Chapter 5
2. Elena
At one time, countless kings existed on the continent. This was the case until a thousand years ago, when Herace Bavaria, the legitimate daughter of one of those kings, slaughtered all the other kings and established the Empire of Bavaria.
Under the specious name that the Emperor is the Empire, in the empire named ‘Bavaria’, no one had appeared to claim the title of a new king, at least until now.
However, there were bound to be many doubts about whether Bavaria would exist as the sole ruler even after a thousand years. Although Bavaria had faithfully passed down the throne to direct blood descendants for a thousand years, it was unknown how long that miracle would last.
Then, what of God?
The God Eclard, who scattered his own soul to create beasts and humans. He was an entirely unique existence. Unlike the Emperor, he did not require a successor who shared his blood.
Thus, even if Bavaria disappeared after a thousand years and countless kings appeared again, God would still be unique. Naturally, Eclard, who followed the One God, deserved to enjoy a reputation like the setting sun when considering that exclusive and glorious future.
However, the influence of the continent’s sole religion, the Eclard Church, was not that significant. It was precisely because of the existence called ‘The Devil’.
Immortal, omnipotent, and infinitely evil absolutes.
One day, they suddenly appeared leading a black fog and imprisoned people with an absolute power called ‘Authority’. The moment the black fog surrounded a small village, a castle where hundreds resided, or a territory where thousands lived, no one could escape.
Inside the fog was the Devil’s belly, a hell abandoned by God.
No laws applied there. Because even time was not absolute before the Devil’s Authority, it was never strange for the corpse of a young man turned old, or an old man turned young, to be found in the place where the black fog disappeared.
Buried corpses were found hanging from spires, and scenes where corpses with legs attached to heads and corpses with only heads and arms were tangled together could also be seen.
People prayed to God, but they could not stop that terrible and cruel death. Even the Pope, who was said to be closest to God, was torn to shreds by a Devil’s hand and met a gruesome death.
“Where is God!”
Therefore, the citizens of the empire had long lost the belief that God was omnipotent. to them, Eclard was a weak and shabby existence that could not compare to the Devil.
“Oh Evil, please grant us mercy!”
“Please let us die intact.”
Instead of asking to be saved, people only begged for the God Eclard to embrace them in his small and insignificant bosom for even a moment, so that they would not be noticed by the Devil while they prolonged their short lives.
However, humans eventually found a way to save themselves. It was human sacrifice.
“Oh Evil, Great One. Please take my body and soul as yours. I will gladly become your entertainment.”
The first offering was an old priest of the Eclard Church.
An old priest named Pharael decided to sacrifice himself upon hearing the news that his family, whom he had left behind in his hometown, was trapped in the black fog. He branded himself with the mark of a slave and threw himself into the black fog as a sacrifice.
And a miracle happened. The Devil took Priest Pharael’s life and disappeared.
The Grand Temple, having learned the truth, named Priest Pharael’s sacrifice ‘Exorcism’ and proclaimed it to the entire continent.
“Priest Pharael has repelled the evil and saved us. This is the moment humanity saved itself, and proof that Eclard has not forsaken us.”
The Pope canonized the exorcist Priest Pharael as a saint and built a magnificent prayer hall next to the Grand Temple to enshrine his body.
Jewels were filled in the sockets where Priest Pharael’s eyes used to be, ceramic prosthetic hands and feet were attached to his missing limbs, and after adorning him with all kinds of expensive treasures, he was displayed before the people in a glass coffin.
“We shall grant the title of ‘Exorcist’ to those who inherit the great achievements of Saint Pharael. Their noble sacrifice will save us. And the Eclard Church will surely repay their sacrifice.”
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