Chapter 584
Chapter 584
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 584
Chapter Title: Is Spring Coming?
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"But we only know the current situation—it's also true that we have no clues or progress. Abominations, was it? Groups that have manufactured those things aren't unheard of before."
"Ooh! So there have been cases like that!"
Sure enough, such incidents had happened before!
Then, just as Elise said, we might be able to uncover their identities!
"Then aren't those bastards the culprits? I don't know much about that stuff, but looking at their facilities and technology, I can't imagine those idiots pulling it off. Not everyone and their dog can handle work that requires specialized skills."
"That's a reasonable inference, but it's far too simplistic."
"Simplistic thinking, you say?"
Did I miss something?
"From the reports, Barker the captain specified it as an abomination—a monster that looked like it was made by weaving and stitching together human flesh. And it was enormous."
"Yes, that's right. But I wasn't sure if it was undead."
We don't know if those things were monsters risen from the dead or if they retained their consciousness. We couldn't tell that much.
"Just as we call goblins and trolls monsters, all such existences are termed abominations. There are a great many kinds. They might differ from those in the records or be identical. There are undead abominations, and there could even be living ones."
"Hmm."
The Saintess of Cardia spoke while incessantly smoking her cigarette.
"It's hard to pinpoint just from the existence itself. And since there are so many, it's not some secretive or difficult technique."
"Ah."
The existence of precedents means the technology has spread to that extent. Apparently, there are all sorts of abomination varieties.
That makes identifying them next to impossible.
We burned the entire underground to begin with.
This case is just sinking deeper into a maze.
"...Necromancers are a prime example of those with such techniques."
"Yes, necromancers!!!"
Grotesque and gloomy sorcerers with cruel reputations, antisocial serial killers—body snatchers.
That's what we call them: necromancers.
They raise dead corpses or use wicked sorcery to turn people into corpses. Truly mad about bodies.
Of course, we already knew that such beings had colluded with the heretics to some degree.
"Necromancers are extremely dangerous. Any church order is obligated to exterminate them on sight. Does the paladin know why?"
Obviously because it's inhuman and unethical.
"Well... because they revive corpses? Turning them into zombies or skeletons would be a problem, right?"
"Reviving the dead—mere zombies or skeletons. Raising ghouls isn't an issue either. It's on a completely different level."
"A different level?"
Sure, skeletons or zombies can be taken down easily by any able-bodied man. Ghouls could be dealt with if properly equipped, though tough. Flesh golems are strong, but not unbeatable monstrosities.
This is a world overflowing with far more dangerous monsters.
That level isn't a problem.
We can handle them without much trouble.
"A necromancer who reaches a high realm can open a dimension called the Netherworld."
What?
"N-Netherworld, you say?"
What's that?
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Of course not. It's not common knowledge."
>—Hoo.
She pulled a fresh pack of cigarettes from between her breasts and took one out, lighting it.
This woman was a heavier smoker than I'd imagined. If these were modern Earth's harmful cigarettes, even a saintess would have long since succumbed to lung cancer.
"...The Netherworld is another realm, like hell or the demon world, existing in a different dimension."
"Hmm."
Netherworld—I'll etch that into my mind. Sounds roughly like hell. New info acquired.
"During the War of False Gods, a necromancer who reached the pinnacle once opened a gate to the Netherworld."
"What happened?"
"A horrific catastrophe unfolded."
From her tone, it sounded like total shit hit the fan.
"A catastrophe... But wasn't everything a catastrophe back then?"
"Heh, true enough."
In any case, the Saintess of Cardia gave me a brief explanation about the Netherworld.
A pinnacle necromancer can open a gate there and freely command the Netherworld monsters they summon.
Necromancers believe the one who opened that gate ascended as a divine being into the Netherworld. That's why those dreaming of ascension flock to the necromancer trade.
They're nearly wiped out now, but there was a school worshiping that necromancer's zenith, and its survivors wander the world, building their own factions.
Those are today's necromancers.
"That's too horrifying!!!!"
I couldn't help but leap from my seat and claw at my hair.
"It is horrifying. If that abomination was created to advance a necromancer's personal mastery, it's quite serious."
"No way...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Unbelievable!
They're out of their minds!!!!!
"Well, the last Netherworld opening was centuries ago, so no need to worry much."
"Phew. That's a relief."
I sat back down, sorting my thoughts.
If such events happened routinely, the world would have shattered long ago. Not everyone reaches the pinnacle.
"However."
"Yes?"
...What now?
"Putting together all the reports so far, those heretics seem connected to both the demons and the necromancers."
The heretics were currently allied with demons and necromancers.
Both factions.
"And they even have decent funding. Yet we still don't know their exact identities."
"..."
"This could be a sign. Of something serious truly beginning. And with no solid intel... troublesome."
The Saintess of Cardia leaned back in her chair, rubbing her brow wearily.
"As I speculated earlier, they might be cooperating with necromancers to open the Netherworld. It might not be true, but if it is, it's extremely dangerous. They're actively operating, so they might achieve something. Even without the Netherworld, advanced necromancers are threats."
The Saintess of Cardia spoke gravely.
But this was all new to me; I couldn't even imagine it. It didn't hit home yet, but shit was going down, huh.
Of course, it could just be speculation, as she elaborated.
"This world looks fine, but it's actually quite precarious. Too many threats to human realms. Responding to each one is frankly impossible."
"...So we're fucked?"
She's laying it on thick, making me anxious as hell.
Is this really going south?
The Demon Gate has hell linked to the mortal world in real time. Even something stronger than Andromalius popping out wouldn't be surprising.
"Heh, the paladin's language gets rougher the more I see."
"Ah, force of habit. Sorry."
Got casual and the swears slipped out.
"Not bad. Don't mind it."
"Heh heh heh, got it. So, Saintess, what should we do?"
"Well... Even this saintess isn't sure. For now, we gather info and resolve the incidents as they arise."
The Saintess of Cardia finally stopped smoking, closed her eyes, and fell silent for a moment.
She took a slow deep breath and spoke lowly.
"...I just wanted to talk about this."
"Suddenly?"
"The paladin listens so well, so I ended up rambling. Anyway, it's your job now to uncover these things. Working with this saintess, you'll learn more."
Sure, working with the saintess would expose me to all sorts of trivia.
But the outrageous stuff isn't my wheelhouse.
I summarized the matter with the Saintess of Cardia once more. Rewards would come via official document later.
She seemed keen on sending a second recon team to the Fog Plains, but I begged off—I didn't want to go back. Karin might kill me if I trekked that far again.
"Anyway, good work, paladin. Truly amazing. You exceed expectations every time."
"Heh heh heh, luck this time. If the heretics hadn't come to the village, we wouldn't have found it. And it was possible thanks to the holy knights. That Captain Barker really knows his stuff."
We solved it by cooperating with the holy knights.
"Even when we captured those heretics, he held back from killing them."
At that, the Saintess of Cardia's eyes widened.
"That's truly surprising."
"He slaughters them without restraint if no one's there to stop him. But he restrains himself if someone does."
"No one's around to stop him except you, paladin."
"Heh heh heh, true that."
True enough.
"Well, you handled this splendidly too. This saintess's trust in you is overflowing. I can entrust you with anything."
"Grateful for the high regard."
"Keep it up."
This case hammered my reliability into the Saintess of Cardia's heart like a stake. Now I've solidly secured her as a powerful backer.
From now on, I'll actively name-drop the saintess whenever trouble brews.
"Go rest then."
"Heh heh heh, you too, Saintess."
"Oh dear."
With that, I stepped outside. Time had passed, but not much—it wasn't night yet.
Still some time before Karin and Lishia got off work.
Brace myself before heading home. Karin's probably pissed as hell—sorrys only go so far. My heart's already breaking.
I headed straight home.
>—Creak.
As I opened the door.
"Sis! The darky's back!"
Winia's urgent shout rang out.
>—Thud!
"Winia! What happened!!"
Shit, something go down at my house?!
I instantly drew my dagger and rolled across the floor. Head to where Winia's voice came from first!
"Darky, hurry over here!"
"What? What's wrong?!"
"Come first!"
The voice came from the basement.
From Winia's shrill cry, something had definitely happened. But not serious? I charged toward the basement like a tidal wave.
>—Thump!
Landing there, I saw Cloudy and Winia—and Lishia—peering at something. Lishia home early? No Karin.
"What happened! Big trouble?!"
"Took you long enough. Really, aren't you too late?"
Lishia's clear voice echoed in the basement.
Damn it all...! Made her wait again!
"Lishia, sorry!!! But what the hell?!"
"Come here, Illy. I have something to show you."
"Something to show?"
Doesn't seem like major trouble.
I started toward them.
But.
"Hm?"
Something.
>—One more person there.
Right ahead, obscured by them, a huddled figure knelt. Thief in the house, locked in the basement?
"Katt... look at this..."
"Darky, we're fucked..."
"What the—?"
Finally reaching them, I saw what was in front.
"..."
>—A woman with striking long red hair knelt in a W-sit, staring at me.
What is this?
She looks familiar somehow...
"Darky, this is an alraune..."
"What, WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The alraune I'd been diligently nurturing with flower pots had hatched!!
And into that bitch—the one I fought tooth and nail with back then!!!
"My precious elixir turned into a person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
We're screwed!!!!!!!!!