The game difficulty
is insane.
Glen declared that he would personally fulfill Philion’s promise.
Septerien fell silent, and soon a heavy stillness flowed between the two.
“…I cannot believe it.”
The words Septerien spoke to break the silence were cold to the extreme.
“Human child. I cannot believe what you have said. The story of Philion you told me, and your claim that you will fulfill the promise—both are hard to believe.”
Honestly, considering her position and the current situation, it was a natural reaction.
“Your nation fanatically worships a single god. Yet that god considers me and my children nothing more than evil monsters.”
In other words, for her to be accepted as a guardian spirit, she would need recognition from the Minies Faith, the state religion of the Papal Holy Kingdom.
Facing a theocratic nation where the power of the Inquisition—an organization that vehemently denies her race—is immense, how could anyone easily believe the unrealistic claims spoken by a boy standing right before her?
“I understand a hundred times over why Your Majesty cannot easily trust me,” Glen said.
He had no intention of begging her to believe him without any grounds.
“That is why I promise you this, Your Majesty. Within five years, I will change the Papal Holy Kingdom.”
“You do not seem to understand my words. No matter what you say with your mouth, how could I possibly trust you?”
Septerien narrowed her eyes, clearly showing her displeasure.
“You cannot trust me right now. Because you do not know me yet, Your Majesty.”
“…What do you mean?”
“From now on, I intend to show you that Glen Wordsworth is a human who has never broken a promise—not even once.”
Septerien’s eyebrows twitched.
“How?”
“Through the Trial of the Soul that Your Majesty bestows.”
“…?!”
A clear radiance shone in Glen’s eyes, and Septerien flinched.
“…How do you even know about that?”
“I happen to know quite a lot about this world, Your Majesty.”
Glen continued with a sly smile toward the flustered Septerien.
“Your Majesty. Please grant me the Trial of the Soul. I will overcome it and earn your trust.”
The Trial of the Soul.
A 9-star space manifestation spell used by the Banshee Queen, capable of banishing the target for a certain period of time into a maze of spiritual power that she herself created.
However, in the original story, Septerien used this magic not for combat, but to test and confirm the target’s resolve of heart and the strength of their soul.
“The body always lies, but the soul does not.”
Glen repeated the exact line Septerien had spoken in the original story, wearing a confident expression.
“…Ha.”
Septerien let out a hollow laugh, as if this situation were absurd.
“I have no idea where such a human like you came from.”
“I am a bit unusual, Your Majesty.”
“From what I see, it seems you came here from the beginning to receive the trial I bestow. Then you must also know that this trial could shatter your soul into thousands of pieces.”
“Yes.”
Her translucent eyes narrowed.
“You may not know what you truly understand, but having one’s soul torn apart is pain and torment beyond imagination.”
“There is no other choice. There is no other way to persuade Your Majesty.”
“You seem quite determined to clear away this fog. Very well. Then I will ask no more questions. I shall grant you the Trial of the Soul.”
“Thank you.”
Glen gently bowed his head.
Septerien lifted her chin.
“Well. I do not know how long that gratitude will last. In the past several hundred years, across all races in this world, only one being has ever overcome this trial.”
“Then I will be the second.”
“You are an arrogant child.”
Septerien spread her arms.
Jade-colored spiritual power bloomed around her, then gently moved to surround Glen.
It resembled the cursed fog that melts flesh and soul, yet it felt somehow different.
With the Ring of the Sea Lord as well, Glen accepted the spiritual power enveloping him without any resistance.
“Human child. If you return alive from there, I will reconsider your proposal to fulfill Philion’s promise in his place.”
Septerien’s expressionless eyes stared at Glen, and Glen slightly raised the corner of his lips.
“Please keep your promise.”
With those words, Glen disappeared along with the spiritual power surrounding him.
Left alone, Septerien slowly closed her eyes.
“……”
She had lived for nearly a thousand years, but she had never seen a human like this.
He knew of the promise she had made with Philion in the past, and even knew in advance about the trial she would bestow.
And from the start, he had passed through the existence-devouring fog to reach this place without using a shred of holy power.
‘What kind of human is he…?’
Septerien opened her eyes.
She lightly waved her hand, and spiritual power swirled into a circle before her, revealing the image of Glen Wordsworth beyond it.
“Very well. I shall watch. The body always lies, but the soul does not.”
For a brief moment, a glint of interest passed through Septerien’s translucent eyes.
But only for a moment. As she peered into Glen’s soul through her power, doubt flowed into her gaze.
“…Hm?”
The soul flickering at Glen’s center.
That soul was somehow different from any ordinary human soul she knew.
There was not a single breath of wind.
In the silent stillness where nothing could be felt, Glen opened his eyes.
The floor, the walls, the ceiling.
At the center of a colorless, monochrome space where no color could be found anywhere, he was standing.
‘Since it’s a space manifested by spiritual power, it really resembles the Hall of Souls.’
It reminded him of the Hall of Souls he had briefly visited in the past, when he went to request the forging of Einheria from the blacksmith Gotrel in Haven.
‘Though it’s still a bit different.’
Perhaps because it was not a real world of souls but one created by spiritual power, many things felt crude.
Even so, the fact that a single being—the Banshee Queen—could manifest such a space with her own power alone showed just how overwhelming a 9-star entity truly was.
‘Of course, by the late stages of the scenario, everyone and their dog can use techniques like this, but still…’
In any case, this place would change according to the will of Septerien, the 9-star spirit who created it.
And since she had named this place the Soul Appraisal Chamber, there would surely be many mechanisms prepared to pierce through Glen’s soul.
Saaaaah—
Almost as soon as that thought ended, he felt a presence behind him along with a chill.
“Right. We should start immediately.”
Glen took Einheria out of his inventory and slowly turned around.
There, standing before him, was a very familiar-looking enemy.
“Amazing. I meet you again here.”
A black hood pulled low, and beneath it, a faintly visible translucent skull.
Seeing the massive translucent scythe held in its hand, Glen let out a dry laugh.
“Nice to see you, Reaper.”
The Reaper.
A being that managed the Hall of Souls, collecting souls that had shed their lingering attachments and sending them to the world of souls. Back then, it had threatened Glen’s life when he requested the forging of Einheria.
‘Of course, it’s not the same one as back then.’
