Ch.83Concert (4)

Demonic Energy.

It forms the foundation of cultists’ power.

Typically, it’s used to generate black magic by refining Demonic Energy.

However, among the members of Baob, there were those who applied Demonic Energy in unconventional ways.

Beings who caused calamities by combining Demonic Energy with their own talents.

Music, singing, painting, descriptions, and more.

It’s an ability that manifests in only a select few.

The church refers to such individuals as Katasto.

It means “calamity” in ancient language.

‘The Conductor.’

He was considered the most representative Katasto in the original work.

Truly worthy of being called a calamity.

He actually caused numerous casualties.

Once someone falls under the melody conducted by the Conductor, they become corrupted by Demonic Energy with no way to escape.

The principle of transformation is similar to becoming a Chimera.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!”

Corruption is also a concept in the same category as Chimeras.

Once transformed, there’s no turning back.

A broken vessel cannot be restored.

Of course, it wasn’t that there was absolutely no method.

I had “lies” at my disposal.

It was possible to restore someone, like I did with Anne.

But saying it’s possible is one thing; in reality, it was somewhat impractical.

Ultimately, I didn’t have the capacity to save these people.

“Eliminate them all.”

Even when I restored Anne, I had to consume nearly 60% of my output.

Roughly estimating for a healthy adult, the output consumption would be at least 80%.

If I save one person…

That’s the end of it.

‘Besides.’

I was already in a situation where I needed to conserve my output.

To clear the Conductor’s stage and save the missing collaborator, I couldn’t afford to consume any more output than necessary.

Unlike the previous Chimeras trapped in cages, capturing these was difficult.

I simply made the best choice possible.

I can’t save everyone.

This was a sentence I had learned through intense survival over the past three years since my possession.

Life was never lighter than multiple lies.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!!”

“!!!esaelp pleh su evaS”

“Uwaaaaah!!”

Therefore.

We had to keep moving forward.

Cutting down one by one the emblems that were once pure white priestly robes, now dyed black.

Taking the final breaths of poor lambs who had turned their backs on God.

“Move the remaining survivors outside. Have them quickly transported to the hospital through Rena.”

Of course, death wasn’t everything.

There were still people scattered across the blood-soaked floor who hadn’t transformed.

They were the lucky ones who had escaped the range of the “melody.”

Most were unconscious and seriously injured, but the team members calmly continued the rescue operation.

Exceptions like these existed.

“In the case of children, even if they’re corrupted, they don’t exhibit violence. There are only about ten of them, so we’ll restrain them separately and take them to headquarters. Treatment can be carried out gradually.”

“Understood, Master.”

I wanted at least the children to survive.

When adults give up on adults, it’s a cold world, but when adults give up on children, everything in the world becomes trash.

My world seemed closer to winter than a landfill.

Leaving behind the crimson snow landscape, we crossed an endless corridor.

“I’ve cleared the front.”

Irene was the most active in the chaotic battle.

The girl methodically eliminated the priests rushing from the front with her fluttering flames.

She faithfully carried out my instructions.

Whenever she looked back at me, I had to pat her head.

To show that she was doing well enough.

“I’ve finished clearing the front.”

“Good work.”

“…You don’t need to pat me in a situation like this.”

The fox furrowed her brow as if asking what I was doing during a mission.

But contrary to her prickly response, her auburn tail behind her was swaying back and forth.

As if she couldn’t hide her true feelings.

Irene slightly averted her gaze before gripping her sword again.

Clang! Kraguk…! Tung!

The battle continued.

Not long after, we finally reached the end of the corridor.

A single shabby door appeared before us.

“Haa, haa… Is it over once we get past here?”

The fox breathed heavily.

I approached the door but firmly shook my head at her question.

What was about to happen was crucial.

If we made any mistake here, the entire cathedral and even the surrounding city could be in danger.

That’s why I had been conserving my output all this time.

“You cannot pass through here carelessly.”

I stopped the team members who were about to place their hands on the door.

Beyond this point was hell.

The Conductor’s concert would be waiting for us.

This was the boss stage area in the original work.

Since it was a space filled with terrible melodies, entry was difficult without passive mental skills.

I briefly looked over the team members standing beside me.

“Hmm.”

Neria, Irene, Rena, and others.

They were all outstanding individuals, but they weren’t suitable for this stage.

Taking them would only be detrimental.

They might suddenly turn and attack allies.

But.

I couldn’t protect them from mental attacks either.

Of course, it would be possible if I used a lie, but considering the danger waiting beyond that door, wasting output on minor things wasn’t a good choice.

I showed signs of contemplation while resting my chin on my hand.

It was for someone to see.

“This is troublesome.”

While many people had strong mental fortitude, few possessed mental barriers.

It was an innate skill.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment and muttered.

“I wish there was someone who could enter with me.”

I glanced behind me from the corner of my eye.

At the end of my gaze was just a wall blocking my view.

As if pretending there was no one there.

I smiled gently.

Then casually asked a question.

“I need someone who has strong basic combat abilities, isn’t easily shaken, and has mental barriers…”

Fortunately, there was someone perfectly suited.

“What do you think? Your Highness.”

A single phrase aimed precisely at one direction.

Realizing they had been discovered, the presence hiding in the corner revealed itself.

My gaze was captivated by brilliant platinum hair.

“…You knew.”

Blinking blue eyes.

Her stoic expression had a unique doll-like quality.

The dazzling platinum hair confirmed the girl’s identity.

The First Imperial Princess, Sharlotte Little von Staufen.

One of the main characters in the original work.

She should have been at the academy at this point, but for some reason, she had been following us from behind.

I smiled at Sharlotte standing before me.

“I didn’t expect to see Your Highness in a place like this.”

“Yes. Nice to see you.”

The girl nodded.

Not a trace of embarrassment showed in her calm eyes.

She greeted me casually, just like our usual encounters at the academy.

If anything, I was the one taken aback.

“You’re remarkably composed.”

“I’m surprised. Very much.”

“Your reaction doesn’t give that impression at all.”

“Is that so…?”

She genuinely seemed confused.

The girl tilted her head.

Perhaps because her basic concept was four-dimensional, she always went in unpredictable directions.

After a brief pause, Sharlotte asked.

“When did you know? That I was behind you.”

“At the basement stairs.”

“So you knew from the beginning.”

“I regret it. When I heightened my senses, I ended up detecting Your Highness nearby as well.”

“Yes, indeed. Regrettable.”

A few casual exchanges.

I put the small talk aside and returned to my previous question.

“So what do you think? I’d like to hear your opinion.”

Sharlotte happened to be someone with mental barriers.

She had been protected under the imperial family’s unique blessing since birth.

Additionally, her combat abilities were exceptional.

‘Perfect.’

Originally I had planned to enter alone, but having a companion would ease the burden a bit.

It probably wasn’t a bad proposal for Sharlotte either.

After all, her purpose for coming here was the same as mine.

Investigating this incident and tracking down the cultists.

Although our reasons for pursuing them differed, we were heading in a similar direction.

Especially since this matter was too difficult for her to resolve alone.

She would need help.

‘This is a good opportunity.’

The girl was in a desperate situation regarding the “rose” issue.

The fact that she was personally out in the field said it all.

I was thinking about throwing bait soon anyway, so such a perfect opportunity made me glad.

This chance could significantly close the distance between us.

“…Alright. Let’s go together.”

After brief contemplation, Sharlotte finally nodded.

We shook hands lightly.

Once the decision was made, there was no time to hesitate.

Even now, the countdown was ticking away.

After only a brief equipment check, we placed our hands on the grand door covered with ominous symbols.

A chilling sensation spread through my fingertips.

“Let’s go.”

We opened the door.

A bright red flash engulfed our vision.

We stepped across the threshold with steady feet.

***

And so we arrived at the boss stage.

We faced a bizarre landscape.

“What is this…?”

A space where crimson blood waves surged.

In the endless scenery, a vast sea filled only with blood awaited us.

Facing this expansive view, the children couldn’t help but freeze.

Piiiiiii-.

The melody that had been faint until now was now distinctly audible.

It was a dissonance that seemed to tear through our ears.

Following the source of the noise, we turned our heads to see a figure standing amidst the crimson fog.

It was playing a violin while standing in the middle of the sea of blood.

“……”

It was a familiar face.

Apparently affected by the Conductor’s melody, she had a corrupted appearance, having forgotten her true nature.

Looking at the woman continuing her intense performance, I muttered.

“Ms. Medro…”

The church’s general representative and the person in charge of overseeing this Liszt branch.

Also Astro’s collaborator.

She was the target we needed to rescue in this mission.

As expected, the woman had become the Conductor’s puppet, waiting for an audience to arrive on this blood-red stage.

Medro’s rolling eyes discovered us.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

The woman immediately screamed.

I maintained my composure while gathering a lie at my fingertips.

Sharlotte had also drawn her sword.

“Let’s see what we can do.”

“Yes.”

It was the opening of a terrible concert.