Chapter 377: Fact Always Wins (3) |
- It’s not just the Sacred Democratic Country. Servants of demons are hiding in each kingdom and all over the continent. They all have their own goals, just like the demon worshiper, Ito Sota, and the demon summoner, Jin Cheong. Their goal is to disturb the order of the continent. Even now, the forces of darkness are eating away at the continent and the light. They’re moving using their powers to get what they want. The current situation is exactly what they want. Everyone, please open your eyes. Don’t fall for the demon’s whispers, and look at what’s really important.
Naturally, I looked up at the castle wall with a serious look, and my eyes were filled with tears. Even I thought it was pretty convincing, and the light that gently enveloped me made my words even more believable.
‘This is why people call me Light Ki-Young.’
I couldn’t help but think that my Alchemist of Light job was a game changer because if darkness enveloped me while I was saying those things, then no one would believe me.
- What they want is the destruction and downfall of the continent. They’re trying to take away your family, the land you’re living on, and everything you’re trying to protect. Your enemy isn’t the humans but the demons and its servant who have put you in that place. The Republic has become rotten because of Jin Cheong, the demon summoner, and you should be pointing your sword at them.
No one would tell me that I was lying.
- Please lay down your weapons. You must join us and resist a bigger threat. We must pull out the demonic roots along with Jin Cheong. We must protect the land we’re living on and take a step toward the future. We have to abandon the conflict between the nations and races so that we can all take a step forward. It’s time to make a decision for the light. Why are you standing there? What are you trying to protect by coming to the battlefield? The Three Nation Alliance isn’t the enemy. We’re comrades that will walk with you. It’s time for everyone on the continent to join forces in the name of the light. Please make your decision.
- Please stand up. Don’t get swallowed by the darkness. Come to us and be with the light. The continent can become one under the name of light.
The elves became emotional as they looked at me, and the soldiers of the enemy didn’t seem any different from the elves. The Republic soldiers wavered when I showed up through the goddess’ mirror, and they were touched when a brilliant golden light enveloped me. Their leaders tried their best to deal with the situation, but it was too late.
- The power of darkness is very strong. Only with the power of the Three Nation Alliance can we save this continent. A small candle cannot vanquish the darkness, but if there are many candles, we will be able to vanquish the darkness. After that incident in Laois, I realized that all of you are candles that can dispel the darkness. It doesn’t matter whether you’re strong or weak, you’re still a candle that can keep the darkness at bay.
All of a sudden, I heard a voice from the other side.
- To claim that Jin Cheong is a demon summoner is a lie. The enemy of the continent is Lee Ki-Young, the Honorary Cardinal of the Vatican. He also tricked the continent and made a puppet out of the Sacred Democratic Country. The incident in Laios is a self-made scenario, and they used the goddess’ mirror for propaganda…
- If you believe that it’s a lie, then so be it. However, to yell that you are righteous without hard proof is what I call a lie. Believe what you saw with your own eyes. Believe what you saw, not what you heard. The person the unimaginably strong demon called as its contractor, who was it again? Who’s the one who caused great despair and danger in Laios? Who’s the one who has been refusing to appear in the Continental Court? You’re probably not aware of the fact that the Three Nation Alliance was the one that submitted an official trial. Please think again. Who is the one hiding in a safe place after causing so much chaos?! I’m currently standing in front of all of you. Unlike the demon summoner Jin Cheong, I’m standing here to talk to all of you!
- Don’t fall for it. Everything you’re seeing through the goddess’ mirror isn’t the truth.
- What about you? Can you claim that everything you’re saying is the truth?
I signaled with a thumbs up to Jung Ha-Yan, and she immediately turned the camera to display the spokesperson of the Republic in the goddess’ mirror. They were astonished by what we had done.
‘Are they Russian?’
I wasn’t really sure about it, but when I checked using Mind’s Eye, I instantly saw their information.
[Checking Player Yevkarina’s Status Window and Potential.]
[Name - Yevkarina]
[Age - 34]
‘So they’re Russian.’
There was no need for me to look at her other information because she looked like a non-combatant, and her stats were honestly not that great. She wasn’t as bad as Lee Ji-Hye, but since she was a mage who could cast voice amplification magic, there was a high chance that she was a part of Jin Cheong’s party.
The way she stood there with a nervous look was pretty cute, but she definitely thought that she had a duty to fulfill because she looked like she was ready to counterattack. It was easy to deduce her thoughts, and I already had an idea about what she would say.
‘Deny the plan of the light to tackle the dark.’
Or…
‘Put the blame on me.’
Either one didn’t really matter because she would be reborn as a member of the demon party anyway.
***
- What about you? Can you claim that everything you’re saying is the truth?
‘Why is Lee Ki-Young here?’
I[1] started having doubts. I heard that his current location couldn’t be located, but the command center’s assumption that he was either at the capital of the Democratic Country or at Lindel was wrong.
‘That doesn’t change anything...’
This was actually better because an army was currently blocking Everia. If the plan ended up becoming a success after the siege at Castle Rock started, then we would be in a more advantageous position. Next would be Lindel and then the capital. We would end up as the victors of this war. Unfortunately, we were currently under pressure.
‘I just need to deny it.’
It wasn’t everyone, but I could tell the soldiers and some of the foreigners were confused, and the denizens of the Republic were feeling nervous as well. It was understandable because the video was that shocking. Black mages could usually only summon low-ranked up to high-ranked demons, so I had never seen or heard of anyone summoning a transcendent monster that was so full of malice a human could directly collapse in front of it. I wasn’t looking at the demon in real life, but I was already trembling in fear.
‘Something like that… exists on the continent?’
If the demon lord in the goddess’ mirror earlier was real, then I could understand Honorary Cardinal Lee Ki-Young’s absurd remarks. Of course, what I meant was his remarks about how there was darkness trying to swallow the continent. Based on what we saw, Lee Ki-Young’s remark wasn’t that absurd. After all, every adventurer knew the strength of malevolent beings, especially demons.
Of course, I have faith in Commander Jin Cheong, but…
‘Even if that video was fabricated…’
It was still a devastating video. I had already heard of the details, but I couldn’t stop doubting everything. What if Commander Jin Cheong really was a servant of demons? What if the majority of the denizens of the Republic were really falling for Jin Cheong’s words? What if the military’s goal didn’t match the goal of demon worshiper Ito Sota and the goal of demon summoner Jin Cheong? What if there was really a group trying to take over the continent?
One doubt led to another doubt, and I was already falling for it.
‘It’s a lie. It’s definitely… fabricated information.’
I knew nothing good would come out of having doubts, but I kept having strange thoughts. However, I still had my own task to do. The Republic and I had already been caught up in the current, and ordinary people like us could only resist it.
‘I still have tasks I need to carry out.’
I had to comfort the soldiers and respond to the honorary cardinal’s remark. Those were the only things I could do right now. I was deep into my thoughts, but I immediately reacted. After exhaling, I spoke and then I heard a loud voice. I was displayed in the goddess’ mirror, and I obviously looked nervous, but this was the best I could do.
‘It’s propaganda and a tactic. Let’s not have any doubts.’
- Everything is the enemy’s propaganda and tactic. It’s a deception tactic to discourage our allies. C-Commander Jin Cheong didn’t summon the demon. The Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country created the incident in Laios. He created a meticulous script to start this war and a trick to take the Republic! Don’t listen to them. They’re the real demons. They’re the deceivers and instigators, as well as the demons who shouldn’t be on this continent. We must remember how much blood was shed because of the riot that took place in the name of sacred democracy.
‘That’s right.’
- It’s a fabricated script that sacrificed the lives of the people of Laios to bring the neutral nation into their alliance. The demon summoner is the honorary cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country and his followers, not Commander Jin Cheong!
‘Is it really? Is it really okay to say that they’re the ones who summoned the demon when they risked their lives to save Laios?’
They weren’t acting. The large-framed warrior was genuinely crying while resisting the demon. Father Lee Ki-Young and the mage were also doing their best to resist the transcendent being while vomiting blood.
‘Were they really acting..?’
- All… of it is a trap. A self-fabricated story to cloud your decision. Think about why the Sacred Democratic Country tried to bring Laios and the other races into their alliance. This war was what they were after. The Three Nation Alliance’s goal is to take what’s ours by denying the Republic while raising their swords and disrupting order. This entire situation is exactly what the demon summoner Lee Ki-Young wants! He’s the demon summoner! There’s no way Commander Jin Cheong could have done something like that!
And that was when I heard a loud voice.
- You liar! I am a priest chosen by the Goddess of Benigoa and Elune, as well as an envoy chosen by the gods! You dirty servant of demons!
A burst of brilliant holy light I had never seen before manifested in front of me. It was so bright I couldn’t open my eyes properly.
1. Yevkarina’s POV ☜
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