Chapter 252: Holy Light?

Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Pranav

For the teachings of the Holy Light and the Holy Church to have been successful, it was only natural for them to have their good points as well. The purest light was also a representation of the purest Order.

The most original teachings of the Holy Light were to illuminate the dark world with Holy Light and protect people by dispelling the darkness and those corrupted by Chaos.

If Chaos was a power that distorted Order, then the Holy Light was the power to erase the distortion and return it to the void. That’s right—not to undistort but to completely destroy it.

I had once fervently believed in the Holy Light as well, believing that it was capable of saving everything, believing the teachings of the Holy Light that Order would finally defeat Chaos.

The Holy Church treated everyone as either allies or enemies, viewing the world as black and white. This was quite refreshing and enjoyable for its believers, but only seeing the world this way wasn’t enough…

The Goddess of Creation Eich had two daughters that inherited her powers of creation, but those powers were divided into Order and Chaos. That already explained everything—both Order and Chaos were the foundational pillars of the world of Eich, and neither could be without the other.

“If the distorted Order is also a necessary part of this world, with orderly Order and chaotic Chaos both being foundational pillars of this world, wiping out some Chaos is probably no different from removing a spoonful of water from the ocean. It will only make the wave that comes in to replenish what was lost even more vicious. Perhaps this is the true reason why the Holy War will never end.”

A world without Chaos was a world that would seem heavy and dead. This world would lack competition, elements of chance, or any desire for self-improvement, which meant it would lack the ability to evolve and change. And a world without Order where every factor and choice became random was probably one where nobody would be able to survive in. After all, even the wild beasts in the forests had their own laws of the jungle that they lived by.

Order had Chaos among it, and Chaos had Order as well. Even the purest representatives of Chaos, the demons, obeyed the concept of ranks among them, and the Order side’s purest representatives, the angels, who were often made fun of as outdated artifacts, had their own desires and goals as well.

Purely using violence against violence might have an effect, but the prerequisite was to be able to completely suppress the loser or even destroy the loser entirely. And, in this world, that was obviously impossible.

Yep, in my eyes, the Holy Light was nothing more than a type of violence: “If you don’t obey my commands, I shall destroy you.” What could this be other than violence?

So that was why even though I still believed in the original intentions of the Holy Light, I also spat upon it as I used it. I merely treated it as a useful tool, just like how I used elemental magic or undead magic.

“Undead are considered evil? Who made that rule? The God of Holy Light? Or you yourselves, the Holy Church?! Ha! Foolish! From the very start, the Holy Light and the God of Holy Light were in the wrong.”

My voice wasn’t loud, nor was I using a sarcastic tone. I was merely stating the truth as I saw it, but in the eyes of any Holy Light believer, I was doubting and desecrating the nature of Holy Light, which made me a heretic among heretics.

“Roland! You dare!”

Estrada was no longer able to tolerate this as his angry roar caused a gust of wind that blew away the clouds, along with a blinding pillar of light that reached the skies. His Holy Light Domain was now taking form and suppressing the entire area, with the land itself trembling in fear at Estrada’s anger. Perhaps Estrada was indeed the strongest user of Holy Light in the world.

In my current condition, if I fought with Estrada who was incredibly furious… I would probably be defeated by a single swing of his mace.

However, I laughed. I laughed out loud, as if there was something hilarious. After all, even if he was ridiculously strong, that wouldn’t change the fact that he was a fool.

“This is so funny. Just what generation is it already!? Why are you so foolish? That’s why you’ve been a confused and pitiful fool for your entire life, only being ordered about by others and watching so many tragedies occur. Right now, you probably view me as a heretic who abandoned the Holy Light. In that case, my venerable teacher, could I ask you what this is in my hands?”

On my index finger was a golden glow that was as light as a firefly’s. It whirled around my fingers, but only those who truly understood the teachings of the Holy Light would be able to recognize that this was the purest Holy Light of all, a power that only those who had received the most favored blessings of the Holy Light could use.

All their eyes were filled with disbelief. How could this heretic, who said something so blasphemous, still be able to use the Holy Light? Not to mention the highest-quality Holy Light?

“I was once the Holy Light’s Son, the Son of Light…”

I activated my War Angel bloodline, opening up a pair of snow-white wings, and showing a divine side of me in front of everyone. With the golden Holy Light of angels covering me, another pillar of light belonging to me added itself to the sky.

Perhaps it was much smaller than Estrada’s pillar of light, but if we compared the pillars of light’s power to pierce through darkness and illuminate the land, Estrada’s light was nothing more than a slightly strong light bulb in front of this true Holy Light.

The one with the biggest reaction was actually that little half-angel, Aivla. She was trembling all over, and could only give in to her instinct and kneel in front of me.

Her angel bloodline kept continuously telling her that the man in front of her was using the purest Holy Light and was a high-ranked angel many ranks above her. The angels were the representation of Order and were the species that viewed rank as more important than anyone. In front of me, who had transformed into an ancient War Angel, she could only submit and be humble.

“…I once believed that the light would dispel the darkness. However, I soon found out that it wasn’t enough. Light and shadow would forever be twins, and pure light would never be able to destroy the shadow. Rather, it’s the opposite: pure light will actually create even purer darkness. So, I made my choice…”

A pitch-black flame was now burning on my left hand. No, it wasn’t actually burning; all the flames were actually the crying of souls. That was the purest power of death magic.

“Ha! Don’t you always say that Holy Light and Chaos are mortal enemies? Then, how do you explain the fact that a heretic like me can simultaneously use the powers of Holy Light and death magic? Just try explaining it with your teachings of Holy Light, and allow me to hear just what drivel your God of Holy Light made up!”

All the Holy Light job class members had disbelief on their faces—it was as if the very sky had collapsed. According to their common sense and their belief system, destroying Chaos was the natural job of the Holy Light, and Holy Light and the undead were incompatible. The moment they came into contact, there would be a need to be a battle to the death, but this War Angel before them was simultaneously using the powers of Holy Light and death magic.

“Aivla, persist! Don’t think too much into it, and maintain your sense of self! You’re a child of the Holy Light!”

Cardinal Soros’ angry roar attracted my attention. The kneeling white-winged half-angel Aivla was soaked in sweat, and the tips of her wings were actually beginning to blacken.

“Ha! Child, are you that afraid of knowing the truth? Your belief is actually shaken, and you’re starting to become a fallen angel. Hehehe, a fallen angel! That’s a really rare species. In that case, allow me to help firm your resolution. Come, take a look, child. This is the truth that the Gods don’t dare to tell you.”

I laughed maniacally as I combined the purest Holy Light with the flames of death. Estrada had already guessed that something was happening and finally took action. He was unable to simply watch all this unfold before him because he had lived through too many tragedies already.

“ROLAND!”

*Clang!*

His mace that was ignited with holy flames was blocked by a familiar silver Roland Sacred Sword. It was only that this time, the sword wielder was no longer me, but instead a face that greatly resembled mine. It even had a similarly devilish smile, but with more innocence and the gentleness that females would have.

At this moment, Estrada felt like he had returned to the past, when a young and innocent boy who seemed like he wasn’t afraid of anything, always smiling ever so similarly, would call him “teacher” and ask him about the teachings of the Holy Light.

“Brother Roland’s teacher, please don’t interrupt Brother Roland. He only wishes to show you the hidden truth. If you aren’t afraid of the truth, then watch him.”

Estrada didn’t take action, but it wasn’t because of Reyne’s clumsy attempt at convincing him. Instead, the faintly opened dimensional portal behind Reyne gave him a tremendous amount of pressure. He sensed the power of a Divine Sin that even the Gods would fear, and he had no confidence that he would easily be able to break past.

With Estrada’s slight delay, my task was at its end. I melded the pitch-black flame with the golden light, but the explosive collision that everyone expected didn’t occur.

Instead, the pitch-black flame and golden light combined, and they kept interacting with each other and complementing each other, until…

“Ahhh!”

Aivla didn’t even wait to see the result. The purer someone was, the easier they would be tainted. She floated in midair and large amounts of her white feathers began to turn black. Just as how the Holy Light could only destroy the undead and demons, it was unable to turn the undead or demons back. She had already begun the process of becoming fallen, so it was destined that she would be unable to stop.

“Look, this is the truth.”

The black and golden colors had dissolved already, and what remained was only pure white. When the colors finished disappearing, what remained in my hand was only a white dove.

Although it was only about one-tenth the size of a real dove, and although it was so weak that it was unable to fly, it was already the best evidence—it was alive!

From emptiness to existence, the artificial creation of life was the life goal of countless alchemists and mages. However, not a single individual had ever made any discoveries in this field. After all, this was within the domain of the Gods, and not just any God—it belonged to the domain that only the Goddess of Creation could achieve!

“Why did the Goddess of Creation’s daughters separately inherit the powers of Order and Chaos? That’s because only the two powers combined can make the power of Creation. The light is supposed to destroy the darkness? Haha! How much longer will you tell such a ridiculous lie? As long as there is light, there will be darkness, and light and darkness need each other to exist. Pure darkness can transform into light as well, while the end of light can transform into darkness… Take a look! Isn’t the evidence right in front of your eyes?”

The black-winged fallen angel looked at me coldly, without a shred of emotion within her now black eyes. The pure Holy Light within her had already transformed into pure darkness, so there was no better evidence than this.

“Estrada! As the strongest wielder of Holy Light, don’t tell me that you’ve never noticed anything! Do you dare to swear in the name of the Holy Light that you’ve never noticed the truth at all? Perhaps you’ve already discovered some clues more than three hundred years ago. You were just forcing yourself to avoid the truth!”

“I…”

This strongest fool and coward hesitated and didn’t dare to say anything, but his hesitation was already a tacit admittance that caused a fearsome chain reaction.

“If you don’t dare, I do! I, Roland Mist, swear in the name of the Holy Light, that the Holy Light can never completely destroy Chaos. Holy Light can only cause new Chaos to be born and make the Holy War fiercer and fiercer. If anything about what I say is false, may I be stripped of the powers of Holy Light!”

I made that oath using the powers of Holy Light in front of everyone, but my pillar of Holy Light still remained around me. This was doubtlessly the best evidence of the veracity of my words.

“Ahhh!”

There were numerous Holy Light job class members that were shouting pitifully. One of the teachings of the Holy Light was that “those who waver in their beliefs will lose the powers of the Holy Light.” And, in just an instant, more than twenty Holy Light job class members lost their powers, including every single one of the young ones. More than half of the entire envoy group became former Holy Knights and former priests. Only the oldest ones among them that had cultivated for over one hundred years were able to maintain their faiths.

“This incident today can never be revealed! Otherwise, it’ll enormously shake the foundations of the entire Holy Church. Estrada, kill everyone here!”

When faced with the brink, Cardinal Soros finally tore off his gentle kindly mask that he preferred to use in front of everyone. He was extremely decisive about this. Everyone here had witnessed an angel becoming fallen, and all these countries’ envoys had also witnessed the Divine Miracle of creation using Order and Chaos. He couldn’t allow a single person here to live.

“Estrada! Do you know just what will happen if word of this gets out!?”

The Holy Church was always used to claiming themselves to be the protectors of Order and humanity. If this spread out, even the foundations of the Holy Church and the teachings of the Holy Light would be shaken. In Cardinal Soros’ mind, Estrada was someone peerless who would easily be able to slaughter everybody here. He was also continually praying to the God of Holy Light, but in this sanctuary of the Law God, how could he possibly get through?

When he saw that Estrada did not move for quite a while, Soros became anxious. Finally, that seemingly young ancient Holy Knight lifted his head, but his face was now unrecognizable. Estrada now had gray-white hair, and a face filled with wrinkles. He had instantly aged several decades in appearance.

“I have no guarantee of winning here. In fact, I might not even be able to take on this young princess. I’m unable to do it, nor do I want to do it anymore.”

Soros who had turned utterly pale turned around to leave. However, I blocked him.

“Hey—hey—hey! Do you want to leave so easily? At the very least, you should complete your mission here. You should tell me the divine message from the God of Holy Light, as I think he probably has a message for me. Is this how you run errands for your God?”

Cardinal Soros would have killed me right on the spot via glaring if he could, but he had to complete his God’s task, even though he didn’t want to see the person before him for another second. He could only gnash his teeth as he told me the divine message from the God of Holy Light.

“‘I hope to ally with you against the Chaos. After the Holy War, we shall become the twin pillars of Order.’ Are you satisfied now!? Saint Roland!”

I understood immediately. This divine message was doubtlessly an alliance invitation to the Law God from the God of Holy Light who had discovered the truth about Wumianzhe. As for that so-called promise to become the twin pillars of Order after the Holy War, it was enough just to hear it, but if I really believed it, I would be a huge fool. Also, that Saint of Holy Light title was just an appetizer for the alliance, but although I knew all this, others wouldn’t.

The moment that Cardinal Soros said this, all the other countries’ envoys that had just escaped death by Estrada’s hands were scared once more. The content of this divine message was shocking enough to everyone, but that tone of the divine message, which sounded like it was between equals, was even scarier to them.

“This force of a divine message, and this tone—is Roland actually an existence equal to the God of Holy Light? The God of Holy Light is actually requesting an alliance with Roland and will become the twin pillars of Order together with him? Is Roland’s power so strong that the God of Holy Light has to compromise to such a degree?”

Many thoughts flashed through everyone’s minds. Once this news spread, everyone was going to have to reassess this wintry northern country and its prince.

As for me, I nodded in satisfaction.

“Yep, sounds sincere to me. I agree to this alliance. Send a message for me to the God of Holy Light: I, Roland, agree to your alliance. As for that Saint of Holy Light title? Heh heh, you can keep it and have fun for yourselves. Hahaha! In that case, please take good care of me in the future, my dear allies!”

I took one final glance at Soros’ expression which was filled with a mix of extreme rage, fear and anxiety, and continued laughing out loudly as I took my leave.

I had received a plentiful harvest already. Besides, after forcefully using the powers of my “Frigidwinter Earth” to create life, I would have collapsed there on the spot if I didn’t leave soon.

After that crazed Prince Roland left, what remained in Soros’ eyes were nothing but tatters.

All the other countries’ envoys left so quickly that you would think they were avoiding the plague. When Soros looked around, only his group was around him, and all the former Holy Light job class members who had lost their powers were still collapsed on the ground in despair. Estrada, who had aged several decades, had his head lowered and was sighing helplessly, and fallen angel Aivla, who nobody knew what she was thinking, had already left. As Soros thought about the frightful future and tempest that awaited him, the elderly cardinal could only helplessly collapse on the ground as well.

Although Roland had agreed to the alliance, he still didn’t know if his mission was considered a success or a failure. But there was one thing that he knew for sure.

“It’s over! It’s all over! Everything is over!”

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