1.
Peter.
The No. 1 operative of the Black Wolf mercenary group and the man who infiltrated the Aria Cathedral.
He was also a latecomer who appeared in this episode in the <Original Story>.
To put it another way, if Peter had appeared earlier in the story,
【Name: Peter】
-Alias: Zealot.
-Classification: SS+ Rank.
-Info: A survivor of the <Eclipse> military enhancement project, <Solitude>. He escaped thanks to the <Black Wolf> and thus came to believe in and follow him as a god.
he could have easily resolved situations that were much more difficult to solve.
“…SS+ Rank?”
I knew this from the information, but facing him directly was no joke.
“Aaa…!! My lord…!!!”
Simply kneeling and fumbling in front of Nahan was nothing special, but even so, his presence was powerful.
“During this time… How have you been…!!”
Moreover, with his emotions heightened and his strength waning, his every movement and gesture was oppressive.
“…Had he been with the opposing camp, he would have been the most terrifying.”
The more focused Nahan gave a calm order to Peter.
“Peter, you shall now kill the Pope of Faith, Felix von Arendale.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Pfft.
Before he even finished speaking, Peter disappeared from sight.
Crack…!!
Kwaang…!!
Vibration and explosions began to erupt in various parts of the cathedral.
The infiltrated operatives had revealed themselves and had met their respective targets.
“Quicker than I thought.”
Nahan gave a smirk and headed towards a suitable hiding place.
Luna was the High Priest of Radiance,
Dalan was the High Priest of Silence,
Ruby was the High Priest of Benevolence,
Hanlyang was the High Priest of Love.
And finally, the Pope of Faith, Felix von Arendale with Laktea, would be dealt with by Peter.
“Among the eight villains, taking care of five… Celena won’t be in danger then.”
With our assault, Goddess Kwangmyeong will surely come, and during the investigation, as in the <Original Story>, it’s inevitable that they’d stumble upon Asha or Celena.
“Let’s twist the flow of the <Original Story> a bit while still saving the ones we need.”
Of course, things might not always go as planned, but when that happens, I and the operatives will just resolve (eliminate) any obstacles that arise.
“Let’s take a rest.”
…It was peaceful, as the auto-battle continued.
Just as Nahan found a secluded spot and relaxed, unknowingly smiling, a red system window appeared in front of his eyes.
【Warning.】
【The third operative – <Hanlyang(S)>‘s health has dropped below 50%.】
“…What?”
Nahan stopped lying down and turned his gaze towards where Hanlyang had rushed off to.
…Kwaang!!
…Tuh-kang!!
In contrast to the other noisy areas, the place where Hanlyang was remained unusually quiet.
Nevertheless,
【Warning.】
【The third operative – <Hanlyang(S)>’s health has dropped below 40%.】
Hanlyang’s health kept dropping.
“Damn it…!!”
What’s wrong?
‘Maybe after the main scenario appeared, I thought something bad could happen, so I assigned the weakest ability level priest.’
The High Priest of Love.
In Phase 2, among the average S-Class to SS-Class zealots, the High Priest of Love was the sole weakest, rising only from A-Class to S- Class.
Since Hanlyang was SS+ Class, he shouldn’t have been at a disadvantage.
【Warning!】
【The third operative – <Hanlyang(S)>’s health has dropped below 30%.】
What on earth is the reason?
“No, I don’t have time for this.”
There’s no time for thinking, I must move and save Hanlyang.
If not,
【Warning.】
【If the <Contractee> dies, you, the <Initiator>, will also die.】
I’ll lose my life, too.
2.
The High Priest of Love, Hendrickson.
When he was abandoned by his parents,
abandoned by his friends,
and even forsaken by the Goddess,
he reached the edge of the precipice. The current Pope, Felix von Arendale, personally found and asked him:
“My child, what is it that you lack?”
In response to the warm voice that felt like a gentle embrace of the heart, Hendrickson sobbed and responded:
“Love.”
“…Love?”
“Yes.”
All I ever wanted was for everyone I passed by to love me deeply, and that’s all.
…Sa-ruk.
In Hanlyang’s field of vision, the dagger held by Hendrickson distorted like an illusion.
“What kind of… trick… is this?”
“Trick? I simply wish to be loved even by someone as inconsequential as you.”
Crrrrack.
Hanlyang gritted his teeth so tightly he might break them, scanning the wounds all over his body.
Stab wounds – 8 deep,
Slashes – 9 deep.
And if added to the shallow cuts, they would certainly become life-threatening critical injuries.
“…Huff.”
I must crush his skull quickly before the bleeding gets worse.
Determined, Hanlyang steeled himself and rose to his feet, his massive body towering.
“Are you trying to continue?”
Don’t fall for it.
“Do you not understand that as long as you love me, you cannot attack me?”
You know, this man is trash that needs to be eradicated, not some lady.
Then why–
“Even if you press forward like this… Alright then, let’s play again.”
【The High Priest of Love – <Hendrickson(A+)> has activated <The Power of Love>.】
【The realm of <Enchantment(S-)> has been unleashed.】
【The subject – <Hanlyang(S)> has projected love towards <Hendrickson(A+).】
"...Hanlyang."
"Aah... I, Ilhong Ah, Lady..."
How could you, who passed away, be standing here before my eyes? This fool doesn't understand.
Creak!
The large stone mask worn over Hanlyang's face was yanked off by rough hands revealing his features.
"...Lady."
The face beneath the stony mask.
Black hair,
a face marred with scars,
and yet, shining black eyes.
The current man is no longer the Tal of the Black Wolf who exudes an oppressive presence merely by standing there.
"Ilhong Lady."
He was the bodyguard of the person he had loved all his life, Ilhong Lady.
"Lady..."
"I've missed you, Hanlyang."
The gentle scent of plum blossoms reached his ears.
Every memory was still vivid.
-What's your name?
-...None.
-Let's call you Hanlyang. It’s the name of the protagonist in the novel I'm reading.
-...?
She was the person who casually took in the Eastern orphan that he was and led him to live as a human.
Even though she was the sole successor of the illustrious Cheon family, which had long been in high government positions,
-It's dangerous, Lady!!
-Isn't it burning and collapsing?! Hurry and go save them!!
Always throwing herself into danger to serve the people kindly.
Even though she lost her sight,
-It's fine. You'll be my eyes.
-...Lady.
She continued to hold firm on the path she had walked on, unmoved.
So it was unavoidable.
Hanlyang, who had been suppressing his feelings all this time while protecting her,
-You, who've always been so enchanting, are my eternal and unchanging love.
Falling for the thousand-day rose flower — her — was simply unavoidable.
So it was unavoidable.
-Do you know such words, Hanlyang? I didn't know you planned to live alone forever?
-...Lady.
-Pfft. You're cute. I won't tease you. I won't tease you, so come closer.
The thousand-day rose flower, fearing that Hanlyang might get hurt, hid her true feelings,
-You, who've always been enchanting, are my unchanging love forever.
She had no choice but to fall in love with the awkward man who had become everything to her.
Therefore, Hanlyang, who had reunited with her after four years,
"Ah, Lady!"
Dashing toward her heedless of propriety and embracing her tightly,
"Sorry. Sorry..!!"
It was naturally the right thing to do.
"...Hanlyang."
During the time the giant of grief embraced her frail frame and sobbed, she quietly observed him before asking:
"So, why did you kill me?"
"Aaaah...!!!"
"It hurt. When someone other than you, pierced me with your fists, I felt a pain and betrayal I'll never forget."
"No!! No, it wasn't like that!!!"
The clumsy movements of the giant hands.
...Tak!
Deflected before touching her, a decisive gesture.
Her faded, opaque pink eyes gazed directly at Hanlyang and asked again.
"What wasn't?"
"I... I was following Lady's will...!!"
"Ah... Do you think what you did was entirely my will? Do you really think it was my will for you to grab my heart and tear it apart, Hanlyang?"
"Aah!! Sorry!! Sorry!!"
The thick hand swiped desperately but failed to catch anything.
Therefore, she
"Sorry, Hanlyang?"
"Sorry!! Because of me, Lady...!!"
"So see, you killed me. Therefore, you must receive your punishment, right?"
The High Priest of Love Hendrickson, feeling the rising excitement, extended a single dagger.
"Stab."
Just as you pierced my heart,
"Stick it into your own heart. Do it yourself."
In the fading consciousness, the dagger bearing the insignia of Aria was somehow in his hands already.
Hanlyang, wiping away his tears and looking at Ilhong,
"Yes, Lady."
If Lady wishes for it, if it makes her hate me a little less, I'm willing.
...So,
"Could you, just one last time, whisper my name as you used to?"
"Of course. Farewell, my love Hanlyang."
...That's right.
This is enough.
Kwaak!!
Hanlyang smiled faintly and was about to stab the dagger into his own heart when,
"...Ugh."
A shadow lurking nearby covered his mouth with severed hair.
"Sorry. Watching two bulky men hug and whisper love confessions made me nauseous."
Tuhk-tuhk.
Perhaps it wasn't just a metaphor. After wiping off vomit with his hair, the man looked back and asked:
"My Lord, can I take them both?"
"...Hanlyang is on our side though."
"Ah, my bad. Then I'll just kill one...?"
The man's name, given by his only god, the Black Wolf, was Peter.
He,
"Didn't think it was true, but it is. Is Peter, the mid-level priest, indeed. What's this mess? And who's that guy in the back?"
"Hey, you son of a bitch."
"...Huh? What did you just say?"
"The guy in the back? Is he your friend, my lord? Can't have that. You're off to Hell, you evil scumbag."
"......What?"
He was the first operative of the Black Wolves.
