A Quiet Bloodbath in the Divinum Holy Site
Contrary to Sir Izenberg's report, the atmosphere in the Divinum Holy Site was utterly serene. Pilgrims flocking to the Divinum Cathedral for Saint Prosia's Week were spending the holy day in pious reverence, while merchants hustled to cash in on the bustling week with their touting calls.
Riding through the city streets in a carriage, I stared blankly at the blonde holy knight who'd come to greet me.
"Is this really a big deal?"
"Yes."
"But the city doesn't feel like it."
"Sir Izenberg will fill you in on the details."
The holy knight was curt and strictly business, offering only bare-bones info. In the end, I had to keep moving without hearing a thing.
Soon, we arrived at a side entrance to the Divinum Cathedral—one I'd never seen before. It was small and shabby, clearly a back door for sneaking in unnoticed.
"This way, please."
Inside lay a dark, narrow corridor. I pressed on, drawing stares from the holy knights and soldiers stationed at intervals.
At last, the corridor ended at a door that opened into the central administrative building—the same one where I'd met Sir Izenberg before.
"Right this way."
I was ushered straight to Sir Izenberg's office. As I entered, I saw him looking gaunt, hunched over a mountain of paperwork at his desk.
He stood with a welcoming smile when he spotted me.
"Baekmyeon. Come on in."
"Yeah. Long time no see."
"Have a seat first."
I settled into the reception sofa as he gestured. Once he sat across from me, I cut straight to it.
"So, what the hell's going on this time?"
"It's chaos. Serious chaos."
"Really? Doesn't feel like it to me."
"It's all happening under the radar."
I eyed Sir Izenberg intently, studying his expression. No trace of a smile—just a grim mask. Looked like something big had blown up.
"What happened?"
Sir Izenberg slid a document across. A list with over a hundred names.
"Clergy deaths over the past three days. More reports keep coming in, so it'll climb higher, but that's what we've confirmed so far."
A quick count put it near 150. Even in a holy site teeming with clergy, that was a hefty toll for three days.
"How'd they die?"
"Varied causes. Stabbed in the back late at night on the way home. Drowned in a well. Strangled. You name it."
"Assassinations?"
Sir Izenberg nodded gravely at my blunt assessment.
"That's our read too. The scary part? It's so widespread. There have to be dozens of assassins involved."
I agreed. Assassinations aren't snap jobs. Most pros stalk their marks patiently for the perfect moment, strike, and vanish. They don't go on a three-day binge knocking off 150 like maniacs.
Then again, guys like me exist. I'd wiped out 50 in a single night before, so I had to point that out.
"You sure?"
"Positive. Caught three assassins yesterday and today."
"Then it's definite. Interrogated them? Track down their accomplices and wipe 'em out?"
Sir Izenberg sighed heavily.
"No links between them. Lone wolves, all three. One from Kalligo Kingdom, the others from Yosrahim Empire and one from the Viltrian Kingdom. Each targeted just one mark. Separate contracts, looks like."
I hummed thoughtfully, propping my chin.
"Pretty large-scale for assassinations."
"Yeah."
"How much did they get paid?"
"Minimum 100 gold leafs each."
I whistled. That's life-changing money. Simple math: 150 targets meant at least 15,000 gold leafs total.
"Damn. No ordinary outfit pulls this off. Has to be a major territory or nation-state. Not many can quietly drop 15,000 gold leafs."
"We know. But what motive would they have?"
Just then, a holy knight burst into the office.
"Sir Izenberg! Big trouble!"
Izenberg shot to his feet.
"What is it?"
"New report just came in."
The knight thrust a document at him. Izenberg scanned it and paled.
I leaned over for a peek. Lists of slain clergy from sites worldwide.
The tally? Nearly a thousand. Beyond imagination.
"Nation-state level for sure. Even big lords couldn't bankroll this."
"But which nation risks all-out war with the world over something like this? If they're caught, it's game over."
I nodded. This was a declaration of war on all faiths. Even a state couldn't survive the backlash—every other country would pounce like hyenas, howling about sanctity and justice.
"True. So who?"
Skimming the casualty list, I spotted a familiar name and bit my lip.
Abor Grand Prelate.
The high cleric who'd pulled guards from the Oracle Sanctuary when Great Saintess Arieta vanished. With her responding to some mystery Valkyrie's call from there, he was deep in the marriage scam ring's pocket.
This mess screamed infighting between runaway big sis's pals and the scam crew.
Evelyn had been with me at Arieta's disappearance. No way she didn't know the scammers tailing them. And big sis's crew had every reason to eliminate them.
'But where'd they get the cash for a hit this massive? Weren't they always broke?'
Then it hit me, and I grimaced.
They'd come into serious money recently. From me. I'd traded 300,000 gold leafs for three levitation boats and their blueprints from Evelyn. Looked like that funded this bloodbath.
Sir Izenberg eyed me lost in thought.
"Baekmyeon. Think you can sort this out?"
"Nah. Can't."
I shot it down flat. Valkyrie turf war. Butt in, and it's headache city. Dig too deep, and the money trail leads to me.
Best to bury this whole thing.
"Why not?"
I jabbed a thumb skyward.
"Their business."
His face crumpled.
"Again?"
"Yup."
"What the hell now?"
"Can't say here."
I glanced at the loitering holy knight. Izenberg dismissed him, then slammed a book from the table to the floor in frustration.
He was at his limit too.
"Goddamn it! Why do they keep stirring shit?!"
"Calm down. Bad for your health."
"How can I? Hundreds of high clergy dead already. It all lands on me."
I sighed.
"Can't be helped."
He ground his teeth and sank back into his seat.
"Fine. Spill—what happened this time?"
I tapped Abor Grand Prelate's name on the list.
"This guy's with a group taking direct orders from Chronos. Great Saintess Arieta probably worked with them too—respectfully 'escorted' her last year."
"What? So they pulled last year's stunt too?"
I nodded.
"Half, yeah. Not all."
"What's this group do?"
"Dunno details. But they help Chronos monitor humanity and pull strings."
"Collaborators?"
"Yep."
"Then why kill their own helpers?"
I scratched my head.
"Complicated. Factions fight in our world too, right?"
"Sure."
"Same up there. Factions scrapping."
"So this is Chronos faction war spillover?"
"High chance."
Izenberg squeezed his eyes shut.
"I'm losing my mind."
"At least it's quiet this time. It'll blow over soon—play dumb."
He shook his head violently.
"No way. We're done pretending. Time to push back, even as a warning."
"Come on. They're holy ones."
He slammed the table.
"Holy ones hiring assassins to murder? Bullshit!"
"Must be for some sacred cause."
"Faction fight, you said?"
"Sacred faction fight."
He flailed his hands and head.
"Whatever. Can't ignore this."
"Then what? Storm Chronos and beat the holy crap out of them?"
"No. But we can smack their human underlings."
"Huh?"
He gave me a loaded look.
"Things have gone too far. We need a scapegoat. Can't let it fizzle."
"And?"
"Get me a list of their grunts. Better to hit the guilty than innocents."
I was stunned by his sudden hardline shift.
This guy was a devout believer in his past life. Sure, Chronos had screwed him over lately, but damn, people change.
"Whoa, seriously? Use your head. Nail their pawns, and the bosses upstairs get pissed."
"Deny everything. Keep your mouth shut, and it blows over."
"Sure, but no evidence—how?"
"We'll make some. They're involved anyway—no innocents."
I sighed deeply.
"Talk to the Pope or archbishops first. This ain't your solo call."
"They'll agree. If this spirals, even they lose their seats. Last year was symbolic, no real damage. This? Hundreds of high clergy dead, more coming. Way worse internally."
I ruffled my hair.
"So, spill blood for scapegoats?"
"Related parties' blood. That's why I need the list."
"Fine, I'll dig if you insist. But officially, I know zilch. Got it?"
"Don't worry."
In the end, I took the 30,000 gold leafs retainer and his commission. Botch this, and it could bite me—my money's in play.
Better I handle it than the Church diving in.
I wandered the Divinum Holy Site's entertainment district aimlessly, hunting Evelyn's presence. With my big sis crew reporting to Nemisona, she'd be here sniffing around for sure.
Had to hash this out anyway—settle the commission too.
'Evelyn, you idiot. Even scamming marriages, go easy. Escalating to this? What the hell?'
No doubt, this assassination spree was big sis's pals' doing.
All signs pointed there. Excluding states, only the Magic Association, me, and them could splash that cash. Evelyn had even warned me weeks ago about big trouble at Divinum Cathedral during Saint Prosia's Week.
Plus, her legendary assassin background made her perfect for orchestrating this.
'They really went ham, though.'
Strolling the streets, I passed numerous fresh crime scenes. Control lines up, holy knights and soldiers buzzing—kills still hot.
Citizens and pilgrims just shot wary glances, unperturbed. Murders happened often here. Light and dark forces coexisted in the Cathedral, so violence was routine.
"Huh?"
I halted at a gaggle of provincial clergy pilgrims. Leading them was a familiar face: Alon, the ex-merc from Kara who'd gone holy with my help.
He spotted me and hustled over, flock in tow.
"Baekmyeon, right?"
"Yeah. What brings you here?"
Alon grinned, gesturing at his group.
"Touring 'em around Divinum."
"Oh?"
He called to them.
"Everyone! This is Baekmyeon! You know him?"
"Yes! Really?"
"Of course! Come on, greet him. He came out personally hearing we were here."
Suddenly, dozens of hick clergy mobbed me with bows. Flustered, I shot Alon a glare.
"Dude, who are these?"
"Our group members."
"Which group?"
"You know. Salvation Holy Knights."
I blinked rapidly. Those psychos tormented humanity later. I'd ordered Alon to infiltrate and watch them—yet here he was, playing tour guide.
I fixed him with a murderous glare, voice low.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"Association election soon. I'm running, remember? This tour's campaign. That sweet support—you got me, right?"
I gaped at him, incredulous.
This fool aiming to lead the doomsday cult. If apocalypse hits unchecked, he'd be humanity's public enemy number one.
End of "A Quiet Bloodbath in the Divinum Holy Site."