episode_0024

Sacred power shines similar to light magic, but it is fundamentally different.

For example, light magic can incinerate objects exposed to light, much like the sun.

However, the light emanating from sacred power could not burn anything except for undead-like entities.

Being the power of the holy light goddess, it emitted light without any lethal force, completely harmless.

As such, sacred power was regarded as a pure and immaculate force, free of any impurities.

“But no matter how you look at it, that doesn’t resemble the sacred power I know…”

A blank sheet of paper is prone to getting dirty due to its pure white nature.

Similarly, it was difficult to consider the sacred power rising above the orphanage building as clean.

Since sacred power varied from individual to individual, it took the form of a mixture of many people’s sacred powers.

Although it appeared pure white on the surface, to the eyes of those who possessed insight or could discern sacred power…

“Ugh…!”

“It feels like looking at a sacred power version of the synthetic demons that the demons once created with various types of magic.”

Alaina, gazing at the cluster of sacred power, retched, and I too was left speechless.

It was a state where the sacred powers of countless people were mixed beyond counting.

While the types were diverse, the small quantity made it easy to deduce the origin of the sacred power.

It was the sacred power of children who had not yet fully matured.

“Alaina, as I look at that sacred power, a dreadful image keeps popping up in my mind. Am I the only one?”

“…Unfortunately, those who can recognize that sacred power are probably all thinking the same thing.”

“Wow, damn. I never imagined I’d see something like this in my lifetime.”

“It’s pitiful. If I had noticed even a little, I could have prevented it…”

If it was just a lump of sacred power extracted from children, one could overlook it with leniency.

However, just estimating the types of sacred power alone exceeded thousands.

The orphanage I briefly saw before leaving was a building with a maximum capacity of 50, even if it accommodated as many people as possible.

So where did the rest of the children, excluding the 50, go?

“Do you know when the director of the orphanage took office?”

“Hainel Glesman, I think he took charge of running the orphanage about 5 years ago.”

“5 years ago?”

Naturally, people value bloodlines.

Blood ties connect families, after all.

How many people would be willing to share their food with those who are not connected by blood?

You may offer help a few times out of goodwill, but sharing food for a lifetime is rare.

Therefore, no matter which country you go to, it is almost unheard of for orphaned children to be adopted.

Most children grew up in orphanages until they became adults and went out into society.

“The orphanage director raised and sent away thousands of children in the past 5 years…”

It sounded unbelievable.

Even if my master went around threatening people with a sword to raise them, it would be impossible.

But what if he killed the children and disposed of them secretly?

If the orphanage director had shown unexpected behavior beyond my expectations, he would truly be worthy of admiration.

“Do you have adoption records?”

“I remember that Bishop Tron has been consistently managing the data related to the orphanage.”

“That bastard is likely an accomplice.”

The accumulation of unsavory incidents led to the current large-scale event, and there was no way the person in charge would be unaware.

Surely, behind the scenes, the orphanage director and others were plotting something.

“I’ll immediately have the Holy Knights apprehend Bishop Tron.”

“Alright, if there’s someone who knows how to think for themselves, they’ll probably apprehend him without needing a separate order. Let’s go to the scene of the incident.”

“Yes…”

Taking refuge, we moved our location closer to the orphanage.

It would be a waste to miss the opportunity to enter before the priests or other bishops arrived.

Returning to the crossroads where we had the moment of reunion, we stood in front of the entrance to the orphanage.

Fortunately, due to the aura of sanctity emanating at a level that made it difficult for ordinary people to approach, there was no one around.

However, it was only a matter of time before someone else intervened if we delayed any longer.

“Wow! Look at this! It’s like confessing to committing a misdeed, openly erecting double and triple walls with sanctity!”

“There’s no room for doubt.”

“The guilt is confirmed, but the situation has become complicated.”

Honestly, breaking the wall was not difficult.

Even with just one punch, we could easily break through the wall made of sanctity.

The problem was that using force could cause the wall to collapse.

If it was made with ordinary sanctity, we could have broken through and entered roughly.

However, the sanctity blocking our path now had been altered in various ways, losing its inherent harmlessness and gaining a new characteristic of exploding when shocked.

Alayna and I could withstand it, but the problem was the children who might still be inside the orphanage.

If we involved innocent children in our condemnation, I would end up becoming the same trash.

I had to find a way to break through without being violent if possible.

“The best way is to send your sanctity inside and interfere…”

I didn’t possess any sanctity myself.

It was ironic for a non-believer who trusted themselves more than any god to have sanctity.

Anyway, there was no other way for me to do anything differently.

“Alayna, let me borrow your head.”

“Oh! O-Of course! I’ll help you overcome any obstacle!”

“Then don’t refuse…”

“Huh…?”

I grabbed Alayna’s face with my right hand.

With my right arm extended forward, I made her head collide with the wall made of sanctity.

“Alright, maximum sanctity!”

When I told her to release the sanctity like a holy sword, Alayna began to emit sanctity.

Her sanctity flowed into the wall upon collision, breaking it down.

Satisfied with the performance of the holy sword, I pushed Alayna’s head against the next wall.

Although the scene was bizarre, Alayna’s essence was that of a holy sword.

Therefore, what I was doing was simply hitting the wall with the tip of the sword in my hand.

It was not a cruel act.

“Ouch…! Th-That’s amazing♥”

Surprisingly, Alayna seemed to be enjoying it as well.

I started to feel scared of myself, who was handling her.

[Master, Holy Sword, both abnormal!]

What are you talking about, Cheolgeum?

***

“Fi-Finally, it’s complete!”

In the basement of the orphanage.

In the chaos caused by the bursting sanctity, Heinell was alone, marveling at the sight.

An artificial lifeform twisted so grotesquely that it was hard to consider it close to any living being.

It resembled a lion with a human face, but its eyes, nose, and mouth were empty, making it incredibly eerie.

Despite facing such a horrific result, Heinell reverently clasped his hands together and offered a prayer.

He believed that all the abilities granted to him by the goddess Frana were for this purpose.

“Ah…pa…!”

“Oh! You even have the ability to speak human language!”

“Pai…nful…! Whe…re…am…I…? Mo…mmy…!”

“A child born with pain is not your own, but if you are looking for someone who considers you as their own child, they are right here.”

“Mo…mmy…?”

“Yes, right here.”

“Mo…mmy…!”

“Gah!”

Homonculus lunged at Heinell.

Pressing him with her voluptuous body, showing affection was only for a moment.

Homunculus generated teeth with sanctity and bit into Hainel’s shoulder.

Blood burst out, and the red blood seeped into the artificial life form.

“Ha, haha! Very good. It’s not bad to continue like this, sharing blood.”

“Taste… good…! Blood…! Warm…!”

“Haah…! Haah…! This is not bad either.”

Homunculus started to covet Hainel’s flesh after the blood.

Through the sacred teeth inserted into the flesh, merging with the body.

Slowly absorbing and filling the lacking parts of himself.

Due to being imperfectly created from the beginning, Homunculus’s body was 90% composed of sanctity.

With many physical deficiencies, he gradually turned into a monster that instinctively craved human flesh.

In order to become more complete, Homunculus even devoured the parents who created him.

Feeling still inadequate, he turned his gaze to the stairs leading out of the basement.

“Don’t worry. There are plenty of sacrifices for you.”

Hainel’s voice, who had been absorbed by Homunculus, echoed.

At the same time, a crack appeared on Homunculus’s forehead, and his face protruded outward.

Rather than being divided, he had merged with the artificial being he created.

As a result, he became even more grotesque, a monster that no one could call sacred.

“Hungry…! Blood…! More…!”

“Let’s go then. Tender flesh you desire is waiting for you up there.”

“Babap…!”

An oni-faced lion dripping saliva made of sanctity, laughing wickedly.

This dreadful monster was planning to go to the upper floors of the building to prey on the remaining children.

If there had been no man who broke down the basement door and came in midway, it would have been different.

“Here you are.”

A man with black hair slowly descending the damp stairs.

He casually came to the basement and stood confidently in front of Homunculus.

However, there was no sense of dignity emanating from the man, and the reason was simple.

In the man’s grasp were the two legs of a woman, at the end of which a platinum-haired woman lay limp.

Wood debris was scattered on the platinum hair, indicating that he had broken in using the woman’s body.

“Now, it’s time for judgment.”

“…Are you insane?”

“Who’s crazy? The one who has become one with a monster, or the one who is handling a beautiful woman like a sword?”

The man, wielding the priest of madness who had merged with the created being and the beautiful woman like a sword.

No one could say which side was more insane.