Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax
「Prologue」
The Southwestern region of the Northern Continent. Nozan Kingdom, one of the four countries that occupied the area.
In the north, there was the Delfuento Kingdom. In the south, there was the Salma Kingdom. To the west, there was the Hiruku Theocracy. Surrounded by these three countries, Nozan Kingdom was currently facing a life-and-death struggle for its very survival.
On a certain day, Nozan Kingdom’s capital, Soulia, had been attacked by an army of one hundred thousand undead and forced it into a siege battle.
Against the never before seen number of tireless undead.
One of the main gates of the city’s outer wall, which was essential to maintaining the front line, had been breached on the dawn of the seventh day.
King Asparuf Nozan Soulia had immediately ordered his forces to retreat behind the inner wall once he learned of the breach.
The old city district rested behind the inner wall, which acted as the residential area for the nobility and the upper class, but it had been converted into a shelter for those evacuated from the new city district, most of whom slept in the streets.
Many of the capital’s citizens nervously watched the inner wall as they listened to the battle taking place beyond it.
Other evacuees sought refuge in the majestic Hiruku church that had been built near the center of the old town, and wholeheartedly prayed for God’s salvation.
The oppressive tension washed over everyone gather in the building like a wave, but the smile and encouragement of a man dressed in extravagant robes managed to ease their worries somewhat.
The man with the neatly trimmed black hair and who was leading the prayer was Palermo Avaritia Liberalitas, one of the seven cardinals of the Hiruku religion.
Despite being one of the highest ranking members of the Hiruku church, he gently spoke the teaching of God in the time when the people needed it the most.
However, that was only his public face.
(Hahaha, what is this. The stench of a concerned beast clings to these people…… I eagerly await the moment desperation consumes the last shred of hope in their eyes, watching as it gradually infects one after another. Truly the most delectable of experiences……)
On the inside, Cardinal Palermo relished in the twisted pleasure he received from witnessing the suffering of others.
He was at the peak of supreme bliss within this place.
But his pleasure was abruptly brought to an end.
Outside of Soulia’s city wall…… a huge pillar of light suddenly rose into the sky where the majority of the undead had gathered, and a magic formation appeared in the sky shortly after.
Despite being hidden behind the wall, the entire city was enveloped by the blinding light, every head turning towards the source once the light faded.
The enormous magic formation in the sky shot a pillar of scorching flames towards the ground as a giant figure could be seen emerging from within the fire…… from the citizen’s standpoint it obvious that a divine being had descended.
The being in the sky was covered in a flame cloak and six magnificent wings were spread behind its back.
Just like the heavenly messengers of myth, the being wore vermilion full body armor, carried a feather-like shield in one hand and a crimson sword in the other.
……An angel.
Divinity, an existence of fierce power…… the energy it gave off shock the sky itself and sent the people into a state of awe as their gaze remained skyward.
An angel had appeared in a land tormented by an undead horde…… from this side, it seemed as if God had responded to their prayers.
However, in the face of the absolute existence, people felt that such a being hadn’t simply been sent to relieve the worries of those below.
Those that had gathered around the church felt their fear vanish immediately, they lowered their heads towards the angel and began to pray or seek forgiveness for past transgressions.
Only one man remained standing as he such a spectacle unfolded before him.
(Wha-What……? An angel…… that’s ridiculous!!)
Cardinal Palermo’s entire body trembled as he shook his head and scolded himself in an attempt to deny reality.
“Angels in this world…… God doesn’t even exist!! That is something different!!)
The people surrounding him were too busy paying reverence to notice that Cardinal Palermo was baring his teeth at the angel.
On the other side of the outer wall, the angel gradually began to shrink until it disappeared from view.
Silence fell over the city……
The next moment…… screams filled the air as fire and waves of heat burnt through the area beyond the wall.
Cardinal Palermo became blue in the face as the sounds of battle echoed through the air.
(What’s happening!? My minions’ signatures…… are disappearing one after another!?)
Palermo glared in the direction the angel disappeared in while struggling to suppress his haggard breathing.
The Pope’s personally created undead, the forces he’d been entrusted with.
The spider-humanoid ghost knights that had been made to control the forces…… Palermo became greatly upset as hundreds, no thousands of those connections were severed.
(That false angel!! It’s destroying my undead soldiers and ghost knights!! Why, why has such an existence appeared now of all times!? To save the people? Ridiculous!)
Palermo groaned as a headache struck him, his rationality could barely keep up with the reality before his eyes.
Even as all the connections the Pope himself had implanted into him continued to disappear, the Cardinal shook his head and took a labored step in the direction the angel causing all of this had appeared.
(A force capable of bringing this capital to its knees was destroyed in a matter of moments. Even if it’s by my own hands, I must find the source behind all of this and eliminate it……)
Cardinal Palermo ground his teeth as he weaved his way through the people prostrating themselves in the street. The irritation at knowing the other cardinals were carrying out the Pope’s invasion unimpeded carrying him forward.
◆◇◆◇◆
Soulia, Nozan Kingdom’s capital, old town district.
The noise of the people still fleeing to the safe haven behind the inner wall overpowered the diminishing sounds of combat.
Meanwhile, within the confines of a cubical tower near the wall where he and his advisors had gathered, King Asparuf Nozan Soulia released a deep sigh.
The undead had managed to breach the outer wall on the seventh day of the siege, and Nozan’s fate was in a precarious state.
King Asparuf’s shoulders slumped as he cast a glance outside a small window…… as his eyes wandered towards the destroyed southern gate, it happened without warning.
A blinding light many times more powerful than sunlight filtered through the small window, the moment the king looked outside.
“Wh-What!? What’s happening!?”
However, no one in the room could answer the King’s question, everyone had covered their eyes when the light entered the dusty room.
The light illuminated the entire dusty room before dimming, even as they reoriented themselves, the source of the light couldn’t be found outside the window.
When he looked back he saw that his ministers and generals speculating amongst themselves what that light might have been.
Even though he tried to locate the cause, it seemed to have originated beyond the outer wall.
However, the troops had already been ordered to withdraw from the outer wall.
Undead would be flowing through the breach, even if he deployed a unit to investigate, he would only be sending them to their deaths.
However, everyone began holding their breath when the sounds of battle beyond the outer wall flared up again.
Though he knew that something was going on, he just didn’t know what…… the fact that he couldn’t investigate frustrated him to no end.
King Asparuf could feel the tension of everyone in the room rise, but he couldn’t think of anything to say that would ease their worries.
The wrinkles between his eyebrows deepened as the king clenched his fist on the window sill, but everyone’s eyes snapped towards the breathless young soldier who suddenly burst into the room.
“R-, Re-, Report! The undead around the outer wall…… an angel appeared!”
The scatter shot words of the messenger the general, who proceeded to reprimand him for it..
“Imbecilic! You are in the King’s presence, speak clearly!”
The messenger straightened his posture and saluted the general before apologizing.
“I am sorry! Reporting! An unidentified cavalry unit was spotted outside the outer wall, and a single rider charged at the undead army! At the same time, a supposed angel descended upon the battlefield and began exterminating the undead!”
Everyone, including the king himself, turned to one another to see if they’d heard the messenger’s report correctly.
The general who had reprimanded the messenger was the first to speak up.
“Wha-What was that report!? How could you come here saying such nonsense as “an angel” descending!?”
Although the messenger flinched when confronted by the general’s yell, he regained his posture and reaffirmed the contents of his report.
“That is correct! Most of the city witnessed the angel’s descent! By the time I was sent to give this report, the angel had exterminated a third of the undead horde!”
Some the the country’s leaders could not believe their ears as they listened to the young man’s words, but those who could discovered a ray of hope in their bleakest hour.
King Asparuf glanced outside the window, closed his eyes and smiled as he realized the source of the light from before.
“It’s as the Cardinal said, God really has blessed us……”
The king let out sigh of admiration and relief while thinking about what had occurred beyond the wall.
If the messenger was speaking the truth, then Nozan had been saved on the brink of destruction and given a ray of hope. However, the king’s smile turned bitter and shook his head as concern for the princes set to obtain reinforcements and the princess entered his mind.
(The situation is still too unstable to start celebrating now……)
As if it were a self-fulfilling prophecy, another breathless messenger burst into the room.
“A large amount of undead managed to enter the city through the outer wall’s breach!”
The king nodded his head and turned his gaze toward the people around him.
“Hasten the evacuation into the old city district! General, take charge of the retreating troops and intercept the undead! As the previous report stated, there’s no way for them to take Soulia now! Clear that filth out of our city!”
Everyone saluted at the king’s orders and immediately sprung into action.
Once more, King Asparuf clenched his fist and glanced at the section of the city he could see beyond the wall.
Regardless of what the angel’s appearance meant, if they did nothing Nozan could still collapse.
While there was a food warehouse within the old city district, the majority of their resources were stored within the new city district. Now that the outer wall has been breached by the undead, the provisions had to be procured as soon as possible.
The King prayed to God and the angel he’d sent that his troops returning to the battle would be treated mercifully.
Lille, please be safe.
The King had yet to learn that the one whose safety he had prayed for was already making her way back to the capital.
Thank u always for ur great work…
^^…
LikeLike
A little typo?
capable of being this capital
capable of -bring- this capital ???
LikeLike
I think its
“A force capable of [bringing] this capital to…”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dunno which one, maybe that one…
XD…
LikeLike
Are you even human masita?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like I had said, just a coincidence…
:3…
LikeLiked by 1 person
ARK IS THE REAL POPE AND GOD RIGHT HAND MAN..
GOD SEND HIM TO SAVE THE WORLD.
ARK IS JESUS
LikeLiked by 5 people
!!?!
LikeLike
Thanks for the new chapter!
LikeLike
Thanks for the chapter!
“God doesn’t even exist!”
LOL, the Church was atheist the whole time.
LikeLiked by 6 people
That was basically my thought too.
Also thanks for the chapter!
LikeLike
NO WONDER GOD SEND ARK .. GOD HATE THE CHURCH AND ARK WAS SNED TO DESTROY THE CHURCH AND THE EVIL
LikeLiked by 1 person
aa if god is mocking the church by making arc an undead lolz
LikeLiked by 1 person
An atheist church? Boo yeah!
Lol
LikeLike
The pope is prabably a high level Lich Lord or something that can create unlimited undeads. Basically a scam organization.
LikeLike
Be careful what you say, my friend! That so-called “God” that I refuse to believe in keeps throwing random thunderbolts at my groin because of my constant blasphemy. I have to keep an electrical grounding wire hooked up to the zipper tab on my jeans at all times!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the update
LikeLiked by 1 person
I seriously hope Act destroys that church, I hope they try to do stuff to him and he retaliates and gets tired of their BS, though that one female Cardinal is sexy she’s more rotten then a 1000yr old zombie so ye no thanks I prefer Arcs sweet dark elf and his cute Neko girl, and maybe hopefully in the future a sexy oneesan type dragon queen 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
He would. That’s practically the plot now.
Why else would it have been a spoiled that arc joined the war with the undead this volume.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Prob will take at least 5 arc or more to destroy the whole theocracy, since they will have quest for vegetable again so we might need 10+ arc before ge destory them completely
LikeLike
Hey, don’t go dissing my rotting, undead waifu Cardinal lady! You should try to remember the old nursery rhyme…
“Some like ’em hot,
Some like ’em bold.
I like ’em in the ground,
Nine days cold.”
You know, You could always join me down in the morgue, where we could enjoy a couple of cold ones together!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And for those who may think that my taste in women is disgusting, maybe this song will help explain the true appeal of a certain type of lady. (Of the evening, that is!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
These Voltaire Lyrics are just… XD I immediately downloaded half a dozen of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the chapter.
Yeah… things are gonna turn topsy turvy when this is over.
LikeLike
Thank you for the chapter.
Something occurs to me. The king effectively nationalized the slavery in the capital, requiring all slave owners “sell” (probably at rock bottom prices) their slaves to the king so that they could be used to fortify the inner wall area. So once the undead horde are dealt with, all of those slaves will end up transferred to Arc and his group, due to the agreement Lille made with Arc. That said, it is still (for the king) a minor price to pay for the kingdom’s survival, but all those people who may have hoped / expected to get (or buy back – at a similar low price) their slaves back afterward will be angered. Also, since slavery was not widespread / common enough for Lille to be aware of it, it is likely not used agriculturally (at least in the sense of large plantations), so possibly a majority of the slaves in the country are in noble estates – including their estates in the capital. Quite possibly with this one act Arc has reduced the total (demi-human) slave population in this country by as much as half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While I doubt it will be that simple, I like your analysis. 😀
LikeLike
I dont think that half the population is made out of beastman slaves. After all the church demands them to be handed over, so keeping a large quantity hidden would be really hard.
Next its almost impossible to hold beastman as slaves on agriculture farms because they have better bodies than humans, so they could easily run away if there are no chains and walls. (you cant chain a farmer, thats just to impractical)
LikeLike
What if … just what if exist something like magic. And with magic you can create a mark, tatoo or a collar that cannot be removed. And with that thing you can control, or just kill a person if he run too far away from you. It can be a good guarantee that a slave wont run away, even you don’t chain him to a wall.
But that’s just a dream, coz magic don’t exist. Right?
LikeLike
I think you misunderstood what was meant. Half the total population of slaves was reduced by Arc, not half the total population of the kingdom are slaves.
LikeLike
… bet that church would take all that Glory….
saying that “Their God” send the Angel to help them..
LikeLike
I am betting It’s game over for that Cardinal as soon as he meets with Ariane and Chiome. They can sense undead. Do you think they will care about him being a Cardinal?
LikeLike
The first Cardinal they subdued was impossible to recognize as one due to the monster transformation. I wonder how this one is going to avoid revealing the church’ connection to the undead… although Arc and the gang basically have it all worked out already, so maybe the author will just let things run their course.
LikeLike
I am quite sure Ariane did not meet the first one. She was busy roasting giants. Chiome was busy with Sasuke. It was only Arc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
unlikely that they’ll be able to if the cardinal really attacks arc though
LikeLike
They want a God. They get a God.
LikeLike
No Gods have revealed themselves to this world as of yet, although the local (Arc commenting its appearance was different from the game) archangel of fire suggests a Christianity-style God probably exists. Regardless, the people aren’t getting a god today, althougha true Paladin granted authority to summon the Four Pillar Archangels seems like the next best thing to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty sure they are saying that Ark is God, in a sense he is though. Since he is a skeleton he holds immortality, and if he is as any elf from our stories, their lifespan is limitless, not just 400 years. Can rezz people, and from whe can see he can smite evil.
It’s probable that Noza’s Kingdom will start a new religion to glorify Ark, as the Cardinal will attempt to attack Ark who holds holy powers and will make claims such god doesn’t exist and seeing that Ark called an angel and said angel answered his call, they will see him as a holy man. Yet, if they find out that he is in fact an elf.
This is gonna be good.
LikeLike
Thx for the chapter o/
We finally got out different POV chapters~~
great to see that the scene we left last volume is gonna continue right after in this one~~
LikeLike
Burn them with the Flames of Purification!
Thanks?
LikeLike
Thanks for the chapter.
LikeLike
Thanks fro the chapter, well is time for Arc to create a new religion around, how should it be named???
LikeLike
Name aside, only oneesan and loli can join thy said religion xD
LikeLike
It is obvious, Paps. The name of this new religion should clearly be “Covenant of the Arc.”
~Ol’ Pervy quickly ducks to avoid the rocks thrown at him by everybody after making this horrible pun.~
LikeLike
Obviously the Church of Ponta. Donations of Nuts and berries greatly appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm…hmmm…. I see you are truly a wise one @Rick, I forgot from a minute that Arc is the apostle of the truly divine beign, Ponta the Spirit!!!!!!!!!!! @leon5721 I like the way you think.
LikeLike
Thank you for your work, my friend. It is much appreciated, or, as we Southern backwoods, inbred, rednecked hIcks would say in Spanish, “Grassyass, mi amigo. And watch out for that there lawn mower!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the prologue! 😀
LikeLike
Back to closed door again…….
Thanks for the chapter
LikeLike
An undead skeleton knight bringing down god’s angel.
How ironic.
Thanks for the chapter.
LikeLike
An Angel just descended and destroy a horde of undead and that wretched Cardinal still think to eliminate the source? Who the hell he is! A divine being just came out nowhere and he want to eliminate the source? Are you kidding me?! How far stupidity, idiotic, stubborness mind he has. Stupid, evil atheist church! He wants to wrecked by Arc! That Church belongs in the sect of HELL!
LikeLike
he is part of a religion that created a fake god pushed a doctrine to use it as a tool of mass control.
he saw an angel-like being appear, rather than thinking the god that is supposedly doesn’t exist appeared without any reason, he is thinking that somebody else is doing the same thing than the church (usurping ‘god’ to gain followers).
It’s not stupid, it’s a very rational thinking.
In my opinion, he is likely right about ‘god’. As we saw, arc can summon sort of spirits to fight, and the angel seem the strongest of the summoning, but nothing constitute a proof of the existence of god as we see it.
we don’t know how strong the cardinal is, and he doesn’t know how strong Arc is. it’s possible that even if somebody hold the power to destroy the undead army by the mean large scale magics, could still be kill in a 1v1 against the cardinal depending on how the fight unfold.
LikeLike
Nah, I don’t think anyone is capable is equal against Arc in that world in terms of magic and strength due to his character incredible high level status from the game he once played. In that battle against the dragon if he unleashed his full power he could have taken out that dragon down if only Arianne never interfered and stop Arc and the dragon battle. True Arc is not expert in martial art or sword art combat even he was convinced training with Arianne’s mother that he was lacking in that part as he used more he’s brutal strength and his large mana pool to cast all manners of mayhem magic.
In the next chapters I don’t think he would be having a hard time against a person like that.
I think only another player like him can match him.
LikeLike
you missed the point.
I am talking about his decision.
you didn’t consider his point of view over the situation, the data he has but said “How far stupidity, idiotic, stubbornness mind he has. Stupid, evil atheist church!”
you one-sidely judge him as stupid for making a decision will using as base data he doesn’t have, and you don’t even consider how powerful he is. all we know is that he is more powerful than the fat guy.
PS: reminder that without his skeleton body, Arc would have been killed by sasuke.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right my mistake missed that point, my head focused destroying that disgusting atheist religion that I missed that guy base decision. Right we don’t know yet that guy’s capabilities but I think Arc and his co is aware that Church goal and wary of their movements & its members as well so they be more careful and do not underestimating their opponents. Also true Sasuke could kill Arc if not his skeleton skin but he does have a Holy classes with high level status so no big deal if it was poison, curse or critical point even already death-like state as he can also maybe resurrect himself.
LikeLike
Sorry silver, only tanks this time
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh! i just remembered arcs angel summoning leaves him weakened by a third or two thirds, there might be a small chance he’ll break a sweat against this cardinal guy. Anyways, Thanks for the chapter!
LikeLike
Use the skill itself only cost a third of his mana pool. However the after effects of fusing with an angel has taken a toll on him
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amzaing!!!!
thanks for the chapter1
LikeLike
Thanks for the update..
LikeLike
thanks for the chapter~
LikeLike
I drunk so I said Arc destroy the Church, create new religion and become a new god ( or new pope)
LikeLike
what a shitty priest, angels descend from the heavens and he still rejects that skelle elf is god!
LikeLike
So the wicked Cardinal is coming out.
Incoming boss battle
The exhausted Arc vs The sadist Fiend
This gonna be good.
LikeLike
I’ve got a feeling people will be even more drawn to the church now that they saw an angel and will never believe it came from an elf, and thus causing the reverse effect than what he was going for.
LikeLike
i love how the hype about arc’s skill
LikeLike
Thanks for the chapter.
LikeLike
Arc, Mercenary Knight.
Appearance(1): A walking skeleton monster, humanoid in appearance. Fairly tall, measuring over two metres in length. Lacks the aura of malice that undead normally exude.
Appearance(2): A tall and muscular elf. Possesses the long ears of an elf and brown skin. Normal elves have white skin and dark elves are lilac skinned, though…
Appearance(3): A knight with shining plate armor concealing him from head to toe. Wears a cloak that looks to be cut from the night sky itself. Wields a longsword and a round shield of mythical quality.
Appearance(4): A very large person whose appearance is concealed by a hooded brown robe. I’m sure it’ll be fine to let him into town…
Alignment: Neutral Good, leaning towards Chaotic Good.
Affiliated to: The elves of the Great Canada Forest.
Motivation: Searching for a way to lift the curse that makes his body skeletal and dampens his emotions. Fighting for the sake of those close to him and for any cause he considers just.
Traits:
* Exceptional physical strength, capable of overpowering monsters known for their brute power.
* Access to a number of mysterious abilities and healing spells including limited revival magic.
* Can summon a variety of spiritual beings to fight on his behalf or even grant him overwhelming power.
* Teleportation magic.
* Disproportionately poor swordmanship (although not terrible).
* A love for cooking and gathering rare ingredients.
Allies:
* Fluffy Fox Spirit Ponta
* Dark Elf Ariane
* Cat Beastkin Chiome
* Dragon mount Shiden
* (temp) Nozan Princess Lille
Enemies:
* The Hiruku Church
* Anyone that would threaten his allies
LikeLiked by 2 people
@ ModoTheGreat:
You made one mistake in your comment. The correction is below:
Allies:
* Dark Elf Ariane
* Cat Beastkin Chiome
* Dragon mount Shiden
* (temp) Nozan Princess Lille
Arc’s MASTER:
* Fluffy Fox Spirit Ponta
LikeLike