Xavier, founded to worship only Luminous, the deity of light and hope.
The establishment of Xavier occurred just after the end of the Devil War, when humans erected Xavier in honor of Luminous, who had saved them. During the Devil War, there were also Mora and Harte, but they couldn’t perform as remarkably as Luminous.
To elaborate further, Luminous bestowed blessings upon those at the frontline, Mora concealed the sight of fleeing refugees with a veil, and finally, Harte gifted the seed of the World Tree to the Elves.
Due to these circumstances, Luminous’s actions stood out even more, and particularly, the feeble humans had no choice but to worship him. Luminous was the deity who bestowed divine power upon them while they were fighting devils bare-handedly in dire situations.
Heroes emerge in turbulent times. And under Luminous’s protection during the Devil War, numerous heroes were born, many of whom perished gloriously without even leaving their names. At the end of this sequence was founded the nation known as the holy kingdom of Xavier.
Any civilization established in the name of a deity tends to demonstrate immense power.
Moreover, unlike Earth, the gods of this world not only exist but also continue to wield significant influence to this day. Until the societal culture in Xavier developed as it is today, they became intoxicated with their power and committed dreadful atrocities.
They unilaterally categorized demons as evil beings and massacred them, suppressing neighboring nations under the guise of a ‘holy war.’ Those who didn’t believe in Luminous were persecuted under absurd pretexts, being labeled as heretics.
However, it seemed Luminous found this unacceptable and swiftly stopped it through divine intervention. If ignored, he graciously bestowed ‘divine punishment.’
Thanks to his support, the Xavier Kingdom was able to barely hold onto its faltering path and has now risen to be a powerful nation while maintaining a neutral stance. Because most people believe in Luminous, there wasn’t a place in any country where temples weren’t built, and receiving support funds made the country wealthy.
However, due to the necessity of maintaining strict neutrality, there was little interference in international affairs unless absolutely necessary. This was because unlike in the past, there was no need felt to meddle in the affairs of other weaker nations.
At least until Xenon’s Biography and the appearance of devil worshippers.
“So, Cardinal Kate. May I ask what you’ve summoned us for?”
Around a round table adorned with the symbol of the Xavier and the Luminous, representing the sun, four people were seated in the cardinal directions.
The elderly man seated in the east, Deimos, directed the question to Kate, who was seated opposite him. His eyebrows were almost completely covered by thick hair, and his impressive beard was striking. The others, apart from Kate, shifted their gaze to her with curious expressions. One was a middle-aged man, the other a middle-aged woman.
You might have already inferred, but these people summoned by Kate were the cardinals of Xavier. In other words, they hold power and authority just below the Pope. Despite their individual busy schedules, the fact that Kate was able to gather them in one place hints at her considerable influence.
Unlike other cardinals, she even holds the position of Grand Inquisitor, positioning her one step higher than them in terms of hierarchy, considering roles alone.
Kate didn’t have much interest in politics, but if she had put her mind to it, she could have become a real influential figure. Thankfully, she could somewhat let go of her feelings, considering her distorted common sense in human relationships.
“Everyone’s here. How long has it been since we gathered like this?”
Kate responded to Deimos, the bearded cardinal, with a kind smile. She was known for her beautiful looks, and when she smiled, it seemed as if the surroundings brightened with an illusion.
Seeing her smile, Deimos chuckled softly, while the other middle-aged man cleared his throat, unable to look directly at the strikingly beautiful smile.
Except for one person, the middle-aged woman. She smiled mysteriously at Kate and spoke in a flustering tone.
“You still have that beautiful smile, Cardinal Kate. Seeing how much more beautiful you’ve become, I wonder if something good happened during your pilgrimage?”
The middle-aged woman emitting strong displeasure was named Hera. She might have had quite a beautiful appearance in the past, but now she was nothing but a wrinkled middle-aged woman.
While others showed discomfort at her sarcastic tone, Kate, upon hearing her words, nodded positively.
“Yes, that’s right, Cardinal Hera. Something good happened, so I hurriedly returned here.”
“Something good? Surely not…”
Hera widened her eyes at Kate’s answer, trailing off in her remarks. Not only her but others as well.
The reason why Kate embarked on the pilgrimage path was already publicly known. It was solely to meet with Xenon. So her return meant she met Xenon.
“No, I didn’t meet Xenon. I simply realized what I have to do.”
But Kate shook her head vigorously, shattering their expectations. While it was true that she had met Xenon, or rather Isaac, it was a fact that needed to be concealed somehow.
Hera responded with a skeptical face. However, a middle-aged man soon addressed Kate.
With a well-groomed beard and a continuous gaze, the middle-aged man exuded a handsome aura despite his age.
“What do you mean by ‘what you have to do’? Could you tell us?”
“Of course. But before that, Cardinal Bark?”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“How long has it been since Cardinal Bark prayed to Luminous?”
After asking that question, Kate looked around at others and posed the same question.
“The others too. I’m curious how long it’s been since you all prayed to Luminous.”
“I did it before Cardinal Kate arrived.”
Hera was the first to respond. She still had an uncomfortable expression, but she continued to answer the questions diligently.
“I did the same. If you don’t offer prayers even for a day, Luminous might feel neglected.”
Next, Deimos, with his distinctive caterpillar-like eyebrows, answered. Despite his intimidating appearance, he seemed devout, matching his outward appearance of kindness.
The last person remaining was Bark. Kate turned her gaze away from Deimos and looked at Bark. As Bark’s gaze met Kate’s green eyes, he hesitated for a moment, then slowly replied with a bitter smile.
“Uh… I haven’t been able to pray recently. I’ve been busy.”
“I see.”
“You know that too right, Cardinal Hera?”
Perhaps the fact that he hadn’t prayed bothered him a bit. Bark quickly sought Hera’s agreement.
Hera looked at him somewhat reservedly, blushed shyly, and quietly spoke.
“…Cardinal Bark has been very busy lately, so he hasn’t had time to pray. I can vouch for that.”
“I understand. If you’re busy with work, there’s nothing you can do. In that case, Cardinal Bark.”
“Yes?”
“Have you read the new volume of Xenon’s Biography that was recently released?”
Seemingly an odd question at first glance, but as everyone knows, the world almost treats Xenon’s Biography as a prophecy. It brought to the surface the truth about the contamination of the world tree’s roots and the worshipers of devils, and even opened up the possibility of advancing technology with the magical engine.
By now, it would be strange not to believe that, especially for someone closely related to the divine, like a clergy member.
Bark blinked at Kate’s question and soon nodded with a somber voice.
“Yes, well… I did read it.”
“I see. What about the others?”
“I read it too.”
Unlike Deimos, who answered with a gentle tone, Hera just nodded. Kate confirmed these reactions and smiled even more brightly.
It was a smile similar to the one from earlier but somehow seemed more eerie. Other disciples felt that peculiar vibe and couldn’t help but be taken aback. Meanwhile, Kate slowly looked around before bringing up another question.
“So, everyone. Do you know the proverb ‘It’s darkest under the lamp’?”
“Under the lamp…”
“Darkest?”
“I can’t make sense of the words you’re saying.”
As expected, the responses came back indicating they had no idea. Kate nodded in response to the expected reactions.
Even she couldn’t understand the meaning behind those words when she heard it from Isaac. She kept it in her heart, busy with the task of eliminating devil worshippers. However, after much contemplation over time, she realized the significance of those words. It became clear with the release of Volume 17 of Xenon’s Biography.
It’s darkest under the lamp. Just hearing the words raised questions about what that could imply.
It’s darkest underneath the lamp due to its own shadow. While the surroundings are brightly lit, an unidentifiable darkness also emerges.
“It’s darkest under the lamp. Just by listening, you wouldn’t understand its meaning. Surprisingly, the lamp, which illuminates the surroundings, is covered in deep darkness underneath. It’s a phrase used when the cause is closest but one wanders elsewhere.”
“Interesting. ‘It’s darkest under the lamp’… Is this the enlightenment you gained on this pilgrimage?”
Daimos spoke as he gently stroked his full beard, as if in a dignified manner. Most clergy on pilgrimage often attain enlightenment through physical and mental suffering.
It seems Kate had a similar experience. While she may not have experienced physical pain, she assumes she struggled mentally while dealing with devil worshippers.
However, his assumption was entirely off. Kate, while nodding in apparent agreement with Daimos’ words as a positive notion, harbored a shocking statement.
“Yes. That’s why I’m telling you all this fact. Xavier is no different.”
“What?”
“What on earth…!”
“…”
The shocking nature of her statement varied in its impact on each person, but they all looked at Kate with expressions of astonishment.
To claim that the Xavier, established for Luminous, is no different from being ‘underneath the lamp’ was a dangerously blasphemous statement that could lead to charges of sacrilege.
No matter how highly Kate was regarded as a cleric, blasphemy against Luminous was never to be tolerated.
However, Kate herself, seemingly unfazed, maintained a smile while keeping her calm. Instead, she seemed to up the ante here.
“Xavier is an enormous lantern unlike anything else. Such a colossal shadow looms beneath it. Even the devil worshippers, less than insects, hide under the name of Xavier.”
“How can you be so sure about that? Despite being a Cardinal, your statement is extremely risky. Can you handle it?”
Hera, who usually detested Kate, seemed to think this was going too far and urgently tried to dissuade her. Not only her, but others felt the same way.
However, Kate was adamant. She faced the gazes directed at her and, in her unique gentle voice, spoke up.
“Xenon’s Biography.”
“Pardon?”
“The reason I am certain. It’s convenient that everyone has read the story. The identity of the one who attacked Jin and Lily in the end is a high-ranking clergyman of the Holy Kingdom.”
As soon as Kate said this, a silent hush fell upon the room. Even Deimos, and notably Hera, had expressions indicating they didn’t know how to react.
It was a conversation that flowed from the darkness beneath the lantern to Xenon’s Biography.
Except for one person, Bark. Upon hearing Kate’s revelation, he initially trembled, then burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“··· ···”
Suddenly, all eyes were on Bark as he burst into laughter. Deimos and Hera still had expressions of confusion, but only Kate remained calm.
While holding his stomach, Bark wiped away tears forming at the corners of his eyes. It was comical how farcical the situation was, even leading to tears.
Then, while chuckling, he looked at Kate. Kate’s face remained almost expressionless.
“I was wondering what story you’d tell… Cardinal Kate.”
“Yes, Cardinal Bark.”
“It’s quite an amusing story. Seems like on the pilgrimage, you’ve even developed a sense of humor.”
Kate just grinned at Bark’s words. Due to her lack of common sense in many aspects, she couldn’t grasp Bark’s words.
Meanwhile, Bark, looking at her, wagged his tongue as if consoling a child, speaking softly.
“Cardinal Kate, I am well aware of the significance of Xenon’s Biography as a prophecy. I also know that due to certain constraints, Xenon cannot easily reveal their identity.”
“··· ···”
“However, it’s too speculative. Xavier is a nation established under the protection of Luminous. It’s a place where even shadows cannot exist.”
Words expressing deep trust in Luminous. Since Bark’s words were all accurate, the other elders could only nod in agreement.
Honestly, what Kate brought up was simply too difficult to accept, and it was just a ‘prediction’ after all.
Not only was her statement sacrilegious, but it could also bring great confusion to Xavier.
“It seems that Cardinal Kate is the one doubting Luminous. Could it be that you don’t believe in Luminous’s light and hence harbors such thoughts?”
“··· ···”
“Still, it would be wise to be cautious as Cardinal Kate suggests. Let me look into it once···”
“Cardinal Bark.”
“Yes?”
Bark had no choice but to stop speaking in the middle of his words. Clearly, Kate’s voice, which had been gentle just a moment ago, had become infinitely lower.
Moreover, a terrifying momentum was emanating from her. She couldn’t control her emotions, and a deep resentment was slowly seeping out.
As everyone turned their gaze to Kate, swallowing all their saliva, Bark could clearly confirm it.
“How dare you…”
The face of a fanatic filled with anger.
“How dare you doubt?”
Above all, innocence.
“His words?”
Madness.
Translators note:
