The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years-Chapter 185

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 185

Until just a few days ago, Saintess Theresia had been content with her situation.

Though she hadn’t considered forming a bond with Kaylen due to her status as a Saintess,

she found meaning in living by the hero's side, aiding him as she had longed for over a thousand years.

‘By Kaylen’s side once again, I must defeat the Demon King and set the world right, just like a thousand years ago.’

However, her expectations were shattered just a few days ago.

—Return, Theresia.

With the command of the Holy Emperor.

—From now on, the hero is our enemy.

Thus, she was summoned back to the Sanctuary.

The Holy Emperor, who had once been amicable toward Kaylen, had completely reversed his stance.

Though Theresia could not comprehend the sudden change, within the Sanctuary, the Holy Emperor's orders were absolute. She had no choice but to obey.

“I have heard the Holy Emperor’s words,” Theresia said, releasing her clasped hands from prayer and facing Kaylen.

“What did you hear?” he asked.

“The Holy Emperor said that you, Kaylen, are now our enemy.”

“Did he reveal my true identity?”

Theresia shook her head with a troubled expression.

“No, he told me that as well. The Holy Emperor said that while his appearance may have changed, every Holy Emperor throughout history has been the same being… His true identity is the first High Elf, the incarnation of the Spirit King, and the proxy of the Heavenly God.”

Was every Holy Emperor throughout history just Benedict in a different form?

Though surprised by Theresia's words, Kaylen did not show it.

He merely spoke as he observed her gradually drawing upon her divine power.

“Theresia. Holy Emperor Benedict is a suspicious man. I am certain he will bring harm to humanity. Will you still stand by his side?”

“I agree that he is suspicious. However, he said he would ultimately save humanity. If you see this place, you will understand.”

As Theresia summoned her divine power,

the cathedral resonated with the light she conjured, turning pure white.

Rumble…

The entire cathedral trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

Then, the ground between Kaylen and Theresia opened, revealing a staircase.

At a glance, it was a suspicious space—

it wouldn’t be surprising if traps awaited below.

“Will you follow me?” she asked.

“I will.”

Without hesitation, Kaylen descended into the underground.

If there were traps, he would simply destroy them.

He had a bond with Theresia that spanned many years and wanted to hear her out fully.

Step. Step.

In heavy silence, the two slowly descended the stairs.

The first underground level they reached was filled with greenery.

Flowers and small trees were arranged neatly like a well-tended garden.

Kaylen could feel a strong, vibrant life force within.

‘This space must be artificial, yet the vitality here is overwhelming.’

Though underground and devoid of sunlight, the area resembled a beautiful paradise, far from the damp darkness one would expect.

“What is this place?” he asked.

“It is a garden prepared within the Sanctuary. The Holy Emperor tends to it personally.”

“Hmm...”

Rumble.

As Theresia summoned her divine power again, a path leading deeper underground opened.

The second underground level resembled a scene one might find in a magic tower rather than beneath a cathedral.

Countless magic circles were inscribed on the floor, each embedded with dense clusters of mana stones.

And then...

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“There are quite a few magic circles here.”

“Yes. I’ve heard that these magic circles help maintain the Sanctuary.”

“Is that so? But I wonder why there are so many spirit stones.”

“Spirit stones?”

Hidden among the mana stones were spirit stones, so cleverly concealed that only someone with Kaylen's level of perception could sense them.

‘Rather than maintaining the Sanctuary...’

The four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—were gathered with mana of the four elements: fire, water, wind, and earth.

It was a scene remarkably similar to what he had seen in the Spirit Realm not long ago.

‘A space resembling the Spirit Realm.’

Kaylen, taking in the appearance of the first and second floors, asked Theresia,

“From what I’ve seen of the first and second floors, I can’t sense any intent of the Holy Emperor to save humanity.”

“You will understand when we go to the lower floor,” she replied.

Theresia opened the door to the third underground level and stepped forward.

The space there was dark and damp, reminiscent of a typical underground area. No light from the outside reached in. Only a faint blue glow emanated from below.

Descending the stairs, Kaylen couldn’t help but gasp.

“This is...”

“This is the place where the Holy Emperor’s will to save humanity is contained.”

On the third underground level, from floor to ceiling, rows of vertical glass chambers stood tall.

Each chamber, filled with a blue liquid, contained human bodies.

Dozens of people were packed into a single chamber.

“Huh...”

At a glance, there were over a hundred chambers.

Inside were humans ranging from young children to young adults, composed of both men and women in their prime.

“So this is the Holy Emperor’s will to save humanity?”

“Yes. Even if the surface is destroyed... this place is prepared by the Holy Emperor to preserve the lineage of humanity.”

“Heh. Is that so?”

When the crisis of destruction comes, the plan was to preserve part of humanity to ensure the survival of the species.

Kaylen let out a faint laugh and observed the space carefully.

“Theresia. Even if you preserve the lineage like this, what meaning would it hold? Shouldn’t the priority be to prevent the destruction in the first place?”

“Humans are not omnipotent. There are disasters that cannot be overcome. If we preserve the species, perhaps a time of prosperity will come again.”

When humanity faces a crisis it cannot overcome, perhaps it is wiser to find a way to avoid it rather than confront it head-on.

Kaylen nodded slightly, as if accepting her words.

“Right. But if that’s the case...”

Kaylen let out a bitter smile and pointed to the ceiling of the glass chamber.

“Why is the life force of these humans being drained and supplied to the ceiling?”

“...What?”

“Theresia. Can’t you see it? The movement of the mana.”

“I don’t understand what you mean...”

At that moment—

Clap. Clap. Clap.

With the sound of applause from above, a man descended the stairs.

“As expected, Your Majesty saw through it immediately.”

“...Your Holiness?”

“Theresia. You’ve done well bringing the Emperor this far.”

It was Holy Emperor Benedict, his hair now turned black.

“Your Holiness, what does Lord Kaylen’s statement mean?”

“Oh, are you referring to the supply of life force?”

Holy Emperor Benedict, his long ears exposed, spread his arms nonchalantly.

“It’s simple. Their life force is an essential resource to maintain the Sanctuary.”

“Life force... is a resource?”

“That’s right. Did you really think it was possible to keep this great Sky Fortress afloat with just the Holy Sword? The world isn’t that easy. It requires an immense energy source to keep the fortress afloat... and these humans serve that purpose.”

Benedict looked at the humans with a benevolent smile.

“They were such a useless and inferior species. It was difficult enough to find even this level of use for them.”

“Y-Your Holiness...”

Theresia’s eyes widened in shock as Benedict casually demeaned humans. She had never imagined he viewed humanity in such a way.

“How do you replenish these humans?”

“Heh. Since you’ve come this far, I’ll tell you everything, Emperor.”

Chiiiiiik—

As Benedict opened his hand, a red portal formed in the air.

It was something both Kaylen and Theresia recognized immediately.

“That’s... a dungeon portal?”

“Correct, Emperor.”

Benedict chuckled as he caressed the edge of the portal.

“Among the dungeon portals formed in the Middle Realm, some focus not on slaughtering humanity but on abducting them.”

“My monsters are well-trained and have been efficiently supplying young humans.”

Theresia stared blankly at Benedict. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Dungeon portals were supposed to be a means of colonial invasion summoned by the Demon Realm to dominate the Middle Realm.

But why was the Holy Emperor controlling them?

It felt like a horrifying nightmare.

“The Holy Emperor summoning dungeon portals from the Demon Realm... This is truly the end times.”

“Heh. This world reached its end long ago, Emperor.”

“But you said you’d tell me everything since I’ve come this far, didn’t you, Your Holiness?”

“Do you have a question?”

From the top of the stairs, Benedict responded confidently to Kaylen’s question.

He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about anything hidden in the third underground level.

“What is the connection between the Celestial Gods and the White Demon King?”

“Heh. I figured you’d ask that.”

Benedict slowly ran his hand through his hair and began to speak.

Benedict's hair repeatedly shifted from pure white to deep black.

“The Celestial God sought to become the Absolute God.”

“Was he not already the Absolute God?”

“He was the ruler of the heavens, but not the Absolute God. Of course, his dominion over light and the skies made him stronger than any other god... but still, he desired to ascend even higher.”

Benedict pointed his finger upward toward the sky—

Then lowered it to the ground.

“So, he sought to go beyond ruling the heavens... and to rule what lay below.”

“Below...?”

“The Southern Demon Realm Continent. The subterranean world.”

Benedict grinned and pointed at Kaylen.

“The Celestial God, who had waited for so long, finally found his opportunity. Thanks to Your Majesty defeating the Flame Demon King, a significant power vacuum formed within the Demon Realm.”

“But that’s not the first time the Demon Realm has faced a power vacuum, is it?”

“The Flame Demon King was the most powerful demon king the Demon Realm had painstakingly forged. With his fall, their power weakened drastically...”

Kaylen's expression hardened.

The worst possibility he dreaded was starting to come true.

“The incarnation sent by the Celestial God could not exert much power in the Demon Realm at first. That realm inherently rejects the power of the Celestial God. However, when your Ernstein became a berserk dragon, the Celestial God lost a significant portion of his power while subduing the dragon.”

“And that, ironically, became an opportunity in the Demon Realm.”

Benedict chuckled joyfully.

“With the Celestial God's power weakened, the Demon Continent could no longer repel his incarnation. Eventually, his incarnation became the White Demon King... and by invading the Celestial Realm, he merged with his original body, which was recovering its strength.”

“So, the Celestial God is the Demon King...?”

“Yes. He is now both the Celestial God and the Demon King... No.”

Benedict's hair shifted back to black, then was overlaid with a shining white light.

A coexistence of black and white—

He gazed at his hair as if entranced and concluded his words.

“Now, he has become the Celestial Demon God, ruling over both the heavens and the depths.”

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]