The man took a slow step forward, and his presence had such a strong effect that the women around him automatically bowed their heads in respect.
"Do you even realize," he started, his voice gracious but deep, filled with arrogance, "whose presence you stand before?"
No one among the women nearby said a word. They just looked at him with unwavering belief.
Bane, who was disguised as a female believer, blinked once.
A soft smile barely appeared on his lips under the veil as he gently tilted his head.
"No," he replied, "We have no idea, I mean, who are you dear sir?"
The silence that followed was painfully long.
Chelsea, who was standing next to him, froze.
Then slowly her shoulders started trembling.
"...."
"You serious?" Bolic asked again, this time with a mix of disbelief and growing embarrassment.
"Yes, sir. I am… seriously serious." Bane nodded repeatedly, his head bobbing like a woodpecker.
"...."
Bolic could only stare at her, completely tongue-tied.
The women nearby stopped moving, their empty faces showing a brief sign of puzzlement.
Chelsea swiftly turned her face away, one hand rising as if she was adjusting her veil, but it didn't help hide how she was struggling to stay composed.
'Don't laugh girl. Don't giggle. Don't—'
" Puuhaha—" In the end, a tiny chuckle slipped out from her pink lips.
Bolic's right eye twitched.
Blue veins pulsed on his bald head, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lose control.
"Yo—"
He caught himself mid-word, forcibly swallowing the rest as his eyes flicked to the side.
Chelsea had already moved.
Her hand pressed firmly against the back of Bane's head, pushing him down into a stiff, awkward bow.
"Apologies," she said quickly, her voice tight but polite. "She's… newly arrived from countryside and doesn't know proper etiquette yet,"
"Ow—Sister, I can talk for myself—"
"Clearly, you can not, so shut up!" she growled at Bane.
"....."
"Huff" Bolic took a slow breath in and then forced a stiff smile across his face.
Unbeknownst to Bolic, Bane with his head lowered had his eyes glowing green for just a moment before the color faded.
He clenched his teeth, and a thin line of blood slipped from his nose which he quickly licked away before it could fall.
But through his Teigu, Jormungandr, he had already scanned the surroundings and sent a warning.
Hidden within the folds of Chelsea's clothing, a small snake stirred.
Chelsea caught it instantly and understood.
'Assassins. More likely they were Rakshasas'
Neither of them moved beyond that but now they became alert for the unexpected.
"…How amusing," Bolic said at last, his smile tight, controlled.
He turned slightly toward the women.
"Girls," he said, a little more immaculately now, "it seems our little guest is... unfamiliar."
At once, the women woke up from their drowsiness.
Suddenly their voices overlapped, uneven… reverent, yet hollow.
"Lord Bolic…"
"Our guide…"
"The chosen one's right hand…"
Bolic's lips curved slightly, obviously delighted with their compliments.
"Indeed I am," he declared, lifting his chin slightly. "The one entrusted with maintaining purity within this sacred path. The one who makes sure that filth does not corrupt the will of our Messiah."
His eyes shifted back to Bane and Chelsea, probing them as though they were items rather than people.
"And you two…"
He took a step closer.
"Who are you?"
"For service."
Chelsea smoothly lied in response, her voice calm and steady as a result of years spent as an assassin.
Bane gave a small nod beside her, acting as if he were going along with it.
Chelsea held up the medallion, something she had arranged through her network but Bolic barely spared it a glance.
His eyes flicked over it for a second… then he dismissed it like it meant nothing.
He let out a soft, amused huff.
"First day… and already wandering this deep?"
"How… bold of you two."
His smile grew a little wider, but there was something unpleasant starting to show in it.
"But it seems fate was lucky on you two. So, you should consider yourselves fortunate. Not many are granted such… personal attention on their first day."
He moved around slowly while talking, getting closer step by step, like a predator that didn't try to hide its intentions.
"In this holy place," he continued, his tone shifting to a pious one, "we purify the impure and guide lost souls. We make sure that anyone who begins this journey does so in the right way."
He stopped just a little too close.
His gaze dipped again.
"And you two…"
He paused for a second.
"Reek of impurity."
The women around them shifted faintly, their murmurs rising again, agreement without thought.
"Impure…"
"They must be cleansed…"
Bolic's smile turned a shade ugly and grotesque.
"It would be my responsibility…" he said, voice lowering, "…to personally oversee your purification."
The word lingered, and the way his eyes gleamed made it painfully clear that this had nothing to do with faith.
As he spoke, Bolic stepped closer, his hands beginning to rise as if to "guide" them, inching forward with confidence but just as his fingers were about to reach them, a voice rang out from behind, interrupting the moment entirely.
"Lord Bolic."
Bolic halted instantly.
For a moment, a sign of annoyance showed on his face, but he quickly hid it, pulling his hands back and standing up straight, his posture once again that of a calm official as a man stepped forward, dropping to one knee with his head lowered.
"What is your purpose here?" he asked, his fingers slowly curling into tight fists, his tone now edged with annoyance.
The man lowered his head even further.
"Our Lord personally asked for the presence of these two young ladies," he said. "I was told to take them to him right away."
The kneeling man lowered his head further.
"I see," he said stiffly, his jaw tightening noticeably as his gaze briefly shifted toward Bane and Chelsea, clearly disapproving. But he said nothing for a moment before finally stepping aside, forced to comply despite his frustration.
"Go, then."
"This way," the messenger said in a quiet voice. "Please follow me."
Bane and Chelsea followed without hesitating as the man stood up and softly asked them to come with him.
Both kept their calm gait as they moved forward, even though they could still feel Bolic's gaze on them from behind, clearly not happy with what had happened.
"Tch…"
Behind them, Bolic clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Hey", he called, barely above a whisper as he spoke to the empty air, fully aware that his unseen watchers were listening.
"Keep your eyes on them. Something about this… doesn't sit right."
With that, he turned away, and his followers quickly formed a line around him.
As he walked, his rough hands moved recklessly, brushing against the attractive women around him in a way that was anything but restrained.
He released his pent up frustrations on them as his rough grip became tighter, his fingers pressing in without any care, leaving behind marks in intimate places.
Yet none of them reacted.
Their expressions remained distant, hazy and unfocused.
That faint sweetness in the air lingered for a moment then faded away.
—-
The attendant led them through a quiet stretch of corridors, passing a series of guarded doors before finally stopping at one of the innermost chambers.
Without a word, he stepped aside and gestured for them to proceed.
Bane and Chelsea exchanged a brief glance, then nodded and moved forward.
As soon as the door opened, they glanced around, and every time they turned their head, a flood of amazing new details came into view.
The room was big, definitely a master bedroom, and was nicely decorated with art pieces spread around the space. Two large windows had heavy curtains over them, and the curtains looked carefully made. They noticed golden edges on the curtains and imaginative designs on the windows.
A tall window at the far end let in light, spreading a warm glow throughout the room.
And there….
Sitting close to that window, as though positioned right in the middle of everything, was a man.
He looked young and handsome.
With long blonde hair cascading neatly over his shoulders, he had a composed face, and his purple eyes held a quiet, unusual depth.
He wore red and white robes, his attire clearly showed that he was the leader.
The handsome man smiled when he saw them.
A warm welcoming smile graced his lips.
"Welcome, both of you," he said, his voice soft and calming.
"You don't have to keep up your disguises here."
His gaze shifted slightly, settling on Bane.
"Especially you, my friend. We clearly have something to talk about, I presume."
His charming smile deepened, just a fraction.