252 Holy Light? (1/2)

For the teachings of the Holy Light and the Holy Church to have been successful, it was only natural for them to have their good points as well. The purest light was also a representation of the purest Order.

The most original teachings of the Holy Light were to illuminate the dark world with Holy Light and protect people by dispelling the darkness and those corrupted by Chaos.

If Chaos was a power that distorted Order, then the Holy Light was the power to erase the distortion and return it to the void. That’s right—not to undistort but to completely destroy it.

I had once fervently believed in the Holy Light as well, believing that it was capable of saving everything, believing the teachings of the Holy Light that Order would finally defeat Chaos.

The Holy Church treated everyone as either allies or enemies, viewing the world as black and white. This was quite refreshing and enjoyable for its believers, but only seeing the world this way wasn’t enough…

The Goddess of Creation Eich had two daughters that inherited her powers of creation, but those powers were divided into Order and Chaos. That already explained everything—both Order and Chaos were the foundational pillars of the world of Eich, and neither could be without the other.

”If the distorted Order is also a necessary part of this world, with orderly Order and chaotic Chaos both being foundational pillars of this world, wiping out some Chaos is probably no different from removing a spoonful of water from the ocean. It will only make the wave that comes in to replenish what was lost even more vicious. Perhaps this is the true reason why the Holy War will never end.”

A world without Chaos was a world that would seem heavy and dead. This world would lack competition, elements of chance, or any desire for self-improvement, which meant it would lack the ability to evolve and change. And a world without Order where every factor and choice became random was probably one where nobody would be able to survive in. After all, even the wild beasts in the forests had their own laws of the jungle that they lived by.

Order had Chaos among it, and Chaos had Order as well. Even the purest representatives of Chaos, the demons, obeyed the concept of ranks among them, and the Order side’s purest representatives, the angels, who were often made fun of as outdated artifacts, had their own desires and goals as well.

Purely using violence against violence might have an effect, but the prerequisite was to be able to completely suppress the loser or even destroy the loser entirely. And, in this world, that was obviously impossible.

Yep, in my eyes, the Holy Light was nothing more than a type of violence: ”If you don’t obey my commands, I shall destroy you.” What could this be other than violence?

So that was why even though I still believed in the original intentions of the Holy Light, I also spat upon it as I used it. I merely treated it as a useful tool, just like how I used elemental magic or undead magic.

”Undead are considered evil? Who made that rule? The God of Holy Light? Or you yourselves, the Holy Church?! Ha! Foolish! From the very start, the Holy Light and the God of Holy Light were in the wrong.”

My voice wasn’t loud, nor was I using a sarcastic tone. I was merely stating the truth as I saw it, but in the eyes of any Holy Light believer, I was doubting and desecrating the nature of Holy Light, which made me a heretic among heretics.

”Roland! You dare!”

Estrada was no longer able to tolerate this as his angry roar caused a gust of wind that blew away the clouds, along with a blinding pillar of light that reached the skies. His Holy Light Domain was now taking form and suppressing the entire area, with the land itself trembling in fear at Estrada’s anger. Perhaps Estrada was indeed the strongest user of Holy Light in the world.

In my current condition, if I fought with Estrada who was incredibly furious… I would probably be defeated by a single swing of his mace.

However, I laughed. I laughed out loud, as if there was something hilarious. After all, even if he was ridiculously strong, that wouldn’t change the fact that he was a fool.

”This is so funny. Just what generation is it already!? Why are you so foolish? That’s why you’ve been a confused and pitiful fool for your entire life, only being ordered about by others and watching so many tragedies occur. Right now, you probably view me as a heretic who abandoned the Holy Light. In that case, my venerable teacher, could I ask you what this is in my hands?”

On my index finger was a golden glow that was as light as a firefly’s. It whirled around my fingers, but only those who truly understood the teachings of the Holy Light would be able to recognize that this was the purest Holy Light of all, a power that only those who had received the most favored blessings of the Holy Light could use.

All their eyes were filled with disbelief. How could this heretic, who said something so blasphemous, still be able to use the Holy Light? Not to mention the highest-quality Holy Light?

”I was once the Holy Light’s Son, the Son of Light…”

I activated my War Angel bloodline, opening up a pair of snow-white wings, and showing a divine side of me in front of everyone. With the golden Holy Light of angels covering me, another pillar of light belonging to me added itself to the sky.

Perhaps it was much smaller than Estrada’s pillar of light, but if we compared the pillars of light’s power to pierce through darkness and illuminate the land, Estrada’s light was nothing more than a slightly strong light bulb in front of this true Holy Light.

The one with the biggest reaction was actually that little half-angel, Aivla. She was trembling all over, and could only give in to her instinct and kneel in front of me.

Her angel bloodline kept continuously telling her that the man in front of her was using the purest Holy Light and was a high-ranked angel many ranks above her. The angels were the representation of Order and were the species that viewed rank as more important than anyone. In front of me, who had transformed into an ancient War Angel, she could only submit and be humble.

”…I once believed that the light would dispel the darkness. However, I soon found out that it wasn’t enough. Light and shadow would forever be twins, and pure light would never be able to destroy the shadow. Rather, it’s the opposite: pure light will actually create even purer darkness. So, I made my choice…”

A pitch-black flame was now burning on my left hand. No, it wasn’t actually burning; all the flames were actually the crying of souls. That was the purest power of death magic.

”Ha! Don’t you always say that Holy Light and Chaos are mortal enemies? Then, how do you explain the fact that a heretic like me can simultaneously use the powers of Holy Light and death magic? Just try explaining it with your teachings of Holy Light, and allow me to hear just what drivel your God of Holy Light made up!”

All the Holy Light job class members had disbelief on their faces—it was as if the very sky had collapsed. According to their common sense and their belief system, destroying Chaos was the natural job of the Holy Light, and Holy Light and the undead were incompatible. The moment they came into contact, there would be a need to be a battle to the death, but this War Angel before them was simultaneously using the powers of Holy Light and death magic.

”Aivla, persist! Don’t think too much into it, and maintain your sense of self! You’re a child of the Holy Light!”

Cardinal Soros’ angry roar attracted my attention. The kneeling white-winged half-angel Aivla was soaked in sweat, and the tips of her wings were actually beginning to blacken.

”Ha! Child, are you that afraid of knowing the truth? Your belief is actually shaken, and you’re starting to become a fallen angel. Hehehe, a fallen angel! That’s a really rare species. In that case, allow me to help firm your resolution. Come, take a look, child. This is the truth that the Gods don’t dare to tell you.”

I laughed maniacally as I combined the purest Holy Light with the flames of death. Estrada had already guessed that something was happening and finally took action. He was unable to simply watch all this unfold before him because he had lived through too many tragedies already.

”ROLAND!”

*Clang!*

His mace that was ignited with holy flames was blocked by a familiar silver Roland Sacred Sword. It was only that this time, the sword wielder was no longer me, but instead a face that greatly resembled mine. It even had a similarly devilish smile, but with more innocence and the gentleness that females would have.

At this moment, Estrada felt like he had returned to the past, when a young and innocent boy who seemed like he wasn’t afraid of anything, always smiling ever so similarly, would call him ”teacher” and ask him about the teachings of the Holy Light.

”Brother Roland’s teacher, please don’t interrupt Brother Roland. He only wishes to show you the hidden truth. If you aren’t afraid of the truth, then watch him.”

Estrada didn’t take action, but it wasn’t because of Reyne’s clumsy attempt at convincing him. Instead, the faintly opened dimensional portal behind Reyne gave him a tremendous amount of pressure. He sensed the power of a Divine Sin that even the Gods would fear, and he had no confidence that he would easily be able to break past.