Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight

Chapter 215

215. Fragments of Memory [2]

[Chapter 2 - The Kingdom of Catalyu and Its Fall]

There was a human kingdom.

The Kingdom of Catalyu.

It was established under the grace of Arden, but it was never a nation meant to praise the Creator God.

It was built for the purification of the lands across the continent where even Arden could not intervene and for harmony among different races. In the early days, humans were, simply put, like the apostles of Arden. Unable to manifest directly, they were the representatives who governed the world under her grace. That was what humans were, and the kingdom they built was Catalyu.

However, such a glorious era did not last long.

From the olden times, the bigger the head and the more intelligent the person, the more they are bound to change.

This change is also a new possibility.

In this case, unfortunately, it was the latter.

— The current king is merely intoxicated. Why should we humans take care of beastmen and other races? This can’t go on. If it were me, I would use the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ correctly.

— I will monopolize it for Catalyu, the human kingdom!

That was a small doubt, a spark.

But one that was enough to spread to everyone.

Enough to incite and move people. When so many people are captivated by the voice of one person, if this is not a calamity, then what is?

Until this point, Arden believed, as she had in the past, that humans would talk to each other and find a way to solve the problem.

Because she trusted them, she did nothing but watch. She did absolutely nothing. The role of a mediator was not for a god.

For she was merely the Creator.

Arden simply observed how her creations would resolve this situation.

But as time passed and more people listened to this foolish voice, countless opinions diverged.

The human population had grown too large, and the land of the continent was limited.

As the space for other races to live together diminished, the situation eventually reached a catastrophe.

The chancellors of the Kingdom of Catalyu split into two factions.

One was the moderate faction, advocating that other races should live together, and the other was the hardline faction, insisting that to accommodate the vastly increased human population, other races not belonging to the Kingdom of Catalyu should be expelled.

The king did not take sides, and eventually, such a choice cast a shadow.

The most treacherous hell, prepared for those who remained silent at the moment of choice. The king ultimately walked into that hell himself.

When he saw the countless crowds gathered in the square, the king could not help but acknowledge that humans had forgotten the morality and goodness of the past.

His right-hand man, who had acted as a chancellor in dealings with other nations.

Judas.

The heretic, as he was called, ultimately betrayed the king, intending to seize the 'Philosopher’s Stone.’ It was the moment when the rule of harmony among humans, which Arden had so fervently preached, was shattered.

War broke out.

Countless humans and other races lost their lives, and Arden, realizing that this war stemmed from the 'Philosopher’s Stone’ she had bestowed, was filled with despair.

What is the price when great power is given to the ignorant?

What answer should I give them?

The voices of women and children crying out to the god finally reached the ends of the sky, but even Arden could not provide an answer to this event.

There was no clear answer from the beginning.

The only one thing she knew, she had failed by relying solely on the potential of the human race.

That was all.

It was a failure.

Those who resembled her made decisions she would never have made.

They pointed swords at each other.

They even began to covet the Philosopher’s Stone, which was not originally theirs.

Enraged, Arden finally declared.

[I address all humans. From now on, I will not allow you to offer sacrifices in the name of the Creator God Arden, and I will seal the 'Philosopher’s Stone’ in nine pieces across the continent so that you cannot find it.]

For this reason, the Philosopher’s Stone eventually disappeared by Arden’s hand.

Arden then declared.

[I will seal Judas, who has brought chaos to the world, along with the Philosopher’s Stone, into nine pieces across the continent, so that such a tragedy will never happen again! Also, from this moment on, all those who harm, kill, and plunder others will be called 'demons,’ and to eradicate them, I will appoint the divine agents, 'angels,’ to restore order to the continent!]

Judas.

No, the being who became the first demon, later known as 'Baal,’ was something even the countless scholars of the continent could not have known.

Thus, demons and humans were originally one, and only through fierce desires were they distinguished as different beings, passing on power in different ways, each guarding their own world.

The soldiers humans raised to prepare for this.

They were the angels.

In any case.

After the war, the temples serving Arden were closed, and no more oracles came down.

But humans do not change.

The remaining demons launched a massive search for the Philosopher’s Stone, engaging in slaughter, and to oppose this, the angels continued the shameful and arduous battles as they prayed.

But Arden no longer responded to the calls of humans.

The war that broke out at this time was called the 'War of the Revenge Stone’ by the continent, likened to Judas’s desire to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone, the Laheston War.

[Chapter 3 - Rules and Restrictions]

**********

Arden placed great restrictions on demons with immense power so they could not run rampant.

But she soon withdrew her hand from the world, and the bloody battles between angels and demons continued. In the midst of this, some demons who realized their mistakes returned to the humans’ side. These were the heads of the three great dark families.

Initially, for personal goals to use the Philosopher’s Stone.

Or those who, when Arden first bestowed the Philosopher’s Stone, approached the taboo that should never be violated. They eventually turned their hearts and pointed their swords at the demons.

Reinhaver.

Saders.

Marvas.

The origins of these three families were human, but they became demons. And then, barely regained their humanity and returned. But even for them, Arden’s restrictions came into effect…

That is the curse of the three great dark families.

**********

Thud.

My head spins.

It’s strange.

Even though I’m standing still, it feels like I’m submerged in water, suffocating, and my whole body is as heavy as a boulder.

[Trait 'Prodigy of Acting’ activates.]

[The trait is shaken by excessive shock!]

[Caution! Exposed to unbearable dense mana.]

Haa.

I exhale roughly.

Holding onto my trembling legs, I inhale and exhale repeatedly.

'Compared to the past, this isn’t that difficult.’

In the past, to save Eleanor, I even opened my dantian.

It was the first time, and if I didn’t do it, death was certain.

Even at that moment, I endured.

'I can’t die here.’

“You recover quickly.”

“I showed disgrace in front of the Patriarch.”

“Shall I continue the story?”

Theo spoke indifferently.

He must know I’m tired, but he also knows I want to hear the end of the story, so he speaks like that.

'That’s what I wanted too.’

I quickly pull myself together and organize my thoughts.

Before Theo continues the story, I hurriedly sort out the fragments of my thoughts.

The truth of this world, which even veteran player YooChan didn’t know.

First.

The Creator God Arden contributed to the establishment of the ancient kingdom, and the war on the continent broke out because of the Philosopher’s Stone she bestowed.

This is the Laheston War.

Two.

Humans, demons, and angels are all essentially fragments of Arden.

Here, those who coveted the Philosopher’s Stone with strong malevolent tendencies are called demons, and those who sought to protect the Philosopher’s Stone with strong benevolent tendencies are called angels. Those who could do nothing and remained are humans.

Third.

Judas. The first to covet the Philosopher’s Stone was the most powerful of the demons, the first Archduke, a mythical demon who brought storms of blood across the continent.

Baal.

Fourth.

The curse of the families…

I haven’t heard about this yet.

Perhaps Theo will explain it in more detail.

Right now, that’s a more important issue than Arden, angels, or demons.

“The first Patriarch of the Reinhaver family was a demon. As you have seen in history. He eventually returned to the humans’ side and angels and participated in the war against demons, and this is a clear fact.”

Theo added what I would be curious about.

“Of course, why the first Patriarch made such a choice. Why he became a demon desiring the Philosopher’s Stone is unknown… but this is an undeniable fact.”

“How many people know about this fact?”

“The former emperor of the Arkheim Empire, Esteban von Arkheim, and the heads of the three great dark families, and you.”

“Esteban von Arkheim… The former emperor of the empire knew about the bloodline of the three great dark families and yet did not eliminate us.”

“Partly because the power of the three families was too great.”

Theo added with emphasis.

“Emperor Esteban believed in us. He said he would become the sun that removes the darkness so that tragedy would not happen. That’s why Reinhaver also once followed the laws of the Arkheim Empire.”

Come to think of it, it’s a story full of questions.

Isn’t the power of the three great dark families beyond imagination?

Just Reinhaver alone, with the initial three forms, could capture a Grand duke.

Marvas, with the magic stone, could raise an infinite number of undead.

Finally, the Saders family, if they wished, could subjugate humans, demons, and angels of different genders under their feet and bewitch them.

If such power were combined, it would be possible to overthrow the Arkheim Empire.

If Esteban had not become foolish and remained the sun, he would not have joined hands with Lunatic.

Even though the relationship between the three families was not bad, there must have been a clear reason.

I finally understood that reason.

'The pact of the three families. Do not touch the Arkheim Empire.’

A rule Theo once mentioned. Now that I know its true meaning, it has become meaningless.

“Anyway, what you want to hear is not just this, is it?”

“Yes. That curse. And the reason why you, the Patriarch, must face death. I want to hear that from you.”

“Alright.”

Theo paused for a moment, then the mechanical device started spinning again. He looked at the Cosmic Memoria and then turned his gaze to me.

Finally, the moment his mouth opened. I finally understood why he had to die.

“The successor of the Reinhaver family must carve out the heart of the previous Patriarch. If not, the seed of the demon hidden by Arden will sprout, driving them mad, and eventually turning them into a demon.”

“Turn into… a demon?”

“You might have already experienced it.”

The moment Theo said that. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind began to gather around him, forming a damp darkness. It resembled a goat wearing a crown.

Along with that, Theo’s eyes began to slowly flip into reverse, and a shocking sensation swept through my body.

Simultaneously, a large pupil burst through the air behind Theo.

It made my heart pound like crazy.

'How on earth…’

“It seems you’ve already experienced it.”

Theo, the head of the Reinhaver family in the form of a demon, looked at me and said.

“The state where the black seed awakens and devours the body, allowing one to unleash great power. We call this devilization. Also, a human who undergoes devilization multiple times will inevitably meet death.”

“…The reason why I have to kill you.”

At that moment, when I spoke without even using honorifics, the family head smiled faintly.

“Yes. To prevent you from becoming a demon, you must kill me.”