DSB 118

At that moment, the nobles caught sight of the dragon perched upon Edmund’s shoulder.

“So, that is the dragon rumored to have become a guardian.”

“Indeed. Since a dragon has appeared, how could we possibly deny the existence of the gods?”

“They say a dragon’s lifespan exceeds a thousand years. I had heard rumors that they dwell in secluded corners of the world, far from human eyes, but I never expected to behold one with my own sight.”

A dragon had emerged, a species once considered as legendary as the gods themselves. While the onlookers murmured about its formidable presence, Luceris felt as though he might die from the discomfort.

[Ugh… my stomach is turning.]

[Endure it. Can you not even tolerate this much?]

[I want to go home right now…]

[You are a subordinate of Lord Lebel! Maintain your dignity!]

[I am not a subordinate…]

Luceris, still clinging to Edmund’s shoulder, seemed ill due to the divine power radiating within the temple.

Karon barked at him to straighten his back, but his scolding fell on deaf ears. Even Karon could not hide his own unease; his fur stood on end, and he grew visibly tense as he stared at Michael’s massive statue.

Lebel’s party took their respective seats. Once every invited guest was seated, the Bishop made his appearance. He cleared his throat and stood before the divine statue.

It was the same as their previous visit; the statue bore a striking resemblance to Michael. Furthermore, it emitted an amount of divine power that no ordinary human could perceive. The pressure was so intense that it created the illusion that the god himself stood before them.

“I offer my gratitude to everyone who has joined us today.”

A tedious oration began. Though the propagation of divine will was a noble cause, the nobles were entirely focused on a different matter.

The holy sword.

Lebel had emphasized that this ceremony was a formality and should be kept brief, yet the temple wanted to draw out the proceedings.

The preamble to the sacrifice was excessively long. The nobles remained in their seats, but their faces betrayed their boredom.

“Ahem, I shall come to the point. I believe you are all aware of the threat approaching the North. This is a crisis beyond compare, far worse than the rampaging demonic beasts we have faced. God has looked upon us with pity and granted us an oracle! I shall now share the message received by Priest Illa.”

Finally, the true purpose of the gathering began.

Illa stepped forward.

“Each of you here bears the responsibility for a territory. You know well that the demonic beasts grow stronger by the day, and our lives grow increasingly impoverished. The North has always been a frozen land. To make matters worse, it is rich in demonic energy, which makes it a perfect habitat for demonic beasts. The problem we face now is that this energy is becoming even more potent.”

It was common knowledge that demonic energy was the reason for the demonic beasts’ presence in the North.

“Perhaps that is why demons covet these lands. To a demon, such energy is a rich source of nourishment. However, this is our land. It is not an easy environment due to the bitter cold, but our ancestors fought the demonic beasts to claim and cultivate it. Because of that history, Lord Michael, the god of war who carries the spear and shield, chose this place.”

Illa turned and pointed toward the towering statue behind him.

Most gods were depicted with an emphasis on benevolence, but the god of the North was different. His features were solemn, and his eyes seemed to shine with a cold, piercing light.

He wore a sturdy armor. Normally, he would hold a great sword to smite his enemies in one hand and a shield in the other. However, one hand of this statue was empty.

“The power our god previously granted to humans was the power of healing, much like the other gods. It was not a power meant to annihilate enemies. Lord Michael regretted this and has bestowed a new strength upon us. If you have visited the temple before, you have certainly seen this statue. Do you notice what is different?”

While some guests looked on in confusion, a few noticed the inconsistency.

“You are correct. The sword is missing. Lord Michael has lowered the very blade he once wielded down to us.”

A priest approached, carrying a sword wrapped in soft cloth. Illa received the weapon with the same reverence he would show a god.

“That is the holy sword…!”

Illa scanned the crowd and smiled softly. He pulled back the white cloth to reveal the blade. Perhaps it was the sunlight filtering through the large windows, but the holy sword seemed to glitter.

“Lord Michael chose this land because he saw the potential of humans who survive stubbornly in a barren wasteland. The first lord of the Hestro family was the one who unlocked that potential. And now, the god has made his choice.”

At Illa’s signal, Yutis, who had been sitting beside Lebel, stood up from his seat.

“Young Master Yutis, the one who shall open new possibilities for the North, has been chosen as the master of the holy sword.”

Yutis walked toward Illa. In that instant, the blade that Illa held respectfully with both hands rose into the air. The onlookers were shocked.

“…The holy sword!”

“Is this magic?”

It was not magic. Even the priests were startled, this performance had not been part of their plan. Only Illa remained calm. His smile only grew brighter.

‘They are putting on quite a show so that no one can claim this is a lie.’

Such a display certainly required a great deal of power. Lebel had not expected Michael to assist so actively, even if the Celestial God’s involvement was a possibility.

The sword, now free from Illa’s hands, spun a half-circle in front of Yutis and plunged into the floor before him.

“…….”

Flustered, Yutis subtly looked behind him. Lebel caught his eye and signaled with his lips, urging Yutis to immediately draw the weapon.

Yutis gripped the hilt. Though the sword was buried deep in the floor, it slid out effortlessly without the need for much strength. It was as if the blade had chosen its master of its own accord.

The holy sword shone with a golden light beneath his hand, a beautiful sight.

The two creatures who possessed demonic energy let out silent screams at the presence of such divine power, but Lebel simply smiled.

‘How grand.’

The outcome was satisfying enough for Lebel to feel content. As he smiled, he suddenly looked up at the ceiling. It seemed the Celestial God felt even this display was insufficient.

The moment Yutis drew the holy sword, a string of text began to appear in the air.

“God has answered…!”

Lebel felt a wave of gratitude for the Celestial God’s consideration, and his eyes crinkled as he smiled. The onlooker gasped in awe as they witnessed the physical trace of a deity with their own eyes.

[Protect our lovely child well. This is the dowry we give to you. Thank you for teaching him what love is and for making him happy. Treasure him dearly. And, little one, never forget that we are always watching over you.]

The script was written in an unknown tongue that no one could decipher. This was natural, as it was the language of demons and angels, unknown to mortals

The humans called it the ancient tongue. However, the text vanished before anyone had the chance to attempt an interpretation.

[Lord Lebel, that is…!]

[Yes. It is the Celestial God.]

Lebel softly chuckled.

‘I am already being treated with more than enough care.’

Only two people noticed Lebel’s laughter, Damian and Edmund, who were seated close by. Damian scrutinized Lebel’s face with a strangely pale complexion, while Edmund smiled.

Both men were aware of the relationship between Lebel and the Celestial God.

Yutis stared blankly at the fading golden text for a moment. He then secured the holy sword and approached Lebel before reaching out his hand.

“Hm? Yutis…!”

Before Lebel could finish his sentence, Yutis pulled him by the hand. Lebel rose awkwardly from his seat and stood beside Yutis, looking up at him.

Yutis had acted on impulse, yet no one stepped in to stop him. The priests were too busy trying to decipher the scattered ancient words, and the nobles were still reeling from the realization that a god they thought a myth existed.

“We have never had a proper wedding ceremony.”

“……?”

At that moment, Illa burst into laughter and looked at Yutis and Lebel.

“Do you swear before the God?”

“What sort of oath…?”

“Yes. I will.”

Unlike the bewildered Lebel, Yutis readily answered. Lebel, who had been looking at Illa, turned his head toward Yutis.

“I wish to make an oath since the Celestial God is watching. Is he not the gracious being who allowed me to meet my wife? I believe the Celestial God will only feel reassured and entrust my wife to me once he hears my answer.”

Actually, the one who allowed us to meet was the Demon God, not the Celestial God.

“Since I have received such a precious dowry, I must show our affection right before his eyes.”

Yutis pulled Lebel closer by the waist and stood before the divine statue. His solemn voice echoed across the hall.

“I will make sure that the things the Celestial God worries about never come to pass. I shall protect him. However, I must correct one thing: I am the one who is happier for having met my wife. Thank you for entrusting such a lovely person to me.”

The light shone down even brighter in response to Yutis’s statement. Lebel believed he could hear the Celestial God’s laughter in his ears.

[…I was worried, but it is good to see that he treasures you so much.]

The Celestial God’s distant voice echoed in Lebel’s mind. It was sudden, but Lebel was happy that the Celestial God had acknowledged Yutis.

“There is no need to worry.”

“…What did he say? I did not hear anything.”

Yutis, who could not hear the words of the Celestial God, nervously asked. Since the Celestial God was essentially Lebel’s parent, Yutis naturally wanted to make a good impression.

“He said I married a good man.”

Yutis smiled then, a look so bright it seemed to radiate its own light.