Chapter 39

Draft

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The death of the Pope shook the whole world.

The christmas that year was called the Black Christmas. His Majesty the Pope died, would the Crusaders no longer be able to go to expeditions to hell? Except for a very few people, no one knew the inside story.

What most people knew is that His Majesty the Pope, who received divine grace, passed away, and the army of demons lost the divine might suppressing them, these monsters began to fight back frantically. The liberation front were treated like rats crossing the street. However, the accusations of the public and the suppression of the army could neither make the Pope come back to life nor make the demons go back. After months of turmoil, some countries gave up seeking asylum from the Holy See and secretly restarted research projects condemned as blasphemous.

In the third year after the incident, the gates of hell closed.

It wasn't the Holy See's credit, it's better to say that it's from the resistance of the Holy See. In the country most plagued by demonic disasters, the new president suddenly launched an attack, controlling the Holy See's army stationed at the gates of hell and sending their research results into that fiery gap. The deafening loud sound resounded for a radius of hundreds of miles, and the white flames, more dazzling than the sun, burst from the ground. The sharp blade was aimed at the bottom, and the aftermath threw earth and rocks into the sky thousands of miles high, the smoke and dust looked like a mushroom cloud.

Even the manufacturers of the weapons underestimated the power of their research, it caused many people overground to be affected. People who didn't have time to escape from that area died without a whole body, and the land collapsed and cracked. It's probable that many years will pass without even a single weed. The researcher that ran the project wept over the horrific results. "My God," He murmured, "Did we concoct a new demon?"

"No, teacher," Said his student, wide eyes flashing with an ambitious light, "The devils have returned to hell, and the priests have returned to heaven. It'll be just legends on the earth from now on."

Indeed.

This fearsome weapon brought a great deal of death, but it also eradicated the scourge of demons. Since it was thrown underground, all gates of hell have collapsed, and not a single demon ever appeared overground again. The researchers who were criticized and even wanted by the Holy See could finally stop hiding. They stood in front of the media and explained how the weapon worked and how to destroy those creatures that were resistant to heat.

"Organisms," They said, "'Demons' aren't a mythical species. In fact, the so-called 'hell' is probably just another ecosystem in which creatures were isolated from the overground creatures due to the movement of the earth's crust, possibly hundreds of millions of years ago. Like the Orcs, they've taken another path in evolution..."

Even if someone booed at the "evolution", no one could ask for them to be burned.

Having demonstrated the power of this new weapon, the Holy See, which has been pressuring the country, was no longer as aggressive as it used to be. Many nations, religious or not, have begun their own research into the weapons.

There were mixed feelings about this, conspiracy insider theories prevailed, people fought fiercely, and those above tore at each other in the negotiating table. At the height of shock, you and Lemuel wandered the desolate plains, surviving in small isolated places. By the time you heard about the eye of the storm, the hurricane has passed.

You heard that the gates of hell have closed and that there'll be no wild demons from now on. You heard that the Holy See's "New Son" was revealed to be a hoax, that the miracles on the Pope created were also fabricated, and that the power in all of the clergy was weakening. You heard that some countries have even attacked the Holy See, refusing the Holy See appointing their own bishops, and asking the Holy See's armies to withdraw from their borders. You feel a little melancholy, your brothers and sisters, enemies and missions are really gone now.

Lemuel senses your depression, he asks you what's wrong, and you explain to him. "I think I'm now...." You think for a moment, then confide your worries, "Am I useless?"

You were brought up as a Holy Son and learned how to fight demons along the way. Now that the devil has disappeared, you neither need to sacrifice nor participate in the rituals that the Holy Son needs you to attend, 99% of the things you've learned are useless, which makes you somewhat at a loss. While you were talking about this, Lemuel had just come home and was pouring water. He heard you say that, and spewed out a mouthful of water till half a meter.

"You're useless?!" Lemuel says with a twisted face, "You allowed me live like an ordinary person, you can deal with all kinds of injuries, you can use healing, you're proficient in several languages, and you can write and speak perfect Latin. Your mental arithmetic is as fast as a calculator, and you speak so well that someone wanted you to marry their daughter as soon as we moved in, you castrate cats and help deliver strays. If you're useless, the whole world is actually rubbish!"

You spent several years completing the reverse prayer on Lemuel, and now he's engraved with runes from head to toe. It hurts, but it can build upon a permanent disguise - your strength have also declined but its still better than most ordinary clerics. The loss of rune power may take a hundred or two to completely prevail. You've gone incognito, you've lost your priesthood, and you've got a paper job where your employers and customers trust you, you don't hate it.

If you get the job done well, someone benefits from it. Although your income isn't as good as before, it's still not lower than Lemuel, you can support your family. You're not useless, and you're relieved upon realising this.

"And don't you still have this face?" Lemuel pinches your chin maliciously, acting like a soldier molesting a young girl, "Smile for me, little beauty?"

You smile cooperatively, and he unable to hold back, lets go of his hand and kisses you with a big smile.

On the eve of the fifth Christmas, you've moved to a city in the north, the loan may need be repaid for several years, its not a big problem. People quickly got used to the new Christmas radio shows shortly after the routine of "announcing the name of the Son" and "the Pope receiving dignitaries and believers" was lost. When you walkes into the mall, merry Christmas songs played everywhere.

Crowds zipped through the big box stores, eagerly picking out what they need for the holidays, as do you and Lemuel. He's looking around and complaining about how many people there are, as if that's why he's holding your hand. You labored hand in hand through the crowd, like two ships anchored. The sign of the cake shop could be seen from far away, promoting Santa Claus to distribute candy canes to passing children, you reached the front of the shop only to find that the Christmas cakes have all been sold out, Lemuel lets out a whimper.

He had insisted on celebrating your birthday, and the only birthday you remember is Christmas. You didn't necessarily have to be born on a Christmas day, Lemuel still broods about the Sons, but this day actually means a lot to you and he respects your choice. He won't stop you from your morning and evening prayers, just as you won't force him to do so, you both want each other to be happy.

"Sir! Sir! Please wait a moment!"

A woman shouts from behind, she calls several times before you realized she's calling you. You turn your head and see a young girl running towards you with a look of surprise.

Lemuel lets go of your hand and steps back. He works on the docks, there aren't many women in the workplace so it's a given that the girl is looking for you. You thought so as well, but the young woman went after him. Lemuel looks blank, obviously not remembering where he had seen her.

It's too noisy here, you couldn't hear what the girl said a few times, so you can only retreat to a corner with fewer people. As soon as you changed places, she said excitedly: "Have you ever been to Ashwood?"

"Where?" Lemuel replies immediately, "I haven't heard of that place."

Of course he's heard of that place, he remembers it, else he wouldn't be using a thick southern accent right now. You've been the priest of Ashwood for almost six years, and Lemuel stayed in Ashwood for almost a year before taking you away on Christmas Eve a few years ago. He looks at the girl suspiciously, and only you can see his vigilance.

You suddenly remember who this girl is.

"Sorry, I must've recognised the wrong person!" The girl smiles embarrassedly, like she had just realized that she's a little abrupt, "I lived in Ashwood a few years ago and got caught up in a bunch of bad things, I was lucky enough to meet an angel who looked a lot like you. I swear he looks just like you! Oh well, maybe I drunk too much."

Lemuel's expression softens, he obviously remembers who she is.

This was the girl who wandered the town that night, the girl he comforted and sent away the night you resurrected him with the holy relic. At that time, her face was covered in make-up and tears, she was still young and immature, very different from her professional appearance now. She had cut her hair short and looked in good spirits. Lemuel looked at her with soft eyes, like he was looking at a little sister whom he hadn't seen for many years. If it wasn't for the sake of secrecy, he probably would've laughed happily.

"Angel?" Lemuel continues with his southern accent, "You really must've drunk a lot."

"I did drink a lot, but he was indeed an 'angel'." The girl laughs, "That time I sucked, if he didn't get me out, I'd probably still be messing around with that jerk back home -You see, I went to college here, got a good job, and am gonna get married next year, my husband is ten thousand times better than my ex. Well, that person might've really been an angel, I haven't seen him before and after that, it felt like there had been no such person at all. Ashwoods's a small place."

There aren't many residents in Ashwood, and it's far away from here. What a coincidence to meet an old friend. She smiles at you, and recognized Lemuel, who was besides her on that drunken night, but doesn't recognize you, a small town's priest. Right, the trendy young people in the town don't really pay much attention to priests, and the only people who pay attention to priests don't leave their hometown very much. How wonderful.

"Although I'm not the person you're looking for, I still wish you a happy wedding!" Lemuel says with a smile, "I wish you happiness!"

"I wish you happiness too!" She says.

She used plural pronouns, and you were both stunned for a while, not sure if she meant it that way. Your silence makes the girl cramp, she twists her fingers as if itching to get into a crack in the ground.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She apologizes repeatedly, her face flush, "I saw you holding hands just now, I mistakenly thought..."

"No, it's alright." Lemuel replies quickly, "Yes, we uh, yes. Thank you, thank you."

The girl apologized repeatedly, and Lemuel thanked repeatedly, the two of them faced each other like chickens pecking rice, all at a loss. Lemuel keeps nodding, looking flattered but not knowing what to say. You look at him and take his hand.

"Thank you," You solemnly tell the girl. "We will."

She leaves quickly, her fiancé is still waiting for her. She looks happy, perhaps all happy people wish to share their joy with others. She waves to you, wishing you a Merry Christmas, and stuffs you with the cake box she was holding.

Even though all the cakes have sold out, you could still eat Christmas cakes this year. In the following time, Lemuel was in high spirits and bought a lot of unplanned things. You wander aimlessly in the mall, and he stretches his neck to look at the new multicoloured TV, regretting his over-excitement. "This thing is colored! Ack, it's really expensive." Lemuel says annoyedly, "We can't afford it till next year."

You tell him it's okay, don't worry, there'll be many Christmases in the future. You still have many, many Christmases to spend together.

【End of text】

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A little postscript

At the end, the inside story of the Holy See and hell, what happened in the upper layers and the vortex core has not been announced. For example, in fact, in the liberation front, the Holy Son and the insider of the Holy See who defected many years ago due to fate, so the attack on the Pope, the Holy Son and the chapel was so direct and critical; for example, the Holy See also guessed this after the attack. , so the song that calls the Son is for that Son... I didn't end up writing these things because it's not a story of Enoch and Lemuel, they wouldn't know.

The world in which this story takes place is very large, and it is in a great era on the eve of great changes, and the two protagonists are only two particles of dust in it. Even Enoch, who was an important son, was disqualified from participating in the storm when he chose to leave the eye of the typhoon, choose to save Lemuel, and thus completely stay away from the Holy See. Either choose the life on earth, or join the vigorous vortex, if you choose the latter, even if you survive, you will inevitably be driven by the crowd and the general trend. And they are not keen on this brilliance.

This is not a cool article in which the protagonists have reached the peak. The ending of "Ashes" has many conspiracies, battles and big scenes. Lemuel will investigate some truths and inside stories - but if you ask him, he will definitely prefer to be like the text The ending is the same as Enoch wandering around the world, rather than stirring up the situation as a "undead".

So let's end it here, they're gone and everything will be fine.

I also want to write about the possibility, for example, when the wandering Lemuel and his sister saw the young son Enoch from a distance, what would happen if they did not pass by, but met by fate. Thanks again for your support along the way, allowing me to finish this story without delay. Love you guys!

And it's over, friends who are diving and fattening can start eating! Come to comment, you are welcome! Lying and equal comment hehehe~

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PastTimer: Two more extras and it's the end! I really enjoyed this story and I hope you did too!