Chapter 135 : The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (19)
Chapter 135: The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (19)
“Stop the intruders!”
As soon as they entered, the fanatics' assault grew even more fierce.
Furthermore, their equipment was gradually becoming quite solid. While they had only been wearing scraps of cloth and holding daggers a moment ago, they now possessed armaments that could be considered a proper combat force.
“Darn, deploy the phalanx!”
“Yes, understood.”
Shatien shouted to the mercenaries behind him. The mercenaries hurriedly organized their weapons and leveled their spears to form a line.
Though they were few in number, as they stood side-by-side in the passage with long spears, they truly became a wall.
“Don't overextend your thrusts; just support me!”
“Don't worry! We will focus so you can only look forward. Chahat!”
The mercenaries walked in line with Shatien's movements and began to thrust their spears.
-Pshshshshk
-Crunch!
“Kuh, keuaaaaaargh!”
No matter how well-equipped they were, there was no way to block force concentrated on a single sharp point of a spearhead.
The lunging cultists were pierced through and turned into skewers.
Of course, some cultists managed to dodge the phalanx's attacks, but that did not mean they could escape death.
-Swish!
-Slash!
At the very front of the phalanx.
There was Shatien, rampaging freely under the protection of the pikes.
“Aaaargh!”
“I, I cannot stop... Keugh!”
Every time the sword of Shatien, standing at the front, flashed, limbs flew and heads were split.
It did not matter whether they wore armor or held shields. Shatien's sword always sought the gaps, entering sharply and scattering blood.
“What, what kind of monster-like knight is...!”
The priest commanding the scene gaped in shock.
He knew well that knights' skills were excellent, but this was exceeding all limits.
And then, the mage in the rear.
-Flash!
-Ssssss!
“Aaaaaargh!”
“Grrrr, gurk!”
Against the magic of that mage who fired blue light without rest, even the blessings received from God became meaningless.
Every time the light touched them, fallen pieces of flesh were seared away, and their regenerative power was being destroyed.
“Dammit!! Recite the Invocation of Miracles!”
Eventually, the priest had no choice but to choose the last resort.
The Invocation of Miracles.
Though it was called an invocation of miracles, the priest who had trained under the High Priest for a long time knew well what consequences that invocation brought.
While they could temporarily receive a generous amount of divine grace.
-Crack, snap.
-Creeeeeak. Crunch.
Not only did it cause permanent damage as bones and muscles twisted and transformed like this.
“Grrrrrr!”
-Booooom!
It resulted in the loss of reason and the deprivation of life as a human. Even if they were cultists, it was only natural to feel anger when those they shared affection with turned out that way.
The priest gnashed his teeth and shook the control bell.
-Ting.
“Kill them!! Today, this place shall become their grave!”
“Kwararararara!”
Beings that had now become hideous monsters, no longer recognizable as humans, lunged toward Shatien's party.
“Darn... Mage Agpiel. Are we not in big trouble?”
“Hey, be quiet. This job is truly not cost-effective. My... to think I would end up working like a dog.”
“...I am the one using my body in the front, though?”
“......”
“......”
* * *
-Bang!
-Rumble.
“Kwararara!”
“Grrr! Graaa!”
“Aaaaah! Careful! Don't fight them with brute force! Redeploy the phalanx!”
The hollow where the ritual was in progress.
Listening to the noise of the commotion getting closer, the insiders within all began to wear anxious expressions.
They thought they would be able to block them at first, but the skill of the ones who entered seemed formidable. Was the sound of fighting not loud even in this deepest inner part?
At this point, it was in a way natural to be agitated. Of course, most people could not utter a word under the High Priest's fierce gaze, but there was always bound to be someone brave.
“High Priest. Is it truly alright? The movements outside are unusual.”
It was a priest from a local influential family.
A greedy noble who wondered how to gain power in the region by using the power of the pagans.
Befitting his noble background, he was sensitive to the political climate and knew well that the current situation was not good.
If he were captured by the subjugation team, it would lead straight to the gallows.
Unlike those who had nothing to lose, did this noble-born priest not have far too much to lose?
“Oh, I see. Do you have a different opinion?”
“T-That is...”
When the High Priest glared and questioned back, the noble priest cowered. Anyone would have no choice but to do so after seeing the sight of human heads being crushed and bone marrow being absorbed just moments ago.
-Bang!
-Ssssssssss!
“Keuaaaaaargh!”
However, another sound heard from outside gave him courage he did not previously have.
“It is not too late even now, so we must quickly prepare to retreat.”
“Aha? Retreat?”
“Yes. These resources are regrettable, but it is alright. I have my manor nearby, so let us retreat there. I will assist you so you can rest comfortably in a cozy shelter.”
“Oh...!”
Everyone's eyes sparkled at the words of the noble-born priest. They were tempted because it was a logical suggestion. Even in their eyes, the High Priest's reaction did not seem bad.
“Hahaha. My. To think there is a believer who thinks of our cult this much. Is it not truly praiseworthy?”
“That is correct, High Priest.”
“Let us move our residence for a while as that priest said.”
But they should have known.
They should have known the High Priest's gaze, which continued to glitter sinisterly as they spoke.
“Assisting, you say...”
“Yes! Yes! High Priest. The family assets built up over generations are ample. I will fill in as much as we failed in this task.”
“Hehehe.”
The High Priest began to laugh gloomily. It was low at first, but the laughter grew louder until finally, the evil mystery seethed and made the space fluctuate.
-Wuuuuuuuuuu.
-Whirrr.
“S-Stop!”
“High Priest... High Priest!”
And while everyone clutched their ears and groaned in pain.
“Yes. Good.”
The High Priest cut off his laughter abruptly and, with those words, suddenly grabbed the neck of the noble priest in front of him.
“K-Kugh!”
“Assistance? Good. But do you think the assets of your insignificant family can cover the current matter? Do you even know how much of the cult's assets went into this task?”
“I-I’m sorr...”
The noble-born priest pleaded while struggling, but the High Priest's mind was already made up.
-Crunch!
“?!”
“!!!!”
He had snapped the neck just like that.
“Keuhehe... Right. Are there any others with different opinions? I will listen with special generosity.”
He would listen, of course, but it did not mean he would let them live.
The priests inside remained silent as they watched the noble-born priest become a cold corpse and be thrown as an offering to the altar.
A death worse than a pointless death.
They only covered their mouths and trembled.
“Good. Good.”
Only then did the High Priest nod as if satisfied. Then he glared around and shouted.
“Retreat? Don't wrap it in flowery words. In the end, it just means giving everything up and running away, does it not? There is no more running for our cult! Today, the Great Representative of the Cult shall descend. Everyone, know this and follow my orders!”
Even if they die, they die here.
Today, the cult would welcome a new beginning.
* * *
“Heuuuuugh. Huff.”
Shatien exhaled roughly. It was because he was drained from the fight with the weirdly transformed cultists.
In fact, if he had only cared about himself, it would not have been this difficult. He was in a situation where he used all his strength while fighting to protect Mage Agpiel, Miles, and the mercenaries under him in the rear.
Mage Agpiel burst into a laugh as if Shatien was impressive.
“When I first saw your age after you built a reputation as the Knight Killer early on, I was doubtful, but the reputation was no exaggeration. Rather, it was understated. Hahaha.”
“Even if you give such compliments, I cannot hear them right now. Huuuff.”
Exhaling roughly, Shatien pouted his lips.
It was because Mage Agpiel had subtly stepped back with his hands behind his back during the process. Mage Agpiel cleared his throat out of embarrassment and subtly turned his gaze.
“Well, it was because you were fighting so well on your own. Ahem. By the way, what is that sword? It was quite an excellent sword.”
“Ah, this?”
Shatien tapped the blade of the sword he had inherited from his master, which he had drawn before he knew it.
“It is a sword inherited from my master. It is very sharp and sturdy, so it cuts through most things.”
“Hmm. It seems an immense magical mystery is contained within. Your master's origin seems to be that of a more incredible person than I thought. It is a weapon at the level of an heirloom of a great noble? It will be able to cleave through even all wicked mysteries.”
“Oh!”
Shatien let out an exclamation at Mage Agpiel's words.
Indeed, he had felt it poignantly in this fight as well. Not only most armor, but he had also purified all those terrible sinister beings.
“By the way, who on earth are these crazy people?”
“Hmm. Most likely, they seem to be cultists who worship the Bloodclot God.”
“The Bloodclot God? What kind of god's name is so foul. Ugh... Ancient Empire people had unique tastes.”
When Shatien expressed disgust at the name, Mage Agpiel laughed heartily.
“Is there any difference between you and the people of the Ancient Empire era? They also viewed the Bloodclot God unfavorably. It was a god being oppressed even in those days... It seems it somehow managed to take root and survive until now.”
“You mean they are clear cultists.”
“That is right. As such, they deal with even more bizarre and sinister mysteries.”
At those words, Shatien's expression became even more serious. If so, seeing the sinister mystery fluctuating inside there, did it not mean something formidable was ready to welcome them?
As if reading that thought, Mage Agpiel spoke calmly.
“Don't worry. Am I not here? It is the nature of a straight and benevolent forest to embrace even evil mysteries.”
-Thump.
-Wooooooong.
Blue and white light pulsed around Mage Agpiel and covered Shatien and his party. A feeling of warmth accompanied by the faint scent of the forest felt like a blessing containing the mystery of protection.
“It will block the sinister mysteries directed at you at least a few times.”
“Thank you, Mage Agpiel.”
Shatien immediately called Miles and the mercenaries to form a line. He intended to enter that last door and engage in battle just like this.
“Mage Agpiel. I will ask one more thing. How should I deal with them when I face them?”
“Hm. First, leave the ordinary priests alone. They are not beings that will influence the battle anyway. However, the priests who handle mysteries must be dealt with first without fail. Mystery requires preparation. There is no good in giving them time. Especially if the opponent handles evil mysteries.”
“Mm... Sounds good!”
At the clearer-than-expected answer, Shatien immediately picked up a spear fallen on the floor and kicked open the door of the altar room.
And as soon as he entered, he looked for the being shrouded in evil mystery among the cultists who were surprised to see them barge in.
“!!!”
“Stop him...!”
Toward that mage who exuded the vibe of "I am the boss" to anyone, Shatien threw the spear with all his might.
-Swoooosh!
-Crack. Clang! Ting!
-Thud!
“?!?!?!?!?”
“???????????????”
The spear that flew through the air like a bolt of light pierced the protection spell and instantly killed the bastard.
“......”
“What is wrong?”
“...Well done.”