"Hmm... fascinating."
The leader of the Cult group on this expedition, Roland, muttered as he examined the twisted remnants of a car, its metal warped and half-melted.
Around him, the ruins of buildings had been reduced to yawning craters, blackened and still faintly steaming.
"I came here looking for the hero candidate but... looks like someone beat me to it."
He crouched near a charred corpse, his void-like eyes gleaming with amusement as he poked its scorched face with the toe of his boot. "Messy, brutal... I like their style."
He straightened with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Looks like our mission's complete. Shame. I was hoping for a little more fun."
Truthfully, he'd already grown bored. The only reason he'd even lingered was the last-minute order from the Cardinal, which was to eliminate a newly emerged hero candidate.
Otherwise, they'd have just slaughtered the mayor, torched a few temples, and disappeared into the night. Cleanly and efficiently.
But thanks to that command, they'd overstayed their welcome. And now… he was in a hurry.
Earlier, after killing the bishop with his sword, he'd felt it, an overwhelming surge of mana from the central-south part of town.
It hit him like a wave, icy and suffocating. Powerful enough to kill him... and every other creature in the vicinity, including the mana beasts they'd brought for sport.
And then, one by one, his apostles began dying. Followed by the initiates. Dozens snuffed out like candles in a storm.
He could've gone to investigate. Could've made a game of it.
But something in him, some primitive, survival-driven whisper, had screamed at him to run.
Whoever it was... their mana felt close to a Bishop's. Maybe stronger.
And Roland didn't like playing when the odds weren't stacked in his favor.
With a faint chuckle, he pulled out his phone and began texting.
First, a message to the archbishop, reporting the "successful" completion of the mission and the hero candidate's death.
Then, a mass message to the remaining cultists in the area: Immediate withdrawal.
But first, he brought out his phone to report to the cardinal.
Cardinal: Are you done, Roland?
Roland: Yes, your excellency. The hero
candidate is dead.
Cardinal: Good. Excellent work, Roland.
But tell me... did you kill the hero
candidate?
Roland: Yes, your excellency.
Cardinal: Don't lie to me, Roland. I've been
watching.
Roland: …I'm sorry, your excellency.
By the time I arrived, he was
already dead.
Cardinal: Did you see a body?
Roland: Plenty, sir.
Cardinal: Not… Haa. Stay on standby.
Someone will comefor you.
Head to the orphanage for
pickup. Just you. Leave the rest.
They'll fend for themselves.
Roland: Thank you, your excellency.
Roland let out a small, pleased sigh as he tucked the phone away.
"The orphanage, huh? If memory serves, didn't those serpent freaks beg us to leave it alone?"
He chuckled to himself, the sound dry and cold.
"Well… they'll just have to share. And if they won't—"
His smile widened into something feral.
"—I'll paint the walls with their blood."
Without another thought, he began walking south, humming softly to himself, as if he hadn't just promised casual murder.
***********
Currently there was a slight look of frustration on Beatrice's and Alice's faces. Throughout the thirty minutes, they had four spars.
And yet, they never landed even a single hit on Richard. Despite how much they improved from the sparring session as Richard taught them more things.
Like controlling the output of their magic, quick switching of which body parts to augment with mana.
Quick thinking in combat, even multicasting. Though they couldn't really do that one yet.
Still.
Despite it all, they couldn't land not even a single hit on him.
And it infuriated them to no end. Especially when if you think about it, they were the same age as him.
They awakened the same time as he did. Hell, they awakened much earlier than him, so why is he this much stronger and more skilled.
Once Alice was done, Richard as well had come out of the room he went into, his sword in hand, tho sheathed.
"Alright. Now let's head to the orphanage."