Chapter 87 - The Hero Delving into the Genesis Cult
"You crazy bastard... You're fucking insane..! Gahhh!!"
It was deep in the night, while the Moderator was off dreaming in dreamland. At the northern border of the Krantz Empire, in a place uninhabited by people, the Hero Duke Graywarden was cutting down suspicious figures in black robes.
"Eek..! Jason, Jason's been split in half...!"
"Shut up, you filthy scum. I figured there'd be more of you left... but I didn't expect you'd be wandering around so boldly. Just stay quiet and let me chop you up."
A woman wailing in front of a bisected corpse, and Duke pronouncing her death sentence. The black-robed figures surrounding them trembled, but racked their brains to fulfill their duty.
There had to be some advantage they held right now. A black-robed man glanced around frantically, then revealed his "advantage" in a quivering voice.
"W-We have twenty of us, right? You got us with a surprise attack earlier, but it'll be different now? Why don't you just go your way if you let us run? It'll save your life too?"
The black-robed man's plea came out like a terrified threat. Eyes darting everywhere, legs shaking uncontrollably. It was the desperate cry of the weak that anyone could see through as bluff.
"Should I run just because you outnumber me? So, are you saying you're stronger than me right now?"
"..."
Twenty mouths, but not a single breath escaped them in their pitiable state. Duke sighed at the sight, then issued a command.
"Bring out the sinner you smuggled from the Magic Tower. And the bodies of the imperial soldiers you killed too. If you don't, I'll make you beg to die instead."
"...!"
How did he know that? Had info leaked from somewhere? It was information that hadn't even spread in the Ark Gallery yet, unknown to anyone.
The black robes desperately tried to figure it out, but couldn't. The mages Casper and his friend, who had tried to escape the Magic Tower, were supposed to be en route to the Imperial Capital for trial. That is, if not for the worshippers of dead gods, the followers of the Genesis Cult.
One of the few groups left in the world harboring grudges against the Empire. They had been ordered to raid and capture them, deeming them useful intel.
"Hoo... Fine. I get it. I'll cut off your limbs, so don't die. I'll cauterize them just enough. You won't croak from this much, right?"
With those annoyed words, that became their final mission.
"W-Wait! I'll talk... Gahk..."
"You can't beat a Hero, I told you?! Run now... Huh?"
"Kyaa, kyaahhh! It hurts! Hurts so much!!! My arms! Legs! Where are they...!"
"Shut up, you filthy things. Guess I need to cauterize your mouths too."
Was he really pissed? Duke swiftly completed a magic circle and hurled it at the black robes.
A fire magic circle approaching the human pillows rolling on the ground. Magic utterly unfit for a Hero's title. It was Duke's brutal hemostasis measure, searing only the enemies' wounds.
Szzzzz-- The horrific sound of flesh burning. The sound of black robes, spared from shock death, now robbed of bleeding out.
A savory yet revolting smell of human meat roasting. Duke approached to silence their mouths amid the stench.
"Uwaaaaaahhh!!!"
"Hoo... Stay still. Move and I'll cauterize something vital. If that's fine, go ahead."
Duke proposed a line to draw for their slim chance at prolonged survival. But it fell on deaf ears for those with limbs severed and wounds cauterized.
"Can't even endure that? The countless people you sacrificed as offerings suffered far worse, didn't they?"
Thud-! Thwack-! Thuuud-!
"Disgusting..! Filthy scum..! Kill you and more keep crawling out, like endless vermin...!"
In the dark landscape, brutal noises echoed endlessly. Duke meticulously stomped their mouths one by one.
Szzzzz--
"Ughhh! Ughhhh!"
"Hoo. Still noisy even with mouths sealed. You there, why... Oh, right? Didn't I tell you to stay still? Nose got cauterized too."
Some writhed in agony, others just trembled pitifully with noses sealed. Duke considered piercing the one's nose but decided it was too much hassle and left it.
"One bisected, eight shock deaths, one suffocation. Eleven survivors. Someone to collect you will come soon. Keep screaming like that; it'll make you easier to find."
"Ughhh..."
Confirming all means of resistance neutralized, Duke shifted his gaze to the Ark Gallery screen as he walked, to contact his recovery teammate.
The chat room function provided by the Moderator. It had come full circle to Duke as well. The Padak-loving Duke found it extremely useful too.
Duke felt satisfaction at having made such fine friends, eyes fixed on the updating chat.
After parting with the Moderator, Duke acutely felt the need for family education. He hadn't imagined his daughter would act so recklessly.
To educate her, he swiftly cleared Helga's team's patrol area. Carrying five on his back, running on two legs. Then hired them as his cleanup crew. It was the result of paternal love, making his once-hopeless delinquent daughter experience the process that changed him.
He had even banned Brunhilde's gallery access, so she was getting 20 years' worth of family education crammed into her all at once—something she'd never received before.
Visibly flustered, Helga replied quickly. Duke reminisced on his past self.
The teenage delinquent who roamed cities seeking thrills, faithful only to instinct. Comparing his current self—self-proclaimed Hero—with that past, Duke let out an incredulous chuckle. It was truly an absurd transformation.
Did he forget that past? The Blackmore Duchy adventurer guild orphanage delinquent. Red Axe Helga's baggage. Ungrateful beast. Those self-titles were overshadowed by the moniker "Hero," faded away. Duke believed his daughter Hilde could become respected too—even without a shocking event like his own.
An education he must give, even if hated by his daughter. Duke prayed it would end safely as he quickened his steps.
To fulfill his duty, the Hero pursued the revolting mana afterscent. To exterminate the resurfaced Genesis Cult.