Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: For Elise
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"You've turned him into complete mush."
Elise's violence held not a single shred of mercy. She might be sweet and girlish, but when facing a godless heretic treading the path of depravity, she was utterly ruthless as a nun of the Radiant Cross Society.
Blood had splattered everywhere.
Elise isn't right in the head either, huh.
"It couldn't be helped to uncover the truth."
"Yeah, figured as much. How could we know if this bastard was lying?"
"Exactly. If the same answer doesn't repeat consistently, it's a lie... It was tricky work."
The old man, vomiting blood, had rolled his eyes back and passed out.
He'd endured the full brunt of Elise's fury and violence. He'd spilled everything he knew with fervent zeal, but like a rabid dog gnawing on Kim Seobang's balls during the dog days until he repeated himself three times in a row, he'd been beaten half to death just in case it was bullshit.
Scribble scribble.
Finishing the interrogation, Elise uncapped the canteen I'd handed her, took a sip of water, then pulled a small notebook and pencil from her bosom to jot something down.
"Please wait a moment. I'll record the interrogation details."
"Sure."
The intel gleaned from grilling the magic-obsessed old man was pretty useful.
We'd learned the meeting spot, and roughly what this Eternal Life Cult was about. According to him, it was some unknown religion preaching bizarre ideas like staying healthy and living long without proper meals.
"Living healthily without eating, and through rigorous practice, being reborn as an immortal being... It's utterly absurd. From a theological standpoint, this is clearly a heresy."
"Well, no one can live without eating."
"Precisely. Humans can't survive without sustenance. Likewise, no amount of practice can rebirth you as an immortal."
Elise closed her notebook after finishing her notes.
Can't become immortal, huh... Sorry, but I can't agree with that part.
"Doctrines promising unrealistic wishes through unrealistic means can all be deemed evil cults without issue. The long history of the Idol Wars proves it. You should always keep such things in mind, Saint."
Idol Wars? What's that?
"Don't worry. I don't buy into unrealistic crap."
"Hee hee, with your steadfast mindset, that's more than enough."
I hurled aside the wooden plank blocking the door, shoved the sprawled old man into a corner, and piled the plank on top to conceal the scene.
We decided to ignore the old man from here on out.
He wasn't dead yet, but that was entirely up to his own will now.
"From what he said, it seems they might worship a single god... We need to investigate that properly."
News to me, but Elise explained that religions worshiping a sole deity were outlawed in most nations and branded as evil heresies by most faiths, targeted for extermination.
I just nodded since I had no clue.
Probably because there are so many gods here.
Sure, in a world overflowing with gods, pulling that "Screw all of you. Your gods aren't real; only ours is" crap would spark a ton of fights.
Unlike Earth, actual divine beings existed here.
"It must sound appealing to the desperately poor... There are more than a few troublesome aspects."
Unfortunately, we didn't get clear answers on that.
The old man didn't know everything, apparently.
He seemed like just an ordinary follower attending group sermons.
"Anyway, good work, Elise. Things are finally moving thanks to you."
"I'm glad I could help. Then we should head to the meeting spot now."
The gathering was tonight, he'd said.
The location was a bit farther from here, but distinctive enough to find easily. Deep in the back alleys, in some building's basement...
A little creepy, but with Elise, it'd be fine.
We were Divine Friends, after all.
Staying together boosted our combat power through synergy.
"Still, we've got some time left?"
"Yes, about half a day."
"...Wanna grab some food?"
"Sure, why not."
We left the slums and entered a decent-looking eatery. She insisted dramatically on treating this time, so I figured it was okay to let her once.
We sat, ordered from the menu.
"Attending the gathering should reveal the truth."
"Yeah, looking forward to tonight."
This means I won't make it back on time today.
Winia's gonna chew me out when I get home. But right now, the world's more pressing. Who knows what havoc these cultists will wreak in the city.
Bonus: snag some loot while I'm at it.
"Elise. If they're evil, we'll smash 'em right?"
"We don't know their strength yet, so judgment's premature. Rash action could backfire... Eradicating evil hiding in the city requires preparation."
"As expected of my Divine Friend! Great minds think alike! Let's gear up and purify this city!"
"Truly, you're a saint all should emulate...!"
Elise said, deeply moved.
Perfect.
With this momentum, we'll beat every cultist to death, loot everything they've got. It'll uphold the city's justice and boost Elise's record. Ideal.
A chance for legal pillaging.
High risk, high reward.
Today, we'll witness the Eternal Life Cult's truth and claim its worth. Just thinking of wands or ritual daggers from the sewers gets me hyped.
We ate slowly, then strolled outside with time to spare.
"So, infiltrate the gathering, watch quietly what they do. Can't solve it in a day, and we're unequipped anyway."
"Of course we'll proceed cautiously."
"Right? But I have a feeling this'll drag on."
"Drag on, you say?"
Elise echoed.
"Huh? Got a schedule or something?"
If it was just a smash-and-grab, today or tomorrow would do, but rooting out their leaders needs more digging.
Suspicious folks doing shady shit usually do it for money, so loot piles likely. Track their flow.
"No, nothing like that. Just..."
"Just?"
"You said it'd drag on..."
"So what if it does."
"Ah, never mind. Time's about up. Back to the slums."
"Yeah, let's go."
Sunset now. We followed the old man's directions to the spot. Past big buildings, around vendor stalls, deeper in. As dusk fell, the gloom thickened; slum dogs with glowing eyes bustled in shadows.
Round corners, down alleys.
Midway, people heading the same way joined.
"Elise. Crowd's building. All gathering attendees, probably."
"...Yes, I think so too."
No need to search now.
A long procession formed.
They advanced like entranced souls, empty-eyed, tailing each other. We blended in, following suit.
"Imotep. Imotep."
Midway, I rolled my eyes back, mimicking possession by dark sorcery, chanting the slogan.
"Imotep. Imotep."
"Saint?"
"Imotep. Imotep. You too, Elise."
"Ah, got it. I-Imotep. Imo-tep."
Just like that Egyptian vibe back then.
Walking on, our destination appeared.
"Imotep. Imo... Saint. Look there."
"...Yeah. That's it."
A three-story ochre mud-brick building; people streamed inside.
Amid the dark world, orange light poured from the entrance. Closer, it led underground. Entrants resembled moths to flame.
Fitting.
We descended with the flow.
"..."
Quiet, serene.
Torches lit ochre walls in orange glow; ragged folk descended stairs indifferently.
Down long, a corridor appeared. At its end: the gathering hall. Money stench hit hard, snapping me alert.
"...Elise. Eyes down."
We rolled eyes back again. Guards at corridor's end. Their robes were familiar.
The ones the sewer cultists wore.
No tattoos visible.
Skin not pale either.
Just gaunt, like starved a week from death. Milky eyes stared like eternal watchers.
"...Imotep, are you?"
"No. Quiet here."
Shh.
Tense, we followed the front.
Thankfully, no hassle.
"...Phew. Felt ten years shorter."
In broader than expected.
A stage; early arrivals packed, staring blankly. We took mid spots. More flooded in, filling it.
Reminded me of attending a Brass Celestial Society sermon in Krasheim with Winia. Similar vibe.
Murmur murmur.
Murmur murmur.
Watching Elise on tiptoes, crowd stirred. Starting?
Thud thud.
"S-Saint... I can't see...!"
"Can't help that... Hold on."
Pressing Elise's head down, robed group mounted stage. Pale skin, black pupils, bald, evil-looking bastards. Minus tattoos, sewer twins.
The dark magic Lisha mentioned fit them.
They scanned the hall, heads swiveling.
"...It's an honor so many followers have come."
So they spoke.
Shhhh...
Ominous tone, like evil aura exuding. Mouths pitch-black too. Not rotten teeth—tar-gargled level.
Oh, ooh...!
Ooooooh!!!!!!!!!!
Oooooh!!!!
Eternal Life Priest! Eternal Life Priest!!!
Crowd erupted in gloomy cheers like hearing epic speech. Elise looked up, face stiff.
"Saint."
"Play along. Woooh!!!!"
"Y-Yes? O-Oh. Ooooh...!"
Cheering long, the "Eternal Life Priest"—monster-speaker—raised a hand. Palm snow-white.
Silence.
Slum folk obeyed instantly; heat dropped.
"Ahem. Then, today's Eternal Life Doctrine sermon... First, bring forth Susan the follower who sought baptism last time."
Muttering, he mentioned baptism; Elise tiptoed fiercer, triggered. At his gesture, someone emerged from behind veils.
"Behold Susan. No longer mere follower—she's a blessed one wielding Eternal Life power like us."
Grandma-like, but vaguely so because she truly was vague-looking.
Withered granny resembled the monster guards we'd seen.