Volume 9 Chapter 59 Day Three (Death of a Hound, Birth of a God)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Mafat-sama, the First Emperor’s army has reached the church.”
”I see. Then I must give my greetings. Who represents them?”
”It is none other than his Holy Corpse General, Raphastia-sama.”
”Oh… so the last emperor of the Quvar Empire himself has come.”
With Priest Korn beside him, Mafat passed through secret corridors and hidden doors.
By Livia’s command, he had sent signals to open the west gate for the First Emperor’s forces. Hours had passed since.
Raphastia, the Last Emperor of Quvar.
The First Emperor of the Quvarian Empire.
To serve heroes whose names would echo through history—Mafat’s body thrilled with a heady rush of pleasure.
”Korn, when I serve the First Emperor, you will represent the church.”
”Me…?”
”Yes. I value your loyalty.”
Mafat was not content with his place in McGaref’s council.
A man of his caliber, he thought, should seize the entire church of Quvar, proclaim himself pope-emperor, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Berguhan Theocracy—one of the Four Great Nations.
So the title of church representative in McGaref meant little to him.
”After all, I am chosen by the god Livia. That girl Rira is a nuisance, but no matter.”
”By the way, the girl Shion is being held captive.”
”Good. Later, I shall test her loyalty to God with her womb.”
”…She appears to be pregnant.”
”No matter. If her devotion is true, she will not miscarry.”
Smiling, Mafat walked on, certain each step led him to power.
Shion, Natalie, Rusty—he would break and use them all.
For who was closer to God than he?
”Perhaps pope-emperor is too small for me. No, what befits me is succession as the next god. For I am chosen by Livia-sama.”
Mafat and Korn reached the reception hall.
There, a skeletal-faced man admired a painting, clad in gleaming gold armor that radiated nobility.
Mafat hid his sly smile, bowing low.
”You must be Raphastia-sama. My name is Mafat, loyal to Livia-sama, and devoted to serve beneath the First Emperor.”
”I am Raphastia. Now—die.”
Steel flashed.
Heat tore through Mafat’s neck.
Before he could speak, darkness swallowed him… and when he awoke, Raphastia’s face greeted him again.
”So you revive. Kill him again. To call yourself Livia’s servant—insolent fool.”
Once more, fire ripped through his flesh.
Without ever learning his folly, Mafat died—and this time, did not return.
”Trash must be purged. Now, back to the west gate.”
”R-Raphastia-sama, I…”
”Korn, was it?”
”Yes, that is me.”
”You may be caught in Cartera’s slaughter. But I will not slay a loyal subject. Do as you please.”
Raphastia departed.
Korn looked upon the ghosts who had taken the church. “Do as you please,” he had been told.
Guided by his conscience, Korn set off.
*
First, Korn freed a noble courtesan Mafat had abused.
Bruises marked her throat, but no grave injury.
He healed her, then descended hidden stairs into the underground cells.
There was Nagasaka Shion, kidnapped by Yoshizaki Rira and imprisoned in the church.
”Hello, Shion. I came to set you free.”
”Oh… you would release me, Korn-san.”
After half a day of captivity, Shion exhaled in relief as the lock opened, her hand on her stomach, feeling her bond with Ginga.
”He told me to do as I wished. You’ve suffered, Shion.”
”I heard the cause of the uproar. Strange that you’re calm, with your superior killed.”
”I serve God. And with divinity so near to miracle, I must respect you.”
This was not their first meeting.
As a user of healing magic capable of resurrection through ritual devices, Shion had worked alongside the church.
”God, huh. My classmate is controlled by one. Seems the gods here are cruel.”
”Yes. I no longer know which god to serve.”
”You’re honest.”
”I was raised to believe honesty is a virtue.”
Unlike Mafat, who gained his post by bloodline, Korn had risen through faith and service.
His devotion had held the church together, immune to Livia’s poison.
But in McGaref’s chaos, he too felt emptiness.
Together, they ascended back into the church.
”Your friend with the Divine Oracle Skill… Rira-san, wasn’t it? You’ll seek her?”
”Yes. I can’t leave her. I must punish her—for losing to a god.”
”Punish…?”
”Yes. She must be scolded for giving in.”
Shion smoothed her violet hair, touching her stomach again.
”Even after this, you’ll seek her?”
”Yes. I’m persistent.”
”Then I’ll join you.”
Korn smiled gently, taking his hat.
Speaking to the commander of the ghostly troops Raphastia left, he bowed, then turned back to Shion.
”With divinity like hers, her location is clear to me. To me, it is like finding the full moon in the night sky.”
And so they went together.
Korn quickly found Rira.
She knelt in blood, beside the corpses of Yawashi Jiro and Takada Honoka, sobbing.
”Please… kill me! I can’t die on my own… someone, kill me!”
”Rira.”
”Ah… Shion, you’re alive. I’m glad. Sorry for abducting you…”
”Did you kill them?”
”Mido-kun too… please, Shion. You can do it without hesitation, right? I don’t want to kill anymore…”
Rira’s desperate face begged for death.
Shion, expressionless, nodded, took up a dagger, and cut her exposed throat in one stroke.
”Now we’re even. I forgive you.”
”Thanks… thank you, Shion…”
Her body fell.
Shion, splattered in blood, turned to Korn.
”I’ll perform Resurrection Magic. You’ll help me.”
”Yes… but with so many souls here, there’s no guarantee. And her soul…”
Korn remembered Shion’s rare Skill, Magic Power Circulation, which made resurrection far more certain.
Without pause, Shion pressed her lips to Rira’s, blending their magic.
Livia’s poison could not reach her solitary heart.
”Ugh, terrible taste. Like poison. But I’m fine. Sorry, Ginga-kun… kissing another man, but it’s just medical work, forgive me.”
She did the same with the other three corpses, sharing their magic.
”Come, Korn-san. We don’t have time. Within twenty-four hours we must raise all four. I know the ritual device is precious, but my people are more precious.”
Thus, Shion and Korn secluded themselves in the church.
They worked ceaselessly, until the war’s end on the fourth day.
And the first to rise—Rira.
By Rusty’s last will, she descended anew, not as human… but as a god.
Notes:
• Raphastia – A once-renowned general who now serves the First Emperor in the underworld army. He is referred to as a ‘Holy Corpse,’ indicating his undead state. Raphastia retains his self-awareness and will, which is unusual for the undead, and his loyalty to the Emperor remains unwavering. He is described as having a raspy voice and is one of the key figures in the Emperor’s command post. First appearance in v9c8.
• Priest Korn – Humble cleric of McGaref who stepped in to manage the church’s duties after Councilor Mafat’s disappearance. Loyal to the city and respected despite lacking political cunning, he stabilized resurrection rites during the siege. First appears v9c30. Reminder: Steady priest who filled the void when betrayal left chaos.
• Livia – 8th-ranked imperial witch, heir of Cartera and friend of Lilus (Neige’s sister), whose death drove her to hate Quvar. Austere, sharp, and feared, she opposed the Ghost Army and toppled Emperor by using then betraying Gritch, secretly backing Princess Sheryl. First appears v9c3. Reminder: Brilliant witch who twists loyalties to save the world.
• Quvarian Empire – Ruling kingdom. Harsh world, restricted freedom.
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Rira – A classmate and one of Takumi-kun’s harem members. She has J-cup breasts and short black hair, which she plans to dye blue. Rira enjoys playful and creative expressions of intimacy, including cosplay and affectionate physical affection. Rira is also known for her ‘Intuition’ skill, which has been evolving into something more advanced. She is a key figure in Takumi-kun’s life, offering both emotional and physical support. First appearance in v1c15.
• Shion – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• Natalie – A famous courtesan and former noblewoman; platinum blonde, busty, and elegant; known as Natalie Barklem, daughter of the Duke of Lesta Kingdom.
• Rusty – Golden-haired elf courtesan of McGaref’s Night Butterfly, famed for beauty and skill-reading. Becomes Takumi’s lover, quits brothel, joins harem under slave bond. First appears v1c36. Reminder: Sultry elf who chose devotion over luxury.
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Nagasaka – Has the ‘Magical Power Transfer’ skill; her skill also increases libido.
• Takada Honoka – 5th Army. Identifies edible herbs, works with Yawashi.
• Mido-kun – 4th Army leader. Optimistic, cooperative.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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