Red-Eyed Siblings (1)

Despite Línea’s sudden outburst, thankfully it wasn’t an attack from the Blade of Devastation.

But it was still a big issue.

“This is something I didn’t expect.”

“Oh, so even you didn’t know about this, Lost?”

The child soldiers I rescued from the forest.

Those children that I successfully freed from the subjugation of half-demons were playing with holy power.

They weren’t using holy magic or showing any particular faith.

They were simply playing with holy power itself.

Yes, just like I do.

Of course, not all the children were like this. It was only happening to those who had been particularly innocent.

The chains I had placed around their necks like necklaces were nowhere to be found, and instead, pure white circles floated above their heads.

Looking at them, there was one word that immediately came to mind.

“…Angels?”

They were the sacred beings said to have left earth with the gods on the day the gates of heaven closed.

*     *      *

“A-A-Apostle!!”

Naturally, with some of the children having turned into angels, it was impossible to keep hiding my identity as a mere priest.

Since it was going to be troublesome anyway, I didn’t feel the need to firmly deny it, so I just lightly—really lightly—revealed my identity, but…

Viscount Leze’s pupils began to shake uncontrollably.

As if he was wondering if he had done anything wrong, if there had been any shortcomings in his hospitality, and finally, if he had been audacious enough to try to use a god’s apostle.

As if recalling all of this, Viscount Leze quietly knelt down and begged me for forgiveness.

“F-Forgive me…!”

“…Just what do you think I am?”

It seems he’s heard some rumors about me.

Rumors that I’m from the heresy inquisitors, and that I declared at the announcement ceremony I would destroy half-demons and demons, so everyone better get in line.

Surprisingly, that’s not far from the truth. Of course, I didn’t say exactly that, but I did leave room for that interpretation.

Doesn’t everyone do that?

But even if it were true, would that justify acting like this? It’s as if I’m some heartless murderer.

Isn’t this actually more like blasphemy?

“Viscount Leze, please raise your head.”

“I failed to recognize the Apostle!!”

“This is strange. If you haven’t committed any crime, there’s no reason to beg me. Have you perhaps committed some offense against me?”

“…Oh my aching knees. I apologize. I have a chronic knee condition that sometimes makes me collapse like this.”

“Oh dear, I’ll use some holy magic on you later.”

“T-Thank you.”

It was truly a pathetic excuse, but if I pointed that out, this awkward situation would likely drag on.

I decided to just go along with this ridiculous farce.

“I had planned to pass through quietly, but since things have turned out this way, may I ask you for a favor?”

“O-Of course! Apostle.”

“These children are ones I happened to take under my protection. They were in mortal danger, so I split my soul to baptize them, which resulted in their current state.”

“Ohhh…! I see!”

In truth, I don’t know exactly, but it should be similar.

Didn’t I do something similar for these children as Pope Cotinus did for my companions, sacrificing his lifespan to place permanent blessings on them?

Angels are commonly said to be messengers created by gods splitting off parts of their divinity to convey their will.

And Hecate once said that apostles are beings positioned between gods and humans.

If that’s the case, then it’s entirely plausible that children created with parts of my soul could become angels.

“The only ones who know about this are myself, Viscount Leze, and a select few within the Pantheon Temple.”

These children themselves will become a major secret and trump card for the Pantheon Temple.

Regardless of their abilities, their symbolic significance alone will be unquestionable.

“So until a high priest from the Pantheon Temple headquarters arrives to protect these children, I’d like Viscount Leze to protect them… I believe you understand what I mean.”

“…Leave it to me!”

Though it might seem like I’m using my status as an apostle to pressure him, this is actually an opportunity.

An opportunity for this small viscounty to establish connections with high-ranking officials from the Pantheon Temple.

Politically safer than connections with other nobles, and no less influential. Of course, whether he makes good use of this opportunity depends entirely on Viscount Leze’s efforts.

Well, there’s always the possibility that Viscount Leze might sell information about the children to other nobles…

“Hehe, with this, I could find my opportunity to enter central politics…”

Looking at those greedy eyes, it’s clear he plans to keep this knowledge to himself and reap all the benefits alone.

That’s fortunate. It’s good that he’s greedy enough to be easily understood.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. We should leave as soon as possible.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“It wouldn’t be good for us to stay too long, so we plan to depart once we’ve gathered our supplies.”

Fortunately, this wasn’t an attack from the Blade of Devastation, but we still don’t know when he might strike.

Our prolonged stay would only cause trouble. Given that the enemy is plotting something, leaving early would be the best option.

“Then it’s regrettable but unavoidable. Instead, I’ll prepare a banquet for tonight. Apostle.”

After I explained my situation, Viscount Leze nodded while licking his lips.

He’s clearly disappointed about not being able to gain more from a longer association with me.

I’m glad he’s not resorting to desperate measures to keep me here.

It’s also fortunate that he’s not willing to take unnecessary risks.

After parting with Viscount Leze, I returned to the church and thoroughly treated the gathered patients.

Thankfully, there weren’t too many, so I finished before nightfall.

Today marks only our second day in Viscount Leze’s domain.

However, considering the circumstances, it would be best to leave tomorrow morning.

Sir Rectus said he’d help gather the necessary supplies, so there’s only one issue left.

“…Well, let’s hear her answer now.”

Claire Ryan’s decision.

*     *      *

‘I mustn’t give them time.’

Blade of Devastation, Teska, came to this conclusion. He had already finished investigating Lost. He knew that Lost wasn’t just an innocent priest.

If that’s the case, Lost must have considered the possibility that Teska wouldn’t simply retreat.

And that Leze’s viscounty could become the stage for what’s to come.

So what would Lost do?

Would he leave the Leze viscounty to avoid causing harm, or would he stay and prepare for an interception?

If it’s the former, so be it, but if it’s the latter, giving them more time would only be disadvantageous.

But even if it’s the former, if Lost emerges after having fully replenished his supplies and recovered from fatigue, it would be the same problem.

Either way, giving them time wouldn’t be good, but…

‘If I rush in recklessly, I’ll be the one devoured.’

Although the number and quality of demons and half-demons that the Blade of Devastation had drafted for this plan were certainly top-tier, they would still be insufficient against an apostle.

‘A surprise attack is virtually impossible, and only a very small number can operate within the apostle’s sacred domain.’

The fact that the opponent is a priest.

Moreover, the fact that he had contact with Pope Cotinus and learned Templar techniques.

Just these factors made the premise of facing him quite complicated.

The sacred domain of a Templar who fights by dispersing holy power and establishing their territory.

For half-demons, infiltrating and fighting within that domain is already a risk-laden situation, and it’s not just any Templar but apostle-level holy power.

A truly low-grade demon might perish just by stepping into that domain.

Therefore, it would be more appropriate to take more time to plan carefully.

‘However… the King of Darkness has probably already given up on expecting anything from me.’

His attitude was already noticeably indifferent. Teska could easily imagine that Belial would get irritated if he dragged this out while trying to strategize against the apostle.

At that point, this mission would be taken over by a different “blade” instead of Teska. If that happens, Teska’s grand ambitions would instantly turn to bubbles.

In truth, that would be the right choice. Ambition shouldn’t be more precious than life.

But there is a method.

“Maybe with this…”

Teska frowned as he observed the nest where magical beasts were gathered.

He could lead the magical beasts to clash with the Leze viscounty. Of course, he didn’t possess the ability to train magical beasts.

If it were the Blade of Chaos in his place, it might be possible, but the most Teska could do was to guide the magical beasts to create confusion.

“We execute tonight.”

Teska decided to push forward, even if it was somewhat reckless, to inflict certain damage on his opponent and leave a mark of his existence.

*     *      *

Since arriving at Viscount Leze’s domain, Claire had been lying in bed continuously.

Not only was she physically fatigued from the long journey, but mental exhaustion compounded it, making her body feel even more lethargic than usual.

‘Lost is right.’

If she wants to continue on this journey, she needs to prove her worth. As she is now, she’s nothing but a burden.

No, she’s always been a burden. But this time, they can’t move forward with her as dead weight.

‘Now I have to decide.’

Claire knows that Lost has shown her a lot of consideration.

He could have forced her or abandoned her, but the reason Lost took Claire in and waited for her to awaken her holy power on her own was solely because of Burke.

Lost killed Burke.

She had wished countless times that it was just a bad joke.

But she knows it’s the truth. She also knows that it was something someone had to do. It’s not right to blame him.

He did the right thing.

So he’s unsuitable as an object of her resentment. That’s already been settled in her mind.

Even if her heart can’t fully accept it, she has to.

“Should I just give up now?”

Claire has achieved her purpose.

Awakening her holy power is now just a secondary issue.

Being stubborn isn’t good.

Yes, if she’s just going to be a burden, it would be more helpful to part ways.

She shouldn’t be childish.

“I can teach you a better way, if you’d like.”

“…Who are you?”

Claire noticed a boy standing by the door.

Was it because of his appearance? For a moment, she didn’t feel suspicious.

That’s why she easily permitted the boy’s approach. But as the boy got closer, Claire could tell.

“You’re a demon.”

Different from the children Lost had saved.

There was a fundamentally different, alien sensation coming from him.

If the other party had intended to harm Claire, she would have been done for already.

“Hello, Claire. We’ve met before, but this is your first time seeing me, right?”

“How did you get in here?”

“It’s not that difficult, is it? Even in a small domain, there are still children.”

It’s the same as before.

He pushed a child from the Leze viscounty into despair and then turned them into a half-demon, as if offering salvation.

“It was made in haste, so even that apostle probably couldn’t sense the demonic energy. But projecting my consciousness like this is still possible. Oh, of course, this is only possible because it’s me. Impressive, right?”

Teska, who was borrowing the boy’s body, spoke as if he was boasting.

Seeing this, Claire felt calm rather than frightened.

“…Then that means there’s still a chance to save him.”

If the concentration of demonic energy infiltrating the child’s body is still low.

Somehow, the child could be saved by driving it out.

“That’s right, so I’ll make you an offer. How about having a conversation with me? In return, I’ll give you this child’s life.”

“Fine. Let’s hear it.”

Claire Ryan nodded. Either way, buying time was important. Even a boy who had just become a half-demon could easily kill Claire.

To this, the Blade of Devastation, Teska, said with a serious expression.

“Burke Ryan is still alive.”