Episode 13: Heretic Inquisitor Wilhelm (4)
Episode 13: Heretic Inquisitor Wilhelm (4)
-Crack!!
"I broke another one."
I'm wandering through the various parts of the massive Papal Court, breaking Mana Sealing Stones.
I've been breaking them in order, following the map Evelyn gave me, targeting not just the hidden ones but even the openly visible Sealing Stones, but there's no sign of it ending.
I had heard that the witch named Priscilla was powerful, but to what level must she be for them to plaster this many Sealing Stones everywhere? I can't even guess.
Furthermore, according to Evelyn, a considerable amount of her mana has already been extracted and sent to the royal castle.
You'd think they could reduce the number of Sealing Stones a bit, but to prepare this thoroughly is nothing short of astounding.
I checked the map Evelyn gave me once more and then knocked on the wall.
"It says there's one here too?"
-Tap tap tap
Soon, one side of the wall sank down, revealing a hidden Sealing Stone.
"This is ridiculous, really."
It makes Evelyn and her subordinates, who claimed to have found over 90% of them, seem even more impressive.
-Crack!
With that, I've handled all the Sealing Stones assigned to me.
Now, I just need to head to the rendezvous point, the place where Priscilla is imprisoned.
I scanned the map again, memorized the route, and quickly ran off.
On the way, I almost ran into knights hastily heading to the upper floors, but stealth is my specialty, so I could pass by without issue.
'Thanks to Van, things are definitely going smoothly and easily. I wonder how much havoc he's wreaking up there.'
Because of Van's frontal assault, the number of guards has decreased significantly.
With this many Sealing Stones hidden, if the security had been tight as well, the success rate would have been truly abysmal.
"Evelyn!!"
The prison for heretics in the Papal Court's basement.
Numerous iron bars and cells are densely packed.
Fishel and Evelyn appeared almost simultaneously.
"Lady Fishel, how were your results?"
"I broke all the ones assigned to me as planned. What about you and your subordinates?"
"We've also broken most of ours. The remaining few will be handled by the faithful. It's all thanks to the Great Warrior."
"Right, Van is amazing. So now we just go to the cell where she's said to be held?"
Fishel said, looking toward the depths of the prison.
"Yes, there's a cell in the deepest part used to detain high-status prisoners."
"Good, let's get there ahead of time."
"The faithful who will unlock it haven't arrived yet, but... it should be useless in front of Lady Priscilla once her seals are lifted."
Fishel and Evelyn headed deeper, feeling they had almost succeeded in their operation.
However, when the two reached a thick, ornate door, they were met with a chilling, ominous presence.
"Hah... This wasn't in the operation details."
"I'm sorry. For an important figure like Lady Priscilla, I should have considered that a strong individual would be guarding her..."
Fishel and Evelyn turned to identify the source of the chilling presence.
From the shadows, a man slowly emerged.
He wore a deep cloak, thrusting an unnaturally thin and sharp sword toward Fishel and Evelyn.
"As expected, His Majesty the Emperor was right. You can't trust the Papal Court bastards' handling of things. To have your weakness exposed by such a lowly plan."
The Emperor's Direct Scout, Brahim of Swiftness.
He moves only by direct order of the Walpurgis Empire's Emperor, hiding in the shadows, the loyal dog of Emperor Balthazar who would undertake any task to fulfill his master's will.
"Here to save the witch? I'm sorry, but there are still a few more extractions of mana remaining. She cannot leave here."
"What do you mean a few more? You'll suck her dry to the marrow and then discard her when she dies."
Fishel drew the sword at her waist.
"His Majesty the Emperor took a liking to the witch's bold personality and appearance. He said once all her mana is extracted, he would make her a civilian and take her as a companion. How about it? Isn't he merciful?"
"Disgusting bastards."
Fishel glanced at Evelyn and spoke quietly.
"Evelyn... what level of combat ability do you have? The enemy before us doesn't seem easy."
Evelyn was dripping with cold sweat as she answered.
"I mainly use auxiliary magic, but I can't use mana in this space yet. It seems there are a few more hidden Sealing Stones."
"So I have to do it alone..."
Fishel tightened her grip on the sword she held.
"I already miss Van."
-Boom!!
-Crash!!
Van lightly dodges the flail of Wilhelm, who has transformed into a giant baphomet-like magic beast, and swings his Great Sword.
But Wilhelm also leaps up with his elastic hind legs, evading Van's attack.
As the fight between the two intensifies in one corner of the prayer room, the Bishop, hiding behind, sneaks through the debris to approach Saintess Charlotte.
"That... that Inquisitor there has made a contract with a demon or something... cackle cackle... wanting to gain power, he shouldn't do such things. Isn't that right, Saintess?"
Charlotte looked at the Bishop without a word.
"You're just as quiet even in this situation. Hurry and follow me. Let's use this opening to escape the Papal Court and flee to the royal castle. His Highness, who must have heard the news, will be preparing as well."
The Bishop forcibly grabbed Charlotte's arm and tried to pull her.
But Charlotte soon shook off his arm strongly.
"No!! I won't go with you!"
"You... How dare!!! Who do you think you're talking back to!!! I made you, a beggarly wretch, into a Saintess, and you've become utterly arrogant."
As the Bishop tried to forcibly grab Charlotte's arm once more, Charlotte picked up a knife that had fallen to the floor.
"Don't come any closer, Bishop-nim! I will not go with you. Not anymore!!"
Charlotte recalled her own weak self up until now.
And she sees the warrior before her eyes, fighting against a huge, fierce magic beast without retreating a single step.
"I won't just take it anymore either."
Charlotte gripped the knife with all her might in her slender arms.
"So, that's how it is..."
The Bishop shook his head as if disappointed and soon drew a dagger from his robes.
"Then I'll just have to take you by force."
Seeing the Bishop charging at her with the dagger drawn, Charlotte tightly shut her eyes.
Though she had found courage, having never held a knife in her life nor ever tried to harm anyone, the best Charlotte could do was just hold the knife straight out.
-Boom!!
At that moment, the Bishop charging at Charlotte vanished in the blink of an eye.
"How is this..."
The instant the Bishop's blade was about to reach Charlotte, Van, who had perceived the situation even amidst the clash, had thrown his Great Sword, hitting the Bishop square on and sending him crashing into the wall.
"Idiot. Throwing your main weapon to save the Saintess..."
"Someone like you, my fists are enough."
"Try it then, warrior..."
-Grrind!!
Wilhelm made a strange noise, and soon a thick black mist began to emerge from his mouth.
The mist spread in an instant, enveloping Van and Wilhelm.
-Boom!!
-Crash!!
Charlotte couldn't see, but she could feel it.
That the black mist harbored a power that gnawed away at life force.
"Great Warrior-nim..."
-Boom! Boom boom!!
From within the pitch-black mist, terrible sounds of crushing and bone-breaking echoed.
Then, heavy footsteps began to emerge from the black mist.
Walking out slowly, a silhouette became visible; it was the face of a black baphomet.
"No... No..."
But soon, sensing something strange, the Saintess looked forward once more.
She could perceive the strong, resilient aura of a person that had been obscured by the mist.
Wilhelm, who was trying to break through the mist, was now just a head floating in the air.
Immediately after, Van, covered in blood and holding Wilhelm's head, revealed himself.
"So this is what happens when you make a contract with a demon? Interesting."
Van tossed Wilhelm's head aside and approached Charlotte.
"Get up, Saintess."
"How did you... with just your bare hands..."
Charlotte trembled.
The being that was absolute evil, who had dragged her to hell and mercilessly trampled the families in the Slum, had been helplessly defeated by the man before her.
The Great Warrior who shattered her hell and tore apart the demon that had bound her.
She made a resolution at this very moment.
That for this person before her, she could do anything.
"Hah... hah..."
Fishel's body has wounds, not deep, but scattered in various places.
She was barely dodging and blocking Brahim's attacks, but with a clear difference in skill, holding on was the best Fishel could do.
"More tenacious than I thought, kid. What's your name?"
"Fishel, knight of the Rohim Kingdom."
"You could have become a top-tier knight if you'd grown a bit more. A pity."
Brahim points his sword at Fishel once again.
"I have to catch the other bitch who ran off, so I'll finish you off now."
"You couldn't finish me off until now, yet you talk about finishing me off. Try it."
Fishel also steadied her breath and raised her sword.
And the two clashed.
Fishel intended to prioritize blocking again this time, but in a split second, she felt a change occurring in her body.
Noticing the change, Fishel deflected Brahim's attack and succeeded in attacking for the first time.
-Swish!!
"Kugh!"
Brahim staggered after being struck by Fishel's sword.
"Lady Fishel!! Are you alright?!"
Standing behind Fishel was Evelyn, who had cast a Haste magic spell.
"Thank you! If you can use magic, that means... is it over?"
"Yes!!"
-Rumble rumble!!
The Papal Court basement shakes and trembles.
"Hah... Persistent bastards."
Feeling the tremor, Brahim glanced back subtly.
There, the firmly shut, ornate door was trembling and shaking violently.
-CRASH!!
And finally, the door shattered to pieces with a powerful sound of destruction.
"Looks like the operation was a success~ Thank you~"
A clear voice, humming, came from inside the door.
The Witch of the Swamp, Priscilla, was walking out, emitting so much mana that it made the air on the scene heavy.
"Witch of the Swamp... Honor the agreement to cooperate and return to your cell."
Brahim points his sword at Priscilla.
"No~"
Priscilla's starlight-like eyes began to glow.