Does the mechanical girl dream of the Messiah?

"No success?"

"Well, at least there wasn't..."

"Luna is right. If the ritual is successful, things will be very different."

The ritual of the "Scale of Eternity" uses the "remnants" that originally existed here and were once used by Schitzberg. If the ritual is really performed according to the method known by the sages, when the living sacrifice is truly offered, the huge divine power centered on the "remnants" and shrouding Myulander will immediately be polluted and distorted, turning into a "dark block" with properties close to those of the dark kings, falling from the sky and bringing complete destruction - that is almost equivalent to creating a new evil god on this land, and the impact caused must be no different from a "divine disaster".

In the final analysis, "divine power" cannot be completely equated with "the power of goodness". Those who are neither good nor evil, and those who are deeply sinful, also have the possibility of becoming gods. It is just that because the method of becoming gods is completely cut off, and the twelve gods recognized by the church are generally kind-hearted, many laymen have the perception that "divine power is equivalent to the power of goodness". The power that shrouds this land may be a "colorless" power like Alexander, which is neither good nor evil. If there is knowledge that can reach the realm of gods, it may really be possible to distort it.

Before that, before the ceremony was completed, the deep malice hidden behind the rewritten ceremony was finally noticed by the four legends who participated in the ceremony.

The situation at that time is unknown. It is possible that they used some method to forcibly "block" the progress of the ceremony, so that although the ceremony was almost completed, it was not truly successful. Without being offered as a sacrifice, they forcibly used the connection generated by the ceremony to tear out a part of the divine power from the "remnants" left by Shizberg, which later became the "blessing" that withstood the aftermath of the collapse of the magic network. Naturally, the four of them disappeared during the ceremony without any trace.

Although this incomplete ritual did not directly lead to the destruction of the Myland area, it was not without negative impact. As the people present knew, the "Northeast District", the long-standing cancer of Myland, also appeared in the city.

This situation was beyond the expectations of the other sages who presided over the ceremony. In addition to cleaning up the mess caused by the Northeast Region, they also had to think about why this happened. Insufficient intelligence made it impossible for them to make a completely correct judgment. When it was difficult to determine whether the problem occurred in the ceremony, they could only seal the relevant information and pretend that this incident had never happened.

Later, when the four major families entered Muirand and became the real rulers here, they obtained these materials, which led to their misunderstanding of this ceremony. The sacrifice of living people in exchange for the blessing of divine power might cause the second Northeast District to have such side effects. They knew no more than the sages of the past, and from the materials left by the sages and the inferences about the subsequent ceremonies, they analyzed the preparations needed for the next ceremony.

The reason why the ceremony can be started by offering a sacrifice is probably because the ceremony was only "stuck" and "paused" but not really "canceled". Only a little force needs to be applied to the "stuck" point to push the ceremony again and make it slide towards "completion".

This time, as long as Colette is successfully sacrificed, no one will be able to stop the ceremony, and everything will come to an absolute end.

Eternal stagnation, the solidification of time, the "eternal world" surrounded by clocks, the scenery of the end of all things.

"But... there's actually one thing I haven't figured out, right?"

This time it was Lunicia's turn to ask questions.

There was one thing she had never figured out, and she always felt that she would be very unhappy if she didn't figure it out.

"If you have any questions, just ask Ashley." Ella couldn't help but glance at Ashley, "She knows everything anyway."

Although Ashlee didn't respond at all, from the way she puffed out her chest a little and her face, which had completely changed but still gave people a smug feeling, it could be learned that she was probably still quite full of emotion.

"That is to say... although the 'real ceremony' is to return the 'gift from the gods' to the gods... but, what exactly is being returned?"

"About this——"

Ashlee glanced in another direction out of the corner of her eye.

There, Rose and Colette were hugging each other in the middle of the square after the snow. They must have had countless things to say to each other, but they didn't say a word to each other. It seemed that even without saying anything, they could understand each other's thoughts, as if they had some kind of magical tacit understanding.

“It’s really an important matter.”

Corpse Dragon Godona - the starting point of the legendary journey of the great hero Shizberg, the evil creature that took the lives of the parents of the "Pendulum Knight", was actually not that kind of existence at the beginning.

Shitzberg had fought and opposed it, but finally understood everything about it. As someone who had talked directly with Shitzberg, Asheselin knew more about the corpse dragon Godona - or, in other words, the former "Golden Dragon Godona" - than those bards.

She was once a minister of the Dragon God, ordered to protect a dragon egg that would hatch at an unknown time. Even though the age of dragons faded into time and humans ushered in their own dawn, she never changed her oath. She built a nest in the ruins of her Sky Island, now the peaks of Canserle, and guarded this land day after day, but her life span was not as long as she expected. The trauma, curse and poison of the past wars eroded her. She had no choice but to cry and pray for the help of the gods. The gods responded to her wishes and gave her blessed gold. "Godona's Gold" slowed down her decay until she turned into a moving corpse, and still preserved her last bit of sanity, so that she would not completely forget her mission and harm her precious things.

While bringing her liberation, the "Pendulum Knight" also inherited her mission and "Godona's Gold".

The gold bestowed by the gods was the offering given back to the gods as a sacrifice at the end of Schitzberg's career.

"This……"

Lunicia's expression darkened a little.

If the joy of victory and mourning for the deceased are mixed together to maintain a delicate balance, Godona's story is like adding a weight to the sad side, making her face reveal a look of sadness and regret. Her story is unknown, and it seems that except for Schitzberg and Ashleen, others simply regard her corpse as the beginning of the hero's journey, an ordinary, simple and evil enemy.

She is also the one whose name was not recorded on the memorial tablet.

"Can I tell her about this?"

"Who?"

"…Rose. And Colette, if possible."

They are the ones who have the most right to know about this.

……

"Hurry up! Speed ​​up! Get moving! This time we have first-hand information and interview authorization, we must make a special report on the whole incident without missing a single detail!"

Although Laird, the president of Mountain City News Agency, was involved in this incident by chance, he still got what he wanted by virtue of "luck". The editors and reporters of Mountain City News have been interviewing and writing non-stop these two days, and the citizens of Muirand are indeed in urgent need of a systematic and comprehensive explanation for everything that happened in this city.

“…may their souls ascend into the kingdom of the spirits of God, and may they live forever as righteousness and the law.”

The church had a big conflict that night. After all, the battle took place directly in the square outside the cathedral, and even affected the Cathedral of Alexandria itself. Except for the priests and paladins who were sent to the city and the northeast area to perform tasks, the rest of the church personnel were locked up in the dormitory area under the pretext of "vacation" until they could no longer tolerate it and clashed with the vague cadres of the four major families. After the battle, these stubborn resisters had no reason to continue to hold on and surrendered directly. As for what kind of punishment they would face, since it involved many middle and senior managers, it would have to wait until the Patriarch returned from the North to decide.

The funeral ceremony for the dead soldiers of the Imperial Guard Division and the City Guard was also organized by the Church of Alexandria. They did not choose to contact the nearby Church of the Goddess of Death. This shameful matter was not convenient for too many outsiders to know at least for now. The Imperial Guard Division did not gain any benefit from the whole incident. It was mobilized by the Garrison Marshal to deal with the evil pollution and the "colleagues" of the City Guard. Afterwards, due to the position of the Garrison Marshal, it was impossible to get any compensation other than the pension. Naturally, there was no honor at all. The reason why they were able to hold a funeral together was only because of the pity of others.

"I have nothing to say. No one can judge me except the Patriarch himself."

"…Really? That's great. Although I have a lot to do, I still have the time to sentence you."

"you……!"

The garrison marshal did not stop resisting after the ceremony, which slowed down the surrender of the Guards Division as a whole, resulting in many unexpected casualties. His resistance did not affect the outcome. Facing the siege of Rose and others, Sandria was defeated without any surprise and was imprisoned when the situation was hopeless. Of course, he did not show any regret for his actions afterwards. He firmly believed that what he did was right. As for the arguments given by Lunicia and the city guard, he completely disdained them.

As for whether this is because his heart has been transformed into something different from that of ordinary people, or is it just pure arrogance and stubbornness, or is it because he relies on his status and strength and thinks that others can do nothing to him, this kind of thing is unknown. Who can peek into the heart of a legend? However, not everyone will accommodate him, because he is a rare and precious legendary strongman, so they will consider letting him make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence. The judgment of the "Boundary Time Sword" only depends on the discussion between the prosecutor and the defense lawyer. Whether it is a permanent seal or a death sentence, he will swing the hammer in his hand without hesitation.

"The Lieutenant's schedule will have to be rescheduled, but before that, has the venue for the celebration been chosen?"

"Drinking wine at Galeazzo's house, eating croquettes, and..."

“And play board games.”

"When you discuss this, can you at least consider my opinion?"

"Why, you still have an opinion? 'Hero-sama'?"

"Can you please stop mentioning that title?!"

The National Day celebration was finally held successfully. Even though the streets had not been completely repaired, traces of the war could still be seen everywhere. The float parades and open-air cocktail parties had not been missed for a long time. The citizens seemed to be in urgent need of this cheerful atmosphere to wash away the depression and panic of the previous few days. The members of the "City Guard" and the "Muland Young Officers Club" unexpectedly became the protagonists of the parade - the threat in the northeast region had been eliminated by miracle, and they could devote themselves to relaxation and the glory and pride that they seemed to never have in the past. They could proudly call themselves the guardians of Muland and the people who saved the world. The girls would throw bouquets to them, and the gentlemen would spray champagne for them. Cheers and respect would accompany them, and they would also party with the citizens.

The people of the Young Officers Club, who were involved in the incident, were rather surprised by the result. After all, in their opinion, although the result was a happy one, they still did something close to rebellion, fighting with the regular army like the Imperial Guards Division, making a scene in the prosperous city, causing casualties on both sides, and countless property losses. They even abandoned their duties as the protectors of the Northeast Region, and the Grand Council and the "Sword of the World" did not immediately hold them accountable, and treated them as heroes, which really made them feel flattered.

"Surprised? No, there's nothing to be surprised about. The current situation is in chaos. Rupert, many forces in the Grand Council intend to drag down aristocracy and the four major families. They think that the 'half-baked republic' has reached its end. It must be said that the four major families have really caused a big trouble this time. The House of Nobles must find a way to maintain its reputation. Rubus roseus, oleander, iris, and purple pansy are no longer reliable. In this case, it is obviously more in their interest to push those young people to the position of 'heroes'."

"It also better meets the needs of the citizens. They are in urgent need of some... spiritual support to soothe their inner anxiety."

"exactly."

"This is all temporary. The four big families are still entrenched, especially Stoke, and they will not give up. The current situation is a win-win situation, but they are the only one not on the list of winners."

“The situation has still changed dramatically – what we need to think about is how to strengthen ourselves amidst this turmoil.”

Marino Di Gualamani and Sandria Dorenzo Prioide had completely different views on the "Urban Police" organization, which also led to different attitudes towards it.

In the eyes of the latter, with the ceremony and the creation of the second "Northeast District", the City Guard, an incongruous organization, has no ability to maintain the situation. Its existence will be replaced by the Guard Division, which is stronger and more capable of controlling the situation in Muirand, as expected by the four major families and the garrison marshal. The First Division can legitimately enter the city, laying the foundation for further cooperation between the four major families and the garrison marshal. In the eyes of the former, the City Guard is equivalent to a third party independent of the police and the army. As long as the Northeast District still exists, those problems that are difficult for the police to handle and inconvenient for the army to handle will be thrown into the hands of the City Guard. They have the hope of growing into a force that is on par with the army and the police.

Because of their different attitudes, they eventually adopted completely different approaches. The Garrison Marshal did not take the City Guard seriously at all, but only promoted the private cooperation between the four major families and the Guard Division as much as possible, waiting for the day when the ceremony was completed to put the matter on the table. The Eastern Commander chose to support "his own forces" - at least inclined to his own forces - to become the leader of the City Guard. This was originally just an idle move, and in his eyes it did not have too much significance, until he was surprised to learn that the City Guard had risen up and took the initiative to challenge the ceremony initiated by the four major families, he decided to go all out and intervene in the war without involving the Eastern Military Region.

He did not know the truth before, so he took an indifferent attitude towards the ceremony. However, when the city police got involved, Lieutenant General Marino's intuition told him that this was a rare opportunity.

"What else can I say? I am not a competent father. Human virtues seem to have nothing to do with me. I am an amorous bastard, but I can't protect the people I love. My so-called checks and balances are just the last straw that breaks the camel's back for the people around me. I can't resolve conflicts, nor can I bring happiness to my children. I am just a complete loser."

"But there are still things to be happy about."

"She will question the existence of her 'self'... This shows that she has begun to like herself and has begun to cherish things."

"She can already walk on her own."

Ludovit Byron looked dozens of years older in an instant. His hair turned completely white overnight, and his body seemed thinner and weaker than before. No one could find him. After all, who would have thought that he was not anywhere in the city, but in a small cemetery on a nearby hill, brushing off the snow accumulated on the nameless tombstone with his hands.

Perhaps, he did not want his daughter to suffer too much when she sacrificed herself, so he instilled the concept of heroism in her and allowed her to become the dazzling star of Muirand, but it didn't matter now. He was one of the sinners in people's mouths, but his crime was a little lighter than the others. This was the result of his, or the Byron family's, consistent wavering, which made time and opportunities slip through his fingers, leaving only regret and sorrow.

"It's too late to withdraw... It's really troublesome. It's better to prepare for the future as soon as possible. Things are going to change."

On ordinary days, when it comes to important festivals such as the National Day, Beatrix Mansion will inevitably be crowded with dignitaries and warriors gathering here to attend the party that lasts until after the festival. But now this luxurious mansion of the Howard family is deserted. Only Domenicu is shaking the wine glass in his hand with an embarrassed look on his face, looking down at the empty hall from the second floor.

"..."

Vitaly Stuart stood still in the underground tomb of Muirand. He had been silent for a long time, until finally, he turned all his pent-up emotions into a long sigh.

"——Forget me! Only in this way can you get a truly happy ending. What you deserve is not the witch's curse, but the support of the people. That glorious place is your home.——"

"——How can I forget you, Witch of Ashes! If you are a shadow, then it is a shadow like a blazing fire that will devour me and melt my blood and bones. If you are a curse, then let the curse entangle me, and I am willing to bear you and the curse together!——"

"They are really suitable for this scene...but is there something strange about it?"

"Why do you say that, Lady Luna?"

"Don't look here, Ash is no good at opera."

"You recite poetry every day..."

"That is, why is Colette a 'witch' and Rose a 'knight'?"

"Maybe it's because of... temperament?"

"Eh——temperament——"

The few people at the core of this incident seemed more relaxed and at ease than others.

After the parade and the outdoor cocktail party, the Muirand Theater also held a performance of "Sitzberg" in the name of celebration. The cast did not change from before, and the leading actors were still Colette and Rose, who were in the midst of a wave of public opinion. Now almost everyone in the city knew that one of them was a sacrifice to the gods, and the other was a legendary dragon. As victims, they did not suffer any criticism, but became more and more popular because of their overly romantic and legendary experiences.

In this short period of time, the script of "Sitzberg" was slightly modified by Colette, mainly adding some content that was not in the original script. This was not the first time for her, so she was naturally familiar with it, but it was a bit troublesome for the actors. However, this was a memorable performance after all, and in the face of overflowing enthusiasm, no difficulties were unsolvable. The legend of the ancient ritual and the past of the golden dragon Godona were not only new to the citizens of Muirand, but even the two leading actors, Colette and Rose, only learned about it not long ago from Lunicia.

This performance full of extraordinary significance was so popular that the Grand Theater temporarily "removed" the outer wall of the theater, allowing the performance to be presented to all citizens of Muirand in a semi-open-air format. As for Lunicia and the city guards, they were invited as special guests and sat in special seats to enjoy the performance - those were the special seats that belonged to the four major families before, but now they were all in a mess, and except for Francesco Stuart, no one else was present, so Lunicia and others got the advantage.

The performance that day will probably be like the starry sky that night, deeply imprinted in everyone’s memory and become an unforgettable scenery.

……

"I knew you would be here."

In a small park not far from the Grand Theater, the gray-robed old man chuckled and walked towards his familiar companion. However, the latter was not wearing the inexplicable robe as before. Instead, he had changed his clothes and put on silver armor that was full of traces of battle and looked like it was fished out from the dust of time.

"of course."

His eyes were still looking down, at the figure on the stage, at the girls chatting and laughing in the private room. His eyes were no longer without ripples. Today, his sight was full of memories, tenderness and attachment, as if he had broken the "shell" of time that had wrapped around him, and broke free from the shackles of the years. Today, he was very close to his former self.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to them?"

"I'm already a dead man, why should I do such unnecessary things?"

The artificial eyes, the iron wrists, the mechanical legs, those parts that would not change with the passage of time, seemed a little out of harmony with the ordinary flesh around them, but the old man had gotten used to it.

"Rather, I should apologize to them. I look like a hateful person who clearly had the energy to do something but ended up doing nothing."

"They don't know your situation anyway... or mine, we're all the same."

"You should have more room than me."

"What do you mean? How come I don't know about this?"

"…Although I am called Alexander's apostle, I am only a mortal after all. At most, I am called a 'demigod' by them. My fate has come to an end. The reason I still exist here is just to be kept alive by the gift of the gods. If I go too far and let myself become too close to reality, I will probably disappear directly because it is difficult to maintain my existence, and I will no longer be able to provide any help to them. You are different."

"So what's different?"

"Don't give me that, Bayer Hess—no, I should call you 'Shahar'."

"Uh, when did you find out?"

The old man in gray robe looked surprised, but he quickly calmed down and continued to smile as if nothing had happened.

"I've already noticed it. You shouldn't have as many restrictions as I do."

"Well, you're right." Bayerhes, or Shahar, shrugged. "But our situations are actually similar. I only rely on that 'card' to anchor this strand of consciousness in the web of fate. If I mess things up in advance, my anchor will fall off the world and it will be difficult for me to continue to exist."

"...You are the god of destiny."

"I am the weaver of fate, not the creator of fate. You know the difference. Besides, you see, I am only a trace of consciousness now. The real 'self' is probably no different from disappearing into thin air. How can I have so much magical power to use?"

"........."

The old man looked disgusted at his companion's remarks. Of course, they all knew that they were just joking.

He gathered his own existence and the remaining divine power together to form something that could maintain its own existence. It was precisely because he had done such a thing that the old man and "Shahar" had been able to survive until now, until the footsteps of fate approached again, forcing them to hand over the object that was almost equivalent to their own existence - the "Death" card.

No one showed any reluctance or regret about this. They all knew very well that they should have died long ago and were just phantoms of the past. If they could use what remained to create a future for the people today, it would be an incomparable comfort to them.

“…The time is almost up.”

Bayerhes chuckled and stretched out his right hand - it had become transparent and turned into tiny dots of light that dissipated in the winter air.

"Time waits for no one."

The old man did the same thing. He calmly stretched out his hand, allowing the gradually disappearing position to overlap with the stage in the distance, as if he was enjoying the wonderful opera through a lens and behind the glass.

“They’re singing your story, Schitzberg, like they’re part of it.”

"I can hear you...it would be nice to review our past before going to see her."

I can hear it clearly.