Kail realized he needed to get out of here as soon as possible. The fact that this place, always under the watchful eye of their protection through the Sovereign God’s Power, was under attack meant something had gone terribly wrong.
Whether something happened to the Sovereign God or enemies were somehow breaking through divine power—neither option boded well for Kail. Especially now, with his pregnant wife in tow.
With something precious to protect, fighting at full strength wasn’t an option. Ironically, Kail needed to leave this spot first if he wanted to fight seriously.
“First—let’s run.”
“…You sure? Will it be okay?”
“What—the Sovereign God didn’t exactly entrust me with anything important. He won’t throw a tantrum just because I ran.”
Even if the Sovereign God did something, at most, He’d probably just reclaim the old holy stigmata He once bestowed. But that stigmata? It wasn’t like Kail needed it anymore anyway.
If He wanted to take it back, fine by him. Kail felt rather proud. He preferred being left alone instead of having some grand destiny like “Hero” forced upon him, letting others deal with saving the world.
Choosing escape over fighting those attacking the Holy Kingdom, Kail began weaving through buildings with Yuri in tow.
‘Those damn terrorists flew in from the gate side, so if we exit via the Papal side─.’
Just as he thought that, Kail spotted a figure smashing skulls of skeleton heads in the distance. Cloaked and face hidden, the figure sent targeting corpses back to eternal rest with punches thrown in every direction.
The technique was too clean, making Kail realize this person was no ordinary fighter. At least an Aura Master. Though surprising enough to find such a person in the Holy Kingdom, what shocked Kail more was their identity.
‘Isn’t that brat from before?’
The young girl who glared at Kail back at the inn, even grabbing him by the collar. Realizing her identity, Kail subtly positioned Yuri behind him and stepped forward.
The girl, busy smashing zombies rushing toward her, noticed Kail and Yuri from afar and turned her head.
“…What do you want?”
“That’s what we should be asking. Who are you? If a kid like you became a Master, rumors would’ve spread everywhere.”
Hadn’t news of Kail becoming a Master in his teens spread across the Empire, even foreign Masters knowing his name and face?
For this girl, looking half his age, to remain unknown seemed unreal to Kail.
Then Jerard slightly frowned and glared at Kail.
“Do I look like I have any obligation to tell you?”
“Well…no.”
“Then scram. I’m itching to punch your face right now.”
“Ho, doing that might bring down ‘divine punishment,’ you know?”
“Hah—Divine punishment? If that existed, these guys wouldn’t be killing people all over the place, would they?”
Jerard gestured to the zombies she obliterated. Through her words, Kail realized the Sovereign God’s absolute rules had gone haywire, smirking as he looked at Jerard.
It didn’t take long for Jerard to understand what that gaze implied, flinching before pointing her fists at the two.
“Ai, you think we’re about to kill you or something?”
“Then why the hell do you have that irritating expression?”
“Why? Can’t I smile?”
At this moment, with Kail backed by Yuri—a Master-level Sorceress—if Jerard were to fight them, her chances of survival were slim.
A powerful rear-guard magic user capable of instantly killing even fellow Masters, paired with a frontline Aura Master guarding them—this legendary combo remained unbroken since ancient times, still used effectively by modern Masters.
For Jerard to defeat Kail and Yuri, she’d need to either find her own mage or bring along a few more Masters.
Both options were impossible at this point.
“…Damn annoying.”
“—You’ve been saying that since you first saw me? What’s your real identity?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Tsk. No one would even know if I killed you right now?”
“Try it, you moron.”
Jerard glared at Kail Meyer, who isn’t a villain and doesn’t go around killing people for petty reasons. Yet, for some reason, her heart raced.
What if her intel was wrong? What if Kail Meyer had changed within that short time and decided to recklessly kill people, turning into a psycho?
Gulping nervously as she stared at Kail, Jerard realized she was worrying over nothing when she saw him chuckling at her reaction.
“You got scared.”
“…Shut up. That’s not it.”
“Whatever. We’re planning to escape—wanna come?”
Kail offered Jerard a chance to escape together. Her identity was still unclear, but she clearly wasn’t part of the Evil God Cult nor the ones who caused this chaos.
No malignant aura or mana emanated from her, yet she possessed Master-level skills. Having her along would undoubtedly help them escape. Even with just Kail and Yuri, they had enough strength, but Kail wanted to minimize variables.
“—Escape? From here?”
Hearing Kail, Jerard pretended to hesitate briefly before following him. Free tickets out of danger weren’t things to pass up.
She could probably escape on her own, but would the attackers who reduced the Holy Kingdom to this state leave things so simple? They likely stationed forces around the kingdom.
Given their strength, Jerard imagined at least Master-level troops.
“Call?”
“…Call.”
Escaping safely alongside these two wasn’t foolish—it was highly rational.
***
When the Holy Kingdom came under attack, the Papal Knights immediately mobilized. Defending their land was only right.
After a quick dispatch ceremony, the Holy Knights, led personally by Him, were annihilated.
“My Lord—why…?”
Even devout Clerics couldn’t hide their shock. Some argued this attack was God’s will, advocating for peaceful acceptance of destruction.
Their confusion ended when the Pope, receiving divine messages, stepped in.
“The Lord commands us to crush those wicked followers of the Evil God.”
“But Your Holiness! With your spear broken by your own hands, how can we─?”
“There’s no other way. I must go myself.”
Cardinals hearing the Pope’s words panicked, trying to stop him. The Pope was one of only two direct links to God, alongside the Virgin Saintess.
They didn’t doubt his faith or abilities, but losing the Pope would mean losing half the kingdom’s spiritual leadership.
However, the Pope chuckled reassuringly.
“Those followers of the Evil God are unholy beings powerless against our Sovereign God’s divine might. With Him by my side, there’s nothing to fear.”
To ease worries, he invited a few cardinals along as he marched to confront the invaders.
Not long after, the Pope and cardinals returned to the Papal Palace as headless corpses.
“Grrr…everyone—Lord Evil God isn’t bad at all—”
“This world is rotten. Let’s all follow Lord Evil God—”
The undead Pope and cardinals, robbed of true death, lunged at their loyal Clerics with fangs bared.
“Kyaaaaa!”
“R-run!”
“The Pope has gone mad!”
As Clerics scattered, one figure moved against the tide. The undead Pope and cardinals charged madly at the approaching pink-haired nun.
“Oh—my Lord.”
Witnessing this, Lagraisha, the Virgin Saintess, prayed to the Sovereign God and clenched her fists.
Holy Fist.
A fist imbued with divine power shattered their bodies.
Feeling a bit hollow after killing the Clerics who raised her, Lagraisha noticed several monsters entering from outside the Papal Palace.
“What? Aren’t they supposed to be dead?”
“They’re Clerics, maybe they have special abilities.”
“Wow—what a body. Can I have her?”
Dragon-headed Dragon Followers. Seeing them, the Virgin Saintess realized they were the culprits who helped the Evil God Cult kill the Pope.
“Repent.”
“What?”
“Our merciful God will not embrace you.”
Therefore.
“Repent in hell.”
Die here.
The Virgin Saintess tightened her fist and charged forward.
Dragon-worshipping Dragon Followers opened their mouths wide at the charging saint.
