Chapter 94
In the conflict between demons and humans, clergyn played an extrely important role.
Soul Calibur was a ga where one could only see the ending by recruiting comrades from all job classes and raising them sufficiently.
No matter if it was an expansion pack, that fundantal principle never wavered.
In blocking the tide of miasma that would roll in like waves, there was no surer ans than the divine power of a clergyman.
‘I need to build connections with the Order when I can.’
And a figure like Dalton was of a sufficient level to be considered a ‘connection’.
A young archbishop.
And his future was even brighter.
If Reinhardt just gave him a little push, it wouldn't be impossible for him to reach the highest position in the Order.
“Thus, Cardinal Mirian said that we should never be negligent in building a relationship with soone like you, Sir Reinhardt.”
“Is that so?”
“No matter how I wield a mace myself, I cannot fight battles as you do.”
Dalton was excitedly recounting his tales of heroism from the capital.
It was about what advice Cardinal Mirian had given, and what kind of evaluation he had received at the main headquarters of the Truma Order.
‘Yes, you go on up.’
Reinhardt thought to himself while giving appropriate reactions.
‘After doing this much, you must at least make it to cardinal.’
A cardinal was indeed a high position, but for Dalton, it wasn't an impossible feat.
After all, he was a clergyman who had directly heard the voice of the god he served.
“Furthermore, Truma also spoke. He said that you, Sir Reinhardt, have filled a void in our Order.”
“It was nothing deserving of such an evaluation.”
“The words of Truma are always right, Sir Reinhardt. We were lacking, and you filled that void.”
For a mont, Dalton’s eyes were tinged with madness.
Truma had to always be right.
Reinhardt had rely been humble, but he had unintentionally ended up denying Truma’s words.
“I am rely glad to have been of help.”
“Yes, Sir Reinhardt. I am glad. I am so very glad to be able to have this conversation with you at this mont.”
“…Yes. I feel the sa.”
Reinhardt replied, feeling a bit burdened.
But the content of the conversation was certainly encouraging.
‘He received another oracle.’
That's what Dalton had said.
That Truma had praised Reinhardt.
That ant he had received a new oracle.
‘Truma must have taken quite a liking to Dalton. Otherwise, he would have used another human.’
The Order ultimately flows according to the will of God.
And Truma was a personal god who would surely achieve what he desired.
He had a magnanimous personality, and for that reason, once angered, it was not easy for him to control his emotions.
He was practically a human with imnse power, according to the lore.
In fact, he had even committed the bizarre act of splitting a continent just because he was in a bad mood.
‘…Well, that’s a story from the original work. It doesn’t have much aning here. It’ll be a long ti before he can descend properly.’
It was the sa for both demons and gods.
As of yet, they could not directly intervene in this world.
That was why demons used warlocks.
And why gods used clergyn like tools to make their will known.
“In that case, Archbishop Dalton.”
At the end of their light conversation, Reinhardt brought up the main topic.
“Have there been any additional oracles since that day?”
“Yes, Sir Reinhardt. Gloriously, yes.”
As expected, the answer was positive.
Reinhardt went a step further.
“Is it sothing you can tell ?”
“Gladly, Truma left a ssage for you, Sir Reinhardt. So of course, I must tell you. That is why I have brought you here today.”
Truma was a chatterbox.
To be precise, Reinhardt had made him a chatterbox.
Even for a high-ranking clergyman, receiving an oracle was an event that might happen once in several years.
“Then I will listen.”
“Yes, Sir Reinhardt.”
And Dalton’s expression hardened.
The smile that had been constantly on his lips was nowhere to be seen.
“Truma has said that a trial is coming.”
“Is it a threat that Serigel will face?”
“No. This is…”
Dalton let out a deep sigh with a regretful expression.
“…He said it is a trial that all citizens of the Empire must overco together, and I could not hear any more than that.”
A trial that all citizens of the Empire must overco together.
In the end, it ant that a widespread disaster would occur.
Reinhardt already had an idea of what it was.
‘It’s obvious.’
He still had the experience of playing the ga. This was a riddle that wasn't difficult at all.
“Furthermore.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes, Sir Reinhardt. Gladly, yes.”
That wasn't the only oracle.
Dalton once again wore a smile of joy.
“Truma wishes for you to devote yourself to the Order.”
“…Pardon?”
***
When playing Soul Calibur, there were occasional cases like this.
A branching point for a kind of job change would appear.
For example, being asked if one had any thoughts of devoting oneself to a certain order, or if one had any thoughts of quitting being a knight and trying to beco a mage.
If one accepted the proposal.
The player would get a second job.
While maintaining the abilities they had developed up to that point, they would acquire additional skills from the new job they switched to.
‘If a knight learns magic, they beco a sort of magic swordsman.’
In the community, such cases were called dual-class.
But not many users chose that path.
The reason was simple.
It was an inefficient choice.
It was easier to see the ending by walking one path decisively, rather than handling two abilities.
“I imagine it is not an easy decision. But Sir Reinhardt. You said so yourself. That you are only dedicating yourself to the people of the Empire, and that you are rely fulfilling your duty as a knight.”
Reinhardt looked at Dalton, who was delivering a fervent speech.
Madness was visible in his eyes.
He seed determined to make Reinhardt adopt a religion right here and now.
“I appreciate the sentint, Archbishop Dalton. But I…”
“Sir Reinhardt. I am desperate. No, it is not for my sake. I am just so afraid that you might not make the right choice.”
“…Yes, I understand what you an.”
“Have you accepted the proposal?”
“No. I have no intention of doing so.”
Faith in this world was not a belief in existence.
There was more than enough evidence that gods really existed.
Not only the divine power wielded by clergyn, but they also sotis indirectly intervened in the world.
In the end, faith ant a blind belief that the one you served was right.
“Sir Reinhardt. Truma wants you.”
“I understand that. I understand, but…”
“Sir Reinhardt! Ah, what must I do to show you the right path!”
Even if one spouted nonsense, one had to clap and say it was right.
And it wasn't just acting that way on the outside; it had to be a reaction that ca from the heart for it to have aning.
‘This guy is crazy. He’s lost his mind.’
Dalton’s faith was absolute.
To him right now, Reinhardt was like a delinquent teenager who kept going astray.
But.
Instead of feeling a sense of crisis, Reinhardt was thinking of using this situation.
‘This is actually good.’
It wasn't what he had intended.
But a situation like this was worth taking advantage of.
‘Given Truma’s personality, if I just drag out this conversation, he’ll get impatient and pop out.’
Dalton had to beco a cardinal.
And to raise a young clergyman to the rank of cardinal, there had to be corresponding achievents.
‘If I play my cards right, by today… no, it wouldn't be strange if he manifested right now.
Given his personality.’
Incarnation.
Just as the demon Agrio-s had done before, Truma could also descend to this land through the dium of Dalton.
Of course, it wouldn't be in a complete state.
He would only have a fraction of his power, and at most, he would only be able to convey his intentions.
But that was enough.
The mont he received the incarnation into his body, Dalton’s religious standing would soar vertically to a high place.
-Child of man, do you think you can reach the sun?
-Noon is my ti. O foolish demons.
-Oh ho, is that really so? You believe you can escape the light!
Earlobes hanging low like the Buddha.
A cleanly shaven head, and an arrogant smile always on his face.
Truma, as seen in the ga in the past, was a being full of confidence in himself.
“Sir Reinhardt. Ah, Sir Reinhardt! I just don’t know what I should do…”
And at that mont, when Dalton began to plead, almost in tears.
Flash-
Dalton’s eyes went blank, and then an eerily divine light began to seep out from them.
***
Gods exist, and their power is absolute.
But that was limited to the world where they existed.
In the world where humans lived, they could only exert indirect influence.
By commanding their followers.
By pouring divine power into the exceptional ones among them.
And sotis, by borrowing their hands and mouths to intervene a little more actively.
So, this was one of those cases.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen this.’
Reinhardt managed his expression and looked at the ghastly-faced Dalton.
His head was tilted slightly back.
His mouth was wide open.
The light flowing from his two eyes was stretching out into the air.
The aning of this situation was clear.
Incarnation.
Truma had sent a part of himself down to this world.
“Child of man.”
Then a voice echoed in Reinhardt’s head.
“Yes. I am listening.”
“Do you truly intend to refuse the offer?”
If it were a line encountered beyond a monitor, it was a question he wouldn't have even snorted at.
But this was reality.
Reinhardt let out a small groan under the pressure crushing his entire body.
“…Yes, I will refuse.”
Dalton’s eyebrow twitched.
That was a reaction shown by Truma, not Dalton.
Right now, he wasn't a human, but literally a tool to project a god.
Shudder.
At that mont, he felt a sensation of sothing trembling on his shoulder.
“Ppyat, ppyat, pyii, ppyat.”
Bitdori was trembling in fear.
This reaction was clear proof that he was a spirit of light.
To Bitdori, Truma was like a parent.
“Child of man. Do you know what you are saying right now?”
“I do. I will not follow you.”
“Do you an to say that a re human will defy the authority of the sun?”
“Yes, I will refuse.”
The voice paused for a mont.
Reinhardt clearly anticipated what thoughts Truma was having after that.
‘He must be flabbergasted. He must be dumbfounded.’
The light from his eyes was still nacing.
Dalton’s mouth opened.
“I can make it so that you have no place to set foot on this land.”
“You will not do that.”
“I can make you live your short life avoiding the sun.”
“I believe you will not do that.”
If he beca an enemy of the Order, there would naturally be no place to stay.
But Truma would not do that.
“You believe that I will not do so?”
“I know for a fact that you will not. Even if I do not beco your child, I can still carry out your will.”
“Is that so?”
“That is why you are here now, is it not? What could be the reason for you to face a re human directly and let him hear your voice?”
Weren't you already pleased with what I've been doing?
I'll continue to do so in the future, so are you going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?
That's what Reinhardt was saying.
Because he knew Truma’s personality.
And because he knew what actions he would take in a situation like this, it was a choice he could make.
“My faith is firm. It does not waver. I believe this too is my faith. In you.”
Faith is, in the end, a blind belief.
The mbers of the Order adhere to the belief that God is always right.
Reinhardt was the sa.
Because he had a firm belief that Truma would make the right choice, it eventually took on a form similar to faith.
And.
The pressure that had been crushing Reinhardt disappeared.
“Truly a firm faith.”
Truma’s laughter echoed in his head. The headache was bearable enough.
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