Ch. 40 The Two Witches (20)
by Afuhfuihgs
Witch – Chapter 40- The Two Witches (20)
A silver flash of sword energy sliced through the orc.
Bathed in moonlight, the sword’s gleam became even more vivid as the massive orc collapsed, losing all strength.
“Tsk.”
Lucia clicked her tongue as she sheathed her sword, now stained with orc blood.
She had been troubled by the recent surge in monster attacks.
If it were just ordinary monsters, the Heresy Inquisitors wouldn’t have struggled. However, the ominous energy pouring from the magic stone embedded in the orc’s forehead had reanimated its body, making it seem as though it could survive even death.
Magic Stones.
These stones emitted a sinister, unpleasant energy, distinct from a witch’s aura, and amplified a monster’s strength by more than threefold.
It was as if the stones pushed the monsters to their physical limits, making them forget pain and fear of death. Something eerie and unnatural.
As a Heresy Inquisitor, Lucia found herself fighting monsters more often than heretics.
For Lucia, the witch hunter, this was nothing but irritating.
“Remove the magic stone before it fully regenerates.”
“Yes, ma’am!!”
After issuing orders to the Heresy Inquisitors lingering nearby, Lucia brushed back her platinum hair, shimmering beautifully under the moonlight.
She hadn’t come to the Verdandi Kingdom to hunt monsters.
Lately, she hadn’t even encountered any heretics, let alone witches.
From what she could remember, the past few years had been spent cutting down monsters.
“Vice Captain Carté has returned!”
One of the Heresy Inquisitors approached Lucia to report.
She had thought Carté had already returned to the Holy Kingdom after receiving a summons.
“Tell him I don’t want to see his face… No, never mind.”
“Captain, it’s been a while.”
As Lucia entered the temporary quarters, Carté greeted her warmly, waving his hand.
Carté, Vice Captain of the Heresy Inquisitors.
Dressed in a pure white robe, his gentle face made him seem more like a clergyman than an inquisitor.
Though not particularly strong in combat, his divine power was comparable to Lucia’s, making him one of the Holy Kingdom’s prized talents.
“Lighten up a bit. No wonder the others get so tense around you.”
“If you’re just going to spout nonsense, I suggest you leave.”
She had told him time and again to watch his words as a vice captain.
But Carté, with his big head, never seemed to listen, earning him a sharp retort.
“If I’m not here, who’s going to keep the others in line? I’m the only one who can handle your temper, Captain. Should I really leave?”
“You’re still here?”
Just standing still was enough to irritate her, but listening to Carté’s incessant chatter made her feel like she might explode any second.
“I did bring a letter for you, you know.”
As Carté pulled a letter from his robe, Lucia snatched it from him.
The seal on the letter glowed with divine power—undoubtedly the Pope’s emblem.
“Didn’t I tell you? We’re Heresy Inquisitors, but our job isn’t to scour the world and exterminate witches. The Pope is furious.”
[Lady Lucia, cease your tyranny abroad and return to the Holy Kingdom immediately to prepare for the monster attacks.]
That was the gist of the letter.
In short, it was an order to stop causing trouble abroad and return home to guard the kingdom like a watchdog.
“What if I don’t feel like returning?”
Lucia’s silver eyes glowed faintly.
For a moment, silence filled the temporary quarters.
Carté, accustomed to Lucia’s rebellious attitude, smoothly continued.
“If you defy the Holy Pope’s orders… then even you, Captain, could be labeled a heretic. Isn’t it better to focus on the monsters attacking us rather than stirring up trouble abroad? Returning to the Holy Kingdom to fight monsters would be more beneficial for you, wouldn’t it?”
“……”
“When a storm comes, it’s best to take shelter. What good would resisting do you? There haven’t been any sightings or traces of witches lately, so we’ve been successfully carrying out our mission.”
“Hmph.”
It was true. For years, there had been no reports of witch activity.
Even the information about the pink-haired witch had led to nothing.
Carté wasn’t wrong, but Lucia was deeply frustrated.
“And the Pope asked about Prince Leo III. He said the prince sang about becoming a Heresy Inquisitor before disappearing.”
“……”
Prince Leo III.
The fool of the Holy Kingdom.
A man of royal blood who couldn’t wield even a shred of divine power, unlike his two older brothers. Rumors even circulated that he was illegitimate since he hadn’t received the divine blessing.
As a child, he had shown some promise and had even delivered letters about capturing heretics. But now, he was nothing more than a discarded pawn, destined to be a mere son-in-law.
Carté was right—he had shown up.
Lucia had no idea how he had managed to find the Heresy Inquisitors on his own.
Lucia had no intention of accepting him.
When he appeared, wanting to join the Heresy Inquisitors… she had considered cutting him down on the spot. But out of some lingering sentiment, she had thrown him into an orc horde, granting him an honorable death.
Even though Carté held the position of vice captain, Lucia couldn’t speak openly.
She knew he was the Pope’s eyes, watching over the Heresy Inquisitors.
The schemer.
She suspected Carté might have had a hand in Prince Leo’s appearance.
She wanted to drive her sword into his smug, smiling face.
“This is the first I’ve heard of Prince Leo III’s disappearance. The Heresy Inquisitors’ missions are top secret. There’s no way he could have found us.”
“Haha. True. Just thought I’d mention it. Whether Prince Leo III lives or dies doesn’t really matter. If he dies quietly somewhere, it might even be a blessing.”
“You sound like you wish for the royal bloodline to perish.”
“Don’t you feel the same, Captain? Isn’t that what the entire Holy Kingdom wishes?”
The entire Holy Kingdom? Lucia felt a flicker of pity for Prince Leo, but that was all.
She stepped out of the temporary quarters and surveyed the Heresy Inquisitors.
The long expedition had left them all exhausted and weary.
Some had even lost their lives to monster attacks, so morale was likely at an all-time low.
As much as she hated to admit it, Carté was right. Returning to the Holy Kingdom was the best course of action. She couldn’t push her stubbornness any further.
“Carté, you’re right. When it rains, it’s best to take shelter. We’ll return to our homeland.”
“A wise decision. The Pope will be pleased to see you.”
That old man?
Lucia, who knew the Pope’s true nature, found it absurd.
Their relationship was one of mutual exploitation.
Lucia killed witches,
and the Pope used her power.
That was enough.
The Heresy Inquisitors’ steps were light as they prepared to withdraw. Some were happy to return home, others relieved to finally stretch their legs and rest, and some looked forward to reuniting with loved ones. Not a single one regretted the withdrawal. Though it didn’t sit well with Lucia, she couldn’t ruin their happiness.
“We’re ready to depart! Just give the order, and we’ll set off immediately!”
“Good, good. You’ve all worked hard.”
Carté, standing beside her, gave her a look.
It was a signal to hurry up and leave.
“Even if we leave now, it’ll take at least a month. Let’s get moving.”
“Hmph. Then we’ll return to the homeland…”
A surge of mana pierced through Lucia.
The unpleasant energy within the mana was unmistakably that of a witch.
For years, she had searched tirelessly, only for the witch to flaunt her presence just as they were about to leave.
Carté seemed to sense it too, his gaze turning toward the source of the mana.
“Venetia?”
A city large enough to be called the second capital of the Verdandi Kingdom, and home to the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Venetia is ruled by Marquis Laplace. Don’t you know most cities have banned us because of your meddling? Even requests for passage from Marquis Laplace have been repeatedly denied. Captain, it’s best not to bite off more than you can chew.”
Lucia was well aware of the repeated denials.
Despite the Holy Kingdom’s friendly relations with Verdandi, Lucia’s ruthless witch hunts had earned her no welcome anywhere. Her actions had only been possible because of the Holy Kingdom’s backing.
The belief that the Heresy Inquisitors, who sought only order and righteousness, would never harm the innocent.
“Carté, how long would it take to get to Venetia from here?”
“Even at your fastest, it would take at least ten days. Just give up. Are you planning to defy the Pope’s orders?”
“No, I can’t go against the Pope’s will. The Heresy Inquisitors will return to the homeland as planned.”
That’s more like it.
Even Lucia, with her obsessive fixation on witches, couldn’t defy the Pope’s orders.
Carté sighed in relief, thinking Lucia had finally been reined in.
“It’ll take a month to get back to the Holy Kingdom anyway. I’ll take a short walk. You lead the return. That’s an order.”
“Captain, wait…!”
Carté tried to stop her, but… there was no stopping a monster cloaked in divine power, running at full speed.
“That damn woman…”
It would’ve been better if she had just gone home quietly.
Why couldn’t she take the opportunity when it was given?
This was why he couldn’t stand inflexible people.
Lucent
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