The Original Salvation Holy Knights Head to Divinum Cathedral
In the end, the Purity Knight Order threw down all their weapons and begged for mercy. There was no way they didn't know that continued resistance would only make their situation worse.
Besides, they had Chronos as their backing. Sooner or later, those higher-ups would pull strings to get them out, so there was no need to die fighting the Central Church's forces.
But it was all just wishful thinking. This time, the Central Church was dead serious. They couldn't purge everyone involved, but they had to make at least a few scapegoats. Otherwise, the church leadership would have to take the blame for this massive assassination scandal themselves.
It's them, for sure.
I grimaced as I entered the cathedral prison. I'd just confirmed the body of Yohan Teller—one of the recent assassination victims suspected to be from the Salvation Holy Knights—and it was definitely the same guy I'd captured alive back in the Age of Ruin.
Out of all the Salvation Holy Knights, I only recognized a handful by face, yet two had already overlapped. It was too coincidental to chalk up to chance.
"Has Lord Baekmyeon arrived?"
The holy knight guarding the underground entrance greeted me. Thanks to last year's and this year's incidents, I'd become quite the celebrity within the Central Church.
"Yeah. Where's Lord Izenberg?"
"He's interrogating the heretics in the underground prison."
"Man, he's working hard. Mind if I head down? I've got something to tell him."
"Of course. Please go ahead. Lord Izenberg was waiting for you anyway."
"Really? Got it."
The holy knight opened the entrance door, revealing a staircase shrouded in dank darkness. I descended slowly into the deep underground chamber.
"Aaaagh!"
"We're innocent!"
Screams and groans from the Purity Knight Order knights echoed throughout the cathedral's underground prison. They desperately proclaimed their innocence, but the religious inquisitors only intensified the torture, their hands moving more cruelly.
What the church wanted from these captured knights wasn't "no"—it was "yes." Even if it was a lie, refusing to confess their guilt meant the torment would continue.
"What are you doing? Get those confessions now!"
Bloodstained hands roamed as Lord Izenberg, his face twisted like a demon's, urged the torture on. Not long ago, he'd felt pangs of conscience about sacrificing innocents, but now? Not anymore.
It was because of the unimaginable items discovered in the Purity Knight Order fortress.
Magic tools containing egg-sized essences, just like the Prison Gear of Great Sin I secretly carried—capable of summoning monsters.
The Central Church deemed monster-summoning sorcery an absolute taboo, the devil's own magic. Anyone using it or possessing such tools was treated as a demon.
Evelyn, you sly genius. How'd she even think to plant those? The Purity Knights are totally screwed.
But the fortress hadn't just yielded monster-summoning tools. Orders from a mysterious organization, mission reports unrelated to religious duties or ceremonies—suspicious evidence galore.
Of course it would turn up; they were Nemisona's lackeys. But to the church, discovering an internal faction operating independently was a massive shock.
And these guys had even assassinated religious leaders who opposed them. Most cases had been swept under the rug or gone cold, but arresting the Purity Knights brought the circumstantial evidence and proof into the open for all to see.
"How's it going? Any progress?"
I asked as I approached, and Lord Izenberg relaxed his tense expression to reply.
"Nothing yet. They're all clamming up tight."
"Figures. They're known tough bastards. Just torture 'em short of death, then stage a hanging when they're on the brink. We've got evidence of their guilt coming out our ears anyway."
"No. Evidence alone isn't enough."
"Then what else do you need?"
Lord Izenberg clenched his fists, his eyes sharpening.
"Their full organizational chart."
"Don't worry about the rest. Someone's picking them off with assassinations nonstop—they'll all be dead soon. A few might survive, though."
"No, that won't wrap things up cleanly. If these guys who murdered religious leaders and used devil's sorcery die as martyrs, it makes no sense."
"Ah, yeah, I see. That'd be awkward."
Lord Izenberg fixed me with a steady gaze and spoke quietly.
"But Baekmyeon? I've got one question."
"Shoot."
"Are they definitely taking orders from Chronos?"
"Yep. No doubt. Why?"
He let out a deep sigh.
"It's just so hard to believe. How could Chronos pull something like this?"
"That's how they roll. Doing vile shit under a holy banner."
"But this is too much, even for them."
"Too much? This is cute compared to what they've done."
He ground his teeth.
"You think this is cute?"
"Honestly, how many nations has Chronos doomed? Count the tragic lives lost in between. This mess? Small potatoes."
Besides, those heavenly beings had punctuated history with the Age of Ruin, leading humanity to extinction—and they left a parting gift of pure shit on the way out. The atrocities Izenberg knew were just a drop in the bucket.
"But..."
"Enough. My turn to ask."
"What?"
"How far are you taking this?"
He bit his lip hard.
"All the way."
I shook my head. Truth be told, I didn't want it to go that far.
The Central Church was using the Purity Knights as scapegoats to quell internal backlash from the mass assassinations. Screw up, and a bunch of high clerics might lose their positions and retire to the countryside.
But flip it around: if the top brass could save their seats, they'd happily revert to being Chronos's lapdogs.
Relations were strained this time, but the Central Church and sky city Chronos were bound by faith's fate. They might clash briefly, but they'd end up together.
So they couldn't go all the way. Once things calmed, the church would tiptoe around Chronos.
And Izenberg would die for it. No way the Central Church would let him push to the end.
"Ease up. Charge in blindly, and you'll end up dead one day. Want to live? Stop at a reasonable point and call it."
He didn't like my advice, shooting me a sharp glare.
"Who the hell's gonna kill me?"
"The Central Church'll discard you like trash."
"Don't worry about the church. I'm not that weak."
"Fine, then someone else will."
"Who?"
I thumbed the ceiling. I'd pointed so often, it might wear through.
"Them, who else?"
"Ugh..."
Izenberg groaned. Truth was, he couldn't defy Chronos's will either—not with faith, position, power, and all.
Sure, anger might drive him forward regardless, but he'd still die.
"Just survive for now. They'll all die eventually, no matter who kills them. And who knows? Hold out, and one day you might get to smack 'em hard from behind."
"But..."
"God, you're stubborn. Listen for once. There are a few Valkyries around here right now. At least one from their line. One day, she might show up on orders and bam—you're done. You, your men, all dead."
"..."
I patted his shoulder and turned away. I'd said my piece. His choice now.
But I wanted him alive. He was a loyal client of our info agency and a solid backer in the Central Church.
"Anyway, that's all from me. Think it over."
"Got it."
I walked off with a grim smile.
I'd told him to hold back, but I had no such plans. No reason to kneel to them, and with Armida-sis from the Prosia line watching my back, they couldn't touch me easily.
I'll kill them all. My sister's friends on the rogue line were already hitting them hard; a little push from me, and most would be done.
Some might survive, but their futures wouldn't be smooth. Now that I knew who they were, I'd hunt them down relentlessly out of sheer service spirit—dry up their seeds entirely.
Leaving the cathedral prison, I walked along the Divinum Cathedral walls.
I eyed the fancy carriages streaming by. Heirs from powerful noble families, here to become Guardians. Looked like the Holy Hall was holding its Guardian selection again this year.
But no real prospects this time. All 7 Divine Artifacts were out in the world.
Even in this mess, they're hustling. Well, with life winding down, might as well live it up.
Almost at the main gate, I stopped short. It was rowdy up front. A ragtag group of country bumpkins in shabby clothes was arguing loudly with the guarding holy knights.
"You punks saying we can't enter Divinum Cathedral? That make any sense?"
"No, it's not that you can't enter—you need prior permission and a scheduled visit."
I rubbed my face. It was the original Salvation Holy Knights crew. Last people I wanted to see, and here they were.
A shabby old man jabbed his staff at the knights and bellowed. Alfredo Monk.
"Look at this punk! You scheduling trips to heaven too? Where's this scheduling bullshit coming from?"
"You have to follow procedure to enter Divinum Cathedral."
Alfredo pointed at the noble heirs breezing through the gate.
"Then why are those young nobles getting waved in without checks?"
"They scheduled ahead."
"You little shit, still talking back? You know who I am?"
The knights replied with annoyed faces.
"Sure. Monks from the provinces, right?"
"I may look like this, but I've shared meals and drinks with Baekmyeon himself—talked the talk. One word from me, and you'd be a knight."
The knights winced.
"Sigh~ We've met Lord Baekmyeon recently too."
Alfredo blinked rapidly.
"You guys? Where?"
"Lord Baekmyeon passes through here daily on business."
Alfredo clapped.
"Perfect! Go fetch him. He'll come running when he hears we're here."
"He's not here now."
"Fine, we'll wait."
Despite the knights' protests, the original Salvation Holy Knights spread mats nearby and settled in for a sit-in. Pulling out lunches too—they weren't budging easy.
Watching from afar, I clutched my forehead.
The biggest mystery in this mess: why were these guys using the Salvation Holy Knights name? They were originals, so no fault there, but the brainpower wasted on them pissed me off.
And Nemisona's goons too—why pick that name later to screw with me?
Fine. No need to bother with them anymore. Chase 'em off and dust my hands.
I headed to the gate. Spotting me, Alon set down his bread and waved.
"Lord Baekmyeon! Over here."
"Huh? Alon? What's with you here?"
"They said there's something to find in Divinum Cathedral."
Alfredo jumped up and approached.
"Lord Baekmyeon! Perfect timing. We were waiting."
I eyed him.
"Yeah, Alon filled me in. What exactly are you after?"
"Well, it's..."
"What?"
"By bylaws, confidential to outsiders."
I forced a smile. They invoke my name when convenient, then clam up like I'm a stranger.
"Even from me?"
"Yes."
"Kinda hurts."
"Sorry. It's that important."
I smacked my lips.
"Fine. So find this thing, and you're good?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"We'd know once inside. First time here."
I scratched my nose bridge.
"Alright. Let 'em in, and I can find it?"
"Yes."
"Got it. One sec."
I pulled Alon aside from them. No telling what chaos they'd cause inside; I needed a reason at least.
"Hey. What're they hunting for?"
"Told you before. The Anvil of the Absolute fragment. That's why they're here."
"Oh, that ridiculous legend?"
"Yes."
"You're saying they kept that secret? Ridiculous."
Alon glanced at the members.
"Don't let on. It's sacred to them—like their lives. They never share outside the group, even at swordpoint."
"Fine. They leave once we find it?"
"Yes. Seeing the Anvil fragment is their lifelong dream."
Lifelong dream? Fine, show it and boot 'em. Hell, now I was curious too—what made so many chase it lifelong?
I nodded and asked the gate knights' permission. They hesitated at the originals' ragtag look but relented after my push.
The Original Salvation Holy Knights Head to Divinum Cathedral End