Chapter 1, Cemetery

At that moment, a slight tremor was felt on the ground. Gal did not pay much attention to it—earthquakes of minor significance occasionally occurred in coastal areas, mostly below magnitude 4 on the Richter scale, which would not cause significant damage. However, after the minor tremor, a sudden noise emerged from the evergreen bushes behind him, as if something had fallen.

This tradition continues to this day. When a person passes away, if the temple agrees to allow him or her to reside in the Atolarat Cemetery, then the deceased's partner, parents, or children will receive a lifetime exemption from taxes as a tribute to the outstanding contributions made by this citizen during their lifetime

However, no matter how one puts it, the Yatuo Rat Festival Day is indeed closely related to this person. The keeper also smiled, saying, "Speaking of which... Gal, why has the temple sent you, such a busy person, out this year for the anniversary?"

That night, after attending the Yatuolati memorial service, Gal first returned to his home in Sarazhou

The clear and slow voice of the narrator came through the wind: "The earliest Atorarat Festival was established to commemorate the great hero Carlos Flaret. It is said that he was born into a noble family, the youngest son, and was sent to the temple to study from a young age..."

The guard turned around and looked at the people gathered below the mountain for the memorial service

"Parola is not, as the public believes, a leader of some cult; in fact, he is a 'hunter' of the temple, having betrayed his own faith and become possessed by Satan," the guardian said. "Parola framed Carlos, and this taciturn and stubborn hero, for reasons unknown, did not defend himself at all. After that battle, just when the truth of all matters was about to be revealed and the temple intended to correct its mistakes and restore glory to its most loyal and brave child, he mysteriously disappeared once again and has not been seen since, stubbornly rejecting the temple's reconciliation."

Ah, yes, that is the legendary gift of light," Gal adjusted his glasses and shrugged, "A rare exception among millions. It is said that in a thousand years, the Flarite family has only produced one such genius, and I, the unfortunate descendant, have spent my entire youth in such a shadow.

Because this is the final resting place of heroes

In this era of peace, having arrived under the protection of the sacrifices made by our predecessors, the continent has not experienced a major rebellion for a thousand years. Only a few have managed to slip through the barrier net into the human realm, and their powers are significantly diminished, making it only a matter of time before they are captured by the hunters

As for the tradition of memorializing on November 16, it originated from a great battle that took place over 1,200 years ago

The strongest being capable of commanding other demons is referred to as "Satan" or "the Demon". The so-called "Black Robe Rebellion" was not merely a revolt of a group of refugees, but rather the descent of demons, which possessed Parola. Throughout the entire history of humanity, demons have only descended twice: once in a time so distant that it is beyond record, and the other during the infamous "Black Robe Rebellion"

Atoll Rat Island is backed by the sea, and there is a mountain on the island. The mountain bears ancient, artificially polished traces, spiraling layer upon layer upwards. At the top, there are rows of tombstones and clusters of crosses, all silently pointing towards the sky, standing for over a thousand years, with mottled moss having grown in the corners.

He was once expelled from the temple. The guardian sighed and said softly, "He was originally a spoiled young master, but during those years he wandered alone, using the alias 'John Smith.' He had not shown his face for many years, and no one knew where he had gone, until the darkest war began, when he reappeared before people without anyone noticing.

It is my turn to be a guide for the rookie. Tomorrow, I will return to the temple and will pass by Atorlat, so I thought I would come and see you. Gal stretched lazily, the distant sea breeze gently caressing his face. I just finished a task, and I will have more than half a month of vacation in the future... To be honest, I am almost forgetting how to spell the word "vacation"

After the Black Robe Rebellion, Archbishop Leo Aldo devoted his entire life to leading a group of great hunters to establish a barrier, bringing an end to the dark era of chaos caused by the rampant Di Fu Man, and the archbishop ultimately paid with his life

No one can clearly explain what Di Fu actually is, where they come from, and why they appear in this world

Regarding this matter, the historians of the temple speculate that it was a deliberate act by the temple, a form of compensation for the stubborn child who refused to forgive it and had run away from home. However, even so, Carlos still disappeared. This is certainly strange; the hunters were selected for the temple when they were still children, living and studying here, and they inherently loved the temple as much as they loved their hometown, even after having suffered injustices and insults... Therefore, some say that Carlos's disappearance was actually because he died in that battle, but the battlefield was so brutal that people could not recognize his body

They are of different genders, ages, and ethnicities, speaking various languages and possessing different skin colors, yet they all gaze with the same sense of reverence at this land of the dead that fills the entire hillside

In that era, the 'barrier' had not yet formed, and the world was not as peaceful as it is now. 'Difu' was everywhere. According to the records of the Esoteric Buddhism, when Carlos was still an infant, a Difu sneaked into the nursery of the Flaret family. At that time, a 'Temple Hunter,' who was a friend of Mr. Flaret, happened to be visiting their home. By the time they rushed over, they found that the unfortunate Difu had curled up in fear from the cries of the baby.

Gale inquired: "Do you think he left out of anger this time?"

Then a miraculous event occurred, a blooming white rose unexpectedly blossomed between his fingers. He bent down and placed the flower, which seemed to still have droplets of water on it, beneath the statue, and only then did he take a step forward to keep pace with the elderly man's stride

After three years of war, we finally eradicated this group of pioneers of global terrorism

The man's long hair fell out in disarray from a colorless headband, covered in dust and dried blood, obscuring his entire face and half of his body. He wore a tattered robe, and his chest was already soaked with blood, saturating the bandages that had originally been wrapped around it, revealing the shocking scars that covered his entire body.

This was the first time Gal had heard someone mention the story of his glorious and mysterious ancestor, and he couldn't help but turn his head and ask, "What?"

However ... ... it is actually quite good

At that time, a group of cultists known as the "Black Robes" rose across the continent, sweeping through more than ten countries like the infamous Black Death. In order to deal with these brainless individuals, the countries, which had previously been in disarray, finally decided to form a coalition, commanded by the Archbishop of the Temple from Sara State

The solemn tolling of the death knell echoed from the mountaintop, voices faded into insignificance, and each visitor could not help but remain silent.

The blonde man laughed: "If he does not exist, the children who grew up listening to his stories will rebel."

Gal instinctively lightened his footsteps, one hand moving to his side, on guard as he pushed aside the bushes, and then he saw... Inside lay a person, a man

The Diabolic Corruption Hunters, the hunters pursue the Diabolic Corruption

On November 16, the leader of the Black Robes— the creatively limited self-proclaimed Satan, the terrorist chief Parola— was eliminated, dramatically bringing an end to the three-year-long war

It is said that the Atorat Cemetery was established two thousand years ago, funded by the temple, and the first to be buried here were the Knights of the Temple who sacrificed their lives to resist foreign invasions

The reason behind the occurrence of such a great disaster has been a subject of endless debate among the scholars of the temple for centuries, yet they have failed to reach a conclusive understanding.

November 16, overcast turning to cloudy

The guardian raised his head following his gaze: "Carlos? Flaret has been like a ghost, leaving no portrait throughout his life. After the chaos of the black robe, he vanished without a trace, and there are no further records of him. Even this tomb built in his memory contains nothing but an empty coffin; it is as if he never existed at all"

A faint smell of blood wafted through the air. He followed the scent and discovered a corner of human clothing protruding from the bushes

A ceremony is being held on a small island near the sea, which attracts tourists from all over the world to visit the Atolrat Festival Day every year

At this moment, the memorial ceremony was nearing its conclusion, the funeral bell had ceased, and a group of children dressed in white lined up to release the doves they held in their hands. Only then did the visitors gradually approach, taking the white flowers from their chests and placing them at the foot of the mountain

"He is not as fortunate as you might imagine," the guard said with a smile as he glanced at him. "What everyone doesn't know is that this genius's path has not been smooth."

The work once performed by the Templar hunters, formerly known as "knights," has gradually transitioned underground with the development of industry and science, becoming an obscure profession

He backed the car into the garage, and the weeds in the garden were regularly tended to by the gardener. Even if he didn't return for half a year or a year, it didn't seem too dreadful. Gal whistled cheerfully, feeling a languid sense of joy filling his entire being at the thought of returning home to rest

The Half Mountain District is a typical affluent area, where the distance between houses is relatively large, ensuring that residents do not disturb one another, yet they are not too far apart. There are unified community services, and the community features supermarkets, parks, and even schools, making it very convenient

This is undoubtedly attributed to the bloodline of "Vlarret," not in the sense that those genes have persisted through a millennium of inheritance, but rather that the name "Carlos" looms like a shadow, engulfing his entire adolescence and compelling Gal to continuously grow stronger

This small island is the world-renowned Atollat Cemetery

It was neither a squirrel, nor a cat or a dog... Galton paused, feeling that it should be a larger animal; in the foothills, there are often larger herbivores that wander in by mistake.

Many years have passed, and the "Temple" itself has become a symbol of religion, attracting a large number of tourists each year. New tourism ventures have even been established. Many retired hunters have returned to the Temple to work as guides, although the content they provide is fabricated—uniformly produced by the Temple.

The rose that had been set down suddenly sprouted delicate vines, gently entwining the statue's feet, as if a garland of flowers had been planted at its base

The man with blond hair had his medium-length hair tied back, slightly disheveled by the wind. He had a pair of gentle light brown eyes, hidden behind rimless glasses, slightly squinting as he stared at the statue before him: "Is this what Carlos was like? My mother’s maiden name was Flaherty before she got married, yet our family still does not have a portrait left by him"

Gale Shoden, born to the family name of Flaret, as the last descendant of the Flaret lineage, graduated from the temple at the age of eighteen and received the golden badge symbolizing "the best hunter" at the age of twenty-two, becoming the youngest gold badge hunter in three hundred years

The greatest Archbishop Leo? Aldo?

According to the regulations of the temple, every year, the newly graduated hunters will have outstanding seniors—mostly Golden Badge hunters—serve as guides for one year, leading them in tasks until the novices are capable of handling them independently. This year, it is finally his turn.

He resides in a hillside villa in the semi-mountainous area. The salary at the temple has always been generous, and he takes advantage of his position to travel extensively, providing photographic contributions to several fashion magazines and even publishing a few travelogues, which have garnered him a modest level of fame. These contributions have also brought him a considerable income.

The name of the hero who defeated the great villain is still recounted to this day; he is called Carlos Flaret.

Many years ago, they were like wild dogs in the countryside, ready to poke their heads out from around any corner, greedily eyeing their prey, and were once one of humanity's greatest enemies on this prosperous continent

"The temple did not admit him because he is the son of a noble family." The guard slowly turned around, leaning on his cane, and began to walk down the mountain. Gal did not rush to follow; he extended his finger and gently pinched it.

Yes, calculated by year, the time when Archbishop Aldo entered the temple is basically concurrent with Carlos Flaret. There are rumors that they were once good friends, but it seems... in the end, their relationship broke down. The guardian descended the long staircase step by step, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "But what does it matter? The hunters, at the moment they entered the temple, had already sworn to protect this continent, unwavering until death. Regardless of whether Carlos desires the glory bestowed by the temple, he will always appear when the people need him, even if the temple no longer pays him a salary."

Who knows? However, I once found a few pages of notes from Archbishop Leo Aldo in the esoteric documents, handwritten on parchment. After many twists and turns, they are now mostly damaged, with even the handwriting becoming blurred. On a corner of a torn page, there is a line written in very messy handwriting that repeats the name 'Carlos' three times, with the ink penetrating through the paper. A few words are missing afterward, barely decipherable as an incomplete 'I'm sorry.' The guard struggled to descend the stairs, declining Gal's assistance, saying, 'It's alright, child. Although I am an old man, I am not yet at the point of being unable to move.'

Gale pondered for a moment and said: "Actually, I have always found it quite strange that a protracted war could come to an end because of one person. Of course, rationally speaking, we all know that it is impossible."

In the Atolarat Cemetery, twelve hundred years later, a handsome man with golden hair and an elderly gravekeeper stopped in front of a tombstone bearing this name. Beside the tombstone stood a statue of Carlos Flaret, clad in heavy armor, beneath which muscular arms and a strong chest were visible. He had a square face and a pair of resolute, deep-set eyes gazing towards the distant sea, his expression calm.

"Expulsion?" Gal frowned, "Why?"

Difu is a type of organism, as they can be killed—they feed on humans, some preferring blood, others organs, some brain matter, and others souls

The guardian extended his staff and pointed down the mountain, saying: "Look at them, and you will feel that your hard work is worthwhile; the temple will always take pride in you."

So that although people remember the names of the heroes, they have already confused their achievements