Chapter 29: Rebecca! headbutt!, Part 1

Luminous Garden.

The city chosen by God, the birthplace of generations of saints.

A holy and sacred city, a blessed land.

Many saints, including Belladriel Dresia, had emerged from this city.

A jewel overflowing with miracles and wonders.

However, after Belladriel’s exile, it was no longer a sacred place.

A desolate space, filled with wickedness.

It was more fitting to call it Darkness Garden, so blackened had it become.

The once-holy knights, now clad in black armor, slaughtered the weak, pillaged neighboring villages, and enslaved those they captured through brainwashing.

The one responsible for this corruption was Echeveria Beatrice.

A witch posing as a saint, she had twisted everything.

“…It’s been a while, Belladriel Dresia.”

Dark hair, gloomy eyes, dark circles.

She smiled wickedly.

“Still pretending to be a saint?”
“Pretending…? I’ve always been…”

Echeveria pointed at herself.

“A saint.”

She giggled, a villainous laugh.

Her cackling and the sinister music box melody that filled the air revealed her true nature.

“…Unbelievable. A witch like you…”

Belladriel narrowed her eyes and sighed.

“Where are Isabel Leonhardt, Rebecca, and my knights?”
“Oh, them? They’re unclean, so I handed them over to the Inquisitor. They need to be judged.”
“Is that so? I’ll have to go find them.”

Belladriel turned to leave.

But…

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Knights in black armor blocked her path.

“Step aside. While you still can.”
“We can’t do that, Belladriel.”

One of the knights lifted his visor.

“…You’re… Berlian?”
“…”

Her former guard knight.

He was different now.

“You’ve really brainwashed them, haven’t you?”

Belladriel could see the dark magic in his eyes.

His pupils were black, a sign of powerful magical control.

She could easily dispel it with a prayer, but…

If it didn’t work, he might explode.

Her holy power was restored, but she hadn’t used it in a long time.

She wasn’t confident enough to risk it.

“How do you feel, seeing Berlian like this?”

Echeveria giggled, whispering in Belladriel’s ear, “Why don’t you pray? I hear your holy power has returned. Pray all you want. This is sacred ground, isn’t it? Hahahahaha!”
“…”

‘Should I destroy everything with my prayer?’

‘Echeveria’s laughter, this corrupted place…’

‘I want to purify it all.’

But…

Isabel and the knights would be in danger.

“…God is not on my side.”
“That’s not true! God is on your side, Belladriel! So, pray!”
“…”
“Can’t do it?”

Echeveria approached her and placed her hands on Belladriel’s shoulders, a seductive smile on her face.

“Humans are nothing but ants. You have the power to judge them all.”

Belladriel chuckled.

“You’ve come a long way from your chuunibyou days. You’re so eloquent now. You used to stammer and call me ‘B-Belladriel’ with your tongue tied.”

Belladriel’s teasing made Echeveria’s eyes sharpen.

“What? I never stammered… I didn’t.”
“You did, you shut-in. I always wondered when you’d become a proper human… we competed since our trainee days, but you always lost, didn’t you?”

Echeveria’s face hardened.

“Things are different now… loser…”

Echeveria’s past.

She was a trainee in the same Order as Belladriel.

They competed fiercely for the position of saint.

But it was a one-sided rivalry.

Echeveria was no match for Belladriel’s overwhelming holy power.

She was always second best, filled with jealousy and resentment.

“Is that so? You still look foolish to me.”

Belladriel smirked, maintaining her composure.

“Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A cornered rat will bite a cat’? I don’t understand why you called me here, a defeated foe.”

Echeveria’s eyes narrowed.

“Really? The once-great saint, now a heretic leading a cult. How amusing. Are you also cornered, biting at God? With your Etherion or whatever.”
“Hmm, I suppose you’re right…”

Belladriel nodded, a bitter smile on her face.

“But things are different now…”
“Different how?”
“I’m not doing that anymore.”

For Isabel…

To establish a proper Order.

To achieve her goals.

The thought of the future brought a genuine smile to Belladriel’s face.

Echeveria found that smile disgusting.

“Crazy
. Just because you stopped doesn’t mean your sins are absolved. Let me tell you why I called you here.”

Echeveria gestured to the knights.

“Listen up. This heretic, Belladriel, and everyone associated with her are heretics. I’ll judge Belladriel myself. Burn the rest at the stake.”
“…What?”

Belladriel was taken aback by the sudden sentence.

“Yes, ma’am.”

A knight nodded and left.

“I’ll kill you here as well, Berlian.”
“Yes…”
“Judge this wicked witch.”
“As you command.”

The knight drew his sword.

To kill Belladriel.

‘Hmm…’

‘So quiet.’

I strained my ears, but detected no presence.

After locking me in this cell, they’d said, “Stay here!” and left…

Wherever they went, this was my chance.

“Alright. Let’s move.”

Master Key.

With this, I could escape any confinement.

I’d bought several.

I easily unlocked the cell door and slipped out.

I donned my Invisibility Cloak and quickly made my escape.

My next task:

Rescuing Rebecca and the knights.

I hurried down the hallway.

–Agh!

“…There?”

A woman’s pained cry echoed from a room. An interrogation room?

I pressed my ear against the door.

–Speak! Knight-Captain of the Etherion cult! You are a heretic! Confess your wickedness! I, the Inquisitor, shall grant you mercy! Answer me, you wretch!

A booming voice, and the title ‘Knight-Captain’…

Rebecca must be in there.

I had to rescue her first, our strongest fighter.

‘Let’s open this door.’

I grabbed the doorknob and pulled.

Creak.

“Speak… what the…?”
“Ugh…”

Rebecca’s clothes were torn, her body covered in whip marks.

She looked exhausted, but her eyes were still full of fire.

“Why is the door open?”

A middle-aged man with a mustache stepped out.

“Who’s there?! Who is it?!”

He looked around frantically.

I quickly closed the door and locked it.

–Hey! Who’s there?! Open this door!

‘Not a chance, fatty.’

I stuck my tongue out at the door and approached Rebecca.

“W-Who’s there?!”

Rebecca sensed my presence and struggled against her restraints.

“It’s me.”
“…That voice…?”

I removed my cloak.

“I-Isabel…!”
“I’ll get you out of here.”

I used another Master Key to unlock Rebecca’s shackles.

She collapsed on the floor as I freed her.

“Sob!”
“You look terrible. Are you alright?”
“Isabel…”
“Hmm?”

Rebecca burst into tears and hugged me.

I was taken aback.

“W-What’s wrong?”
“I was… so scared! How did you escape?!”
“I managed. We don’t have time for tears now.”
“Huh…?”

–Open this door! What are you doing?! Hurry up and open it!

–Yes, sir! Working on it!

They were trying to break down the door.

I looked around and spotted a sword on the desk.

“Rebecca, are you okay to fight?”
“Y-Yeah… I’m a little sore, but…”
“Can you take them down?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem…”
“As expected of Rebecca. Then let’s rescue Belladriel and the others.”

I smiled and handed her the sword.

Rebecca nodded, wiping away her tears.

“Okay…!”

The door burst open, and the men rushed in.

“Who are you?!”

The mustached man’s subordinate pointed at me.

“That’s the Black Hound!”
“What’s he doing here?! Wasn’t he in a cell?!”
“It’s an honor to be recognized. I am the Black Hound, servant of the nobles…”
“
! Who cares who you are?!”

‘Ouch, my feelings.’

His words stung.

“And that woman is free too?!”
“
! Get them!”
“Rebecca?”

I looked at Rebecca.

She nodded and drew her sword.

“Go, Rebecca! Body slam!”

Rebecca charged forward, slashing at the men.

They screamed and fell. The mustached man trembled.

“! You…!”
“Thanks for everything, fatty!”

Rebecca cut him down, and he collapsed.

With the situation under control, I approached Rebecca.

“Rebecca, let’s rescue the knights.”
“What about the Shine Order?”
“Leave her to me.”
“Do you know where she is?”

‘Of course.’

She was probably at the Luminous Garden Cathedral, playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with Berlian.

I nodded.

“Yes, she’s at the Luminous Garden Cathedral. You know the way, right?”
“Yes. What about you?”
“I’m going to rescue Belladriel.”
“Alone?! No, it’s too dangerous. Let’s go together.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m the Black Hound. Haha. And the knights need your help. Rescue them quickly, Rebecca!”
“But… are you sure?”

Rebecca looked concerned.

I grinned.

“Worried about me? Do you have a crush on me?”
“N-No one likes you!”
“Haha! Then hurry up and rescue the knights! Meet me at the cathedral! It’s urgent!”

Rebecca sighed, resigned.

“Fine…!”
“Let’s go.”

I pulled up my Invisibility Cloak.

“And…”

Rebecca suddenly blushed.

What was it? I looked at her, and she whispered…

“Thank you…”

Then she ran off.

“You’re welcome.”