Chapter 334
Chapter 334
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 334
Chapter Title: Immortals and Mortals (3)
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“……Macto.”
Fabiano gently closed the eyes of the dead priest as he whispered softly. This small chapel, perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Vicarre, had burned down completely, leaving not even a trace of its form.
Embers still smoldered, scorching the surrounding underbrush with crackling pops. He stamped them out and bowed his head for a moment.
“Brother Agato.”
“Brothers Bardo and Cornelio, search the chapel interior and look for any other traces. Brother Davio, check the area for signs of a heretical ritual…… And I will track this trail.”
“Alone, Brother? It’s a trap.”
“That’s exactly why I have to go.”
Fabiano shook his head and rose to his feet. Two Heretica and one Enmagicka. Add one Demonica. Among them, only he could survive a demon’s trap.
When you couldn’t pinpoint the enemy’s location, the best way to meet them was to walk straight into the trap. Just as a spider lived at the end of its web, those who dug traps would be there—or their minions.
“Follow this trail once the search is complete. Brother Davio, if you find any signs of a heretical ritual, request reinforcements immediately and initiate quarantine procedures in the three villages near Lake Vicarre.”
“In the name of the Light.”
“Macto.”
Fabiano nodded and followed the sticky trail of blood through the underbrush. The area around the chapel had burned clean. If the priests had set the fire while still alive, it might have been different, but the fresh bloodstains scattered atop the ashes screamed trap.
Crunch. His teeth ground together. He didn’t know who was responsible, but they were unforgivable.
* * *
“Doesn’t this strike you as odd, Brother Cornelio?”
“Hmm…….”
Cornelio stared at the destruction scattered across the ground, lost in thought. Unlike the Demonica, who specialized in strikes deep into enemy territory, the Heretica operated across a broader range. They knew similar incidents had been occurring frequently throughout the Fairn Kingdom.
This was a secluded monastery where just five or six priests lived quietly. And recently, there had been a couple more reports of such events.
“Could someone be deliberately targeting secluded monasteries?”
Fortified monasteries often accumulated considerable wealth. Holy relics aside, the well-trained monks produced high-quality wine, fabrics, and specialty crops for sale.
Secular bandits wouldn’t dare attack a monastery. Unlike the lukewarm pursuits against bandits, the Church’s hunters were Inquisitors and cathedral knights. No matter how skilled the bandits, they would die without fail.
Thus, the attackers weren’t secular figures. Heretics or cultists. That was usually the case. Moreover, there were no signs of looting here.
“How many monasteries are in the area?”
“Five more. Most are cut off from the outside world, so assessing their current status is…… difficult…….”
“And monasteries across the Fairn Kingdom?”
“Roughly fifty to sixty. I can’t confirm exactly until we return to headquarters, but that’s my recollection, Brother.”
“How many monastery destruction cases reported recently?”
“Four in the last six months.”
Not all heretics and cultists lurked in cities. Cities had excellent infrastructure for hiding, but they were equally visible to the Church. When heretics turned their gaze outward, monasteries were the easiest targets.
Holy relics and the souls of devout priests made perfect offerings for demon worshippers. The food stores and ancient tomes in monasteries were invaluable prizes for wandering sorcerer cultists.
Secluded monasteries, by their nature, made it hard to observe internal disturbances from outside. Four times in six months. Even considering the recent internal strife in the Fairn royal family and the deteriorating security, that was frequent.
“Don’t stop the search. Return to headquarters immediately, inform the Abbot, and initiate an emergency investigation. I’ll continue the mission with Brother Agato.”
“Yes, Brother. Then Brother Davio……?”
“Withdraw with him.”
Cornelio shook his head firmly and stood. The Inquisition operated in nearly every region under the Church of Beitasser’s influence. How many forces could they concentrate in Fairn right now? Deploying all reserves based on mere suspicions from field agents was impractical.
Expecting support from the secular royals was unlikely, at least in Fairn. With tensions between the first and second princes at a peak, Fairn had become a powder keg for the eastern secular kingdoms.
The long war had ended, yet wars never truly cease. Neither before history nor after. Cornelio sighed, gripped his sword hilt, and stepped out of the burning chapel.
* * *
The blood trail ended. Fabiano clenched his molars and scanned the surroundings. A severed trail meant this was the heart of the trap. His senses expanded, cataloging every tiny ambient sound.
The rustle of insects, leaves scattering in the wind, small animals creeping through the brush. A whirlwind of information flooded his mind. Yet Fabiano’s iron will sifted through the chaos, methodically isolating the relevant.
He closed his eyes quietly, head bowed like a stone statue. How much time passed? Then, a rustle. His eyes snapped open like lightning, and he drew a dagger from his robes, aiming it in the direction.
“Who’s there.”
“It’s me, Brother. Cornelio.”
“Ah, Brother.”
Fabiano sheathed the dagger and eyed Cornelio emerging from the brush. He too gripped his sword hilt tightly, on guard toward Fabiano.
“Brother Agato. Let us pray.”
“You are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? You are the strength of my life; whom shall I fear?”
“Seek good, act with virtue, pursue justice. Then your heaven will add righteousness unto you.”
“Macto.”
They confirmed each other with scripture. Nodding, they approached without hesitation.
“How goes the tracking, Brother?”
“The trail ends here. No signs of demons or cultists nearby.”
“The strike failed. This was due to our intelligence shortcomings. My apologies, Brother.”
“What nonsense. How could I blame a brother?”
“We should return to headquarters. Brother Bardo found something suspicious at the scene.”
“We’ll hear it on the way. What is it?”
Fabiano and Cornelio pushed through the brush toward the chapel ruins. Cornelio snapped dry, heat-withered branches as he spoke.
“We suspect systematic attacks on secluded monasteries recently.”
“In the Fairn Kingdom? Isn’t that premature?”
“We’d need to check a few to confirm…… but we should end the pursuit here.”
“You’d let the demon cultists who caused this massacre escape?”
“Other brothers are conducting a pursuit operation in Fallon City right now. We should hand this off to them and review operations from the monasteries.”
How far had they walked? The pair, quietly debating, halted. More precisely, Fabiano stopped. Cornelio tilted his head quizzically.
“Brother?”
“Shh.”
Fabiano narrowed his eyes, staring ahead. A strange sound reached his ears. Small…… faint.
A groan.
-Kraaack!
Fabiano gripped his sword hilt fiercely and charged.
No monks had survived this chapel, and the operation area had been completely purged of all but Inquisitors. That groan had to be from a brother!
* * *
Reaching the edge of the brush, Fabiano caught his breath and tensed his body. The sensation of hellish mana was unmistakable now. Potent enough to pierce any concealment. His saint-metal longsword glowed hot.
“Brother…… Brother…….”
No demon in sight. That made it all the more threatening. The sun hung pale over the ruined monastery, chilling despite noon. Fabiano slowly scanned around and approached the writhing figure in the ashes.
The figure, face melted from burns, was Davio by build and voice.
“What happened, Brother.”
“Brother Bardo…… attacked…… corrupted…… be careful…….”
“Brother Cornelio!!”
Fabiano bellowed, and soon Cornelio burst from the brush, panting. Keeping up with a Demonica’s sprint through thicket was no easy feat. Heavily breathing, he scanned about, then frowned at Davio.
“My carelessness.”
“No, mine. The blood wasn’t a trap—it was bait. Help Brother Davio back to headquarters. Receive purification rites and hasten treatment. Time is short!”
“And you, Brother?”
“Brother Bardo has fallen. I’ll purify him and root out the demons lurking here. Go, quickly!”
“Yes, Brother!”
Cornelio rushed over, hoisted Bardo onto his back. He gave Fabiano a curt bow and hurried away. Fabiano drew his sword and headed into the chapel.
-Rustle.
Charred ash crumbled underfoot like powder. Fabiano swept his gaze rapidly, sword held high. Soon, breathing echoed from afar.
-Piiing—!
He hurled his dagger straight at the sound. It flew like a bolt, thudding into flesh with a wet grunt. Fabiano charged, sword aimed.
“Bro……ther…….”
“Bardo.”
A dagger buried deep in his chest, Bardo slumped, vomiting blood. His lower body was gone. Entrails writhed atop the ashes, slick blood pooling over.
Demonic script—scripture twisted into mockery—branded his flesh like seals. A faint sulfur stench wafted. Fabiano raised his blade to Bardo’s throat.
“Pray.”
“Go…… Your thoughts toward us…… are peace, not calamity. To give you a future and hope…… just believe. With all your faith…….”
“……Damn it.”
“Did you…… kill Davio……?”
“Brother Cornelio…… took him to headquarters…….”
“I was…… blind, Brother. When Davio began the ritual…… it possessed him. I…… I…….”
“Enough.”
“Lord…… I…… I.”
Bardo heaved, spewing gore. His life ebbed. Fabiano squeezed shut his rage-reddened eyes and placed a hand on Bardo’s head.
“My negligence lets you go, Brother. Forgive me, Bardo.”
“Brother, evil is cunning at times, but may my wholeheartedness be your rock.”
“Rest easy. I’ll see your justice done.”
“Mac…….”
“Macto.”
Bardo’s head lolled with a thud. Fabiano gripped his sword hilt and strode out of the chapel. The charred door creaked and collapsed. Dust billowed, and heat haze shimmered under the pallid sun.
Far off, a man stood. Cracks spiderwebbed across his scorched face, twisting into a grotesque grin.
“Demon.”
[Th…… Cornelio……? That priest’s soul was sweet. Thanks for the gift.]
The demon cackled with a grating laugh. Its body cracked and contorted as it approached in eerie gait.
[Now you’re alone. I can feast without interruptions.]
“I am Demonica Agato.”
[A duel, is it? Huh? You idiot. This is a hunt! No, just a banquet! Your name means nothing before me!]
“This is a sentencing.”
-Kiiing.
The saint-metal longsword gleamed in the sunlight. Eyes bloodshot with fury, Fabiano thrust his hand straight toward the demon’s brow.
“Headquarters pronounces death upon the accused. Pray—to any god, any words. Earnestly.”
Then, like a thunderbolt, Fabiano lunged at the laughing demon.
* * *
Supporting the staggering Seiri as they walked, Darian turned to the man following him.
“By the way, why are you helping me? Even if you’re not devout, what I’m doing is blasphemy. Why aid in killing a priest?”
“The first prince is a Beitasser faithful, the second a Maclaren devotee. And I’m not with the second prince’s faction.”
“The Fairn Hunting School is quite political.”
“I’m the political one. Sir Darian Shrike.”
Karl smirked as he spoke.
“If the Beitasser Church gets riled over this, it gives His Highness the second prince a pretext. Nobility’s all about that, isn’t it.”
“Fair enough.”
Darian nodded roughly and kept walking. Behind him, Karl grinned slyly. His eyes flickered red for a moment.
At that, the sun spear bound to Darian’s back heated fiercely in the sunlight—then rapidly cooled.