A dark, sealed room where not a single ray of light penetrates.
A man sitting in front of an old desk turns his back after gazing at the black flames burning on the wall.
"Raon Zieghart and the Light Wind division's movements are strange."
He strokes his chin while looking down under the desk.
"Their eyes are darting around as if they're searching for something."
"It, it might be because of me. When I first saw him, I unintentionally leaked some demonic energy..."
The black-haired young man kneeling let out a low groan.
"But it was truly a minuscule amount. Even priests or holy artifacts wouldn't have been able to detect it, so how..."
He trembled his lips as if he couldn't understand.
"Sometimes, individuals with special senses are born."
The man curled his lips into a thin smile.
"So, did Raon Zieghart participate in the Holy Assembly to find you? Things are getting interesting."
"If, if they really sensed the demonic energy, wouldn't it be better to send them back even now?"
"No, it's better to keep them closer. If they can't find it openly, it means they're not certain."
He laughed, saying that enemies should be kept even closer than allies.
"Raon Zieghart once earned the title of Frostfire Sword of Valor, valuing chivalry highly. Such people can't swing their swords recklessly. He'll probably be so focused on finding you that he won't see anything else."
The man lightly wagged his finger, saying he could see through Raon and the Light Wind division's actions.
"I'll handle things up above, so you focus on your task."
"Ah, understood."
The black-haired youth bowed his head and then dispersed into a shadow like dirty water.
Tap tap tap.
The man turned his back again, fixing his gaze on the black flames burning on the wall.
The black flames grew darker, starting to climb up the words engraved on the wall.
"God is always near..."
He let his lips droop and shed black tears.
"Where exactly?"
* * *
"Priest Piron is a true man."
Burren sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"He spent all day serving others. It felt like watching a boy who had just become a priest, not a high-ranking one."
He shook his head, saying he never knew such a person existed.
"Kinier was a holy knight in a different sense, wasn't he?"
Martha frowned as if annoyed.
"What do you mean by that?"
Burren tilted his head.
"That bastard doesn't pray or train, he just goes around hitting on women! He got rejected right in front of me, and when he immediately tried to hit on me, I almost swung my sword at his mouth!"
She gritted her teeth, saying he was the very definition of a scoundrel.
"Ugh, I thought I was going to die trying to stop you then."
Dorian sighed, his shoulders drooping.
"Runaan. How about Sir Danief?"
Raon nodded and called out to Runaan.
"Ah."
Runaan, who had been nodding off while leaning against the wall, raised her head blankly.
"He follows the king, chases after the king, and sticks only to the king. During breaks, he swings his sword. And..."
"And?"
"He's quiet."
Runaan put a finger to her lips, saying she had never seen someone so quiet.
"How about the Saintess?"
Raon called out to Rimmer, who was picking his ear while leaning against the wall.
"Can't even see a hair of her. Is she hiding somewhere, extorting kids or something?"
Rimmer massaged his temples, looking frustrated.
"Vice Leader. You went to the gambling den instead of working, didn't you?"
"Obviously."
"Geez..."
Burren, Martha, and Dorian shook their heads.
"It's true! Even I know when and where to draw the line, you know?"
"Since when?"
Runaan replied bluntly, as if striking a bone.
"Ugh..."
Rimmer bit his lip, clutching his chest as if at a loss for words.
"Anyway, she really can't be seen. I even went into the convent to search!"
"You pervert."
Martha gritted her teeth in disgust.
"Geez, damned if I do, damned if I don't..."
Rimmer slumped his shoulders, looking exhausted.
"Balt and Yuson, whom I followed, didn't show any unusual behavior either."
Mark Goetun also bowed his head, saying he couldn't find anything from the high-ranking priests.
"How about you guys?"
Burren gestured towards Raon and Hoppen.
"It's the same for us."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly while making eye contact with Hoppen.
Using Hoppen's status as a prince and the 5th Holy Knight Division Commander, they met with everyone in the audience chamber and high-ranking officials, but couldn't find anything unusual.
Perhaps because they had experienced it once, even provoking Wrath's anger didn't elicit any response.
"Is it really that bitch?"
Martha narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the Saintess's absence.
"It's not uncommon for the Saintess to disappear for months, not just a day or two. It would be stranger if she were constantly visible."
Hoppen shook his head, saying that's just how she was.
"In the end, it was all for nothing."
Burren frowned, running his hand through his hair.
"Is there really someone using demonic energy?"
Martha rolled her eyes.
"Yes. I'm certain."
If it were just his own thought, he wouldn't have been able to answer that question properly, but with Wrath's confirmation, he calmly nodded.
"Phew..."
Raon sighed, looking at the yellow moonlight brushing against the window.
'In the end, we couldn't find them.'
Even though the Light Wind Division and I personally searched everyone in the audience chamber, the person who made a pact with a demon did not reveal themselves.
We laid traps to reveal demonic energy, but they didn't even realize it was a trap, making me think there might really be no one who made a pact with a demon.
'However...'
We didn't get to meet the Saintess.
As Rimmer said, the Saintess had disappeared without a trace since that day.
I thought she couldn't be the Saintess due to her crude, scoundrel-like behavior, but now it seemed we had to place her under suspicion as well.
Especially since she was the only one who openly told us not to participate in the Holy Assembly.
"What should we do now? The Holy Assembly is the day after tomorrow."
Burren bit his lip, seemingly at a loss for what to do.
"The search operation is canceled."
Raon clapped his hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention.
'This is just a waste of time at this rate.'
Given the current situation, it's highly likely that the enemy knows we're searching for them.
Seeing how they're hiding their identity in this land full of holy power, it's impossible to find them before the Holy Assembly.
"Then what are we going to do?"
"We need to change our approach. We have to be prepared to fight even if someone summons a demon. Even if there are some sacrifices, we need to protect the greater good."
I'm not a hero. Rather than wasting time on uncertainties, it's much better to make proper preparations.
"Dorian. You have holy water, right?"
"Of course. It's an essential item."
Dorian smiled brightly, saying holy water was a necessity in the Holy Kingdom.
"We also have a lot of holy water. If you use that..."
"No. We can't use that."
He shook his head firmly. Given that high-ranking officials were involved, we had to assume that the holy water and artifacts in this country were already contaminated.
"From now on..."
Raon explained to the Light Wind division and Hoppen how to make preparations.
Though the plan was complex due to not knowing the enemy, everyone nodded in understanding at once, true to their talents.
"It's not even our land, but it's such a hassle."
Rimmer wiggled his finger at Hoppen.
"If this all ends well, you'll repay us properly, right? You know that?"
"Of course. Don't worry."
Hoppen smiled, saying he'd treat them to a full course.
"I'll look forward to it!"
Rimmer grinned and went out through the window. I don't understand why he always leaves through there when there's a door.
"You don't need to give us anything. We'll lose it all here anyway."
Burren said there was no need to give even a single gold coin before leaving the room.
"That's right. Just ignore it."
"Kuuu..."
Martha snorted as she left, carrying the sleeping Runaan on her back.
"Then."
Mark Goetun bowed politely before leaving.
"I'll be going too."
Hoppen followed Mark Goetun with an awkward smile. His footsteps seemed heavier than anyone else's.
'Hey.'
Raon closed the door and gestured to Wrath, who was leaning against the ceiling.
-What.
Wrath raised his eyelids, swishing his tail.
'Still not planning to talk?'
-How many times will you ask? The contract between humans and demons is made through mutual agreement. It was the conditions set by me and other demons, so how could I break it!
He slammed his hand down, telling Raon not to say such nonsense.
'For someone saying that, you also looked a bit anxious.'
-W-What do you mean I looked anxious!
Wrath shook his head vigorously in denial.
-In any case, this king will not move until the contract is fulfilled! Absolutely not!
'I see.'
Those words meant he might help after the contract was fulfilled. That was somewhat fortunate.
'King Bauren, Priest Piron, Royal Guard Captain Danief, Paladin Kinier, Saintess Olga, and the priests...'
Raon sighed briefly, recalling in his mind everything that had happened so far.
'Hm? Wait a minute...'
As he recalled when Hoppen had explained about the high-ranking officials 5 days ago, a suspicious person came to mind.
Considering what he had heard from Hoppen and the recent situation, that person's behavior was clearly strange. Though he couldn't be certain, it was enough to raise his guard.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
As he was slowly trying to retrace his thoughts, someone knocked on the door. It wasn't a knock, but a sound like someone kicking it.
Raon opened the door with a frown. Saintess Olga, with her purple hair tucked behind her left ear, was standing there with one leg crossed.
Now that he looked, there was also a strange tattoo behind her ear.
"Saintess?"
He couldn't understand why the person who had been impossible to find until now suddenly appeared.
"Cut the 'Saintess' crap. Make some time."
Not 'please make some time', but a blunt command.
What's even funnier is that after saying that, the Saintess left without even looking back.
'She's got quite the personality.'
Raon shook his head and followed the Saintess. She stopped at the zelkova tree in front of the lodging and leaned her back against it.
"Why did you call me?"
He nodded slightly, hiding his searching gaze.
"Why are you speaking informally?"
The Saintess tilted her head.
"Because you are."
"You've got a nasty personality."
"Like you're one to talk?"
"Khuhu."
The Saintess laughed as if pleased. Indeed, she was a peculiar person.
"Do you smoke?"
"No."
When he shook his head, the Saintess took out a cigarette from her bosom and put it in her mouth.
"You guys seem to be doing something strange."
The Saintess shook her head as she lit the cigarette.
"Stop doing useless things and go back to Zieghart."
"What strange things?"
"Sending that ugly elf to look for me."
She sneered, referring to Rimmer.
"I see a lot of faces. You might not know, but I'll pass on such a sly guy."
The Saintess shook her head, saying words that would make Rimmer have a fit if he heard them.
"How much do you know?"
"What do you know?"
She asked back instead.
"What are you trying to find by following people around?"
"..."
Raon brought his fingertips together as he looked at the Saintess's sunken eyes.
"Oh, are you going to kill me?"
The Saintess laughed, placing her hand on her own neck.
"No need to glare like that. It's just a hunch."
Long gray smoke puffed out from her red lips.
-Keh-hek! Keh-hek!
Wrath, floating in the air, coughed and frowned.
-Kill that wench! This is secondhand smoke!
'Just stay quiet for a moment.'
Raon pushed Wrath away and looked at the Saintess.
"A hunch?"
"I've had good intuition since birth. I can read both crises and opportunities."
The Saintess lightly smacked her lips.
"That intuition is telling me. Stop your useless actions and leave."
"Does that mean a crisis is coming to Suphren?"
"It might be, or it might not be."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"If your intuition is not good, why don't you just say it outright?"
"I've tried it a few times, but when the word 'danger' comes out of my mouth, it becomes an even bigger crisis. A lot of people died, disgustingly so."
The Saintess chewed on the end of her cigarette, saying it was a dog's life.
"Then why are you telling me this..."
"Just as you observed me, I also saw you. Strangely, you felt okay to me."
She took a long drag on her nearly finished cigarette and smiled.
"See? Even as I'm talking to you now, I don't feel any chills at all. Maybe it's really a sign to save you."
The Saintess extinguished the burnt-out cigarette and shook her head.
"A revelation to save just one person like you. What a god, right? Makes me want to punch its jaw."
She gritted her teeth as she put the cigarette butt in her right pocket.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched the Saintess insulting the god.
'What on earth is this woman?'
She wasn't transcendent, yet she spoke as if reading heaven's flow. Even without detailed content, it was an amazing thing.
-It's Heavenly Connection.
'Heavenly Connection?'
-It's a case where the upper dantian is open from birth, connecting a line to the heavens. It's open even wider than the pineapple girl's. However, since it's not intentional, she won't know the details, just as she says.
'Ah...'
Hearing Wrath's words, Raon began to understand the Saintess's words.
"This is the last warning. If you don't want to die, stop this nonsense and go home."
"If this place is dangerous, wouldn't my Light Wind division and I be of help?"
"Do you know when that crisis will come? Are you going to stay here forever?"
The Saintess snorted, saying the timing was unknown.
"And that blockhead king said it, didn't he? That even if we're weaker than you, we have the courage to fight to the end."
She clenched her small hand into a fist.
"Since we heard such words, we have no choice but to fight to the end with our own strength, not the strength of others."
The Saintess's eyes were calm. Unlike calling him a blockhead, she seemed to respect King Bauren.
"If you understand, get out to Zieghart before the Holy Assembly begins."
The Saintess waved her hand as if shooing away a fly and turned her back.
"Hmm..."
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched the Saintess's retreating figure.
'What should I do?'
Revealing the truth to the Saintess might be of great help to the plan. But this situation itself could be her intention, making things complicated.
As he was biting his lip in contemplation, Wrath clapped his hands while looking at the Saintess's arms and thighs.
-Ah, so that's what it was!
'What?'
-I thought her tattoos were strange, but seeing her ear, I get it. They're not all tattoos.
Wrath nodded as he looked at the square tattoo engraved on the Saintess's ear.
'Not tattoos?'
-That's right. Those bizarrely shaped marks are not tattoos, but the repulsion of holy power.
'What's the repulsion of holy power?'
-When holy power is used excessively, the skin melts in such a form. Demons experience the same phenomenon.
He shuddered, saying she must be a madwoman who couldn't feel pain.
Raon clenched his fist after hearing Wrath's words.
'Then...'
* * *
The day of the Holy Assembly dawned.
Was it because God blessed it? Or because it blessed God? There wasn't a single small cloud in the sky.
As soon as the dawn mist cleared, the Holy Kingdom of Suphren locked its gates and enveloped the entire kingdom with a wall of holy power.
As the sun rose over the pure white castle walls, all the citizens of the kingdom came out of their homes.
They knelt in the streets, holding cups filled with water or holy water.
Raon stood at the top of the spire, looking down at the entire kingdom.
The sight of countless believers preparing for prayer under the dome-shaped sky of holy power was a spectacle in itself.
"Thank you for staying, Light Wind Division Leader."
Priest Piron approached from the side and bowed his head.
"It's nothing. I think it will be a good experience for me as well."
Raon smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"It's certainly a magnificent sight."
Paladin Kinier rubbed his hands together with his arms behind his back.
"We see this every year, magnificent my ass."
Saintess Olga pouted her lips. She glared fiercely at them as if displeased.
As Raon made eye contact with the Saintess, heavy footsteps were heard from behind.
Turning around, he saw King Bauren, Royal Guard Captain Danief, and the high-ranking priests coming up.
"We greet Your Majesty."
Raon bowed his head to King Bauren.
"It's an honor that the Light Wind Division Leader has stayed."
King Bauren smiled as he returned the greeting.
"Did the other swordsmen not come?"
He tilted his head, looking at Raon who was alone.
"They said they'd stay below, as if this place made them uncomfortable."
"Well, there are many old folks, so that's understandable. Division Leader, feel free to go down anytime if you get bored."
Bauren smiled gently and walked forward.
"As the sun is rising, we should start right away."
The king stood at the edge of the spire with calm steps. He sat down in a precarious spot where one more step would make him fall, and set down the holy water he had brought.
Priest Piron approached and poured holy water into the king's cup.
Ziiiiiiing!
As the bell rang out across the entire kingdom, the king raised the cup full of holy water towards the sky before bringing it to his lips.
The citizens below followed the king's lead, moistening their lips with water and holy water.
King Bauren smiled as if pleased by the sight, then knelt down and clasped his hands together.
"God is always near. Even if He is not watching..."
As he began to recite verses from the scripture, the citizens below also started chanting along.
Gooooo!
The light that started from the highest king spread to the priests, holy knights, and citizens, causing the wall of holy power enveloping the entire kingdom to emit an even thicker and grander radiance.
A sense of holiness and sacredness rose up as if God Himself might manifest in this land.
Raon turned his gaze, feeling holy power so intense it made his fingers tingle.
'To think there's not even a slight reaction with this much holy power spreading...'
Though holy power strong enough to affect even ordinary people was moving, no one seemed to be in pain.
The person who made a pact with a demon had far more terrifying endurance than I expected.
Raon calmed himself and scanned everyone present.
But until the sun that rose in the east reached the center of the sky, not a single person moved.
Ziiiiiiing!
Only when the majestic bell sound announcing noon rang out did everyone open their eyes.
The king drank the second holy water and recited the scripture again. The citizens also drank their water and holy water before continuing their prayers.
Nothing special happened after that either.
Ziiiiiiing!
The third bell rang as the sun began to set.
All the citizens of Suphren moistened their lips with holy water and water, just like at noon.
Raon frowned as he looked at the sunset sky.
'What's going on?'
Is it not today?
There wasn't much time left until the end of the Holy Assembly prayer, yet there wasn't even a small cloud, let alone any demonic energy.
He had been tense the whole time, but now that focus was starting to unravel.
'Did they notice I was searching and postpone their schedule? That doesn't seem likely though...'
As he pondered the incomprehensible situation, the surroundings grew quiet.
King Bauren, who should have been reciting prayers, had his mouth closed and a faint smile on his face.
"Isn't this a truly beautiful sight?"
King Bauren nodded gently as he looked at the citizens with their hands clasped.
"Light Wind Division Leader. Have you heard the saying that God only gives trials that humans can bear?"
He turned to Raon with gentle eyes.
"...I know of it."
Raon nodded. That saying was common not just in Suphren, but in most religions.
"I believed in those words more than anyone. I thought that both big and small trials were experiences that filled my flesh and soul."
The king smiled as he stroked his chest.
'I?'
King Bauren had always referred to himself as 'I' or 'me'. This was the first time he called himself 'I' in this way. (E/N: Basically he went from saying your everyday person 'I' to using the 'I'/'We' used by King in eastern country, I think)
"But it didn't work. I prayed so much not to be led into temptation, but God didn't listen. It's either because I'm a human too weak to overcome trials or..."
The king raised his head. A black aura rippled over his blue eyes.
"Because God is a son of a bitch."
As that chilling voice flowed down from the spire, pitch-black darkness rose up over the wall of holy power enveloping the kingdom.