Shall We Begin in Earnest? (3)
"Kuaaaah!"
Ismogen screamed in agony as his leg was shattered. Ghislain didn't stop there—he crushed all of Ismogen's limbs.
That wasn't enough. He then infused his own mana into Ismogen's heart. Until the mana dissipated, it would prevent him from recovering.
Ismogen couldn't be killed yet. He had to be taken alive before the Pope.
Only then would the Pope spread the news to all the kingdoms that the Demon Realm had begun to act.
"Phew, it's been a rough few days. Still, capturing him like this feels quite satisfying."
"Kugh... you bastard..."
"Thanks to you, we can finally make it known that the Demon Realm has made its move. You lot won't be able to cause trouble anymore."
"Ughh..."
Despair filled Ismogen's face. More painful than his defeat was the fact that the long-cherished goal of his faith had crumbled because of him.
There was only one thing left for him to do. He had to take his own life to prevent the world from learning of the cult's plans.
His limbs were shattered, leaving him immobile, but he still had a way. Ismogen bit down hard on his tongue.
"Ugh...!"
But he quickly found himself with a hollow, defeated expression.
For some reason, his jaw wouldn't clench. It was as if all the strength had drained from his body.
Seeing this, Ghislain smirked.
"Don't waste your time. My mana has taken complete control of your nerves."
"......"
Ismogen had no choice but to give up. His opponent truly had an endless arsenal of techniques.
Dragging Ismogen along, Ghislain headed toward his allies. Even as he moved, he kept checking Ismogen's body to gauge how much mana was dissipating.
If Ismogen recovered even slightly, he would either escape or commit suicide. Ghislain had to ensure his mana didn't run out.
It was a hassle, but if he wanted to deliver Ismogen properly, it was necessary.
As Ghislain arrived with his captive, the mercenaries erupted in cheers.
"Whoa! The vice-captain is back!"
"He actually caught him!"
"Is that really a priest of the Salvation Church?"
The crusaders had already fallen, their bodies resembling dried husks. The mercenaries, however, had suffered no casualties.
That was because Yulian and Kyle had held the crusaders at bay while Deneb remained in the rear, healing the wounded.
In truth, with their top-tier abilities, Yulian and Kyle could have taken out all the crusaders on their own given enough time. But they had focused on defense to protect the mercenaries, who were comparatively weaker.
Similarly, Ghislain had deliberately lured Ismogen away to minimize casualties.
With Ismogen captured, the battle was truly over. Ghislain grinned and spoke.
"Deneb, we need proof to show everyone. Run a little test."
"Got it."
Deneb placed her hand on Ismogen and released her holy power.
The moment the holy power touched him, Ismogen's body began to burn. The Demon Realm's energy was incapable of withstanding holy power.
Sssshhhh!
"Arghhh!"
Ismogen let out a scream, and Deneb pulled her hand away.
It was undeniable proof.
Ghislain summoned Dark, his shadowy familiar, and sent it soaring high into the sky.
"Spread the word. We're bringing him in."
"Understood!"
Dark immediately split into two and flew in opposite directions.
Ghislain then led the mercenaries to their rendezvous point.
Before long, two armies approached from opposite sides.
Surprisingly, both Count Bonedor and Count Schwarz had arrived with their respective forces—despite having been at war just moments ago.
The armies halted at a reasonable distance. The two counts, flanked by their knights, approached Ghislain cautiously.
They eyed each other warily, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
Count Bonedor was the first to speak, glaring at Count Schwarz.
"I'll hold back for now since you claim to have evidence. Otherwise, you would have died in this war."
Count Schwarz scoffed in response.
"What a joke. Do you really think you could have handled my army? You would have been finished."
"You bastard? Then shall we settle this right now?"
"Fine by me. I was planning to crush you anyway."
As the two men seemed ready to fight, Ghislain stepped in.
"The mastermind behind this mess has been captured. Let's stop here. Fighting now would only serve someone else's interests."
Grumbling, the two counts reluctantly turned their heads away, unwilling to even look at each other.
Ghislain shook his head.
'They never really intended to fight to the death.'
Despite their hostility, neither wanted to start a full-scale war between kingdoms. The responsibility was too great.
And now that Ghislain had given them an excuse to stop, they were putting on even more bravado.
'Well, at least they listened. That made things easier.'
At the war's onset, Ghislain had secretly sent Dark to both counts, telling them to wait.
He couldn't be sure how many spies were watching, so it had to be done discreetly.
Count Schwarz, despite his skepticism, had agreed, not wanting war. Count Bonedor, on the other hand, had no choice—he needed Ghislain's help.
Thus, they had faked their battle to deceive Ismogen.
No one but the two counts had been informed of the plan. So to the outside world, it simply looked like Count Schwarz had been retreating in fear of Bonedor's weapons.
Count Bonedor cleared his throat.
"Ahem, so this man really is a priest of the Salvation Church?"
"Yes. Let me show you proof. Deneb."
"Mm-hmm."
Deneb stepped forward and once again unleashed holy power onto Ismogen.
"Hiyah!"
Ssssshhhhh!
"Grghh!"
This time, Deneb used even more holy power. The proof had to be undeniable.
Already weakened, Ismogen writhed in even greater agony.
Seeing his body burn under holy power, the two counts were visibly shocked.
Only beings of the Demon Realm reacted this way to holy power.
"Unbelievable. A high-ranking priest of the Salvation Church tried to incite war between us."
"Yes. And right now, the same thing is happening in other kingdoms..."
"Take this!"
Ssssshhhhh!
"Arghhh!"
"Hiyah!"
Ssssshhhhh!
"Ughhh!"
"...Deneb, that's enough. You can stop now."
Ghislain had to rein in Deneb, who was getting a bit too enthusiastic.
He then continued.
"Anyway, the Demon Realm is sowing chaos in multiple kingdoms. We plan to take this man to the Holy Empire as evidence. We'd appreciate it if you both could provide testimony regarding what has transpired."
"Of course. You helped capture the culprit, after all."
Count Bonedor readily agreed, and Count Schwarz nodded as well.
Still, Count Bonedor couldn't resist a jab.
"See? There was a mastermind all along! Apologize for suspecting me!"
"What nonsense! You accused me too! And return the cattle your men stole from my land!"
"That was your cattle wandering into my territory on their own. I did nothing."
"Oh, right. My cattle just miraculously broke through a fence and escaped at night?"
"Maybe if you raised them properly, they wouldn't run away! Unlike you thieves, my people have to keep watch at night because your soldiers steal our chickens and pigs!"
"Don't spout nonsense! And let's not forget—you've been sneaking into my land to hunt deer since we were kids!"
"...That was because one of your deer lured my hunting hound away. It had such big, beautiful eyes."
"What the hell are you even saying, you lunatic?!"
As the two lords devolved into bickering, everyone else could only stare blankly.
"......."
Even Ghislain decided not to intervene.
At this rate, they were bound to clash no matter what.
By the time they grabbed each other's collars, their knights finally stepped in to separate them.
Ignoring the offer of a grand feast, Ghislain and his mercenaries quickly set off.
The Demon Realm's high priests were monsters capable of regenerating even from severe injuries. They had to reach the Holy Empire as soon as possible to present their evidence.
***
"Wow..."
As they reached the heart of the Holy Empire, the party couldn't help but gape in awe.
The mercenaries couldn't help but feel intimidated.
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Osval suddenly began confessing his sins.
"I secretly stole food from my comrades every day. I was the one who secretly sold Kyle's boots. I also sold Yulian's gloves. I ate Sister Deneb's herbs, thinking they were good for my health. And I was the one who wrote 'Astion is a crazy bastard' on the village wall. Goddess, please forgive me."
"..."
Everyone turned to stare at Osval.
But he paid no attention, closing his eyes as he continued to confess all his past misdeeds.
No one interrupted. Beating him up could wait. First, they had to hear the full extent of his sins.
As they listened to Osval's seemingly endless confessions, the group made their way toward the city's center.
The deeper they went, the more magnificent the architecture became. Towering spires and elegant arched structures harmonized beautifully, surrounding the grandest and most radiant building—the Great Cathedral.
This was the holiest place in the world. The heart of the Holy Empire, and the residence of the Pope—the Sanctum of God.
"We've finally arrived. This is incredible."
Ghislain muttered in awe as he gazed at the cathedral. The empire's capital was truly overflowing with holy power.
It was so overwhelming that Ismogen, who had been dragged along, had collapsed, foaming at the mouth and rolling his eyes back as he lost consciousness.
For him, this sacred land was like cursed ground.
Ghislain turned to the middle-aged man riding beside him and offered a polite nod.
"Thanks to your consideration, we were able to travel here comfortably. I appreciate it."
"Think nothing of it. A being of the Demon Realm has been captured—how could I stand idly by? This was my duty. Now, proceed inside. His Holiness is expecting you."
The only reason they had been able to reach the Holy Empire's heart without any hindrance was because of Ismogen's existence.
The moment a noble of the empire saw Ismogen, he immediately reported to the Pope. The Holy Empire's army had been deployed to escort them directly to the Great Cathedral.
Yet even that noble could not enter without the Pope's permission.
The same applied to the mercenaries. They all had to wait outside.
Only Ghislain, Yulian, Deneb, and Kyle were allowed to disarm and proceed inside.
Ghislain handed Ismogen over to the Templar Knights. He no longer had to keep an eye on him—what a relief.
Inside the Great Cathedral was a sight beyond imagination. Rows of pristine white columns stretched endlessly, and the ceiling seemed to merge with the heavens, impossibly high above.
The walls were adorned with stained glass radiating holy power, while the floor was made of white marble with intricate golden patterns forming a mystical circular design.
And at the deepest part of the cathedral lay the Inner Sanctum, a place so sacred that even priests rarely set foot inside.
"Whoa…."
Without exception, everyone gasped in admiration.
The walls were densely decorated with murals and bas-reliefs depicting celestial beings. The transparent crystal flooring gave the illusion of walking on thin air, with radiant light particles flowing beneath, forming mystical symbols.
Yulian, Deneb, and Kyle were completely overwhelmed. As people from the countryside, this place felt surreal—utterly alien.
Even Ghislain, who had seen many things, marveled at the spectacle.
'Wow… this must've cost a fortune.'
He had experienced a lot, but nothing this extravagant and majestic. It truly felt like the dwelling of a god.
At the cathedral's farthest end, a colossal veil of light, known as the Shroud of Divinity, descended from the ceiling.
It resembled a sacred radiance flowing down from the heavens.
Enormous metallic rings hovered in the air, interlocked and suspended by unknown forces. At their center, a pillar of divine light cascaded downward, forming a dazzling, ever-shifting veil.
Within the flowing light, sacred symbols continuously shifted and evolved.
Beyond the veil, a faint silhouette could be seen.
A priest standing at the side spoke in a solemn tone.
"You stand before His Holiness. Approach on your knees."
Yulian, Deneb, and Kyle instinctively moved to kneel—but Ghislain stopped them. He then turned to the priest.
"I don't think kneeling is really necessary, is it? It's not like we're receiving a knighthood or anything. If you're offering us a title, I'd consider kneeling on one knee."
"In the presence of His Holiness, one must kneel while walking. Even a king is not exempt."
"My knees aren't great, you see. Took an arrow to the knee when I was younger. Walking on my knees would be pretty painful."
"You insolent wretch! How dare a mere mercenary—!"
"Alright, alright, whatever. We've captured a high priest of the Demon Realm. The empire can handle the rest. The cult is stirring chaos across the kingdoms, but if His Holiness speaks, the conflicts will cease, and investigations will begin."
"Kneel at once—!"
"Have I relayed the message? Great, then we're leaving now."
Ghislain meant it. His only goal had been to warn the empire about the Demon Realm and ensure they took action.
Now that he had accomplished that, there was no reason to stay. It was time to return to their mercenary work, raising their reputation and improving their skills.
As Ghislain turned to leave, the priest stammered in disbelief.
"Th-Then why insist on coming personally?! You could have just handed over the priest and sent a message! You insisted that this was too important not to deliver in person!"
"Oh, that? I wanted to sightsee."
"…What?"
"When else would I get the chance to see a place like this? Gotta say, it's impressive."
The others nodded in agreement. This place was so spectacular that they could boast about it for a lifetime.
"..."
The priest was left utterly speechless.
These barbarians had come all this way, just to look around?!
But Ghislain wasn't lying. Regardless of their personal amusement, revealing the Demon Realm's actions had been of utmost importance.
Ghislain glanced up at the massive veil.
"Shame I couldn't see the Pope's face. Didn't expect it to be hidden behind all this."
The silhouette behind the light shifted slightly, almost as if… amused.
"Alright, we're really leaving now. You guys handle the rest."
Ghislain turned to go.
The priest, flustered, shouted.
"W-Wait! Kneel before you leave!"
"Ugh, we're going! Why are you so obsessed with kneeling? You want me to kneel-walk all the way out?!"
"Regardless, you must kneel! Do you even realize who I am?!"
"I don't, and I don't care."
The priest looked like he was about to lose his mind.
Never in his life had he encountered such a reckless fool.
To disregard the Holy Empire's highest authority in its most sacred place…!
The priest grabbed Ghislain's cloak in desperation.
"You're not leaving! Kneel!"
"Let go! I refuse!"
The two engaged in a ridiculous tug-of-war while the Templar Knights stood frozen, unsure what to do.
They had only ever witnessed solemn ceremonies—never such chaos.
Amidst the commotion, a calm voice resonated from behind the veil.
"Enough."
At that single word, the priest immediately released Ghislain's cloak and stepped back, realizing he had lost his composure.
Ghislain turned back to the Shroud of Divinity.
"Hooh…"
The voice was truly mysterious. It was impossible to tell if it was male or female… young or old.
Clearly, the veil wasn't just for show. It must have been hiding the Pope's true identity.
Then, the Pope spoke again.
"Mercenaries who roam the continent… You have done a great service to the world. Without you, humanity would have suffered dearly in this war."
"..."
"Such heroes should not be dismissed over mere formalities. I intend to reward you accordingly."
Ghislain smirked.
"Now we're talking. Can we request anything?"
"If it is within my power, I shall grant it. But beyond that… I have a proposal for you."
Ghislain raised an eyebrow.
"A proposal?"
A brief silence followed.
Then, carefully, the Pope spoke.
"I wish to entrust you with a critical mission."
Ghislain crossed his arms, intrigued.
This was unexpected.
The Pope—the most powerful figure on the continent—was making a personal request to a band of mercenaries?
Ghislain smiled with interest and crossed his arms.