Ch.6161. People Waiting for the End (2)

During the journey back to the capital, no conversation passed between Aryen and Isis. Aryen usually traveled ahead of the carriage, but on the return journey, he matched its pace. The carriage, replaced after being soiled by mud and rainwater, had large windows. Aryen gazed at Isis’s face visible through those windows.

“Why couldn’t we detect the activities of the doomsday cultists when we were in that village?”

A knight riding alongside him asked.

“…We might have seen them but passed by without noticing anything.”

“That’s the possibility I least want to consider.”

The knight frowned. Barktins. The image of the destroyed harbor flashed through Aryen’s mind, along with the provincial governor’s words that it couldn’t be restored and residents would need to be relocated.

“People who genuinely wish for the world’s destruction? To think such lunatics roam freely in this world, and we didn’t even notice. While some struggle desperately to fight against calamities, others worship them. This is no joke.”

The knight spoke, trembling with anger. Aryen didn’t respond. This time, the scene that came to mind was the battle with the Kraken. The surging tidal wave. The city sinking into the sea. The movement that destroyed mountains and forests. The Kraken’s tentacles that could barely be stopped even with the kingdom’s finest knights.

“Anyway, if given the opportunity to arrest them, I will participate without hesitation.”

“…I certainly hope so.”

Had this knight ever actually seen a calamity? Aryen dismissed the knight’s words and looked up at the sky. It was vast. The small moon floated faintly opposite the sun in the ominously deep blue sky.

As soon as they arrived at the capital, Aryen and Isis were greeted by a familiar face.

“You’ve arrived earlier than expected. I assume you’ve already heard most of the story?”

At Andre Zabine’s question, Isis’s head nodded stiffly. Shadows darkened beneath her eyes. Her once sun-bright golden hair was now dry and lifeless, and her lake-blue eyes that used to sparkle were now empty like the sky. Andre Zabine stared at her appearance for a moment, then closed his eyes and sighed.

“Isis. You don’t look well. Wouldn’t it be better to rest rather than push yourself?”

“…No. I have no intention of doing that.”

Isis shook her head and stepped forward.

“I need to see with my own eyes. If I run away now, I…”

Aryen, who would normally have tried to dissuade her, didn’t stop her this time. If he forcibly restrained the current Isis, she would collapse even further. The world that had suddenly confronted the Saint was too cruel—enough to break her immediately.

“Well then, let’s go. Mercenary, you…”

Andre Zabine looked at Aryen with narrowed eyes, then nodded slightly as if something had occurred to him.

“You may come along. Though you’re merely employed by Isis, I think you might be helpful in this matter.”

“You speak as if I should follow your orders.”

“Not at all. I’m not arrogant enough to consider you beneath me. It’s just that,”

Andre Zabine let out a hollow laugh and shrugged.

“We’ll need quite a few skilled people who know when to lend a hand.”

The bishop arrived at the palace with Aryen, Isis, and several people in priestly attire following him. He seated Isis and Aryen beside him and showed signs of waiting for someone, gazing quietly at the door.

“…Who else is coming?”

“Yes. This is a joint operation. People from the Kingdom of Kairos palace should be here too.”

Thump, thump.

Aryen slightly furrowed his brow at the approaching footsteps and presence. It was strong—strong enough that Aryen needed to be on full alert. Before he could fully identify whose presence it was, the meeting room door swung open. Aryen’s expression hardened when he saw the figure standing in the doorway. Beside him, ripples appeared in Isis’s pupils.

“Hero Ilroy greets Her Majesty the Queen.”

The Queen smiled gently at the hero’s greeting. The hero, who briefly averted his gaze from the Queen, noticed Aryen and Isis and twitched his eyebrows slightly.

“I wonder if we’re assigning you too many tasks.”

“…Please don’t concern yourself.”

The hero’s voice was stiff. Inwardly, Aryen wanted to click his tongue. Heretics. People who worship calamities. It would be strange if the hero wasn’t involved. After briefly greeting the Queen, the hero turned to the Saint, the mercenary, and the bishop. The bishop saw the hero’s half-rotten expression and greeted him with a slight curl of his lips.

“Hello, Bishop Andre, and…”

The hero faced his former companions and raised one corner of his mouth. It seemed like an involuntary reaction born of embarrassment rather than mockery.

“Isis, Aryen.”

==

Was Bishop Andre the one who summoned them? I felt momentarily dazed, as if struck by a hammer, and tried to gather my thoughts. Meanwhile, the bishop’s suspicious smile directed at me was irritating. The Saint. Yes, with matters related to heresy, bringing Isis along might help restore public sentiment. But Aryen, why is that guy sitting there? Did Isis bring him along?

‘He’s not the type to get involved in such matters voluntarily.’

They must have their reasons. I decided not to think too deeply about it. I agreed to help, and what matters is whether those guys are willing to work with me again…

“Please sit, Hero. We were just about to continue our discussion.”

Andre Zabine called to me as I stood there blankly. I sighed deeply and took a seat. George also looked quite surprised as he stared at the two people beside the bishop. Isis seemed unaware that George had come along, while Aryen nodded slightly to greet George.

“Now, since you all know the basics, let’s move on to the details.”

Andre Zabine began speaking in a calm voice.

“The doomsday cultists are currently active mainly around the Barktins area.”

I felt the blood drain from my head. My hands gripped the armrests tightly. Barktins. An event before I entered this world. A calamity defeated through mercenary methods. Though I hadn’t seen the situation there with my own eyes, the fact that cultists were active there indirectly told me how serious the situation was.

“As you know, Barktins is virtually a non-existent city now. Temporary settlements were built to accommodate refugees, but since city reconstruction will take considerable time, an evacuation order to other cities has been issued.”

The Queen nodded and continued Andre Zabine’s explanation.

“The temporary settlements couldn’t boast good sanitary conditions. The recovery rate of patients was too slow, and above all, if an epidemic were to break out there, we couldn’t guarantee the survival of even the healthy residents.”

“Yes. Your Majesty’s judgment was certainly correct. However, some residents couldn’t accept that dispersal order.”

Andre Zabine calmly spoke, pressing his fingertips together.

“They had strong attachments to the land. Many made their living from fishing, so relocating to other regions was difficult for them. We need to proceed with restoration as soon as possible, but those doomsday cultists are interfering.”

The Queen said with a sigh. Though she maintained a composed face, her feelings must be more complicated than anyone else’s right now.

“We could ignore them and push them away, but that would irreparably damage public sentiment. That’s why the Holy Kingdom’s help is welcome this time.”

“Not at all. We’re rather pleased to finally catch the tail of these suspicious individuals we’ve been tracking.”

The bishop shook his head and clenched his fist.

“Heretics… doomsday cultists uncannily exploit the gaps in people’s hearts. The cracks in human hearts. Hearts that are crumbling, breaking into pieces. The cultists fill those gaps with darkness, one by one.”

A faint anger tinged Andre Zabine’s voice.

“About three thousand people.”

At the number that came from his mouth, everyone’s expressions hardened.

“That’s our estimate of the number of people the doomsday cultists have captured and brainwashed in Barktins. Even at this moment, the number of heretics continues to grow.”

“What does the Holy Kingdom want to do with them?”

“Arrest the ringleaders and hold a joint trial with the Kingdom of Kairos. Killing them would be even better.”

Andre Zabine’s eyes flashed.

“As for the remaining three thousand people… we will absolutely follow Your Majesty’s disposition regarding them.”

“I’ve already contacted the provincial governor of Barktins. To prevent rumors from spreading to other regions. I hope to resolve this matter as quietly as possible.”

“Yes. We shall do so.”

After finishing his conversation with the Queen, the bishop turned to us.

“We won’t need many people. Let’s hide the fact that inquisitors are present and begin the investigation under the pretext of an inquiry from the Kingdom of Kairos.”

The bishop’s voice was ice-cold.

“Divine punishment for those who have betrayed God’s light.”

==

Marianne looked somewhat awkward without her nun’s habit. She was dressed like a female knight, holding a holy spear. Andre Zabine’s appearance was even more remarkable—he was dressed like a court noble of the Kingdom of Kairos and even wore glasses. He seemed to be posing as a newly appointed internal affairs officer.

“Do you know, Hero, that human sacrifice is central to doomsday worship?”

The bishop said with a chilling smirk.

“The leaders of doomsday worship, the evil god worshippers, never force people to offer themselves. They induce and brainwash their followers to voluntarily offer their bodies. By using people as sacrifices, they connect with evil gods, share their power, and prove their faith.”

Andre Zabine said, adjusting his glasses.

“In the end, converting the ordinary believers would be the best solution, but…”

I wonder.

The bishop said, looking ahead. When we reached Barktins, autumn rain was falling steadily. I trembled as I gazed at the entrance to Barktins, which had completely turned into post-war ruins.

“[So this is why those doomsday cultists are thriving here.]”

The Holy Sword spoke in a horrified voice. Right beside me, a church spire that had collapsed was stuck in the ground like a spearhead.

“Ilroy.”

George called me. He too was looking around with a hardened expression. But soon, as if he thought it more important to urge me, he placed his hand on my shoulder and lowered his voice.

“Now is not the time to think about the past. The choice back then—all of us except you are to blame. You don’t need to feel guilty about it.”

“…”

I didn’t respond to George’s words, just taking in the scenery. What should have been protected. What couldn’t be protected. I wanted to ask this body’s original owner: How did it feel? When given the fate to protect this world, but ultimately failing and having to surrender—what were you thinking? I could recall few words from the original work. Come to think of it, the original Ilroy was always regretting and angry.

“It’s terrible.”

I muttered. George nodded, heaving a big sigh.

“If only I had…”

“Stop. I was weak, and I failed to protect it. I don’t want to make meaningless assumptions.”

I dismissed him, shaking my head. Even if we talked about the battle with the Kraken, it wouldn’t heal the wounds the residents here had suffered. Suddenly, I noticed Isis and Aryen walking side by side nearby. Isis consistently avoided meeting my gaze. Aryen occasionally stared at me but didn’t approach to speak.

“…Let’s go.”

I said, turning my gaze away from them.

Before long, we arrived at a two-story building where the provincial governor of Barktins was waiting. It was a relatively intact building amid the surrounding ruins, though the first floor was as devastated as ruins elsewhere.

“Welcome. Bishop, and…”

The provincial governor looked at me and slightly frowned.

“…Hero.”