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After consuming all causality, the Administrator disappeared, leaving behind a message entrusting the world to others.

Veronica, who had taken the Administrator into her body, blinked her eyes as soon as the Administrator vanished, quickly trying to grasp the situation. It seemed she had realized that her memories had disappeared since entering this place.

“What… happened?”

“A revelation has descended, borrowing the mouth of the Saintess.”

“Y-you mean the Lord Himself came down?”

“Yes. He said He had something to say directly.”

Uncertain of how to explain the situation accurately, he made the sign of the cross and gestured a prayer to God.

Seeing this, Veronica hastily knelt beneath the cross and began to pray.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

Though Gilbert felt a slight pang of conscience watching Veronica pray with her hands clasped, he hadn’t lied. According to the Administrator, the system was akin to a divine being, so his conversation with the Administrator was akin to a revelation.

“Lord Gilbert, did you receive the answer you were seeking?”

Veronica, having finished her prayer, cautiously rose and asked. Her eyes held a certain expectation, as if the revelation had confirmed that he had been chosen as the Hero.

Gilbert, who had received confirmation from the Administrator that he was the chosen Hero, decided to reveal this fact rather than hide it.

After all, according to the Administrator, another possessor would take on the role of the Demon King, so it was best to use every available card.

Among them, the Divine Empire was an ally that would provide unwavering support to defeat the Demon King.

Even though Gilbert was revered as a hero within the Infractus Empire and had built up his reputation, if the Demon King suddenly appeared, no one would listen to his calls to unite forces.

It had been thousands of years since the Hero and Demon King had vanished. Even if a revelation came down declaring him the Hero and warning of the Demon King’s imminent invasion, who would believe it?

This was a matter of common sense, unrelated to his influence. Even if some believed him, they likely wouldn’t take it seriously.

In the era of the Hero and Demon King, there were no Colossal Mechs. Assuming the Demon King were to revive now, in an age where Colossal Mechs dominate the battlefield, it was thought that the Demon King’s army could be easily stopped.

Of course, Gilbert didn’t think things would be that simple.

If Colossal Mechs alone could stop the Demon King’s army, the system wouldn’t have bothered to summon a Hero from another world.

Though he couldn’t get a definitive answer due to insufficient causality, he believed that as a possessor, he would understand the value of Colossal Mechs in war better than anyone.

Perhaps it was an extreme thought, but Gilbert also considered the possibility that the possessor chosen as the Demon King might be someone who had played Tactical Combat.

But more importantly, how would that guy appear?

Gilbert found it all quite headache-inducing.

One of the questions he couldn’t ask due to insufficient causality was about the Demon King itself.

While he had obtained the significant information that the Demon King was a possessor, that alone didn’t explain everything.

He was curious about why the Demon King had been summoned here and the behavioral patterns of the Demon King’s possessor.

Though he couldn’t say it to Saintess Veronica in front of him, he was also pondering whether the Demon King absolutely had to be vanquished.

The Administrator had said that for Gilbert to return as Kang Do-jun, the world needed to be normalized, and to do that, the Demon King had to be defeated.

But if, by any chance, the Demon King’s possessor was someone who had been dragged here against their will, Gilbert wondered if he could bring himself to vanquish them.

No matter how determined he was to return, sacrificing an innocent person wasn’t his way.

“So, Lord Gilbert, you are indeed the Hero.”

“It’s not certain. I haven’t received a definitive answer.”

“Lord Gilbert. Our Father always watches over us, but He doesn’t always speak to us directly. Moreover, direct revelations are something we only read about in history books now. So, the fact that a revelation has descended confirms that you are the Hero.”

Veronica’s eyes, filled with unwavering faith, shone with devotion. It almost seemed as if a bright light was pouring out from her.

Wait, that’s actual light!

Gilbert was stunned to see a warm, gentle Sacred Power light seeping out from behind the smiling Veronica.

It seemed the appearance of the Hero had stimulated her faith, as the Sacred Power that usually overflowed from her was now visibly leaking out.

“Oops, I didn’t mean to. It seems my training is still lacking.”

Veronica, noticing Gilbert’s exasperated look, quickly reined in the Sacred Power leaking from her and smiled bashfully.

It was a moment when the noble Saintess reverted to the lively girl she had been during the day.

Gilbert couldn’t help but think that this lively demeanor suited Veronica better.

“I want to hear your plans. If I am confirmed as the Hero, what does the Divine Empire intend to do?”

Gilbert’s brief moment of contentment was over as he returned to reality. Though he hadn’t yet sorted out his thoughts about the Demon King’s possessor, worrying about it now wouldn’t help.

More importantly, now that he was confirmed as the Hero, the Divine Empire’s stance had become even more crucial.

Tapping her lips in thought, Veronica let out a deep sigh.

“Nothing has been decided yet. Tentatively, we are considering you as the Hero, but confirmation is up to the Lord.”

“But there must be some direction.”

“First, we plan to focus on finding traces of the Demon King. An official proclamation about the appearance of the Hero, Saintess, and Demon King can only be made after finding evidence of the Demon King.”

“It’s a matter of credibility.”

“The Hero and Demon King are things we only saw thousands of years ago. In the current situation, declaring it would lack credibility and be seen as our propaganda.”

Gilbert thought the same. The Divine Empire’s power came from its believers and their faith.

In the days when the Demon King roamed the world, perhaps, but now the Divine Empire’s power was on the decline.

In an era where wars between humans for gain were becoming less common, fewer people were as devout as before.

This was a trend prevalent even in modern society, signaling the end of an era where religion held power.

However, the Divine Empire viewed this phenomenon positively.

They believed that humans should resolve their own stories, entrusting their judgments and endings to the Lord, indicating that the world was on the right path.

But other nations on the continent, wary of when the Divine Empire might stretch its limbs, closely monitored their every move.

Even if the Divine Empire had weakened, the threat of their excommunication authority remained significant.

Though the Divine Empire’s power had waned and Colossal Mechs had become the measure of national strength, this excommunication authority no longer held as much influence as before.

Declaring excommunication and holding a Sacred Trial wouldn’t cause nations to collapse as it once did.

However, it could still serve as a pretext for those vying for the throne.

Even if it was an old-fashioned tactic, in the political arena, such things could become sharp daggers.

For this reason, nations wanted to prevent the Divine Empire from gaining strength, so declaring the appearance of the Hero and Demon King without any prior signs would naturally be seen as propaganda.

And then, ta-da! The Saintess appears too! A Saintess who has heard a revelation! What would happen if we declared that?

Gilbert didn’t need a vivid imagination to predict the outcome.

“So, until we find traces of the Demon King, it’s status quo?”

“Yes, that seems to be the only way to avoid causing chaos on the continent and raising the vigilance of other nations.”

Gilbert nodded.

He had roughly analyzed the situation, but his mind wasn’t sharp enough to delve into the details.

He was more specialized in executing strategies rather than formulating them. Having walked through many battlefields, he could analyze to some extent, but that was about it.

For now, aligning with the Divine Empire and waiting for the right moment seemed the best course of action.

Compared to how lost he had felt before coming here, he had gained much, so there was no need to rush. Comforting himself, Gilbert looked at the deepening night and slightly rolled his stiff shoulders.

“Alright. Then, I’ll head back for today. I need to return early tomorrow.”

“That’s true. I should also prepare to follow you after meeting His Holiness the Pope.”

“Follow me?”

Gilbert, heading towards the exit to leave the prayer room, stopped. Turning to look, Veronica shrugged with a puzzled expression.

“Of course, I need to prepare to follow you, Lord Gilbert.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“What do you mean! How can I, the Saintess, not follow the Hero?”

She probably just wants to escape the Papal Palace.

Gilbert swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.

Seeing Veronica’s gleeful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

There was no legitimate reason for the Saintess to stay in the Infractus Empire, so regardless of her will, she wouldn’t be able to come.

Thinking of her disappointment upon hearing the Pope’s refusal, Gilbert left the prayer room.

Though the situation had taken an unexpected turn, he had gained a lot from this trip to the Divine Empire.

He felt satisfied enough to believe that things would go smoothly from here on out.

***

“Gil! Come back quickly. It’s a rebellion!”

The next morning, Gilbert received an urgent message from Briana.

He grumbled, never imagining that his belief in smooth sailing would turn out to be a flag.

 

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