Chapter 35: Desire |
“Your Majesty.”
Lei had returned.
Yet he remained within the Temple.
And You, ever since the desire for Divine Grace had arisen in his heart, had become increasingly unable to restrain himself.
But Lei had never summoned him.
In the end, You could no longer endure it and took the initiative to request an audience with Lei.
Lei looked at his eldest disciple kneeling before him.
And sighed inwardly.
He had watched You grow up.
The longing for Divine Grace in his eyes?
However… he had ultimately broken his promise.
He had not brought back the Divine Grace Technique.
Lei opened his mouth, yet did not know how to explain.
And when You saw that Lei remained silent.
A wave of panic immediately rose in his heart.
He knew.
The Pope and the previous Solar King of the Solar Dynasty were brothers, and both were children of the first Solar King, Apollo.
Because even within the Theocratic State of the Stars.
The legends of Apollo still flowed.
After all, for this world, Apollo was the first being to possess true Divine Grace.
He was not merely “the one chosen by the gods.”
He was also the beginning of Divine Grace!
His existence.
Symbolized that the gods had cast their gaze upon the world!
Thus, the people of the Theocratic State understood the Solar Dynasty as a nation that shared the same faith in the gods.
“Sorry.”
Lei’s voice carried deep guilt.
He wanted to explain the bond born of blood.
Yet found his words so pale and powerless.
Unfortunately, this was not what You wanted to hear.
All his expectations, all his fantasies…
Collapsed in this instant!
He did not need an apology—he needed Divine Grace!
He only wanted, like Lei and those nobles of the Solar Dynasty, to possess the power that symbolized the favor of the gods!
He resented why Lei had given him hope.
Only to personally destroy it!
If it could not be given.
Then why had he ever been allowed to hope?
However.
Years of devout faith and the bond between master and disciple forced him to suppress the questions in his heart.
He merely lowered his head even further.
Using all his strength to maintain a facade of respect.
Then… he bowed deeply.
Afterward, without saying a word, he left the Temple.
That silent departing figure hurt Lei more than any fierce words could have.
Lei watched as You disappeared beyond the Temple gates.
The guilt in his heart surged like a tide.
He could not be like Ze…
Able to sever all emotions and desires for the sake of a goal.
He had stirred desire within You.
Yet was unable to fulfill it.
“Desire is the root of human suffering, because desire can never be satisfied.”
At this moment, the divine proverb spoken to his father.
Echoed in his mind…
Unusually clear.
It was a pity.
That Apollo had not carved the continuation of this proverb onto that stone tablet.
That was… an even more cruel truth!
“And hatred… is the beginning of dissatisfaction.”
At the very moment desire appeared.
Hatred followed.
Just as desire could never be satisfied.
Once hatred began, it would never end.
This was the divine proverb left behind, speaking of the unchanging truth of this world.
…
After leaving the Temple.
You wandered alone, aimlessly.
At this moment, his heart felt empty.
As if he had suddenly lost the purpose of his life.
He could not muster the slightest interest in anything around him, everything seeming dull and meaningless.
He came to the riverbank, watching the flowing water.
At this moment, his heart was like the river itself, drifting with the current, unable to feel any sense of stability.
Confusion and emptiness nearly swallowed him whole.
Just then.
A faint scent of blood drifted into his nose with the wind.
He instinctively looked up.
In the upstream waters, something seemed to be floating down along the current.
It was a person!
A… person with golden hair and golden eyes!
“A Recipient of Divine Grace!” You exclaimed inwardly.
Judging by the way the person was drifting in the water, he was clearly severely injured, perhaps even already dead.
After a brief moment of thought, You leapt into the river.
And pulled that Recipient of Divine Grace ashore.
Looking at the unconscious Recipient of Divine Grace before him.
You’s first thought was to immediately seek Lei.
With Lei’s Authority, perhaps this person could be saved.
However, just as he was about to move.
The unconscious Recipient of Divine Grace seemed trapped in a nightmare.
Muttering several hate-filled words.
“Ze…!”
“I want… revenge! Revenge!!”
Those dreamlike murmurs filled with hatred.
Exploded in You’s ears.
Freezing him in place.
Shock appeared on his face.
But that shock…
Lasted for less than a single breath.
Before being swallowed by the darkness rising within his heart.
He looked at the dying Recipient of Divine Grace on the ground.
A bold and mad thought emerged in his mind.
Since Lei was unwilling to give him the Divine Grace Technique…
Why could he not take it himself?!
Perhaps…
This severely injured and unconscious Recipient of Divine Grace before him.
Was the guidance and opportunity granted by the gods!
He no longer hesitated. Under the cover of night.
He secretly hid this Recipient of Divine Grace within his residence near the Temple.
…
Several days later, after the routine prayers ended.
The priests exited the grand Temple one after another.
At that moment…
Lei called out, stopping You, who was walking last.
“You, stay behind.”
“Your Holiness.”
You turned around and bowed respectfully.
There was not the slightest trace of abnormality on his face, as if yesterday’s unpleasant parting had never happened.
Lei looked at You, at that unchanged respect.
And felt slightly relieved.
Perhaps this child had merely been unable to think it through for a moment.
After a brief silence, he spoke of his decision.
“You, I intend to…”
“Pass the position of Pope to you ahead of time.”
He thought that while he was still alive.
He would help You ascend to the position of Pope as early as possible.
Using his own prestige to stabilize his foundation.
That way, even after he returned to the Sea of Stars.
Even if You did not possess Divine Grace…
With the identity of the Pope and years of management, he would still be able to control the Theocratic State, without fear of being questioned by the people.
However, upon hearing this decision.
You raised his head and looked at Lei…
Yet there was no expected joy or gratitude in his eyes.
Only a deep indifference.
“A… Pope without Divine Grace?”
He asked softly, his tone calm.
Lei was stunned, momentarily speechless.
But You did not give him a chance to respond.
He merely bowed slightly.
Then left the Temple.
To You, although the position of Pope was important, without Divine Grace to legitimize its sacredness.
The position of Pope was ultimately nothing more than a castle in the air.
Now that he had hope of obtaining the Divine Grace Technique, he could not allow himself to be distracted by such matters.
As for whether Lei would…
Pass the position of Pope to someone else because of this?
He did not care.
Because as long as he possessed Divine Grace…
Then he would be the unquestionable Pope!
A Pope that no one could challenge!
…
After returning to his residence.
Looking at that still “unconscious” Recipient of Divine Grace.
You was not anxious.