Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Change of Mood (1)
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Galen first disposed of the corpse.
What they needed was a talkative Ventis who was alive, not a silent one who was dead.
His body had been hacked to pieces, mangled beyond recognition, so there was no further use for it.
The earth golems dragged the body away, stuffing it behind a wall out of sight—not too far, just enough to hide it.
Lilia remained seated blankly, still in the position she'd been in while treating Ventis.
Galen knelt beside her, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders and patting her back.
"You okay?"
"Brother..."
Lilia's voice held no strength as she finally focused her eyes on Galen.
And truthfully, she had none left. She'd poured out her blessing at full power, followed by healing spells, squeezing every last drop of holy power from her.
Of course, holy power—like mana or qi—began regenerating the moment it was spent, so it was already refilling even now.
Galen knew the exhaustion of depleting one's mana all too well, so he could guess how Lilia felt.
But her expression wasn't just fatigue. There was a complicated mix of emotions.
"It was a miracle that saved a life... but it ended up killing him instead. Feels kinda weird."
"That's not on you, Lilia. It's that bastard's fault for rolling around with demons. A normal person would've been fine."
Galen cut straight through her dejected mutterings.
"If anything, you're a good person for even trying to save scum like that. Don't beat yourself up."
"You think so...?"
"I know so. Now, at least wash your hands. They're filthy."
A spirit trickled from Galen's wrist, forming into a cat shape that scampered over to Lilia.
Lilia watched it spit a steady stream of water from its mouth like a faucet, and a soft smile broke through.
Dust and blood could be cleansed with purification miracles anyway. How could Galen, who'd been with her all this time, not know that? It was his way of sparing her more miracle use in her exhausted state.
Her expression much lighter, Lilia obediently washed her hands.
"Blood splattered on your face too. Especially here."
"Here?"
"Yeah. That's better."
Cold water alone couldn't fully scrub the blood, but the crimson aura that had made her look like she'd dunked a person was gone.
"Just deal with the clothes when we head back."
"Eh, toss 'em now. Not cold anyway."
Her robe, already ragged from fire and water, was now even more gruesome with bloodstains everywhere. She looked less like a cleric and more like a butcher.
Lilia shed the robe without hesitation. As an outer layer, she had clothes underneath, of course.
The bloodstains were barely visible now, leaving her looking reasonably presentable.
"Hoo..."
Lilia let out a sigh.
She stared at the wall hiding Ventis's corpse for a while before speaking.
"Truth is... nobody really knows the details of demon contracts."
"Really? I figured the Church had it all figured out."
"From what I gather, there's almost certainly a clause—betray the demon, and you die instantly."
Come to think of it, he'd heard something similar in Elta's demon cradle.
The demon tempting him into the contract had mentioned it as a "minimum measure to prevent betrayal."
That must've been the demon's shackles binding the contractor.
"Only the parties involved know the exact terms, but even mentioning them in detail counts as betrayal. They drop dead the moment they try, so we couldn't extract it."
"So you have to infer from external signs. Was Ventis's death like that?"
"Most likely. Miracles don't fail except against holy power's ultimate opposite—demonic force."
"But we hadn't even interrogated him yet. Nothing to betray."
"Probably triggered the moment it judged he had nothing left but to spill everything. There've been similar cases—drop dead just from getting caught."
"Makes sense. Demons aren't exactly forgiving."
Galen clicked his tongue. Lilia continued with a grave expression.
"The embarrassing reaction earlier? Part surprise from the miracle backfiring... but mostly realizing it was a demon contract."
"That big a deal? The cradle incident didn't feel this serious..."
Sure, upending a family ruling a city wasn't minor.
But Myra, the handler then, had treated it gravely without Lilia's level of alarm.
Were internal Church currents different? They hadn't been as tight with the Church back then, so it wasn't strange.
"The demon was right there with us."
"Huh?"
"We nabbed the contractor in the cradle and took out the demon too."
"Right."
"But here, just the contractor."
"Oh. Wait."
Galen caught on a beat late.
Demons in this world weren't extras summoned from a prayer in your room or blood pentagrams.
"Contracts require meeting the demon in person?"
"Remote deals? That'd be terrifying."
"So Ventis's demon exists somewhere. Out there in the world."
"Yes."
Moritz's demon had been right there, so they'd handled it. No issue.
Ventis's? Unknown location. Big problem.
"If contracted in some demon cradle somewhere, that's better... but Ventis supplied magic weapons. Which demons make directly."
"If not ancient relics but newly made... explains not skimping on them, even for underlings and pirate bosses."
"See why I freaked?"
"Yeah. We need to report back ASAP."
Galen nodded in agreement.
This was bigger than expected.
As villagers dozed fitfully by the bonfire into the early dawn...
"Ugh..."
Beron, who'd been moaning faintly, finally cracked his eyes open with effort.
"Ah, you're awake?"
Lilia greeted him softly from nearby, where she'd been staring into the fire.
Having recovered much holy power in those hours, she was channeling the miracle of vitality again. Pulling an all-nighter was nothing.
"Where...?"
"Still that village."
Lilia answered Beron's raspy question, then poked Galen's side. He was dozing off, swaying beside her.
"Brother, Brother."
"...Huh?"
"Brother Beron's awake."
"Oh? Oh, right."
Galen blinked sleep from his eyes, shaking his head to clear it.
"Young Master! You alright?"
The guard rushed over anxiously. He'd been watching Ventis's underling from a distance.
He quickly supported Beron as he tried to sit up.
"I'm fine."
Beron remembered the moments before blacking out. Besides soreness, no severe pain—treatment had been thorough.
Galen, observing, spoke up.
"Lord Beron, think you can move?"
"Told you, no problem."
"Then let's talk somewhere quiet. Guard, keep watch."
"Yes, sir."
Beron followed readily. The pair put some distance from the group.
"What about that bastard?"
"Dead. Or we wouldn't be resting like this."
Galen summarized curtly for the direct question.
Not the full truth, but enough for the situation.
"Golden warrior using magic weapons... Damn it."
Beron ground his teeth, hand on his throbbing abdomen.
As the one who'd taken the hits, he knew the foe's power.
Silver-rank punches wouldn't have dropped him in one shot, even perfectly countered.
"His identity?"
"Couldn't capture alive."
"Tch. So just that one underling?"
"Yes. Which is why I have a favor to ask."
"Favor?"
"We'll escort him to Mezaya. Along with the black market manager held in Jamila."
"What?"
Beron's brow twitched.
"Dragging a crime in our family's domain to the archdiocese level?"
"You know it's magic weapons involved."
"Even so, no cooperation? Cutting us out entirely?"
"More like, it's beyond my call. Lilia's too. Up to His Grace the Archbishop."
Mentioning Daimus made Beron pause. Galen continued calmly.
"Just my take, but this isn't targeting Steelwall specifically. Bigger plot."
"..."
"Please understand, just this once. Not dismissing Steelwall on purpose."
Beron stayed silent, eyes like lasers.
If no deal... this case too unique; unsure concession limits.
Stonewall and dispatch a rider begging Daimus hurry? Facing noble house like Steelwall head-on? Unpleasant.
"...Hah."
Long silence, then Beron sighed deeply, muttering.
"Damn it, should've been more careful."
"Pardon?"
"Means I owe you."
He rubbed his face with both hands.
"Couldn't catch the perp ourselves—humiliating enough. Now a life debt... What say can I have?"
Galen's face brightened, grasping it.
True noble scion, Beron's pride sky-high. Hated losing face more than death.
Having accepted major Church aid, he couldn't obstruct them.
Family backlash on return, sure. But his fault.
Beron gruffed.
"Do as you like. I'll handle cleanup here."
"Thanks for understanding. With you stepping up, villagers'll rest easy."
"If their backers tie to us and Church covers it up... you'll face the backlash later."
"If shady motives, I'll tell you personally."
"Hmph, smooth talk."
Beron snorted at Galen's grin.
"Talk's done. Rest up. Good work today."
"Work my ass. Just got beat and fell."
Cooperation secured, regardless.
Dawn passed, day broke.
By morning, dozens of wagons arrived.
Beron's guard had hounded Jamila's mayor overnight, plus Kalia Company aid.
Rebuilding the burned village would take time; these were for evacuating residents temporarily, tending wounded, handling dead.
"We'll head out first then. Cleanup in your hands."
"Stop by the Church after! Lingering effects possible!"
Beron still curt with Galen, but properly polite to life-saving Lilia.
Wagon with duo and one prisoner sped to Jamila.
Thanks to haste, arrived lunchtime.
They ordered departure prep, quickly washed and scarfed lunch.
"P-Priestess?!"
The still-captive black market manager gaped at Lilia back in clerical robes.
Galen chuckled.
"She was. You'll see her face awhile."
"Said you'd release after supplier nab! Failed?"
"Nabbed him. But it blew up. Too big for you."
"W-What..."
"Should've managed underlings better."
"Not underlings?!"
The wailing manager got bundled into the wagon.
With two prisoners now, it headed east.