[No Title Provided]

Yuna's mother and younger sister had already become victims of the biological experiments conducted by those heretic bastards. If Yuna learned of this, she would undoubtedly turn into the villainess. She would destroy the world saved by the hero's power... with the hero's power.

But the problem didn't end there. The wine that Duke Istar had presented to the heretic leader. If that unpleasant sensation was connected to the horrific scene unfolding before my eyes, then the heretic leader's place would soon become a den of grotesque monstrosities. It was truly the worst possible situation.

Shit... I tried not to curse, but I couldn't help it.

It was at that moment. A telepathic message arrived from Arian. It seemed Duke Istar was finally about to make his move.

What the hell is he planning? Was he dreaming of world conquest using the hero? Or fulfilling the heretics' long-cherished wish? No, no. This wasn't the time for such speculation.

"Arian, buy as much time as you can."

I needed time. No matter how much I racked my brain, no sharp solution to this mess came to mind.

First things first, rescue these people. If I couldn't save the kidnapped family, Yuna would become the villainess in the end. That was the absolute worst scenario. And if I could save them, then the heretic leader's place could be dealt with somehow. The trail would lead back to the heretics either way.

It was frustrating because I knew that, yet no method came to mind.

Wait...

Suddenly, a thought flashed into my head. The saintess. Maybe the saintess could save them? The unpleasant aura emanating from these people was definitely demonic energy, and the saintess was the one who purified such corruption.

It might just be a hunch with no guarantee, but it was worth trying. Hell, it was the only thing I could trust right now. With the world on the brink of destruction, whether it was a rotten rope or a sturdy one, I had to grab it first.

I felt a bit sorry for dragging the saintess into this abruptly, but considering it was also the Goddess Church's business, she'd understand.

I teleported, hoping Arian and Yuna would buy me time. A magic circle formed under my feet, light flickered, and my figure vanished.

I reappeared at St. Serpian Cathedral. More precisely, in the small room where the saintess resided within the cathedral.

I knew barging in like this was rude, but I had no time for manners.

She's asleep. It looked like she'd dozed off while reading; a book lay open on the desk, and Justia was slumped over it.

"Justia."

"Eek...?!"

When I shook her shoulder to wake her, Justia jolted upright in surprise. Her gaze slowly turned to me.

"Wh-what, what are you doing here...!"

Justia widened her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. She was embarrassed about her nightgown, apparently. I understood completely, but there was no time for that now.

"We need to go. Now. It's urgent."

"At least explain what's going on..."

"I'll explain on the way."

A magic circle began forming under my feet. Seeing it, Justia hurriedly stood up.

"W-wait a second! At least let me grab a coat...!"

Before her words finished, the light flickered briefly. And with that, we vanished from the room.

We reappeared in the basement of Duke Istar's mansion. Magic stones dimly lit the dark underground, adding to the eerie chill.

"Franz...! This is too sudden..."

Justia glared at me with wide eyes, but once again, she couldn't finish her sentence. The scene before her was too shocking.

"Wh-what is this...?"

"Can you purify them?"

"P-purify?! I've never seen anything like this before..."

Justia bit her lower lip in frustration with her upper teeth. But that also meant there was a chance of success. She just hadn't tried it yet.

"Justia, please."

"Yes, I'll do my absolute best."

Nodding with resolve, Justia knelt on the spot and clasped her hands in front of her chest. Looking down at her, I averted my eyes slightly and draped my coat over her shoulders. Her loose nightgown had exposed her cleavage quite clearly. No wonder she'd been desperate for her coat; I realized the reason belatedly.

"Goddess who loves all creation, punish those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who sow chaos in the world..."

Justia began reciting the prayer. A brilliant golden holy power emanated from her body like mist, spreading outward.

"Guh, ugh... Ah, it hurts... Save, save me..."

A parched voice came from beyond the frigid iron bars. They writhed in agony, groaning in pain as their bodies twisted unnaturally.

Justia bit her lower lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She truly was the saintess, aching with others' suffering and offering compassion to the pitiful.

Is it working...?

It was. The clumps of black demonic energy binding their bodies melted away, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their grotesquely twisted forms began slowly reverting.

But the recovery was slow; it would take quite some time.

Shit... It looked like Duke Istar had finally begun his real move.

"Justia, I'm sending Hera here. You two wait a bit."

I whispered lowly to Justia. Magic circle and flicker. My figure vanished.

This was before I brought Justia.

As Yuna and Arian waited for me, Duke Istar suddenly approached.

"Milady, may I have a word with the hero?"

"We're in the middle of something important. If it's alright, could you wait elsewhere for a bit?"

"It's quite important on my end as well. By the way, aren't you enjoying the wine? I prepared only the finest selections."

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't have a taste for alcohol."

"Hoho, that's truly regrettable."

His affable smile made Arian want to vomit. How could he so shamelessly offer wine after tampering with it? Heretics truly shouldn't be treated like people. Devils, absolute devils.

"Well, no helping it. Since it's important for you, milady, I'll take my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠leave."

Duke Istar said that and brushed past Yuna.

Haa... Arian sighed in relief, thinking the situation had resolved.

But then, Yuna's pupils suddenly shook violently. She turned toward Duke Istar. Arian was startled at Yuna's action. Franz had asked to buy time, but this could lead to disaster instead.

"The Tower Master asked us to buy time. So we need to act carefully."

Arian covered Yuna's mouth with her hand and whispered into her ear. Yuna nodded faintly.

What the hell is going on...? Arian felt utterly wronged no matter how she thought about it. She'd expected a date with Franz at the heretic gathering, but he brought another woman. And then left her in charge and ditched. Any woman would be pissed.

I have to get compensation later, no matter what.

Arian's hand gently stroked her lower abdomen. But contrary to her happy imaginings, the situation grew urgent.

"Now—! If everyone could look this way—!"

On the second floor of the heretic gathering hall, Duke Istar drew all eyes. Arian and Yuna's gazes naturally followed.

"Everyone, it seems it's time to bring the heretic gathering to a close."

Close it? Arian couldn't comprehend his words. She'd never heard of a heretic gathering ending so abruptly.

But who could have known? The end of the heretic gathering signaled a horrifying new beginning.

Snap.

Duke Istar snapped his fingers. The attending nobles clutched their throats as if on cue.

"Guh, ugh... Urp..."

"Urgh...!"

They spewed forth something from their mouths amid agonized cries. Thick, sticky black liquid.

The foul fluid spilled onto the floor and slowly clung to the nobles' bodies.

"Ugh...!"

Yuna collapsed to her knees, clutching her chest. Her face was contorted in pain.

Witnessing it all, Arian hurriedly sent a telepathic message to Franz.

Her voice trembled as it emerged. Her hands and feet shook uncontrollably; she felt like she might collapse any second.

"Hmm, as expected of the hero? Holding out after ingesting that much."

Arian's gaze returned to the second floor. Duke Istar was still there, his eyes blood-red like clotted blood. They resembled a demon's eyes far too closely.

"Well, no matter. She can't do anything anyway."

He leaped over the railing to the first floor and slowly approached Arian and Yuna.

Arriving before Yuna, he let out a sneer.

"You know, hero? Your family is already dead. Well, technically alive. Twisted into horrific shapes here and there. If you'd just killed me when you first came, they might've lived."

At Istar's mockery, the light faded from Yuna's eyes. Darkness settled over her once-brilliantly shining golden pupils.

Yuna staggered to her feet. Her fists clenched, trembling violently. A grinding sound echoed, like her teeth might shatter.

Golden aura began surging from her body, pushing back the demonic energy and purifying it.

At that moment, light flickered, and I appeared in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the heretic gathering hall. Before my eyes floated dozens of translucent displays.

The bad ending alert display. Duke Istar with blood-red eyes, Yuna pushed to her limit, nobles morphing into monstrosities.

Assessing the situation, I rubbed my forehead.

This is really bad...