Ch.8282. Plans and Plans (1)

Splat.

That made five. Aryen clicked his tongue as he looked at the bodies sprawled on the floor. These ones had put up quite a resistance. Not more than Aryen could handle, but their methods of resistance were vicious beyond measure. They used believers as human shields or even implanted fragments of the Calamity into them, turning them into monsters.

“Did you think you could escape?”

But even with all those methods, the demon worshippers couldn’t get away. Bishop Andre and his direct inquisitors captured them skillfully and swiftly. If they showed signs of transforming into monsters, they killed them; if not, they cut off their limbs and restrained them.

“Stupid bastards…”

One demon worshipper, with his left arm severed and spewing black blood, chuckled with a laugh as thick as blood. His face was battered beyond recognition. Bishop Andre smiled casually as he grabbed the man’s hair and yanked his head back.

“It’s already too late. It’s already too late… Even the end of the world follows a natural order. If it cannot happen naturally, we must force it to occur.”

“It would be nice if you could tell me specifically what’s too late.”

The bishop heated his dagger with holy magic. A warm yet eerie energy enveloped the blade, and without hesitation, the bishop pressed it against the severed surface of the arm.

“AAAAARGH!!”

“Don’t just scream. Say something. The longer you delay speaking, the more pain you’ll endure.”

The demon worshipper’s eyes gleamed. Something was stirring in that gaze. The bishop clicked his tongue and simply cut off the worshipper’s head. The headless body twitched on the floor, then sprouted limbs resembling those of an insect. Bishop Andre kicked the corpse, sending it flying to the corner of the building.

“It’s really annoying when they transform at the slightest provocation.”

Aryen silently stared at the pile of corpses. Why had he accepted Bishop Andre’s offer back then? Was it because staying there made him keep looking back at the past? For what purpose am I doing this now? Aryen shook his head, trying to escape the confusion that kept consuming him.

A request. Just a mission, nothing more.

“We don’t see many convenient ones like that time.”

“There weren’t any humans to begin with. What can you expect from a den of serious criminals?”

When Bishop Andre spoke with a grimace, Aryen nodded. Most had implanted Calamity fragments as a last resort. A method to transform into monsters if they were about to be captured and interrogated. They were narrowing down their investigation based on information provided by the demon worshipper from Barktins, but no additional useful information was coming in.

“Let’s take a short break and search the building. They were clearly trying to carry out something here.”

Bishop Andre pulled out a cigarette case from his pocket. After putting a cigarette in his mouth, he suddenly looked at Aryen and offered him the case. Aryen didn’t refuse and took a cigarette. The bishop heated his dagger to light it for him. It had been a while since Aryen had smoked. As he took a long drag, the smoke caught in his throat, causing a rejection response. Aryen coughed lightly as he exhaled the smoke.

“How’s work going?”

“…Work is just work. Nothing special. I get paid and do the job accordingly.”

“Was there another reason why you decided to leave Isis’s side?”

Aryen narrowed his brow and took another drag of his cigarette.

“Even if I stayed with Isis, we would only clash. It might have ended if I just obeyed Isis’s words, but…”

Aryen shook his head. That wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem. He could calm the confusion in his heart, but he couldn’t find the answer.

“Well, I see.”

Bishop Andre replied halfheartedly as he took a drag of his cigarette. Then he took out an ashtray and put the cigarette butt in it.

“That’s for you to think about. I won’t refuse to help if you need it, but I won’t meddle unnecessarily. As long as it doesn’t interfere with our work.”

“I know my own business. I’ll try not to let it affect anything, so don’t worry about unnecessary things.”

When Aryen dropped his cigarette butt on the ground with a sigh, the bishop diligently collected it and put it in the ashtray. Aryen snorted at the bishop’s strange habit.

“You cut people down without a second thought, yet you’re so meticulous about cigarette butts.”

“Just because I kill people without hesitation doesn’t mean I should litter cigarette butts everywhere.”

Bishop Andre stood up, spouting his usual “righteous sophistry.” Aryen watched him with an incredulous expression, then shook his head and stood up as well.

“Bishop.”

One of the inquisitors approached them.

“We found what looks like an entrance to a basement. When we removed the rug in front of the fireplace, we discovered a keyhole. The energy leaking from it is quite strong.”

The bishop turned to Aryen and nodded.

“Let’s go take a look. Perhaps we’ve found a good clue.”

The inquisitors each took out lanterns and lit them. Unable to find the key, the bishop simply destroyed the entrance and pulled out a dagger.

“There’s a blatant stench of death wafting up. And a terrible smell. There must be many dead down there. What on earth were they doing…”

The inquisitors drew their weapons and began to enter. As they descended the stairs, the smell grew worse. The unique energy emanating from the demon worshippers also intensified, becoming visible as a hazy black mist.

“…Why is this basement so deep?”

Aryen muttered. There seemed to be a space large enough for a cool breeze to come up the stairs. The lantern light revealed the stairs and walls. Stains that looked like blood were spread around. After descending for a long time, the inquisitors reached the basement. And when they saw what the lantern light revealed, they all froze simultaneously.

“What in the world are they trying to do…”

A grayish-white empty space. It was so large it could be called a cavity. And below, a massive inverted pentagram had been drawn. No, it had been created.

“Those are… all people, aren’t they?”

People—naked corpses—formed the inverted pentagram. Whether they were in the middle of performing some sort of sorcery, or if the ritual had already ended, was unclear. Bishop Andre approached the pile of corpses with a confused expression. He remembered what the man they had just defeated had said.

‘It’s already too late… It’s already too late…’

What exactly was too late? Could he have been referring to this?

“It’s like some form of ritual…”

Bishop Andre muttered with a frown. A ritual. If it was a ritual they were performing, worship. No, such energy couldn’t come from a simple worship ritual.

“…Summoning?”

No way. The bishop’s face contorted as he looked up. Aryen’s frozen eyes met Bishop Andre’s. Something was about to happen somewhere they knew nothing about.

==

Back then, Aryen had said:

‘Do you think someone who tries to protect another world when even what’s in their own hands is uncertain can properly protect what they’re holding? Even if that person is a hero.’

I wasn’t unaware. I knew what was in my hands and what wasn’t. Could anyone say they’ve never held anything in their life? That they never feared losing it?

“…This feels really disgusting.”

I muttered as I got up. The weather was approaching with a full embrace of cold. The colder weather also meant the Calamity was drawing near. I kicked off the blanket with my feet. Cold air spread from my chest to my legs and toes. Suppressing the urge to cover myself with the blanket again, I sat up.

“It’s snowing.”

I muttered absently, looking out the window. The first snow came early. In early December, snow that was too sparse to be called heavy was falling little by little, accumulating on the rooftops.

“…”

I glanced at the Holy Sword leaning against my bed and sat at my desk. Even though the Holy Sword had been finding it harder to read my thoughts lately, it could probably still force its way in if it tried hard enough. Someday I would need to have an open conversation with the Holy Sword, but not now.

“Let’s see…”

I opened my notebook. In the notebook I had started keeping as soon as I fell into this world, there were records. Records about this world. How the original protagonist acted, how they fought against the Calamity.

“But this seems too dependent on me.”

I frowned as I looked at the records about the fifth Calamity, “Fog.” Of course, all the trials so far had changed and progressed according to what I did, but this “Fog” was even more so. I let out a groan and tilted my head back.

“…Thinking about it now won’t help me come up with a solution.”

I sighed involuntarily. The best solution, of course, is to become stronger. I’ve been training alone a lot, and sparring with Marianne, Daphne, and George, but facing the Calamity goes beyond the realm of such superficial strength.

“I have to win.”

I muttered as I closed my notebook. I had woken up earlier than usual today. I sat quietly on the bed, closed my eyes to meditate, and then grasped the hilt of the Holy Sword.

“[…You’re up early, Ilroy.]”

These days, the Holy Sword, she seemed to be in deep sleep. Her voice sounded like she hadn’t fully woken up.

“It’s gotten much colder. It’s even snowing outside.”

“[Snow. It’s falling early this year.]”

I picked up the veil that was leaning next to the Holy Sword. I needed to walk for a bit. Marianne seemed to still be asleep. I put on a coat, wrapped a scarf around my neck, and opened the door. The sun hadn’t risen yet. The snow falling on the street lamps was reflected. There was no one walking on the streets.

“[There haven’t been any incidents lately.]”

“It’s good that no work is coming my way.”

I shrugged and headed toward the city gate. I exchanged brief greetings with the guard and went outside. It had been a while since I’d gone into the forest. A snow-covered forest is different from usual. Snow conceals sounds and covers the world’s eyes. The snow crunched and crumbled under my feet.

GROOOOAR!!

An ash bear. It had been a while since I’d heard that roar. A sound that even felt nostalgic. I saw the bear’s front paw falling toward me like a guillotine.

Thud.

The surrounding snow completely disappeared. Was it always this weak? I had my hand raised as if high-fiving the bear. The bear seemed confused, making a small whimpering sound as it looked down at me. I lightly pushed my hand back, and the ash bear put its front paw down and growled cautiously at me.

GROOOOAR!

The bear seemed to have changed its tactics, deciding to charge forward. I looked at the charging ash bear and clenched my fist. The simplest step. I stepped forward and threw an uppercut.

CRACK-!!

With the sound of bones being crushed, the bear collapsed forward. It didn’t move at all, seeming to have died instantly. I kicked the ash bear’s body to push it away and sat on a tree in front of the corpse. Have I gotten stronger? Really? I blurred my eyes and sighed. The sigh turned into steam and dispersed.

“[Is this what they call rapid progress?]”

“I feel like I cheated a bit.”

I glanced at the bear and said.

“[You’re not here to boast about how strong you’ve become. Is something wrong?]”

The Holy Sword asked. I shook my head and stood up.

“No. Nothing’s wrong. I just stopped by because I was bored.”

“[…There’s no reason to hide things from me.]”

The Holy Sword seemed displeased, but I brushed it off with a bitter smile. After taking down just one bear, I returned inside the city walls. The snow that had been falling had already stopped.

“…Hm?”

And then I frowned as I spotted someone fidgeting anxiously in front of my house like a puppy that needed to pee. Judging by the attire, they seemed to be from the Blue Orthodox Church… What business could they have at dawn?

“Do you have some business at our headquarters?”

“Hero.”

The person, who appeared to be a priest, swallowed dryly and spoke with a trembling voice.

“It seems… you need to come to the Holy Nation.”

“The Holy Nation? What’s happening…”

No way. When my face hardened as I was speaking, the priest nodded.

“The signs are ominous. We will also inform Her Majesty the Queen, but signs of the Calamity have begun to appear in the Holy Nation.”