The Heibrun Subjugation (Part 2)
Huff, huff...
It was now decided that we would deal with the corrupted Jacques von Heibrun first.
Even so, Pokryong kept glaring at me, muttering his complaints.
"You crafty little rat."
"..."
"It's always like this with you."
"..."
"Come to think of it, you've been doing this since Labyrinth Village. Making up all kinds of excuses to avoid a fight."
"..."
"You promised you'd actually fight me this time, but when the moment comes, you bring up some sacred covenant and start whining about the end of the world..."
He grumbled on.
Pokryong continued to mutter to himself in a gruff, petulant voice.
I couldn't help but look at him with utter disbelief.
This is ridiculous.
Why is this guy whining so much?
I couldn't see any difference between him and a toddler throwing a tantrum because he didn't get his way.
Well, I suppose it didn't matter since he agreed to help subjugate the corrupted Jacques von Heibrun.
Having finished that thought, I turned my gaze to Heukgol.
"You help us too, Heukgol."
"...Huh?"
Heukgol tilted his head and pointed at himself.
"Me? Why should I?"
"..."
Unbelievable.
This guy was just as stubbornly uncooperative.
However, since I had already anticipated that he wouldn't accept my proposal right away, I remained calm and continued to persuade him.
"If you don't help us, the Holy City will be reduced to ruins."
"What? Even with you and Pokryong teaming up?"
"Those who contract with evil gods become strong beyond imagination. Let alone when that person is Jacques von Heibrun, one of the pillars of Midtemple."
"Hmm."
Heukgol pondered for a moment, then shrugged.
"But I don't really care if the Holy City turns to ruins or not. In fact, wouldn't it be better for me if the people who constantly summon me for useless things just disappear?"
"..."
"And honestly, I don't think the Holy City is all that helpful anyway. The Silk Road protects humanity? No. I think humanity is actually growing weaker because of that barrier."
"..."
"Look. What if that shield didn't exist? The weak would have been weeded out long ago, and only the strong would have survived and reproduced. By now, humanity as a whole would be much stronger, wouldn't it?"
Good grief.
What kind of nonsense is he spouting now?
It was absolute sophistry. I couldn't hide my bewilderment at this dialogue, which I had never seen in any of my game playthroughs.
At this point, I was genuinely starting to wonder if he was even on humanity's side.
...This is giving me a headache.
Actually, I was already well aware of the Sword Masters' eccentric personalities from my time playing the game.
It was useless to talk to them about the public good or the greater cause.
Unless it was a direct revelation from the Elder, they were beings who only moved when there was direct personal gain or when it connected to their personal interests.
In truth, Heukgol probably didn't even believe his own argument. It was just nonsense he was spouting because he found dealing with Jacques too bothersome.
In that case...
"So you don't care if the Holy City falls?"
Instead of bringing up the greater good, I just needed to target Heukgol's personal weak spot.
"That violin you keep so carefully tucked inside your ribcage. How many artisans on this continent do you think can properly maintain a centuries-old antique like that?"
"...?"
"Especially the bow. There aren't many who can handle such delicate materials."
Heukgol's expression gradually stiffened.
"Over the past few centuries, who repaired your instrument whenever there was a problem?"
"...Oh. Wait a minute."
Naturally, the artisan who had been maintaining Heukgol's violin resided in the Holy City.
Only then did Heukgol realize the gravity of the situation.
He had boasted that he didn't care what happened to the world, but he now realized that the things he cherished most depended on that very 'world' to exist.
"Don't be foolish, Heukgol. Jacques von Heibrun knows the layout of the Holy City better than anyone."
"..."
"If he escapes this place and cooperates with other worshippers of evil gods, it will only be a matter of time before Midtemple falls."
If nothing else, this was no lie.
In the game, there was indeed a scenario where the worshippers of evil gods, led by the corrupted Jacques, invaded Midtemple.
Of course...
That wouldn't happen in this playthrough.
Because Jacques von Heibrun would lose his life in the very early stages, long before he could ever make contact with other worshippers.
To be precise, today, by our blades.
"Ugh, I can't even imagine a life without my violin."
"Then help us."
"..."
After a brief hesitation, Heukgol had no choice but to nod.
"...Sigh, fine. I get it."
With this, Pokryong and Heukgol joined the Heibrun subjugation war.
Watching the situation unfold from the side, Pean smiled.
"Ahaha, I would love to help as well, but..."
"No need."
I cut Pean off.
I hadn't expected any help from him in the first place.
To think Pean would be among the three Sword Masters summoned to Midtemple.
Pean was famous for never showing himself in the mortal world. Why he had answered Midtemple's summons remained a mystery.
Well, either way, it was a relief that someone bound to the Heibrun family by the Seal of the Sword Master wasn't actively interfering with us.
"By the way,"
As I was lost in thought, Pokryong spoke up.
"If our goal is to kill Jacques, shouldn't we be chasing him right now?"
"..."
"There's no one outside the temple to stop his escape. At this rate, he'll easily slip out of the Holy City."
Pokryong wasn't wrong.
The councilors, high priests, Paladins, and even the core members of the investigation team—all of Midtemple's key figures were currently gathered inside the temple.
This meant their top forces had assembled in one place for the sacred trial. Consequently, the defenses elsewhere were bound to be extremely thin.
There's no way anyone outside the temple could stop someone who contracted with an evil god.
Just as Pokryong said, he would be able to escape the Holy City without much resistance.
"No."
That is to say...
That would have been the case if everything had flowed according to the official history.
"There is still one person left."
"What? Who on earth... Ah."
Frowning slightly, Pokryong let out a gasp as if he had suddenly realized something.
"Don't tell me you..."
Huff, huff!
Jacques von Heibrun kicked open the temple doors, breathing heavily.
Without even a moment to look back, he sprinted down the corridor.
With every step he took, cracks splintered across the marble floor.
What on earth is happening?
His mind was in complete disarray.
He was certain he hadn't contracted with the evil god. He thought he had rejected the temptation and returned to Midtemple.
So why did Pean assert so confidently that the contract had already been finalized?
Could it be, without my knowledge...
A single possibility flashed through his mind.
Doricco Shiro's offer to arrange a contract with the evil god if he stood by and let the Haewolsumo fall to corruption.
Could that minor promise have been deemed a part of the 'contract'?
—Child.
Right then, a familiar voice wormed its way into his ears once more.
It was an alluring, sweet voice.
But now, Jacques could feel the venom hidden within it.
—You have already crossed the point of no return.
"Shut up...!"
Jacques swung his arm through the empty air as he ran, but the whispering voice in his ear showed no signs of fading.
—There is no need to deny it. The stigma is already deeply engraved upon your soul. You might as well offer more. If you stop halfway, you will only perish without gaining anything.
"You shameless... Ugh!"
Thud!
Jacques's vision wavered.
The walls and ceiling distorted, and even the floor seemed to ripple like water.
He was losing his mind. Anger, confusion, and an unspeakable dread blended together, paralyzing his reason.
First... I have to get out of here first.
Jacques ran down the corridor with stumbling steps.
As he distanced himself from the temple, his mind slowly began to clear. But at the same time, the weight of reality pressed down on him.
What do I do now?
He could not return to Midtemple. His true nature had already been exposed to the world.
A corrupted one who contracted with an evil god. In an instant, he had fallen from a pillar leading the Traditionalists to a sinner destined for execution.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the building began to shake.
It was a sign that pursuers were closing in from behind.
I must hurry.
Jacques quickened his pace.
He sprinted toward the outskirts, weaving through the complex alleyways of the Holy City.
Having lived here his entire life, he knew every path in the Holy City like the back of his hand.
He knew exactly which alleys the guards patrolled and which routes were the fastest.
The ones chasing me must be the Sword Masters.
If so, time was of the essence.
His corruption had surely been broadcast to all the guards via voice transmission. He couldn't afford to get tangled up with the Paladins and delayed.
Thus, Jacques chose only back alleys and detours that patrol units avoided. Sometimes he leaped across rooftops, and other times he navigated the underground waterways to evade pursuit.
How long had he run like that?
Finally, the outskirts of the Holy City came into view.
Beyond the gate lay the uncharted territories. Once he crossed that line, he would be safe for the time being.
Whoosh—!
"...!"
But at that very moment...
A spine-chilling killing intent washed over his entire body.
Although he couldn't see his opponent, his instincts screamed of danger.
Clang!
Reflexively, he swung his executioner's sword to parry the strike.
If he had been even a fraction of a second slower, his head would have flown off.
What in the...!
It was an invisible enemy.
He couldn't sense their presence or killing intent at all, yet the blade kept flying toward him.
Clang! Cl-clang!
Barely deflecting the attacks, Jacques fell into confusion.
What was going on? Invisibility magic? Or an illusion?
It was right then.
Flutter!
Something fluttered in the wind, momentarily revealing his opponent.
Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.
...It was Adelia von Goldheart.
A translucent cloak was draped over her shoulders.
That is...!
Jacques instantly recognized the object. The Cloak of Tristan. A holy relic belonging to the Shadow Society.
"You!"
Jacques's face contorted with rage.
"Get out of my way! Do you really think someone like you can stop me?!"
Whoosh!
He swung his sword violently, shouting a threat.
"Trickery with a mere relic won't work on me! Get lost if you don't want to die!"
But Adelia did not retreat even a single step.
In steady silence, she gripped her sword even tighter.
"...I know."
Holding her ground against a pillar of Midtemple.
It was an incredibly reckless endeavor.
Jacques was one of the finest swordsmen on the verge of transcendence, practically the closest to a Sword Master in skill.
"However."
Adelia raised her sword high. Then, she pulled the invisibility cloak over herself, vanishing once more.
"I am merely following the orders of Sir Gaon."
A feat no one else had accomplished. A challenge everyone deemed impossible.
Yet, Gaon had always instilled belief in her.
And as a result of repaying that trust,
Adelia had achieved explosive growth over the past few months.
If it is a task entrusted to me by Sir Gaon...
There was no doubt in her mind.
Even if her opponent was a pillar of Midtemple.
Even if there seemed to be absolutely no chance of victory.
If he believed in her, that alone was enough.
...I will succeed, no matter what.
She squeezed the hilt of her sword.
Strength surged into her hand.
Upon the sharply honed tip of her blade, there was not a single tremor.
"Ha."
Stopping in his tracks,
Pokryong let out an exclamation of admiration.
"You were right."
"..."
"I thought there was no way she could stop Jacques with her current level of skill, but..."
I followed Pokryong's gaze.
Adelia came into view.
With the Cloak of Tristan half-draped over her body, she was locked in a fierce battle against Jacques.
Seeing this, Pokryong muttered in low awe.
"...To think this monster of a girl has grown yet again in such a short time."