Volume 2: Chapter 2 – Part 1
Author: Geraint
The Holy Kingdom of Celestria—a highly religious nation and homeland of worshippers devoted to the Goddess of Light, Celes, from whom the country took its name—was located in the southeastern region of the world map. It held a vast territory in the eastern part of the continent and was one of the farthest nations from the war-torn frontlines that ravaged the land.
Steeped in prejudice against demi-humans and other races, as dictated by their teachings, the kingdom had long isolated itself from the rest of the continent.
In the capital, grand buildings and elaborately designed structures lined the streets. At its center stood a heavily guarded cathedral, with crusaders patrolling every inch of its grounds.
Deep within the church, an elderly man clad in pure white robes emerged from his chamber, adjusting his garments with the air of someone accustomed to authority.
Two maidservants quickly approached and bowed with grace.
"Your Holiness."
The Pope smiled at them serenely.
"Please tidy up my room… and bring me the next one for tonight."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
They bowed once more as the Pope departed with a satisfied look.
One of the maidservants opened the door and peeked inside.
A young girl lay on the floor, naked, her long black hair disheveled and her body bruised and bleeding. She crawled feebly across the room, sobbing. Blood seeped from between her legs—evidence of repeated abuse. Barely conscious, she glanced up at the maidservant, eyes pleading.
"H-Help me…"
The maidservant stood in silence, until her companion scowled.
"What are you doing? Finish her off already so we can clean! That heretic deserves it!"
"Aren't they supposed to be the summoned heroes from another world?"
"The Pope already found the real hero. He has no use for these ones… except for his own pleasure."
She drew a knife and handed it to the other.
"Here. Use this. Hurry so we can start."
The young girl whimpered, trembling in terror as the maidservant approached her with the knife.
"No! No! Please! Let me go! Don't kill me!"
"Sorry about this…"
The maidservant grabbed the girl by the hair and pulled her up.
"NOO! Forgive me! Please don't kill me—"
BANG!
A loud noise rang out. The maidservant standing by the door collapsed, struck in the head, dead.
"Huh?!"
The other maidservant froze in shock as her colleague dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Standing in the doorway was a blonde woman wearing a dark military uniform and sunglasses. She pointed a firearm at the maidservant's forehead.
Panicked, the maidservant let go of the girl and raised both hands.
"Answer me, or I'll blow your head off like I did to her!"
"Yes! Please don't kill me!"
"Where's that bastard Pope? Tell me where he is!"
The maidservant's face twisted in rage at the insult to her master.
"Don't dishonor His Holiness, you damn heretic!"
She dove for the knife, but a click echoed, followed by a bullet that struck her between the eyes. She collapsed backward.
The blonde woman rushed to the wounded girl, wrapping her in a blanket.
"Don't worry. You're safe now. I'm taking you with me."
The girl was too weak to respond, but tears streamed from her eyes in relief.
Carrying the girl on her back, the woman made her escape.
"Over there!"
A group of patrolling guards spotted them and gave chase.
"Tch."
The blonde woman clicked her tongue and pulled a device from her belt, tossing it behind her.
The guards halted, watching the object roll across the floor.
BOOM!
The hallway erupted in a violent explosion. She kicked open a double door but found herself surrounded—soldiers with spears pointed in every direction. She backed up slowly, only to find her escape blocked from behind by the pursuing guards.
"This is bad…"
A paladin stepped forward and gave a command.
"Get her!"
Just as the soldiers advanced, several from the rear suddenly vanished.
"Huh?!"
Looking back, their expressions twisted in horror. A monstrous, grotesque undead hound with no eyes had silently appeared, its massive jaws consuming their comrades with ease—armor and all—crunching bone like paper.
"How did that thing get in here?! What happened to the palace barrier?!"
The blonde woman's sunglasses fell to the ground, revealing her identity—Mia. Her eyes widened at the terrifying sight, and she stumbled backward.
"Oh, God… What the hell is that thing?!"
Her legs trembled. She couldn't move.
The undead hound, having finished its first victims, turned toward the remaining soldiers. It lunged forward, tearing through them like tissue.
"Help me!""Run!""NOOO!"
Those who tried to fight back were instantly crushed—some by its claws, others flattened by its bulk.
A group of priests arrived and began casting holy spells, but the creature was too fast. They couldn't land a hit.
More bodies piled up.
The only survivor was the lead paladin—badly wounded, bleeding, and kneeling.
The undead hound began regenerating its injuries effortlessly.
"Ehehe…"The paladin laughed weakly."Oh Goddess Celes… Please save this poor man—"
The beast grabbed him in its maw, tossed him upward, and swallowed him whole before crunching down.
In the silence that followed, Mia, still carrying the unconscious girl, tried desperately to escape. Panting heavily, she muttered to herself.
"I need to get out… I can't die here… My children still need me…"
Her body was at its limit. She stumbled and fell to her knees.
"Ugh!"
She began crawling.
"I… can't…"
The undead hound was already before her, blood dripping from its mouth.
Mia pulled out her gun and pointed it, hands shaking.
"Go away!"
She pulled the trigger.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The bullets struck—but the hound didn't even flinch.
"No… This can't be happening…"
She felt utterly helpless. Her thoughts turned to her family.
"Yuuka… Yuki… I'm sorry, dear…"
Tears fell as she hugged the girl tightly and shut her eyes, accepting her fate.
But nothing happened.
Moments passed.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The hound was gone.
She looked around in confusion.
"What's… going on?"
(To be continued.)