Free Web NovelChapter 1631: Story from Within part 3
Jack was silent as he took in the words that had left Feroxxa’s mouth.
What the former soldier turned priest was suggesting was basically double treason with a dash of ideological purging.
He was working with the Sacred Flame’s offshoot and his rival in order to supplant the original, and then when all the dust had settled, he was going to overthrow them both in order to become the supreme leader of the Theocracy and then leverage that power to unify all of the different sects under a single faith.
A national-scale pogrom, as it were.
Neither Jack nor the guy in charge of him really liked this idea, but they didn’t want to show it on their faces.
If anything, they made sure to pay some lip service and made a mental note in regards to whether or not they wanted to help this guy.
That note read: fucking don’t.
[That is an...interesting vision for the future,] Jack said in an appeasing tone that went unnoticed. [But I fail to see how it would benefit us. Hell, I’m fairly certain that I don’t see a reason why you want us to help in the first place ]
Surprisingly, Feroxxa had a pretty good reason.
"It’s because everyone who has ever heard of an End Ballad tends to agree that the eras ended by those fabled warriors had more or less deserved their fate. The Great Floating Kahn, the Omninarii Empire, and the Meteoric Warlord had all been deemed criminals by the rest of the world, save the ones who worshipped them wholeheartedly. If you help me, you help to solidify my justification of ruling to not just the people of the Theocracy, but to the wider world as well."
[Ah.]
"As for more tangible benefits...it should be safe to assume that with your identity, mundane currency and subpar aether resources are beneath your notice."
[Safe assumption.]
"Which is why I’m offering you half of the new [Sacred Flame] once it has been enshrined, as well as some of the high-tier treasures and rare books within the central cathedral’s vaults."
[Beg pardon?]
Feroxxa cleared the newly made holy symbol so that he could replace it with what appeared to be a key that had a rich concentration of aether inside of it.
"In order for my vision of unity to work, I need to be the most authoritative voice in the room. I cannot be that voice if the New Flame decides to choose someone else to be its speaker. That is, unless the flame is weakened to the point where I can safely assume the role," Feroxxa explained. "I cannot simply weaken it, and so I offer half of its power to you and your master."
[Interesting...]
At this moment, Jack and his master were now actually considering Feroxxa’s words. Not so much to the point of actually helping him achieve his goal, but just enough to secure the bag...and then viciously stab him in the face.
Maybe.
That or they just forget about this motherfucker wholesale and figure out something else.
Regardless, now that they had his number, it was time to get while the getting was good.
[I hope you understand that if you do make this deal, I may ask more than what you’re offering,] Jack said with a tonea tone suggesting that he was more than what he appeared. [Doesn’t your faith preach against the offerings of devils?
At this question, Feroxxa let out a snort before giving his answer. frёeωebɳovel.com
"There are just as many faiths that believe in making such deals on the regular."
[Ha! That makes sense.]
After this short exchange, Jack proceeded to get off of his ass and make his way to the door.
[All the same, I would rather you honestly think about this choice. Wouldn’t want you to get...buyer’s remorse.]
"I suppose that’s—wait a minute!"
Feroxxa got off of his seat and made moves to stop Jack from leaving the room. In his head, this guy was about to walk into the hallway and expose himself for all to see.
That sentiment, however, died the moment Jack disappeared as he walked through the door.
"What the fuck?"
Curious as to how this was the case, Feroxxa walked up to his own doorway and stuck a hand through. Unfortunately, nothing happened.
"What in the name of...wait."
In that same moment, he also felt that he didn’t have to curse as much anymore...and that he also didn’t have to be as honest.
"I just told some spring-limbed demon some of my deepest and darkest desires...fuck."
...What do Zhen Liu and the Kaijin think?...
’Was it just me or was that guy kind of...grody?’
[I mean...yeah,] Springerdermain admitted to his creator and the others. [Then again, declaring your intent to purge people is never a good thing to declare with your whole chest.]
[I wouldn’t be surprised if that holy symbol he cooked up gets conflated with a hate group ideology...worst,] Razorstella added. [Then again, we live in a world where that is a legitimate pathway to power...]
[Gross,] Screamira said.
’Anyways, Blazejudicator, is Hulna ready for his interview?’
[I’m ready for my entrance...now.]
...Now to Mister Free Love...
’Ah...another successful ritual...’ Hulna thought to himself in a dreamy manner as he began to gather all of the soiled articles in his church.
Ever since that discussion with his benefactor and his...unwilling ally... Hulna had been taking a keener interest in reinforcing his own power.
Which meant that the intensity of the weekly gathering had to be amped up a bit with more tools and medicines than before and a couple of choice pieces of literature.
Needless to say, this meant that the desire floating in the air was...much thicker than previous times.
’And now it’s time to burn it all up,’ Hulna thought with a giddy expression.
With a snap of his fingers, Hulna summoned a small mote of aether flame and threw it at the pile of soiled items that he had lovingly doused in holy oil.
The effect was immediate as the pile went up in flames and white smoke absolutely loaded with [Desire] began to fill the air.
Hulna was more or less ready to begin absorb the loose smoke, but stopped when he sensed that something was off about the burning this time around.
To be more specific he could not only sense the energetic presence of another being in the same room as him at this time, but he could also see that the smoke had somehow stopped moving altogether. It was as if it was being held back.
The answer as to why this was the case soon became clear in a matter of moments.
[You know, if your goal is to gain the power hidden in Desire, there are other ways of doing that,] an androgynous voice echoed throughout the room.
"What the flaming fuck?!" Hulna screamed in alarm. "Wait, why did I just curse? I never curse!"
[That’s because of me.]
Rising from the bonfire of burning garments, soiled books, and empty bottles, arose a being made of flame and dressed in the robes of a high judge.
Hulna couldn’t make out the being’s facial features, but they felt as if they were both ugly and beautiful at the same time.
[My name is...Ember. I am being who is the embodiment of the flames of Vice and Virtue. I am here to—]
"Oh, I knew it, I knew it!" Hulna suddenly cried as he threw himself to the ground, ripping his clothes at same time for some fucking reason.
"You’re here to punish me for my sins! You’re here to burn me for indulging in the sexual emissions of others and turning their deep desires into my own power! Woe is me! Woe is me!"
[Uhh...]
"If you’re going to burn me for my sinful ways, please spare my congregation! They do not deserve such harsh punishments!"
On paper, Hulna’s words sound altruistic and overall like a man fully devoted to his faith and flock.
The way he delivered those words, though, made him sound like a massive pervert.
Evidently, this was so jarring that Blazejudicator couldn’t help but to mutter a single phrase.
[What the fuck...]
...To reiterate: what the fuck...
’I feel like I shouldn’t be surprised Mister Free Love is the...weirdest of the bunch. But I figured he was one of those closet perverts who are actually surprisingly in control of their freak behind closed doors.’
[To be fair, we did watch him essentially snort the effluvia of...multiple religious gatherings,] Porcelain Doll charitably put it. [I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if something in his brain got a little messed up with the smell.]
’Fair enough.’
[Wait...when did you learn the word, "effluvia"?] Corpse Doll asked her twin. [What does that even mean?]
[I...huh. I don’t know how I learned it,] Porcelain Doll answered. [But I do know that effluvia refers to the smell that’s produced from decaying or burnt organic matter...I think.]
[Huh...wait...do I have effluvia?!] Corpse Doll asked.
[I don’t think so...]
