Novels online

Genius Warlock-Episode 636

636. Idol (2)

The end is coming.

Roderick said it as if a letter would arrive today..

Very flat tone.

But what bothered me more than that fact was the way Oliver spoke as if he knew the end was coming..

I thought it was an illusion, but it wasn't..

“Why are you doing that? It's not like you don't know.”

Roderick spoke without hesitation, just as he did when he mentioned Kevin's past..

Oliver could instinctively sense that he was not just shouting, but was speaking on a rational basis..

Although we do not know the detailed story, it would not be impossible since we have the intelligence to fully understand the circumstances of the Magic Tower..

Oliver scratched his chin..

“······Would it be rude if I pretended not to know??”

“If you want to treat me like a fool.”

“Oh, that won't work..”

Oliver immediately agrees with Roderick's wise answer. The conversation continued in a more productive direction..

“hmm······. May I ask how you were so sure I knew about the end times??”

“Because I'm the archive's disciple. Archives have been deeply involved in the apocalypse since ancient times. So wouldn't it be natural for that disciple to know that the end is coming??”

“Is that so?”

“I didn't know?”

Instead of answering, Oliver remembered the first time he asked Merlin about the apocalypse..

At the time, Merlin did not pretend not to know about the apocalypse, but he said he did not know much about it..

At least he didn't say he was as deeply involved as Roderick said..

Roderick asked if he had read such signs..

“her······. I didn't know that?”

“I never had a chance to hear that story..”

“I don't think I'm surprised by that.?””

“If you are an elderly person, it is not strange if you are somewhat involved in eschatology..”

“You heard me in vain. Not just a little, but deeply involved. So much so that they have been interacting with Paterism and the Apocalypse for hundreds of years. That's why we also respect the archive. Do you know what's more surprising??”

“well?”

“Some are even speculating that the archive may have been created to prevent the apocalypse. Otherwise, it doesn't explain why all archives are interested in the apocalypse..”

Amazing news coming one after another.

However, Oliver was not surprised or denied, and just listened calmly as before..

“Is it okay for you to tell me that so easily??”

“What's not to do? You are already receiving Armand's support, and you are also a disciple of the Archive. Rather, not knowing is strange..”

That was correct.

Rather, it was strange not knowing..

I also had a conversation with Merlin about apocalypse in the past..

We haven't talked about it at all now. I'm scared of what I know.

“By the way, you called the archive an old man.?”

“yes. Why are you doing that??”

“It's nothing special, but I thought it was a little strange... It's the first time I've seen a direct disciple call his teacher "elder." Even though I am a priest, I know that much. So it looks a little strange. It's awkward.”

I heard a similar story while cleaning up a contaminated area..

From a wizard from the traditional Gaia school who held the hand of a puppet..

Oliver gave the same answer as then..

“Because I happened to see it. I came to call it this way.”

“Hmm, I see... Anyway, it's not that strange for me to tell you about the apocalypse. Actually, it's natural. The world is in chaos and there are people who worship you..”

Roderick looked straight at Oliver..

His sly eyes shined sharper than any paladin Oliver had ever seen..

“Whether you want it or not. You are already a person who has been swept away by the typhoon of the apocalypse. Well, who wouldn't be swept up in the face of the apocalypse? I understand.?”

“hmm······. understand. But, I really don't know..”

“That's because I know. What matters is not whether you know or are involved. There are people who worship you.”

Oliver said nothing..

As Roderick said earlier, there were times when perception trumped truth, and this was one such case..

“Again, I believe. Why would someone with Armand's support do such a thing? ······Of course, some may think that a cunning warlock is tricking Armand into increasing his power..”

“······.”

“The warlock even created a pseudo-human using wood? Misunderstandings will become deeper. Those who worship him will believe that a true wise man has descended. Anyone standing on the other side will criticize them as a cult trying to steal God's domain..”

“······.”

“But it turns out that the warlock even created a religion that worshiped him in a small town called Weinham? ······I wonder how many people will believe it. Isn't that right??”

“······Can I have a cup of coffee too??”

“However much.”

Roderick opened his arms and gave permission..

Squeak.

Oliver poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip. After the caffeine kicked in, he felt lighter..

“······From what you said, it seems a bit serious..”

“I'm not denying it?”

“yes?”

“They are the chosen people. A pseudo-religion that is not even funny. That's not what they made, right? The things below were made on a whim..”

Oliver was impressed once again..

I never thought you would know this fact. At this rate, I thought there was less I didn't know than what I knew..

“Don't be surprised. The basis of governance is information..”

“Rule?”

“why? Do you have any problem?”

“It's not a problem, but isn't Paterism a religious group??”

“It is the kings who borrow the most from that religion..”

“······.”

“The Father in heaven has given kings authority over his children... Thanks to this theory, kings are not cut off and are ostentatious in the highest places..”

“Did God really say that??”

Oliver asked out of pure curiosity for the first time in a while..

I've never met God, but somehow I didn't think he would be like that..

At least the god in the scriptures.

“I don't know. But it doesn't matter. Because the Pater Church, which received the power of God, claims that this is true. Perception is more important than facts.”

Roderick spoke simply and clearly..

It doesn't really matter what God said. What is more important than that is the decision of the Pater Church..

This makes it clear.

Roderick considered Paterism itself more important than his Father in heaven..

God and Paterism. It is easy to mistake them for being the same, but they are as different as heaven and earth. Roderick chose the latter..

“sex law. The sacred power given to the Paterism by our Father in heaven. Thanks to this power, everyone believes in our Paterism without any doubt. Kings use that faith to maintain their positions. Governing is the real work of Paterism..”

“hmm······. Thank you for being honest, but is it okay for you to tell me that??”

“It's the same as the joke I made earlier. What kind of person would believe something like this? Even more so what a warlock says..”

Roderick spoke without hesitation, as if spitting..

Up until now, we have been honest in our conversations, but this was the most sincere..

“Are you dissatisfied with my attitude??”

“no. You taught me, but I am dissatisfied. Rather, thank you for being honest..”

“You probably know that my faith is weak anyway..”

“how did you know?”

“under! I tried stabbing it, but I guess it's true. I also wore a magic item! I like eyes!”

Roderick pointed as if piercing his eyes..

It wasn't average.

“I will honestly confess that this is what happened. I have little faith. Nevertheless, the reason I joined the Church of Pater is because it exists at the top of government..”

“So, did you join the Paterism to rule??”

“That's the way it is. Do you think this is a sin? Buddhist scriptures? Oman?”

Roderick's eyes flashed, but Oliver calmly shook his head..

“no. Because I don't think I'm qualified to judge anyone..”

Oliver, who traded the puppet's hand grip for his own desires and his unbending knees, answered..

Oliver made a deal with him for his own peace..

I decided not to care.

Ahead of a situation that may be related to the apocalypse. Just for your own comfort.

Extremely selfish behavior.

So I thought I had no right to evaluate anyone..

“I'm glad you're serious..”

“Because I’m serious..”

“If so, I'm even happier. The people I work with are so wise..”

“yes?”

“Most people live with the mindset of a civil servant and force others to have the same mindset as adults. Be ignorant and reckless. I hate people like that.”

“I'm sorry, but I'm also an ignorant and reckless person... But you're the person I'm working with??”

“Didn't you tell me when I first came here? He said he came to ask the hero of Landa for help. Please help us eliminate the warlocks in the center of the continent..”

“If that's the case, aren't the Holy Knights already doing well??”

“Hoo. Guess who heard it first?”

Roderick guessed keenly and it was true..

Through Walter Mayer, Oliver heard a glimpse of what happened in the center of the continent..

Paladins are coming in large numbers and hunting down warlocks on a large scale. almost to the point of massacre.

There are many reasons, but the most representative one is because of the Pied Piper..

The Pied Piper, whose actions were restricted to the center of the continent, appeared as Landa, and the center of the continent is now in chaos, with everyone's attention focused on the Holy Knights and the Church of Pater..

Walter said that the Paterists did not have the courage to fight the Pied Piper directly, so they claimed that he was just hunting them..

It was difficult to completely believe Walter's one-sided claim, but it could not be denied that it had some truth..

First of all, Walter's emotional state was sincere, and more than anything else, the Pied Piper was a person that even the Holy Knights could not handle. Timing is also timing.

Anyway, the warlocks in the center of the continent could be said to be in a situation where shrimp and other things explode in a whale fight..

“I don't know what else I heard. What we're doing now is necessary. There is some idolatry there, but other than that, warlocks show organized behavior. There is also a story about gathering refugees, organizing an army, and trying to borrow the power of the devil..”

“Are you sure you did your research properly? From what I heard, he was falsely accused.?”

The devil worship that Roderick mentioned must have happened in the Kingdom of Aizan..

I heard about it through the city's Secretary of the Interior, Paul Carver, and Walter..

It is said that large-scale traces of a deal with the devil were discovered in a place called Aizan Kingdom..

Walter claimed it was a conspiracy..

“well······. Regardless of whether it is a false accusation or not, I think the important thing is to reduce confusion in this dangerous situation..”

“The result is important, but isn't the process also important??”

“It's good if both are good, but things in this world aren't that easy. Above all, helping me would be good for you. If you help us, you can prevent people from misunderstanding. There is no god who oppresses his believers..”

“Are you threatening me??”

“I'm talking about reality, not threats or appeasement. If you don't help us, people will have no choice but to misunderstand.?”

I didn't like it, but it was hard to deny it..

“Are you so relaxed because you saved Landa and were called heroes??”

“I didn't think about it that far, but it makes sense..”

“Then you are a fool. Good deeds are beautiful, but they are also very shitty. Good deeds have no end, and are easily forgotten. The same goes for the title of hero. People rejoice at the birth of a hero, but they also go crazy over the downfall of a hero..”

“Is that so?”

“Because ugly people only find joy in the fall of others. Most humans are ugly. The good deeds you have done and the titles you have earned cannot protect you. It's just a joke.”

“······This doesn't seem like a good word for a religious person..”

“As a religious person, I am speaking the truth. The truth is just terrible.”

“If that is true, wouldn't it be even more difficult for me to help you??”

“No, this is the truth and you must help me. Because I proposed a deal... It's not difficult with just Armand's support.?”

Roderick got right to the point..

Sponsored by Armand, Chancellor and Cardinal Priest of Gallos.

Thanks to that, Oliver was able to do things that an ordinary warlock could not even dream of..

The main goal is to establish a school of black magic within the Magic Tower..

However. Apart from that, it was also true that his situation was precarious..

Cardinal Priest Armand was providing support, but not all of the Pater Church agreed..

To be honest, Oliver's current condition is closer to being withheld than acknowledged..

“At least it's Armand, so that's about it. In other words, that is the limit. If you help me, things will change. I will also support you. Then it is as if you have received permission from the entire Pater Church..”

“Is that so?”

“I also have considerable influence within the church. Also, the act of helping me helps you. Who would dare suspect blasphemous behavior in helping the Pater Church exterminate evil warlocks??”

It was a reasonable remark, but Oliver didn't react that way..

I was reluctant because it felt like they were asking me to prove my loyalty by asking for prey..

I thought it was pride, but it didn't seem to be the case..

In the first place, Oliver never did anything out of pride..

Rather, it is more deep in my heart... It was a different problem.

For example, the question of whether it is okay to have other people's blood on one's hands to achieve one's goals and be safe..

I wondered if Oliver, who had lived as a problem solver, had the right to say something like this, but it was somewhat true..

Of course, I did not say this reason out loud, but.

“What's the problem??”

“No matter how much I think about it, I don't think it's a matter for me to decide alone. The person who supports me is His Majesty Armand... Did you talk with His Majesty Armand??”

“I couldn't do it because I was busy, but I have no doubt that they will allow it. If you want, contact me right away..”

“may i contact you?”

“You?”

“yes. I think that would be better..”

“It doesn't matter, but we need to hurry, right? If you take too much time, there may be people who misunderstand you..”

“Do not worry. I'll hurry..”

Oliver promised, and Roderick knew he meant it..

Since the options are limited.

Roderick finished his business and stood up..

“Well then, I'll just leave for today. If you stay too long, it will be easy to misunderstand.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Oliver stood up and politely sent Roderick off..

Roderick responded with a grace that was hard to believe for a large man and was about to leave, but just before he opened the door, he turned and asked Oliver..

“But I didn't care?”

“What do you mean??”

“My faith is weak.”

“Yeah, God doesn't care about that..”

A tone closer to confirmation than speculation.

Roderick snorted in interest..

***

Trudging. Trudging. plod.

When Roderick came out dressed in an ordinary priest's uniform, many eyes were focused on the magic tower..

It wasn't the attire of a cardinal priest, but the priest's attire itself stood out in the magic tower, so it was inevitable..

Roderick's size and presence also played a role..

Well, that wasn't the problem..

I didn't really come to the Magic Tower with the intention of hiding my identity in the first place..

If you wanted that, you wouldn't have even moved it yourself..

Wearing an ordinary priest's uniform was a kind of evasion that meant he was trying to hide his identity.).

The real reason Roderick visited the Magic Tower was to meet Oliver, who goes by the pseudonyms Zenon and Dave, with his own eyes..

The end is coming. The one who was worshiped as a god at Weinham..

“Did you come to meet me??”

A nun standing at the end of the hallway welcomed Roderick..

Four paladins, including Galahaut, stood next to her, whose entire body was covered in black nun clothing..

Paladins were relatively unnoticeable because they wore regular clothes, but nuns were noticeable because they stuck to their nun's uniform..

Even more so in the Magic Tower.

Roderick answered the nun's question..

“I met you.”

“How was it??”

“As you said, it was fun. In particular, the point is that values ​​are not established... Maybe I can really use it as a vessel..”