Chapter 273: Myths & Legends

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• Adventurer GrimV

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Octus 15, 3023 A.M., day of Sunar, 12:06 p.m.

Vivian was inside her office. She sat behind her desk with her Inquisitor Full-mask on while her White Cloak was hanging on the side. Her elbows were resting on top of her desk and her hands hands were clasping in front of her face.

No one has come…

Am I really safe…?

It's been almost a week since Vivian went out to level up her Physical and Magic Arts. She has done nothing but perform her duties as a proper residence Inquisitor of the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint -- she didn't step out of the border checkpoint, she didn't force any of the Guards to train, she didn't train to preserve her mana in case something happens, and lastly, she didn't start any fights with anyone.

We didn't even receive any reports about that barracks that I destroyed…

However…

She turned towards the windows. Light rain fell from the sky and tiny droplets stuck on the glass.

I'm sure they're still Priests, Knights -- and perhaps also Guards if they're that desperate -- patrolling around the Great Plains of Stanza…

Her eyes turned to slits behind her Inquisitor half-mask.

Aside from her half-mask, she wore her usual black and fitting backless turtleneck short dress which was partnered with a pair of brown gloves, a brown belt, black fishnet stockings, and another pair of brown long boots. And for her cloak, she hung it on the side because she didn't want to sit on it and get it creased.

I gained so much…

But also attracted so much attention…

First time was at Luxen City -- overhunting…

Second time was that Sarcoise Colony…

Perhaps I can also count the Mobius Mountains incident…?

Will it always be like this…?

She shook her head.

Either way, this time is no different…

She pressed her hands on the forehead of her mask.

I really need to find a safer way to travel…

The only thing I could think of is to learn the High-Tier or final skill of the [Savage Mastery]…

[Primordial Beast]…

But [Savage Mastery] doesn't have an attack skill…

It only has [Blood Drinker] and [Primordial Beast]…

And plus, to gain experience with [Savage Mastery], there are only two ways…

Tear my enemy apart…

Or spam [Blood Drinker] on myself…

She let out a sigh.

What am I going to do…?

I'm still around 450 points…

I need at least 600 points if I want to make sure that I can kill Light Saints, Cardinals, Kings, Dukes, Marquesses and Counts…

Even if they decide to gang up on me with their Lore Magic…

And that is assuming that the Light Saints and Kings only have 5 Magic Art Affinities…

I will need 700 points to really make sure…

And this is just for the human world…

The image of the enormous snake flashed inside her head.

The demon, demon-kin and monster worlds…

I really have no idea…

She let out another sigh.

So many problems…

God, I really miss those times when I was just hunting in the forest outside of Luxen City just so I could afford food, lodging and clothes…

Those were truly peaceful and simpler times…

Knock, knock.

She turned her attention to the knock on the door.

"Come in."

Ka-cha!

The door opened and Anthony stepped inside before making his way in front of Vivian's desk and saluting.

"Sister Inquisitor Monad! I'm here as you ordered!"

Vivian nodded.

"At ease, Brother Lieutenant. Thank you for coming during your rest period. I hope I'm not bothering you," she said and smiled.

"Not at all, Sister Inquisitor," he said and smiled as well.

In this world, people only eat during breakfast and dinner. And as for lunch, although there was a lunch break, that didn't mean it was eating. Some would eat, others would sleep or do whatever they want.

Vivian gestured to one of the seats in front of the desk.

"Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, Sister Inquisitor," he said and then sat down.

"I believe Brother High Lieutenant Lennon already mentioned to you why I wanted to

see you?"

"Yes, he told me that you wish to know about legends."

Vivian nodded once more.

"That is correct. Do you know anything about giant snakes?"

"Giant snakes? Which one? If it's the land type, then maybe something like Ekans?"

Vivian shook her head.

"No. What I want to know is about truly giant or enormous snakes that could reach up to 100 meters."

A puzzled look flashed on Anthony's face.

"100 meters?"

"Perhaps even more than that. Do you know any?"

Vivian tried searching for files inside her office and also at the shared office but couldn't find any. She thought about sending a letter to Pen to ask him about it. But since she wanted to keep a very low profile at the moment, she quickly tossed the idea.

Anthony's brows knitted together and he stared at the floor.

"100 meters… 100 meters…" he mumbled and then returned his gaze to Vivian. "Is it a land, sea or air type?"

"Any will do," Vivian said with a smile.

"I know a few. But they're just legends, myths or stories I've read and heard as a child."

"That's fine."

"Okay, well, there is a legend popular among sailors or anyone that lives by the sea about a great sea serpent that lives in the deepest depths of the oceans.

"In the Holy and Orion Kingdom, they call it the Great Serpent or World Sea Serpent.

"In the Azatea Kingdom, they call it Mangeur de Terre.

"In the Twin Kingdom, they call it… I think it was Great Serpent too or World Serpent? I can't remember anymore because I was only a kid when I read it.

"In the Heisen Kingdom, some call it Musaeid while others call it Mangeur de Terre, just like the Azatea Kingdom.

"And in the Marbleam Kingdom, they also have it. But I can't remember the name. You can ask Sister Jua-- I mean, Sister High Sergeant Juana.

"The Iron Kingdom also has a legend of a giant snake. However, instead of one that only lives in the sea, theirs live anywhere -- land, air, sea, mountains, even in the world that the Elemental Gods live. They call it many names -- Schlangengott, Weltenfresser, Gottskind, Great World Serpent, Serpent of the Gods, The Devourer of Worlds and many more.

"As a matter of fact, according to the history of the creation of the Iron Kingdom, the founder was supposedly looking for precious metals to mine in the Iron Mountains when he stumbled upon a cave and that's when met the giant serpent, Schlangengott. He was then given a Lore Magic called [Schlangenkind] which is the Lore Magic of the Iron Kingdom's Royal Family.

"They also say that he's one of the handful of humans in recorded history who has encountered a Greater Demon and survived it.

"Unfortunately, that's the only thing I know. But if you're interested, you can ask Knight Trevin or some of the Guards who are from the Iron Kingdom."

Vivian nodded.

"I see," she said and paused for a moment. "Just out of curiosity, Brother Lieutenant, are there monsters in this world that can talk?"

"Monsters that can talk?" Anthony said and then thought about it for a moment. "I don't know if such monsters exist. Perhaps if it’s a Lore Monster? Also, they also said that the Royal Family of the Grahm Empire are supposedly descendants of a marriage between a human and a Dragon."

Vivian brows knitted behind her half-mask.

"Hold on, did you say Dragon? Not Draghorn?"

Anthony nodded.

"It's uncommon for people, especially the ones not from the Grahm Empire, to mix up those two words.

"Dragons are supposedly powerful and intelligent giant serpents with wings similar to the [Primordial Beast] Physical Art transformation skill of the [Savage Mastery], their bodies covered in scales, and they could wield the power of the Elemental Gods -- Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, etc.

"I don't know when exactly they first appeared in this world. But from what I read from books, they existed before the Age of Magic.

"The founder of the Grahm Empire, Gra'hm, supposedly married a female Fire Dragon and their child was the first Dragostei -- a being who looks like a Dragon but in humanoid form and they can also transform into a Dragon.

"Unfortunately, after a few or couple of millennias of inter-marrying, the appearance of Dragosteis has become no different from humans. Though they can still transform into a Dragon, only a handful can actually do it.

"And if you're wondering if there are still Dragons left in this world, they say that the last Dragon, an Earth Dragon named Zem'lja, died around 433 A.M. during a battle with a Greater Demon from the Demon World."

"Then what about the Draghorns? What's their connection to all this?" Vivian asked.

Anthony shook his head.

"I’m not sure. Some claim that they're a different species of Dragon but from a different branch. Others claim that they're actually Dragons but they have regressed after a few or couple of millenias.

"In fact, they say that Draghorns used to grow up to 10 meters long while Dragons were 20 meters. Now, Draghorns can only grow up to 5 meters."

"Then what about the Dragosteis?" Vivian asked.

"You mean their Dragon form? I've never personally seen any of the Royalty and Aristocratic Nobles of the Grahm Empire transform into one so I can't say if this is true, but they say that it's 15 meters long."

"I see."

***

12:34 p.m.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Vivian said.

Ka-cha!

The door opened and Trevin entered. He went in front of Vivian's desk and then saluted.

"Priestess Inquisitor Monad! I'm here as you ordered!"

"At ease, Knight Trevin. Thank you for coming. I hope I didn't bother you," Vivian said and smiled.

"Not at all, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

"Priestess Inquisitor will do," she said and then gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. "Please, take a seat."

"Thank you, Priestess Inquisitor," he said and then sat down.

"I believe Brother Lieutenant Anthony already informed you why I wanted to see you?"

Trevin nodded.

"Yes, Priestess Inquisitor. You wish to know about the God Patron of the Iron Kingdom, Schlangengott."

"That is correct. Please tell me about it."

"Do I also have to mention about the politics surrounding it?"

Vivian's brows raised an eyebrow behind her half-mask.

"There's politics surrounding it?"

Trevin let out an awkward smile.

"There is this kind of like a religion-politics surrounding Schlangengott, but I only know little about it. I don't really pay that much attention about politics. And plus, I'm still a fresh no-rank Knight with a commoner background. I doubt if I could even provide an accurate assessment."

"That's fine. Just give me an overview of what you know."

Trevin wiped off the awkward smile on his face and nodded.

"Yes, Priestess Inquisitor.

"According to the legends, in 222 A.M., before King Dank'rad became a king, he used to be a small-time miner merchant living and operating in a small mining village which is now known as Iron City.

"One day, he hired a group of people to accompany him in the Iron Mountains to mine for precious metals. And according to one of the stories -- because there are different versions but I'm only going to tell you the one I'm familiar with the most -- they entered an enormous cavern that could swallow 50 castles and its walls, floors and ceiling were filled with so many precious metals. And in the middle of the cavern, there was an enormous giant snake that could swallow up to 10 castles and had scales with the color of different gemstones that shimmered like a rainbow.

"The enormous snake introduced itself as Schlangengott and then blessed Dank'rad with a Lore Magic called [Schlangenkind] which allows him and his descendants to transform into giant snakes that could swallow a castle.

"And because of the Lore Magic that Dank'rad received, not only did he become a king but religions also started to form around him. And depending on who you ask, some view him and his descendants as gods while others view Schlangengott as a god and then view Dank'rad and his descendants as the messengers or chosen ones of Schlangengott.

"Even after the Iron Kingdom was conquered by the Twin Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom in 1768 A.M., although those religions have greatly diminished, there are some people outside the Royal and Aristocratic Noble families who still view the Royal Family as Gods, descendants of Gods or messenger of Gods.

"That's all I know, Priestess Inquisitor."

Vivian nodded.

"How about you? Do you consider Dank'rad and his descendants as Gods or whichever of the religions you mentioned?"

She noticed a hesitation on Trevin's face.

"You don't have to worry about anything. I swear to the God of Light that this conversation will only be between you and me."

Trevin thought about it for a moment before answering.

"To tell you the truth, I really don't care. I'm a no-rank Knight, a commoner and I only have 2 Magic Art Affinities so it's not like my opinion and presence would even matter. As long as I got coins in my pocket, food to eat and a roof over my head to sleep in, I'm satisfied."

"I see," Vivian said and mused for a moment. "How do you feel about your home kingdom being ruled by foreign kingdoms?"

"I still feel the same way," he said and then continued. "But if there is anything nice about being ruled by foreign kingdoms, I would say that we have the backing of the Holy Kingdom. We, from the Iron Knights Chapter, get to be healed, cured and resurrected for free during duty and half the price outside of duty. Our families also get the same benefit -- the half of the price."

"So the commoners are in favor of being ruled by the Holy Kingdom? What about the Aristocratic Nobles? For the Royal Family, I like to assume they're not?"

Trevin shook his head.

"That I don't know, Priestess Inquisitor. All I know is that there are three factions within the Iron Kingdom -- those who believe that the Royal Family are Gods or messengers of Schlangengott, those who believe in the Twin Kingdom, and those who believe in the Holy Kingdom.

"And if you ask me which faction the Aristocratic Noble families support, I don't know. I don't even know where the Royal Family stands."

Vivian nodded.

"I see. This snake called Schlangengott, do you know its origin, background or whatever?"

Trevin shook his head once again.

"I'm sorry, Priestess Inquisitor, but all I know are legends.

"If you ask the believers, some would say Schlangengott existed since the beginning of time and is one of the Gods. Meanwhile, others would say he or she is the creator of this world.

"On the other hand, if you ask the non-believers, some would say he or she doesn't exist while others would say he or she is just an ancient monster with [Lore Magic].

"There is also a group who believes that Schlangengott was assigned by the Elemental Gods to be the guardian or caretaker of this world."

Vivian's brows knitted together behind her mask.

"Hold on. There are others saying that Schlangengott doesn't exists? Why?"

"That's because there haven't been that many sightings of Schlangengott. The last confirmed sighting was around 2,700 or 2,800 A.M. in the Oriental Continent. And before that, it was around 1,000 A.M. at the sea near the Twin Kingdom. There have been other sightings between 1,000 A.M. and 2,700 or 2,800 A.M as well. In fact, up to this day, there are still people claiming they have seen Schlangengott, especially by sailors, since none of the higher-ups stepped forward to confirm them, none of their accounts have been taken seriously."

"But isn't Schlangengott such a giant snake that could swallow 10 castles? How are people not able to spot him or her?"

"That's because Schlangengott is believed to have the power to travel to different realms or worlds."

"Different realms or worlds? You mean, like the Demon World?"

"That's what they say."

"There are other realms or worlds aside from the Demon World?"

"Some people from the Temple of Wizards thinks."

"Do they have any proof?"

Trevin shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm very sorry, Priestess Inquisitor, but I don't know. All I know, based on their explanation, is that, since there is a Demon World, then there should be other worlds or realms as well."

"I take it that you've never met Schlangengott either?"

Trevin nodded.

"Yes, Priestess Inquisitor."

"My last question: Can Schlangengott speak?"

Trevin thought about it for a moment.

"Based on the stories I've heard, they say that Schlangengott can speak. And as to how, I don't know. Perhaps just like how humans, demons and demon-kins can speak?" he said and then lowered his head. "I'm very sorry Priestess Inquisitor, I didn't mean to offend you."

Vivian shook head her.

"Don't be. You were simply trying to explain a physiological or biological fact."

Trevin raised his head and a confused expression appeared on his face.

"A what?"

"It's nothing," she said and smiled. "Have you ever heard, read or met a monster that could speak?"

"I have not, Priestess Inquisitor."

Knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Vivian said.

Ka-cha!

The door opened it was Finley.

He bowed first and then saluted.

"I'm very sorry for interrupting you, Sister Inquisitor, but there's an issue at the North Gate and Brother High Lieutenant Lennon and Knight Captain Edgar are requestiong your presence."

Vivian stood up from her seat and then walked over to grab her White Cloak, causing Trevin and Finley's eyes to turn wide for a brief moment when they saw her bare back which was exposed by her black and fitting backless turtleneck short dress.

She wore her White Cloak and then checked herself in the mirror.

The two men didn't say anything.

Vivian returned back to her desk. She opened a drawer and then picked up a bottle.

Pssh.

Pssh.

She sprayed herself with perfume and then let her clothes absorb it for a moment.

The two men continued not to say anything.

Vivian returned the bottle inside the drawer and closed it. But instead of turning to them, she went back to the place where she hung her cloak and grabbed a black umbrella.

Hmm…

Should I have chosen a white umbrella instead…?

One of the things she bought back when she went to the Holy City after her Field Mission at Plano Town were umbrellas and she only bought two -- a black one and a white one.

No…

This black umbrella goes well with the dress and stockings I'm wearing…

And also my bra and underwear…

If I was wearing all white…

Then the white umbrella…

But damn these cloak colors…

The colors I can wear are so limited…

And I never thought I would be so self-conscious to wear gold, red and gray clothes…

Why did the Temple of Priests monopolize them…?

So selfish…!

She finally turned to Trevin and Finley.

"Let's go."

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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Chapter end