Episode 12: Heretic Inquisitor Wilhelm (3)
Episode 12: Heretic Inquisitor Wilhelm (3)
Beneath the massive fortress of the Papal Court in the pouring rain, the attention of all the guards was focused.
Where their gazes were directed, a single Great Warrior, Ban, was walking forward in silence.
"What does that man intend to do alone right now?"
"That massive great sword, his enormous physique... It's identical to the intel on that guy who assaulted the gatehouse. Sound the alarm!!!"
-Dang! Dang! Dang!
The bells of the Papal Court rang out, and the Holy Knights on the fortress walls aimed their bows.
"Come no closer, you devil!!!"
However, seeing this, Ban kept walking as if he didn't care.
"All forces, fire!!!"
With the command, hundreds of arrows flew towards Ban.
Ban quietly watched the arrows flying towards him, and just before they reached him, he drew his Great Sword and shattered them all.
-Kwagagagang!!
"Hoo..."
Having blocked the hundreds of arrows aimed at him, Ban reached close to the gate.
"It's an absurd plan, but... I have no choice but to trust it."
Ban recalled the strategy meeting that had taken place before taking action.
**
"Ban goes to Priscilla, and you all, as the Saintess's followers, head to the prayer hall, right?"
After hearing Evelyn's plan, Fishel objected as if she didn't like it.
"No, the Great Warrior-nim should head towards the Saintess-nim."
"No, you're heading in the opposite direction of what each of you wants."
Upon hearing Fishel's rebuttal, Evelyn brought a ledger from the bookshelf.
"This is a record of all the heroic people who have sacrificed everything so far to reach the Saintess-nim."
The ledger Evelyn opened was densely filled with the names of countless people.
"We have challenged the path to the Saintess-nim countless times. But the path to the lofty prayer hall is not permitted for the weak like us."
Evelyn stroked the ledger and clasped her hands in a praying posture.
"The Holy Knights and Inquisitors, and the person who is their leader, are always guarding it. To this day, we have never broken through them with our own power."
"Even though you kept dying, why did you keep challenging it?"
Fishel asked as if she didn't understand the method.
"It wasn't a vain death. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to map the various paths throughout the Papal Court and plant loyalists, allowing our voices to reach not only the Saintess-nim but also Priscilla-nim."
Evelyn looked at Ban with eyes full of reverence.
"But the situation has changed. Since the Great Warrior-nim, who doesn't retreat even before a powerful foe, has come to us, we will be able to break through the walls of the Papal Court and head to the prayer hall."
Immediately after, Evelyn took out another map.
"Of course, while the Great Warrior-nim heads to the prayer hall, we will head to Priscilla-nim in the underground."
Ban, who had been silently listening to the plan details, finally spoke.
"Do you know the exact location where Priscilla-nim is imprisoned?"
"Yes, of course there is a major obstacle. We must remove the multi-locked iron bars and all the Mana Sealing Stones hidden throughout the Papal Court."
"I can handle it all. Sorry, but my priority is Priscilla-nim."
Hearing Ban's words, Evelyn hesitated for a moment before kneeling.
"You are right. But... if it weren't for someone like the Great Warrior-nim, we would have no hope. If the Great Warrior-nim spearheads the frontal breakthrough, we will take advantage of the gaps in their forces to safely escort Priscilla-nim."
Ban looked down at Evelyn, who was speaking as if pleading, for a long time.
"Hoo... Does Priscilla-nim know about the plan?"
"Yes, in fact, Priscilla-nim proposed the plan first. However, she does not yet know that Ban-nim has arrived. Originally, we were planning to carry it out among ourselves, so the chance of success was slim."
Fishel spoke up as if she had realized something.
"So the original plan was to break the Mana Sealing Stones, rescue Priscilla, and then use her overwhelming power to rescue the Saintess."
"Correct. We planned it in close consultation with Priscilla-nim. But now that the Great Warrior-nim has appeared, a safer and more certain method has been born."
Ban, who had been pondering for a moment, gave a small nod.
"Alright. If Priscilla-nim is participating..."
"Thank you!! Thank you, Great Warrior-nim!!! Because of this, there will be a great change for the Empire's future, and this deed will be passed down for eternity!!"
"Never mind that. If the situation goes wrong, I'll immediately run towards Priscilla-nim. Be clear about that point."
"Yes, Great Warrior-nim!"
Fishel, who had been quietly watching Evelyn's joyful appearance, spoke in a tone suggesting she had another point of suspicion.
"Let's say Ban takes the front and draws attention. But if he fights countless troops and goes to the top-level prayer hall, wouldn't the Saintess be in danger too? For you all, the Saintess is the top priority, right..."
"The Papal Court will absolutely not lay a hand on the Saintess Charlotte-nim. Saintess-nim is a huge source of funds and a symbol for the Papal Court; they will not harm her under any circumstances. They just... want to prevent her from slipping from their grasp."
Fishel nodded as if she understood, then leaned right up to Ban's ear and whispered quietly.
"Ban, even so, it seems like just you and I could sufficiently rescue them. Why did you agree?"
"It's just a precaution. If the Papal Court's entire force were to focus on Priscilla-nim, who can't use magic, who knows what variables might arise."
"That's true... I hadn't thought of that... Ah!"
Only then did Fishel realize Ban's face was at close range and blushed, hastily pulling away.
The firmly closed gates of the Papal Court fortress shattered, and as he cut down numerous Holy Knights, Ban charged forward.
-Kwang!!! Kwagagagang!!
The Holy Knights could not stop Ban, who charged forward at full power with his Great Sword leading the way.
They fell like straws, and ended up allowing Ban to enter the building interior.
"What's all this commotion outside!! It's an important day for me, a great noble of the Empire, to receive the Saintess-nim's miracle!! Kuaaaak!!!"
-Puh-eok!
Ban struck the face of a large noble blocking the narrow corridor as if he were a nuisance.
Climbing countless stairs and running down corridors, Ban punched the faces of every priest and noble he saw.
"After beating them up this much, they should all gather here."
Eventually, when Ban reached the top of the Papal Court, he saw one ornate door.
"It's locked..."
-Kwaang!!!
Ban mercilessly struck the door.
After several impacts, the ornate door shattered, revealing a massive prayer hall so bright with sunlight it was blinding.
In the very center, sitting delicately as if startled, was a golden-haired girl.
Ban slowly approached the girl.
"Are you the Saintess?"
The golden-haired girl shed tears and opened her mouth.
"I am... the Saintess... Your name is...?"
"I am Ban."
"Ban... My fated hero who has come... I am the Saintess Charlotte. Please, save me and these frail people."
Ban approached Charlotte and held out his hand.
"Get up for now. Enemies will swarm soon."
Charlotte demurely took Ban's hand and rose from her seat.
Then she gently stroked Ban's hand.
"Rough, but warm and large hands..."
"What are you..."
At that moment, a crowd of people rushed in through the broken prayer hall door.
"That guy!!! He's the devil who oppressed God's children!! So his target was the Saintess after all? Kill him!!!"
The person shouting while dressed in resplendent golden robes was the Bishop, the head of the Papal Court.
And behind him, a single knight as massive as Ban, if not more, appeared.
"Ah... Ah... Aaaaah!!!"
Seeing that figure, the Saintess behind Ban screamed.
"Wasn't the Saintess supposed to have poor eyesight? Seems she remembers the smell of blood."
The knight leveled his mace at Ban and shouted loudly.
"I! am the Inquisitor Wilhelm. I shall now execute the devil who insults the Papal Court and abducts the Saintess!"
Ban also readjusted his grip on his Great Sword.
"There sure are a lot left even after killing so many... Good thing this place is spacious, easy to swing. Since you're all Imperial pawns anyway, I have no intention of letting a single one live."
"Are you the Great Warrior who captured the rumored Reinhardt? Just as the rumors say, you have a massive and powerful aura."
Hearing Wilhelm's words, the other knights behind him began to murmur.
"So it was true that he captured Reinhardt-nim? He was practically the Empire's strongest knight!"
Hearing this, Wilhelm turned around with an annoyed expression.
"What nonsense are you spouting? The Empire's greatest knight is me, Wilhelm!"
Wilhelm shouted loudly for all to hear.
"Before me, Wilhelm, blessed by God, even the Great Warrior!! Even the Immortal Knight!! are all nothing but rabble!!"
As soon as his words ended, Wilhelm rushed at Ban.
"Die, heretic!!!!"
-Kwaang!!
But before his mace could reach Ban, the Great Sword swept down.
"Kuaaaak!!"
Although he blocked it with his mace, Wilhelm, directly hit by the Great Sword, flew through the wall.
Seeing this, the people looked at Ban with expressions of disbelief.
"Who's next?"
"You, you worthless!!! J... Just a moment, let's talk!!"
The Bishop raised both hands and spoke obsequiously.
As Ban paid no heed and prepared to swing his sword once more, something began to writhe within the hole Wilhelm had flown through.
-Kugugugugugu!!
Soon, the wall of the hole shattered, and a massive Magic Beast with a face like a black goat appeared.
That Magic Beast held a mace in one hand.
"Behold! The form of this body blessed by God!!!!"
"For an Inquisitor, your own form is the closest to a devil's."
"Shut your mouth!!!!"
Ban's massive Great Sword was aimed at the Magic Beast, and the aura of the two men about to clash filled the prayer hall.