Ch.66Report on the Downfall of Humility (14)

The beasts, not understanding what was happening, charged back at Kain. A whooshing sound came from behind once more. Thwack. Thwack. Blood sprayed from the beasts’ foreheads as they collapsed with axes and knives embedded in them.

A grumbling voice came from behind Kain.

“This is why.”

Kain turned around. A large man was approaching. He looked familiar somehow. It was the masked man who had been selling carbonated water. However, the water container he had been carrying was nowhere to be seen.

Under his torn clothes, a scratched leather armor was visible. Though his flesh was exposed and bleeding, he didn’t seem to mind.

The man pulled down the mask covering his face.

Revealed was a middle-aged man with a large scar on his cheek and unkempt beard. The corners of his eyes were deeply wrinkled. Yet his laugh was hearty.

“Can’t work with folks who have no Holy Grail, aren’t knights, and don’t belong to any organization. I apologize for that.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I thought those idiots would hold out longer. Didn’t expect them to pull this stunt and run. Really. Ugh.”

The man yanked the axe from the fallen beast’s forehead. Blood dripped steadily, but he finished cleaning it with just a couple of flicks. Then he threw it again with a swift motion.

It split the forehead of another beast charging from the distance. He was incredibly relaxed, as if he were just out for a neighborhood hunt. His eyes gleamed with killing intent, yet his mouth wore a relaxed smile.

“Could it be… the White Blood Knights?”

“You know us.” The man crossed his arms and smiled. “We’ve been watching you since you entered the city. We saw you with Chief Lily. Though the chief didn’t recognize us.”

“…Chief?”

“Our original mission was protection.” The man seemed not to have heard Kain’s question. It wasn’t that he was deliberately ignoring him; it was more like the habit of stubborn, simple, but rough men.

When speaking, they assume everyone is listening intently, and consequently let others’ words go in one ear and out the other.

“The Valkyrja of the White Blood Knights herself ordered us to save as many people as possible. I think the chief also calculated that the Holy Grail folks would hold out a bit longer…”

The man looked down at the bodies of Arianne and Shajar, shaking his head bitterly as he pulled his axe from a monster’s forehead.

“Still. You did well. We’ll take it from here.”

The man patted Kain’s shoulder and walked away. Kain barely managed to straighten his buckling legs.

From behind, four people dressed as peddlers emerged. Each carried different weapons and wore whatever they pleased. Not one was without blood or injury.

These were the “we” he had mentioned. They were all rough-looking men. They approached Kain with smiles, placed their hands on his shoulders, and passed by.

The man in front raised his axe and shouted:

“Until white blood flows, I shall not die!”

The men behind responded:

“Until all red blood is spilled, we shall fight!”

Without any warning, the men charged at the beasts. Like five people moving as one, they methodically cut, slashed, and dismembered the approaching monsters. The leader brought down his axe.

When a startled beast dodged sideways, men positioned on either flank swung their axes and barbed spears as if they’d been waiting for just that moment. If one tried to leap from a distance, the man at the rear unhesitatingly threw a hand axe.

A shadow fell over them. A ship had stopped overhead. Something jumped down from the deck. Beasts with flicking tongues.

But this time, balls of fire flew from behind.

These fireballs passed through buildings and people, setting the falling beasts ablaze. The flailing creatures scattered embers everywhere. Holy fire consumed the unholy beasts. Second and third fireballs continued to fly up.

“You. What am I supposed to do with you.”

Inquisitor Maria appeared. She was bleeding from her forehead, though it wasn’t clear how she’d been injured. But her eyes were clear, and her steps were light.

Maria spread her hands wide, then clenched her fists. Dagger blades protruded between each finger. She wrapped her arms around herself, then flung the daggers outward with force.

With sounds of gurgling and cracking, masses fell around Kain with thuds. They were beasts that had been waiting on the rooftops.

“The people…”

“We got them out!” Maria shouted. She threw daggers and conjured fire as if venting her frustration.

“Because you… you did that crazy thing… and blew that loud pipe… Thanks to that, everyone came to their senses and fled outside the city. They’re all regrouping and driving out the beasts. Once you leave, it’s almost over! Do you know how worried I was when I couldn’t find you?”

Kain sank down helplessly. He looked at the fallen Arianne. Maria exhaled a heavy sigh. She approached the two dead women and put her hands together. Holy fire arose. The bodies of the two women burned without any foul odor.

“I said I would protect Arianne. But I couldn’t. I…”

“Kain.”

Maria knelt down.

“Pull yourself together and look straight. You saved this city. You know? If you hadn’t blown that pipe, if you hadn’t awakened in time to alert everyone, we’d all be dead. Really all dead.

I commanded the Holy Grail Knights to pull people out, and Lily ran to the fortress to ring the bell. Then she grabbed a horse and worked hard to evacuate everyone.

Thanks to you. Thanks to you gathering these beasts who abandoned their humanity in one place. The people of the city survived.”

“…Lily?”

No sooner had he spoken than the sound of hoofbeats was heard.

It was Lily, holding a torch in one hand and a halberd in the other. She rode confidently, as if she didn’t even need to hold the reins.

Her body was covered in blood and flesh, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to be her own. The halberd was so hot from countless impacts that blood had burned onto it.

Maria said nothing more. She helped Kain onto the horse. Lily, who had tossed aside her halberd and torch, held Kain tightly. With a neigh, the horse galloped out of Emmaus.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No. You came just in time.”

Kain’s consciousness began to fade. Lily held him close.

“I believed. I believed you would be alive. Because you promised.”

“…Thank you.”

With those words, Kain passed out.

* * * * *

The sun rose even over the collapsed city.

After receiving urgent reports, the Imperial court ordered the immediate arrest of the mayor of Emmaus and his transport to the capital. The reason: failure to properly manage an important city.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the commander of the Imperial Southwestern Garrison was given full authority regarding city restoration and compensation.

Thanks to this, the merchants left the city with happy faces.

They had been on the verge of rioting when the garrison commander refused compensation, citing difficulties in calculating the exact extent of damage. But they reconsidered when offered temporary priority and monopoly rights for supplying materials for city reconstruction. They departed cheering inwardly while outwardly expressing hopes for the city’s swift rebuilding.

The people who remained continued to insult each other. They openly spat and slandered one another. Yet ironically, they needed each other.

The wealthy had nothing to worry about from the start. They could simply stay in another city temporarily and return at their leisure.

Those in urgent need were the soldiers stationed in Emmaus and their families, people who couldn’t afford homes in other cities. Swift restoration was crucial. But except for the eastern district, there was nowhere to find workers to clear roads, rebuild paths, and clean wells. Eventually, they had to rely on the Samaritans.

For the first time in history, “cooperation” took place on Emmaus soil. The westerners provided materials, the easterners provided labor. Since almost all water sources were destroyed, they agreed to dig new ones.

The collapsed central fortress was identified as the most promising reservoir. It came with the condition that it would belong to no one and no one would use it exclusively.

Hatred and resentment hadn’t completely disappeared. But for their own survival, they had to know when to yield. That’s how Emmaus took its difficult first step forward.

* * * * *

The Emmaus Security Bureau branch didn’t suffer major damage. Instead, the branch chief suffered personally. His private office and quarters had collapsed completely, not leaving even a single drawer intact.

As a result, the branch chief had to sleep in the coachmen’s quarters. Both the coachmen who suddenly had to share sleeping space with their superior and the branch chief who had to stay in uncomfortable and noisy quarters endured an awkward cohabitation.

But like a true professional, he showed none of this discomfort in front of Kain.

Kain had to wear bandages on his stomach, ankles, and arms. Though nothing seemed broken or seriously injured, the pain was so intense whenever he moved that everything needed to be firmly secured. If it didn’t subside after a few days, he would need to see a doctor.

The branch chief briefed him on the current situation. First, the beasts, unable to withstand the counterattack from the Knight of the Scabbard, airships, knights, and Imperial forces, had all crossed the northeastern night sky.

This was nothing short of a demonstration. The fall and rebirth of Emmaus. The story of monsters crossing the night sky had now become impossible to conceal.

Of course, the Empire and the Pope would deny it. Perhaps they would neither confirm nor deny. But rumors would eventually spread. Kain couldn’t even guess how much time remained.

“Anyway, the carriage is intact, but I can’t provide a coachman. You understand?”

“I understand.”

“Well… I’ll select a good horse for you. After all your hard work, I should at least offer that convenience.”

He meant he would send strong horses even if it came out of his own pocket. Kain nodded slightly. Since tasting blood in his throat after bowing deeply, he had become cautious in many ways. Carefully leaning on his cane, Kain walked to Arianne’s house.

The house was intact, but both westerners and easterners avoided coming here. He heard they shunned it as a cursed place.

Kain thought of Arianne and Shajar al-Durr. They would now be resting in a place free from anyone’s interference. In peace, quietly.

Composing himself, Kain entered the room. Maria, who had arrived first, was rummaging through the furniture.

“Look at this.”

Maria pulled out an encrypted letter and its decoded version from Arianne’s desk. The letter was from William.

Both the letter and the decoded version were torn into four pieces, but several intact pages could be salvaged. By comparing the two letters, decoding the content behind the lewd diary wouldn’t be difficult.

“And this too.”

Maria produced something like a small pill. It was wrapped in white paper.

“What is this?”

“A powerful sedative. She probably dissolved this in the well. But… this would only work in a small cup of water, not a well. At most, it’s evidence that Shajar’s mind wasn’t sound and was full of malice. Let’s keep it.”

Kain nodded. As he was about to put it in his leather pouch, he suddenly realized that they were quite similar in size to the salt lumps he had bought at the market. He made a mental note to mark them later and put them away.

A small commotion was heard outside the door. It was strange. There shouldn’t be anyone coming to visit. Kain leaned on his cane and went outside.