TOM Chapter 25

"You two, please go with Lord Lucas."

Rho Blue seemed to want to borrow Kruelo's force.

After all the back and forth, he was strong, so I suppose she judged it was better than nothing.

Though I wasn't sure if it would really be better.

The situation was urgent, so we hurriedly headed to the corridor.

As we ran following Lucas's guidance, I thought absentmindedly.

What exactly is Rekaenon?

The poison incident was fabricated by the Council of Elders, wasn't it?

Then is this riot also their handiwork?

For hunting down a religious order, they're making too big a commotion.

Unless there's something else they're after...

Peep.

The winter lynx in my arms let out a small cry.

Only upon hearing that anxious cry did I realize.

There is something they're after!

I shouted to Lucas in question.

"Which way are the divine beasts?"

"Pardon? Why suddenly that..."

As if he too felt ominous at my question, he said in a trembling voice.

"The opposite direction from the prayer hall."

"What about the guards?"

"Probably over 80% have been redeployed toward the prayer hall."

This was it.

Rekaenon is the bait.

They're just using it to retrieve the divine beasts!

The scene I saw at the harvest festival unfolded in my mind.

The divine beasts submerged in liquid, all dying, the winter lynx that had turned into Beatitudo.

And even the emotions that had flowed in at that time.

"No."

Just as I was about to turn around hurriedly, gentle hands grabbed my shoulders.

It was Kruelo.

"I'll go."

"What?"

"I won't be late, not this time."

There was conviction in that voice.

I hesitated for a moment but soon nodded.

"...I'll trust you."

Even though the words came from my own mouth, they somehow felt unfamiliar.

Mamik: To cause confusion.

Mamik's life flowed exactly as her grandfather had named her.

Even now, when she thought her life had become peaceful.

"Your swordsmanship is decent, but your mental fortitude is terrible. How can you fall for such simple tricks?"

The hooded strange man kicked Rho Blue.

Watching that scene, Mamik trembled violently.

The scene from moments before was vivid before her eyes.

The battle that broke out suddenly, the magic that flew toward her out of nowhere, Rho collapsing after being poisoned while trying to block it.

"Saint... ess, please escape."

"Haha, what saintess."

Even though this should be the safest place in the world, the temple was once again in complete chaos.

She crouched down and squeezed her eyes shut.

Mamik was born in a humble farming household.

Her mother died giving birth to her, and her father died in an accident a month before that.

"You beast that devoured both your parents!"

The grandfather who raised Mamik said such things whenever he had the chance.

She feared and disliked her grandfather, but after even that grandfather died, life became even more terrible.

Fifteen. Too old to enter an orphanage.

Her body was frail from not eating properly during her growth period, and her expression was gloomy.

She hadn't learned enough to make a living.

But she had to survive, so she searched the entire house for things to sell.

That's when she discovered it.

A pure white donkey head statue and a letter beside it.

「This is a sacred relic of Rekaenon.」

The letter contained the story of her ancestors.

Her ancestor's religious order had fought with the Rekaenon order, and winning that fight, they obtained the sacred relic as spoils of war.

It was a precious thing symbolizing the glory of the religious order, so treasure it well.

From that headache-inducing story, the one word Mamik understood was 'Rekaenon.'

The influence of the ancient god's orders had all collapsed, and only Rekaenon retained even slight fame.

At first, she tried to sell that sacred relic, but soon changed her mind.

No adult would pay a fair price to an underdeveloped girl.

Instead, Mamik went to the village public library and searched through all the theological books, then visited the temple.

"My ancestor was Rekaenon's last saint. If you use that reputation, you'll be able to embrace heretics."

Mamik was not a descendant of the Rekaenon order.

However, she knew that pretending to be from Rekaenon would raise the price.

Thus, she was appointed as an honorary saintess by the temple, which was struggling with integrating heretics, and was able to live in luxury.

She thought she had done well, until now.

'Why did it turn out like this?'

If Rekaenon's rioters had invaded, there's no way they'd leave a fake like her alone.

So she offered up the sacred relic and evacuated to the opposite side of the prayer hall.

But why!

Why are the divine beasts asleep and why is the temple's outer wall breached?

Why must she face a strange man that even Rho Blue couldn't overcome?

"Please, spare me."

Mamik desperately pleaded, but only earned mockery.

"Thank you, saintess. Thanks to you, I can make excuses that rioters who came to capture the saintess breached the temple's outer wall. They'll think the divine beasts escaped that way too."

A massive stem writhed up from the strange man's feet.

Purple vines densely covered with thorns.

The rose that bloomed at the end opened its center petals as if opening a mouth.

Thick poison dripped from the center.

The fluid that had poisoned Rho Blue.

"Well then, farewell, saintess."

The vine coiled toward her neck.

Mamik closed her eyes in despair.

At that moment.

Crack, along with the sound of something breaking.

"Just one?"

A familiar voice was heard.

Just one is too boring.

Kruelo said in a bored voice.

Behind him was the trembling saintess, in front was the hooded intruder.

It was exactly like a scene from a play, but how could it be so tedious?

Kruelo trampled and shattered the frozen petals.

"...Duke Whitedesert."

"You know me? Well, it would be hard not to."

"Why are you here?"

"Worried about the divine beasts' safety?"

‘Ah, I mustn't forget to add.’

"My affectionate darling asked me to."

A madman drunk on love.

It didn't mean much, but playing a role for the first time in his life was quite amusing.

The strange man didn't exchange more words and extended his hand.

From the floor, from the air, from the ceiling.

Vines sprouting from all directions rushed toward Kruelo.

But the outcome was the same.

Crack, crack, crack.

"Will you continue?"

How boring.

At Kruelo's tedious voice, the strange man gritted his teeth.

Massive mana gathered at his fingertips, and using that point as a root, a sprout emerged.

But before he could properly bloom the poison flower.

"I said it's boring."

"Urgh!"

Kruelo, who had easily dispelled the magic, grabbed the strange man's neck and lifted him up.

The air had grown cold due to the magic, but his gaze was unbearably hot.

Kruelo smiled and whispered softly.

"Graduating from the academy was premature, wasn't it, Julian?"

Through his grip, he could distinctly feel the tremor of Julian's shock rippling through the man's body.

Did you really think I wouldn't know?

Why?

Because you cast recognition-prevention magic?

Because you used the main magic you hid at the academy?

Ridiculous.

‘I've known for a long time that he's been playing the Council of Elders' dog because of his inferiority complex toward me.’

‘The reason I left him alone was.’

"I thought it would be interesting, but I'm disappointed."

"Being brain, washed was a re, verse lie...!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Kruelo swung his arm and slammed Julian against the wall.

The method was rough, but it was essentially letting him go.

Sure enough, a massive gate began opening behind Julian.

It seemed prepared to smuggle out the divine beasts, but there was only one thing he'd overlook.

"Cough, yes, I knew it would be like this."

"You seem happy that I gave you certainty?"

"No! I was certain from the start. The very idea that you fell for that pathetic woman was utter nonsense."

Kruelo's expression hardened slightly.

"You monster who doesn't understand human emotions, someday I'll make you regret this day."

Those words, spoken with such bitter venom, were laughable.

Like always. No, today it was a bit more irritating.

Kruelo spread his hand.

"What happens if you say such things?"

"What do you—urgh!"

White magic like spider legs sprouted from the wall Julian was leaning against.

Kruelo slowly clenched his hand.

Ice magic of a clearly superior dimension to what Julian had used tightened around Julian's limbs.

"Urgh, gasp, gah!"

"I hate regretting things the most."

Finally, when Kruelo made a fist, the ice spider pierced through what was in its embrace.

A chilling roar echoed and frost covered the entire space.

But the space where the spider's prey had been was empty.

"He escaped."

Kruelo glanced at the gate that had finished its role.

He had let him go to learn something through Julian, but he wasn't in a good mood.

"This is the final warning, make that woman bring the sacred relic!"

"That, that person is not a priestess!"

"Stop talking nonsense and follow!"

Is this what it feels like to be the protagonist?

People from all directions were staring at me.

Because I was exactly 'that woman.'

The rioters gathered on the outside.

They were all wearing black clothes and masks.

Though they had Rekaenon's symbol drawn on them, I wasn't sure if I should take that seriously.

Behind them was an activated gate, and beside it six hostages were kneeling.

In front of them, the leader-like figure holding the last hostage was.

"I really will kill them, move quickly!"

He was threatening me to bring the sacred relic.

I only sent Kruelo because I couldn't use holy power where people could see, but I ended up becoming the protagonist here too.

"Don't listen to him, believer. If you get close, he'll harm your life too."

"What? I guess the hostages here aren't important!"

"Don't lay hands on the hostages! I'll bring the sacred relic. It doesn't matter who brings it, does it!"

"It's already outrageous that a priestess here would even touch our sacred relic!"

It's so noisy my ears are about to burst.

I nodded in resignation.

"I'll just go myself."

"You mustn't, believer!"

I ignored the priestess's words and took the sacred relic from her arms.

Holding the donkey head and walking step by step, I could hear people swallowing around me.

What should I do?

Actually, it felt like a third-rate play so I wasn't really immersed, but it wasn't a good situation.

What would happen if I handed over the sacred relic?

That leader would first snatch the sacred relic and swing the sword in his hand.

At me. And at the other hostages too.

That way the temple would become even more chaotic and they'd buy time to escape.

Then they'd flee through the gate.

Even knowing this, I had nothing I could do.

Use holy power in such an open place? Use a sword?

Sigh, how nice it would be if this sacred relic still had some function.

Rekaenon, what are you doing? Isn't your pride hurt?

"I'm ashamed to say that when I discovered it, only traces of holy power remained. I couldn't even tell what kind of miracle the sacred relic could perform."

Right, what pride would a dying god have... but wait a minute.