99. Accept the Change

“Each Apostle has three elite soldiers by their side. They’re called Ability Bestowers.”

“So there are three apostates who stole adventurers’ abilities through the Ability Extraction Ritual?”

“Yes. Though their minds are half-gone from excessive ability infusion, they follow the Apostle’s commands without question.”

“Good work, Sasaro.”

A heretic with both eyes gouged out was muttering, begging to be killed.

In just 15 minutes, Sasaro had extracted all the necessary information from the heretic, leaving him in a state of desperate longing for death.

The stench of blood and filth hung thick in the air where Sasaro had tortured the heretic.

“Old man, we don’t need this one anymore, right?”

“Right. You can kill him.”

“Kehaha. Rest in peace!”

Raphael swung his axe down onto the heretic’s head, splitting it clean in two with a sickening crack.

It was a brutally violent sight, but after seeing so much of it since entering the labyrinth, I’d grown numb.

I must have gotten used to it. Witnessing countless deaths had desensitized me-one more heretic dying didn’t stir any significant emotion.

Maybe I, too, was gradually turning into a monster like them.

‘Moira was right.’

I recalled Moira’s warning not to be tainted by the Inquisitors and the Saintess.

So this was what she meant. It wasn’t just about assimilating their ideology.

I was being corrupted by the very atmosphere where slaughter was normalized. Now, even seeing a heretic’s skull split open didn’t horrify or disgust me. I could sleep soundly listening to their screams.

In the end, there I was, indifferently picking up the mangled corpse and storing it in my dimensional pouch.

Who would’ve thought I’d become this numb to such gruesome mutilation?

I hadn’t noticed it before, but now that I was aware, this change in me felt strange and frightening.

What if I lose my humanity entirely?

“Porter-nim.”

“Huh?! Ah-yes, Logie-ssi. Did you call for me?”

“You look troubled. Your eyes seem dull. What’s on your mind?”

“Oh, it’s… nothing much, really.”

“Are you having negative thoughts?”

“Huh? Uh, negative thoughts?”

Well, I was having negative thoughts.

Could Logie really tell that just from my expression?

“The labyrinth changes many things-sometimes a person’s entire life. The fate of noble houses, the rise and fall of factions… all can be twisted by the labyrinth.”

“Ah, right.”

“Amid such stormy misfortune, holding onto yourself is crucial. But don’t resist change too much. Change is an inevitable tide. Accepting the transformed version of yourself is just as important. Cognitive dissonance is the first step toward self-destruction.”

“…I see.”

I nodded at Logie’s advice.

Don’t fear change. It wasn’t easy, but she was right.

‘Yeah, it can’t be helped. I just have to accept it.’

I shouldn’t dwell on how numb I’ve become to their cruelty.

If we’re going to keep descending toward the 7th floor, I’ll have to witness far worse.

“Let’s get moving.”

“Right.”

The Saintess took the lead.

She tracked the Blue Apostle’s location while I mapped our path.

The combination of mapping and tracking skills was incredible-within just an hour and a half of descending past the layer split, we stepped into the Blue Apostle’s domain.

Splash.

“It’s flooded.”

Beneath the layer split of the lake section.

After swiftly navigating the maze, we arrived at a submerged area where water rose up to our calves.

This was the underground city’s lower region, where the Blue Apostle had settled.

The air was far more humid than in the lake section, and an absurd number of insects swarmed to greet us.

“Back off.”

Paramel quickly cast Protection from Insects.

Without it, the place was too damp and infested to traverse.

Some bugs would probably try to crawl into our ears or noses to lay eggs-and among them, Skin Walker larvae lurked.

Failing to act fast would mean certain disaster.

“Shh.”

“…!”

After driving off the insects and advancing further, Raphael sensed something.

At the end of the path, a faint flicker of light pulsed.

“…A detector. Likely a summon of the heretics.”

Glow sticks the heretics had planted throughout the maze.

They emitted a low, resonant hum when someone approached.

“Porter, can you handle it?”

“I’ll try.”

At Sasaro’s words, I pulled out my sling.

I spun it once, twice, building momentum to maximize the force.

‘If I fail, heretics will swarm us.’

Not just the usual groups of five-this was their stronghold. A horde would pour out.

‘I have to hit this.’

Holding my breath, I focused on the target.

Over the past six months, I’d practiced the sling more than the sword.

My aim was solid.

“Hup!”

Exhaling sharply, I released the sling shot toward the detector.

The stone flew true, shattering the device mid-air.

“Marvelous marksmanship.”

“Tch. Hitting that with a sling at this distance? Your eyes must be sharp.”

“Have you considered learning the bow?”

“The bow’s a bit…”

Arrows were expensive, so I’d never seriously considered it.

Plus, maintaining a bow was too much hassle.

‘But now might be the time.’

I had the money to buy arrows in bulk.

Wait-I have a dimensional pouch. Couldn’t I store infinite arrows?

‘No more archer’s curse of limited ammo?’

Unlimited shots.

‘Maybe I should practice archery and buy a rapid-fire crossbow.’

Once we leave the labyrinth, I’ll seriously consider ranged weapons.

Swords and axes are great, but knowing how to fight from a distance would be even better.

“Since we found a detector, heretics will likely show up soon. Everyone, masks on.”

“Right.”

“Disguising as heretics… Hah. Live long enough, and you’ll see everything.”

“Tell me about it.”

We donned heretic robes and masks.

We couldn’t exactly parade around as the Saintess’s party, so we dressed the part.

“Conceal your divine energy well. From now on, it’s pure melee combat.”

“Understood.”

With the detector gone, using divine energy here would alert nearby heretics.

So from this point on, we had to fight with brute strength alone.

At least the Blue Apostle was nearby-that was some consolation.

“Kyaaaaah!!!”

“A scream…”

“A sacrificial ritual must be underway. Stay sharp.”

Heretics sacrificing other heretics, no doubt.

There was one among them who could resurrect the dead with an unknown power.

Trusting in that, the Blue Apostle would sacrifice his own, then use them to lure monsters from below.

We moved toward the sound.

Moving as silently as possible, we reached the ritual site, where blue flames writhed.

‘These crazy bastards.’

A cavern as wide as a schoolyard.

Heretics knelt before a man and woman bound to pillars, bowing in worship.

‘Bodies everywhere.’

Dozens had already been sacrificed before we arrived, their corpses dumped beside the altar.

Each corpse had its chest torn open, hearts extracted and neatly stacked on the altar.

They were offering them to summon monsters from below.

“Arha’s will guides us! Hearken! Hata’s servant watches over us! Behold! The hour of revelation is at hand. Wolves who sense the time, rise and fight! The time has come to burn the world and spread Her will!”

At the center of this madness stood a tall man draped in a black robe.

The one called the Blue Apostle.

A fisherman using human sacrifice as bait to lure monsters from the labyrinth’s depths.

He brandished a wavy-bladed dagger, chanting in an incomprehensible tongue.

“We offer ourselves!! To the side of the gods!!”

“Aah!! The blessing of resurrection!! The joy of subjugation!!”

The naked man and woman tied to the pillars screamed-whether in agony or ecstasy, it was hard to tell.

They were excited to be sacrificed.

“Raphael. Numbers?”

“Sniff sniff… Thirty-two. Roughly.”

“Any threats?”

“Those three beside the Apostle. At least gold-rank. They’ve stolen abilities and strength from adventurers through the extraction ritual.”

“Got it. I’ll handle the Apostle. Raphael, Logie, Sasaro-take out those Ability Bestowers.”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

“Paramel, hunt down the remaining heretics. Twenty-eight, excluding the ones tied up. Can you handle that?”

“Y-yes… I’ll do my best…”

“Don’t let any escape.”

Paramel nodded vigorously at the Saintess’s words.

No survivors. We had to wipe them out without revealing our attack, then disguise ourselves as the Blue Apostle’s group.

“Uh, what should I do?”

“Porter-nim, stay hidden and observe. Once I defeat the Apostle, take his body.”

“Got it.”

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

The Saintess dashed into battle before anyone could respond.

Simultaneously, Raphael, Sasaro, and Logie shot forward like arrows.

“Ugh…! Scary…”

Paramel followed belatedly.

It was a perfect ambush.

“Eeek!!”

The Apostle, about to stab the bound man, spun around at the sudden noise-only to find the Saintess’s spear already piercing his gut.

“Kyaaaah!!”

“W-who dares-?!”

CRASH!!

Paramel’s iron club smashed the skull of a heretic trying to raise the alarm, crushing him into the ground.

Meanwhile, Sasaro and Logie engaged the Ability Bestowers rushing toward the Apostle, while Raphael tackled a fleeing one from behind.

The battle had begun.

My role was to watch and act when necessary.

‘If I get caught, it’s over. I need to stay cautious and strike at the right moment.’

If I recklessly drew attention and got captured or killed, the whole plan would collapse.

So I had to play it safe.

They hadn’t brought me for combat prowess anyway.

I was here as utility support-a classic non-combat role. I just had to do my part.

“Gyaaah!!”

Sasaro took a hit from an Ability Bestower, using the momentum to slash off his wrist.

Disoriented by the pain, the Bestower couldn’t react before Sasaro slit his throat, painting the air crimson.

One elite heretic down.

CRUNCH!!

At the same time, Logie shattered the face of her target, then stomped on his neck, snapping it.

‘Raphael’s done too.’

He’d already dismembered his assigned Bestower.

Paramel was efficiently cleaning up the stragglers, leaving only the Apostle versus the Saintess.

“Guhhk… How did you-?!”

The Saintess didn’t engage in banter.

She ignored his words and mercilessly pummeled him.

The Blue Apostle crawled on the ground, legs broken, wrists shattered.

As expected of a ritual specialist-his combat skills were lacking.

Not that it mattered against her.

What use was an Apostle against a professional heretic slaughterer?

“That should be enough.”

“You think? I held back since you said not to kill him.”

“Oof, more than enough.”

The Apostle was a bloody mess, beaten senseless.

This was sufficient.

‘Helena. Your turn.’

–Understood. A man’s body… Haaah…

Chains extended from my hand.

The Apostle’s soul was bound and dragged into me, while Helena took over his vacant body.

Success. Helena had successfully possessed the heretic Apostle’s body. The soul swap worked.

The Soul Chain made the takeover easier.

“Done?”

“Yes. It worked. Hey? You awake?”

I shook the Apostle’s body Helena now inhabited.

His fingers twitched before he stirred.

“Ugh… Hurts like hell.”

Helena spoke through the Apostle’s mouth.

She seemed to struggle with the pain.

“It really worked… The soul you put in was a witch, right?”

“Yes. A witch named Halsi.”

I hid Helena’s real name. If the Saintess found out she was her sworn enemy, things could get messy.

“Let’s heal you first.”

“That’d be best.”

Since we couldn’t use divine energy here, we treated the Apostle’s body with potions and medicine.

“Here, painkillers. Chew and swallow.”

“Fine. Ugh… Tch… It’s been so long since I tasted anything… and it’s bloody, bitter medicine…”

“Stop complaining and swallow.”

“Eeeh.”

Helena forced down the painkillers.

“Better.”

“Right?”

“All set?”

“Yes. We’re done, Saintess-nim.”

“Good. Then let’s begin.”

From now on, we’d lure heretics here and slaughter them under the guise of sacrifice.

‘Time for a detailed discussion.’

I’d interrogate the Apostle’s captured soul for efficient luring methods.

–Damn you!! What is this?! Let go!! You lowly slave!!

The Apostle’s soul, dragged into me, screamed.

I tightened the chains, inflicting pain.

You’ll talk.

Or suffer endlessly for 24 hours.

‘Embrace the change, they said.’

As Logie advised, resisting change was illogical.

I’d adopt Sasaro’s methods to torture the Apostle’s soul.

For greater efficiency, I accepted the shift in my mindset.