14. Purpose is more important than reason.
Whether you shove a demon into a soul or a body, there’s almost no way for a human split in half to come back to life.
“Still, the two-handed sword is the best, right?”
-If you’re going to fight this dumbly, I guess it’s fine.
Before exhaling three times, Fernandez, who had sliced through two demon followers, moved toward the altar. The man called the ‘Bishop’ at the altar trembled as he saw him but didn’t stop what he was doing.
“Wanna stop?”
-Ssssshhh
Fernandez pulled a dagger from his shoulder bag and threw it. At least, he prided himself on being quite precise with dagger throws. The dagger pierced exactly through the wrist of the guy holding the obsidian blade.
“Grrrrgh!”
The man clutched his wrist, blood gushing out, and stepped back. Meanwhile, Fernandez climbed onto the altar.
“Huh, this is the altar?”
It was a summoning altar woven with a very modern ritual. Severed limbs and corpses were tangled everywhere, drawing a reverse pentagram, and between them, blood refined with magic formed sinister runes.
“Let’s see. Sadarkelisa… Hmm… Sadarkelisa’s seventeenth warrior? Hey, why are you struggling to summon such a lowly demon? If you’re going to do it, why not summon Sadarkelisa herself?”
“D-do you know the runes of Hell…?”
“Hell runes? What kind of disappointing talk is that for someone of your stature, Bishop? Hey, these aren’t Hell runes, they’re Demidrakan Tongue. Completely different language lineage…”
Fernandez laughed as he approached the trembling Bishop. Some half-baked guy must have learned this poorly.
“Lies, lies! The runes of Hell are a language only our master can bestow… There’s no way a human could read them!”
“Why not? It’s a liberal arts course.”
This guy must have been seduced by some demon somewhere. Fernandez found his behavior amusing. Was this really the Bishop of Demdrizard?
“Are you really the Bishop?”
“E-eek! S-Sadarkelisa, grant me power!”
-Crackle!
The man trembled as he desperately intertwined his fingers. Fernandez quickly grabbed the Bishop’s wrist and twisted it. The obsidian dagger clattered to the ground.
“Your mantra is wrong. The angle between your index and thumb should be about 12.5 degrees narrower. Your wrist direction is also off. Where did you learn magic? Did some Wildcast (Wandering Mage) teach you this nonsense?”
“S-Sadarkelisa…!”
“And, you don’t even know the name of the demon whispering to you correctly.”
Fernandez kneed the man in the stomach. The man coughed, curled up, and collapsed to the ground. Fernandez slowly stepped on and crushed his pierced right wrist.
“Grrrrgh…”
Burying his face in the pool of blood, the man screamed, foaming at the mouth.
“It’s not Sadarkelisa. The demon you worship is…”
[Tetragalan.]
At that moment, a red light flashed in the underground cavern, accompanied by a threatening hissing sound. A sulfur-scented wind blew from somewhere, tousling Fernandez’s hair.
“Right. Tetragalan. Centurion Tetragalan. Sadarkelisa’s warrior. The right fang of the Lizard King Ksharax. Right?”
[Quite a wise mortal. It would have been less troublesome if you had been my subordinate.]
“You’re far beneath my level to command me.”
[How dare.]
-Whoosh.
Another strong wind blew. Fernandez’s robe flapped like a sail. The man crushed under his feet whimpered and trembled.
“S-Sadarkelisa, I offer my soul!”
“Where do you think you’re going!”
-Crack!
The man suddenly picked up the obsidian dagger that had fallen to the ground and stabbed it into his chest. After a few convulsions, he rolled his eyes and died. Bubbles rose from the pool of blood he was submerged in.
-You got careless.
“Careless enough. It’s fine.”
-Tetragalan is no lesser demon. He’s one of Hell’s generals.
“I know. Still just a general.”
-He’s coming. Get ready.
“Me?”
Fernandez stepped back from the summoning altar and gripped his greatsword. The heavy weight felt reassuring.
-Whoosh…
The wind howled madly through the underground cavern. Red snakes seeped from the shadows of the underground sewers, hissing and making strange noises.
The snakes’ sounds created a bizarre rhythm, a melody that shattered minds and invoked madness. They bowed their heads in reverence to their master.
-Crackle.
From the pool of blood and corpses on the summoning altar, vivid green sparks flew. And through the gap, a massive scaly hand appeared, almost the size of Fernandez’s head.
-Thud, thud. Thwack.
Soon, the hand was followed by an arm like a marble pillar, then a chest and face covered in scales and muscles. One, two, three… Four heads emerged from the shadows.
-Descendant of the Four-Headed Dragon… Tetragalan of the Blue Scales.
“Right. Long time no see.”
Fernandez’s words were somewhat ambiguous. It had been a while since he’d seen a real demon, and it had also been a while since he’d seen Tetragalan.
In other words, Tetragalan wasn’t a stranger. Ironically, he was one of the demons whose heart had been pierced by Kirhas in a past life.
The scream Tetragalan had let out back then still echoed vividly in his ears. He had witnessed that scene firsthand. And that meant…
“Ready?”
-I have nothing to prepare.
“Not you. You. This demon.”
Fernandez aimed his two-handed sword at Tetragalan’s massive body. Tetragalan hissed and laughed.
[How dare you speak to me like that. I am Tetragalan. Descendant of the great Four-Headed Dragon and warrior of the great mother Sadarkelisa! The right fang of Duke Ksharax…]
As Tetragalan spoke, Fernandez was lost in memories. It was the same repertoire he had spat out when facing Kirhas. The scene painted itself vividly in his mind.
“Long tongue for a snake.”
[You dare!]
-Sssss…
Fernandez’s pauldrons corroded and crumbled instantly. It was the [Corrosive Aura] that only a true Demidrako could use. Only his consecrated silver sword withstood the aura.
“I can’t mimic Kirhas’s skills.”
-True.
“But following Kirhas’s strategy is a piece of cake!”
Fernandez shouted as he dug into Tetragalan’s right flank. Tetragalan roared and swung his fist.
*
-Crash!
Tetragalan’s third head rolled on the ground. With a sizzling sound, the strong acid flowing from his mouth melted the altar.
[You! Youuuu!!! Tell me your name!!!]
-Splat!
Fernandez sliced through Tetragalan’s right thigh and rolled back. A massive tail swept over his head.
‘He’s slowed down.’
Fernandez blocked the tail with his sword and was pushed back. Tetragalan tried to regain his posture.
-Ssshhh!
[Grrrrgh!!!]
Fernandez skillfully threw a dagger, piercing Tetragalan’s left eye.
[This, this can’t be. This isn’t right! Reveal yourself! Are you a celestial from the Temple of the Gods?!]
“Pathetic. Demon. Is that all you have to say?”
Fernandez firmly gripped his creaking greatsword, filled with cracks, and charged forward.
Every joint in his body was in no better condition than his sword. Poison, acid, fatigue, and shock had worn him down to the brink of breaking.
‘As expected, trying to imitate Kirhas in her prime is dangerous.’
– Where did you even come close to doing that?
‘Let’s try something Kirhas can’t do this time.’
Fernandez stabbed a knife into the wobbling heart of Tetragalan.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
– Is that a verse from the Apocrypha of John for this situation?
“I’ve tried it alone. Faijashi, what are the requirements for a divine spell?”
– Origin, prayer, miracle?
“I have all three!”
– *Crack!*
[This can’t be happening! This can’t…]
The greatsword shattered and fell from Fernandez’s hand. A golden light flashed from Tetragalan’s heart, seeping into the blade embedded in his chest.
“See? I told you it would work.”
Tetragalan’s massive body slowly collapsed. Soon, his body crumbled into dust. It wasn’t seeping into the sixth layer of Hell. His soul was being sealed within the blade.
[How?! The power of the Temple of the Gods was sealed!! This can’t be happening…!!]
“There are people who make the impossible possible. Did you think you were a saint?”
Fernandez picked up the glowing green shard of the blade from the ground. He carefully wrapped it in the hem of his robe and tied it with a rosary.
“Our Enmagika brothers would be shocked if they saw this.”
There was no intact equipment left. Shoulder guards, daggers, shoulder bags, two-handed swords… He slowly knelt on one knee. A strange liquid, a mix of poison, acid, and blood, sloshed at his feet.
“Phew…”
Fighting a demon of Hell’s caliber alone was exhausting. He straightened his creaking body after the fierce battle. He desperately wanted to collapse and pass out right there.
But he had never lived a life of complacency. He had never stopped to be satisfied.
Fernandez groaned as he got up. The hem of his robe was stained with blood and filth.
“Got work to do.”
– Do you know where to go?
“Traces.”
Fernandez pointed to the dried bloodstains under the altar. There were marks of something being dragged. The blood trail led to a dark passage at the end of the underground waterway.
*
The Slave Storage, or the Cursed Womb as it was called, was damp, filthy, and reeked of a foul stench. Kirhas sat in a corner, wrapped in rags, with her knees drawn up.
– *Thud, thud.*
Earlier, there had been a tremendous noise from the direction of the altar, followed by silence. Then, footsteps could be heard from that direction.
‘Those demons… What are they up to now?’
Kirhas looked out through the bars with tired eyes. Of the slaves dragged here with her, only about five remained.
– *Clank.*
A man in a robe stood outside the bars. Kirhas’s turquoise eyes flashed in the darkness. The man scanned the slaves in rags and spoke.
“No smell of demons.”
“Right. But that doesn’t mean you can kill them all.”
“Ah, stop whining.”
The young man suddenly stopped and began muttering to himself.
‘Has he gone mad?’
The slaves remained silent, cowering in fear. A mad demon worshipper had come to the slave storage for sacrifices!!
“Ah, enough!! I’ll let you all live!”
– *Swoosh.*
The young man abruptly drew a dagger and jammed it into the iron chains on the bars, twisting and breaking them. It was an incredible display of strength. The chains clattered noisily to the ground.
“Now, everyone, get up.”
“???”
“Run, as far as you can. I recommend hiding outside Gloridaine for a few days. It’s about to become a sea of fire.”
When the slaves hesitated, the young man suddenly shouted.
“Now!”
“Eeek!!”
After driving out the slaves, the young man looked at Kirhas, who was quietly glaring at him from the corner, arms crossed.
“So it’s you?”
“Do you know me?”
“Kirhas Hearttaker. The last survivor of the Kalani clan. Right?”
At those words, Kirhas stood up shakily. Her voice was hoarse from long hunger and thirst, but still strong.
“…Who are you? Why are you doing this? What happened to those lunatics outside?”
“Curious, are you? Good attitude. Shall we walk together for a bit?”
As Kirhas silently approached him, the young man stepped aside to make way. Kirhas cautiously passed by him.
“Hmm. Kirhas.”
The young man raised a finger and removed Kirhas’s ragged hood. Though emaciated from starvation, the fierce beauty of the catfolk woman was still evident.
“Right. It’s good to see you young.”
“Who are you?”
“Diemonica Inquisition Officer Baltazar. That’s what you can call me for now.”
“Inquisition Officer… I’ve never been friendly with those types. Do you have business with me?”
“Of course!”
The man stepped out through the open bars. Kirhas followed, watching his back.
From the corridor to the altar, the underground waterway was filled with blood and corpses. A foul stench and an ominous, flickering light lingered in the air. The young man walked through it all as if he were out for a stroll.
Kirhas was stunned. No matter how she looked at it, this slippery young man couldn’t be older than her. Yet, he was undoubtedly a powerhouse she couldn’t even dream of matching.
The young man didn’t mind that the hem of his robe was soaked in blood and filth. He walked on, step by step, and spoke.
“Monthly leave calculated cumulatively from the 1st. Monthly salary calculated at half a silver coin. Life and success bonuses per mission at 150%, plus three silver coins per mission. Guaranteed free citizen status under the Vaitas Church and mission-based immunity equivalent to a bishop.”
“???”
Kirhas tilted her head, looking at him. His attitude was oddly polite for someone rescuing slaves, yet it didn’t seem like he was just letting her go.
The young man climbed the stairs of the underground waterway and continued.
“In short, I’m asking you to become my attendant. Inquisition Officers have attendants. ‘Torchbearers.’ Those who follow with torches. I need you in that position.”
“Why… are you going this far for me?”
Kirhas’s tone had become more respectful. She was intimidated by Fernandez’s presence. Fernandez didn’t look back. He kept moving forward.
“The reason isn’t important. People like you and me care more about the goal. ‘Save the world,’ ‘Burn the demons,’ ‘Eradicate the heretics.’ All good goals, but that’s not our concern.”
They had reached the entrance of the waterway. Fernandez pushed open the half-open entrance wide. The light of the dawn sky and fresh air poured over Kirhas.
Kirhas stood still, staring blankly at his back. Fernandez looked down at her.
“You want revenge, don’t you? I want you to have your revenge.”
‘Take revenge on the slave hunters and demon worshippers who wiped out your clan. Kirhas Hearttaker.’
– For my son’s future. Burn the demons. Kirhas Hearttaker.
Kirhas’s keen sense of smell caught the scent of embers. A foul, burning stench. The tempting aroma emanating from Fernandez’s words was something she could no longer resist.
She didn’t want to resist.
Slowly, she knelt before Fernandez, who stood against the dawn sky.
“I will not submit to the Inquisition Office.”
“Good.”
“Your Excellency. I wish to know your name.”
“Fernandez Sernerd.”
Kirhas bowed her head and spoke softly.
“I pledge my loyalty. Lord Sernerd.”
Above her, Fernandez cast a shadow and smiled.
In a past life, she was the woman he had so desperately wanted to kill. Kirhas of the Kalani clan. The strongest spear and the sturdiest shield of the western wilderness, pride of the catfolk.
Now, she was just another pawn in his chess game. Fernandez’s hand gently stroked Kirhas’s hair.
*
In the dark summoning altar, a red snake lay hidden.
[…Inquisition Officer… Diemonica…]
[…Baltazar…]
[Inquisition Officer…]
[Vaitas’s dog…]
The snake hissed, glaring at the spot where Fernandez and Kirhas had passed, then slowly seeped into the pool of blood.
[Sadarkelisa will remember you, mortal.]
*
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