It’s Not My Fault, So I Have No Reason to Suffer (2)

Even as the cathedral knights who had joined belatedly were busy cleaning up the scene, Bigrind stood there blankly.

“Saint, are you alright?”

That clear voice amidst the noise.

Bigrind’s gaze, as if awakening from sleep, turned towards that voice.

“Oh my, what a mess this all is.”

Rudvik was standing there with a frown, rubbing the back of his head as if a lump had formed.

This was thanks to being grabbed by the ankle and rolling ungracefully on the bare ground after Alec’s low tackle.

While still massaging his throbbing head, Rudvik was looking down at Bigrind.

“Ah, Hero…”

As she hurriedly raised her hand to heal him, Rudvik shook his head.

As if to say there was no need, Rudvik waved his hand to indicate he was fine, and came close to Bigrind’s ear to whisper very softly.

“I deliberately opened a path, but I’m glad Miss Yona escaped safely.”

“—?!”

Startled, Bigrind looked at Rudvik.

She had thought he fell too easily, but he had actually cleared the way for Alec to pass.

Though Bigrind didn’t know much about martial arts, she couldn’t help but understand when it was stated so plainly.

“Now the question is what to do with Alec.”

Alec had been forcibly disarmed of his hammer and shield, as well as his armor, and was bound with his face pressed to the ground, his arms and legs all tied.

His face was so battered during the arrest that there wasn’t a single uninjured spot, covered in blue bruises, and his lips were split and bleeding.

Bigrind was wondering if she should heal Alec, but then thought that would cause another uproar—

Bigrind’s mind was very confused about the current situation.

Although demonic energy had exploded from Yona, could they judge that Yona had turned to a demon based on that alone?

An ordinary cleric would obviously answer yes.

Perhaps even Bigrind would have answered yes if it wasn’t Yona.

—If it wasn’t Yona.

She thought Yona wouldn’t do such a thing.

The star of the Evian Cathedral’s orphanage, who caused trouble every day, shouting and getting irritated when told to wear skirts, insisting she was a boy, but still quickly blending in and becoming friends with people. That incomprehensible girl.

But even after being judged as a healer, that bright smile she showed is still clear in Bigrind’s memory.

“…Perhaps, my healing went wrong.”

“Pardon?”

Rudvik wore a blank expression for a moment at Bigrind’s response.

It was a question about what to do with Alec, but Bigrind’s answer was completely irrelevant.

“Yona… becoming like that, it might be because my healing went wrong.”

“Um, Saint. I don’t think that’s the case at all.”

“I need to… see Yona. Yona wouldn’t do this. There must be, um… some misunderstanding, for sure.”

Bigrind’s expression was somehow dazed.

Her gaze, which had been looking at Rudvik, gradually lowered until it finally faced the ground, and Rudvik was scratching his head, not knowing what to say in this situation.

‘…I think it’s best to leave the Saint alone for now.’

Rudvik looked back at Alec.

Even so, wasn’t Alec the one who showed amazing martial prowess to help his companion escape?

Although he had not thought much of him as a Bronze-rank adventurer, at some point he suddenly displayed explosive power and against Scarlet—

“…Huh?”

Scarlet, slowly shaking his head and rising as if regaining consciousness, came into view.

It was the first time seeing Scarlet with his helmet off.

And Rudvik froze for a moment seeing Scarlet’s bare face.

Brilliantly shining red hair was let loose, flowing outside the armor,

The face, still with traces of youthfulness, was delicately slender.

Even the slightly ashen lips were incredibly full.

“…Sir Scarlet…?”

Rudvik could only stand blankly and mutter Scarlet’s name.

Alec’s gaze was fixed on one spot, not moving.

Even as he was crushed down, forcibly disarmed of everything, and bound with his arms and legs tied, it remained so.

Alec’s gaze was directed to only one place, the fallen Scarlet— the girl named Sekti.

Sekti.

No surname, just the name Sekti.

Back when Alec was still Johannes Spillbane.

Back when he was the captain of the Holy Crusade Special Forces.

Sekti, whom he cherished like a little sister rather than just a subordinate.

He hadn’t noticed at all that she was Scarlet.

He didn’t even get a familiar feeling.

Why was she, who had been like that…

“Former cathedral knight, Johannes Spillbane.”

At the baritone voice calling that name, which was clearly his even though he had already abandoned it, Alec’s gaze turned forward.

Where his gaze, forced to lie face down on the floor, reached.

There, a white-haired old man full of wrath was looking down at him.

“Is it true that you brought such a fallen cleric into this church territory, the headquarters of the Celestine Church watched over by the Celestial God? Moreover, even helping a sinner who tried to manifest a demon in this banquet hall escape. Was this truly your intention?”

Scarlet, Sekti, everything was instantly washed away from his mind.

At Arczel IV’s cold voice, rather, elation filled Alec’s chest.

Yona, Yona.

My beloved Yona.

My vow to protect you no matter what,

My vow to make you escape no matter what.

It has been fulfilled right here, right now.

That alone satisfies me.

Alec smiled instead.

He had achieved what he wanted.

Yona had escaped, and as long as she didn’t come back, that would be enough.

Kaiyak is by her side,

And Kaiyak is also a strong warrior.

He should be able to protect Yona and flee somewhere—

There are, no regrets.

Looking down at Alec, who remained silent and even smiled, Arczel IV suppressed the sudden surge of passion.

Above all, having brought a demon into this most sacred church territory, this fallen former cathedral knight was even smiling.

“Will you not answer immediately? If you keep your mouth shut like this, we will have no choice but to consider you an apostate as well. If you’re thinking of stalling for time, give it up. The cathedral knight squadrons have already been dispatched, so it won’t take long to apprehend that demon.”

“That will be impossible, Your Holiness. I have already left the cathedral, so feel free to brand me an apostate or not as you please. Yona has not fallen. She was more of a cleric than anyone I’ve seen. More than anyone— And, I am satisfied. Because the cathedral knights will never be able to catch her.”

Alec spoke with a smile.

It truly couldn’t be more ridiculous.

Sold her soul to a demon, turned to a demon.

Aren’t they defining Yona based on that absurd premise?

Yona sold her soul to a demon— how laughable is this?

She gave her own body for the sake of Alec and Kaiyak.

She gave her own body while enduring that pain.

Wasn’t it the Celestine Church that didn’t even give a chance to explain that sacrifice?

Isn’t it too brazen to now talk about apostasy?

“The Inquisitor will be here soon. I didn’t realize you had fallen this far. Enough. Further conversation would just be a waste of time.”

Arczel IV turned away.

The cathedral knight squadrons have already been dispatched and are combing through this area, and Alec can be handed over to the Inquisitor.

Moreover, with all the nearby stationed cathedral knight squadrons being mobilized now, there should be no problem in erasing that existence, even if it’s a demon.

He believed so.

He truly believed so.

When Scarlet regained consciousness, the first emotion she felt was a sense of discomfort.

Usually, the first thing she saw when opening her eyes was the scenery beyond the black bars cast by the visor of her helmet,

But now, without that, she could see everything as it was without any obstruction.

‘N-No way.’

Scarlet raised her hand to feel her face.

There was nothing.

The helmet that should have been covering her face was nowhere to be found, and her fingertips touched her bare face,

And she could feel the rough texture of the gauntlet directly on her face.

—Her self-esteem plummeted dramatically.

Her heartbeat began to intensify, and her trembling fingertips fumbled around searching for her helmet.

“He-Helmet… My hel-helmet…!”

Scarlet abruptly got up and looked around.

The surrounding scene was unusual, with all the cathedral knights facing off against Yona in a tense situation—

But such things were of no concern to Scarlet right now.

“Helmet, helmet—!”

Like a child who had lost their mother’s hand in the middle of a festival, Scarlet frantically looked around.

With tears welling up in those sparkling red eyes, Scarlet desperately searched for her helmet.

It was hard to believe this was the same Scarlet of the Holy Crusade Special Forces who had wielded a morning star and slaughtered undead with such ferocity.

As Scarlet looked around, she spotted her helmet rolling some distance away.

She jumped up, ran to pick up that helmet which was clearly hers, and put it on her head.

Only then did her pounding heartbeat subside.

The flush that had heated up her face also faded.

Only then did Scarlet look around.

The atmosphere was unusual.

The sight of golden radiance and red-black demonic energy raging like a storm was truly spectacular.

And at that moment—

“Sekti—!”

Scarlet’s body stopped abruptly.

Scarlet, who had been about to rush and join the cathedral knights, stopped in her tracks,

And as the helmet turned with a creaking sound, at the end of that gaze—

There was Alec, bound and crawling on the ground.

“Sekti, Sekti—!”

Alec called out that name at the top of his lungs.

From the moment she got up, to her panicked search for her helmet.

How could he forget?

Although some time had passed, she was Sekti, once his subordinate and someone Alec cherished more than a little sister.

There was commotion in the hall, but being pinned to the floor and at a distance from where Yona had fallen, Alec didn’t know what was happening now. If it weren’t for that, Alec would have called out to Yona first— but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

So now, Alec’s gaze was entirely focused on Sekti.

He had disobeyed the church’s decision to dispose of her, hence insubordination.

He had blackmailed the church over its shame surrounding her, hence blasphemy.

The punishment given to Alec for this was interdiction along with an order to leave the church.

Even after leaving the church, worry for Sekti had always remained, a constant burden in a corner of his heart.

Alec couldn’t help but be surprised at the fact that Sekti, who had been like that, had changed her name to Scarlet and was now working as part of the Holy Crusade Special Forces.

“Sekti—!”

At that moment.

The helmet turned and Sekti— Scarlet’s gaze turned towards Alec.

“Sekti, it’s me! Johannes, Johannes Spillbane!”

Scarlet didn’t move.

Although her gaze was clearly directed at Alec, Scarlet looking at Alec didn’t move at all.

“Sekti—!”

“Shut up!”

Scarlet’s roar echoed.

At that force, even Alec unconsciously closed his mouth.

“I don’t know how you know that name, but it’s not a name that someone like you can casually call—! Don’t you dare utter that name in vain, you filthy demon follower!”

Scarlet roared and began approaching Alec.

The morning star she had grasped in her hand at some point had spikes jutting out, and Alec swallowed hard seeing that sight.

“You filthy apostate, I’ll punish you right here and now—!”

Scarlet raised her morning star.

Just as that morning star, gleaming ominously as if about to smash Alec’s head, was finally swinging down—

“Stop.”

The descending morning star halted abruptly.

The morning star in her hand was blocked by someone else’s hand, and Scarlet glanced at the owner of that hand and hurriedly stepped back.

“The Inquisitor has arrived. Your anger towards the apostate is justified, but we should extract what we can and then dispose of him, shouldn’t we?”

Arczel IV said this while giving Scarlet a look.

As Scarlet bowed her head and stepped back at that look, those lined up behind Arczel IV slowly walked forward.

Figures in ash-colored armor, with ash-colored veils covering even their visors.

They silently walked forward and lifted Alec, who had been pinned to the ground.

“Take him away. Extract everything you can from him.”