Chapter 85

EP.85 Revelation-8

Guilt

A feeling of responsibility for one's wrongdoings.

More desperate than sadness or depression, it is one of the most destructive and complex emotions a person can feel.

The way to eliminate guilt is to repent or reduce the essence of the sin.

Then.

How should a being who is alive and is a sinner repent?

***

[Did you ever think about how Ain felt when she was talking about the honor of the Blue Tower and the revenge for her parents?]

That woman wouldn't understand what it feels like to think that one's mere existence is a burden to others, especially to those who are supposed to protect them.

She couldn't have known.

[...I'm... sorry...]

Crackle

[Argh...!]

Leo cut off the apology as he sent an electric shock towards the bound hand.

[It's not over yet.]

It was too superficial.

[Earlier... you were talking about the honor of the Blue Tower and the revenge for the Blue Tower's master, right?]

To the point where it was offensive to hear.

[Let me be frank. The Blue Tower's master and I have never had a personal grudge from the beginning to now. Idiot.]

Platus didn't want to believe it. She couldn't believe it. She only wanted to believe that Leo was the only one who thought that way. Unfortunately, her shallow insight and perspective had its limits.

[The Blue Tower's master was just fulfilling his duty as a mage. Even if there was a disagreement, he didn't have any intense anger or resentment towards you.]

This isn't a problem that can be solved with a black-and-white, good-and-evil logic.

The Blue Tower's master, as the leader guiding the mages of the Blue Tower and representing modern magic, proposed opinions suitable for a mage.

Leo, as the guardian who gave Ain intelligence and as someone who wanted to uphold his own beliefs, merely presented counterarguments to persuade.

There was no personal emotion or grudge. That's what society was.

[And you think I'm the enemy of your parents? That I tarnished the honor of the Blue Tower?]

It was a dubious idea to even wonder if she was really the daughter of the Blue Tower's master.

[Do you think the Blue Tower is a combat tower like the Red Tower, or a group where strength is the essence, like a knight order? Are you really a mage of the Blue Tower?]

The Blue Tower's master, above all, was closer to a scholar or researcher whose goal was to study magic.

Of course, the current Blue Tower's master had great prestige due to his many patents and outstanding skills in combat magic, which were rare in the Blue Tower, but he didn't bear a responsibility great enough to be considered an enemy.

[Let me put it simply. If the Blue Tower's master saw this situation, what would he say?]

The cause of the current situation is, at most, 10% Leo's fault. To blame the butterfly for the typhoon it caused is no different from blaming the butterfly for everything.

[What if the temple side takes this as the will of the entire Blue Tower? And what if the radicals within the tower use this as a signal to cause chaos?]

Noblesse Oblige

The moral duty that comes with a position is not just about making donations or doing good deeds.

[Would a 'This isn't something I did directly, so it's not my fault' kind of lame excuse work? I'm starting to doubt if you're really a noble.]

Leo kicked her face again while still holding her hands. With her arms restrained, the kick hit Platus's face directly.

[You know, when I was young, I hated the nobility. They seemed like pretentious pigs.]

Having not seen his parents since he was ten and having lived a lawless life as a mercenary for over two years, Leo saw the lives of the nobility as nothing more than the indulgences of well-fed pigs.

[But watching the lady, I realized how narrow-minded I was.]

It was a simple logic. Among the people at the bottom that he had seen, there were many outstanding individuals, and there was no reason why there couldn't be nobles. In fact, there were more of them.

[Nobles pay excessive attention to etiquette and formality because their every action can mean life or death for those who follow them.]

A vagabond mercenary can spit on the street without anyone caring, but a noble's single act can lead to a scandal, harming not only themselves but also their family.

As a result, many servants would lose their jobs frequently.

[Not that this means nobles are harder or more pitiful than vagabonds. Of course, being a noble is much better than living a life where you might die today.]

But the lessons learned from observing the bottom and the top from a VIP seat were not cheap.

[But both the bottom and the top have their own hardships and reasons to understand each other. Just like there are good people everywhere, there are also trash. Here...]

Smack

This time, a punch hit her soft belly, making it even more bruised.

[Like a noble lady who shirks responsibility and does as she pleases.]

After experiencing various criticisms, insults, and violence, her mind became hazy. Her spirit broke down to the point where she couldn't even think of apologizing or wanting to live. The order of cause and effect in her mind became jumbled, and now she even felt wronged.

[...Cough... I... I... What did I... do wrong...]

[Alright, let's say we only consider the past and the present. If we think about the future, I'd have to tear someone apart in front of the temple.]

Platus, overwhelmed by a chilling sense of mercy, lost control and wet herself. Seeing the yellow puddle, Leo frowned.

[Ignoring priests and religion in the tower is not my concern. Honestly, I'm not that pious or moral.]

People outside the barrier, hearing this, were both convinced by the current scene and puzzled by Leo's past achievements.

[But shouldn't you maintain your decorum in front of them? It's funny that I have to explain this to you.]

Her attitude earlier didn't even show the formal courtesy. He had greeted her politely, after all.

[You, the talented mage, think religion is just the opiate of the people, and the temple's power is like a sacred force sales team, right? Isn't that what you wrote in your graduation thesis?]

It wasn't a lie. In her graduation thesis, she wrote that religion was merely a means to control the masses through faith, and the only advantage of religion, sacred power, could be sufficiently replaced by the development of magic.

[I... just wanted the advancement of magic...!]

Smack

Her cheek was slapped. Now, fear made her unable to feel pain.

[What does the advancement of magic have to do with not maintaining decorum? You're making it sound like religious people are just talking about clouds and taking money.]

The clerics present focused their attention on Leo's words. Since it was about their own story and beliefs, they couldn't help but pay attention.

[...Alright. Let's give an example of what would happen without religion.]

Leo pulled out a dagger and placed the blade against her throat. This action not only shocked him but also those watching from a distance.

[Now, without talking about morals and ethics, tell me why I should let you live. I'll let you go if you can.]

A drop of blood trickled down the blade from her neck. If the blade moved just 1 cm closer, she would die instantly.

[...If I... die, you'll be charged with murder...]

[Shut up, that's a law created by morals and ethics. Explain it with the magic and academic basis you so revere.]

Her mind went blank. It wasn't just from fear. In reality, Leo had nothing to fear from killing her.

The power of her family and physical strength were meaningless against the man in front of her. Leo always produced results that surpassed them.

To Leo, killing her or an orc made no difference.

[Nothing, right?]

[Please...! Anything...! Apologize...! I'll apologize...!]

[Apologize? That's still a matter of morals and ethics.]

Swish

The blade was drawn back. Everyone except the Holy King was shocked and rushed into the barrier, knowing that if she died, it would be irreversible.

“Understand? It’s simple.”

Leo knew this too. That's why the knife was only stuck in the floor.

“This is why religion is needed, whether you believe it or not.”

Religion exists to consolidate basic human common sense.

“So, don't overstep. If you do, apologize immediately.”

He knew this woman, who justified her cynicism and was overly self-conscious due to her egoism, didn't understand this.

“...Huff... Cough... Cough...”

Her mind, thoroughly broken by logic and fear, could only maintain rough breathing.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Leonardo said, releasing the barrier.

“I had someone in mind before I met you. And the lady is much more responsible and hardworking than you.”

With that, Leo released the barrier.

“So, don’t show your pig-like mouth to me and the lady. It’s a waste of effort to teach you your place.”

As the barrier disappeared, the priests and holy knights immediately grabbed the woman and treated her. They probably thought he had overreacted.

Still, it was fortunate.

No one saw this scene.

It was really fortunate.

***

He thought he had handled the situation quite aggressively, but unexpectedly, it was resolved smoothly.

This was largely due to the Blue Tower's immediate apology after receiving the matter.

The Blue Tower's leadership was completely unaware of the situation, and these actions were solely Platus Blanc's own doing.

Thinking about it, it made sense. This approach was not typical of the Blue Tower, and if there had been information sharing with the Blue Tower, he would have known about his unique magic in advance.

Therefore, the entire Blue Tower, including the Blue Tower's master, sent an apology, and since the temple side suffered no significant damage, they accepted the apology and decided not to publicize it.

This was partly because Leo had openly blamed the cause of the incident on her in front of the temple people, but he didn't know this and thought it was just luck or the effect of his virtue.

Surprisingly, the temple side didn't get angry at him. Instead, some priests occasionally talked to him, and some holy knights wanted to hear advice on combat styles.

Even the Holy King sometimes invited him and Ain for tea when he had free time.

Ain, after undergoing rituals and examinations at the temple, was recognized as a type of elemental being and was granted the right to survive as a quasi-elemental.

While this gave a reason to dissect her, since her contractor, Leonardo, wouldn't do it or allow it, there was no need to worry about that.

The only issue was,

“Don’t go...!”

A brave lady, sobbing, held onto Leo and Ain as they tried to leave.

“Lady, I’m sad too... I have no reason to stay now.”

Leonardo also wanted to take Ariasfil back if possible. He had tried applying knowledge from various towers and sparring, but no significant results came from it.

He knew that if he returned to the mansion with Ain, the two most powerful people in the Reinhardt family would try to kill her, but with no immediate solution, he had to accept the current situation.

“It’s fine. Arias, Father also made an accessory to give when receiving a vision, along with the item to give now...”

The mention of an accessory made everyone murmur. Since the incident with Platus, the holy knights and priests had noticed a strange atmosphere between Arias and Leo.

“Ain.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll be quiet.”

“Good. You’re not asking why anymore.”

Seeing a child grow was a parent's joy.

“Can’t you... stay a little longer...?”

Almost crying,

Arias held onto Leo with her moist eyes. Just looking at her made his heart race and feel like it was being torn apart. She was always cute and beautiful, but seeing her mature face with tears made his emotions surge fourfold.

‘...But... I have to endure.’

[Damn...]

Smack

The arrogant sage was taken care of by Ain, so he could rest easy.

“...I’ll definitely come back for you.”

Saying this, Leo took out another promised gift he had prepared. It was a gift that contained his desire to leave a promise in another form, given that her hair was gone.

“This is...”

A small, dark-colored container, roughly wrapped, but it seemed to reflect Leo's thoughtful consideration.

“Would you like to open it?”

“...Sure.”

Her moist eyes, now filled with life, opened the gift's wrapping.

Boom

A scene like fireworks, with white feathers made of mana particles flying, celebrated the shield that had gone to its owner to protect the sword.

“Since it’s a holy sword, I thought it would be better to store it in something a bit nicer.”

Leo, worried that the gift might be too extravagant, gave Arias a supplementary explanation with a slightly embarrassed look.

But Ariasfil wasn't embarrassed at all. It was a truly meaningful gift, so she couldn't even speak.

“Really... a beautiful scabbard.”

A black scabbard, decorated with white metal, seemed to be waiting for the holy sword, revealing its delicate beauty.

“...Can I put it in now?”

“Of course, Lady.”

At this, Arias took out the holy sword, wrapped in special cloth, and placed it at the entrance of the scabbard.

As if proving that it had never forgotten him during the making process, the holy sword fit perfectly into the scabbard.

“...Huh?”

At that moment, a light burst from the sword. It was so bright that it was impossible to open one's eyes.

“Are you okay?! The magical artifact malfunctioned...!”

“...It’s here...”

As the light faded, the holy knights, priests, and even Ain and Leo in front could see Arias.

Arias, with clear, shimmering eyes, drew the holy sword. The holy sword, without her conscious effort, emitted a holy light, illuminating the surroundings.

“A vision has come...!”

The god answered the brave lady's earnest call.

<+--|-|--+>