The Arkemen (2)
The next day, at lunchtime, I strode through the capital of Heimach with a greatsword freshly retrieved from Torgin Blacksmith. There was no reason for me to visit the central noble district or the imperial family quarter. The place I wanted was the commoner district located in the eastern part of Heimach. It was the perfect spot for a heretical cult to take root.
‘They say once you step into the back alleys, you can’t even find a person, right?’
The commoner district was notorious for its haphazardly constructed old buildings. While the main roads were pleasant enough, the moment you entered the alleys, even locals were said to lose their way. The imperial guards supposedly avoided venturing in there too, making it an ideal hiding place for a cult.
I headed straight for the most prosperous tavern in the commoner district.
“Welcome, Black Death God sir! What brings a fine gentleman like you to a shabby little dive like this?”
The bartender, who had been wiping a cup, greeted me like an old acquaintance. Even though it was a weekday afternoon, several patrons were scattered about. Quite a few looked like tourists drawn by the tavern’s reputation. Places like this were always hubs for information.
I took a seat at the counter and immediately slid a single gold coin toward the bartender.
“Information on the Arkemen. Anything on the Alchemy Duke would be even better.”
“……What?”
The bartender’s hand froze mid-wipe.
“Don’t say that name around here in Heimach. Things are already tense enough these days….”
“Is gathering information not allowed either?”
“It’s not that. I’m saying it’s genuinely dangerous.”
“I see.”
Clink. I placed another gold coin in front of him. When he still hesitated, I added a third. Three gold coins total. That was more than enough for the price of information.
Eventually the bartender shook his head with a sigh and swept the coins away.
“…Fine, fine! Stop already.”
“There’s nothing money can’t buy.”
“Haa… Just what exactly are you so curious about?”
“Everything about those bastards.”
“Where do I even start….”
The bartender let out a long sigh and began to explain.
“Do you know that the one called the Alchemy King created the Arkemen?”
“I’ve heard the name.”
“Right. Those guys were originally from the Alchemy Guild.”
“…From the Alchemy Guild?”
“They got kicked out and started their own religion. Who knows, maybe they were already doing shady stuff back then too.”
I nodded at his explanation. I’d wondered why the guild had even put out a request. If they used to be members, it made perfect sense. The guild probably didn’t want any sparks flying their way.
“What about information on the Alchemy King or the Alchemy Duke?”
“That… I don’t know. From what I hear, they all wear those damn masks.”
“I see.”
“This should be worth the gold, right? Now please leave. I’m already risking my neck by talking to you.”
“Wait.”
I grabbed the bartender’s wrist.
“You skipped the most important part.”
“W-what information?”
“Their headquarters.”
“I don’t know! How would a bartender like me know something like that?”
He roughly shook off my hand.
“If a regular bartender knew their base, the imperial guards would’ve raided it already. Especially with the empire’s state religion in place.”
“…Hm, that makes sense.”
The empire’s state religion was the Valuaise Church. It was a monotheistic faith that worshipped the goddess Valuaise and was the only religion officially recognized in the empire. Since the emperor himself had declared it the state religion, all other faiths were labeled heretical. The imperial guards and the church’s Heretic Inquisitors were surely desperate to locate the cult’s hideout.
If they found it before I did?
I might lose my chance to snatch up that Mandium for free.
“If not their headquarters, then there must be places where they proselytize or hold services.”
“What…?”
“There have to be one or two idiots around here who believe in that cult, right? I can just follow one of them in.”
“Ah… Actually, there is one idiot who fits the bill.”
The bartender’s gaze slowly slid to the side. I followed it and turned my head. A man sitting two seats away came into view. He was sneaking glances at us while drinking his beer, and his hands were visibly trembling.
I stood up immediately and dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder.
“Hiiik!”
“Looks like you and I need to have a little chat.”
* * *
“H-here it is!”
“Hm….”
The place we arrived at was an ordinary-looking house. I’d expected it to be deep in the empire’s back alleys, so I was a bit surprised to find it in a relatively normal residential area. Good thing I’d gone to that bartender. Otherwise I would’ve wasted a lot of time.
“Well then, I’ll be going now….”
“You’re coming with me.”
“M-me too?!”
“If I go in alone, they’ll get suspicious. Saying I brought a friend should make them happy.”
“…Hic.”
“Don’t cry. There, there.”
I patted his back reassuringly. I had to sell the whole best-friends act, so crying would ruin it. Fortunately, his tears stopped quickly. Apparently seeing me fiddling with the hilt of my greatsword was enough to dry them right up.
“Let’s head in. What’s your name, by the way?”
“…It’s Urbo.”
“Alright, Urbo. Let’s do this.”
I knocked on the door with Urbo beside me. The person who opened it was an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman. She greeted Urbo warmly.
“Oh my, Urbo! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Y-yes….”
“But the person next to you… oh?”
“Nice to meet you.”
The woman’s eyes as she looked me up and down were anything but ordinary. It was only natural. A man in full black plate armor carrying a greatsword had just walked into a normal family home. Her pupils were shaking noticeably.
“U-Urbo… who is this gentleman?”
“He’s my friend. He said he was interested in our… gathering, so I brought him along.”
“Very interested, yes.”
I chimed in at the right moment. The interest part was true. Just not in their cult, but in their Mandium.
“Well… come in, then.”
She still looked suspicious, but apparently couldn’t find a good reason to turn us away.
Step. Step.
I followed Urbo inside. The house itself was completely ordinary. The problem was where they led us next.
“Watch your step.”
“……”
When they rolled back the living room carpet, a staircase leading to a basement appeared. After descending, we found ourselves in a passage far larger than any basement should allow. We walked for about three minutes before emerging into a massive cavern.
‘No wonder they haven’t been caught yet.’
There were countless houses in the capital of Heimach. Trying to flip every carpet, find every secret passage, and search every hidden space would be an insane amount of work. This must be why the cult had stayed hidden for so long.
“Alright everyone, let’s begin!”
Dozens of people were gathered in the cavern. Since only a few candles had been lit, no one paid much attention to me standing at the back. All eyes were fixed on the peculiar figure standing at the center of the space.
It was a man wearing a distinctive white mask and a formal suit.
“Thank you all for coming today. As the Alchemy Count, allow me to demonstrate my power to the faithful!”
◈ The hardest metal in existence
◈ Absorbs all light, pitch black
“Waaaaah!!”
“Mandium! Mandium! Mandium!”
“Just one piece of that and my family could….”
“Everyone, please calm down!”
The crowd went wild at the appearance of the Mandium fragment. As they said, even a single piece would be enough to cover several years of living expenses for a commoner family. They had clearly gathered here hoping to get even one tiny shard.
“Anyone who gets overly excited or tries to attack me will be immediately expelled!”
Behind him stood five rough-looking men. They were armed with axes and swords, and their eyes showed they’d seen plenty of combat. The security was tighter than I’d expected.
‘This might take longer than I thought.’
I’d assumed a cult would only have one or two guards. But this cowardly bastard had brought five. There were also multiple escape routes. Judging by the several holes in the cavern walls, this space was probably connected to other houses.
“If you show your faith, devotion, and respect! The Alchemy King will look kindly upon you and bestow Mandium fragments upon you!”
““Waaaaah!!””
“Now now, don’t push. Please insert your offerings slowly.”
He tucked the Mandium fragment back into his sleeve and began carrying around a collection box. People eagerly stuffed silver coins into the slot.
Good. No need to watch any longer.
“Urbo, get out of here on your own.”
“Y-yes?”
“This is my thanks for guiding me this far.”
Thud. I shoved him back the way we came and drew my greatsword.
I’d found their hideout, learned what they were doing, and even located the Alchemy Count lackey….
“Everyone, pay attention.”
“…!!!”
BOOM—!!
I slammed the flat of my greatsword against the cavern wall. The decorations and candles hanging there exploded into pieces, filling the space with a deafening crash. The frenzied donation show came to an abrupt halt.
A few people who recognized me screamed.
“I-it’s the Black Death God?”
“It’s the Black Death God!”
It was convenient that I didn’t need to explain anything in moments like this.
I pointed my greatsword at the Alchemy Count.
“I have a few questions for you. If you answer obediently… I won’t spill any blood.”
“……”
The Alchemy Count shook his head at my words.
“It seems an unbeliever has slipped in. Dispose of him!”
“Yes sir!”
The moment the order left his mouth, the guards surrounded me. I’d tried to follow Gandhi’s example and resolve things through dialogue, but….
I tightened my grip on the greatsword.
“Well, this way is more comfortable for me too.”
After all, I had a perfectly good greatsword that served as an excellent means of communication.