Ch 156
The eyes of the crowd were focused on something Lisir held in his hand.
Scars and Mutilation.
Its appearance, stained with traces of suffering, was truly ominous.
Added to that was a subtle yet powerful Energy that was hard to describe.
I could tell at a glance.
It was an extraordinary Existence, one that could not be easily approached.
Lisir.
It certainly would have been, until he grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and rendered it helpless.
Perhaps, it still might be.
It’s just that its appearance was so insignificant that it didn’t feel real.
Its pathetic appearance, like a cat caught stealing a fish, had no dignity whatsoever.
To the point where even the Awe I had felt was disappearing.
“That, no way…”
That’s why they were in Confusion.
That, no way, is that it?
Eh, no way, right?
No. But the circumstances are too perfect, aren’t they?
In the case of the Bearer, their minds were completely paralyzed.
Eventually, the Hero’s party was the first to speak.
Jane.
She exchanged a Gaze with Dwen and Felix, and then spoke cautiously.
“Lisir, that, no way…”
“Yes, that’s right. The anomaly that just happened to that person. That, this guy did it. Zallak says it uses pretty powerful Mental Interference. I said I would subdue it, and I also gave a Warning━ but in the end, it caused another incident like this.”
It was then.
“All trials take the form of suffering. Therefore, nothing can subdue me…!”
It escaped Lisir’s hand and floated into the air.
Mutilation. Dehydration. Hunger.
Its body, emaciated by all sorts of factors, was like an Incarnation of Suffering made by concentrating suffering at first glance.
A figure that inspires both terrible ominousness and Awe.
A powerful Energy flowed out of it.
At the same time, it began to speak in a gloomy tone, like a fog spreading across the floor.
“Only suffering guides me, only suffering moves me!!! The only thing I carry, follow, and obey is suffering!!!”
The bodies of some of the Bearers bent backward like bows.
Their eyes rolled back and saliva dripped from their wide-open mouths, along with a choking sound, ‘Keoheok-‘.
Soon they began to make a sound as if scraping their vocal cords.
I will carry it.
I will carry it.
The action of a powerful Will.
It was affecting the surroundings and causing Mental Interference.
“Oh no!”
“Everyone, prepare for Combat!”
The Hero’s party hurriedly stepped forward to stop it.
Jane’s party and Felix’s party.
And even Dwen.
They launched a coordinated all-out attack on ‘it’.
A fierce Combined Attack that no one in this place could withstand was focused on its pathetic body.
“Aah, aaaaaah!!!”
Its body defenselessly-
No, willingly accepted those attacks.
Its body was torn, broken, and split.
“Everyone, stop!”
At that moment, Dwen shouted urgently.
“Master!?”
“Something, something is wrong…!”
The body of it, which was accepting the attacks, was clearly breaking down.
But why.
Rather.
Its emaciated body seemed to be regaining life.
That Energy seemed to be getting stronger.
“This is it!!! This is what I’ve been craving! Hurry! Push me even harder! Give me overflowing suffering!!!”
I will carry it!
All of it!!!
It vomited blood and rejoiced.
I will carry it.
I will carry it.
The Bearers muttered and agreed with it.
“Ah, aah…!”
“Ugh━”
Hella and Gorad.
Even the two Bearers, who were resisting its Will with strong Mental Strength and power, began to have expressions stained with Anguish.
Blood vessels popped out on their faces and cold sweat flowed.
They were resisting its Will with all their might.
“Children of suffering!!! There is nothing to fear! It is me! It is that Emotion! It is that desire! What you have been desperately searching for is right before your eyes! I reach out my hand, so entrust your bodies to it!”
The hand of madness leading the Fanatic.
“No…!”
Hella struggled to resist it.
“No… This━ this…!”
Mental Interference that existed in the base of the Fanatic in the form of Faith.
The Fanatic who escaped from it fell into Confusion.
Bearing suffering for others.
That act is clearly noble.
The act that the ‘Saint’ urges has not changed at all.
However.
The appearance of ‘it’ that is visible now.
Hella realized.
Its purpose is not Sacrifice.
Nor is it Dedication.
Therefore, it is not a Saint.
It is just a madman who indulges in suffering for Pleasure.
It is just the source of Ruin that draws others in for the sake of its own Pleasure.
Hella recalled the Devotee who had suffered and died in the name of Sacrifice until now.
There was no Reason to be sad.
Thanks to the madman’s arrangement, they felt Pleasure even in the process.
Also, there were clearly those who were saved by that action.
But, that’s all.
Now that she had realized its true nature, there should be no more blind Faith.
“Please, stop…!”
Hella made a Plea to it.
“It does not match the form of Faith we had! So, please━”
“There is nothing to fear.”
“Ugh…!”
A stronger Will binds Hella.
Her upper body bent backward as if convulsing.
“True Salvation… True Joy… True Happiness… All of that is in suffering… Blind child, entrust your body to me. I will guide you on the Right Path.”
“Ah, no… No… Our suffering… was not for us…!”
“What is making you hesitate so much? Are you afraid of suffering?”
“…”
Hella hugged her body.
So much suffering-
That body soon filled with traces of so many Sacrifices.
The Bearers.
They feel Ecstasy from suffering.
However. That was only possible because it was supported by the belief that their actions were noble.
Everything is for other sufferers.
Because of that Faith, they were able to find Ecstasy in that suffering.
But, what if that Faith no longer protects them?
No.
In fact, it was the same even when that Faith protected them.
“Of course, I’m afraid… We Bearers… make a Determination every moment we fill the Core of Suffering… We Sacrifice and give up…”
“It’s a sign of weakness. Weak and young.”
Its Voice and Will intertwined with Hella like a snake.
“I will enlighten you. I will save you from that ignorance and weakness that fears suffering. So, accept me.”
“Ah, aah…”
Its Voice scorned and rebuked Hella, who was afraid of suffering.
Hella shuddered at that powerful Will.
Eventually, her thoughts were consumed by Emotion.
“Can we… become as strong as you…”
Hella said with empty Eyes.
“No.”
It was Lisir who answered.
“Hella. There is no Reason to follow that. There is even less Reason to serve it.”
“…”
That Voice.
Light slowly returned to Hella’s Eyes.
“I can tell enough just from a quick look. You guys are much more amazing than that friend. It’s said that people who put in the Effort can’t beat people who enjoy it, but this time it looks like the case is different.”
“You…”
Its Wrath reached its peak.
I will carry it.
I will carry it.
The power received from the Bearers.
Added to that was the power gained by absorbing the Hero’s party’s attacks.
Its parched body was filled with life.
Blood began to flow from the wounds all over its body.
“Did you think your negligence would last forever… I have regained my power… Your shallow tricks will no longer work…”
Gurgle.
Gurgle.
Its body swelled up.
As if denying the shameful memories of the past.
“Come. I’ll show you how insignificant the suffering you know is.”
“…”
“Lisir…!”
Dwen’s party looked at Lisir and shouted urgently.
He walked towards it and swung the Holy Sword.
Without drawing it from the Scabbard. Just like a club.
To them, that appearance seemed so defenseless.
“Be careful, it seems that he turns suffering into his own power━”
Dwen’s Warning was not continued.
“Ack!”
“?”
A shrill groan from its mouth cut off her words.
✦✦✦
『Target’s Influence is Too Strong.』
『Stats are temporarily decreased.』
『Target: Masochistic Joy （S-） > Deactivated』
✦✦✦
“Again, again!!! What the hell did you do!!!”
Lisir did not answer.
He just silently and diligently continued the club （Holy Sword） treatment.
“Ugh! Ugh!!!”
“…”
Hella and Gorad, who had regained their senses thanks to Lisir’s help.
They were staring blankly at it.
From that mouth, which had despised the suffering of the Bearers, a pathetic groan was leaking out.
With just one clubbing.
“S, stop!!!”
It couldn’t stand it and shouted.
“You said you liked suffering? You said you would save me from the ignorance and weakness that fears suffering?”
“N, no! This is not the suffering I know!!!”
“What. Suffering is all the same.”
Thwack. Thwack thwack. Thwack thwack thwack.
The merciless beating continued for a while.
✦✦✦
Some time after that.
“Huh…?”
All the Bearers who had been dominated by its Will regained their senses.
The coercive power that had dominated them immediately disappeared.
However.
At their base, a wrong Faith was still in place.
That wrong Faith that makes them believe that suffering is noble.
“The Bearing One…?”
Someone muttered.
They had the same Experience as Gorad.
The Bearing One.
They heard That person’s Voice.
They heard That person’s cry.
They must save That person.
They looked around with desperate hearts.
There, there was the great Saint they had been desperately searching for.
“Please… please stop… It hurts… It hurts so much… I’ll do anything, so please forgive me now…”
In a pathetic appearance, having lost all Will and broken down from simple beating.
“…”
The Bearers.
A big change occurred within them.
“What is that…?”
Someone’s murmur, filled with Contempt, represented their State of Mind.
✦✦✦
The Bearing One.
No.
The Bearing Bastard.
Lisir, who had watched what it had done to the Bearers in front of his eyes, withdrew even the slightest Pity he had for it.
He completely erased the Assumption that ‘it looks like this, but you never know-‘.
What remained was pure and merciless beating.
It no longer had the luxury of pretending to submit and playing tricks like before.
“That’s right…! I am nothing without that power…!”
Following Lisir’s instructions, it readily revealed everything about itself.
All the Sacrifices and Dedication that could be done as the Bearing One.
It said that it was possible thanks to a special Ability to turn suffering into Joy.
Self-Satisfaction through that special Ability.
That was the true nature of all the actions that the Bearing One had been doing as a Saint.
The Bearers.
They, who had heard all the stories, were understandably shocked.
It was natural that the foundation of the firm Faith that had supported the Fanatic was shaken.
“I’m sorry. I’m worried that I might have done something unnecessary.”
Lisir approached Hella and carefully offered words of Solace.
To that.
Hella created her unique gentle Smile.
Was it just his imagination?
Lisir felt that her Expression was somewhat different from before.
The indescribable sense of incongruity that had been mixed in with the gentleness had disappeared.
“No, Lisir… There is no Reason for you to apologize. All you did was awaken us from blind Faith. If there is any fault, it lies with us who had that form of Faith━ that wrong Faith.”
She still looked at it, sprawled on the floor and recovering from the suffering.
Her Expression clearly showed her complicated State of Mind.
“What are you going to do from now on?”
At that time, Dwen approached and asked Hella.
“…”
She said after a moment of Anguish.
“There are still many people in this World who need help. There are many who carry sins and suffering that they cannot handle, regardless of their Will.”
“Then━”
“Yes. I don’t intend to stop.”
However.
Hella added in a firm tone.
She looked at it once.
Then, she hugged herself and gave a bitter yet Relief Smile.
“I think I need to find a new method.”
“…”
A faint Smile of Relief appeared on Dwen’s serious Expression.
“Iron Sword. I have caused you trouble with this wrong Faith. I sincerely offer my Apology.”
Hella bowed deeply.
Then, the other Bearers also bowed to the Iron Sword.
After that.
Discussions went on for a while among the Bearers, centered on Hella and Gorad.
The Bearers.
That Fanatic group was officially disbanded.
However, no one left.
Even though the wrong Faith towards suffering had collapsed, their noble Heart to help others was still the same.
Healers.
It was the moment when the Fanatic, who had countless suffering and Scars, was reborn.
They stared intently at Lisir.
“…?”
For some Reason, Lisir’s back was itchy.
“Ah, come to think of it. What are you going to do with ‘that’?”
Hella spoke like that about what had been the ‘Bearing One’.
Lisir answered, relieved by her reaction.
“Ah, if it’s okay, would you leave it to me?”
“Are you sure? Even if you carry such a heavy burden…”
The attention of the chaotic crowd was focused on Lisir again.
How will he handle that powerful yet Difficult Existence?
Great Interest was focused on that method.
“What are you going to do with that?”
Hella’s question.
The Gaze surrounding Lisir sparkled with Curiosity.
“I’m Deliberating now. Whether to put it away or feed it.”
“…”
The flames of Curiosity that had been sparkling in their Eyes went out.
✦✦✦
That night.
A small Banquet was held at the Hero’s Mansion.
It was a celebration of the official conclusion of the Event surrounding Dwen.
“Lisir, thank you. If it weren’t for you, our Master would have…!”
“Why is it that I always seem to be getting help from you? The Face of us Heroes is not good.”
Throughout the Banquet.
Affection dripped from the Eyes of the two Heroes looking at Lisir.
So much so that their party members and female Lovers were looking at Lisir with jealous Gazes.
While Lisir was somehow managing to digest all those burdensome Gazes.
“Master.”
“…”
Jane and Felix exchanged Gazes with Dwen.
Eventually, Jane spoke to Lisir on their behalf.
“Lisir, it’s not much of a reward, but I’ll make you one promise.”
“A promise?”
“7th Rank. I know that you are facing that distant wall.”
“…”
Lisir’s Expression became awkward.
Interpreting it that way, Jane continued with a more serious Expression.
There was a lot of Joy in that Expression.
Finally, I can help this guy!
It was an Expression that seemed to be saying that.
“Normally, it’s a wall that you can’t cross even if you spend years… decades… no, your whole life. But, we know. We know that you will somehow cross that wall. And, at a speed that we can’t imagine.”
“We will help you.”
Felix continued with a determined Expression.
“We’ve already discussed it. Not only the two of us, but also Master.”
“Dwen, too…?”
Dwen, who had taken a corner seat as far away from Lisir as possible.
When Lisir turned his Gaze to her, she━ after much Deliberation-
Bowed her head.
It seemed that the Status Effect （?） was not over yet.
“Our Priest will join forces to help you in every way. So that you can somehow overcome the 7th Rank. As soon as possible.”
Sword Master Master and two Hero Disciples.
They looked at Lisir with Determination.
“Wait, Jane. Why are you leaving out our story?”
At that time, Jane’s comrades Camila and Belota intervened.
“Lisir is also our Benefactor, so━”
Tilla, Felix’s comrade, also turned a determined Gaze towards Lisir.
-What is this Atmosphere. If it’s like this, I can’t help it. I have no choice but to lend a hand.
-You’re not being honest, Elysia.
-Shut up.
-I, too, have decided to help you with a happy Heart, Lisir. Like Elysia.
-I said shut up?
Finally, even the Two Holy Swords.
“…”
Lisir, feeling their Favor all over his body.
A happy yet complicated Expression appeared on his face.
“Of course, if it’s your Personality, you’ll try to decline first. But Lisir, you know what? This time, we have no intention of giving in either.”
“Don’t go off on a tangent, just say it. Say you understand. Say please take care of me.”
Interpreting that Expression, the two Heroes urged him.
Lisir struggled to open his mouth.
“Everyone. I am really grateful for your Heart, but━”
“Lisir!”
“Ah, really━”
“I’ve already reached it. 7th Rank.”
“?”
The past few days.
While Lisir was spending time filling the Core of Suffering, Jane’s party was making preparations for Lisir’s 7th Rank achievement.
Clatter.
A sound came from the pile of luggage that they had prepared as a surprise gift in the corner of the room.
The Item that they had prepared for Lisir’s 7th Rank achievement-
Were now all sorts of valuables that had become junk.
✦✦✦
“Goodness, Lisir! There’s no such thing as this!”
“This isn’t right, you bastard!”
-You, is that even possible!?
-I’m Confusion, Lisir. We prepared so hard.”
“…I’m sorry?”
Lisir had to listen to their nagging for a while.
-Ugh! What is this! Ah, I don’t know! Lisir!
Soon, the Holy Sword Elysia shouted Irritably.
-Tell me if you have any other requests!
“Yes?”
-Anything is fine, so tell me if there’s anything you can think of right now!
“…”
Lisir started Deliberating as if being pushed from behind.
At that time, his Gaze turned to Tilla, Felix’s comrade.
He remembered what he had heard from Felix before.
“Come to think of it, you said that Tilla knows how to handle Astrology, right?”
“Huh? Uh. A little…?”
“That Astrology thing, can you predict the Future or something?”
“Uh… it’s not that simple… Should I listen to you first? What are you curious about?”
Meeting with Master in the world of memories.
That meeting gave Lisir various thoughts.
This was one of them.
“I have two precious people, and I’m curious about how these two are doing.”
“Precious people!?”
For some Reason, the female group, including Tilla, reacted particularly strongly.
“Who, what kind of people are they!?”
They ask, their Eyes shining.
“One is my Master, and the other is my Younger sister.”
“Ah.”
Their Interest faded away.
“Master!? Lisir’s!?”
However, that was only for a moment.
Once again, their Curiosity is ignited.
“Tilla! Hurry up and prepare!”
“Okay!”
They hurriedly began preparing for Astrology.
✦✦✦
In the dark room, the Crystal Ball emits a Mysterious light.
A blue light, like a cluster of stars, fills the room.
Tilla performing the Astrology Ritual.
Near her, there were two belongings that Lisir had given her.
They were the belongings that Lisir had given to his Younger sister and Master, respectively.
Soon, Tilla, who was looking at the Crystal Ball, said in surprise.
“Lisir?”
“Yes, Tilla.”
“Right now, your Younger sister also━ seems to be looking at you.”
✦✦✦
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