Chapter 956: The Prohibition (11)
Hudderfield Forest. The tranquil retreat where the Duris Workshop’s atelier is located.
A walking path wound around ancient trees. Lennok gazed absently at the back of the Second Apostle, who was walking among the swaying trees.
“……”
His relaxed demeanor was almost unbelievable, considering they had just clashed their spellcraft moments before.
When they first met at the Far Eastern Branch, events had been so chaotic that Lennok hadn’t had a proper look at the Second Apostle.
He knew the Second Apostle was a monster who had reached an unrealistic level, but he had almost no understanding of his true nature or disposition.
Yet, the Second Apostle now before him exuded no trace of ominous fanaticism or sinister will-thought.
A presence as calm and still as water submerged in a lake. His languid steps and gaze, his breath and metabolism, even his body temperature and magical power.
Everything about him felt far more human than Apostlic.
Was he free from madness, allowing him to mimic humanity? Or did he feign humanity, thus freeing himself from madness?
As Lennok followed, pondering which came first,
“The fifth is the number of humans. The sixth is the number of beasts.”
The Second Apostle spoke first.
“That’s why the Sixth Apostle has always been held by those physically strongest, yet relatively susceptible to madness.”
“……”
“It’s a position where the most candidates were discussed within the Cult, and one that was always eyed for frequent replacement.”
The Second Apostle said leisurely, sitting at the end of a bench overlooking the lake.
“It’s not strange that Anathema became the Sixth Apostle. But there’s one more hidden role given to the Sixth Apostle.”
“A role?”
The Second Apostle’s gaze briefly swept over Lennok.
“The Sixth Apostle is originally one of the vessels prepared for His advent.”
“……”
“If all plans fail and the Cult’s arrangements run out, He is destined to take the place of an Apostle’s soul fallen into madness.”
The Second Apostle chuckled, leaving Lennok in silence.
“That’s why the Sixth Apostle is taken by those with powerful bodies, and why the Subterranean Giant God’s Apostle Spellcraft is particularly efficient. An ordinary vessel couldn’t bear His presence.”
“……”
“Anathema knew. And in exchange for taking on that role, he inherited the Apostle’s seat. It was because the previous Apostle had been annihilated in a battle with Pyeonram, and his vacancy needed to be filled urgently.”
The Apostle’s eyes, gazing at the calm lake, sank chillingly.
“So, I don’t think his death at your hands was entirely a bad thing.”
“……”
“Despite being an outsider, he knew too much about the Cult, which also meant he had much room to exploit it.”
Leaning back in his chair, the Second Apostle slowly tilted his head back and spoke.
“Of course, He might consider such variables mere passing entertainment, but such sentiments are not my role…”
“You serve the Pontiff, yet consider his will and sentiments separate from your own?”
Lennok stood expressionless, looking down at the Second Apostle on the bench.
“You truly are different from the other Apostles.”
“……”
“Not just free from the bonds of madness, but you even strive to be unchained from the Cult’s faith.”
Lennok asked,
“Among all the Apostles I’ve seen, you exist most independently. Is your stance towards the Pontiff the same?”
“You’re the one who’s different.”
The Second Apostle replied calmly.
His transparent gaze, through his glasses, stared up at Lennok.
“Your existence is an exception that has occurred less than three times in the Cult’s entire history.”
“……”
“The Cult’s faith serves the Outer Gods, but its essence is solely for Him. If He desires it, all the Cult’s rules must be set aside.”
“An interesting confession, for sure.”
Lennok sneered.
“You mean the Cult’s doctrine was created not for the Outer Gods, but for one person, the Pontiff?”
“The gods of the Outer Sea have no interest in this world. What they desire is not faith, but annihilation.”
“……”
Lennok was speechless at the assertion, which he had never expected to hear from the Cult’s foremost Apostle.
Thoughts forbidden even to the faithful after death, he uttered them aloud without a hint of hesitation.
But even as the Second Apostle watched Lennok’s expression with amusement, he didn’t stop speaking.
As if such bonds and norms held no meaning for him.
“The gods share their dreams with Incarnation Bodies only because He alone is loved by the gods.”
He twisted his lips self-mockingly and asked,
“Not just gods, but humans too. To the Cult’s followers, the God of the Sea is merely a vague illusion; what they believe in and follow is only the Savior.”
“……”
“How could we not follow Him, when our existence derives not from gods, but from Him?”
Having said that, the Second Apostle slowly rose from his seat.
As he turned to face Lennok, his body flickered amidst the shadows by the lakeside.
It wasn’t just obscured by shadows; it glowed darkly, as if it had become the very essence of shadow itself.
“When the God of the Sea and the humans of the land are connected by the existence of a single person, how could you betray Him?”
The monster writhed his entire body, looking down at Lennok and whispering,
“How… could you deny the salvation He desires?”
“You…”
Lennok, who had been silent, slowly raised his eyes.
He had instantly understood why the Second Apostle was asking him such a question now.
“You saw.”
The Second Apostle had seen the moment Lennok and the Pontiff met.
The reason he appeared before Lennok at this time, mentioning salvation.
The reason he declared his will, speaking of Lennok’s refusal of the salvation the Pontiff desired.
He knew that the three had gathered in one place and exchanged answers, yet ultimately did not stand on the same side.
Was it because the Pontiff allowed it, or because he himself possessed such qualifications?
Lennok thought perhaps the two were not so different.
The reason the Second Apostle was free from madness. The reason he was free from the power of a Domain. The reason he could freely glimpse the memories of that meeting.
A power not bound by concepts and rules, forms and wills.
“The power of the Outer God you serve, from the very beginning—”
“Oh, really?”
The Second Apostle interrupted Lennok, chuckling.
Taking a step back, his figure swiftly retreated behind the shadows, returning to its original form.
Back in the form of a young man with glasses, the Second Apostle shrugged nonchalantly.
“Isn’t it quite futile to define things in such specific concepts?”
“……”
“This far was pure curiosity on my part. Now, I must do what needs to be done.”
What needed to be done.
Lennok also hadn’t forgotten the moment the Second Apostle appeared before him.
The moment he obtained the Hairspring from Elbato Duris, and realized that the word itself symbolized someone.
“Forget about Kaiser Bajour.”
The Second Apostle said, leaning back against the bench.
“The fact that he made a deal with the Cult can’t be revealed for a while.”
“……”
“My explanation of the Cult’s circumstances to you today, and overlooking your probing of my spellcraft, are the price for that.”
The role of the Sixth Apostle. The essence of their doctrine. Even the origin and fundamental nature of the Second Apostle himself.
Was all of that revealed and acknowledged simply to keep Kaiser Bajour’s affairs secret?
“I don’t recall agreeing to such a trivial deal.”
“Oh, really? Then it doesn’t matter.”
The Second Apostle calmly rubbed his neck, smiling.
“You weren’t planning on telling anyone anyway, were you?”
“……”
“What I mean is, everything related to him requires due process.”
The young man held up a finger, slowly flexing his wrist.
“To avoid being bound by The Prohibition, you need to place something on the other side of the scales.”
“Even with such power, you’re still wary of being bound by The Prohibition?”
Lennok asked.
“What’s the reason for going to such lengths to hide Kaiser’s defection?”
“If you’ve researched the Black Consumer Project, you’d know.”
The young man, with a complex expression, lifted his gaze and replied.
“He stood on a precarious boundary from the very beginning… and ultimately, he couldn’t maintain his balance until the end.”
“……”
“His transformation wasn’t his fault. Rather, it was the result of doing too well. But…”
The Second Apostle’s eyes, staring at Lennok, shone coldly.
“Either way, you’ll be disappointed.”
“Either way…”
At those words, Lennok gave a bitter smile.
He seemed to know exactly what the Second Apostle meant by “either way.”
He understood. The Project was designed to identify all failures in the world without exception.
It wouldn’t be strange if, after countless failures, everything changed from the beginning.
But Lennok, knowing this, replied softly,
“How can a person always remain the same as they were at the start?”
“……”
“I know. That your bringing up Anathema’s story was highly intentional. And that there are conclusions that can only be explained through such implications.”
Just as Anathema ultimately betrayed his convictions and fell as an Apostle, had Kaiser also transformed similarly at the end of the Project?
The moment the Second Apostle deliberately brought up the completely concluded story of Anathema, Lennok understood that this conversation was, in a way, hinting at Kaiser’s fate.
Lennok walked past the Second Apostle, muttering,
“But that’s fine. It doesn’t make Kaiser’s wish a lie.”
“……”
“The proof is already within me.”
Lennok smiled.
“I merely wish to understand everything before it becomes an answer.”
“Yes…”
The Second Apostle let out a bitter smile and bowed his head.
“I suppose I can’t change the answer given by His adversary with a single word of mine.”
“……”
“But this is a warning, Van.”
Calling him by his name as gently as an old friend, the Second Apostle grinned.
“If things continue like this, I’ll have to kill you someday. Especially if you keep stubbornly digging into the plan, disregarding everything else.”
“The one who gets the last chance is always the most ruthless.”
Perhaps it was because he was facing the Second Apostle, who maintained a perpetually relaxed attitude.
Though it was undoubtedly an important conversation, Lennok’s replies flowed smoothly, almost playfully.
“I’m afraid. I don’t have the luxury of meticulously considering the circumstances of a fanatic.”
“Is that so?”
But the Second Apostle, as if pleased even by Lennok’s retort, closed his eyes with a faint smile.
“Such arrogance, truly… I envy you.”
“……”
“Which is why I think we must end things here today.”
The Second Apostle, his eyes closed, turned his back and slowly removed his glasses.
He naturally averted his gaze, as if he had no intention of showing Lennok his true eyes.
“If I talk to you any longer, I feel like I’ll forget my real reason for coming here.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m scheduled to meet the Cult’s new Priestess. I expect to be busy for a while.”
The Second Apostle replied with a hint of a chuckle.
“Since Isel and Seina have left, someone has to stay and manage things, don’t they?”
“……”
He was the foremost Apostle, personally handling the Cult’s major internal affairs.
There would be many things to discuss with Ureka Naydree, who had newly ascended to the position of Priestess.
Whether the Second Apostle liked Ureka Naydree or not, he would, as always, do what needed to be done.
Thinking that far, Lennok nodded with a strange smile.
“Please convey my regards to the new Priestess as well.”
“Your regards?”
“She’ll be quite pleased if you ask if her arm is okay.”
“…What? Hahahah!”
The Second Apostle, too, realized Lennok’s words belatedly and burst out laughing.
A rare display of emotional fluctuation. The young man, laughing with shaking shoulders, caught his breath and said,
“One of the Cult’s ancient sacred artifacts is stored in the personal vault given to the atelier’s VIPs.”
“……”
“Take it. It should be useful enough even for a wizard like you.”
“Don’t you think it’s too late if you’re trying to curry favor with a gift now?”
“Indeed. You are probably the only human who could say that in front of a servant of our Myriad Gods.”
“……”
“So, I hope you’ll definitely stay alive until we meet again.”
Taking a slow step, as if moving away from Lennok, the Apostle said,
“Whether your fate finds light, or succumbs to arrogance and plunges into the abyss…”
The moment a cold, silvery glint flashed from behind the Second Apostle’s obscured eyes.
“I wish for it to unfold under the watchful eyes of the gods.”
Whoosh!
With a low whisper, the Second Apostle’s presence vanished.
A disappearance as if empty space had been painted over and erased with a brush.
Yet, his existence would not vanish from this world; he would still roam freely through space and time.
It was contradictory.
That the Second Apostle, who should be free from all bonds, was instead bound by the most immense duty of leading the Cult.
Just as countless fates and answers Lennok had witnessed, origins could not be origins in themselves.
Essences could not be essences in themselves, and the trajectory of life was always bound by paradox.
Perhaps it was because the very existence of this world was a miracle founded upon contradiction.
Because this star, which should have collapsed as causality closed, still shone upon the dark sea.
Thinking so, Lennok turned and began to retrace his steps.
The workshop employees whom the Second Apostle had knocked out probably hadn’t regained consciousness yet.
There should be time to copy the Hairspring blueprints and check the sacred artifact the Second Apostle had left in the vault.
There was still work to be done before returning to Vulcan.