Chapter 10

9. Operation Name: Sewer Cleaning

“Brother, by any chance, do you have a Dwarven Thunder Thrower?”

“Does this place look like a museum to you?”

As soon as Fernandez applied for the armory usage permit, an Enmagika named Martirio rushed over. He lectured endlessly about the sanctity of the weapons in this fortress as they headed to the armory.

“…So, Brother. When the Brothers of Diemonica borrow weapons, they rarely return them. The armory is the most expensive part of our financial reports…”

Fernandez half-listened to the balding middle-aged man.

‘In my memory, there should be one…’

In his previous life, he had seen an unnamed Inquisition Officer using a Dwarven Thunder Thrower.

The pinnacle of ancient Dwarven technology, a masterpiece of highly advanced magical engineering. The Dwarven Thunder Thrower.

A standard weapon of the Dwarves, created during the era when the Elven Five Kingdoms and the Dwarven Sasan Alliance ruled the continent, back when humans were still in the Bronze Age.

It was the epitome of ancient technology [Magical Engineering], something that human technology could never replicate.

As a magician, Fernandez desperately wanted to dismantle that thing.

‘With just one operation, it turned a Hell-level demon into dust.’

-It seemed like a consumable, but the effect was undeniable.

True to its name, it was a magical staff that projected an enormous destructive force forward with the sound of thunder!

“…So, how about this blessed longsword? A sleek body with a full Saint Metal hilt.”

“What weapon does Brother Zephis use?”

“Ah, Brother Zephis uses his personal armaments.”

“Huh? Is it possible to own personal armaments?”

“There are weapons made exclusively for certain brothers. If you serve for about 30 years, you might accumulate quite a few relics.”

Martirio chuckled. It was a joke, but also a wish. A wish to survive for 30 more years.

“A good dagger is essential. You can’t use a longsword to cut ropes. A rope would be good too, and ah, take this bag as well.”

Martirio picked out various items and handed them over while rambling.

“Didn’t you say the armory costs a fortune?”

“How can worldly gold compare to a brother’s life?”

Fernandez was moved by these warm words. Inquisition Officers, no matter how they appeared to the outside world, shared a bond akin to brotherhood among themselves.

After all, if an Inquisition Officer standing shoulder to shoulder with you falls, it means humanity takes another step back in this fierce battlefield.

Fernandez decided to milk this kind-hearted Enmagika a bit more.

“Recommend me a two-handed sword.”

“Hmm. How about this one?”

Martirio grunted as he pulled out a massive longsword.

-You’re not planning to carry that around, are you?

‘Of course, I am. What’s the point of having strength if not to use it?’

-That seems too crude.

It looked more like a club carried by ogres. Martirio placed a sword on the table that was as long as an adult man’s height and as thick as Fabiano’s forearm.

“Full Saint Metal. 14 pounds. If a Brother of Diemonica wields this, they could almost break down a castle gate.”

“…”

Considering that a typical longsword weighs around 3 pounds, and the standard two-handed sword used by skilled swordsmen is about 6.5 pounds, this thing was almost like a shipbuilding steel beam.

“Wasn’t that for decoration?”

“There’s no weapon in this armory that hasn’t tasted the blood of demons. Haha.”

Fernandez carefully lifted the massive greatsword. Its weight gave him a strong sense of reliability.

-Are you really going to use that?

‘Faijashi. Am I good at swordsmanship?’

-Not really.

‘Swordsmanship is about overcoming strength with skill. A swordsman who can wield a heavy weapon can deliver overwhelming force just by swinging it.’

-You’re going to take down demons with that?

‘A longsword would just be a toothpick.’

Fernandez laughed and put the greatsword down.

“I’ll take this.”

“Excellent.”

*

Fernandez ended up spending about an hour in the armory. He then headed straight to Zephis’s private quarters.

-Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Fernandez, Brother.”

“It’s open.”

-Creak.

Zephis’s private quarters were somewhat lavish. Most Inquisition Officers were forced to live a simple, militaristic life, but Zephis was one of the few allowed to possess personal armaments.

His room was filled with weapons, maps, scribbled notes, and prayer altars.

He was mixing reagents on the table. A glance revealed they were some kind of anesthetic. He glanced at Fernandez and then looked away, saying,

“Quite a load you’ve got there?”

“Is it too much?”

“Brother Martirio tends to overprotect new recruits. But, the more prepared, the better.”

Zephis stood up, tidying the table. He approached Fernandez and inspected his gear one by one.

“Rope, huh. Useful. Flint? You can use flint, right? I think I heard something like that?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then leave this out. Daggers. You’ve got throwing ones, right? Excellent. Always keep a few ready to draw.”

-Swish!

With a flick of his wrist, a throwing dagger appeared in Zephis’s hand. His sleeve was clearly empty?? As Fernandez looked puzzled, Zephis smiled.

“Sometimes demons get annoying from a distance. Always practice throwing something.”

“Ah!”

“By the way, what’s that club? Is that supposed to be a two-handed sword?”

Zephis looked at the steel beam strapped to Fernandez’s back. It had an edge, but it was more like a…





It was close to a blunt weapon.

“This is my style.”

“…Unique. It takes a lot of skill for a rookie to handle. Anyway, it turned out well. Looking at your gear, anyone can see you’re at least a squire.”

“A squire? You mean, a knight’s squire?”

“Yes. From now on, you’ll be my personal squire.”

Zephis pointed to a map made of parchment.

“Are you good at acting?”

“…I think I am.”

They don’t know I’m a reincarnated dark mage, do they? Since Fernandez thinks so, Zephis handed him a report.

“Read it. It’s your first mission. You’re now my attendant squire.”

*

[Operation: Sewer Cleanup]

Operation Area: Gloridaine City Slave Market

Operation Overview: Uncover heretic sects at slave supply sources, track and rescue dispatched Inquisition Officers. Purge suspected demon summoning areas. Handle involved parties and witnesses.

Operation Task Force Team: Diemonica Zephis Sirahdast. Diemonica Fernandez Sernerd. Heretica Laurencio Devecini (Missing).

Call Signs: Zephis – Archangelo (A). Fernandez – Balthazar (B). Laurencio – Carterio (C)

We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.

Final Approver: Abbot Beorn Shieldbane of St. Bartholomew Monastery.

*

“A few days ago, we received a report of heresy. Brother Heretica Laurencio, dispatched locally, went missing. The last message received was about tracking a demon summoning altar. That was three days ago.”

“…Brother Laurencio must be dead.”

“Most likely. Now that the heresy mission has turned into an exorcism mission, we must step in. The operation area isn’t far, and there’s no particularly large heretical sect observed. I volunteered to guide your first mission.”

Fernandez quickly calculated while looking at the map. 16 years old, 87 years old, 71 years ago. Gloridaine City’s slave market. There are three major underground demon sects around here. If it’s the biggest one and what they’ve done…

“I like it.”

“What?”

At this time, it shouldn’t be too late yet. If about three to four months have passed since the 16th birthday.

‘Kirhas Hearttaker.’

-Cult of Dremdrizad.

Fernandez and Faijashi each expressed different impressions. Among the forces trying to control Gloridaine City from behind the scenes, the ultimate winner was the heretical sect known as [Cult of Dremdrizad].

And during this time, they buy a person from the slave market as a sacrifice for their demon summoning.

That slave is none other than Kirhas Hearttaker, who would later become the chieftain of the Miao tribe.

One of humanity’s shining heroes, a barbarian chieftain with vast territories, and a powerful hunter of countless demons and monsters in her lifetime!

At this time, she lost her entire tribe to slave hunters and was later sold as a sacrifice to the demon sect ‘Cult of Dremdrizad’. After enduring all sorts of hardships, she heroically rose again…

‘If I can preemptively eliminate the hardships she would face and provide her with a better growth environment…’

Kirhas will undoubtedly become a powerful warrior and an important chess piece in his plan.

‘And I know what the Cult of Dremdrizad is up to around this time.’

I know how they failed and how they recovered. In my previous life, they eventually retreated from Gloridaine City, but based on that failure, they succeeded in controlling the entire Phaern Kingdom from behind the scenes!

Thanks to the powerful knights of the Phaern Kingdom leaving early in the war, humanity lost an ally and suffered greatly.

An ally right under the Papacy’s nose!

‘Wait, you demon sect bastards.’

In my previous life, my favorite situation was corrupting the enemy’s allies and stabbing the enemy’s heart. Now the situation is completely reversed. Fernandez felt a thrill at this strange paradox.

*

“The Papacy’s official letter was ‘concern.’ Brother Zephis. You know what that means, right?”

With a deep scar distorting one eye, Beorn lifted his monocle. Zephis was standing opposite Beorn, drinking tea.

“Moreover, the area where a brother went missing on his first mission. Who knows what’s behind that?”

“Inquisition Officers do not fear demons and their followers. And as a Diemonica, you should be able to stroll through the most horrifying places.”

Beorn sighed at Zephis’s words. He’s right. Moreover, as a saint of the Divine Warrior Vaitas, one should never avoid the battlefield.

“Indeed. It seems His Holiness the Pope is overly concerned.”

“Brother Laurencio was a competent and resolute Inquisition Officer.”

“May the Temple of the Gods bless us. I also miss that brother.”

Beorn looked at the map with tired eyes. Black cross-sword patterns were drawn all over the eastern continent.

Somewhere, several were densely packed, and somewhere else, they were left abandoned in remote areas.

‘Missing persons whose remains were never found.’

For 30 years since the Temple of the Gods was sealed, humanity has been slowly sinking into darkness.

Shadows untouched by the sun always teemed with demons and monsters, and humans who lost their light sank deep into the shadows.

Those who swore to become humanity’s brightest and fiercest torch. Inquisition Officers always delved deep into the darkness, and countless perished in the process.

These patterns were all tombstones, and their epitaphs were always ‘Courage and Sacrifice.’ The cross-sword pattern engraved in Gloridaine City still had fresh ink.

Beorn carefully brushed the map with his scarred hand. Every time his fingers touched the deeply engraved keyblade pattern, the names of the lost brothers came to mind.

‘Laurencio, Gael, Tristan, Meklin…’

But there was no time to dwell in sentiment. Beorn soon opened his eyes, grabbed the parchment before him, and stamped it.

“Come back alive.”

“And also, not a single heretic will be left alive.”

-Squeak.

Zephis left the room holding the approved operation proposal. In the empty room, Beorn picked up his pen again with tired eyes. He had a duty to report this matter to the Pope.

We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.

Even if it’s somewhat radical. If we must cut off the flesh to remove a rotten ulcer, then so be it. Even if we become mangled, as long as we survive, that’s enough.

Humanity will survive. Beorn began writing a letter to the Papacy. The descent of the saint must be some kind of revelation.