Striking the Purity Knight Order
In the pitch-black hotel room, I sifted through the list of assassinated priests stacked on the desk, my eyes sharp with killing intent. I flipped through it again and again, searching for any other names I recognized besides Simon Jedwin's.
Please, no. If I'm right, Nemisona, you're worse than a beast.
Finally, I spotted another name and slammed my fist down on the table with all my strength.
"Fuck!"
Yohan Teller. His name was on the casualty list Sir Izenberg had given me earlier that day. He was one of the Salvation Holy Knights I'd captured before.
I ground my teeth loud enough to hear it echo.
Two out of the few Salvation Holy Knights I knew were on this list. I'd have to confirm their faces to be sure, but a creeping suspicion clawed at me, impossible to shake.
Why? Why the hell? You could've just stayed quiet and left.
If my hunch was right, Nemisona must have done one of two things later on.
First, when she left for the heavens, she couldn't take her human puppets in the Salvation Holy Knights, so she'd consoled them by promising that the deaths ahead were their path to salvation. Or second, she'd tricked them into cooperating with humanity's destruction, swearing they'd be saved if they did.
Didn't matter which. She'd dumped her shit on them either way. Back in the age of ruin, humanity suffered even more because of the Salvation Holy Knights.
"Nah. If she had any conscience, she wouldn't have. Probably just a coincidence. Common names exist."
I shook my head wildly, forcing down the murderous urge. No jumping to conclusions until it was confirmed. My suspicion was based on some pretty ridiculous circumstances, after all.
I tidied the papers and left the hotel room right away. It was late, but I had no patience to wait until morning. In this mood, I wouldn't sleep anyway.
I raced through the night to the side entrance of the Divinum Cathedral. I bellowed at the black-armored holy knight guarding the door.
"I'm here to see Sir Izenberg! Open the gate!"
The black-armored knight hesitated. Izenberg was with the light faction, but this guy was darkness faction.
"White Mask, sir. Not a good time. Can you come back tomorrow?"
"It's urgent."
"But..."
"Hey. You know what's going down in the Divinum holy grounds right now?"
"Pardon?"
I radiated killing intent and gripped Yojyo's hilt.
"Keep stalling, and I'll execute you for heresy on the spot. I'll count to three. One, two..."
"U-understood! Please wait a moment."
As Yojyo half-drew, the knight flinched and rushed inside to make contact. Moments later, a silver-armored holy knight hurried out.
"White Mask, sir. You've come."
"Where's Sir Izenberg?"
"In his office. This way, please. I'll guide you."
"Got it."
I followed him into the dim corridor.
After a long trek, I reached Izenberg's office and pushed open the door. He was still working, even at this hour.
He stood to greet me.
"White Mask. What brings you so late?"
"You asked me to get that list earlier. Here it is."
Sir Izenberg's eyes widened.
"You got the Purity Knight Order list already?"
"Yeah. You said it was urgent, so I hustled like crazy."
"It was urgent, but I didn't expect it this fast."
"Kaoyan Investigations is quick and accurate, as always."
I dropped the Purity Knight Order list on the reception table. Izenberg hurried over to check it.
"Hmm. The Purity Knight Order—one of the neutral knight orders guarding the Divinum holy grounds... But are you sure they're involved?"
"Yeah. Cross-check it with the recent victims. Same organization, so there'll be connections."
Sir Izenberg eyed me steadily.
"So this is the victim side's list?"
"Yep."
"Wouldn't it be better to hit the attackers? These guys are the victims right now."
"Sure, logically, you'd be right. But for efficiency? We hit these guys."
"Why?"
"They're under assassination attacks from rival factions right now, yeah?"
"Right."
"So they're pissed. Furious. What do you think they'll do next?"
"Probably retaliate."
"Exactly. Same shit repeats."
Izenberg nodded, seeing the logic.
He'd asked for the related parties list to root them out, sending a subtle warning to sky city Chronos that no more mass assassinations would fly. Repeats would be a nightmare.
"So we wipe one side out completely?"
"Yep. No more reason to fight. Plus, unlike the attackers, these guys are out in the open. Easy to track. We could end their line if we want."
Izenberg pondered, still hesitant.
"Hmm. Logic versus efficiency..."
"No need to agonize. Going by the book takes years. Attackers are sneaky as hell—hard to catch. Meanwhile, mass killings keep happening. Can the church handle that?"
"No."
"Answer's obvious. We can hit attackers later. Priority is ending this annual bullshit now."
Resolved, Izenberg stood.
"Fine. Come dawn, I'll send troops to round them up."
"No—do it now. No time."
"Can't. Purity Knight Order's neutral. Hard for me to move rashly."
"Assassinations are ongoing. What if they're all dead by morning? Trust me—corpses make shitty scapegoats. Magic doesn't stick."
I pressed him. Unlike him, I had no patience to wait.
Izenberg looked troubled.
"You're not wrong, but church has procedures I can't ignore."
"You handle procedures. I'll grab them."
"You? Why?"
"Service. Half a day's work for 30,000 riff? Feels like robbery."
Izenberg smiled faintly.
"If you're on it, I trust you. Fine. I'll deploy troops. You take the Purity Knight Order."
"Roger."
With permission, I led Izenberg's troops north-central into the Divinum holy grounds, toward the Purity Knight Order's base.
Beyond the deep predawn darkness, a small fortress loomed. Though everyone should be asleep, it was lit up, on high alert.
From a nearby hill, watching, an elderly knight approached me. Sir Liam, captain of the Flash Knight Order—Izenberg's deputy for this op.
"White Mask, sir? Think they know we're coming?"
I shook my head at his worry. Looked like assassination defenses to me. If they knew, they'd flee, not fight—the whole order couldn't take the church.
"Nah. They'd run, not resist."
"True, but why alert at this hour? This is Divinum—no external threats."
"Dunno. Something's got them spooked."
Liam sighed darkly.
"Guards are tight. Battle means heavy losses on our side."
"If innocent, they'll surrender peacefully."
"Purity Knights are infamous for zero flexibility here. Won't go down easy."
"Then we persuade 'em nicely."
I stood and strode forward. Liam hurried after my sudden move.
"White Mask? Where to?"
"Talk 'em down. Peaceful's better, even for heretics."
"Alone's dangerous."
"Nah. Mob rush is riskier—they might shoot first. Peace. Let's settle nice."
"But..."
"Relax. If clean, nothing happens. You command the troops. Move if shit hits."
"Understood."
I patted Liam's shoulder and descended the hill fast. Near the fortress, I removed my White Mask and tucked it at my waist. Recognition would ruin my story.
At the gate, I yelled at a knight atop the wall.
"Purity Knight Order?"
The wall knight was hyper-vigilant.
"Who goes? Identify!"
"Friend of Simon Jedwin. Bad news for him."
"Bad news?"
"His father died days ago. Funeral's today—hurry if attending."
"Got it. Wait."
After a while, the gate opened. A dozen knights poured out, faces grim. A blond young man stepped forward amid them.
Squinted eyes, square jaw. Definitely Simon Jedwin, as I knew him.
My eyes twitched. Pretty much confirmed. Unless Evelyn faked the list, the Salvation Holy Knights who tormented humanity in the ruin era were Nemisona's puppets.
I flashed a murderous grin.
"Long time, friend. Been ages."
Simon bellowed.
"Who the hell are you? My father's been dead three years!"
"I know. Saw it on the kill list."
"What?"
"Don't know kill lists?"
"Assassin!"
Simon shouted, and the knights drew swords en masse. Simon swung first—I blocked his blade easily with my gauntlet.
My armor was composite freak hide and sky despair leather. Most magic bounced; no Aura Blade, no dent.
I drew Yojyo fast, unleashing full-power Aura Blade.
"N-no way...?"
The knights charging halted at the 2-meter invisible blade. Proof I was near high-grade Master.
I grabbed Simon's throat, voice chilling.
"Simon. Dying by me twice? Bad luck. Or nah—better than inquisitors, right?"
"Wha—?"
Yojyo's Aura flashed; Simon's body shredded into dozens, splattering down.
"Don't fear—charge!"
The hesitant foes raised swords at their comrade's death. Brave Purity Knights rushed—only to be mercilessly sliced by spinning Yojyo.
I advanced over blood-soaked ground. Remaining knights threw themselves; futile.
They too fell mangled under my brutal strokes.
"Seal the gate!"
The iron gate slammed shut.
I stepped over corpses to it. Rusty but sturdy.
Arrows rained from above, pinging my armor; alarms blared inside.
I swung Yojyo wildly, smashing the gate.
Stepping in, I faced Purity Knights in layered semicircle formation.
"Hey, folks."
"One enemy! Charge!"
But their foe wasn't just me. Liam, witnessing their attack, led full troops charging.
I donned the lower mask; they gaped.
"Wh-White Mask...? Why here?"
"Heard heretics defiling sanctity. Came to grab you."
A knight stepped forward at my gall.
"Heretics? Why us?"
"Dunno. Not my call."
I leaped high to the wall.
Now, they'd be the vile attackers striking the peaceful envoy—me. Especially if all here died. Witnesses gone, only their first strike remains.
I wanted them dead in shame.
"Sorry, but you all gotta go."
Archers stared in horror, trembling at my mad, furious eyes. But fanatics drew swords and charged.
"Die, White Mask!"
Yojyo slashed air, carving knights. Blood sprayed; I dove in, butchering Purity Knights cruelly.
Liam arrived with mounted knights, storming in.
"Capture all heretics! Kill resisters!"
Flash Knights trampled encircled foes. Clashes erupted; death screams filled the air.
I glared at a lone wall knight—the one who'd fetched Simon.
"First, you die by my hand."
"White Mask! Such outrage—why?"
"Eh, mood's all wrinkled."
"What?"
"Yeah. Bye."
I thrust Yojyo through his mouth. Gurgling, his headless head dropped; I kicked it outside.
"White Mask? You okay?"
Liam leaped up, white hair flying. I shook blood from Yojyo and approached.
"Yeah. Situation?"
"Thanks to you, we've got momentum."
I looked down. Purity Knights scattered, encircled by thundering Flash cavalry in the yard.
Arriving troops entered, spears aimed, herding toward walls.
"Good. Tell all: capture alive if possible."
"Yes, sir."
Liam left to command. I sheathed Yojyo. Wanted to kill 'em all myself, but one limit: I knew killing well, not torturing like inquisitors.
So they die by inquisitor hands. My kills were mercy.
Inquisitor craft is exquisite, though.