Chapter 978: Altanus (15)

“Father…” Draktaris mumbled.

“Are you okay, Father? Father,” Templar Genny asked.

My face was filled with many emotions, such as fear, confusion, and horror.

The sight was probably making them imagine many things.

I cried as if someone had turned on the faucet in my eyes, and I was trembling as if I had jumped into the ocean mid-winter. My face was pale, my lips were dry, and I was panicking, making Draktaris and Templar Genny confused about what to do.

They were obviously worried about me. Of course, they were curious as well, as I showed this kind of reaction right after meeting with Father Bahamut.

They were probably thinking about what exactly had happened and why I was reacting this way. By now, I was sure there were several assumptions in their heads.

It was ridiculous how Templar Geny was making a big deal as if this was happening to him. Perhaps my never-ending teardrops of light had made him emotional, or he was probably just worried and sympathizing with my pain.

He was crying as well.

“Father! Father!” Draktaris exclaimed. Unlike the child who couldn’t hide his emotions, he was trying to understand the situation. However, he also seemed afraid of what I was going to say.

“

Haa… haa…

” I took a deep breath, and the two stared nervously at me.

Father Draktaris turned and chased away the people who weren't supposed to be here.

“Father Draktaris.”

“Not now, and don’t ask what happened today,” Draktaris ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

“Templar Genny…”

“I-I…”

He even gave Templar Genny a few orders. The shocked boy bit his lips as if he wanted to stay with me, but the young Templar couldn’t rebel against Father Draktaris.

To make things worse, the key figures who were still here were giving him signs, so I was sure that even he himself thought that he wasn't supposed to be here. However, that was his problem.

He also had the right to stay and hear me out.

I grabbed his sleeve as if I needed someone to lean on, and he nodded with a serious face. My action seemed to have given him courage. He looked as if he knew that I needed him and that it was his job to protect me.

“It’s okay, Father. Everything is going to be okay,” Templar Genny reassured.

“...”

“I’ll stay by your side. It’s okay. It’ll be fine,” Templar Genny added.

‘What’s going to be okay? What’s this got to do with you… It doesn’t matter if you’re beside me or not, man. He’s pretty stupid as well. Perhaps he was born stupid.’

However, his comforting words seemed to be effective, as the young Templar became the sanctuary of the Priest of Divine Message.

I managed to come back to my senses.

“Father Lee Ki-Young…” Draktaris muttered.

“I’m sorry for showing such a disgraceful side of me, Father Draktaris. And to the others as well,” I said.

“If it’s too difficult to say, you don’t have to say it, Father,” Templar Genny said.

‘What’s difficult to say? I’m going to tell you no matter what. Learn to read the room, Genny.’

I thought it would be best to set the mood first. I nodded with a firm face, looking like I had made a decision. Then, I looked up at them as if I was ready to let them know the secret that I had been hiding for a while now.

‘Confidently and proudly.’

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but…” I mumbled.

“...”

“Sometimes… I see strange scenes,” I said.

“...”

I decided to talk a bit about it.

“One of my eyes will sometimes see a different place,” I said.

They revealed solemn looks at my revelation.

It wasn’t something they could just ignore.

If some beggar said such words, they’d tell them to go to a mental hospital or something, but I wasn’t some ordinary priest. I received a divine message from Lucifer just a few days ago. I received information about Saint Altanus’ downfall directly from her.

The miraculous things happening to me were things that they couldn't just overlook.

“Was it after… you received the divine message?” Draktaris asked.

I nodded.

“O Lucifer!”

“...”

“O Lucifer…”

“You're probably thinking that Lady Lucifer is trying to communicate something through me… but I’m not sure whether this really is a miracle… or… I’m…” I trailed off.

'Going crazy…'

“I don’t even know whether my assumptions are correct or not, so I’m really worried,” I said.

“Father Lee Ki-Young… I understand that you’re scared, but this… I’m sure it’s a blessing. I’m sure there’s a reason why Lady Lucifer had chosen you,” Draktaris said.

Draktaris looked like he was trying his best to hide his smile. He seemed to be comforting me, as I was confused, but I was sure that this development was good for his people.

This was indeed a "blessing" for him. We didn't even have to talk about the legitimacy of my words. However, Draktaris' expression didn't last long, and the room soon became quiet.

It was probably because they finally understood why I was so cautious and afraid.

Templar Genny looked at me and muttered, “You… saw something… related to Templar Bahamut…”

They understood the storyline. They were really good at figuring out the story.

I had to start trembling again, but I had already gained some courage earlier. I realized that I could overcome this hardship, as I had people who cared about me.

'Overcome this, Ki-Young. You can do it. The people here will become your strength.'

“Father,” Templar Genny said.

'Yeah, thanks for giving me courage. Thanks to you, I’m able to take one step forward.'

“Father Lee Ki-Young…” Father Draktaris said.

'Same goes for your Draktaris…'

“Templar Bahamut…” I paused.

“...”

“I… saw him worshiping an evil god,” I confessed.

“...”

“I saw him sacrificing something inside an iron maiden, and he was bowing toward this evil god. I saw a river of blood at his feet, along with a mountain of corpses. Those who are still alive are screaming for help. Many died while screaming out Lady Lucifer’s name. It was such a horrible sight that I couldn’t… look at it properly,” I explained.

“

Ah…

”

“I don’t know the exact timeframe… or why it happened. I don’t even know if what I had seen will happen in the distant future… but as Father Draktaris said, I felt like I had received some kind of message,” I added.

“...”

“I must have seen…” I trailed off. “the downfall of Saint Altanus… and… Templar Bahamut."

“...”

They were decent puzzle pieces that I had yet to put together.

“The first divine message was clearly about the saint losing her holy power,” I said.

“...”

“And the second…”

It felt like I was

really

cornering him, so I thought it'd be best if I denied it at least once.

“I can't imagine Templar Bahamut betraying Lady Lucifer. The Templar Bahamut that I know looked like someone who respected Lady Lucifer and Saint Altanus more than anyone else. I’m sure there’s a reason behind it… perhaps there's something I haven't seen yet," I said.

I saw it clearly with my own two eyes, but we still needed more information.

Moreover, the narrative that would piece the puzzle pieces together was still missing.

“If his plan has always been to betray Lady Lucifer, then…”

I was sure Draktaris wanted to believe that.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Draktaris said.

'Yeah, it won’t be easy.'

I was no longer at the center of attention. The worried Draktaris and his minions were talking seriously among themselves.

“What do we do?” Draktaris asked.

“He has many followers in the Underground Temple, Father Draktaris. We must gather those people, restrain them, and plan for the future,” one of his minions suggested.

“This is an urgent situation, so we must prepare for the future. He’s a threat to the Underground Temple–-no, the continent,” they said.

“How about we summon the Heretic Inquisitors? If what Father Lee Ki-Young said is true, then I’m sure we can find evidence,” another suggested.

“If we don’t find anything, we're going to be in a difficult situation, and we're talking about Bahamut here. If he sees that we’re on the move, he might try to rally the others. No, if he reveals his true intentions before that happens…”

“

Ha…

evil god… evil god… O Lucifer!” Draktaris exclaimed.

“What about assassins or mercenaries aboveground?”

“We can’t ask them to come down to the Underground Temple,” Draktaris replied.

“If I may speak… shouldn’t we wait and see whether what Father Lee Ki-Young had seen was truly Lady Lucifer’s prophecy?”

“Watch what you say! How dare you speak such nonsense?!” Draktaris roared.

“We must be certain, Father Draktaris. Once we start moving, we won't be able to stop. A war might erupt in the Underground Temple. We must be really careful about this,” said one of Draktaris' minions.

These bastards were not as courageous as I thought. If Father Basel were here, he’d yell at someone, ordering them to bring over his mace, and then he'd charge at those daring enough to oppose him while cursing at them.

However, I understood why they were being so cautious.

‘I’d be in a difficult situation as well if a war were to break out here.’

The people who were here right now and those who'd stand with them would be wary of the Templars. If they were to bring the Heretic Inquisitors or whatever here, things would definitely backfire, and they'd lose their lives.

I hated it whenever people were questioning me, but it was inevitable for some people to refuse to accept me as the Priest of Divine Message or prophecy.

I acted like I was having a headache, and Templar Genny called out to me. “Father.”

He looked more worried than before.

“Father?” Templar Genny repeated.

When he called out, I saw the others having a discussion.

“Father, right now…”

“

Huh…

”

“This is…”

Draktaris’ "family" and Templar Genny were unwittingly transfixed on one of my eyes because it was emitting a radiant golden light. The priests felt the holy power of my golden eye, and they all knelt one by one.

“Priest of Prophecy…”

“Priest of Prophecy…”

“O Lucifer!”

“

Ahh!

”

“

Ahhh!

”

They cast stupefied gazes on me. I looked up blankly as if I couldn't see the priests kneeling before me. I didn’t say anything about what I had seen just now.

After they all left, however, I walked up to Templar Genny and whispered, “Templar Genny."

“Yes, Father,” Templar Genny answered.

“I’m not someone special,” I said.

“That’s not true, Father. You’re a special person,” Templar Genny said, refuting my words.

“No, I’m not, Templar Genny. So… you don’t… have to put your life on the line for me. Remember this. You don’t need to throw your life for me,” I told him.

“...”

“Keep that in mind,” I said.”

“...” “Don’t die for me,” I added.

I only managed to make this honest statement because I truly cared about him.

However, he was still going to die for me one way or another.

“Don’t try to save me,” I told him.