Chapter 235:

Chapter 235:

Isaac approached the tentacles that had solidified after running rampant during the whispering night.

The tentacles had turned into a column, resembling tangled tree roots. With a light swing of his sword, they crumbled away like soft ash. It appeared to be composed of the same substance as the white sand that emerged during an outbreak of the white plague.

As Isaac dug through the collapsed ashes with his sword, he touched something inside.

A mask-like remnant of a monk’s face, as pale as a skull, appeared. The lower part was tangled like octopus legs, grotesquely deformed.

It was highly likely that what he initially thought was the monk’s face was also a mask.

‘Claire and his group wore masks while performing their rituals. It’s common for the priests of the Nameless Chaos to wear masks, so this guy must have used one as his face too.’

Upon closer inspection, it was no ordinary mask.

[Slithering Fear (A+)]

[Fear never comes boldly. It creeps in with a gloomy and ominous presence in everyday life, and one day, you will find it at your doorstep, around the corner, or at your bedside. When worn, it allows communication through telepathy, and induces fear in those of lower rank than the wearer.]

‘This will be useful.’

Isaac felt a sense of satisfaction.

He had been thinking it would be good to have a mask since his face was too recognizable. He liked the intimidating appearance as well. He discreetly picked up the mask, pretending to gather evidence, and hid it inside his armor.

“Is it over?”

Isolde asked, looking somewhat tired. Isaac turned to look at the young priests who were sitting on the floor.

“The real work starts now.”

***

Reporting Claire and his group to the church or beheading them on the spot would make things simple. With undeniable evidence and witnesses, the church would just need to scare them a bit, and they would surely confess everything.

But if that happened, they would undoubtedly end up on the stake. Isaac didn’t want that. It wasn’t out of sympathy, but because they were obviously being used as well.

“Where did you get the materials for this ritual?”

Isaac and Isolde started interrogating Claire and his group, who were kneeling on the floor. They didn’t even wonder how Isaac had managed to find and subdue the monster at the perfect time.

After all, a Holy Grail Knight was a mystical being.

“We, we found it in this underground tomb.”

As expected, but not the answer Isaac wanted. He shook his head.

“No. You don’t have the capability. The deep underground tomb, precise materials, ritual procedures, procuring materials for sacrifices, deciphering documents written in Gorean—it was clumsy, but it’s not something you could achieve with a few months’ effort. Someone helped you. Name that person.”

Isaac believed that Claire and his group couldn’t have done this alone.

They were too clumsy and incompetent for that.

While they might be considered clever among their peers, this was beyond their ability. It was highly likely that the Immortal Order had covertly provided materials or that a surviving cultist had subtly instigated them. for new novels

Claire and his friends looked at each other in confusion. Isaac watched them with the Eye of Chaos. It wasn’t difficult to discern their true feelings amidst their frantic glances and expressions.

“W-we really found the information ourselves...”

Isaac sighed. They didn’t even realize they had been deceived.

“Who suggested you explore the underground tomb?”

Only when Isaac gave them a hint did their eyes widen in surprise. Claire hesitated before speaking.

“C-Cardinal Camille entrusted us with managing the ossuary...”

Cardinal Camille? Isaac fell silent at the mention of the high-ranking priest who had given him the mission. After a moment’s thought, he asked another question.

“Was it also Cardinal Camille who told you about the teachings of the Owl?”

“Y-yes, that’s correct.”

As Isaac promised to take responsibility for them, the priests seemed relieved, despite their tearful eyes. The idea of being personally taught and cared for by a renowned Holy Grail Knight seemed to them a sufficient act of penance. They couldn’t even imagine that this same knight was an Agent of Chaos.

‘I’ll turn you into useful cultists.’

As the saying goes, if someone hates you for no reason, give them a reason.

Since Camille had branded him as being related to the Nameless Chaos, he would create priests of the Nameless Chaos as she desired.

***

Isaac handed over Claire and his group to Hesabel on the outskirts of Ultenheim.

The guards didn’t find it strange that the priests were leaving the city and didn’t bother to check them. Isaac gave them travel expenses and instructed them to go to the Issacrea territory.

He didn’t give them ample travel funds on purpose. He expected that during their journey, the pampered priests from the comfortable Ultenheim would shed their refined demeanor. Though they would struggle, within the territory of Gertonia, they wouldn’t starve if they lowered their pride, as people would be willing to offer charity.

After sending Claire’s group away, Isaac returned to the Ultenheim Cathedral.

“Is it okay that I’ve effectively dealt with criminals on my own?”

On the way back, Isaac asked Isolde, who seemed to ponder for a moment before answering.

“Since it was an attempt that didn’t succeed, I don’t think it’s a capital offense. But if the details were revealed to the church, they would surely be executed. If someone can repent and correct their mistakes without dying, I think that’s right.”

Isaac felt reassured that Isolde’s thoughts aligned with his. Although he hadn’t thought of it as nobly as she did, he believed he had found the best outcome.

“By the way, you seemed quite startled when that chaos monster attacked you. Did you see something?”

Isaac’s question made Isolde flinch. She hesitated before mumbling while tracing her chest with her fingers.

“I saw a beating heart inside its throat. It looked as if the heart had taken over its body like a parasite, leaving the rest of the body just a shell.”

Isaac was momentarily speechless.

Isolde had absorbed the heart of the Prophet of Red Flesh, essentially swallowing the power of an angel. However, she seemed to view it more as a curse than her own power.

Her inability to fully utilize the power could be due to her fear that using it might allow the Prophet of Red Flesh to take over her.

Isaac wanted to tell her not to be overly fearful but stopped when Isolde asked in return.

“The monster turned into a huge tentacle when it died. Is that your fear, Isaac?”

Isaac kept silent. He wasn’t in a position to lecture her.

Just as Isaac feared that one day his body would be pierced by tentacles that would engulf the world, Isolde was afraid that the heart within her would eventually take over her.

The two, each harboring a monster within, walked silently side by side.

“I should report this incident to Cardinal Camille. She will wonder why the seminary students suddenly disappeared.”

Isolde nodded.

“Give her a good blow, Isaac.”

While the Church had tried to bind Isaac, this incident also provided Isolde with valuable evidence of the Church’s weaknesses.

But it wasn’t something that could be used just yet.

How to act upon it was Isaac’s decision.

Isaac headed towards the Ultenheim Cathedral.

It remained to be seen who the real monster was.

_____________

Rate us on Novel Updates, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to translate more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156