Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 272: The Enlightened Witnesses of Truth

November 3rd, 2029.

Three months before his disappearance.

Lord Krawford’s last entry.

"If I had known things would turn out this way, I wouldn’t have gotten involved with these people. At first, I thought they believed superstitious things, and I always knew they were deeply religious... but this seems like a cult. I... The things I am hearing... It’s awful!

To think they were involved with child sacrifices and even cannibalism! All of these atrocities... this savagery... I never believed they were possible. Why would such noble gentlemen engage in these perverse and utterly primitive acts? I know why... It’s because of their beliefs. They worship deities called the Leviathans and engage in these rituals as part of their Rites of Exaltation. I don’t know much about this, but from what I gather, it seems they believe this will unlock their hidden potential.

How absurd!

How can any rational person believe any of these things?!

Why, oh why, did I get myself and my wife involved in this strange mess?

Was it my greed?

Should I have turned down Austin when he brought their business offer to me? No, I trusted Austin. He was a longtime business partner, so it wasn’t strange that he would introduce me to such an opportunity.

I thought they were just investors at first. They showed great interest in Leila’s Alchemy skills and promised us all kinds of things if we partnered with them. The deal was very good, and since they had connections with other Kingdoms, we could expand the scale of production without worrying about price fluctuations and potential losses.

I wanted to take the deal... and Leila was in full support.

Maybe I should have been more hesitant.

After all, we didn’t really know these people. They introduced themselves as a humanitarian group, but they struck me more as a religious body. I didn’t think much of it back then. Since our Kingdom has no laws against religious practices besides Talidology, I didn’t find it strange at all. That was my mistake. To think they would engage in such absurd things!

So is that what they were using our Potions for?!

Their sick rituals?!

We were told that they required specific kinds of Potions and Special Resources for their religious practices, as well as to help out in their outreach. We bought into their lies and supplied them, thinking we were doing a good deed for the world.

I am ashamed to say we even profited greatly from this deal.

It’s true that Leila and I owe a great deal of our wealth to these people. They purchased so many Potions and they even had us on as retainers. We received many benefits, such as dividends for our long-term cooperation and loyalty. The fact that they bought A LOT from us should have raised red flags, and I was suspicious at some point, but Leila told me I was overthinking things and that we should be happy about our success.

No, I can’t blame her.

This isn’t her fault at all!

As her husband... as the man... I should have been a lot more careful in our dealings.

It was my responsibility to cross-check all these details.

But I failed.

I was too blinded by the profits. The benefits. The fact that they even provided us with foreign Special Resources as payment at times, which boosted our overall revenue when making Potions that aren’t normally available in the Randalorion Kingdom. This, alongside the other perks, made me blind to the sinister things going on in the shadows.

Now that I know... I can no longer tolerate this relationship with them.

I can see now that they’re trying to recruit me. In fact, they have been trying to make me join their circle for some time now, but I can never be part of something so abhorrent.

Many kidnappings... torture... sacrifices... sinful orgies... and even cannibalism?!

Disgusting!

A part of me wonders if it was all a part of their plan for me to discover these atrocities. Perhaps they are testing the waters, trying to see if I will join their kabal or betray the organization.

This may be cowardly, but for my safety and the safety of my dear wife, while I cannot join them, I don’t think I can ever reveal these truths to anyone. If I do so, they will no doubt come for us and involve our business in their affairs.

Since we are tied so deeply to their activities, we will surely go down with them.

This would perhaps not be a bad thing if I were to suffer it alone.

But I promised Leila a happy life, and I do not wish for her to experience even an ounce of suffering. I cannot stand the thought of her being publicly accused and stripped of all the privileges she has come to enjoy.

For that reason alone, I must take this secret to my grave.

This is certainly not the moral choice, but it is the decision I must come to in order to protect my wife from the evils that lurk within their circles.

I only hope they can see my sincerity and accept my resignation from their affairs. I will do my best to cut all ties with their group and also retreat from the realm of business for some time. I am sure Leila will find my behavior strange in the coming days, especially when I stop being so occupied with work, so I must tell her some aspects of the truth.

I can only pray she understands.

There is no need to continue in any kind of relationship with them, and now that I am unsure of who to trust, I can only halt business activities until further notice. We have enough money to sustain us, and our territory still generates sufficient revenue, so I see no problems.

Hopefully, it isn’t too late to turn back now after getting in this deep.

May the Gods forgive me for my cowardice."

***********

"Nothing more, huh...?"

I sigh deeply as I reread the last entry in Lord Krawford’s journal and also contemplate the meaning behind his words.

The other things in the journal contain business transactions, some intentionally unreported transactions, illegal transactions, secret recipes, sites of production, hidden assets, and a few unlawful possessions that are kept documented for the sake of inventory.

Honestly, every Noble is culpable of these things, so I’m not surprised.

Most wealthy people evade taxes this way.

They also have illegal dealings in order to gain more profits.

My Aditi Household and even the Royal Family have undergone illegal transactions with the Dark Guild, so I am not surprised at all by these other revelations.

The important thing is this mysterious group.

A Cult!

’They worship the Leviathans and are aware of the Rites of Exaltation...’ My eye furrows at this particular point.

The Rites of Exaltation contain the earliest mention of the Leviathans.

Only excerpts of the writings exist today.

Is it possible that this Cult found a copy and also received some kind of proof on the existence of Leviathans? Seeing as they would go as far as committing human sacrifices and cannibalism, it’s clear that they strongly believe in whatever extremist views they have.

They’re also very dangerous.

’Looks like Aunt Leila was not exaggerating. These people are far more powerful than any Lesser Noble Household. Based on these numbers and the benefits associated with their transactions, it’s clear that this body is at least as rich as a Count Household.... Perhaps even a Duke.’

Their network is even more frightening.

’The Dark Guild isn’t the one responsible, but is there really another criminal organization with their level of reach?’

These are the questions swirling in my mind.

Unfortunately, sitting around and asking them won’t bring me closer to the truth.

I need to act!

’Since this is a matter that pertains to Cults, which isn’t particularly my specialty, I’ll have to outsource somehow.’ My lips curl upward as I think of a solution.

—The Church.

If there is any organization that should be aware of these heretics in the Kingdom, then it will undoubtedly be the Church. Although its influence is small, it is the closest to the people and as such has access to a lot of information.

It is also very secretive.

In essence—

’It’s my biggest avenue for obtaining more clues about this matter.’

Also...

I was curious about their knowledge of Leviathans in the past, so this is one way of finding out.

As for my thoughts on Lord Krawford... he certainly isn’t a saint, but I can see that in many ways, he tried to be an upright man.

That’s a lot more than most Nobles will ever strive to be.

************

After a week of travel, stopping at some of the marked areas of significance on my journey, I finally arrive at the Church Headquarters in the Randalorion Kingdom.

As expected, it is magnificent.

Valium, the Holy City itself, is a marvel to the eyes.

It isn’t as grand as the Academy City, the Royal Capital, or the Merchant City, but it is not without its charms. In fact, in some ways, it looks far more beautiful.

The air itself seems thick with sweet-smelling incense.

The city rises on a pale limestone hill, its white-and-gold buildings cascading down the slopes like a frozen waterfall of devotion. Pilgrims and Zealots crowd the cobblestone streets year-round, and the sound of hymns drifts from every corner at dawn.

At the city’s crown stands the Holy Cathedral—a breathtaking structure of ivory stone and dark timber that has existed for centuries.

Magnificent!

I tilt my head back just to take in its twin spires, which pierce the sky like hands raised in worship. Stained glass windows the size of walls bathe the interior in rivers of amber and crimson light, and the central nave stretches so long that the altar at its far end seems to float in a haze of candlelight.

Beneath a great vaulted dome, a flame burns on a raised dais.

Some say it has burned since the Kingdom’s founding and that it can never be extinguished.

I remain skeptical of this.

The Bishop who leads the Church resides here, in chambers built into the cathedral’s eastern wing of the vast compound.

Although Talidology is the primary religion of the Kingdom, the Church caters to those of other faiths and has a way of reconciling the differences. Thus, it is from this place that all doctrine, all blessing, and all holy judgment flow outward to every corner of the Randalorion Kingdom.

This is most certainly not my first time here.

However, this is the first time I am stepping into this place after regression.

After all, I am no longer as religious as I used to be in my past life. I also had a lot more things that occupied me in this life, many of which do not pertain to the Church.

If I had come here anytime after my graduation, I would have certainly met with Seth.

After all, he lives here.

Speaking of Seth, I am counting on him to introduce me to the Bishop.

Although I have a great deal of political influence, it would be for the best if I could deal with this matter diplomatically and seek out their cooperation without resorting to coercion.

I mean, this is a personal matter.

"Sir Javier... It is a privilege to meet one such as yourself."

Once I am led to the east wing by the Holy Sentinels, and I encounter the Bishop in one of the church annexes, he bows with deep respect, almost unnaturally.

I am well aware that this is quite a humble man and is considered eccentric by many.

In fact, I met him once during my graduation and thought the same.

But this level of respect is too much.

’Could it be—?’ I glance at Seth, who is one of the priests in the Bishop’s entourage, and quickly notice the guilt on his face.

It doesn’t take me very long to realize what likely happened.

’Seth must have confided in Father Gerome about his suspicions regarding me, and the Old Bishop must have realized the truth: that I am a Leviathan.’

This makes the situation easier, but also complicates things.

I’m sure the Bishop will cooperate with me now that he is aware of my identity. His attitude towards me already reveals this much. However, this puts me at a disadvantage because the Church knows about me while I am unaware of its own secrets.

I don’t like this at all.

’Seth must have realized this, which is why he looks so guilty.’

Rather than chastise him, I simply smile.

"There’s no need to feel guilty. I was the one who was hiding things from you, and that’s something friends should not do."

"Javier..." Seth’s gem-like blue eyes moisten, and I chuckle silently.

Hopefully, his acceptance of my rhetoric will convince him to tell me the Church’s secrets when I require him to. Friends should be honest with each other, after all.

Speaking of—

"Is there any place we can meet privately? Just you and me, Bishop." I glance at my Academy friend before continuing. "Seth, too."

"As you wish..."

The elderly man bows curtly before turning to the sentinels and nodding to them.

All of them depart immediately.

The priests also leave us alone, and before long, only three of us remain in the annex.

"Let us talk in my office."

I follow Father Gerome to his office, while Seth paces himself behind the old man until both of us are right next to each other.

He takes this opportunity to formally apologize for spilling my secrets.

"I shouldn’t have shared your secrets... I’m sorry." I can tell he is genuine about his words, but I honestly don’t feel resentment towards him.

Seth is very attached to the Bishop.

He tells him everything.

Plus, it’s not like he knew my secrets. He simply had suspicions based on certain experiences he had, especially with the Excursion and my pretense as Evernight.

It would have been more surprising if he kept all of these ideas to himself.

My only question is if he knows what I truly am.

"I... Father told me that you are a special being known as a Leviathan, and that I should not judge you based on the same standards as others." Seth rambles on as we walk right next to each other, causing me to smile even broader.

Looks like the jig is up.

Seth knows.

"Don’t worry. Since we are friends, you can treat me the same way you always have."

I pat his head, feeling the soft texture of his silver-colored hair.

"O-okay..."

We eventually reach Bishop’s office, and after having our seats, I waste no time in briefing him on the details I left out in the letter.

I tell him of the Paranormal Abductions case, as well as the number of confirmed victims.

They are in the hundreds now.

If I am to estimate the total number of victims, including the unconfirmed ones, we are looking at thousands of people. This is a kingdom-wide operation, and it surely requires a lot of coordination, resources, and a rather sinister objective.

I also present a copy of Lord Krawford’s journal entry for the Bishop to examine.

After all of this is completed, I ask for his thoughts on the case.

"Sir Javier, honestly... I think I know the ones who are responsible for this." Father Gerome sighs deeply as he gives me a sincere look. "Our church has been aware of this Cult for quite some time now, but they’ve recently had a sharp spike in their operations within the Kingdom."

"Tell me," I ask keenly.

Then, the Bishop answers, shuddering as he speaks.

"They call themselves... The Enlightened Witnesses of Truth."