[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 22: The Three Men of the Gilmore Clan (3)
[TL/N: This is a Peak Chap- Part 2]
Hamel was dying.
If a little more time had passed, his heart would have stopped, and death would have embraced him.
But at the last moment, a warm light enveloped his body.
At the same time that Antonio activated Grand Exorcism, Hamel realized that the energy raging within him had disappeared.
Azure flames ignited from his body.
His heart started to beat quietly, but steadily.
The thick demonic energy had washed away, and what remained was an unfamiliar energy.
It was so cold and violent that it felt like it would freeze all the blood in his body.
Even when he exhaled softly, white mist puffed out, and frost formed on the floor.
What was happening to his body?
Just as Hamel was wondering,
"It seems that's all you can do."
David was standing next to Antonio.
'No.'
He had a bad premonition.
No, if he didn't stop it, that premonition would become reality.
Antonio, the boy he had saved, who admired him and joined the Order.
Antonio was already a special existence to Hamel.
'Run...'
Contrary to his intentions, not even a groan escaped his frozen throat.
He couldn't even move a finger, let alone stop David.
Just as he was helplessly watching them,
"How unpleasant."
David muttered in a low voice and swung his staff.
The next moment, with a gruesome sound, Antonio's eyeballs were gouged out.
His golden pupils, which had been shining brightly, were now stained red with blood.
'...Ah.'
And the moment he saw that,
Snap!
Something seemed to snap in his mind.
He felt something.
He hadn't been aware of it until now, but it had been within him for a long time.
The violence that existed deep inside him, the anger he had harbored towards the unfair world, and the blasphemous doubts about the gods who governed this world.
What broke free from all the chains that had bound him was...
...unexpected.
Hamel unconsciously frowned.
'This is... a sense of liberation?'
It was a distinct euphoria, a clear freedom.
A thrill swept over him, so intense that he couldn't understand how he had endured the discomfort until now.
"..."
He could hear Antonio's screams in the distance.
But why?
He didn't feel the same agitation as before.
"Haa."
He slowly exhaled the air that filled his lungs.
Hamel looked up at a man.
He didn't like the way the man looked, arrogant and haughty with his chin held high.
What was his name again? Did it even matter? What mattered was that look in his eyes.
A confident gaze, as if everything was beneath him. No one was allowed to make that expression in front of him.
Step!
Hamel got up lightly and took a step forward.
He took a few more steps for the man who was slow to notice him.
He was getting bored, and the urge to tear the man's throat out was rising.
The man finally noticed him and sputtered in surprise.
"You... are truly tenacious, my brother."
The piece of metal in his hand was bothering him.
He casually threw it, and the man flinched and dodged. The sight amused him.
He watched, curious to see what the man would do, and the man suddenly started pulling corpses out of his pocket.
The corpses that fell to the floor rushed towards Hamel.
'Slow.'
Even playing with a child would feel more thrilling than this.
Hamel approached the man, crushing the corpses as if twisting off the limbs of toy dolls.
And when he destroyed the last doll, Hamel finally got what he wanted.
"Oh, damn it."
The man's eyes were filled with fear as he muttered under his breath. The scent of frustration, despair, and fear.
Hamel smiled faintly as he watched the man finally realize the reality of the situation.
"..."
What kind of ugly expression would he show next?
He was looking forward to it.
And after that... well.
Should he peel off his skin, or tear off his limbs?
No, gouging out those arrogant eyes first wouldn't be bad either.
'And then...'
Suddenly, Hamel saw Antonio, lying on the floor and groping the ground.
Hamel staggered to his feet and headed towards Antonio. Perhaps due to blood loss, he couldn't keep his balance. After bumping into several things, he finally managed to place his hand on Antonio's shoulder.
Flinch!
Antonio's body flinched as if startled by the touch.
Hamel reached out with his blood-soaked hand, fumbling for words.
"Is, is someone there?"
Hamel remained silent.
He should comfort and reassure him, but he couldn't bring himself to speak, seeing his gruesome state.
But perhaps it was the warmth he felt from Antonio's body.
Or maybe it was the tremor in his voice, laced with guilt.
"...Hamel-nim? Is that you?"
Antonio recognized him.
"...Yes."
Hamel finally nodded, then paused. Antonio couldn't see him.
"You're, you're alive. Of course. Hamel-nim wouldn't die."
Antonio smiled brightly.
Then, he asked urgently,
"Right, is the priest-nim safe? Is Sir Daniel back? What happened to the other exorcist priest?"
There were no questions about his own condition.
Only concerned for others, but Hamel couldn't answer any of them.
"...I'll heal you first."
Changing the subject, Hamel clasped his hands together and prayed fervently.
'May the power bestowed upon me work on Antonio.'
The power of the Azure Flame, which could even regenerate severed limbs. It was a power limited to Hamel himself.
For others, it only aided in the body's recovery; it had never reconstructed lost body parts.
But just because it had never happened before didn't mean it couldn't happen now.
'Just this once, please. Ehurshica.'
He wouldn't use this power again.
So please.
Whoosh!
At the end of Hamel's prayer, Azure flames ignited in Antonio's empty eye sockets.
A warm energy spreads out. The flesh that had been eaten and torn was stitched together.
"Ah, Hamel-nim. Thank you."
"..."
But that was all.
Antonio thanked him, but his lost eyeballs didn't return.
Hamel remained silent, and Antonio, sensing something amiss, tilted his head.
"...Hamel-nim?"
"I'm sorry."
"Huh? What do you..."
Antonio was bewildered by Hamel's apology, as if he hadn't expected it at all. Hamel felt even more guilty and spoke,
"I failed to fulfill my duty as your exam supervisor, who should have protected you. Instead, I received help from you."
If it weren't for the Grand Exorcism he had performed, Hamel's heart would have stopped due to the demonic energy raging within him.
This wasn't the first time either.
He had been saved by Antonio several times during this exorcism mission.
This mission was originally a trap to use and lure him in.
Everyone who lost their lives here was a victim caught up in his personal affairs.
He couldn't bear to face them.
Hamel gritted his teeth in self-loathing.
"I feel the same, Hamel-nim."
Antonio replied with a smile.
Hamel stared blankly at his bright smile.
"You saved me many times. I learned a lot and got closer to the person I want to be."
"But without your eyes, you can no longer be an exorcist priest..."
"It will be difficult. But thanks to you, I can be proud of myself. I can continue to follow God's word and walk the path He has laid out for me."
There was no regret on Antonio's face as he spoke.
It was as clear as a cloudless sky.
"So please don't apologize or pity me, Hamel-nim. I haven't given up on anything yet."
Hamel realized.
Despite his young age, Antonio was already a great person.
Perhaps even more so than himself, who had been consumed by revenge since they first met.
"...Yes, I understand."
Just as Hamel slowly nodded,
Crash!
The half-broken study door fell to the floor with a loud bang, kicking up dust.
And there,
"I rushed over here, but... it seems I'm too late."
A knight wearing a helmet with a red ornament was standing there.
"Sir Daniel!"
Antonio was overjoyed at the sound of his voice. Hamel also jumped to his feet, but he managed to suppress his joy and said calmly,
"You're alive."
"So are you."
Hamel and the knight exchanged greetings and chuckled softly.
Just then, a faint groan could be heard from somewhere.
"You... bastards. I'm alive too..."
"...?"
The exorcist priest they thought was dead.
Ono was struggling to move, his face pale as he looked at them.
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]