Ch.113Awakening (5)

# The Deepest Part of the Nest, the Altar of Resurrection

Bepisya, who had completed the first preparations to welcome the supreme being, burst into uncontrollable laughter after hearing Salvira’s report upon her return.

“So, after you told them that much, they said they’d let themselves be captured willingly?”

[“Aren’t they stupid?”]

“It’s a gathering of the most perfect idiots.”

[“One called me ‘master.’ A lowly human not knowing their place…”]

Bepisya couldn’t stop laughing. Salvira also wore a faint smile on her lips. The mages of the Eight Shadows didn’t know what was going on, but they joined in the snickering anyway.

Only Admiral Abraham Dietz and his officers silently observed the atmosphere.

[“I’ve already built their trust, so bringing them will be easy. You just need to come out to greet them. Those fools believe I’ll do everything for them.”]

“Yes, yes. The difference between sincerity and lies is paper-thin.”

Bepisya shrugged her shoulders.

“Actually, I was a bit suspicious of you. I wondered if you’d forgotten the grace you received from Him. It was needless worry. I hadn’t considered that those who’ll be sacrificed might choose to take their own lives rather than die at the hands of monsters.”

[“That’s possible too. I don’t care.”]

“Anyway, to calculate that far ahead… His eye for talent in selecting you wasn’t wrong, was it?”

Five days passed after that conversation.

Three Holy Spirit Kingdom soldiers and one Magic Kingdom soldier were dragged to the cave entrance, bound in spider webs.

Beside them walked spider monsters, Salvira, and a high-ranking Magic Kingdom officer.

“Can’t you move any faster?”

Adora whipped the sluggish female soldiers from the Holy Spirit Kingdom. Rachel, who showed the most resistance, received the most lashes. Rachel glared fiercely at Adora.

During this, the blue crystal cave that served as the entrance to the nest appeared.

Bepisya, who had been waiting on the crystal, landed lightly.

“Hello?”

“…Is this Hazkhail?”

“Oh, there’s someone who understands! Nice to meet you.”

Bepisya approached the female soldier in a nun’s habit and slowly caressed her face.

“You must be the current saint of the Great Order. A Lumina race with white hair like mine. How beautiful. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a woman like you.”

The next moment.

Slap!

“You bitch, I’ll kill you.”

Bepisya struck Tiria’s face hard.

“I heard all about you from Salvira. Your family name is Kasten, right? Then you must be a distant descendant of that elf priestess. I once had all the blood in my body dried up by her holy power. I still can’t forget that day. Just thinking about it makes me sick with rage.”

“You blasphemous—”

“You’ve got quite an attitude for someone who’s been captured. Fine, let’s see how long you can endure.”

Bepisya slapped Tiria’s cheeks several times. Tiria kept her eyes tightly shut without making even the slightest groan. Both her cheeks turned bright red.

“Don’t clench your teeth, open your eyes. Well, look at this? Will you only learn your place when that pretty face is covered in blood?”

“You should stop there.”

A mage from the Eight Shadows stopped Bepisya as she was about to punch Tiria in the face. It wasn’t for any humanitarian reason like international law prohibiting the abuse of prisoners…

“If the sacrifice is too severely damaged, the ritual might fail.”

“I know. I was just trying to scare her.”

Bepisya dusted off her hands. As soon as she turned her head, another commotion broke out behind her.

“Aaaagh!”

The fox-person fell face-first to the ground. She hadn’t simply fallen on her own; someone had kicked her shin and knocked her down.

“Where do you think you’re walking on two legs like a human, you filthy beast? I clearly told you to crawl on all fours, didn’t I?”

Adora forced Riyo to her knees and stomped on her back with her military boots. Bepisya seemed quite pleased with the sight, a subtle smile forming on her lips.

“Hey, are you that messenger who was supposed to come before?”

“Yes, ma’am! Major Adora Giford reporting.”

“How dutiful. Why are you so late?”

“I apologize. On my way, I unexpectedly suffered severe injuries. If Commander Salvira hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the mission entrusted to me by the Chancellor.”

“Are you fully recovered now?”

“As you can see, there’s no problem.”

“That’s good to hear. Shall we move together then?”

Bepisya and Salvira led the prisoners deep into the cave. Menacing monsters guarded every pathway.

Adora thought to herself: Indeed, the security is tight, just as the Chancellor had told her. Being able to pass through this place without any trouble was a great fortune.

“We’ve arrived. This is where the ritual will take place.”

The altar came into view.

In the center grew a creature that looked like tree roots, and in front of it were three large cauldrons that appeared to be made of bronze. Below, hundreds of corpses wrapped in hemp were scattered.

The smell of death was thick.

“The great ritual will begin here. With the sacrifices we’ve gathered there, plus the three you brought today, we’ll offer their souls and the ceremony will be complete. Ah, I’m so excited!”

“When will the ritual begin?”

“In two weeks, on the fourth full moon.”

“What should I do until then?”

“What should you do…?”

Bepisya’s gaze shifted to Adora’s waist. Though concealed by her outer garment, her hand was ready to draw her sword at any moment.

With a smirk, Bepisya continued.

“Prepare to die.”

There wasn’t even time to register the pain. In the blink of an eye, Adora was slammed to the ground. A delayed wave of agony struck her head.

“Ugh!”

“Where do you think you’re walking on two legs, you filthy beast?”

Bepisya mercilessly pressed her boot into Adora’s back.

“Gah! Aaaargh!”

“What a lovely voice you have when you cry. Much more satisfying than the saint.”

“Why… why are you doing this…”

“Why, you ask? You should know the reason better than anyone.”

Only then did Salvira reveal her expression.

[“It’s been difficult. Playing house with all of you.”]

[“…What?”]

[“I was a bit surprised when you two returned alive from the snowy mountain… but thank you for falling for it so easily. Anyway, taking care of humans was disgusting. I hope I never have to experience this again.”]

Erich, who had been listening to all this, spoke with a cracking voice.

[“Don’t tell me… you’ve been deceiving us from the beginning?”]

[“You just figured that out?”]

[“Why are you doing this?! You clearly said you would help us! You said what they’re doing is wrong…!”]

[“That was a lie. Do you believe monsters?”]

Salvira explained that from the beginning, all she wanted were sacrifices from the Holy Spirit Kingdom. She had been wondering how to deal with the clueless Magic Kingdom soldiers and decided on this approach.

[“Master!”]

[“How amusing. Who said I was your master?”]

[“Then what was everything you taught me? Was it all lies?”]

[“Do I really need to spell it out for you to understand? You truly are slow-witted. Everything I taught you was fake, completely useless.”]

[“…Ha.”]

Erich’s face sank as if he hadn’t eaten for days. Bepisya giggled and clapped her hands.

“Hey, I like that expression. But since we’re working with Hazkhail now, I won’t kill you. After this ritual is over, we’ll take you two back to your command, understand?”

Salvira bound Adora with spider webs as well. That made a total of five prisoners. Looking around, Salvira asked Bepisya:

[“Where’s Admiral Dietz?”]

“He went down to inspect the lower facilities. He said it would take a few days with his personnel to thoroughly check for any defects. He’s quite a diligent man, isn’t he?”

[“Then I’ll have to take care of the prisoners until he comes back.”]

“I’d appreciate that.”

Webs spread out, wrapping Erich and Adora tightly like cocoons. The two struggled but soon went limp as if dead. Dozens of large spiders gathered to carry them away.

“Thanks for your hard work.”

Bepisya waved goodbye. She kept staring at the back of Salvira’s head until she left the center of the altar.

“Such an honest child, that one.”

***

I can’t breathe. It feels like I’m going to die.

But I have to endure.

Just as my consciousness was becoming hazy, the webs covering my face were finally removed. The Major and I suppressed our urge to cough while gasping for the breath we couldn’t take for so long.

[“I’m sorry! Are you alright? Was I too rough?”]

[“I’m… I’m fine. More importantly, where are we?”]

[“Inside a cocoon I prepared in advance. It’s surrounded by multiple layers and I’ve cast a soundproofing spell, so we should be safe unless we make extremely loud noises.”]

I continued with my questions.

[“What about the women from the Holy Spirit Kingdom?”]

[“Don’t worry, your master will look into that now.”]

The betrayal I feared most from Salvira didn’t happen. I had prepared a teleportation magic stone just in case, but it wasn’t necessary. For now.

“Major, are you alright?”

“Damn that vampire. She hits hard…”

Even exposing Major Adora’s defection was part of the plan. The training must continue. My master says that the more mana one has, the easier it is to reach the state of surgical precision.

[‘Phew, it was hard holding my breath.’]

The stones made it through undetected too.

We have about two weeks left. When the ritual ends, the female soldiers from the Holy Spirit Kingdom will be sacrificed. Before then, I need to maximize my mana capacity and reach a higher state. This is the most intense training I’ve ever done.

I sat up straight and began to breathe.

Slowly inhaling and exhaling.

Now in the second week of fasting, my body has weakened, but the achievements have been remarkable. My mana capacity has increased eightfold. I’m making proper progress.

[“I’ll be going now. If I stay here too long, it might raise unnecessary suspicion.”]

The Major and a small spider monster filled Salvira’s vacant space. It was that cute spider that made “beep-beep” sounds. You must be our nominal guard.

The Major has become more skilled at creating mana water and can now drink it in less than 30 minutes. She poked my thigh, asking if I wanted water.

I nodded, and once again our lips met.

Counting by frequency, this was exactly our 200th kiss.

[“Ooh, beep-beep…”]