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Chapter 990: The End of the Social Gathering (1)

“Damn it… damn it! There’s another explosion…”

‘From where…’

I[1] heard complaints mixed with explosions from all directions.

“Damn it! I told you that I was going to leave this place! The Underground Temple—”

“Please follow the procedure!” a soldier interrupted.

“You think I supported the Underground Temple so I can receive this kind of treatment?! You have to tell us what’s going on right now! How much longer do we need to feel anxious?” Deliha complained.

“We’re still finding out—”

“That’s what you said earlier! How much longer do we need to wait, Captain Bahamut?! Captain Bahamut! Are you listening to me?” Deliha questioned.

“The Captain is… I’ll answer in his place. There’s a black mage who made a contract with a high-ranking demon—”

“Everyone already knows that, but you don’t even know whether there really is a black mage or not. If there were a black mage hiding here, then tell me why you haven’t found them yet! Move aside. I need to talk to Bahamut myself…” Deliha demanded.

I started getting a headache.

“I’m sorry, but for your safety—”

“Are you sure this place is safe? I’m asking whether following your rules is really going to be safe for us or not. If leaving isn’t an option… then bring soldiers from the aboveground,” Deliha requested.

Actually, I experienced this many times before. Simply put, a terrorist black mage had infiltrated and attacked the Underground Temple. This had never happened in the Underground Temple, but they had experienced something like this.

It seemed like this incident was being handled.

They were evacuating the important figures from aboveground and were minimizing the number of casualties and those wounded. The explosions were decreasing, and the Templars were moving around to find the black mage.

The top priority was protecting the fleshly body of Saint Altanus, who was an important being of the Underground Temple. We couldn’t put down our guard just yet, but it was undeniable that things were looking optimistic. Despite that, I was puzzled.

I couldn't calm down at all, and there was this strange anxiety gripping my entire being.

‘The Priest of Prophecy…’

I was convinced that it was because of him—no, it was more like the words he said to me. His warning was making me feel anxious.

‘You must stay away from that power.’

His voice echoed nonstop in my head.

‘I can’t tell you now… but you must stay away from that power.’

I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“...”

He was… He was an interesting person. He was honest and more devoted than any other priest. When it came to theology, he'd happily mutter things only sages would say. It felt like his knowledge was endless, but he wasn't a fan of showing that off.

It felt like he was actually trying to hide it.

It was the same for his actions.

His being exuded elegance that one would only see from royal families and nobles, but it looked like he was trying to restrict himself. He also wasn’t afraid to sacrifice himself for others. He was a saint who thought about others before himself. He was badly hurt by that pitch-black flame, but he was worried about the tiny burn on my hand.

Moreover, he treated those who were unfortunate enough to get caught up in the explosion nonstop, without thinking about himself. His eyes were filled with warmth and affection all throughout the ordeal.

It was like he was carrying all the pain and sadness of the world. There was sadness mixed in his gaze whenever he looked at me. He approached me as if… he knew everything.

‘No… Mr. Bahamut… please… don’t accept that power…’

What was he talking about? What was going to happen soon?

The Underground Temple… No, what did the Priest of Prophecy and I get involved in?

“Corruption…”

“...”

“...”

It didn’t make sense at all.

I had lived my entire life serving the Goddess, so it wouldn't make sense for me to end up getting corrupted. However, I did not question the words of the Priest of Prophecy.

Actually, it was impossible to question him. I saw an illusion; it was fleeting, but I was sure I saw his true colors. His light was so radiant that it was blinding, and one of his eyes was holy. He also had wings that looked like they were capable of embracing all the sins in the world.

A Messenger of the Goddess—no, I would believe it if someone were to say that he was the Incarnation of the Goddess. Perhaps… the things that were happening right now… were all related to the future that the Priest of Prophecy had seen.

That was the conclusion I ultimately reached...

“I’m… going to assess the situation myself,” I said.

“Mr. Bahamut!”

“Captain Bahamut!”

‘Where is he?’

He had the answer.

‘Priest of Prophecy…’

And that was when I realized it...

“You idiot…”

I felt stupid for not realizing it until now.

“Mr. Bahamut, the saint… has something to say…”

“Tell them that I’m busy,” I told them.

“What? But… they said it was really urgent.”

“I’ll come back as soon as possible,” I said.

The first explosion that occurred. If that was targeted at either the Priest of Prophecy or me, then the target was clear. I couldn’t help but think that I was missing something more important than protecting Saint Altanus.

I got up and moved. I heard voices behind me, but I couldn’t pay attention to them.

‘Is he with Father Draktaris?’

If that weren't the case… If he ended up getting harmed while I was looking away… If the hands of evil had gotten a hold of him… would Templar Genny be able to protect him?

‘No way…’

The worst-case scenario popped into my head.

I imagined losing the continent's brand-new ray of hope and radiant light.

‘Shit.’

While I was mindlessly running around the temple, a voice echoed in my head.

[Come…]

“…”

[Come here.]

“Am I… Am I going crazy?”

[Come here.]

I wasn’t sure who the voice belonged to, but it sounded like it was piercing my mind.

Lucifer? No, it could be the Priest of Prophecy, or I could just be hearing things.

My steps became slow, but I was moving toward the voice. I thought perhaps I was being possessed by something, but this was probably the best choice.

[Please… Please come here.]

“Damn it…”

I had no other choice. I had no one else to rely on other than the voice I was hearing from somewhere. The scenery eventually changed. I wasn’t sure whether this was the right way to describe it, but my surroundings were getting darker and darker.

The Underground Temple was in a mess, and the surroundings were getting darker and darker as if something was blotting out even the slightest ray of light.

Lucifer’s broken statue was scattered all over the floor.

I was furious at the sight, but I pushed myself to pick up the pace.

When my hand unconsciously touched the nearest wall, I felt something sticky.

‘Blood.’

Naturally, I took out my weapon. I had no idea what was calling for me, but it was undeniable that I had to be there. I was sure my surroundings were filled with corpses, and I knew because I could smell the thick stench of blood.

I was sure this place had become pandemonium itself.

I muttered Lucifer’s name and started walking again. I couldn’t see anything because it was so dark.

Eventually, I saw a faint light from afar, and I ran fast with my weapon out.

[Please come.]

“Who are you?” I asked.

[Please come here.]

“Who the hell…”

“Ack…

”

I heard a faint voice.

‘The Priest of Prophecy.’

“I will never… ever… let things… go your way…”

“...”

My ears were keen, but I couldn’t hear the voice clearly.

Unlike the clear voice that was in my head just moments ago, I was sure this voice belonged to the Priest of Prophecy.

— Don’t think that things will go your way, Priest of Prophecy.

“I…”

I saw the Priest of Prophecy with his pure white wings. The radiant light from his entire being was vanquishing the pitch-black darkness.

He was holding a holy torch in one hand and a mirror in the other. They were items that looked like holy relics, and they were unleashing a radiant light that pushed back against the encroachment of the darkness.

“Priest…”

I was going to call out to him, but I took another look at him and saw that some of his wings had been torn off, and he was covered in blood. Above all… one of his eyes was closed, and blood was flowing out from the closed eye. The Priest of Prophecy’s eye—

“Mr. Bahamut?” he called out.

—met my eyes.

“I…”

“W-W-why are you… here, Mr. Bahamut?” he questioned.

I had to act first. I wasn’t sure about the opponent's identity, but…

“Don’t move!”

— Hahahaha… The one with the demon’s seed has walked here on his own!

“The demon’s seed?” I repeated.

“Kgh…”

The moment I took a step forward, a wave of darkness sprang up from the ground. The darkness devoured everything nearby, and it threatened to devour the radiant light of the Priest of Prophecy.

“You must stay there… Mr… Ugh… Bahamut…” mumbled the Priest of Prophecy.

“Priest of Prophecy… Y—Your eye…” I pointed out.

“I’m okay… with these eyes now,” said the Priest of Prophecy.

“What happened… to your wings…” I asked.

“Later… I’ll explain everything later. I’m sorry, Mr. Bahamut. I’m really… really… sorry. I didn’t… want you to see me… like this…” replied the Priest of Prophecy.

He looked anguished.

— The demon’s seed is here. Mwahahaha! The one with the demon’s seed has finally arrived.

“I’ll… protect you, Mr. Bahamut,” the Priest of Prophecy said to me.

I was so bewildered, shocked, and confused by what was going on that I couldn’t quite keep up with the situation.

However, the puzzle pieces were falling into place, and I felt like I finally knew the identity of the Priest of Prophecy, why I was here, and the meaning of his prophecy.

“The demon’s… seed…”

The demon's seed was inside me.

1. Bahamut’s POV ☜