Chapter 82: Heretic? – 3

Chapter 82: Heretic? – 3

“…That’s the place. The inside seems empty?”

“Tsk. The rat seems quick-witted.”

In addition to protecting the Saintess-nim from heretics, we had an additional mission from the Cardinals at the Grand Cathedral.

Regardless of the Saintess-nim’s judgment, it was to eliminate the owner of that shop, who was clearly a heretic.

It was an order given by the Cardinals, saying that while the Saintess-nim was noble and deeply faithful, she was too merciful and might make a misjudgment.

And that order would now be carried out by us, the Saintess’s escorts and inquisitors.

“The target is not the shop, but the shop owner. We don’t care what the inside of the shop is like.”

“…Then it’s right to enter.”

A presence was clearly felt inside the shop.

Judging by the calm and lack of movement, she seemed to be asleep.

Therefore, this mission seemed very easy.

As a result of secretly observing her while following the Saintess-nim during the day, the owner of this shop was a frail-looking girl.

Of course, as a wicked heretic, she might use some dark magic… but since she was asleep now, that possibility was also gone.

…It was certainly suspicious that all the potions in the shop had disappeared somewhere in an instant, but if it was storage magic, it was understandable.

Click.

A small sound of the door opening was heard, and the eyes of the girl sitting at the shop counter stared at us.

The girl was not asleep.

Rather… she had been holding her breath, waiting for us to enter.

“Oh, you’re here? The fanatics from the church who go crazy at the mention of heretics?”

“…Watch your tongue. That way you might die a gentle death.”

“Really? I doubt these crazy bastards who secretly surround and observe someone else’s shop would kill me gently.”

“……You knew?”

“I have good instincts, you know. I don’t know who the customer was during the day… but she must be someone important, huh? To have these kinds of guys following her.”

…Interpreting the girl’s words, it meant she had noticed our presence from the daytime infiltration, which even the Saintess-nim hadn’t perceived, all the way until now.

How on earth could she detect a presence that even skilled warriors couldn’t properly catch…?

“…As expected, you are a heretic. There’s no way an ordinary girl could detect us.”

“Well, think what you want. Anyway, even if I brought countless pieces of evidence that I’m not a heretic, isn’t your logic that if a Cardinal or the Pope thinks I’m a heretic, then I’m a heretic?”

“You insolent brat!”

Saying that, a sword sliced through the air.

……It sliced through ‘the air.’

It wasn’t a threatening swing, but an attack truly intended to take an arm, yet the girl had already lightly twisted her body to evade the attack.

“I never thought I’d have a proper conversation with you guys anyway. Well, the church is full of idiots except for the Archbishops, to begin with.”

“…What did you just say?”

“Oh, no, the Saintess is normal too, I guess.”

“What did you just say…!!!!”

However, he couldn’t finish his words.

Before he could finish… a chilling ice mist covered everything.

“Why? Are you afraid the truth about the church will be exposed?”

“……I thought she was just a simple heretic, but she’s twice as dangerous.”

“Whether she’s a heretic or twice as dangerous as one, you’re going to kill her all the same, aren’t you?”

“…Give up on dying gently.”

With those words, three swords pierced through the mist, flying towards the girl’s neck and heart.

***

‘…Was that provocation a bit too much?’

*It seems so.*

‘……I’ll have to pray Christie comes quickly.’

The skill the system gave me was simple.

From a distance, I could briefly convey any message I wanted to a target of my choosing.

No matter how far, or what kind of target, it was like a very short-use phone in modern terms, capable of conveying my desired message.

And, without hesitation, I told Christie that something had happened at the shop and I needed the help of the defense force.

The inquisitors of the Holy Kingdom are strong.

I’m not just saying that; they are genuinely strong. Each individual is on par with Christie at this point, or even stronger.

Therefore, it was impossible for me to win against them.

The difference in specs was too great to begin with.

However… they were currently in a situation where they couldn’t exert their full power.

It wasn’t due to any restrictions, but the circumstances were such.

You could tell just by the fact that they were doing this at night, not openly during the day; they were in a position where they had to handle things without a fuss.

An inquisitor, especially an escort of the Saintess dispatched from the Holy Kingdom, openly causing a ruckus in the imperial capital? If it were within the Holy Kingdom, perhaps, but from the Empire’s perspective, it could be a major diplomatic issue.

And because of that, I provoked them, taking a slight risk.

To be precise, I had requested help from Christie, and Christie would probably lead the defense force to me after a brief investigation.

My job was to survive the attacks of these heretic-crazed bastards until then.

The problem was that they wouldn’t waste time until the defense force arrived, unless they were idiots, and even if they did, they would run away if the defense force seemed to be coming.

…And the next day, they would come for my neck again.

They would only leave completely if they were locked up in the Empire’s prison for a few days, and the Empire used them as evidence to attack the Holy Kingdom.

So, I had no choice but to create a commotion and provoke them to emotionally focus all their attention on me.

*You have that purpose, but isn’t it also because you just can’t stand the sight of those guys? Your language seemed to get stronger as you went on.*

‘……Honestly, if it were you, would you like uninvited guests breaking in at night? Especially since these guys aren’t even going to buy potions?’

Anyway, since that’s the situation… I only have one thing to do.

I’m not even thinking of winning, like when I stopped the Duke’s attack.

Counterattack or capture? Not even thinking about it.

Just… surviving is my ultimate goal.

*Well, if you die, we’ll do something about it once, but still.*

‘…Yes, what a truly grateful thing to say.’

And, the next moment. A flash of sword light gleamed before my eyes.

***

Clang!

The clang of swords echoed through the shop.

A sword, aiming for the heart at high speed, collided, blocked by the barrier of a massive greatsword.

And between the greatsword trying to block and the sword trying to pierce, another sword intervened.

This time, it was a sword aiming for the neck, not the heart.

Clang!

However, the sound of that sword was similar yet different from before.

The sound of something breaking, not sword against sword.

At the same time, vivid flames engulfed the sword, and the one holding it.

“…!”

“You need to be careful. What makes you think you can just charge in, not knowing what abilities I have?”

“Ha, playing cheap tricks.”

However, the one who was momentarily engulfed in flames showed no sign of agitation.

He merely chanted a few unknown spells and then healed his scorched arm.

“God gave us power. The true power that you try to impersonate.”

“What’s so great about something anyone can receive if they want it?”

“Watch your mouth. God chose us…”

“Chose what? Anyone can convert mana into divine power just by receiving baptism from God. I know how the church operates, so why wouldn’t I know this?”

At the girl’s words, the inquisitors’ expressions hardened.

And, they nodded slightly.

The one who appeared to be the leader stepped forward, gripping his sword anew.

“If you all join in, I might just kill her now, so wait outside. If anyone is drawn by the commotion, send them away.”

And before the girl could do anything upon seeing that, the leader opened his mouth and moved his sword.

“Yes, indeed. You are… a being that deserves to disappear.

I intended to guide you to the Grand Cathedral without injury if possible… but at least killing you will be after we get there, so don’t worry.”

And, the sword blade flashed.

As if to prove that all previous attacks on the girl were held back, it moved at a speed that couldn’t even be perceived.

An attack enhanced by divine power, beyond mere physical strength.

It was an attack that even skilled Knights would have allowed themselves to be hit by.

…And there was no way a mere girl could block or evade such an attack.

The sword pierced the girl’s shoulder.

There was no scream, but the shop vibrated from the impact of the blow.

The shock reverberated, and a ringing sound spread.

…And, a moment later, silence fell.

Thud.

Something held in the girl’s hand fell to the ground.

…It was a glass bottle with electricity crackling violently inside.

“…What a tenacious one. Did she think of a countermeasure in that instant? Unfortunately, judging by the lack of even a scream, she must have fainted…”

The leader, who had been staring at the glass bottle for a moment, sensed something strange.

…Clearly, the presence he had felt before him had vanished.

And the girl, who had clearly seemed to have fainted from pain, was now by the shop door.

“You… how…?”

“Sorry, but I don’t faint just because I’m hurt. And why would I be crazy enough to fight head-on with an inquisitor who’s actually trying to fight properly?”

Saying that, the girl was already standing in front of the shop door.

…Holding glass bottles filled with mana in her hands.

The next moment, with a flash, the shop erupted in lightning and flames.

……With a massive roar that couldn’t be ignored, even if one wished to.