Chapter 250: I am a Saint (3) |
“Th-that is….” The high priest gasped, struggling to form words. “What do you… mean?”
“The name of the Divine Beast here is Troy.”
-Lucion.
Troy looked at Lucion with a mixture of gratitude and regret, touched by Lucion’s anger on his behalf.
“It’s a name no one else knew—the name of the Divine Beast. What was the name of the Divine Beast you killed?”
The high priest froze, unable to answer. He gasped for air, his face twisted with overwhelming guilt and self-loathing.
“You don’t know, do you?” Lucion said, his voice edged with disdain. “No, you probably never even thought of the Divine Beast as a living being.”
The priest’s silence confirmed it. Divine Beasts—they had been revered and worshipped as mere objects, not living entities. If they had been seen as more, Troy wouldn’t have had to ask Lucion to give him a name.
“The holy relic you corrupted wasn’t a relic—it was your own heart,” Lucion continued coldly. “You felt the light dying, didn’t you? That’s why you came here. You ran, seeking refuge from your own madness.”
“This place—where the true Divine Beast and its saint reside—is beyond Nevast’s reach. You knew that, didn’t you? That’s why you came here.”
“Everything…”
The priest spoke as if he were purging everything from within him. His voice felt different from anything he had heard before. In that moment, a flood of dark and murky feelings that had been suppressed inside him came pouring out, and he truly shed tears.
“Yes. Everything that the saint has said is true.”
Lucion continued to glare down at him, unmoved by his tears.
“I realized something was wrong a long time ago,” the priest admitted, his voice trembling. “But I was too afraid—afraid of vanishing into the very power I once revered. I knew I was doing wrong, yet I kept going. I turned a blind eye to the truth.”
“What exactly did he tell you?” Lucion demanded, his voice was like a terrifying punishment for the priest, a pressure that was so strong, nothing could waver.
“He… he said the light had grown too bright, disrupting the balance of the world. And if we didn’t diminish the light, the world… the world would perish. Everyone believed his words as though they were divine law.”
The priest trembled visibly, his tears falling harder. “For the world. For peace. To fulfill the mercy taught to us by the God of Light.”
‘What is he talking about…?’
Lucion turned to Troy.
[Could such a statement be true?] Bethel questioned, her doubt matching Lucion’s.
Troy, his body still tense, walked toward the priest.
-That one wouldn’t care about the balance of the world. And yet he said that?
“What else did he say?”
Under the pressure from the saint and the divine beast, the priest was ready to spill everything he knew.
“He said no more. Only to preserve the world, we must extinguish the light—no matter the cost.”
[Sacrifice? …Sacrifice?] Russell muttered, his brows furrowed deeply as he tried to recall something distant yet familiar.
“We… were afraid. We were terrified of the fact that the growing existence of darkness we had been hearing about since childhood could destroy the world.”
[If the light and darkness weaken, the world will perish. But his goal isn’t destruction—it’s something far worse…] Russell murmured darkly.
“So we…we captured those blessed by darkness. We raised them for Nevast’s purposes, forcing them to kill, teaching them to reject darkness, and corrupting those who disobeyed. We turned them into beasts—stripping them of their humanity.”
[Lucion. He referred to himself as a god and seized control of the most sacred light. If you hadn’t stopped him, what would have happened?]
Lucion’s breath hitched as he focused on Russell’s voice rather than the priest’s confession.
‘What I saw in the previous world… the war where Nevast and Neubra triumphed.’
Lucion’s heart quivered. If Veronia had taken control of Nevast in that already victorious timeline, who could have stopped him?
No one.
No one at all.
‘The cost.’
In an instant, Lucion narrowed his eyes. The only reason Veronia, who could rewind the world, would go to such lengths was for that very price.
[Yes, Lucion. He’s doing this for an enormous price.]
Russell nodded solemnly.
‘Damn it… what kind of price could it be?’
Lucion clenched his fists against the overwhelming confusion that surged within him.
-Ha… It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.
Troy temporarily shut his eyes against the events brought about by their misguided fears. The priest’s tightly held hands trembled violently.
He spoke, his voice choked with anguish.
“The evil was us… we were the beasts. Under the name of the God of Light, we blinded our eyes, closed our ears, and out of fear, committed atrocities no human should ever commit. That’s why… that’s why I came here.”
Thud.
The priest slammed his forehead against the floor.
—Ouch! That must’ve hurt.
Ratta clung tightly to Lucion’s side, gripping the hem of his pants.
“Do not forgive this vile, disgusting person who dares to confess before the saint with this filthy, unworthy body,” the priest sobbed. “But please, I beg you—grant me one last chance to proclaim this truth to the world, O Saint!”
Thud.
-I’m sorry, Lucion. I truly am sorry for placing this burden upon you. I have no face to show you.
Troy lowered his head toward Lucion as well. Lucion’s face twisted with anger and pity. He wanted nothing more than to stomp on the wretched priest’s face.
“Because of your mistakes… Troy feels sorry for me,” Lucion said, his voice trembling with restrained anger.
But even such a despicable person was precious to Troy.
“Why should Troy feel sorry for me because of your sins? What kind of absurdity is this?”
-Lucion. This is all a consequence of my mistakes.
‘See this.’
Lucion took a deep, shaky breath as Troy gently placed a paw on him, stroking him comfortingly. Why is he so affectionate?
-It’s not just words—it’s the truth. Divine Beasts were created for those blessed by the light in this world. That’s why we can divide ourselves among many, yet still remain one, with the power to be reborn even after death.
It was frustrating.
-I worry so much that your kind heart will be scarred again.
It was distressing.
The weight of Troy’s sincerity was unbearable. Lucion finally reached out and hugged him tightly.
“I understand. But Troy… Troy will forgive them. Because he loves those blessed by the light so much.”
“…Ugh.”
The priest broke down completely. The gaze Troy directed at him was warm—pure affection unmarred by hatred or disdain.
“I’m sorry, Troy-nim! As a servant of the light… I betrayed you. I committed sins I should never have committed!”
To the priest, Troy wasn’t just a Divine Beast—he was his god. The suffocating weight of guilt, shame, disgust, and remorse enveloped him entirely.
“Please, grant me one last chance. I will reveal the truth and take responsibility for all my sins… then disappear.”
The stench of his misdeeds clung to him, inescapable. He wanted nothing more than to sever his insignificant life right there and then. Yet for the sake of revealing the truth, he had to endure.
“Listen carefully. Troy—your god—has something to say,” Lucion said, his voice heavy.
“My little one.”
“…!”
The priest looked at Troy, his tear-streaked face frozen in shock.
“I have already forgiven you.”.
Troy smiled warmly. It was a conversation shared with someone blessed by the light after such a long time. And so, he felt sheer joy.
“Do not torment yourself any longer.”
As soon as Lucion delivered Troy’s words, he bit his lip hard.
Thwack!
Unable to restrain himself, Lucion kicked the priest square in the face.
—Ouch!
Ratta flinched in shock.
“I’m sorry, Troy. Please allow me this indulgence.”
[Already hit him?] Russell let out a resigned laugh.
[This is the real Lord Lucion.] Bethel smiled faintly, as if relieved.
-Lucion.
“Yes, Troy?”
-If you wish… kick him again.
Thwack!
Lucion didn’t hesitate, landing another kick to the priest’s face with his other foot.
“You garbage! Your name is now garbage. At least you’re recyclable garbage!”
“I gladly accept it, O Saint,” the priest said, swallowing his pain and humbly bowing his head.
* * *
“What happened?”
As Lucion stepped outside, Carson rushed to him, his face pale with worry.
“Brother.”
Lucion’s expression was grim, causing Carson’s throat to dry up nervously.
“Y-yes, Lucion?”
“I need to meet the High Priest immediately,” Lucion said firmly.
They had to stop Nevast—Nevast, who played the most pivotal role in Veronia’s scheme. For that, they needed the High Priest’s power.
“Why the High Priest…? What exactly has happened?”
Lucion nodded at Carson’s question, deciding to share with Carson and Heint what he had just revealed to the high-ranking priest. It was time to explain why he was undeniably a saint.
‘Ah. I should’ve said this when my sister was here.’
A pang of regret struck Lucion, but there would be another chance. He and Shaela had already planned to meet in Cronia.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
For as long as he could remember, being special had always brought him pain. But now, his uniqueness as a saint was said to bring hope to everyone. Slowly but surely, the courage he had long been missing began to rise within him.
In this place, it was just himself, Carson, Heint, Hume, and the high-ranking priest.
‘Sigh.’
As Carson and Heint turned their full attention to him, Lucion took a deep breath.
Thump. Thump.
Why was he so nervous about confessing? It wasn’t like he was admitting to being Hamel.
‘What if I confess now… will they hate me?’
Lucion fidgeted with his fingers before clenching them tightly. He lowered his head, unable to meet their gazes.
—Lucion, Lucion. Hug Ratta!
Ratta tugged at the hem of Lucion’s pants, her plea earnest. As Lucion picked her up, she hugged him tightly.
—Lucion can do it! Ratta knows. Lucion is super, super amazing!
The soft, comforting warmth of Ratta began to steady Lucion’s trembling heart.
Bethel gently placed a hand on Lucion’s shoulder.
[What Ratta said is true. You’re about to share something that could put you in danger, aren’t you? I know how brave you are, Lord Lucion.]
To hear the voice of a divine beast—a gift Lucion had never asked for—made his unwanted uniqueness even more profound. How could revealing such a truth be anything but difficult?
[Lucion. Lift your head and see how Carson and Heint are looking at you.]
Russell lightly patted Lucion’s head.
Lucion carried many secrets. This meant carrying many internal struggles. To now find himself in a situation where he could willingly reveal one of those secrets, without coercion, felt like an enormous step forward.
[It might be hard to look at them all at once, so start with Hume. You know he can’t hide his expressions, right?]
Lucion hesitated, then lifted his head slightly. Russell directed his gaze toward Hume. True to form, Hume’s expression remained unchanged—his face calm and sincere, with a faint, reassuring smile.
“There’s something I’ve been keeping from all of you,” Lucion began.
His sudden confession caught Heint completely off guard.
‘W-what is Lucion about to say?’
With no warning, Heint’s mind raced, wondering how to manage Carson’s inevitable reaction.
“Hiding… something?” Carson repeated, holding his breath. Uncertainty flickered in his expression, unsure of how to respond.
“I never meant to hide it,” Lucion admitted. “I just didn’t know how to explain it, and I wasn’t sure if you’d even believe me. So, I kept it to myself.”
Tightening his grip on Ratta, Lucion glanced briefly at Hume, whose curiosity was plain to see.
He wasn’t about to reveal that he was Hamel—there was no way. If he were, the fear and anxiety would have been unbearable.
“Lucion,” Carson said gently, calling his brother’s name. “No matter what you’ve been hiding, I can accept it.”
“I-I feel the same way,” Heint added quickly, glancing at Carson for support. It was clear he wanted to reassure Lucion.
“Can you really accept everything?” Lucion asked quietly.
Even if I’m a warlock?
Lucion swallowed that thought.
“I ran away from you,” Carson admitted. “Because of that, I don’t know how you see me now… but whatever you’ve been hiding, I can accept it.”
Carson’s voice carried a hint of guilt, even with Heint present.
Lucion, who had been looking at Hume, now turned his gaze toward Carson.
Perhaps…
‘Perhaps he misunderstood.’
That thought brought a strange sense of relief.
Finally, Lucion found his voice.
“I am… a saint.”
It was a start—something undeniable.
“But I’m sure none of you understand what that truly means.”
“…?”
Heint, who had been reaching out instinctively toward Carson, froze, a look of confusion spreading across his face.
‘This isn’t what I expected…?’
Distracted by his own awkward posture, Heint focused entirely on Lucion’s next words.
“I can hear the voice of the divine beast,” Lucion revealed.
“What…?”
“What did you just say, Lucion?” Heint blurted, cutting off Carson’s attempt to respond.
Lucion had never said anything like this before. Heint’s eyes widened in utter disbelief, his mind reeling at the unexpected revelation.