Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Three Swords
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Two of the Five Dark Stars, called the trusted aides of Apostle Baphomet—Freddy and Bonnie—had been captured and brought to Strange Castle.
They hadn't even been able to put up a proper fight before their defeat, so they could hardly believe it. They desperately denied the facts, spouting excuses.
"If my puppet hadn't broken, I could've beaten you lot easily!"
Bonnie thrashed about wildly. The iron chains on her arms scraped against the floor, clanging loudly.
Clang, claaang.
Berddin paid no attention to her outburst.
She couldn't escape anyway, and every part of the plan he had devised had worked perfectly.
The only regrettable part was that the enemies caught in the trap had been the tail, not the head.
"Shall I kill them?"
The silver-haired knight who had brought Bonnie drew her sword.
Wearing armor emblazoned with the Strange crest, she was the new knight who had appeared atop the tower with Bess.
Berddin looked her up and down before asking casually,
"What's your name?"
"Juliana, sir. I'm assigned to the First Guardian Knight Division under Count Bess."
"Not bad skills."
Juliana flushed and fidgeted awkwardly.
"I don't know how to respond when the Young Master says that."
Berddin cracked a light smile at her reaction, as if it amused him, then stepped closer and sheathed her sword.
Click.
"I'll handle these two. Head back to Bess now."
"Is that alright?"
"Of course. Swords belong in their sheaths. Legion's in a bad spot right now—Bess can put them to use."
The conversation was brief.
Berddin gave the order, and she had to obey.
He wasn't her direct superior, but it was only natural for Juliana to follow his command.
The Guardian Knights were the heart of the Strange Family, after all.
"Understood. If I spot enemies on the way back to Legion, may I return to the castle?"
"I'd be grateful. But if nothing happens, go straight to Bess and report what went down here."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Juliana departed.
Freddy and Bonnie watched tensely.
Soon after, Saint Maria Theresia arrived, and they were subjected to interrogation about the incident.
Slap.
"...Sir Berddin, I'll try not to kill them this time."
"Killing them is fine. Just don't dirty up where Father's staying. I'll have them taken to the underground dungeon."
Screams echoed nonstop through the underground dungeon of Strange Castle.
The interrogation, which had gone on for half a day without pause, finally ended at mealtime. Upon hearing that torture would follow, Freddy stared blankly at the ground, letting out a hollow laugh as if he'd lost his mind.
"Beat... heal... beat, heal. Beat, heal! Are you people really human, or demons?!"
Bonnie, who had been interrogated alongside him, trembled and drooled.
"I-I-I wanna get outta here quick. Y-You... if you know anything, just spill it fast. We'll both go crazy at this rate!"
"Shut up, Bonnie! Is that any way for one of the Five Dark Stars to act?"
"Freddy, please. If we both die, what does it matter if we're Five Dark Stars or whatever?"
Freddy glared at her with all his might.
"Even in death, uphold the pride of the Five Dark Stars. We can't forget we're the chosen of the Tower. The Saint said even death won't end us—that an eternal world awaits."
"Just... kill me. Please kill me! I can't take this madness anymore!!"
I listened to their conversation from outside the door. When my anger peaked, I entered the cell.
Creeeak—thud.
Freddy and Bonnie both looked at me. Their eyes were filled with terror.
Just half a day ago, they had glared at me in the training grounds like they wanted to kill me. Now they couldn't even meet my gaze.
"Pathetic sight."
I dropped two daggers I'd prepared in advance at their feet.
Clang.
Then I unlocked the chains binding their feet.
Click.
"Whoever wants to die, go ahead. Theresia's coming back after meals. This is your only chance."
Bonnie's pupils shook violently like an earthquake. She'd said she preferred death over torture, but faced with it now, she couldn't decide.
Anyone would react the same. Eternal death or endless torment—which would you choose?
Freddy didn't like my offer; he bit his lip until it bled.
"Get lost, Strange brat."
"Oh? Still got some fight left after all that. I'll give you points for that."
"Get out before I kill you."
"Kill me? You? How?"
"You... damn bastard!"
Freddy resisted fiercely.
The manacles binding his hands scraped hard against the wall, clanging.
Claaang!
"Nice try. If I'd taken one more step, that fist might've reached."
"...Damn it!"
I looked back and forth between Freddy and Bonnie, then sighed deeply with a pitying expression.
Haa—
"This is just sad. You two have skills that made your names known among adventurers. Seeing you suffer like this, clueless about the betrayal... It's pitiful. If not for that guy, you'd be thriving in some top mercenary band or party by now."
Freddy's ears perked up at my words. His dilated pupils and trembling lips gave him away.
'He'd already suspected betrayal himself.'
The relatively calm one reacted immediately.
"...Betrayed?"
Hooked.
I turned my back and shrugged.
"You still don't know? Naive or just stupid."
"W-Wait. Who's the traitor?"
"Who else? Think about who sent you here."
Torture had clouded their judgment. Freddy was getting swayed by my words.
I wouldn't confirm it, just plant the seed of doubt.
'This is enough.'
I dangled the key to their shackles and asked,
"From now on, I'm freeing you. Die here or run—your choice."
Click.
I unlocked the chains on their hands and feet. But I left the orichalcum 'Sealing Stone' around their necks to prevent resistance.
"Get out."
Freddy and Bonnie stared at me in disbelief.
With that, I leisurely left the underground dungeon. No need for more talk.
From here on, whatever they did, they'd be playing in the palm of my hand.
Freddy fell deep into thought.
Even after the enemy freed him, he couldn't decide whether to leave the dungeon.
"What're you doing? If we don't go now, they'll catch us again!"
Bonnie urged him.
"Wait. This could be a trap."
"Of course it's a trap, idiot! If we don't go, we're dead anyway. Before that damn... damn woman comes back, let's get out!"
"Shit... They're probably planning to tail us and wipe us out. Our comrades are searching by now, so if we go out..."
"Then just die, idiot!"
Still, they couldn't stay in the dungeon forever. If time passed, that woman Theresia would return for more torture.
They couldn't endure that again. Either slit their throats with the daggers before them.
Or leave and find a way to salvage this mess.
'But.'
To do that, they'd have to go back to Matteo Rich—but there was a slim chance he was the traitor, so he hesitated.
"Bonnie."
"Yeah?"
"Who suggested the Five Dark Stars to you?"
"Monestier, who else."
"Right. Same for me—Monestier brought me in."
"So why?"
"...Do you know who brought in Matteo Rich?"
Bonnie shook her head.
"No idea about that old geezer. Seemed like he'd met Monestier before us. We only saw him once or twice a year anyway, so I wouldn't know exactly."
In Freddy's mind, the suspects narrowed to three.
One was Duchess Katarina, who sent him to Strange Castle.
Another was Matteo Rich, who ordered him to meet her.
And the third...
"You suspect that old man of being the traitor?"
Bonnie asked cautiously.
Freddy touched the Sealing Stone around his neck and replied.
Crackle—
"Yeah."
"Nah, no way. I pushed for this op first, right? If the old man planned it, he'd have ordered it sooner."
"Maybe. But what if you teamed up with Matteo Rich to screw me over?"
"...What're you saying?"
"It fits, doesn't it? Even explains why the Strange brat let us go."
Bonnie's irritation boiled over as she pointed accusingly during their talk.
"What kinda bullshit is that? So you're saying I teamed up with the old man to betray you?"
"I considered it."
"Me—us—why? What for?!"
"My position."
"Your position?"
"I know. The one you two have wanted in the Five Dark Stars for ages."
Freddy's eyes darkened as he finished speaking.
Matteo Rich, leader of the Five Dark Stars, fiddled with his healed arm as he muttered to himself.
"Weird. Those guys should've been back by now—no word yet."
He paced restlessly, anxious.
"Calm down, Leader. Bonnie's got Freddy with her, right? Even if something happened, they'll handle it and come back."
"...Yeah, Katarina's got her back against the wall with us—she won't betray."
If word got out about the order she gave them? It'd be an uncontrollable scandal.
If Bonnie and Freddy screwed up together, it'd be the worst-case scenario, impossible to fix.
Thud, thud, thud.
No sooner had he spoken than Bonnie staggered into the hideout—a secret area within Legion.
"O-Old man, big trouble... Freddy... Freddy... Freddy betrayed us."
With that, Bonnie collapsed forward, unconscious.
Thump.