Chapter 46: Apostle Louveci (1)

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“This city feels so chaotic…”

A subordinate muttered while glancing around.

Everywhere, there were damaged festival decorations, heavily armed guards and citizens with gloomy expressions.

At a time like this when smiles should be blooming everywhere, this scene was nothing short of strange.

“Should I go and ask what’s going on?”

The subordinate asked her superior, an elderly man, who shook his head in response.

“Don’t get involved unless you’re prepared to take responsibility.”

“I just said I’d ask, not that I’d solve anything. Geez.”

“I want to go back before the Advent Festival ends. It’s obvious you’ll come running back saying, ‘Captain, there’s a problem, let’s solve it,’ and meddle in things…”

“It’s only right to lend a hand to those in trouble. Who are we, after all? Even you, Captain, always grumble but end up helping in the end.”

“I hate righteous talk.”

“And yet you’re the one in charge of being a ‘Guardian.’”

“I didn’t take this role because I wanted to. Others pushed me into it.”

If you really didn’t want it, you could’ve stepped down—the subordinate grumbled, and the captain waved his hand dismissively.

“Enough noise. Fine. Do whatever you want. Go ahead.”

With that the subordinate excitedly ran towards the guards, her hair fluttering. At first the guards were wary, but once she revealed her identity, they quickly explained the situation.

The subordinate listened with a bright expression, nodding along, but her face gradually darkened, eventually turning into one of shock.

She trudged back.

“I shouldn’t have meddled…”

“Told you.”

And who was it that said we should lend a hand to those in trouble?

When he glanced over at the guards who had looked haggard just moments ago, they now had a glimmer of hope in their eyes. The dark-clad men were staring at them with bright, expectant eyes, making him feel uneasy.

He could already guess what was coming.

“…From the looks of it, it’s heresy.”

“Thought so.”

“They’ve already sent a request for reinforcements to the Holy Capital… There was an incident where a giant crow caused chaos in the bustling area… Today, there have been repeated explosions and magic sightings in the mountains behind the city, so the guards are organizing a scouting team.”

“They’re probably hoping we’ll join them. Looking closely, isn’t that a barrier over there?”

As soon as he pointed toward the mountain, the subordinate’s communication crystal began to flash.

“Yes, this is Peko. Yes… Yes… He’s here with me. Ah, yes… We’ve just grasped the situation…… Yes, we’ll handle it.”

Since the Holy Capital knew that there were holy knights returning from the north after completing their mission, it would save time and be perfect to have them handle it.

After ending the communication, the female subordinate, Peko, looked at the Guardian Cedric with a pained expression. Cedric chuckled at her dismay.

“Why so glum?”

“You know how much I hate heretics… I don’t even want to confront them… Really, I just wish they’d all disappear…”

“You’re truly cut out to be a holy knight. Your temperament is admirable. I’ll pray in the name of the Saint that you can wipe them all out with your own hands.”

“What are you saying… Even you can’t do that, so how could I?”

Cedric shrugged and took the lead, with Peko trudging behind him.

And so, the two holy knights began to move.

In the mountains, where the grand singing of the Shadow Cult’s followers echoed.

While Claude’s subordinates paused their pursuit to prepare the barrier, the last person Sugar and Riley wanted to see approached them.

“Louveci…”

“Sugar. You still haven’t managed to escape far, have you? The barrier’s already up.”

Her usual calm demeanor was unnerving. Cold sweat dripped down Sugar’s back.

“Huh? This magical energy… Tommy’s here too. I heard he was sick, but he must’ve recovered. I’m glad he managed to find you all the way here.”

Riley gritted his teeth at her words, but Sugar stepped in front of him.

“What’s so ‘glad’ about it?”

“Hehe. You care so much for Sugar, and Sugar cares for you, her friend. You’ve found each other again. That’s why it’s a relief.”

“What are you… Louveci. I don’t understand your intentions. Weren’t you trying to keep me tied to the cult? From your perspective, this isn’t a relief.”

“Ah… Well… I do want that. But that’s separate from the fact that Sugar got what she wanted, right? Reuniting with her friend. So it’s a relief.”

“…”

‘Ah, and now I can bring both of you back, so that’s also a relief,’ she quickly added. A crow perched on a tree branch above her.

It was impossible to understand her. She had always been hard to read, but at least her tendencies were somewhat predictable. She occasionally showed a clueless side, making her seem almost human.

However now, it was impossible to tell. She seemed friendly one moment, then stabbed you in the back the next. She would act one way, then manipulate you into doing something else.

Her enigmatic smile, with her eyes closed was incomprehensible. As Sugar frowned, watching her, Riley opened his book.

“Anyway. You chased us here to capture us again, right?”

“Ah! I sensed something unique earlier, so that’s what you’ve been hiding! What is it… a stone? A book? Can you tell me what form it takes?”

“Shut up and raise your staff.”

“Ah… Everyone’s busy setting up the barrier anyway. A little conversation won’t hurt.”

“I have nothing to say to a kidnapper.”

“For the record, we haven’t harmed Sugar in any way.”

At those words Sugar glanced down at her feet, which were torn and bruised, with wounds scattered across her body. Aside from the scratches from tree branches, there were marks from various spells, leaving her skin mottled.

Riley’s expression twisted.

Perhaps sensing the tension, Louveci quickly changed the subject.

“Well. To rephrase, Sugar was fine as long as she stayed quiet. But once she set the altar on fire and started running while emitting that energy, we had no choice.”

Did you set a fire? Riley’s silent question was directed at Sugar, who awkwardly nodded.

“I was actually trying to protect Sugar. I planned to care for her until the day I died. Even when she tried to escape, I used a sleep spell, the most humane method, to subdue her.”

Her words flowed smoothly. Sugar sighed and countered.

“Louveci… I never asked for that. What I want isn’t care within the cult, but freedom under the sun. I don’t want to face your god, I don’t want to believe in them, and I don’t want to live with you all… Just let me go. You always talk about how important the children’s wishes are.”

At her sincere words, Louveci smiled while fiddling with her staff. The sight of the little girl chattering about wanting to be set free was just too adorable.

“Freedom. It’s nice. Sweet.”

Slowly, as if reminiscing about the past.

“But it’s not something you get for free.”

She immediately began chanting a spell.

Just before she could utter the incantation, Sugar aimed her staff and sent a pebble flying from the ground.

Louveci, dodging with a smirk, closed the distance between them in an instant.

“Illusion.”

A surreal world unfolded before their eyes.

The sunlight streaming down. The chirping of birds.

They were back atop the towering tree they had seen before. A place where it felt like you could touch the clouds, yet it wasn’t cold. A secluded space where neither Louveci, Riley, nor anyone else was visible.

They knew it was an illusion, but the vivid realism left them speechless.

“Take a moment to enjoy the scenery.”

Louveci’s voice echoed like a dream.

But Sugar didn’t panic. She simply raised her staff and chanted.

One of the three spells Sugar knew.

Protection, Warm Breeze, and Dispel.

“Dispel Magic.”

As soon as she uttered the incantation, they returned to reality.

Normally, dispelling an illusion of this level would be difficult. You’d have to decipher the caster’s spell woven into the space, and someone as powerful as Louveci would have prepared thoroughly. The spell would be layered densely, so even a skilled mage would take dozens of minutes to unravel it.

However Sugar dispelled it effortlessly.

The magical energy of Louveci’s illusion. Reaching out, she naturally felt its source. By visualizing the path, she ‘couldn’t help’ but understand the flow of the spell.

With clear eyes, she looked around and saw Riley, dazed, muttering something as he tried to dispel the illusion.

Sugar raised her staff to help him. But at that moment, a magical projectile from Louveci knocked the staff away.

“Ugh!”

“Wow, Sugar. You got out of that really quickly. Was it because you’ve experienced it before?”

As Sugar quickly lunged for her staff, Louveci blocked her path.

“You’ve lost your wand. What will you do now?”

Playfully, she bent down, hands behind her back, to face Sugar. Her demeanor suggested that no matter what Sugar did, she could counter it. It was infuriating.

Sugar unleashed her magical energy. Louveci, who predicted actions based on the flow of magical energy, didn’t notice as Sugar simply released it chaotically.

“You’ve figured out how to deal with me. But at this distance, I can hear any movement—”

“Gotcha!”

“!”

Without any movement, Sugar shouted loudly into Louveci’s ear, infused with magical energy. Louveci, with her sensitive hearing, froze in shock.

You didn’t see that coming, did you?

With a triumphant smile, Sugar rolled toward her wand.

“Dispel Magic.”

As soon as she grabbed it, she aimed it at Riley and chanted the incantation.

Startled, Riley looked around.

“…Did you dispel it?”

“Mhm.”

Before Sugar could even revel in her triumph, a barrage of magical projectiles rained down.

The two immediately raised their defensive shields and leaped to the side.

“Magic Rain.”

Following Riley’s incantation, something transparent shimmered above Louveci’s head.

The moment she noticed, a downpour of magical energy began to fall. The force was akin to a torrential storm.

Louveci, quickly chanting defensive spells, nimbly dodged left and right but the transparent cloud relentlessly pursued her never ceasing its assault. The sheer intensity of the attack began to wear down her defenses, and she could feel her shield slowly cracking.

Seemingly amused, the blind apostle let out a loud laugh and tapped her staff on the ground—or more precisely, on her own shadow.

In an instant, she vanished into the shadows.

“What the… Where’d she go?”

As Sugar looked around in confusion, Riley began chanting to dispel the magic. The Magic Rain spell would continue until the caster’s energy ran out.

“Hi there.”

At that moment, Louveci emerged from Sugar’s shadow.

The magical cloud immediately shifted its focus to Louveci, but this also meant Sugar was now within its range of attack.

Riley froze.

If he dispelled the spell now, Louveci would be free to attack Sugar.

But if he didn’t, Sugar would be hit by the Magic Rain.

Caught in a dilemma, he hesitated.

Sugar rolled her eyes to meet Riley’s gaze.

It felt like she was telling him to trust her. Clicking his tongue, Riley quickly chanted the dispel spell.

“Dispel Magic.”

The magical cloud vanished.

As Louveci muttered, “That was close,” and reached out toward Sugar—

Sugar, in turn, pointed her wand at Louveci.

It looked like she was about to chant an incantation. Louveci, with her empty eyes, could sense the active flow of magical energy within the girl.

An offensive stance.

Even for someone like her, taking a direct hit wouldn’t be pleasant.

Yet, for some reason, she felt a strange desire to experience Sugar’s magic firsthand.

With a warm sense of anticipation, she prepared to receive it—

“Warm Breeze!”

…Huh?

What?

Warm Breeze?

The spell she just cast was Warm Breeze? That confident incantation? Seriously?

Louveci’s brain short-circuited.

In the meantime, the gentle breeze warmed her body, chilled from the winter mountain air.

“…”

Utterly dumbfounded, she stood there with her mouth agape. Taking advantage of the moment, Riley chanted another spell.

“Iron Thorn.”

Countless sharp thorns erupted from the ground where Louveci stood, their menacing hiss filling the air. The attack stopped just short of Sugar.

Sugar, clutching her chest at the terrifying sight, peered through the thorns—but Louveci was gone.

In the blink of an eye, the thorns had appeared, and in the blink of an eye, Louveci had vanished.

She must have dodged before becoming a human pincushion.

As Sugar pondered this, a soft thud echoed from a distance.

“Wow… Not bad.”

A voice filled with admiration.

“I must have underestimated you both because you’re just kids. For the two of you, I think I’ll put in a bit more effort from now on.”

Until now, Louveci hadn’t used any lethal spells. She had relied on illusions to incapacitate or magical projectiles to suppress. Her actions clearly showed no intent to harm.

That’s why they had been able to hold out. But now, she was talking about putting in more effort?

“Louveci. You remember your oath, right?”

-From this moment onward, I swear by the name of Apostle Louveci that I will not harm Sugar or her friend.

“Of course. That’s why all the spells I’ve used so far have been gentle. I’ll keep it that way, so don’t worry.”

As she spoke, she pulled something from her pocket and dropped it at her feet.

Right where her shadow lay.

“It’s a humble little trick of mine. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

The object—a small, black fragment, like the ones spat out by Claude’s crows—melted into Louveci’s shadow.

Simultaneously, she chanted:

“Dark Space.”

The shadow surged forward, engulfing the two children.