Chapter 84 : Chapter 84

Chapter 84 - A Secret Guest

The Scripture of the Dark Wheel’s temple.

A place one could see not infrequently within the Eastern lands, whether there were many people or few.

The scale varied.

On a well-traveled road, there might be just a single pillar.

For a village, it might be the size of a shack.

In a city, if the king was a devout follower, it would be built large enough to require a wall.

There was no set style.

Any building could become a temple.

As long as one hung up the jet-black ring.

Whatever building it was, whatever land it was built on, it was a temple of the Scripture of the Dark Wheel.

It was the same even if that land had belonged to demon worshipers.

“Seeing a newly built temple after a long time, it’s quite moving.”

A temple with few people for its size.

An old man entered the place.

He was an old man with the same ring that hung on the main gate embroidered on his robe.

He walked through the temple with his hands behind his back.

As it was new, far from being worn, every step was smooth, making the walk enjoyable.

He went inside.

There was no closed place.

The Scripture of the Dark Wheel was open to everyone.

Locks were unnecessary.

“……”

He took off his shoes, entered, and stood before the statue.

A robed figure in a seated lotus position.

It was modeled after the first Family Head, but the first Family Head was not the god of the Scripture of the Dark Wheel.

He knelt before the statue.

He bowed his waist and placed both hands forward.

Straightening his posture once more.

His lips murmured.

“Everything is within the ring. All we can see is what is in the ring. The god is in the ring, and we are also within the ring.”

Therefore, there is no need to distinguish.

Believe what you see before you, but do not believe only that.

“Strive to break free from the rotating cycle. Recognize the ring. If you do so…”

“You shall touch the darkness outside the ring and become a new ring yourself.”

A new figure entered the temple.

It was a strange voice, low yet tinged with a boyish quality.

The old man finished his bow without looking back.

With his hands politely gathered and his eyes closed.

A few seconds of silent respect towards the statue followed.

….

“It is a truly beautiful place.”

He opened his eyes.

Once again, the restrained beauty of the temple pleased his eyes.

The temple of the Scripture of the Dark Wheel, except for the Dark Wheel, the symbol of the faith, was like the first snow everywhere.

It was blindingly white, and for that reason, the Dark Wheel stood out.

“It’s even more beautiful on a day when the moonlight shines down without any clouds.”

“Hahah. I would very much like to see that sight as well.”

The old man turned and lowered his hood.

“What brings you here. Vice-Patriarch.”

Vice-Patriarch of the Dark Wheel.

Excluding the Family Head, who was also the Patriarch, he was the highest authority within the faith.

At the same time, he was the most senior of the ten elders.

“I, Graham Docs. As the Vice-Patriarch of the Dark Wheel and an elder, I offer my formal greetings to the Fifth Son.”

Graham bowed his head.

The Youngest Son also accepted it with a nod.

After the greetings, it was time to reveal the reason for coming to another's home.

Even for an elder and a Vice-Patriarch, coming unannounced in the middle of the night was a discourtesy.

Graham bowed his waist once more.

“Please forgive my rudeness. I tried to show my face quietly during the completion ceremony, but the Fourth Son stayed so late that it was difficult to find the right time.”

“I understand.”

He had said he didn’t want to go back to the Black Giant Castle.

Moirena had barely managed to take him away after he had taken out his pajamas and tried to settle down in the Dark Moon Grand Castle.

“If a person of your stature had been spotted by my second-oldest brother here, it could have caused unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“Thank you.”

“So, is the reason you came here because of the temple?”

“Not at first. Besides, am I the only one who wanted to come here?”

As if many faces came to mind.

His eyes briefly looked into the air.

“It is a very hot topic within the Pantheon and within the faith. Everyone is curious, and everyone wants to come. The Patriarch will be the same.”

As Vice-Patriarch, he referred to the Family Head as Patriarch.

It was a title only the Vice-Patriarch could use.

“I will formally invite the family members as well.”

“Everyone will come running at a moment’s notice.”

“So. What do you think of this place now that you’ve seen it in person?”

“It’s magnificent. Beyond my expectations.”

“To the extent that you don’t regret leaving the book with me back then?”

“…You knew. Hahah. I’m embarrassed.”

Graham, after a moment of surprise, laughed freely.

To the one watching, it was amusing.

“You don’t need to be overly formal. Did you not serve the previous Family Head as well?”

“Ahem… If you’ll allow me.”

The old man and the young boy walked out of the temple interior and onto the gravel path inside the wall.

The pleasantly lit stones rubbed against each other, making a rustling sound.

The Youngest Son asked.

“Why did you give me the Scripture of the Dark Wheel back then?”

“The Patriarch seemed to want you to live, and at that time, it seemed to me that this book was the only way for you to survive.”

However.

“Looking at you now, it seems it wasn’t necessarily needed.”

“No. The scripture helped me a lot.”

“…The scripture did.”

“Yes.”

“……”

The conversation, which had not been particularly rich, was cut off, even the small exchanges.

Only the rustling sound of the gravel lingered in their ears.

The Vice-Patriarch asked once more.

“Does that mean… you have understood the Six Paths.”

Thud─

The Youngest Son’s steps stopped.

As they walked, they had reached the main gate of the temple.

The Youngest Son, still with his hands behind his back, spoke calmly.

“I did not understand.”

“…I see. Of course.”

The Vice-Patriarch closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

It was not the face of someone whose expectations had been betrayed.

It was just the dry eyes of someone who had heard the obvious.

“I’m glad it was of help somehow.”

Creak─

He pushed the main gate open.

“I will see you again next time. And, I have a piece of advice for you.”

“Speak freely.”

“Recently, in the council of elders, there are three who can’t sit still, as if they have a boil on their behinds.”

“Is Elder Kian among them?”

Silence was affirmation.

The old man pulled his hood over his head and continued.

“They are extremely anxious right now. They’ve aged as much as they could, yet they’re no different from puppies trembling in fear of being abandoned by their master.”

“I will keep that in mind. Next time, I will come to you.”

“I will be waiting. I wish you continued health.”

A boy told to stay healthy by an old man.

It wasn't strange at all.

The old man left.

And the boy had become the target of a powerful figure said to be able to fell a flying bird.

And there were three of them.

However, this bird was no ordinary bird.

Yet, he tried to appear like an ordinary bird.

[Why did you lie? Weren’t the Six Paths what you seek whenever you have a chance?]

“The question is wrong.”

He didn’t ask if I could use it.

Did you understand?

Did you empathize with even one of the passages in the book?

The Vice-Patriarch was asking that.

“I only use it. I don’t understand it.”

[What….]

It seemed Enad truly didn’t understand, but it was the truth.

“More importantly, how is your body? You said you hated pain and moved only your consciousness to my arm.”

[Would you like it if someone poured boiling molten iron over your body and hammered it? It is right to avoid such an experience.]

He said he would sleep for the sake of cooperation, but he couldn’t sleep forever.

Only his consciousness had returned to this forearm, and that life would soon end.

[I look at my body every now and then when I have a chance. What on earth are you doing to it?]

“What do you feel?”

[…It’s hard to explain in words. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced in my life.]

Since he was less than a year old, everything would be new to him.

But those words were sincere.

At the same time, it was also confidence.

[This power. As soon as I obtain it, I will challenge you to a Battle for Dominance. Be prepared.]

“As you wish.”

Turning the Magic Sword with the Bloodstone as its core into a staff.

This was a first for both Enad and the Youngest Son.

So, it was best to learn by getting hit directly.

Of course, I had no intention of losing.

Not in the Battle for Dominance with the Magic Sword.

Nor in the subsequent fights with the elders.

In order not to lose, the Youngest Son prepared again today.

 ***

 Trudge. Trudge.

The old man walked to the Pantheon.

There was no particular need to walk, but the weather was nice today.

He had things to think about while walking as well.

“The Fifth Son… The one who was so timid and would hide behind a chair at the slightest provocation, when did he develop such an air.”

Although the Fifth Son was young back then, he was still young now.

Of course, his physical change was unrecognizable.

“Is it true that the rumors circulating in the Pantheon were correct.”

The Youngest Son had been hiding his power.

He had diverted attention from himself and made the new generation of blood relatives fight each other.

He had curled up his body so that even if he was trampled as a seedling, his roots would not be pulled out.

“Even after giving him the Scripture of the Dark Wheel, it was hard to believe for sure.”

Now, I might have to believe it.

If I just looked back, I could see Eclipse.

A place where, if one just listened closely, one could hear the wails of wronged spirits.

Now it had become a quiet, secluded, and serene residence of a blood relative.

Moreover, this was not the residence of just one person.

Though few, various people were living and making their own places.

“The Fifth Son is already acquiring the qualities of a monarch.”

Breaking something is easy.

But protecting it was difficult.

Leading something is even more difficult.

That Eclipse was a test he had given himself.

“That Kulsian fellow. I’d see the corners of his mouth reach his ears sometimes. It was because of his son.”

I smiled.

A child’s antics are a parent’s joy and reason for living.

To the Millesdusk Family Head, a child’s antics were synonymous with the prosperity of the family.

So he couldn’t help but be happy.

“The power he possesses is also formidable.”

The years he had spent curled up seemed meaningless.

I didn’t feel a wall from the Fifth Son.

That wall was the barrier of boundary that was drawn between each of the great families.

And Wisdom, of all things.

“His entire body was covered in magic circles. It seems he gains power from it, but that won’t be all.”

His real power would not be martial strength.

It is not easy to gather such people around you with martial strength alone.

“He said he would come find me again later.”

Before parting, the Fifth Son had said.

Next time, I will come to you.

By then, I might be able to see his true power, but without even needing to display his true power.

This time, it would be difficult even if I squeezed out everything I had.

“Tsk tsk. Kian, you reckless fool. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but do it in moderation.”

Considering his temperament, he would try to kill the Fifth Son.

It's understandable that he would feel self-conscious since Eclipse, which he had opposed so much, was successfully reborn.

But that was no reason for me to get involved.

Because the people of the Scripture of the Dark Wheel were detached from family competition.

I would just worry quietly.

“Young Master. I cannot help you just because you come to me. Give me a justification. Give me a justification.”

I looked up at the sky.

Whether it knew what was in my heart or not.

The moon was beautiful again today. 

***

 The sun rose and set twenty times.

There was no great change in the sky of Eclipse, but it was not so for the Youngest Son.

“Quite a few people are coming and going. There are carriage merchants too.”

“Most of them are people coming to Hexa. A small number, but there are also customers coming to Levering Firearms. The store manager, Reggie, has submitted a report.”

“He’s a meticulous friend, not like himself. As if he’s done it a lot.”

I looked down at the area below the Dark Moon Grand Castle while drinking tea.

As I had said, the main gate of Eclipse had quite a few footprints.

Those who came for the first time still couldn’t shake their fear and hesitated for a long time before finally peeking in.

Those who had come a couple of times entered with their chests puffed out confidently and left with a full load of goods.

They were bottles of decoction with the Hexa logo on them, and boxes full of them.

“According to Sir Edwin, starting with D-District, the decoction is in such high demand in Dusk Citadel that it’s impossible to find.”

“It’s a quality product made by the world’s top expert, so of course.”

Lores, who had changed her profession from a witch, spurred her research on decoctions even more than before.

She guarded her spot in front of the cauldron every day and discussed marketability with Jubel.

Jubel also stayed up all night to fill the stalls without losing.

“Tower Master Lores is also continuing to train the Poison Demon Sorcerers we hired. The plan is to start trading via merchant ships once mass production with them succeeds.”

That merchant ship owner had now arrived at the Dark Moon Grand Castle.

Having heard it was the second job, he must have skipped breakfast and rushed over.

“Young Master! Merchant Troupe Head Jubel wants to see you! The collateral branch that came last time has also passed through the main gate, you know?”

“I’m coming down.”

The second job, it was the munitions industry, and the project name was.

‘Coup d'état.’

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