gaze towards the window and realized that a completely different landscape was reflected outside.
The massive ruins located beneath the waterway.
A wasteland filled with remnants that had long since collapsed, losing their original form, covered in moss and rust.
The Ghost Shark, which had towed the vessel, released its chains and began to circle and swim around.
Innumerable boats, their forms indiscernible, moved back and forth around the ruins.
“Memorial Tower, 8th underground level. Pavelon’s Underwater Garden.”
As Lennok observed the scene, the boy’s voice echoed from behind him.
Oris, the Grand Arbitrator, who had entered the vessel at some point, was looking their way, grinning.
“Once you’ve come this far, you don’t need to worry about being traced.”
“…”
“It’s one of Yorta’s oldest ruins, and the waterways passing through here connect to all of Yorta’s docks.”
Oris waved his hand like a fish and asked.
“Doesn’t that alone give you a rough idea why an ancient civilization settled in such a harsh land?”
“…Now isn’t the time to explain Yorta’s archaeology.”
Lennok irritably adjusted his mask and turned his head.
“First, tell me why the Grand Arbitrator, who should be on the 1st underground level, is doing this.”
“Well, it’s a shame we meet again like this. To be honest, I didn’t want to use such crude methods either.”
Oris raised his hand as if asking for Lennok’s understanding.
“But the moment I saw you, I thought it might come to this. Anyone who comes to Yorta holding the Guide’s power would quickly uncover the secret hidden in the Infinite Void.”
The Arbitrator chuckled, patting his stomach.
“I just thought it would give me another chance.”
“A chance?”
“You should know if you’ve heard from the Court of Soul Pacification, shouldn’t you?”
The boy spoke leisurely.
“The Myriad Ghosts’ Night Parade has already failed, but it’s not over yet. Everyone who participated in the Night Parade had to choose.”
“…”
“Whether to be trapped in the endless Night Parade and forever bound to the tower, or to abandon the Night Parade and be branded a traitor and exiled… I and Onnion chose the latter.”
Oris shrugged, looking at the silent Lennok.
“Well, I’m in a better situation. At least I had a chance to choose. Most Military Spirits became mere components of the tower without any leeway.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with the current situation.”
Lennok replied coldly.
“Do you want to boast about how miserable the fate of those who failed ascension was?”
“Hmph… You have a sharp tongue.”
Perhaps those unhesitating words had painfully struck Yorta’s sore spot.
Uncharacteristically, the Arbitrator gave a bitter smile, looking at the ruins visible outside the vessel.
“I understand, human. Anyone would be angry to learn that the Court of Soul Pacification’s proposal was a trap to use you.”
“…”
“But you must understand how old this city is. Our challenge ended long ago, and now we are merely clinging to what meaning remains and sinking….”
Oris, averting his gaze and hiding his expression, said.
“Long, slowly rotting desires… isn’t that how they all are?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but you’re gravely mistaken.”
Lennok said, adjusting his mask.
“I know nothing about Yorta’s rise and fall or its demise. I don’t care how the Court of Soul Pacification’s spirits have degenerated.”
“…”
“I just want to be clear about two things: why you helped me, and how to enter the Infinite Void.”
Lennok sneered, looking at the silent Arbitrator.
“Or does an exiled Military Spirit need a more polite explanation than this?”
Once the objective was clear, all that was needed was information to understand the situation and the means to achieve it.
Lennok knew he could clarify that through the Arbitrator standing right before him, and he had followed him out.
Whether it was the Court of Soul Pacification or the Arbitrator, neither was acting out of kindness towards Lennok, but rather to use his abilities and presence. He had simply chosen the more helpful party.
“…No. You’re right.”
Oris, too, seemed to understand Lennok’s words, smiling bitterly.
“Now that we’ve made our escape, the Court of Soul Pacification will likely start moving in earnest. As promised, I’ll tell you another way to enter the Infinite Void.”
“The top priority should be whether or not to enter the Infinite Void via the Memorial Tower.”
As soon as Lennok heard that, he organized the necessary conditions and situation.
“From my experience with the Myriad Ghosts, fighting Military Spirit Wizards inside the tower would most likely only result in losses.”
The Myriad Ghosts of the Memorial Tower freely detach and manipulate the Military Spirits bound to the tower.
This was a forbidden art that used the spiritual and physical bodies of those who participated in the Myriad Ghosts’ Night Parade, which began long ago, as consumables for spellcraft.
But because of this, the efficiency and power of Military Spirit spellcraft significantly increased, and they could replenish the necessary Military Spirits as much as they wanted during battle.
Even Lennok had momentarily considered using an elixir, so directly breaking through the Memorial Tower’s defenses and entering the Infinite Void again would be extremely difficult.
“From the perspective of the Court of Soul Pacification guarding the tower, merely keeping us at bay and pushing us back would be sufficient. A means that doesn’t conflict with our objective is needed.”
“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. In fact, you can disregard it entirely.”
But Oris nodded, unconcerned by Lennok’s words.
“From the beginning, entering the Infinite Void through the Memorial Tower was an impossible method for you anyway.”
“…It’s impossible to enter the Infinite Void through the tower?”
“The Infinite Void is a space conceptually compressed and materialized, representing a non-existent boundary between the Material Realm and the Spirit Realm.”
Oris explained.
“The reason the sanctuary, originally designed to observe the flow of curses, can exist as a floor within the tower, is because it is the entrance to the Material Realm.”
“The entrance to the Material Realm…”
Did he mean that the Infinite Void space within the Memorial Tower was an entrance existing in the Material Realm?
As Lennok paused, realizing the meaning, the Arbitrator asked.
“To cross the boundary from the Material Realm’s entrance to the Infinite Void, what must you do?”
Seeing Lennok ponder, Oris answered himself.
“You must die once. That is the only way to enter the Infinite Void through the Memorial Tower’s entrance.”
“…”
“That’s why a living being like you can never pass through the Infinite Void. To kill yourself to go to the sanctuary of curses is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse.”
“I see….”
The reason why the Ghostly Chronicles only contained methods to glimpse beyond the Infinite Void, instead of how to enter it.
The reason why even the method to glimpse it involved cursing oneself to observe the flow from beyond the Infinite Void.
Was it because it was impossible to enter the Infinite Void through the Memorial Tower while alive from the start?
As Lennok understood and nodded, the Arbitrator asked again.
“Then, a way to enter the Infinite Void instead of dying yourself—”
“Enter through the exit on the opposite side. Right?”
“…”
Lennok spoke, looking at the silent Oris.
“If it’s a space existing on the boundary between the Material Realm and the Spirit Realm, then there must be a Spirit Realm exit corresponding to the Material Realm entrance.”
“Hmph…”
“And there, on the contrary, only living beings can enter and exit the Infinite Void, can’t they?”
“…”
The Priestess, who had been listening quietly, also looked down at Lennok with a surprised expression.
Oris, staring at Lennok in utter disbelief, shook his head.
“You are terrifyingly sharp. Did you figure out the answer yourself just from those words?”
“…”
“That’s right. Two gates located on both sides of the Material Realm and Spirit Realm boundary. The exit to the Spirit Realm that can be passed through without going via the Memorial Tower.”
Oris said.
“I call this the Reverse Gate of the Infinite Void. It is our final destination from now on.”