Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 630: Chapter 428: The Silent Poison of Faith

Under Hill’s concerned gaze, Alice began her daily routine of studies.

She studied diligently, and to evade those terrifying spell models, she even started learning noble etiquette from Marsha.

She was quite nimble in this respect, and List felt that Alice had an excellent memory for physical movement, which should make her well suited to learning agility-based combat skills.

As for magic, her only progress over these days was learning the Light Spell.

That was, after all, a spell comprised of a single rune, something a Mage Apprentice could learn without much effort.

Hill was already considering giving up on Alice’s requirements for the path of a Mage.

It seemed he really had thought too much.

But since Alice had chosen a humanoid form, she had to act like one, and only knowing spell-like abilities would bring her greater trouble due to her natural aura.

Only a stronger professional aura could suppress the natural spirit energy she emitted.

Hill had begun contemplating professions like the Ranger.

He didn’t want to consider those professions related to the Elf Sequence, but aside from Knights and Priests, were there any agility-based professions in those specialized in striking down evil?

Hill fell into deep contemplation.

Meanwhile, William at the Star Gate was similarly engulfed in chaotic thought.

He remembered he had invited the Three Gods of Justice through Coron, right?

But why did the people rushing out of the Star Gate seem so disorganized?

There were indeed many Paladins and Priests, but one could tell from the Holy Emblems on their armor that these Knights came from various Churches.

William felt a bit nostalgic for Hill, whose extensive knowledge might tell William what those deities from Ferun were up to—were they assembling en masse to slay dragons?

And why were there so many Mages?

Stripped of the Weave, did they even know how to cast spells?

Wait, this world wouldn’t limit High-level Mages to only a dozen or so spells per day, were these people here to observe the origin of magic?

Why would the Goddess of Magic be so kind as to let so many Mages out?

There hasn’t been another Weave to compete with her’s in this world; what was Mystra plotting?

William’s mouth twitched as he even saw several Legendary Level Thieves.

Fortunately, he had already sent most of the Undead Tribe out to clear the lands of the Evil God; otherwise, his camp might have been turned upside-down.

William sealed off his Royal Palace’s main hall, and the Undead remaining in the camp began to point and whisper among themselves.

He didn’t want to hear their speculations on to whom those Holy Emblems belonged.

”Your Majesty the King!” Spencer asked, puzzled, ”Are these High-level Professionals capable of dealing with that terrible existence?”

”They’re probably planning a Divine Descent,” William whispered quietly, ”I thought the Righteous Knights were coming, but now it’s more like a big assembly from Ferun.

With so many God Systems in Ferun, they have probably never been this united in their lifetimes.

But they are like people with too many debts, unbothered, or like having too many lice and no longer itching; nothing in Ferun hasn’t been seen before!

Teraxil can’t handle it; we better just observe quietly.”

”Shouldn’t we restrain the Undead?” Spencer immediately asked, ”They’re nearly throwing themselves onto those Knights. Even those thieves have been rooted out.”

”How were the thieves found?” William asked curiously, ”Aren’t Mask’s subordinates able to hide in the shadows?”

”It’s thanks to the research results from Hill’s side,” Spencer looked at William before answering, ”They often deal with the God of Thievery, so their Array research is very meticulous.

That Scouting Array can be created with Light Spells and Wind Spells.

The Undead, concerned about intruders in the camp, made a lot, and eventually caught out Mask’s people.”

”Hill directly taught the Undead?” William asked, tilting his head.

”Yes. Without notifying our side,” Spencer said with an embarrassed smile, ”He didn’t even ask if we were interested in purchasing it.”

William slapped his cheek, ”Ah! It seems he’s really angry; I need to prepare some words of apology. Has the God of Nobility been informed?”

”We sent a message to the Temple outside the Abyssal Gate through the Undead,” Spencer asked curiously, ”Your Majesty, why not ask His Majesty of Time and Space to notify the God of Nobility?”

”Because he disagreed with what the God of Nobility was doing from the start,” William shrugged, ”He agrees with the prevention of the rise of Magical Beasts, methods like mine of nipping things in the bud are fine, but he disagrees with striking such a heavy blow when the other party hasn’t shown hostility.

The God of Nobility thought of many methods, all too sinister, and Time stopped those.

Who knew he would come up with this kind of plan in the end!”

”Your Majesty?” Spencer suddenly became serious, ”You only knew but didn’t report, right? You didn’t participate further?”

”No, no!” William quickly shook his hand, ”I can’t bring myself to harm innocents.

It’s just that, the God of Nobility has given too much for humanity, he can’t bear the thought of Magical Beasts threatening humans one day.

He acted on his own.

He had already started before I realized what was happening; those folks from the Monster Nation suddenly got involved in domestic strife!”

With their brains, how could they possibly think of such a method to force Alice! And indeed, female Magical Beasts do prefer to pursue strong male Magical Beasts, in order to pass on more perfect bloodlines.

But they wouldn’t want to monopolize or even become queens themselves.

A normal female Magical Beast would just want to have a happy little game with Merkel, not get involved in some harem struggle.”

Spencer thought for a moment and then understood, ”Did His Majesty clean up after him?”

”Ah! The God of Nobility and Goddess of Love, they are not concerned with the present but with a hundred or even hundreds of years from now.

They plan to plant a super bomb in the Monster Nation.

But they didn’t anticipate that Magical Beasts are different from humans. They didn’t consider Alice’s background or Merkel’s feelings and just went ahead with it!

Nearly causing a disaster.

Fortunately, that Alice is very much like Hill, she’s quick to run away when trouble arises.

In fact, Arturas was also scared. He predicted the first trouble would come in 50 years, by which time Merkel was supposed to have achieved divinity. To contend for a place by the Beast God’s side, chaos might ensue.

Instead, the Magical Beasts brought it forward to five months.

I didn’t really tie up loose ends, but simply had people pay attention to Alice and made sure nothing serious happened to her.

As long as she doesn’t die, it should be somewhat easier to discuss matters with Hill.”

”Every time the God of Nobility plays his games, something goes awry,” Spencer said expressionlessly, ”His Majesty shouldn’t have helped him.”

”I...”

”At the very least, if that person’s hand could reach into the Monster Nation, His Majesty the King must have helped,” Spencer said with certainty, ”Although to varying degrees, you still took action.

If you want to apologize to Hill, you’d better be sincere.

For Hill, it’s pointless to soften the issue or to lie. It would be better to remain silent than to do that.

You need to think about it, Your Majesty.”

William looked at Spencer, his face full of disapproval toward William’s actions.

He could only sigh, ”It was my fault. Although I really didn’t expect them to target Alice, I also indeed didn’t care enough about the safety of this cat.”

”If you had just apologized when Miss Alice arrived, perhaps Hill wouldn’t have been so angry,” Spencer said earnestly, ”Does Your Majesty feel that in the matter concerning Miss Alice, your responsibility isn’t that great? Is that why, when you saw Mr. Hill didn’t say much, you simply let the matter pass?

But my king, if it were the former you, you wouldn’t have done that.

You never used to shy away from your own mistakes, no matter how small.”

William froze, looking at Spencer with a flash of angry flame in his eyes.

Spencer was unfazed, taking out a flask to pour William a cup of wine.

William was silent for a long time, and then suddenly doubted himself, ”Am I actually getting angry because someone told me the truth?

And it’s even against you, Naven?

When did I become like this?”

”Your Majesty, although you never accepted worship, there are many who venerate you,” Spencer thought for a while before replying, ”Especially the commoners and those freed slaves.

Nobles wouldn’t, though they won’t say it, but if they had to choose a faith, most would align with the God of Nobility’s teachings.

You probably never considered how you’re seen among the lower classes?

They’re grateful to you, they worship you, but they’re also afraid of you. They believe that the future ruler of justice and fairness must be supremely majestic to suppress the darkness of this world and save them from disaster.

Moreover, if it had been the former you, when this incident occurred, you would have let me know. Hill was nearby, and you would have prepared me mentally, not just assume I would not speak out of turn because I was unaware.

I didn’t feel it before, but after Hill’s incident, I’ve been reflecting on everything during this time.

You’re becoming less and less fond of communicating with your subordinates. I asked the Captain of the Guard, and he hasn’t had a non-official conversation with you for half a year.

He doesn’t see a problem with this, believing a powerful king is expected to be authoritarian and assertive.

And that His Majesty the King has been very wise, not drifting towards dictatorship.

But I remember, my king, you said from a young age that you would never walk the path of a tyrant and that you would firmly hold onto your convictions.”

Spencer didn’t know what William’s faith was, but he knew that the changes in William were not his real intention.

This was the heartfelt loyalty and trust from Naven Spencer, who grew up with William. He believed that his king, no matter how much he changed, would not regard his words as an offense.

William fell into deep thought, reflecting on his recent self.

He, who was speechless for a long time, finally picked up his cup and downed it in one gulp, ”The path to divinity, fraught with danger, I never understood why Arturas would put it that way to me.

I thought watching over my own life was enough.

It turns out, the path to divinity is the true first crisis of faith!

The God of Time and Space had it easy because he was actually a True God already, just needing to spread his Name of God.”

William revealed a bitter smile. For him, it wasn’t that easy.