Allen was trying to put the ghost of Graham, the knight who had murdered the tyrant emperor, into a Sacred Beast Stone. But it would not work because of some impurity.
"I'll have to think of something else to do then. Let's retreat a little."
Allen stepped back from Graham to think of what to do next to turn him into a summon.
Abigayle and Bongora watched in confusion, they had guided Allen there to obtain a Spirit Crystal Stone, but now Allen was rubbing a strange stone onto the ghost.
The two stepped back, and shortly after Merle and Galara came to see Allen.
"So what are we doing now? Can we assume Graham will be a new summon?"
Cecile asked Allen, voicing the question everyone had.
"Yes, like I mentioned earlier, I believe Graham will be my next summon."
"So it'll be the next one after Makris and Kuwatoro? He's not a Sacred Beast though."
Those two had been Sacred Beast, but Graham was a ghost.
"It seems ghosts can become summons too."
(I'm the one who assumed only Sacred Beasts could do that after all.)
Allen had just gotten carried away by the idea of catching all the Sacred Beasts.
"I know Graham was the knight who killed the tyrant emperor. Why is he here as a ghost now?"
"I'm curious about that too."
"Still, somehow it's not working well."
Dogora also came, feeling like there was nothing to be done.
"Do you know anything, Helmios? Like anything about Graham's life."
(Please give me a hint already.)
Allen lacked a lot of information so he asked Helmios if he knew anything. The Academies built by the Five Continents' Alliance taught the history of the Demon King, but they barely touched on the history of countries. Allen did know about the tyrant emperor, but not who killed him.
Most of his knowledge was on Latash's history since he was born there, but Helmios came from Giamut, so maybe he knew more. Whoever killed the tyrant emperor was an important person to know about.
"So Graham was a knight…he was called a hero for ending the reign of the tyrant emperor…but he was also given the death penalty for treason…"
Helmios had a distant look as he said that.
(I guess Helmios is like Kurena and didn't pay much attention in class. But the death penalty…)
Allen's view of Helmios deteriorated a little, and his party also looked disappointed.
"Helmios never paid attention in class. I don't know much about Graham myself…but Vesta would know, right?"
Silvia, who had been friends with Helmios since their days in the Academy, told Allen.
"Hm? Well, I guess so. I don't know many details…but I know he did kill the tyrant emperor."
Vesta replied then. She had a rather strong willed voice, but was actually a few years younger than Helmios. She had blue eyes, blonde hair in a ponytail, and had also been in the S Rank Dungeon. Her Endurance was high, so she served the role of tank in Helmios' party.
She told how Graham was one of the tyrant emperor's bodyguards, born a commoner but granted that position when the tyrant emperor recognized his abilities.
"I wonder why he decided to kill the tyrant emperor? I believe it happened after the Central Continent was conquered, and the tyrant emperor planned on attacking other continents."
Allen also knew that was roughly the time when the tyrant emperor was killed.
"...That I don't know. Some say it could've been an accident, but considering Graham was branded a traitor that doesn't seem to be the case. And it led to a civil war."
Some thought Graham had accidentally killed the tyrant emperor after a disagreement on his plans.
"I see…"
Allen could easily imagine that, but Vesta still went into details. Without their emperor, Gamut fell to chaos, all the countries they had invaded and absorbed rebelling. All the nobles that had taken taxes from them in the name of the empire were also hunted down by the populace.
It basically was hell for those who resisted the war, and hell for those who partook in it.
The invaded countries knew that would be their only chance at regaining independence, so they all reached for their arms. New rulers for those countries also sprang forth, even if they had once been Giamut's nobles.
(I think Latash's royal family also came from Giamut's nobles.)
Latash's royal family came from a noble tasked with governing Giamut's southern territories.
1000 years ago that region split off the empire, forming a new kingdom, just like many others did around there. The southern territories controlled some important locations, so they quickly became independent. They would not let go of the opportunity given all the chaos in the empire.
"But it was not just the Central Continent revolting, the beastmen countries also acted."
Beastman were the race that suffered the most at the hands of the tyrant emperor. Many had already fled to the Garresia Continent, forming Alabahar and other beastman countries. When they heard the tyrant emperor had been killed, they all formed a joint army to liberate the remaining beastmen in Giamut.
"I've heard of that as well."
Shea corroborated what Vesta was telling them. It was a story passed down in Albahar's royal family.
Graham's actions had greatly affected the entire world.
"The newly instated emperor of Giamut felt a need a to display his authority, so he executed the murderers of the tyrant emperor."
At first, Graham had been considered a hero, stopping the tyrant emperor's expanding attacks on the world, and the next emperor at first wanted to take advantage of that.
But when the revolts started, and then the reports of Albahar's army forming came, the new emperor decided to execute Graham as a display of his authority.
Allen started to get the full picture then.
"So Graham got in the way of fully uniting the empire in the end then."
The new emperor did not want to be associated with someone who killed the previous ruler.
"Yes, and it wasn't just Graham, but all the knights that worked under him."
It was said that after Graham, the other knights also joined in stabbing the tyrant emperor.
"Is that why Graham just said that it was all his plan then?"
Graham had said that while Dogora was fighting him.
"Yes, Graham tried to carry all the blame…tried being a keyword."
"Hm? Ahh, I see…"
(So others were still killed in the end.)
"Graham's entire family, even the servants of his house, were brutally killed in what became known as slime execution. All in an attempt to regain control of the empire."
All the knights were executed, but Graham's wife and children were also included.
During the tyrant emperor's reign, Giamut gained various terrible ways to execute people. One was tying someone up and hanging them in a goblin den, which was known as goblin execution.
Slime execution involved throwing everyone into a swamp filled with slimes.
(And that's why Graham keeps insisting it was all him.)
It was painful to just think of what Graham must have felt.
"No…how could they…"
Sophie was crying hearing of the fate of Graham, the knight who killed the tyrant emperor.
Allen looked at the line that appeared on the Grimoire again.
'The Sacred Beast is still impure, it can't enter the Sacred Beast Stone.'
"...I see."
"Allen?!"
Allen started walking towards Graham, which startled Cecile.
"Just wait here for a bit. I'll try talking to him."
Allen went back to the large tree under which Graham stood. His Strength had returned and he charged at Allen.
'I'm the Sword Saint Graham. It was all me!!'
He instantly swung down his sword at Allen, who blocked it with one hand.
Allen's Endurance was incredibly high, but blood started dripping from his hand.
(I see, so you just wanted to protect everyone.)
Graham was not trying to act like a selfish hero.
"The tyrant emperor Zeldias has returned as the Demon King. Will you join us to fight him?"
He told Graham that the tyrant emperor had returned.
'I'm the Sword Saint Graham. I won't hide or flee!!'
Allen tried talking, but it was almost like Graham could not even hear him.
(Sacred Beasts usually come from people with strong regret or desires.)
If Graham's life had ended with him seeing his family die, then there was only one thing left to do.
"I'll clean whatever impurities you have, just wait a bit longer."
Allen announced with a firm voice, then returned to the rest of his party.
"What happened Allen? Did you get hurt?"
Kiel noticed Allen's bleeding hand and quickly used his healing magic.
"It didn't work, he's not even listening to me. An impurity…there has to be something like holy water in this world."
Impurities were usually cleaned with holy water.
"So you're set on making him an ally."
"Yes, Kiel. Graham knew the Demon King in the past…that alone makes it necessary."
Allen was set on making Graham his new summon.
"I'll use your name to make Elmea's church move a little, I want the best holy water."
Kiel currently held the highest rank in Elmea's church.
"Sure, I don't mind."
Allen decided he would send a message to the cardinal and ask for holy water from them.
(Now that settles what we're doing…)
"We'll have to find a different Spirit Crystal Stone now. Abigayle, take us to the next ghost, a strong one if possible."
Allen would focus on their first objective again.
"S-sure…though there's Demigod Rank ghosts ahead, so we'll have to take a bit of a detour."
Abigayle could no longer comprehend what was happening. But the fact remained that Allen's group had defended the fort, so he obliged their requests.
"Huh?"
"Hm? Is something wrong?"
"I mean, why would we have to take a detour?"
"I'm sorry I didn't explain enough. There's Demigod Rank ghosts between us and the next Great Angel ghost, so we have to go around to reach there safely…"
"We'll go hunt Demigod Rank ghosts."
"..."
Abigayle swallowed hard in terror, then looked at Allen's group. They were casually eating and drinking from their magic bags. None of them seemed scared.
"Don't worry, you won't have to fight. Just lead us there and we'll do the rest."
"A-alright."
"Warden Leader?! Demigod Ghosts are too powerful!!"
"...Don't worry, they're strong too. And we still have to offer a Spirit Crystal Stone to the Heavenly King, we can't stop here either."
Bongora went pale, but Abigayle had seen the patriarch's letter.
Maybe the group that went through the Gate of Judgement would be able to defeat those ghosts.
And so, after meeting the ghost Graham, Allen's group went further into the forest to hunt Demigod Rank ghosts.
