Chapter 298:

Chapter 298:

Isaac’s knowledge of the Midas’ Hand was limited to it being a relic with the power to turn everything it touched into gold. He still remembered the scene that unfolded when he acquired the Midas’ Hand. He became an agent of the Golden Idol, and the whole world turned to gold.

However, Leonora pointed out that he was “mistaken” about this fact.

So, Isaac responded firmly.

“Mistaken? You’re the one who’s got it wrong.”

Isaac didn’t know where Leonora had gotten her information, but he had experienced it firsthand. How could she dare to contradict him?

But Leonora replied confidently.

“If there were a relic that could produce gold, the Golden Idol Guild would be the first to do whatever it takes to destroy it. Think about it. If a relic that mass-produced gold existed, what would happen to the value of gold?”

“That would...”

Leonora continued before Isaac could respond.

“The market would crash, and the gold we have would be treated like grains of sand—or perhaps sand would be more valuable since there’s no relic that produces it. The Golden Idol Guild, which holds the most gold, would go bankrupt, don’t you think?”

“...True.”

“Why would we waste time and resources to find something like that?”

Isaac had been asking himself that very question.

The answer “because it’s required to win” didn’t apply here. In the game, it might lead to an ending, but in this world, life continued beyond that point.

This meant that the Midas’ Hand had something far more valuable than merely overwhelming other faiths.

“Then what exactly is the Midas’ Hand?”

Leonora smiled at Isaac’s question.

“Would you like to join the Golden Idol Guild?”

“What?”

“What I’m about to tell you is known only to the inner circle of the Golden Idol Guild’s upper echelons. Sir Isaac, you’re more than qualified. If you join us, I’ll share it with you immediately.”

[The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

A warning followed, as if to say it was observing closely. Isaac had no intention of joining, and the fact that even the Nameless Chaos reacted like this left him both exasperated and amused.

Isaac bared his teeth and scattered Kaldwin.

“No thanks. I don’t need you to tell me. I’m taking Angela.”

“This... this is troublesome...”

Leonora bit her nails and looked at Isaac with desperate eyes. She was facing someone she didn’t want to antagonize over someone she couldn’t afford to lose.

Leonora didn’t like this situation at all.

“Sir Holy Grail Knight, why don’t we cooperate? If you join hands with me, the Golden Idol Guild can provide your Dawn Army with far more resources and support, equipping them better for the expedition.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Please, reconsider. Think about what it means to receive support from the Golden Idol Guild. More abundant supplies mean a safer and more successful campaign, which also means fewer casualties. Isn’t it our duty to send as many young men home alive and whole?”

“...”

“Would you really ignore the cries of all the orphans, widows, and children who’ve lost their parents just because of one little girl? Isn’t that hypocrisy?”

Leonora whispered seductively, exploiting Isaac’s sensitive conscience.

Isaac never considered himself a kind person, but he did feel guilty about dragging people into war for his own goals. He felt it was his responsibility to bring as many of them back safe and sound.

Save the one girl before him, or save countless children from losing their parents somewhere else.

‘Here we go again...’

Isaac felt his nerves fraying at this all-too-familiar conflict.

This was Leonora’s usual tactic. She always presented a seemingly obvious choice, pushing her target toward her desired outcome.

What made it so frustrating was that her words often sounded right.

Isaac’s conscience began to twist painfully. After all, this was just one girl, whose real name he didn’t even know and with whom he had no deep bond.

If he let go of this one girl, he could return countless soldiers—men who trusted him—to their families whole and unharmed.

“I...”

However, at that moment, something shook Isaac to his core.

[The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

A disquieting feeling set in, akin to being submerged in water.

Realizing this, Huffis sprang up in a frantic leap, flailing the threads it controlled as they scattered in all directions.

Isaac seized this moment to escape, watching Huffis thrash around violently.

He felt a twinge of regret at tormenting the creature after always telling his followers not to harm animals.

“Then again, Huffis has six legs, so maybe it’s more of an insect than an animal?”

The thought seemed fitting. It was better to frame it that way given the awful things Isaac was about to do.

Rather than struggling to cut Huffis with Kaldwin, this seemed the more sensible approach.

Isaac raised his hands, positioning them to encircle Huffis.

“Touch of Chaos.”

The tentacles of the Nameless Chaos extended from the darkness, starting with a few strands but quickly multiplying.

This battle was an experiment for Isaac. How effective would chaotic miracles be within this space filled with colors from beyond, and how powerful could they become?

Testing the power of the darkness was as simple as seeing whether the cat inside the box would survive when the curtain broke.

As expected, the tentacles extended fluidly as if they were Isaac’s own limbs. In this place, the colors from beyond felt like extensions of Isaac himself. Here, Isaac could unleash miracles and devour his opponent freely.

Huffis sensed the abnormality and flailed desperately, batting away the tentacles. But as their numbers increased, more and more tentacles began to wrap around Huffy’s limbs.

A horrifying scream echoed through the darkness.

***

Leonora repeatedly leaned out the carriage window, peering anxiously behind her. The coachman warned her to stop, fearing the danger, but she couldn’t help herself.

Huffis had never let her down before, but she had never deployed it against the Holy Grail Knight, a man who could even slay angels.

Boom!

Suddenly, a heavy thud resounded atop the speeding carriage.

The coachman, feeling the shock, quickly drew his sword and swung it, only for pain to shoot through his wrist as his blade was knocked into the woods.

“Stop the carriage if you don’t want to end up crashed in the forest.”

Isaac, somehow having caught up and climbed onto the carriage roof, stared down at them with a chilling expression.

The coachman gritted his teeth and reluctantly brought the carriage to a halt. Isaac leapt down, wrenching the door open to reveal Leonora, biting her lip.

Isaac ignored her and reached for Angela, gently helping her down.

Leonora muttered as she watched the scene.

“No persuasion or threats work on you, do they?”

“Not true. Persuasion works on me sometimes—especially when accompanied by bribes.”

Leonora thought Isaac was joking, but he was dead serious.

If the Nameless Chaos hadn’t assigned this mission, even Isaac couldn’t say where his heart would have leaned.

“Did you kill Huffis?”

“No.”

Isaac tossed the battered scroll back at her.

“But it might be a little stressed after losing some fur. Make sure to give it a dark space and some wet food.”

“What on earth are you...?”

Before Leonora could finish, Isaac grabbed her face, and golden hairs sprouted from his hand, embedding themselves in her skin.

It was a benefit gained after devouring Huffis’s fur.

[You have devoured ‘Fur of Happy Cat, Huffis (A).’]

[Efficiency of consumption increases with the ‘Intestines of the Dead God’ perk.]

[You have acquired the ‘Anger Reduction (Temporary)’ perk.]

[Temporary perks are maintained until digestion is complete.]

Isaac sensed Leonora’s defiance dim and whispered to her softly.

“Keep your temper down, just for a little while. Please.”