CH 126

“Why did you keep me alive?”

Today, for a rare moment, no screams echoed through the dungeons of the Holy Land. They looked cleaner than usual, but the stains on the walls remained. The blood oozes and shimmers with the shadows as if it had always been one with the rock.

“It’s purely the Hero’s will. I can’t know, and I have no business being involved in your life or death, though I’m sure that if even one person had died because of you, he would have given his consent to have you killed.”

Bishop Andrei shot a cold glare at the homunculus sitting on the floor, bound by a Holy Relic. Natalie shifted back into her black-haired girl form.

“Tell me what your orders are.”

“You won’t get anything out of me, not even by torturing me. There’s no way I will tell you what you want to hear.”

It would be hard to get any information out of her. Torture would be the typical method, but the Hero would not want it, so he dismissed it.

If it were up to Andrei, he wouldn’t mind torturing her.

“That’s it, then. I have no questions for you.”

With that, Andrei rose from his seat. Natalie looked up at him in bewilderment. There’s no point in asking questions that won’t be answered. There was no immediate threat, so he decided not to bother. He didn’t have time to waste.

“There are people who care about you. Let them see your face for a moment.”

Andrei helped Natalie to her feet. She looked down at the relic binding her wrists. It was made of worn rope that looked like it would rip with the slightest tug. But for some reason, she felt like she shouldn’t tear it.

“People who care about me? No one like that exists.”

Andrei pulled Natalie along, ignoring her question. She followed him meekly like a reined-in horse. As they made their way through the long underground corridors, Natalie imagined killing him and escaping. ‘Could I kill him? What if I kill him and get away? Should I return? Will they ever find me again if I run? Will they give me another order?’

“…Don’t even think about it.”

‘…Could I even do the first step?’

Andrei’s gaze cut through Natalie like a knife. A chill seeped into her lungs, and her hands shuddered. She wasn’t going to catch this man off guard. She instinctively knew the man had experienced snapping ambushers’ throats.

“Don’t even think about escape. I don’t want to make excuses for the Hero.”

Natalie was convinced. The corridor was long. Even if she succeeded in killing him, she would forever be stuck in the labyrinth called the Holy Land’s dungeons.

“This way.”

Andrei said to Natalie, who stood dumbfounded at the fork in the road. There was a staircase leading up a narrow passage. He placed his foot on the first step of the stairs and looked at Natalie. A piercing white light at the end pierced through the dull basement.

“They said they wanted to see your face to talk to you. They could have pretended they didn’t know you, but they went through the interrogation and wrote a statement. Impressive making friends in two months when you must’ve been busy.”

Natalie blinked. The implications of what Andrei said weren’t sinking in.

“You should see their faces and talk to them.”

In the room Natalie entered, Eugene and Cora sat frozen at their desks. They greeted her with a look of half-relief, half-disbelief when they saw Natalie’s usual expression.

“How can you look so unfazed after what you’ve been through?”

“You’re not hurt; how can you suddenly disappear and make us worry?”

Said Eugene and Cora, respectively. Natalie just stared at them in bewilderment.

“…What the hell are you guys doing here.”

“That’s what you get for disappearing without telling us.”

Eugene placed his hands on the desk as he spoke.

“Now, tell me what happened. Leave out what you don’t want to discuss, just the gist of it.”

The Holy Land couldn’t seriously believe this would work. Eugene and Cora waited patiently, not wanting to interrupt her.

“….”

Andrei quietly left the interrogation room as Natalie cautiously spoke.

***

“I thought you had tucked your tail and run.”

The Pope’s voice was a mixture of admiration, boredom, disgust, and sighs as he read the report. It was early afternoon. The lengthening daylight still cast its brilliant rays into his chambers.

“You’re finally getting to their roots.”

“It’s been terrible, but we’ve finally found a way in. We lost a few brothers and sisters with a long life ahead of them.”

Andrei shook his head in regret. In the years of pursuit, the number of Inquisitors had dwindled. Those who remained sought no reason or meaning for their deaths. The Inquisitors did not want to see their comrades die, but they did not grieve. Death was no big deal to them.

“…I’m sure they’d be happy to have it done.”

“Did you take care of the bodies? We’re running out of space in the basement.”

The Pope’s words were tasteless and bitter. The number of cigarettes the two men burned increased, as did the number of coffins.

“Their attack in the Kairos Kingdom was… We cannot say they failed, for they rendered the Tower useless.”

Andrei flicked his cigarette into the ashtray. The smoke lingered on his heavy exhale.

“Yes. Those lunatics only think about the imminent Disaster.”

“I don’t know why they’re so obsessed with destruction because from how they acted, they didn’t seem to think it would be the end of the world.”

The Pope’s face grew pensive. The world was moving too fast. There had to be another reason why the Doomsday Cult suddenly moved without caring for their secrecy, but the two had no clue.

“The more I think of him, the more I admire the Hero. To think of capturing that one alive in such a dire situation.”

“…Well, I don’t think that’s exactly what he intended to do.”

The Pope swallowed a frustrated sigh and reached for another cigarette.

“It’s frustrating not to know the news of the Hero.”

“I trust Iris and the Hero. She asked for time, and I’m only doing her a favor. Of course, we shouldn’t neglect the Disasters and heretics.”

The conversation broke off. The room was filled with the sound of the Pope puffing and exhaling smoke. He tossed his half-smoked cigarette into an ashtray and spoke again.

“Continue your pursuit. They are much larger than we expected. Keep your eyes peeled for movement, and don’t be baited by traps. They may not be something we can handle with the power of the Holy Land alone. We may have to recognize them as a threat equal to a Disaster.”

The Pope glanced at the Bishop, glanced at him. Andrei sipped his coffee in ignorance.

“Don’t do anything crazy again on your own. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

The Pope smoothed out his growing wrinkles and sighed as he turned to Andrei.

“How are the restraints on the homunculus faring?”

“Don’t worry. It is impossible for her to break the restraints this time.”

Bishop Andre’s eyes shone.

“If she makes contact with the outside world, or attempts to break her restraints, we should be thankful. Thought I doubt she would do it. And….”

He remembered the look on Natalie’s face when she saw her friends.

“It’s not like her friends will try to unravel it.”

“If they do, please stop them.”

Andrei wasn’t the kind of man to worry about things he didn’t have to.

“Anyways, where is the Hero now?”

“I’m under contract not to divulge his exact location. The Queen has already been generous by allowing you the state of the Hero. I know you’re curious, but there’s no way I can tell you.”

If he had to make such a demand, it was clear that the Hero did not want to be disturbed.

“What will you do now?”

“Keep tugging at the roots.”

The Pope wanted him to hurry up, but he couldn’t correctly judge his situation. The decision is best left to those who were at the scene.

He leaned back in his chair, praying the Disaster would just disappear.

***

Every time I picked up my sword, the hilt felt unfamiliar in my hand. It wasn’t like I was holding it for the first time, but more to the motion I wanted to achieve.

“The three levels of awakening are not just a matter of power.”

Holy Sword said, floating behind me. I was still swinging the sword, unable to delete the dummy. I couldn’t cut its existence.

“I’m sure you realize that you are already strong enough.”

The reason the Holy Sword didn’t allow the third stage was simple. The power to cut a star or planet would not just fall onto my lap.

“There is no way to get there except by yourself.”

Again, I swung down my sword. I cut through the dummy again. I sighed as my blade hit the floor. ‘Let’s try looking at it from another perspective.’ The Holy Sword approached as I stared at the dummy’s cross-section for what seemed like an eternity.

“Elroy.”

I looked up at the sound of the Holy Sword’s call. She looked hesitant.

“What is it?”

“…I want you to die for me.”

This came out of nowhere.

Unlike my dumbfounded expression, the Holy Sword’s eyes were serious. I shuddered as I watched her fingertips move to the sword on her waist.

“Let me cut you once.”

I felt an ominous premonition.