This was a miracle. Those who directly heard the voice of God put their hands together without a word. Some mumbled prayers and others stumbled and collapsed.
The Emperor’s aides, who had been following closely behind Lara for fear that she might make a mistake, stopped far away and gasped for breath. And the sorcerers, who tried to put a halo on Lara’s back, forgot all the spells they had memorized.
Even the Emperor and Isadora were surprised. Isadora muttered, ‘Good job,’ as she swept her cold chest with anxiety. The Emperor’s face was reddened by the unexpected appearance of God.
<You will see a miracle today.>
From Lara’s feet, and from wherever she looked, a swarm of radiant lights spread out. Having seemed to be alive, a pattern of pure white light, resembling that of snow, bloomed like a flower. The light grew into a vine and moved with her with every step she took. The vines of light climbed up the pillars, lit the chandeliers, and soon reached the ceiling.
The whole world shone radiantly with the light of God.
<Treat the saintess as you treat me.>
The God of Fate said. Now, some even knelt down and prayed.
<Then, God will return to this land.>
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
“Humans are so amazing.”
The northern demon, Lilith, spoke in a rough, cracked voice.
In the mountains where a blizzard was raging, standing on the ruined hillside, Lilith glanced at the sight of the starting avalanche. Then, she spoke to Acerus, who was bleeding and kneeling down in front of her.
“It would have taken several times as much courage to challenge an enemy that you were once defeated to. What are you fighting for?”
“I…fight for this land, for humans!”
“Don’t lie. You’re fighting for your own glory. If you were truly fighting for the future of this land, you shouldn’t have carried that stinky vampire around.”
Lilith pointed to the demon Valac with her finger. Valac was also covered with blood. While the expedition force knights engaged in a fierce battle with the army of mad demonic beasts, Valac fought against Lilith by Acerus’ side.
It could not be helped. If Valac had not aided him, Acerus would lose. Valac growled, revealing his long-growing fangs.
“You’re just a half-breed but you sure have a lip on you. Why are you using your power so recklessly? Because of you, those arrogant Gods will wake up!”
Rumble.
The mountain cried, a violent avalanche had started. A pile of snow swept through like a mob. Trees turned upside down and the mountain flowed down everywhere. It was Lilith’s doing. She caused a huge avalanche at the same time as she faced Acerus and Valac.
“Because of this, I’m going to die here anyway. Whatever happens in the future is none of my business. You’re just a weak vampire, and yet you cling to a human like a parasite. What did this human promise you? Did he say he would give you a position of power?”
“I don't get hung up on such trivial things. I don’t make a move as foolishly and recklessly as you do.”
“I don’t know who’s being foolish here. Do you think the competitors in the demon realm who despise you will stay still when they see this situation?”
“They…are not here!”
“Don’t worry, I will tell them everything. A weak vampire tried to reign like a King in the human realm, in addition, God’s vicegerent appeared. I will tell them to come here to fight. Soon, the most competitive demons of the hell troops will arrive.”
“Lilith!”
Valac was very angry. He had always been sneakily rolling his eyes to look for a chance to lie, but this time, his anger was sincere. Even as his limbs were bent and as he vomited blood, he approached Lilith and stabbed a long nail into her body.
“Stop it.”
Acerus staggered up. He, too, was not in good shape. Blood constantly flowed out of his long torn wound.
“I’m going to finish her.”
Acerus stood up and walked. With his sword dripping with blood, he approached Lilith and stared at her eyes.
It was prejudiced for demons to spill poison everywhere, that they could not talk like demonic beasts, and that they reeked of a disgusting and dirty stench like that of a monster. But Lilith’s eyes were incredibly clean. Her white eyes and black pupils were like that of a human child’s.
She also had human feelings.
“Lilith, do you hate humans?”
“You’re asking something so obvious.”
“You came all the way here looking for your blood relative. But when you met them, you found out they were so weak that you ended up despising them.”
“That’s amazing. Did you look inside me?”
“I heard demons worship the strong and obey them… Then, aren’t you the most cowardly in the world?”
“What?”
“I’m asking you, trash. Aren’t you the typical ass kissing piece of dog shit that bow to the strong but hate and torment the weak, you bastard?”
Acerus lifted his sword. His body was full of wounds, only his eyes were burning.
Just before he struck the sword, Lilith said.
“You’re wrong.”
“What?”
“I don’t only hate humans. Two beings made me, one was human and the other was a demon.”
Lilith’s mouth was torn long. She revealed her white teeth and red gums and spoke with a face full of madness.
“Do you know how hostile the Gods reigning in the heavens are? Now that I have given them enough justification, they will somehow try to exert their influence on this land. If that happens, the demons in hell won’t just stay still. They will come up. That’s what karma is. If it’s pierced a little, it will flow out of control, turn into a river, then, an ocean.”
“You are trying…to start a war?”
“Yeah.”
Lilith of the North stayed on human land for quite some time. At first, she was just looking for her roots and tried to satisfy her curiosity about humans at the same time. However, as time went by, she realized that she was just a unique variant. She realized that she could not belong anywhere, that she was a monster, and that she was not welcomed by anyone.
“I want the demon and human who made me to forever fight each other, hate each other, and die.”
Rumble.
The mountain cried louder. The uncontrollably large landslide devastated the surrounding area. Birds flew up and frightened beasts ran away in confusion.
Acerus said.
“Even so, you will die without seeing anything.”
“I think dying in the hands of those who seek revenge is the ending that suits me the best. Son of man, go ahead and cut my throat with that sword of yours.”
Lilith’s laughter was getting louder and louder. Valac yelled at Acerus to stop hesitating and kill Lilith. Realizing that the louder Lilith’s laughter, the larger the scale of the avalance, Acerus eventually stabbed the demon in her chest with all his might.
Then, he had a thought; Lilith might have wanted to commit suicide. Even now, she might be able to easily defeat Acerus and Valac and run away. As if to support his theory, the dying Lilith muttered.
“May the Demon Lord…”
The northern demon died.
The demon Lilith, who kidnapped Acerus, gave him unforgettable shame and despair, and remained in his heart as an object of hatred, had finally died.
Lilith was a powerful demon. Even though she faced both Acerus and Valac at the same time at first, she hardly used her power. Acerus speculated that it was the demon’s instinct not to give God justification to act.
However, as time passed, he started to feel a strange and out-of-place feeling in Lilith. Even though she could have immediately gotten rid of Acerus and Valac, she seemed to have been observing them for a reasonable amount of time. Then she suddenly used all of her powers to wreak havoc on the entire mountain.
“I have been wondering why she lived in seclusion in this quiet mountain for so long…”
Acerus collapsed helplessly. He was almost dead. He heard the voices of the knights looking for him from afar.
He had to strike Valac quickly now. He had to kill the seriously injured Valac before returning to have a perfect ending. But his body was so heavy that he could not even open his eyes.
Acerus lost consciousness and lay about on the hillside. Just before his memory was cut off, he felt like he saw Valac crawling towards Lilith’s body.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
A bunch of lights flew like snow and danced. Lara walked like a weightless person in it. The black dress that wrapped around her body and the glass beads that were embedded in it shone mysteriously with the lights.
The sorcerers did not have to put a halo on Lara’s body. On every step she took, God’s symbol appeared. And on everything she laid her eyes on, particles of light gathered.
It was beautiful but chilling. Everything about her represented God.
All the nobles in the Empire bowed their heads to Lara. A wave of people swayed after her. Some knelt on their knees, others deeply bowed their waist. No one had the confidence to dare lift their heads in front of the child of God who had miracles all around her body.
Lara thought.
‘This is so embarrassing. I want to die now.’
She did not want something like this. She thought it was enough with just some symbolism. The ones who would fight the demons on the battlefield were the Barbarians, knights, and soldiers, not her.
However, the God of Fate did not have the term ‘moderate’ in his dictionary. He appeared as if he had waited for the right time. After laying a radiant flowery path in front of her, he shrugged, asking for compliments.
Anyhow, this was too much.
“Now he’s working properly.”
Demian’s voice was also filled with laughter. After taking Lara to the platform where the Emperor was standing, he put his face close to her ear and whispered briefly.
“Tell them to get up.”
Demian told Lara to give order to the thousands of nobles who were bowing their heads toward her.
“Huh.”
The Emperor stared hard at Demian’s face. Demian acted as if only Lara was there even though the Emperor of the empire was in front of him. When Lara was properly seated on the platform, he walked leisurely to return to his comrades with the corners of his mouth slightly up.
“That arrogant guy…”
The Emperor said.
“…He’s arrogant, but he’s right. I feel good to see those high-nosed nobles bow their heads together after such a long time. You’d better tell them to get up.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
After whispering a short conversation with the Emperor, Lara told Tarragon’s nobles.
“Get up.”
Her calm and firm voice filled the banquet hall.
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