Elze slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, her mind was blank and she couldn't think of anything.
But soon as if a switch had been turned on, she came to her senses. As she remembered what had happened before she lost consciousness, her body jerked up on its own. With that, water droplets splashed everywhere.
“Ouch, it’s cold...!”
Elze realized that she was in a room made of pure white marble. The floor of the room, which was covered in white marble on all sides, was covered in puddles of water.
Elze didn't know what kind of water it was, but since she was lying there, her whole body was soaked. Elze shivered and looked for an exit.
Fortunately, it wasn't hard to find the way out. Elze quickly saw the exit and walked towards it. There was a long, winding stone staircase in the narrow passage.
The moment Elze stepped onto the stairs, something strange happened. The water on Elze's body was pulled in as if by a magnet, and fell to the floor like raindrops.
When she reached the top of the stone steps, there was not a drop of moisture left. Elze felt her body, which had become soft, and tilted her head as she began to climb the stairs.
The stairs were quite long. After slowly climbing up each step for a long time, a large hall was revealed.
"Ah...!"
It was a strangely shaped hall. It was shaped like a wide disc, with half-rounded walls and a ceiling, and the rest was open, surrounded by a railing that only reached about waist level.
Looking over the railing, she could see a lake with blue waves lapping below. Despite the great height, no stairs or passages were connecting to the lower level. All that was there was the stone steps that Elze had climbed.
In the middle of the hall stood Ilwooz, dressed in a long black papal robe. He looked at Elze with his rainbow-colored eyes and spoke.
“Are you awake?”
It was strange to hear Ilwooz speak with a distinct voice, not a vague one. It seemed like Ilwooz had been the one who had moved her to a strange place without permission. Elze glared at him for a moment, then looked around the hall to find Shan.
However, there was no one in the hall except for Ilwooz and Elze. As Elze was about to ask Ilwooz about Shan's whereabouts, white light gathered.
As the light grew brighter, the silhouettes of mature people appeared in it. And when the light disappeared, the bishops of Ines and Shan were there. Shan was held tightly by the bishops with both arms tied together.
“Shan!!”
“Elze!”
As soon as Shan confirmed Elze, he immediately shook off the priests who had been tying him up. It seemed that Shan had been held captive until now because they could not know her well-being. Shan ran straight to Elze and hugged her.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
He asked, looking up and down at Elze. Elze nodded that she was okay and looked at Shan absentmindedly. He also didn't seem to have any noticeable injuries.
“How impudent!!”
The bishops of Ines shouted at Shan, their eyes widening.
“Get your hands off him! You’re not the type of person who can be touched carelessly!”
Elze began to seethe. Anyway, starting with Ilwooz, everything was going its own way. Elze glared at Ilwooz and said.
“Please explain to me right now what this is.”
“Savior.”
Ilwooz said, blinking his eyes slowly.
“The Savior is destined to put the demons to sleep and save the continent. And here goes!”
Ilwooz's hand pointed to Shan.
“It is a demon that will destroy the continent.”
"...What did you say?”
Elze made a dumbfounded expression, but Ilwooz continued speaking slowly.
“You may have heard the prophecy about the destruction of the continent.”
Of course, she had heard of it. It was a famous prophecy. But she didn’t know the specifics. All she knew was that the followers of Ines believed in the prophecy that the devil would be resurrected in the coming millennium and the continent would be destroyed.
“So now... you’re saying that the demon of the prophecy is Shan?”
“Yes.”
"Lie!"
Ilwooz was calm in front of the screaming Elze.
“I know you may be confused by the sudden truth, but I am sure you have guessed something. Shan Cirxus is no ordinary man.”
Ilwooz stared at Elze quietly and whispered.
“Didn’t the Savior see it too?”
“...”
“In your dreams, a continent engulfed in flames and demons.”
Elze was speechless at those words. He was right. Elze had seen Shan in her dream. But it was Shan, but it wasn’t Shan. The image of him staring at Elze with reptilian eyes flashed through her mind.
“That’s, that’s...”
Ilwooz sighed and said to Elze, who could not deny it.
“We don’t have much time left. Savior, you are the one who will end all this calamity.”
Elze clenched her teeth and asked Ilwooz.
“What on earth do you want me to do?”
“The Savior must kill Shan Cirxus.”
“...!”
Her heart sank. The word death was a weight that Elze could not bear. Elze spoke urgently.
“But that hasn’t even happened yet. And you haven’t even listened to a word this guy says!”
When Elze asked why he didn't even listen to Shan, Ilwooz raised his voice for the first time and shouted.
“This is a prophecy from Ines!”
His eyes gleamed violently.
“The fact that Shan Cirxus is a demon remains unchanged. Why does the Savior not submit to fate!”
Ilwooz was angry. And his anger made Elze angry too.
“...Don’t call me your savior.”
Elze said with her eyes shining blue.
“I am not the savior, I am Erzenes Targayel.”
At those words, a colorful light flashed in Ilwooz's eyes. With a light that at first glance seemed threatening, Ilwooz spoke softly.
“You are the savior.”
Ilwooz and Elze's gazes met tightly. Neither of them took a single step back. Elze, who had confirmed the unbridgeable gap between them, spoke slowly.
“I don’t think we can solve this problem.”
“...”
Elze's words made Ilwooz fall silent. His eyes looked angry yet sad. They were eyes that could break a person's heart, but they did not stir even a little in Elze's heart.
"Then..."
Elze cut him off coldly.
“We have to solve it through force.”
Shan was ready to give up everything for Elze.
So, he made a deal with Crown Prince Raymond and decided to rebel. Even if it meant risking his life, he could jump in without hesitation.
When the Imperial Knights blocked Elze and him from leaving the Crown Princess Palace, Shan thought to himself. Even if he had to die here, he would somehow make sure Elze got out safely.
This was especially true because Raymond's intentions for summoning Targayel by imperial command were unknown. Shan envisioned the halls of the main palace and even thought about how to deal with the numerous knights.
But when he entered alone, instead of dozens of knights with their swords raised, only a few people were sitting sparsely.
As soon as Shan saw the people, he looked at the one who caught his eye the most. It was Ilwooz, the Pope who led the Church of Ines.
As soon as Shan saw Ilwooz, he felt a strong sense of discomfort and hostility. It was an instinctive feeling. The murderous intent to kill him surged up to the tip of his head, and he had to try to hide it.
Ilwooz smiled brightly as soon as he saw Elze. He walked towards Elze, knelt on the bare floor, and bowed his head.
"I meet the Savior..."
In that situation, Crown Prince Raymond did not even come into view. While everyone was shocked, Ilwooz suddenly spoke something to Elze in Ryeo’s language. Elze seemed quite shocked by the incomprehensible words.
"So please come to Inesian with me..."
Shan was displeased. He hated the mere existence of Ilwooz, but he didn't like the fact that he was using an unknown secret as bait to manipulate Elze as he pleased. Even though he pretended to be calm and indifferent to Elze, Shan secretly hoped that Elze wouldn't follow Ilwooz.
And Elze chose Shan. Instead of keeping the secret of her past, she chose the present with Shan.
But Shan had no time to be happy about Elze’s choice. As soon as Ilwooz took off the cloth covering his eyes, white light enveloped the entire area.
“Ugh..."
When Shan opened his eyes again, he had already been transported to a strange place. He had no idea where he was or how much time had passed. His head was throbbing so much that he thought it would burst. Shan pressed his forehead with his hand and looked around.
“...!!”
A chill ran down his spine for a moment. Shan was sitting in the center of a circle filled with intricate, geometric patterns.
The priests of Ines, dressed in black priestly robes, stood in a circle, and Ilwooz was standing right in front of Shan's eyes.
Ilwooz, dressed in the Pope's uniform, showed off his rainbow-colored eyes and smiled with utmost joy. He read brightly from the old book he was holding.
"And Ines created the world. He said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. He said, 'Let there be darkness,' and there was darkness.
But in the pure whiteness of light, there is no place for the shadow of darkness to lie down. When darkness tried to chew on the light, Ines bound the darkness and sealed it deep underground.
But the devil does not die, and his power grows little by little in the darkness. The time when the seal is released is a thousand years, the millennium.
When the millennium comes, the devil creates a vessel to contain his body and sends it to the earth. It is a devil in human form.
The devil wages war to devour the light. The earth will be parched by the blazing fire, and not a single drop of water or blade of grass will remain.
But before the disaster comes, Ines will send down a savior, and the servants of Ines must seek him out.
In the name of Ines, the Savior will put an end to the scourge of destruction.
So, the servants of Ines must believe and obey, and do not add to or take away from the prophetic words that Ines has given."
After finishing his reading, Ilwooz let out a light breath. He handed the book he was holding to the bishop next to him, then looked at Shan and said.
“Today, the mission of Ilwooz, which has lasted for a thousand years, has come to an end.”
It was ridiculous. Shan made a face of bewilderment and asked Ilwooz a question.
“What are you doing now?”
Ilwooz declared sternly as if he were a judge handing down a death sentence.
“The Savior will kill the devil and end the disaster.”
Shan remained silent for a while and then asked again.
“Are you saying that devil is me?”
“Yes. I will grant you the mercy of leaving a will.”
“...Are you crazy?”
The bishop and priests were horrified by Shan's rude words and actions. However, it was even more strange that he was being polite to Ilwooz when things had come to this point. Shan snickered and taunted.
“It seems like God has given a prophecy that a sane person will be driven to death by being labeled a devil?”
But at Shan's sarcasm, Ilwooz cut him off with a cold voice.
“Don’t you know it yourself?”
His rainbow eyes looked at Shan coldly.
“That you are not normal.”
“...”
To his chagrin, Shan couldn't argue with that. Ilwooz was right. Shan knew very well that he was strange. He didn't know if he was a demon or what, but at least he was different from other normal people.
When Shan first entered the Hundred Years War, he was a blank sheet of paper. He had never trained in martial arts or learned military tactics. However, as he experienced the taste of slaughter on the battlefield, his skills improved to the point where his eyes were spinning.
The moment he picked up a weapon, he instinctively knew how to handle it, and when he saw the battlefield, he intuitively felt when and how to move his soldiers to strike and retreat.
There was one more thing that was not normal. Shan felt no emotion on the battlefield. The battlefield was the place where human emotions were in full swing. But when everyone was going crazy in the fear of death and excitement of killing, Shan was calm. He killed people with emotions that were worse than those of a bystander.
At that time, all that was left for Shan was cold, frozen anger, and as time went by, even that became less noticeable. Shan, who spent each day meaninglessly, fell deep into emptiness.
The only one who could hold onto Shan was Elze. One of the reasons Shan fell for Elze was because he felt like a human being when he was next to her.
“Shan Cirxus.”
Ilwooz said, drawing a circle with his finger.
“A normal human being can easily escape from there. The power given by God cannot harm humans.”
“...”
“But you may find it impossible. You can try as much as you want.”
Shan jumped up from his seat and ran towards Ilwooz. However, before he could even grab the hem of Ilwooz's clothes, he was blocked by something invisible.
“Ugh...”
At the same time, a burning pain spread throughout his body. It felt like his flesh was being put into a blazing fire. Shan had no choice but to step back. Ilwooz smiled in satisfaction at the sight of Shan clenching his molars.
“The Savior will kill you.”
Shan gasped for air as he tried to soothe the pain and struck Ilwooz.
“At least if she listens to what Ilwooz says, I don’t think she’ll kill her husband.”
Ilwooz's face crumpled at the word husband.
“To dare to marry that person... is beyond measure, it’s an act that doesn’t even know your place.”
Ilwooz spoke to Shan in an angry voice as if scolding him.
“No matter how much you loved each other, do you think the Savior will protect you after seeing your ugly true self?”
He drove the wedge in with confidence.
“On the subject of the devil.”
Shan smiled crookedly at Ilwooz's words. He wanted to hide the fact that his last words had sunk deep into his heart. However, he couldn't stop his lips from shaking.
Ilwooz, who was looking at such a Shan, slowly raised his head, looked into the air, and spoke to the bishops.
“The Savior has awakened in the sanctuary. I will go up first, so bring him here.”
“Yes, Ilwooz.”
Ilwooz disappeared like that, and only Shan was left. Shan stood there blankly, thinking.
He was a little, just a little bit anxious. It wasn't that he was doubting Elze. It was Shan who was doubting himself. He knew how ugly his dark insides were. No matter how much Elze tried to protect him, there was a limit.
If Ilwooz were to expose all the ugly aspects that he had hidden deep inside, and if Elze were to end up disappointed...
Shan couldn't bear to look at her back as she turned away. He would rather die than see her. Just imagining Elze cursing him in a cold voice and calling him a devil made his eyes dizzy.
After thinking about this for a while, the bishops tied Shan up. As white light gathered in groups, Shan felt a burning pain.
And when the light disappeared, Shan had moved to another location. Elze appeared before his eyes. Shan immediately shook off the bishops’ bonds and ran to Elze to check if she was injured.
But the feeling of joy he felt upon seeing Elze's face was short-lived, and his heart began to cool as Ilwooz pointed at him and said something.
“Interest is the devil who will destroy the continent.”
Ilwooz pushed Shan in front of Elze. Words like savior, devil, and destruction were jumbled together. Shan looked at Elze anxiously. His heart sank as he thought that she might abandon him.
But Elze did not turn away from Shan.
“...Don’t call me your savior.”
Elze stood up to Ilwooz confidently, holding onto Shan's hand tightly.
“I am not the savior, I am Erzenes Targayel.”
The moment he heard those words, Shan felt an emotion that was impossible to describe in words. A chilling feeling of certainty washed over him that Elze would never abandon him.
She was Shan's savior.
Unable to bear it any longer, Shan burst out laughing. Really, Shan didn't need anything else. If only Elze could stay by his side and trust him, he would have the whole continent.
Elze didn't see Shan like that because she was busy with the tense standoff with Ilwooz.
“I don’t think we can solve this problem.”
Elze warned Ilwooz, who had no intention of backing down.
“Then... we have to solve it by force.”
Ilwooz's face was distorted. His smooth, neat forehead was creased miserably.
Shan laughed out loud when he saw Ilwooz. The laughter that broke out in the tense standoff was out of place, but Shan didn't care.
“Elze.”
Shan hugged Elze from behind. Ilwooz was furious at the sight of him resting his face on her shoulder, but Shan acted even more arrogantly.
“I like you so much.”
He brought hia lips to her soft earlobe and whispered. Elze pushed Shan away in a sudden confession and whispered softly.
“What are you doing, in this situation...!”
But Shan pulled Elze back as she tried to run away and said.
“I would die for your hands.”
“Shan!”
Shan smiled and said to Elze, who was trying to scold him.
“But since you said you wanted to solve it by force...”
Shan held Elze tightly in one hand and looked at Ilwooz quietly as he spoke.
“We have to solve it with force.”
Elze's heart pounded at Shan's sudden embrace. A firm embrace and warmth enveloped Elze. Her ear felt hot as his breath passed by, so she held onto Shan's forearm tightly with her hand.
“..."
Ilwooz hardened his lips as he looked at Elze, who was blushing slightly. He muttered softly.
“...The Savior must break free from the devil’s sweet talk.”
Ilwooz's eyes began to flicker terribly. The rainbow-colored eyes that seemed to contain all the light in the world began to shake once and looked even more frightening. Ilwooz spoke with an angry face.
“Do you really think you can solve all of this by force? It’s not too late, so wake up and face the truth.”
Instead of answering Ilwooz's words, Elze quickly thought about it. From what she could see, there was no escape route. The only way down the hall was the strange stone steps Elze had come across, and beyond them was a room that was completely closed off on all sides.
Just a moment ago, Shan and the priests appeared in the light, and it seemed that they were using their divine powers to move up and down this hall.
There was no way Elze and Shan could use their divine powers. Even if they killed all the bishops and priests here, including Ilwooz, there was no way to get down to the ground from this tower-like place.
The best course of action in this situation was to take Ilwooz hostage. Using him as a hostage, demand that he be brought down to the surface, and get out of this unknown place seemed like the most urgent task.
Elze, who had come to a conclusion, looked at Ilwooz. He was still waiting for an answer, hoping that he could convince Elze. Elze let out a small breath and said.
“It is Ilwooz who tries to solve the situation by force.”
Still in Shan's arms, Elze continued speaking.
“Even if this person is truly a demon who will destroy the continent, Ilwooz cannot decide his life or death at will. Is it Ines’ teaching to take someone’s sacrifice for granted for a greater cause?”
As soon as Elze finished speaking, Ilwooz got angry and shouted.
“He is not human! He is a devil!!”
Ilwooz and Elze had different standards for conversation. It was obvious that any further conversation would be a waste of time.
“Shan.”
As if he had been waiting for her call, Shan looked straight at Elze. His purple eyes were filled with trust. Elze felt a pang in her heart for no reason. How could she condemn and drive out a person like this as a devil?
Even if Shan was truly a demon, should he die for something that hadn't happened yet? I didn't think so.
But soon as if a switch had been turned on, she came to her senses. As she remembered what had happened before she lost consciousness, her body jerked up on its own. With that, water droplets splashed everywhere.
“Ouch, it’s cold...!”
Elze realized that she was in a room made of pure white marble. The floor of the room, which was covered in white marble on all sides, was covered in puddles of water.
Elze didn't know what kind of water it was, but since she was lying there, her whole body was soaked. Elze shivered and looked for an exit.
Fortunately, it wasn't hard to find the way out. Elze quickly saw the exit and walked towards it. There was a long, winding stone staircase in the narrow passage.
The moment Elze stepped onto the stairs, something strange happened. The water on Elze's body was pulled in as if by a magnet, and fell to the floor like raindrops.
When she reached the top of the stone steps, there was not a drop of moisture left. Elze felt her body, which had become soft, and tilted her head as she began to climb the stairs.
The stairs were quite long. After slowly climbing up each step for a long time, a large hall was revealed.
"Ah...!"
It was a strangely shaped hall. It was shaped like a wide disc, with half-rounded walls and a ceiling, and the rest was open, surrounded by a railing that only reached about waist level.
Looking over the railing, she could see a lake with blue waves lapping below. Despite the great height, no stairs or passages were connecting to the lower level. All that was there was the stone steps that Elze had climbed.
In the middle of the hall stood Ilwooz, dressed in a long black papal robe. He looked at Elze with his rainbow-colored eyes and spoke.
“Are you awake?”
It was strange to hear Ilwooz speak with a distinct voice, not a vague one. It seemed like Ilwooz had been the one who had moved her to a strange place without permission. Elze glared at him for a moment, then looked around the hall to find Shan.
However, there was no one in the hall except for Ilwooz and Elze. As Elze was about to ask Ilwooz about Shan's whereabouts, white light gathered.
As the light grew brighter, the silhouettes of mature people appeared in it. And when the light disappeared, the bishops of Ines and Shan were there. Shan was held tightly by the bishops with both arms tied together.
“Shan!!”
“Elze!”
As soon as Shan confirmed Elze, he immediately shook off the priests who had been tying him up. It seemed that Shan had been held captive until now because they could not know her well-being. Shan ran straight to Elze and hugged her.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
He asked, looking up and down at Elze. Elze nodded that she was okay and looked at Shan absentmindedly. He also didn't seem to have any noticeable injuries.
“How impudent!!”
The bishops of Ines shouted at Shan, their eyes widening.
“Get your hands off him! You’re not the type of person who can be touched carelessly!”
Elze began to seethe. Anyway, starting with Ilwooz, everything was going its own way. Elze glared at Ilwooz and said.
“Please explain to me right now what this is.”
“Savior.”
Ilwooz said, blinking his eyes slowly.
“The Savior is destined to put the demons to sleep and save the continent. And here goes!”
Ilwooz's hand pointed to Shan.
“It is a demon that will destroy the continent.”
"...What did you say?”
Elze made a dumbfounded expression, but Ilwooz continued speaking slowly.
“You may have heard the prophecy about the destruction of the continent.”
Of course, she had heard of it. It was a famous prophecy. But she didn’t know the specifics. All she knew was that the followers of Ines believed in the prophecy that the devil would be resurrected in the coming millennium and the continent would be destroyed.
“So now... you’re saying that the demon of the prophecy is Shan?”
“Yes.”
"Lie!"
Ilwooz was calm in front of the screaming Elze.
“I know you may be confused by the sudden truth, but I am sure you have guessed something. Shan Cirxus is no ordinary man.”
Ilwooz stared at Elze quietly and whispered.
“Didn’t the Savior see it too?”
“...”
“In your dreams, a continent engulfed in flames and demons.”
Elze was speechless at those words. He was right. Elze had seen Shan in her dream. But it was Shan, but it wasn’t Shan. The image of him staring at Elze with reptilian eyes flashed through her mind.
“That’s, that’s...”
Ilwooz sighed and said to Elze, who could not deny it.
“We don’t have much time left. Savior, you are the one who will end all this calamity.”
Elze clenched her teeth and asked Ilwooz.
“What on earth do you want me to do?”
“The Savior must kill Shan Cirxus.”
“...!”
Her heart sank. The word death was a weight that Elze could not bear. Elze spoke urgently.
“But that hasn’t even happened yet. And you haven’t even listened to a word this guy says!”
When Elze asked why he didn't even listen to Shan, Ilwooz raised his voice for the first time and shouted.
“This is a prophecy from Ines!”
His eyes gleamed violently.
“The fact that Shan Cirxus is a demon remains unchanged. Why does the Savior not submit to fate!”
Ilwooz was angry. And his anger made Elze angry too.
“...Don’t call me your savior.”
Elze said with her eyes shining blue.
“I am not the savior, I am Erzenes Targayel.”
At those words, a colorful light flashed in Ilwooz's eyes. With a light that at first glance seemed threatening, Ilwooz spoke softly.
“You are the savior.”
Ilwooz and Elze's gazes met tightly. Neither of them took a single step back. Elze, who had confirmed the unbridgeable gap between them, spoke slowly.
“I don’t think we can solve this problem.”
“...”
Elze's words made Ilwooz fall silent. His eyes looked angry yet sad. They were eyes that could break a person's heart, but they did not stir even a little in Elze's heart.
"Then..."
Elze cut him off coldly.
“We have to solve it through force.”
***
Shan was ready to give up everything for Elze.
So, he made a deal with Crown Prince Raymond and decided to rebel. Even if it meant risking his life, he could jump in without hesitation.
When the Imperial Knights blocked Elze and him from leaving the Crown Princess Palace, Shan thought to himself. Even if he had to die here, he would somehow make sure Elze got out safely.
This was especially true because Raymond's intentions for summoning Targayel by imperial command were unknown. Shan envisioned the halls of the main palace and even thought about how to deal with the numerous knights.
But when he entered alone, instead of dozens of knights with their swords raised, only a few people were sitting sparsely.
As soon as Shan saw the people, he looked at the one who caught his eye the most. It was Ilwooz, the Pope who led the Church of Ines.
As soon as Shan saw Ilwooz, he felt a strong sense of discomfort and hostility. It was an instinctive feeling. The murderous intent to kill him surged up to the tip of his head, and he had to try to hide it.
Ilwooz smiled brightly as soon as he saw Elze. He walked towards Elze, knelt on the bare floor, and bowed his head.
"I meet the Savior..."
In that situation, Crown Prince Raymond did not even come into view. While everyone was shocked, Ilwooz suddenly spoke something to Elze in Ryeo’s language. Elze seemed quite shocked by the incomprehensible words.
"So please come to Inesian with me..."
Shan was displeased. He hated the mere existence of Ilwooz, but he didn't like the fact that he was using an unknown secret as bait to manipulate Elze as he pleased. Even though he pretended to be calm and indifferent to Elze, Shan secretly hoped that Elze wouldn't follow Ilwooz.
And Elze chose Shan. Instead of keeping the secret of her past, she chose the present with Shan.
But Shan had no time to be happy about Elze’s choice. As soon as Ilwooz took off the cloth covering his eyes, white light enveloped the entire area.
“Ugh..."
When Shan opened his eyes again, he had already been transported to a strange place. He had no idea where he was or how much time had passed. His head was throbbing so much that he thought it would burst. Shan pressed his forehead with his hand and looked around.
“...!!”
A chill ran down his spine for a moment. Shan was sitting in the center of a circle filled with intricate, geometric patterns.
The priests of Ines, dressed in black priestly robes, stood in a circle, and Ilwooz was standing right in front of Shan's eyes.
Ilwooz, dressed in the Pope's uniform, showed off his rainbow-colored eyes and smiled with utmost joy. He read brightly from the old book he was holding.
"And Ines created the world. He said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. He said, 'Let there be darkness,' and there was darkness.
But in the pure whiteness of light, there is no place for the shadow of darkness to lie down. When darkness tried to chew on the light, Ines bound the darkness and sealed it deep underground.
But the devil does not die, and his power grows little by little in the darkness. The time when the seal is released is a thousand years, the millennium.
When the millennium comes, the devil creates a vessel to contain his body and sends it to the earth. It is a devil in human form.
The devil wages war to devour the light. The earth will be parched by the blazing fire, and not a single drop of water or blade of grass will remain.
But before the disaster comes, Ines will send down a savior, and the servants of Ines must seek him out.
In the name of Ines, the Savior will put an end to the scourge of destruction.
So, the servants of Ines must believe and obey, and do not add to or take away from the prophetic words that Ines has given."
After finishing his reading, Ilwooz let out a light breath. He handed the book he was holding to the bishop next to him, then looked at Shan and said.
“Today, the mission of Ilwooz, which has lasted for a thousand years, has come to an end.”
It was ridiculous. Shan made a face of bewilderment and asked Ilwooz a question.
“What are you doing now?”
Ilwooz declared sternly as if he were a judge handing down a death sentence.
“The Savior will kill the devil and end the disaster.”
Shan remained silent for a while and then asked again.
“Are you saying that devil is me?”
“Yes. I will grant you the mercy of leaving a will.”
“...Are you crazy?”
The bishop and priests were horrified by Shan's rude words and actions. However, it was even more strange that he was being polite to Ilwooz when things had come to this point. Shan snickered and taunted.
“It seems like God has given a prophecy that a sane person will be driven to death by being labeled a devil?”
But at Shan's sarcasm, Ilwooz cut him off with a cold voice.
“Don’t you know it yourself?”
His rainbow eyes looked at Shan coldly.
“That you are not normal.”
“...”
To his chagrin, Shan couldn't argue with that. Ilwooz was right. Shan knew very well that he was strange. He didn't know if he was a demon or what, but at least he was different from other normal people.
When Shan first entered the Hundred Years War, he was a blank sheet of paper. He had never trained in martial arts or learned military tactics. However, as he experienced the taste of slaughter on the battlefield, his skills improved to the point where his eyes were spinning.
The moment he picked up a weapon, he instinctively knew how to handle it, and when he saw the battlefield, he intuitively felt when and how to move his soldiers to strike and retreat.
There was one more thing that was not normal. Shan felt no emotion on the battlefield. The battlefield was the place where human emotions were in full swing. But when everyone was going crazy in the fear of death and excitement of killing, Shan was calm. He killed people with emotions that were worse than those of a bystander.
At that time, all that was left for Shan was cold, frozen anger, and as time went by, even that became less noticeable. Shan, who spent each day meaninglessly, fell deep into emptiness.
The only one who could hold onto Shan was Elze. One of the reasons Shan fell for Elze was because he felt like a human being when he was next to her.
“Shan Cirxus.”
Ilwooz said, drawing a circle with his finger.
“A normal human being can easily escape from there. The power given by God cannot harm humans.”
“...”
“But you may find it impossible. You can try as much as you want.”
Shan jumped up from his seat and ran towards Ilwooz. However, before he could even grab the hem of Ilwooz's clothes, he was blocked by something invisible.
“Ugh...”
At the same time, a burning pain spread throughout his body. It felt like his flesh was being put into a blazing fire. Shan had no choice but to step back. Ilwooz smiled in satisfaction at the sight of Shan clenching his molars.
“The Savior will kill you.”
Shan gasped for air as he tried to soothe the pain and struck Ilwooz.
“At least if she listens to what Ilwooz says, I don’t think she’ll kill her husband.”
Ilwooz's face crumpled at the word husband.
“To dare to marry that person... is beyond measure, it’s an act that doesn’t even know your place.”
Ilwooz spoke to Shan in an angry voice as if scolding him.
“No matter how much you loved each other, do you think the Savior will protect you after seeing your ugly true self?”
He drove the wedge in with confidence.
“On the subject of the devil.”
Shan smiled crookedly at Ilwooz's words. He wanted to hide the fact that his last words had sunk deep into his heart. However, he couldn't stop his lips from shaking.
Ilwooz, who was looking at such a Shan, slowly raised his head, looked into the air, and spoke to the bishops.
“The Savior has awakened in the sanctuary. I will go up first, so bring him here.”
“Yes, Ilwooz.”
Ilwooz disappeared like that, and only Shan was left. Shan stood there blankly, thinking.
He was a little, just a little bit anxious. It wasn't that he was doubting Elze. It was Shan who was doubting himself. He knew how ugly his dark insides were. No matter how much Elze tried to protect him, there was a limit.
If Ilwooz were to expose all the ugly aspects that he had hidden deep inside, and if Elze were to end up disappointed...
Shan couldn't bear to look at her back as she turned away. He would rather die than see her. Just imagining Elze cursing him in a cold voice and calling him a devil made his eyes dizzy.
After thinking about this for a while, the bishops tied Shan up. As white light gathered in groups, Shan felt a burning pain.
And when the light disappeared, Shan had moved to another location. Elze appeared before his eyes. Shan immediately shook off the bishops’ bonds and ran to Elze to check if she was injured.
But the feeling of joy he felt upon seeing Elze's face was short-lived, and his heart began to cool as Ilwooz pointed at him and said something.
“Interest is the devil who will destroy the continent.”
Ilwooz pushed Shan in front of Elze. Words like savior, devil, and destruction were jumbled together. Shan looked at Elze anxiously. His heart sank as he thought that she might abandon him.
But Elze did not turn away from Shan.
“...Don’t call me your savior.”
Elze stood up to Ilwooz confidently, holding onto Shan's hand tightly.
“I am not the savior, I am Erzenes Targayel.”
The moment he heard those words, Shan felt an emotion that was impossible to describe in words. A chilling feeling of certainty washed over him that Elze would never abandon him.
She was Shan's savior.
Unable to bear it any longer, Shan burst out laughing. Really, Shan didn't need anything else. If only Elze could stay by his side and trust him, he would have the whole continent.
Elze didn't see Shan like that because she was busy with the tense standoff with Ilwooz.
“I don’t think we can solve this problem.”
Elze warned Ilwooz, who had no intention of backing down.
“Then... we have to solve it by force.”
Ilwooz's face was distorted. His smooth, neat forehead was creased miserably.
Shan laughed out loud when he saw Ilwooz. The laughter that broke out in the tense standoff was out of place, but Shan didn't care.
“Elze.”
Shan hugged Elze from behind. Ilwooz was furious at the sight of him resting his face on her shoulder, but Shan acted even more arrogantly.
“I like you so much.”
He brought hia lips to her soft earlobe and whispered. Elze pushed Shan away in a sudden confession and whispered softly.
“What are you doing, in this situation...!”
But Shan pulled Elze back as she tried to run away and said.
“I would die for your hands.”
“Shan!”
Shan smiled and said to Elze, who was trying to scold him.
“But since you said you wanted to solve it by force...”
Shan held Elze tightly in one hand and looked at Ilwooz quietly as he spoke.
“We have to solve it with force.”
Elze's heart pounded at Shan's sudden embrace. A firm embrace and warmth enveloped Elze. Her ear felt hot as his breath passed by, so she held onto Shan's forearm tightly with her hand.
“..."
Ilwooz hardened his lips as he looked at Elze, who was blushing slightly. He muttered softly.
“...The Savior must break free from the devil’s sweet talk.”
Ilwooz's eyes began to flicker terribly. The rainbow-colored eyes that seemed to contain all the light in the world began to shake once and looked even more frightening. Ilwooz spoke with an angry face.
“Do you really think you can solve all of this by force? It’s not too late, so wake up and face the truth.”
Instead of answering Ilwooz's words, Elze quickly thought about it. From what she could see, there was no escape route. The only way down the hall was the strange stone steps Elze had come across, and beyond them was a room that was completely closed off on all sides.
Just a moment ago, Shan and the priests appeared in the light, and it seemed that they were using their divine powers to move up and down this hall.
There was no way Elze and Shan could use their divine powers. Even if they killed all the bishops and priests here, including Ilwooz, there was no way to get down to the ground from this tower-like place.
The best course of action in this situation was to take Ilwooz hostage. Using him as a hostage, demand that he be brought down to the surface, and get out of this unknown place seemed like the most urgent task.
Elze, who had come to a conclusion, looked at Ilwooz. He was still waiting for an answer, hoping that he could convince Elze. Elze let out a small breath and said.
“It is Ilwooz who tries to solve the situation by force.”
Still in Shan's arms, Elze continued speaking.
“Even if this person is truly a demon who will destroy the continent, Ilwooz cannot decide his life or death at will. Is it Ines’ teaching to take someone’s sacrifice for granted for a greater cause?”
As soon as Elze finished speaking, Ilwooz got angry and shouted.
“He is not human! He is a devil!!”
Ilwooz and Elze had different standards for conversation. It was obvious that any further conversation would be a waste of time.
“Shan.”
As if he had been waiting for her call, Shan looked straight at Elze. His purple eyes were filled with trust. Elze felt a pang in her heart for no reason. How could she condemn and drive out a person like this as a devil?
Even if Shan was truly a demon, should he die for something that hadn't happened yet? I didn't think so.
Elze whispered softly to Shan.
“I’ll take care of Ilwooz, you take care of the rest.”
Ilwooz bit his lower lip hard after hearing the whispers and then shouted.
"Foolish!!"
But Ilwooz's shout was only a signal flare. Shan and Elze ran out as soon as those words left their mouths.
At the same time that Elze grabbed Ilwooz by the collar and dragged him along, Shan kicked the stomach of the priests standing behind him.
Several priests rushed at Shan at once, but they could not subdue him. Even though the priests were pushing forward with their numbers, they could not handle Shan alone.
Even those priests who seemed to be able to exert some strength were knocked out by a single swift blow. Shan moved as nimbly as a wild beast.
And while Shan was beating the priests to a pulp, Elze subdued Ilwuz. His slender body was held in one hand. Elze grabbed Ilwooz's forearm from behind, and with the other hand, she grabbed the back of his neck and threatened him in an elegant voice.
“You have to get us out of here.”
Ilwooz's breathing became rough due to the tightening power. No matter how much power Ines had given Ilwooz, he was still a human. If Elze had applied more power here, he would not have been able to breathe. Ilwooz continued to speak intermittently while panting.
“In the end... you have to see his true nature with your own eyes... to accept what I say.”
He raised his right hand. A pure white light gathered into a cloud, then quickly became a clear straight line and flew towards Shan. The light turned into a sharp spear and pierced Shan.
“...!!”
Shan took a deep breath. His back arched. Shan’s skin, touched by the white light, began to burn darkly. The crackling sound of the burning scratched her ears. Elze froze at the horrifying sight and screamed his name.
“Shan!!”
Shan stumbled for a moment, then straightened up. But this time, the bishop and priests poured divine power on Shan.
The beams of light piled up and piled up until they became a huge sphere. Shan was instantly buried inside. Shan's groans were not heard, perhaps because he was enduring the pain. However, the sound of his skin burning could be heard clearly. Ilwooz spoke in an extremely calm voice.
“Humans are not harmed by divine power. Do you still think Shan Cirxus is human?”
“This crazy... !”
Elxe grabbed him by the collar and screamed.
“Stop talking nonsense! People are dying!!”
“He won’t die.”
Ilwooz said with a sneer.
“He’ll just turn into a monster.”
"...Monster?"
At Ilwooz's words, Elze felt as if all reason in her head had been cut off.
“Shall I show you what a real monster is?”
Elze's eyes sparkled and she grabbed Ilwooz's head with both hands. Ilwooz let out a groan of pain at the fierce force.
“The savior you believe in and worship so much is someone who was called a monster so many times on the battlefield, huh?”
“Wasn’t it inevitable?”
“Shut up! Unless you want to die from a twisted neck.. .”
Elze tightened her grip. Then she brought her face close to Ilwooz and whispered.
“Stop right now.”
This time, Ilwooz couldn't say anything. Ilwooz's lips trembled briefly at Elze's appearance, which was brimming with murderous intent. He seemed to be quite shocked. Elze screamed at him, who was frozen in surprise.
"Hurry!"
It was when Ilwooz was finally about to open his mouth with a suppressed expression.
“Ahhhhh!!”
With a loud bang, the priests screamed and fell in all directions. Some of them slipped and fell over the railing of the hall.
"No!"
Ilwooz quickly spread his hands and unleashed his divine power. White light shot out and caught the priests.
In the chaos, Elze looked for Shan. The white light that had condensed and formed a sphere was dispersing. Shan’s silhouette was visible behind the smoke and the haze of light. Elze threw Ilwooz aside and ran to Shan.
“Shan!!”
Shan was a tattered and tattered figure. Her clothes were burnt to pieces, and his skin was black and dead. Elze, who was frantically checking Shan’s condition, flinched for a moment.
“...!”
Shan's pupils were narrow like a reptile's. The vivid purple irises were unusually dark, and the pupils were long and slit vertically, just like the ones she saw in her nightmares. What had been just a midday dream had become reality.
As Ilwooz had said, Shan might not really be human... As the reality suddenly dawned on her, Elze was left speechless.
“...”
Shan looked at Elze in silence. He could not have failed to see the fear that flashed across Elze’s face. Shan opened his mouth for a moment to say something, then closed it again. He blinked slowly and said,
“Elze.”
And then he asked quietly.
“Do I look ugly now?”
Elze, who had been absent-minded at Shan's question, suddenly came to her senses.
He didn't care at all about the pain that was burning his whole body. He didn't even know he was in pain even though he looked like a mess. He was just worried that he would look ugly to Elze and that Elze would hate him.
Shan was an idiot. A real idiot. He was looking at Elze so honestly that he hated himself for feeling fear for a moment.
Her eyes started to sting, and tears started to flow out. Elze spoke sobbing.
“What’s so ugly about it...”
Shan let out a shallow breath. He spread his arms and whispered.
“Then hug me.”
Elze hugged Shan with all her might. Shan’s face became more comfortable in Elze’s arms. His sharply torn pupils became round, and his burnt skin quickly regenerated.
It was a phenomenon that was impossible for a human. But Elze no longer cared about such things. No matter what Shan was, to Elze, he was simply Shan Cirxus.
"Ah..."
And Ilwooz, who was watching the scene, let out a faint groan. He fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Ilwooz quietly held the hem of the Pope's robe. The texture of the cloth felt soft and smooth in his hands, but Ilwooz's insides were rough and scratched as if they had been rubbed with sandpaper.
The savior that Ilwooz had imagined was a so-called Saint, a person of utmost integrity, morality, and justice.
That is why Ilwooz thought that if the Savior found out about the devil's true identity, she would naturally hate and despise him. He thought that she would kill the devil without hesitation and bring peace to the continent.
However, the savior that Ilwooz had been waiting and searching for his entire life was quite different from what he had imagined. She was not a Saint. The figure of Elze, who breathed life into Shan Cirxus to protect him, was closer to a devil than the savior that Ilwooz had imagined.
Ilwooz was greatly shocked by the sight, which was completely different from what he had imagined. It was as if the beliefs that Ilwooz had believed in and upheld all his life were shaken.
What will happen to the mission of Ilwooz that has continued for a thousand years? If the savior chooses the devil and stands by and watches the continent fall, what should I do as Ilwooz?
“...”
Ilwooz slowly raised his head and looked at the demon and the savior. On the subject of demons, Shan Cirxus was looking extremely comfortable in Elze’s arms. Looking at that sight, Ilwooz felt strange.
It was as if Shan Cirxus had been saved... and his face looked like that. Ilwooz, who was staring blankly at them, muttered quietly to himself.
"Fate...."
It was fate that Shan Cirxus became a demon, and it was fate that Erzenes Targayel became a savior. And it was fate that the two became a couple. He began to suspect that perhaps he had not yet figured out Ines's deeper meaning.
“Ilwooz!”
A clear voice woke Ilwooz up from his reverie. Large blue eyes looked at Ilwooz.
The moment he met those eyes, Ilwooz took a deep breath as if the stuffy, blocked inside him had suddenly been washed away. Elze spoke in a calm, subdued voice.
“The savior you seek is not here.”
Her words hit the nail on the head. Ilwooz bit the tender flesh inside his cheek as his heart ached. Elze confirmed it to Ilwooz.
“I will never kill Shan with my own hands.”
Ilwooz turned his gaze to Shan. He had previously appeared as a demon, exposed to the immense divine power, but now he was completely human again.
When their eyes met, Shan snuggled tightly into Elze's arms and smirked. It was really annoying to see him looking so normal. But on the other hand, it made Ilwooz think of something else.
Maybe killing isn't the only solution...
“I’ll take care of Ilwooz, you take care of the rest.”
Ilwooz bit his lower lip hard after hearing the whispers and then shouted.
"Foolish!!"
But Ilwooz's shout was only a signal flare. Shan and Elze ran out as soon as those words left their mouths.
At the same time that Elze grabbed Ilwooz by the collar and dragged him along, Shan kicked the stomach of the priests standing behind him.
Several priests rushed at Shan at once, but they could not subdue him. Even though the priests were pushing forward with their numbers, they could not handle Shan alone.
Even those priests who seemed to be able to exert some strength were knocked out by a single swift blow. Shan moved as nimbly as a wild beast.
And while Shan was beating the priests to a pulp, Elze subdued Ilwuz. His slender body was held in one hand. Elze grabbed Ilwooz's forearm from behind, and with the other hand, she grabbed the back of his neck and threatened him in an elegant voice.
“You have to get us out of here.”
Ilwooz's breathing became rough due to the tightening power. No matter how much power Ines had given Ilwooz, he was still a human. If Elze had applied more power here, he would not have been able to breathe. Ilwooz continued to speak intermittently while panting.
“In the end... you have to see his true nature with your own eyes... to accept what I say.”
He raised his right hand. A pure white light gathered into a cloud, then quickly became a clear straight line and flew towards Shan. The light turned into a sharp spear and pierced Shan.
“...!!”
Shan took a deep breath. His back arched. Shan’s skin, touched by the white light, began to burn darkly. The crackling sound of the burning scratched her ears. Elze froze at the horrifying sight and screamed his name.
“Shan!!”
Shan stumbled for a moment, then straightened up. But this time, the bishop and priests poured divine power on Shan.
The beams of light piled up and piled up until they became a huge sphere. Shan was instantly buried inside. Shan's groans were not heard, perhaps because he was enduring the pain. However, the sound of his skin burning could be heard clearly. Ilwooz spoke in an extremely calm voice.
“Humans are not harmed by divine power. Do you still think Shan Cirxus is human?”
“This crazy... !”
Elxe grabbed him by the collar and screamed.
“Stop talking nonsense! People are dying!!”
“He won’t die.”
Ilwooz said with a sneer.
“He’ll just turn into a monster.”
"...Monster?"
At Ilwooz's words, Elze felt as if all reason in her head had been cut off.
“Shall I show you what a real monster is?”
Elze's eyes sparkled and she grabbed Ilwooz's head with both hands. Ilwooz let out a groan of pain at the fierce force.
“The savior you believe in and worship so much is someone who was called a monster so many times on the battlefield, huh?”
“Wasn’t it inevitable?”
“Shut up! Unless you want to die from a twisted neck.. .”
Elze tightened her grip. Then she brought her face close to Ilwooz and whispered.
“Stop right now.”
This time, Ilwooz couldn't say anything. Ilwooz's lips trembled briefly at Elze's appearance, which was brimming with murderous intent. He seemed to be quite shocked. Elze screamed at him, who was frozen in surprise.
"Hurry!"
It was when Ilwooz was finally about to open his mouth with a suppressed expression.
“Ahhhhh!!”
With a loud bang, the priests screamed and fell in all directions. Some of them slipped and fell over the railing of the hall.
"No!"
Ilwooz quickly spread his hands and unleashed his divine power. White light shot out and caught the priests.
In the chaos, Elze looked for Shan. The white light that had condensed and formed a sphere was dispersing. Shan’s silhouette was visible behind the smoke and the haze of light. Elze threw Ilwooz aside and ran to Shan.
“Shan!!”
Shan was a tattered and tattered figure. Her clothes were burnt to pieces, and his skin was black and dead. Elze, who was frantically checking Shan’s condition, flinched for a moment.
“...!”
Shan's pupils were narrow like a reptile's. The vivid purple irises were unusually dark, and the pupils were long and slit vertically, just like the ones she saw in her nightmares. What had been just a midday dream had become reality.
As Ilwooz had said, Shan might not really be human... As the reality suddenly dawned on her, Elze was left speechless.
“...”
Shan looked at Elze in silence. He could not have failed to see the fear that flashed across Elze’s face. Shan opened his mouth for a moment to say something, then closed it again. He blinked slowly and said,
“Elze.”
And then he asked quietly.
“Do I look ugly now?”
Elze, who had been absent-minded at Shan's question, suddenly came to her senses.
He didn't care at all about the pain that was burning his whole body. He didn't even know he was in pain even though he looked like a mess. He was just worried that he would look ugly to Elze and that Elze would hate him.
Shan was an idiot. A real idiot. He was looking at Elze so honestly that he hated himself for feeling fear for a moment.
Her eyes started to sting, and tears started to flow out. Elze spoke sobbing.
“What’s so ugly about it...”
Shan let out a shallow breath. He spread his arms and whispered.
“Then hug me.”
Elze hugged Shan with all her might. Shan’s face became more comfortable in Elze’s arms. His sharply torn pupils became round, and his burnt skin quickly regenerated.
It was a phenomenon that was impossible for a human. But Elze no longer cared about such things. No matter what Shan was, to Elze, he was simply Shan Cirxus.
"Ah..."
And Ilwooz, who was watching the scene, let out a faint groan. He fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Ilwooz quietly held the hem of the Pope's robe. The texture of the cloth felt soft and smooth in his hands, but Ilwooz's insides were rough and scratched as if they had been rubbed with sandpaper.
The savior that Ilwooz had imagined was a so-called Saint, a person of utmost integrity, morality, and justice.
That is why Ilwooz thought that if the Savior found out about the devil's true identity, she would naturally hate and despise him. He thought that she would kill the devil without hesitation and bring peace to the continent.
However, the savior that Ilwooz had been waiting and searching for his entire life was quite different from what he had imagined. She was not a Saint. The figure of Elze, who breathed life into Shan Cirxus to protect him, was closer to a devil than the savior that Ilwooz had imagined.
Ilwooz was greatly shocked by the sight, which was completely different from what he had imagined. It was as if the beliefs that Ilwooz had believed in and upheld all his life were shaken.
What will happen to the mission of Ilwooz that has continued for a thousand years? If the savior chooses the devil and stands by and watches the continent fall, what should I do as Ilwooz?
“...”
Ilwooz slowly raised his head and looked at the demon and the savior. On the subject of demons, Shan Cirxus was looking extremely comfortable in Elze’s arms. Looking at that sight, Ilwooz felt strange.
It was as if Shan Cirxus had been saved... and his face looked like that. Ilwooz, who was staring blankly at them, muttered quietly to himself.
"Fate...."
It was fate that Shan Cirxus became a demon, and it was fate that Erzenes Targayel became a savior. And it was fate that the two became a couple. He began to suspect that perhaps he had not yet figured out Ines's deeper meaning.
“Ilwooz!”
A clear voice woke Ilwooz up from his reverie. Large blue eyes looked at Ilwooz.
The moment he met those eyes, Ilwooz took a deep breath as if the stuffy, blocked inside him had suddenly been washed away. Elze spoke in a calm, subdued voice.
“The savior you seek is not here.”
Her words hit the nail on the head. Ilwooz bit the tender flesh inside his cheek as his heart ached. Elze confirmed it to Ilwooz.
“I will never kill Shan with my own hands.”
Ilwooz turned his gaze to Shan. He had previously appeared as a demon, exposed to the immense divine power, but now he was completely human again.
When their eyes met, Shan snuggled tightly into Elze's arms and smirked. It was really annoying to see him looking so normal. But on the other hand, it made Ilwooz think of something else.
Maybe killing isn't the only solution...
That's what I'm thinking.
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