Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: I Am the King of the Sea
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Auriel stood there, head bowed deeply, showing absolutely no sign of resistance.
Watching the soldiers approach to bind her, Bishop Juda felt a quiet sense of relief deep inside.
'Good thing... If she'd put up a pointless fight, it would've been a real hassle in all sorts of ways...'
Auriel possessed power comparable to that of a saintess.
The bishop knew full well that if she came at them with real intent, they'd have no choice but to suffer some casualties.
Of course, even then, the outcome wouldn't have changed—after all, he wasn't a holy knight but a priest with meager combat ability.
With things proceeding smoothly enough, Bishop Juda watched the situation unfold without issue.
Then...
-Flash!!
"Huh?"
"Wha... what's that?"
In that instant,
a golden flash shot up into the sky.
Seeing it burst from Auriel's embrace, the bishop, priests, and soldiers all flinched in unison.
They worried it might be some special holy spell.
But nothing happened.
The golden flash simply vanished quietly, without any special effects or pain.
Feeling a touch of bewilderment, the bishop nonetheless barked orders at the still-hesitant soldiers.
"What are you waiting for? It was nothing—grab her already."
"Y-Yes... Understood, Bishop."
The soldiers snapped to attention at his command and moved toward her again.
Then...
"Guh!"
"Gah... urk..."
"Huh?"
"Wha... what's going on?"
In that moment,
the soldiers suddenly clutched their throats and began collapsing in place.
As if strangled by some invisible force...
"Wha... what is this...?"
Auriel still showed no reaction.
Well, to be precise, she did have one.
She stared at the soldiers with the same shocked expression as everyone else.
No aura emanated from her either, so it didn't seem like she was the one attacking them.
"No... could that flash from before..."
Perhaps it was some special power she didn't even know about.
But.
"Nah, that was just a signal flare."
"!"
His speculation was instantly shattered by a man's voice from right behind him.
A massive presence loomed at his back.
The sensation was like a giant beast standing there, sending chills racing down the bishop's spine.
Then, a large hand settled on the bishop's shoulder.
Enormous and rough beyond measure.
The heavy, irresistible force pinned him in place, body frozen stiff.
"Wha... what... who... who the hell are you...?"
He couldn't even turn his head to ask.
In response, the man slowly tightened his grip on the bishop's shoulder.
And spoke in a perfectly calm voice.
"You saw me earlier. Guess a trash personality comes with trash memory too?"
"! Wa... wai... guh!...!"
Pain crashed over him like an avalanche...
Pain as if his arm was being torn clean off.
The bishop instinctively tried to flare his aura for defense, but...
"Wha... what...? Grraaah!!"
His aura's barrier shattered pointlessly.
Shoulder pulverized like a mashed potato under the strength far beyond any ordinary human.
"Gaaaaahhh!!!"
Bishop Juda collapsed with a wretched scream, writhing on the ground.
Pain so intense he couldn't even think of healing or fleeing—he just rolled helplessly.
Ignoring the bishop, the man strode forward.
Seeing him in his crow mask, Auriel's face filled with astonishment as she asked,
"...H-How... how are you... here...?"
"That's what I want to know. Made it seem like you wouldn't use it..."
"...I'm sorry... I was... I was foolish... You told me the truth, and..."
"No need to apologize. I wouldn't have believed it either. If some guy I just met today told me my family would betray me."
"Guh..."
Another cold dose of reality.
Even in this situation, it was still hard to accept—she trembled.
"Anyway, we'll talk details later. First, let's clean this mess up."
"Cl... clean up...?"
Looking at the bishop and soldiers rolling on the ground, one future sprang to mind.
"N-No way... you're going to kill them?"
"Why? You still hung up on these guys?"
"That's not it! It's murder! Dealing with those kidnappers earlier was already trouble enough, but if you kill these people too, there's no going back! In Bennetsa, killing three or more means automatic execution!"
"By my laws, scum who pull this shit deserve to be beaten to death guilt-free."
"Don't talk nonsense! You're not a king—how could you decide...!"
In that moment,
the man slowly removed his crow mask.
She'd glimpsed it before, but now she saw his face clearly...
Recognizing it instantly, Auriel's expression turned to sheer horror.
"N-No... it can't be... you...!"
A commanding presence, radiating dignity and power...
Golden hair, golden beard.
He looked at her stunned face, flashed a broad smile, and said,
"I can decide. Because I'm the king of the sea."
*
Marquis Giovanni had glued himself to the carriage, starting his solo fun.
Watching him savor the thrill of stripping the bride on their wedding night, the others felt pangs of envy and jealousy.
"Tch... he's really living it up."
"That's why talent matters, huh."
"Just you wait... I let him have it this time, but someday I'll be the one..."
Pure masculine envy as the nobles waited impatiently for their turns.
Then...
-Grab!
"Huh?"
The next instant, a hand shot out from the carriage.
It seized Marquis Giovanni's head in a perfectly natural motion.
And...
-Crack!!!!
"!?!"
"Wha... what the...?"
His skull shattered like an eggshell.
The nobles' faces twisted in horror as he collapsed, blood spraying.
And...
-Bang!
The carriage door flew off with a sharp crack.
From inside emerged not the expected Auriel, but a man.
Stepping forward slowly in his black crow mask.
Instead of the anticipated fun with the saintess candidate, this screamed disaster—they were gripped by doubt and fear.
"Wh-Who the hell are you! Do you even know where...!"
"Where? Your graveyard."
With that, he began gathering mana in both hands.
A chilling sensation prickled their skin, making them tremble as they frantically called for guards.
"Wh-What are the guards doing?!"
"Intruder here! Stop that bastard now!"
Soldiers rushed in at their shouts.
Armed with guns and swords, including mid-tier warriors who handled mana—they were a solid force.
Fitting protection for the nobles' entertainment spot.
But...
-Boom!!
The intruder swung his fist at the soldiers.
A golden shockwave erupted, sweeping them away in one go.
"H-How can he...?"
"Wh-What the hell is this guy...?"
The soldiers crashed to the ground uselessly.
Dead or unconscious, they didn't so much as twitch.
Unbelievable even seeing it with their own eyes...
For the first time, despair seeded in their hearts.
Stay here, and they'd end up the same...
Or worse, skulls smashed like Marquis Giovanni's.
Sensing mortal danger, the ranking noble among the survivors—Marquis Leight—spoke to the approaching plague doctor in a quavering voice.
"L-Look... wh-what's this about? Must be some misunderstanding... W-We were just following His Holiness the Pope's orders!"
The marquis desperately shifted blame to 'justification.'
The others chimed in frantically.
"R-Right! We were only helping complete the holy relic on His Holiness's command!"
"N-No ulterior motives! Unlike that Marquis Giovanni—we were purely, piously joining the sacred ritual!"
Until moments ago, they'd cared nothing for the relic.
Now, it was their sole lifeline.
The Pope's command was something faithful believers had to obey, right?
And to that...
The plague doctor replied calmly.
"So everyone here gathered purely to complete the holy relic... Does that mean you'd still do anything for it?"
"O-Of course!"
"We assembled on faith alone! For His Holiness and the gods' will, nothing's impossible!"
Desperately igniting nonexistent faith to survive.
But.
"Got it... If that's your will, I'll respect it."
Surprisingly, it seemed to work. He dispersed the mana in his hands and spoke evenly.
"You want to complete the relic that badly? Fine, I'll let you."
"Ah!"
"Th-Thank... you?"
Relieved to have saved their skins, they even felt odd anticipation at this point.
His identity was unknown, but maybe he was after the relic too.
The order was messed up, but they might still get to ravage Auriel—they smirked slyly.
Then.
"Bring him."
"Y-...Yes! Un... Understood."
At his order, a priest hopped out of the carriage, trembling violently, and fetched something from the back.
The moment they saw it...
The nobles' faces froze solid.
"Wha... what...?"
"Th-This guy..."
There lay Bishop Juda, limbs crushed on one side each.
Still clinging to life even now.
The plague doctor spoke coldly.
"What are you waiting for? Ingredients are here—get making."
"!"