036: This Messiah of Yours, How Legitimate Is He?
Simon bar Kokhba was the leader of the Zealots in Judea, naturally a fanatical Jewish nationalist. He had secretly extensively propagated: "As for those so-called Christians, once we encounter them, we must demand they deny Jesus is the Messiah. If they refuse, first punish them severely, then torture and kill them."
With such a person as a leader, it was not so surprising that the "Sicarii," specializing in assassinating Romans and their supporters before disappearing into crowds—the earliest assassination group in world history—emerged within this context.
Though the Zealots appeared small in scale on the surface, their advocacy of armed resistance against the Roman Empire garnered them many secret supporters. Under their backing, Simon had been constructing underground complexes in the Judean mountains, hiding weapons, and constantly preparing to launch a large-scale rebellion.
Previously, when the two major sects, the Sadducees and Pharisees, internally agreed to make every effort to absorb the gradually developing Christianity within the Roman Empire, Doro had always been the most vehement opponent. Ever since the emissaries sent out were humiliated by the other side and dared not retaliate, causing both sects to lose face,
from that time, the Sicarii, led by Simon, spontaneously began capturing and killing Christians in nearby areas to garner widespread support... However, in reality, Simon was merely putting on a show. Those he presented were merely those he locally considered 'Christians.' In his view, there were so many poor people; for the redemption of Jerusalem, this was a necessary act.
Leaving aside that Judea Province had been firmly under Jewish control for so many years, and that over a decade ago they had deliberately 'executed' Christ Jesus to suppress early Christianity—even though Christianity had been rising within the Empire in recent years, the magecraft abilities of the surviving apostles were also growing stronger. He naturally wouldn't let his faction be sent out to die in vain.
Moreover, in his view, everywhere outside Judea Province was a land of sin, its inhabitants all inferior beings.
Though the Romans had oppressed them for decades, Simon clearly knew his plan needed an opportune moment. The degree of radicalism within Judea Province wasn't uniform. For example, oppression was most severe in Jerusalem and Alexandria, making the Jews there more radical. But the diaspora Jews in other regions were much more moderate, as the oppression hadn't reached them directly.
Thus, Simon had been waiting for an opportunity that could simultaneously ignite the discontent of all Jews—
And today, he finally awaited it.
The Roman governor, invited by the Sadducees and Pharisees, came to Jerusalem to discuss resolving the longstanding conflicts between local Jews and Greeks...
Fools! What Greeks! They are merely a bunch of wanton scum! Are they even worthy of sharing our sacred land?
It is they who defile our holy land!
Wasn't the act a few days later merely this damned Roman governor attempting to forcibly requisition the Temple's gold, with the two traitors planning to hand it over directly?
What we must do is kill them!
This is what Doro had told his Sicarii days earlier. He wasn't worried about intelligence leaks, for the requirement to join the Sicarii was that each member must cut off one finger, symbolizing their hatred for the enemy.
It was already five o'clock. The last rays of the setting sun illuminated everything in the holy city of Jerusalem. This sacred place, existing since the Age of Gods, shrouded by multiple layers of bounded fields, a sanctuary sustained by vast magical energy, an invisible protection capable of deceasing natural forces—almost akin to the world where fairies were said to dwell.
For millennia it had been so, and this prosperity would continue forever. The Jews, self-proclaimed as the chosen people, deeply believed this.
However, this confidence persisted only until 63 BC, when they were conquered by the Romans.
But Doro was filled with absolute confidence, for from this day forth, he would erase this humiliation.
"Oh? And who is this?"
"Your Excellency the Governor, this is Lord Simon. He has been elected by us all to jointly discuss"
The welcoming party halted at the entrance. Doro alone rushed forward at extremely high speed, using a short sword to decapitate the still-smiling Roman governor.
"Doro, you... what are you doing...?"
"Madman! What are you doing!"
"Don't get it wrong, you two Roman lackeys!"
His pupils harbored burning hatred. Simon raised with one hand the severed head of the Roman governor.
"You traitors all deserve to die for your crimes, and those filthy Romans deserve death too!"
With his words, the Sicarii swiftly began slaughtering the still-stunned Romans and the leaders of both factions beneath the golden stones of Jerusalem.
Beyond this, the Jews living in Jerusalem merely continued their prayers as usual, as if blind to the carnage.
Soon, only the mutilated, lifeless bodies of many people remained at the gates of Jerusalem.
"I am a devout Jew. I believe in the unity of all Jews. If possible, I wish there were no killing, for our God does not desire bloodshed. But in whatever form, we must be independent from the filthy Romans. Even if we must use terror to destroy them, to remove those who obstruct us and do evil, and those who stand in our way."
"And as prophesied in the Book of Numbers: 'A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.'"
A cold, slightly twisted voice echoed from the Temple of Jerusalem.
"Then I, Simon Bar Kokhba! I am the Son of the Star! I am—"
"The Messiah walking upon the earth!"
.....
In the year 51 AD, the Roman procurator of Judea was assassinated in front of the Temple of Jerusalem, the spark being his 'attempt to forcibly collect gold from the Jewish Temple.' This ignited a full-scale rebellion of the Jews against the Roman Empire.
And the Jew who launched the war, Simon Bar Kokhba, was hailed by the Jews of the time as the "King of Israel," "Son of the Star," and—
"The Messiah on Earth."
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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