First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 51

 

Ordo put his hand back into the crack.

 

The hand that emerged held two objects.

 

One bracelet and one ring.

 

‘Those are also holy relics.’

 

Originally, holy relics were never common items.

 

However, unlike the superior items crafted directly by deities, lower-grade holy relics made through priests’ consecration could be obtained without much difficulty if one tried.

 

That bracelet and ring were also lower-grade holy relics.

 

Just like the Trickster’s pendant, they contained only trace amounts of divine power, so little that it was impossible to tell which deity’s relics they were.

 

Swish.

 

Ordo placed the bracelet and ring at each end of the coffin respectively.

 

Whatever magic he cast, the holy relics floated in mid-air without any special measures.

 

“Behold.”

 

Whoooosh—

 

Like smoke rising from firewood, divine power escaped from the bracelet and ring and was absorbed into the coffin.

 

I could see why he had boasted about showing me something amazing.

 

Even seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it.

 

An artifact that absorbs divine power.

 

Thud.

 

The ordinary bracelet and ring, which could no longer be called holy relics, fell to the ground.

 

The artifact that had greedily devoured the divine power still floated in the air as if nothing had happened.

 

‘What happens to the absorbed divine power?’

 

I observed the artifact while even activating my Insight.

 

No presence of divine power could be felt inside the cube.

 

It had disappeared as if it had completely evaporated.

 

A hollow laugh naturally escaped from my mouth.

 

“Ha.”

 

Now I think I know.

 

I have no choice but to know.

 

What their purpose is.

 

What they intended to use the collected holy relics for.

 

“…You bastards, you’re trying to bring down the ‘Wall.'”

 

The Wall made from the divine power of Esnia, the Star Deity.

 

They intended to absorb the divine power contained in the Wall and connect the Demon Realm and Intermediate Realm through the Void Snowfield.

 

‘To eliminate divine power with this artifact, they need to absorb an equal amount of divine power into the opposite coffin.’

 

Place the Wall of the Void Tundra on one side of the coffin.

 

Place the holy relics they’ve collected so far on the other side, then activate the artifact.

 

Then the divine power contained in the Wall would be eliminated, and the Wall, now just an empty shell that’s merely tall and thick, would no longer be able to divide the Intermediate Realm and Demon Realm.

 

“Correct.”

 

Ordo readily admitted it.

 

My Insight was still active, so his words were undoubtedly the truth.

 

‘Crazy bastards.’

 

The scale was beyond imagination, and a dizzy sensation hit me like being struck in the head with a hammer.

 

‘They’re trying to completely destroy this world.’

 

The Intermediate Realm and Demon Realm.

 

The balance of power between the two worlds was so skewed that comparison wasn’t even possible.

 

If the Intermediate Realm and Demon Realm were connected, and the species from the Demon Realm came flooding into this world like a tide.

 

‘It would be over without question.’

 

The entire world would burn to ashes without even putting up decent resistance.

 

No matter how strong those bastards called the Top 10 Strongest of the Continent were.

 

There was no way they could stop the Demon Lords advancing in earnest.

 

It was also impossible that the neutral deities would protect the Intermediate Realm while opposing the Demon Lords.

 

“Yeah, thanks for telling me. Thanks to you, I’m saved. Seriously.”

 

This must be stopped.

 

Of course, I’d have to cross over to the Demon Realm someday, but not now.

 

I haven’t fully regained my power yet.

 

Judging by how the Demon Cult, which had been lurking in the shadows, took risks to surface, their plan must already be significantly advanced.

 

If the connection to the Demon Realm happened while I wasn’t prepared, it would be the end.

 

‘There’s no time to dawdle.’

 

I need to accelerate the subjugation of the Demon Cult.

 

Much more diligently than now.

 

“Now for the second question.”

 

I spoke in a much more relaxed tone.

 

Perhaps thinking he could live if he just answered this question, hope filled Ordo’s eyes.

 

“Tell me everything about the remaining Demon Cults, excluding your sect.”

 

Originally, the Pluton Sect also had information about the other Demon Cults.

 

In fact, the reason I could know about Zagan Sect’s movements was because I was aware they were disguised as a trading company.

 

However, the Pluton Sect hadn’t communicated with other sects at all for 17 years.

 

Outdated information means inaccurate information.

 

Underground forces usually change their residences and disguised identities periodically.

 

‘Zagan Sect was a special case.’

 

A trading company that had grown unnecessarily large when they had no intention of succeeding.

 

The massive income flowing from it.

 

It wouldn’t have been easy to cut off these benefits overnight.

 

They chose to continue their trading company activities by force, and eventually got caught like this.

 

However, not all the remaining sects would be like Zagan Sect.

 

“The remaining Demon Cults… I’m sorry to say, but we know absolutely nothing about Nevilos, Aderzhen, and the Pluton Sect.”

 

“Don’t worry. I know that too.”

 

Nevilos and Aderzhen also stopped attending Demon Cult gatherings at some point.

 

I recalled the information I heard from Baal’s Bishop Caluto four years ago.

 

“Th-thank you for understanding. Then I’ll start with the Vergil Sect.”

 

Ordo continued speaking, stuttering slightly as if nervous.

 

Excluding the three mentioned earlier and Zagan Sect themselves, four Demon Cults remained.

 

Ordo spilled everything about which regions they were currently active in.

 

The First Throne, Vergil Sect was in the Western Alliance.

 

The Second Throne, Lucifer Sect was in the Southern Great Forest.

 

The Third Throne, Baal Sect was in the Argent Empire.

 

The Sixth Throne, Asmodeus Sect was in the Holy Kingdom of Esnia.

 

Besides regions, I could hear several other peculiarities.

 

Unfortunately, he didn’t know their exact disguised identities in detail.

 

Except for one.

 

Except for the Baal Sect.

 

“We had much exchange with the Baal Sect since our activity regions overlapped. I know well where Baal’s Pope currently is.”

 

“Where is that?”

 

Ordo gulped.

 

“Millennium Academy.”

 

There it is again. Millennium Academy.

 

I’ve been hearing it quite frequently lately, so was this destined to happen?

 

I clicked my tongue.

 

“An academy. What the hell did they crawl into an educational institution for snot-nosed brats for?”

 

“He said he was looking for something. I don’t know what it was though….”

 

Looking for something?

 

“Hmm.”

 

I couldn’t think of anything that came to mind right away.

 

I guess I have no choice but to go and check it out myself.

 

“You don’t know if it’s a student or professor?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Well, anyway, thank you so much. You’ve been a great help. You’re the best among all the Demon Cult bastards I’ve met so far.”

 

“Then…!”

 

A bright smile spread across Ordo’s face.

 

I could tell what he was expecting without him saying it, but unfortunately I had no intention of fulfilling his expectations.

 

“As a reward, I’ll kill you with as little pain as possible.”

 

“What, what did you say?!”

 

Ordo flailed around with his remaining arm and went berserk.

 

“This is different from what you promised! You clearly said you’d spare me if I answered just two questions faithfully…!”

 

“Oh, that?”

 

I sneered and crossed my arms.

 

“I clearly said I might not be unable to spare you, but I don’t remember saying I would definitely spare you.”

 

“That’s such sophistry!”

 

“The one who got fooled is the idiot.”

 

Hehehe.

 

I spread my palm and aimed at his face.

 

Sparks flew as the hellfire blazed up.

 

His body, already mostly burned with only parts remaining, was buried in flames and disappeared.

 

Finally, even his face was engulfed in fire, with only his burning features floating like black holes.

 

“You fucking bastaaaard!”

 

Whoooosh.

 

With a death cry, Zagan’s agent Ordo Pereira scattered into ash.

 

* * *

 

“That’s all the story I heard.”

 

“….”

 

No one dared to speak rashly.

 

The story I had just told must have been that shocking.

 

The plan to break down the walls of the Void Snowfield and connect the Intermediate Realm and Demon Realm.

 

Everyone must have felt chills down their spines at the premonition that this absurd goal might actually be achievable.

 

“Hahaha!”

 

It didn’t take long for me to realize that was my misconception.

 

“That sounds good! It needs to be on this scale to be worth fighting!”

 

Diago grinned, showing his teeth that looked even whiter against his bronze skin.

 

Kise shook his head and scolded him.

 

“Aren’t you being too optimistic? The world might be destroyed if we mess up.”

 

“That’s not my problem. I don’t care if this world gets destroyed or not. Even if the world ends tomorrow, as long as I live happily today, that’s enough.”

 

“What a crazy bastard.”

 

Right.

 

That was Diago’s personality.

 

Always optimistic, without worries or concerns.

 

Rather, it was Kise who worried too much.

 

“Every time I went to Demon Cult gatherings before, I noticed there was a reason why bastards who do things others don’t do. They all seemed to have a screw loose in their heads.”

 

Kise harshly criticized the priests of other sects.

 

“I was always anxious not knowing what schemes they might be plotting behind the scenes, but I never dreamed they were preparing such a major disaster.”

 

“It’s fortunate we found out now.”

 

Merry continued with a resolute expression.

 

“Our goal hasn’t changed. Nothing has changed since we resolved to fulfill His Majesty’s dream together four years ago. The complete annihilation of all Demon Cults. We’ve just added one more justification for why we must achieve that goal.”

 

Moonlight passing through the stained glass descended into the sanctuary, displaying brilliant colors.

 

I feel grateful all over again.

 

These guys don’t even know my real identity, yet they support me so fervently just because I’m the next Pope.

 

However, whether this is loyalty purely for me.

 

Or loyalty for Nicolaus who appointed me as the next Pope.

 

Even after spending four years together, I still can’t figure it out.

 

Despite living together day by day, there seemed to be a transparent wall between them and me.

 

A wall that’s invisible but can never be crossed.

 

‘I… know nothing about these guys.’

 

Despite having overwhelming skills enough to slaughter Zagan’s followers without difficulty, why did they devote themselves to the Demon Cult that’s rejected by society.

 

What kind of life did they live before joining the Pluton Sect.

 

I didn’t know a single thing properly.

 

At most, I had only briefly heard that Merry used to work as a mercenary.

 

‘This is a bit troubling.’

 

I had definitely resolved.

 

Not to treat subordinates as disposable chess pieces like Vergil did.

 

If I don’t think of these guys as mere tools for revenge.

 

If I think of them as comrades and subordinates I work with.

 

I needed to know much more about them than I do now.

 

‘If it’s burdensome for them to speak first, I’ll approach them.’

 

Only then could we understand each other more deeply.

 

Even if it was a relationship formed by chance, I believe our meeting was inevitable.

 

“I can see exactly what you’re thinking right now, Lord Cael.”

 

Deront smiled brightly and playfully stuck out his tongue.

 

Deront, whose specialty was future foresight, occasionally displayed sharp intuition as if he could hear others’ inner thoughts.

 

“You’ve really changed a lot from before. Well, I think it’s a positive change. It would be nice if you paid a little more attention to me too.”

 

“Bullshit. Want to see what happens when I really pay attention to you?”

 

“Ah, no. I’ll pass.”

 

Deront politely waved his hands.

 

He seemed to recall the terrible attention I had shown him when we first met.

 

“Have you decided on the next target?”

 

Nicolaus asked me with good timing.

 

I was just about to explain the next plan anyway.

 

“While interrogating Ordo Pereira, who was Zagan’s agent this time, I learned a lot about the whereabouts of other Demon Cults.”

 

However, it was all fragmentary information, and there was only one place I heard about specifically.

 

“Baal’s agent is at Millennium Academy.”

 

Along with killing Ordo, this was practically the biggest gain from this mission.

 

From the moment I learned this fact, my choice was already decided.

 

“We’re going to Millennium Academy.”

 

The next target is Baal.

 

It’s you.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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