I am the Monarch

The Great Warring Period was when not one, but multiple wars had broken out.

Estia Empire against the Byron Empire, Byron Empire against the Rinse Kingdom, Rinse Kingdom against the Diez Kingdom, a civil war inside the Aimas Union, Pershion Kingdom against Byron Istel union, Estia Empire against Lucia Empire, the West against the East…

Countless numbers of little and large wars had continued without an end. And amongst those, one of the fiercest battles had been the Holy war – the religious war between the Devesis Church that had the support of almost all the nations of the continent, and the Tallian Church that was rising up like the morning sun.

Back then, the corrupt Devesis Church had the support of royal families, nobles, and the ones with powers, while the Tallian Church was supported by the citizens, and slaves – the powerless and poor.

Devesis Church against the Tallian Church.

The oppressor and the oppressed.

It was inevitable for the war to be violent. At the start, the Tallian Church had been in the lead. With the Aimas Union where their Central Church had been located, they had unified the kingdoms on the eastern side of the Grain Mountain Range to one. The first pope and the one referred to as The Child of Tallian, Latio, had acted as the centripetal figure.

Surprised by the immense vigor shown by them, the Church took up the elite forces of the two empires sitting on the western side of the Grain Mountain Range, Estia Empire and the Lucia Empire in retaliation.

A fierce war had begun.

During this phase, the eastern side’s Byron Kingdom and the Diez Kingdom betrayed the Tallian Church and went under the Devesis Church, and the Diez Kingdom shortly betrayed the Devesis Church again and went back to the Tallian Church’s side.

It was a continuation of a tense struggle but overall, it was true that the Tallian Church had been in the lead. It appeared like a matter of time for the Tallian Church to defeat the Devesis Church.

However,

‘The first pope of the Tallian Church, Latio suddenly dies.’

Roan Lancephil had a bitter smile. Back then, Latio was only of the age 28, and the Tallian Church that had lost its central figure had begun a losing streak.

‘In the end, the victor of the Holy war was the Devesis Church.’

It was both a rather sudden and rapid, development and result. The end of that war however, had brought a fierce storm.

‘Their authority had become more set in stone, and they worsen from the initial corruption into a rotten state.’

The people’s lives had become more miserable and that later turned into the rebellions and protests of the citizens. It was the most brutal and tragic period in the entire period of the Great War.

Roan stared silently at Latio’s face.

‘The sudden death of the previously healthy Latio.’

Back then, there were lots of doubts and questions about it but nothing was made certain. Or rather, even if it was, Roan who was a mere spearman back then, had no way of knowing it.

‘If Latio hadn’t died and was alive…’

Many things probably would’ve been different. Maybe the Great Warring Period would’ve come to an end, with a new period of peace unravelling.

Roan carefully opened his mouth.

“Are you perhaps believers of the Tallian Church?”

As soon as his words ended, Latio’s group all faced their eyes at Roan. There was a sense of nervousness clearly visible. With a big laugh, Roan quickly added more words.

“I’m a wandering merchant so I know quite a few things. That greeting just then and brown uniforms are like the symbols of the Tallian Church.”

“Hmm.”

The group gave out low mutters but Latio showed no dismay or suprise and nodded his head with a big smile.

“Yes, we are believers of the Tallian Church.”

It was a soft yet powerful, proud voice. Roan gave a surprised look while keeping his wide smile.

“I’ve seen a few believers of the Tallian Church back in the Aimas Union but from here on the Amaranth Kingdom, it is my first time.”

He laid a bait to continue the conversation, and Latio fortunately responded in the way he had imagined.

“We were also originally staying in the Aimas Union. During that, we heard that the Amaranth Kingdom had announced the freedom of religion so we had come with a happy heart.”

“I see.”

Roan slowly nodded his head.

Historically, the one with the worst relationship with the Church was the Aimas Union. However currently, the one opposing the Church the greatest was the Amaranth Kingdom. Because of that, the Amaranth Kingdom couldn’t receive the help from the Devesis Church or their temples, thus resulting in the power of the Devesis Church being weaker there than in other countries.

It wasn’t a good situation. However, from the perspective of the Tallian Church that had been prosecuted greatly by the Church, the Amaranth Kingdom was no different to a paradise on earth.

“Then you’re looking for a place to settle?”

A furtive voice and expression, to which Latio responded with a bitter smile.

“We were planning to.”

He had a somewhat stuffy and regrettable expression. Roan frowned slightly.

“Did something perhaps happen…”

Around there, Latio bowed his head and stood up from his seat.

“Thank you very much for sharing the food and location with us. It seems that we need to move now.”

A sudden farewell. The other members of the group likewise all stood up and lowered their heads. Roan made a confused expression and waved his two hands.

“Aigo, the sun has already gone over the horizon and the nearest village is at least half a day’s walk away. At least rest here comfortably for tonight.”

It was all true. There was the fact that he had wanted to hear more from them, but it was also realistically impossible to move further as well.

“I know, but there’s no other choice it seems.”

With a short sigh, Latio once again greeted in the unique Tallian Church manner.

“Thank you for your consideration and worry. If we are meant to be, then we shall meet again.”

The polite and elegant greeting was a refusal to Roan from continuing.

‘There’s no other choice…’

He found it peculiar and was worried that they might be getting prosecuted within the borders of the Amaranth Kingdom. That was something that Roan as the monarch couldn’t allow.

“Thank you.”

“Thanks for the food.”

Latio’s group all gave words of thanks with polite and tender tones. Roan scratched the back of his head every time that happened.

“Then, may the blessing of God be with you at all times.”

After a word of blessing, Latio slowly carried his feet away as the group followed silently from behind.

‘What should I do?’

Staring at the distancing backs, Roan fell into a deep contemplation. It was a situation completely different from his previous life.

‘Do I help here?’

Can the Tallian Church expand even then?

‘Or do I leave them be?’

If he did, it was highly likely that Latio’s early death would happen in this life as well. While Roan was unable to decide what to do, the group of believers including Latio had disappeared off into the hills.

Who knew how long had passed since then,

“Mhmm?”

The thoughts filling Roan’s head and disappeared cleanly. It was because his sharp senses had picked up an unpleasant scent.

‘This is…’

His thoughts didn’t continue for long.

Tat!

As soon as he kicked off the ground, Roan had vanished. He had once again become the strand of light separating the darkness.

***

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The scream continued knowing no end.

“Uhuk, uhuuuk, uhuk.”

A pitiful cry similar to a death cry. The old man entering his later ages crouched down next to the bed and poured out his hot tears. Behind him, there were people staring at that scene with sympathetic expressions.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

The old man screamed with his neck bending back. His wrinkled eyelids were torn apart as red blood flowed. The tears of blood travelled down his cheeks.

“Kuhk, kuhk, kuhk.”

He grasped his chest with his right hand seemingly short of breath.

“S, sir Duke!”

“Please calm down!”

Being unable to stand back anymore, they approached and helped the old man. However, the old man waved his two arms with a red face.

“Move! Move! Don’t touch me!”

Pushing everyone away, he approached the bed once again. On the bed, there laid a girl, silent like asleep. She appeared to be in her late teens with a white skin, and was an extremely beautiful girl.

“Feryl, Feryl! Feryl! Please open your eyes, Feryl!”

Not even daring to touch her body, he screamed.

“My beloved Feryl! My beloved daughter! Please, please, please…”

He could no longer handle it and collapsed.

Kung.

Along with that sound, he had fallen down.

“S, sir Duke!”

“Duke!”

The people approached and carried him up.

“Oh no!”

The middle-aged man that had been the first to approach gave a frown. It was because there was a strand of red blood following the old man’s wrinkles on his forehead. He had hit his head on the side of the bed as he collapsed.

“A, a priest! No! A doctor, call a doctor!”

“Ye, yes! I understand!”

A few young men left with urgent expressions.

“Sir Duke… look at you…”

The middle-aged man broke out in a teary voice as he stared at the old man’s face.

“One of the four dukes of the Rinse Kingdom and the head of the renowned Voisa family… Kuuk!”

He could no longer continue his words and bit down on his lower lips. The old man that had lost his consciousness, the old man that had been bleeding tears of blood just then – he was none other than Edwin Voisa, a duke of the Rinse Kingdom who had been seeking asylum at the Estia Empire.

“Duke, please regain yourself.”

He murmured in a low voice.

“You must regain yourself and avenge.”

A deep killing intent fell down from his eyes.

“The damn Inquisition bastards! They dare to put the blame of a heretic on our pretty and kind Miss Feryl!”

Rage filled him to the tip of his tongue.

Crack.

His teeth were clenched hard.

“Uuuu.”

Edwin who had lost his consciousness came to himself.

“Feryl, Feryl, Feryl.”

Without even opening his eyes, he repeated the name of his dead daughter.

Drip.

A strand of red tear flowed past his tightly sealed eyes and from the tiny gap of his lips, vicious words escaped.

“I’ll kill you all.”

A small but clear voice. From Edwin’s opening eyes, a cold aura began to expand out. As if laying a curse, he put power into every single word and formed a sentence.

“I’ll kill all the bastards of the church.”

His hot vengeance could be directly felt.

“If need be, let alone the pope Beldrica…”

Edwin formed two tight fists.

“I’ll kill even the God Devesis.”

An intense killing intent left from his entire body. The situation had started to flow in a direction that no-one had been able to predict, in a new route free from all control.

Chang! Chachang! Chang!

The sounds of steel echoed.

“Kuuk!”

“Dirty assassins!”

Knights with brown dyes on the headpiece and the breastplate who had been protecting Latio were fighting against the black-clothed assassins with their teeth clenched.

“Sir Latio! Run!”

“We will block them off here!”

The knights bellowed with their hearts, but Latio himself wasn’t in a good spot either.

Paat! Pabat!

Dozens of assassins had appeared from within the space. To deal with the group that had only 11 people, with only 6 of them being knights, a group of over 50 assassins had appeared.

“In the name of god, Heal.”

Laying his hands across, he brought out his divine power.

Sphat!

From the bodies of the knights that had received the attacks from the assassins, bits of white light started to escape, and the deep wounds quickly came to a close.

“Thank you!”

The knight screamed loudly and kicked off the ground. His long sword separated the space and headed towards the assassins, however,

Pabat!

Black balls emerged from the knight’s sides. They were assassins.

Swing! Slash!

Thin blades stabbed into the knight’s body from both the left and the right.

“Kuuk. T, the sinners shall r, receive their punishments…”

That was the end. Unable to continue any further, the knight dropped his neck down. And that was the cue.

Swing! Slash!

“Kuuk!”

“Kuk!”

The knights all collapsed before the assassins’ attacks. The old man, the old lady, young man and the woman as well as Latio all tried using heals and cures with their divine powers but it was far from being able to sustain against the assassins.

Without anyone realising, the numbers of the assassins had already reached over 70.

“In the name of god, Holy Arrow!”, “In the name of god, Holy Rain!”

The young man and the lady stepped forward and used offensive spells.

“Kuk!”

“Uk!”

On the bodies of the approaching assassins, there appeared holes bigger than fingers. However, it did not stop the other assassins. They stepped on their comrades’ bodies and ran towards the man and the woman, it was as if they had no emotions themselves.

And in the end,

“Kuuk.”

“Uuuk.”

The young man and the lady that had expected death had collapsed just like that. Only the old man, the old lady and Latio were left standing.

Pababat!

With the three in the centre, the assassins formed a circle, and from the midst, a man with a massive build appeared. He was Delk, the one in charge of this mission.

“Latio of the Tallian Church.”

A low and heavy voice.

“I have come to take your head.”

Those were violent words. Latio covered his right chest with his left hand and from within his two eyes fell clear tears. Delk scoffed when he saw that.

“Hmph, crying because you’re scared?”

Latio slowly shook his head in response.

“I’m not crying because I’m scared.”

“Then why? Sad? Or do you feel wronged?”

Delk continued his questions as if he was forcing him into a corner. While hiding his tears with his hands, Latio replied in a small voice.

“I’m crying because you are pitiful.”

“What? Me? Pitiful?”

Delk scowled and Latio gathered his breath before continuing further.

“To you who only knows how to kill, this world is hell.”

His words were powerful.

“There’s a denizen of hell before me so how would I not find that pitiful?”

With warm eyes he stared at Delk, and Delk couldn’t stand those eyes.

“This crazy bastard.”

He raised his long sword and screamed.

“How am I pitiful! The real pitiful are the powerless ones that can’t even retaliate when their heads are being cut off!”

Then, he pointed his long sword at Latio.

“Guys like you!”

He clenched down hard.

“I’ll show you today who the real pitiful one is…”

When his words reached that point,

Pat!

In front of Latio fell a drop of rain, no, a young man. An innocent looking youth wearing shabby yellowish travel clothes.

Roan.

“W, what the hell are you?”

Delk raised a shout at Roan who had suddenly appeared, but without taking that into account, Roan turned his head at Latio.

“It must be fate to meet like this again so quickly.”

An out of place sentence, but Latio nodded his head with a slight smile.

“It must be indeed.”

It was yet another out of place reply.

“This bastard! You seem like you want to die with that pitiful bastard!”

Delk scolded with a red face. Only then did Roan turn his face at Delk, and with a wide smile he shook his head.

“I’m sorry but these people here can’t die.”

Delk scoffed with a dumbfounded expression.

“Hmph, why can’t they die?”

Cold killing intent was stuck to his voice, but Roan replied shortly with a bright smile.

“Because I have decided to protect these people.”

<The Child of Tallian (2)> End.