Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Anuma's Sword (4)

“Judgment! It’s a judgment! Lu Anuma has punished the non-believers with lightning!”

What is this all about? How did it turn out like this? It was a bewildering reaction. A moment of realizing the dangers of blind religion once again.

When the sandstorm engulfed them and lightning spread among the people, I had thought it was a failure.

It was a situation that went beyond expectations. I was already feeling drained after exerting full effort.

I was worried that problems might arise. But to see such a reaction. The people responded to it.

“That’s right! Lu Anuma has punished the non-believers!”

“Oh Lu Anuma! I believed in you!”

“I, I never doubted the shaman’s prophecy!”

Outbursts akin to confessions followed one after another. Come to think of it, this seemed like a natural reaction.

How many of them truly believed in Ines’s prophecy?

In the face of an unreal and overwhelming phenomenon, it’s only natural for self-preservation instincts to kick in.

To protect oneself, they label others as non-believers.

“Chief Hardin! Chief Hardin! Are you alright?”

It was extremely fortunate that Hardin, the chief of the Arwali tribe, was struck by lightning.

“Ugh, what happened……”

The Arwali chief’s voice sounded dazed, as if he was only now regaining his senses.

Those unharmed were still kneeling and looking at Al Fahri.

He was the one who came riding a horse in the sky, amid a sandstorm with dozens of lightning branches lashing out.

With the overwhelming sight combined with the shaman’s prophecy, the people’s reactions were only predictable.

“Ah, Anuma’s Sword! Anuma’s Sword has arrived!”

“Oh Anuma’s Sword……”

Starting with someone’s remark, people began calling Al Fahri Anuma’s Sword from all around.

Although I had created it, the situation was truly gratifying beyond words.

“How, how is it going?”

Osten asked me as I concentrated. As the sandstorm subsided, he had come close to observe.

It might have been clear to me, but Osten and Aron would likely see it as blurry.

Before I could answer, Aron interrupted.

“Hey. Since brother did it, of course it’s going well.”

I feel it again, but Aron is too blindly devoted to me. Unexpectedly, this is not a good thing.

It’s good that he has faith in me, but it shouldn’t reach a religious level.

He might think I can do anything.

I can’t succeed in everything I plan. The disappointment could be greater if I fail.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Just looking at the natives in front of me, aren’t they religiously fanatical?

Of course, I did use that to make Al Fahri into Anuma’s Sword, but…..

The moment Al Fahri’s truth is revealed, a tremendous backlash will occur.

Such a tone is not good for the organization I plan to build. I need to be a humane leader.

It’s difficult to say it right away, but I will have to correct it going forward, so they don’t blindly believe in me too much.

I had previously told them to give advice whenever they had any, but it seems that’s still not enough.

“Yeah. It’s a sacred success. Let me concentrate for a bit.”

At my words, Osten hurriedly nodded his head.

“Ah, yes. My apologies.”

I understand his curiosity. He contributed to making the saddle, and the lightning was Osten’s idea.

It’s a natural desire for a creator to be curious about their creation. But right now, focusing on the situation is important.

“I, Al Fahri, will make a proclamation.”

Al Fahri shouted loudly in front of the crowd kneeling to find their deity. Silence fell.

Even the Arwali chief could not interject. Just moments ago, he was being labeled a non-believer.

In this atmosphere of fanaticism, if he had spoken nonsense, he could have been beaten to death on the spot.

“On the day the Arwali tribe branded the sacred shaman as a false prophet, I saw the emblem of the sun in a dream.”

At the mention of the sun’s emblem, their gazes became fervent. It seemed as if even the sounds of breathing could not be heard.

“I took it as a revelation. That Lu Anuma was conveying his will to me through the sun’s emblem.”

Al Fahri spoke in a solemn tone. Even to me, who knew the situation, it sounded sacred.

Judging by this, he seemed to have quite a talent for acting. A good thing, considering the future.

I suddenly became curious about what the Arwali chief’s expression would be like. Would he be trembling with rage, or cowering in fear?

Although a character I often saw in the game, I didn’t know how he would react in this situation.

“Of course, even so, there was a hint of hesitation. Was it truly Lu Anuma’s will? Why did he not give the revelation to the shaman, but only showed me the sun?”

Al Fahri revealed his own doubts, as per the script I had written for him. It was an intentional act.

Since none of the people here believed in the horse riding the sky, it was a way to form a common ground.

“But I thought this too was a test given by Lu Anuma. That is why I summoned the Patrac tribe to hold the Great Tribal Council.”

It was also to reverse the order of events. In reality, I and Binsad had sought out Al Fahri.

A precaution in case that fact ever came to light.

Of course, information about me and my group has been well controlled as well.

When we met Al Fahri, Binsad had gone ahead to request a secret entry, and we entered discreetly.

“And on my way here……”

Al Fahri trailed off.

“I knew I was right. Yesterday, I felt Lu Anuma calling me.”

Someone in the crowd audibly inhaled. It was so quiet that even that sound was conveyed through the Winds.

“I followed that call and prayed beneath the sun. After sunset, I prayed facing the setting sun. At dawn, even feeling a chill in my bones, I did not stop praying.”

“……”

“And so, for a day. As Lu Anuma’s time approached today, the sand around me began to churn, and in front of me was a white horse.”

Al Fahri, who had been speaking in a low voice, suddenly raised his voice.

“If this is not Lu Anuma’s will, then what is it!”

“You’re right!”

“True words! Lu Anuma has given his revelation!”

“Anuma’s Sword! Anuma’s Sword! Anuma’s Sword!”

The people responded passionately. The exaggerated actions seemed like an attempt to hide their own disbelief.

Al Fahri raised both hands to quieten the people.

“Therefore, I, Al Fahri, request that the sacred shaman be swiftly released by the Arwali tribe.”

I felt the people’s gazes turning towards the Arwali chief. A heavy and sharp silence flowed.

Al Fahri delivered his final line.

“Furthermore, I wish to put the Arwali shaman who called the sacred shaman a false prophet, and their chief Hardin, on the hottest judgment seat.”

***

At the point where I realized the prophecies of the former great shaman and Ines, the Arwali chief had only one choice.

Unconditional submission.

Release Ines, acknowledge that Al Fahri is Anuma’s Sword, and beg for mercy.

That was the only way to live, but in truth, one had to die. Responsibility had to be taken for branding her a false prophet.

The Arwali shaman had to blame the chief, and the chief had to blame the shaman, in order to survive.

From the moment Ines was branded a false prophet, there was no other way.

No one could deny that Al Fahri, who appeared riding a horse in the sky, was Anuma’s Sword.

Nearly a thousand warriors and nine tribal chiefs witnessed it.

It was impossible for Hardin Arwali to kill all of them, and even if he did, there would be no reversal.

Because it would be impossible to handle the aftermath.

‘Well, I plan to deal with both of them, no matter how they respond.’

Although it was Hardin Arwali’s doing, the Arwali shaman was not sane from the beginning either.

Even when playing the game, his nonsense caused a lot of stress.

There was even a time when he said prophecies could be changed for money. As for Hardin, there’s no need to say more.

As I expected, Hardin Arwali did not defy Al Fahri’s will. Of course, he made excuses.

While promising to immediately release Ines, he said he realized the shaman of his tribe was a false prophet.

Al Fahri simply stated that he would see and judge for himself.

That’s how the Great Tribal Council ended in less than 20 minutes. In fact, the real matter was next.

All the tribal chiefs had come to seek out Al Fahri.

‘Beyond religious aspirations, it was only natural politically as well.’

According to the past and present prophecies, Anuma’s Sword had arrived. As chiefs, it was inevitable to take the lead.

The chaos on the continent was being conveyed here as well.

There would be expectations of tribal unity, and a desire to hold an important position within it.

Hardin Arwali also sought out Al Fahri. It was past midnight, conscious of the gazes of others.

He proposed a deal to absolve his sins. He may be incompetent, but not foolish, yet this choice was not good.

‘Having gained the name Anuma’s Sword, there’s no way he would respond to an unjust deal.’

It seemed like a cornered human simply repeating the actions he had lived by.

After all, he was a sinister fellow to begin with. Regardless, with this, the unification of the southwest was practically certain.

The man who had unified the southwest even without my support had staged such a show.

In effect, he had placed the western islands and parts of the west, including the southwest, in the hands of my allies.

To be honest, when I left the royal palace, I had many worries, but I never expected things to unfold so well.

Although there were unexpected incidents, they turned out to be blessings in disguise.

At dawn.

After firmly turning away Hardin Arwali, Al Fahri took advantage of the darkness to find me.

“You’re insane! Truly insane!”

Even though considerable time had passed since the afternoon, he couldn’t hide his excitement.

His hands were slightly trembling, perhaps due to joy and aspiration.

Well. As time passed and he calmed down, this situation would have sunk in further.

He was a man who desired to be called Anuma’s Sword even in the game, and that dream had been realized.

Moreover, with all the tribes of the southwest bowing before him, his joy was only natural.

“You lovable outsider!”

Al Fahri was so excited that he tried to hug me. He wasn’t usually like this, so he must be really happy.

Of course, I pushed Al Fahri away with my hand.

“So, are you satisfied?”

“Of course! When we first met, I thought you were spouting nonsense, but to think you’d go this far!”

“I keep my word.”

“Yeah. I know now! You’re definitely the son of the winds, loved by Lu Anuma.”

For a few minutes, Al Fahri praised me. It was fortunate that he seemed to know gratitude.

There are people in this world who don’t know how to be grateful.

“You did well too.”

“Did you hear?”

“I can hear sounds through the winds.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I didn’t do anything. I just said what you wrote for me.”

“Putting that aside, you spoke well? You seem to have a talent for acting.”

“Is that so?”

Al Fahri laughed.

“By the way, what about Hardin Arwali? Well, he proposed various deals.”

Although we had discussed it beforehand, it seemed he wanted to consult about the deals Hardin proposed.

I had eavesdropped through the winds but seems to think I couldn’t hear that far.

“I’m asking because it seems quite profitable.”

I studied Al Fahri’s face.

He didn’t seem greedy for the bribes Hardin Arwali offered. He was simply asking my opinion.

“It’s fine. Proceed as planned.”

“As planned?”

“Anyway, once you pass judgment on Hardin Arwali, everything will fall into your hands. There’s no need to spare him. You’ll also have to deal with the largest tribe if you want to consume it.”

“I see. Then I’ll dispose of both the shaman and Hardin.”

Tomorrow, Al Fahri will depart for the Arwali tribe to bring back Ines and the shaman.

Hardin Arwali will remain here, accompanied by a few tribal chiefs as decided.

Since Ines has been rescued and Al Fahri made into Anuma’s Sword, it’s time to discuss what comes after.

“Then let’s talk about what’s next.”

“You mean tribal unification?”

“That too, but also what comes after that.”

Author's Thoughts

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