"Found him," Lilith and Lucifer yelled at once, the latter adding, "he's not looking good."
"Someone tortured him," the demoness fumed, shooting a glare at Gabrielle. "Lucky, I said they should split, and have Welf check Halaima. I'll steer him that way right now—"
"I had no idea the Inquisition took over Haiten," the angel pouted.
She'd been doing that since her plan to have Eyna negotiate in Konrad's name backfired.
She sent her to the village where Konrad grew up, but Father Alastair wasn't there.
The moment that purple-eyed puppy mentioned the name Lord Halstadt—
"They'll pay for chaining her up," Gabrielle gritted out, but Michael reminded her.
"No intervention," he said. "They'll have to sort this out if we want them to fight Maou Midori."
Lilith rolled her eyes.
"No intervention, he says, but thanks to your Inquisition, the tribes will attack soon."
"Our Inquisition?" Gabrielle's voice pitched up. She crossed her arms. "Do you think we have anything to do with that stupid world's religion? Their saints couldn't hold a candle to us—"
"Yet you're too afraid to get involved," the demoness poked at them.
"Fear has nothing to do with it," Michael claimed. "We can't manipulate fate in another world."
That had Lilith snort.
"Oh, because you haven't done it this whole time."
"That was self-defense," Gabrielle had the gall to say. "I made a single tool to sacrifice herself, and get rid of a threat while erasing all traces. But Lucifer's meddling ruined everything."
"Good, no meddling, then," she crossed her arms. "I also don't want Konrad to get involved."
"Too late for that," Michael boomed. "We didn't want him, either. But where is he now?"
"Some catacombs," Lucifer mumbled, "I don't know why he isn't moving."
"Who knows what they did to him," Lilith sniffled. "He must be hungry, beaten, but Welf will be with him in a few hours—once I finally find a path."
"Too late, the tribes are about to attack," Gabrielle announced.
The demoness raised an eyebrow.
"You said Eyna was your only tool. How'd you even know that then?"
"The Inquisitor's dragging her to Halaima. They got ambushed."
"Crap, so it has begun."
***
Was there a safe limit for fast mana recovery?
Konrad never had to deal with it, while the essence only came to him in a slow trickle.
But now? He thought he had held back, yet he was all kinds of broken.
Nose bleeding, headache, and his senses sharpened way too much. Or were they that dulled before? Now he felt the hunger, the aftermath of the lashing, and the exhaustion.
If this was because he got his mana back after a few days, it was even worse.
But he had no time to recover.
Familiar steps echoed in the darkness—and he did everything he could to prepare.
"Ser Prodigy," Sister Stella greeted him. "Oh, another bracelet overcharged. Good, I brought you a reward. Where is the ore you've created?"
She waved a parchment that could've been only one thing.
A few more moments, then he'd no longer have to play the coward. But until then, he gritted his teeth. "S-some rats carried it to the corner." Konrad pointed behind his back.
He did everything under the cover of darkness so the guards wouldn't notice. But the captives?
They must've seen him. Especially Father Alastair. Will they keep their mouths shut?
"P-please, let me sign that first, and get me out of here." Will she notice the ruse?
"No, Ser Prodigy," she yanked the paper back. "There is an order to things in the Church. You'd better get used to it. Bring me the adamantite, then I'll put another bracelet on you, and then—"
Her greedy eyes glinted. Screw the Church and its rules.
He wanted to keep his distance from the mana drain. He didn't count on it, but it was as much of a hurdle as it was an opportunity. Konrad wrung his hands, then turned.
He already pocketed the ore. He'd have been a fool to leave it behind after all the struggle.
But for the executioner's wish—summon light; image; a static one should be fine.
He had a small pile of adamantite appearing in his palms.
"Please, let me sign it," he pleaded again, approaching with trembling legs.
He didn't have to fake that part. He was at the end of his rope.
"Good boy, Ser Prodigy." The woman finally walked into the cell. "Now, your arm—"
Got her. Konrad offered the illusion—then yanked her inside. The bracelet snapped on her wrist as he spun her around, and dispelled all his illusions.
Before she or the guards could react, he summoned two fireballs in their stead.
Small and controlled—only enough to knock those grunts out. But the woman thrashed way too hard in his arms. Her strength was no joke.
"You filth," she screamed, smashing him to the wall. Her elbow almost cracked his jaw.
Konrad summoned another flame while seeing stars.
"T-the key. Take her keys," the other captives begged. They rattled the rusted bars.
He hadn't seen them this active since he was here—not like he had any time to socialize. It took him everything to fix his shortcomings and overcharge the bracelets.
But now he was in control.
"You heard them, Executioner." The boy dusted himself off, raising the fireball. "The keys."
Was Stella shaking? That was new.
"Even if you kill me," she spat, trembling, "you'll never get out of here." Konrad flung the third flame at her, burning the parchment but careful not to scorch her.
The executioner screamed, clawing at her arms as she collapsed. The next thing he knew, she curled up in a fetal position. "Did I overdo it?" Konrad mumbled, wasting precious seconds.
Father Alastair patted his shoulders before reaching for the keys himself.
"Inquisitor Otto burned her family alive. And had her watch," he said, freeing the other prisoners. Even then, he kept his distance from the trembling woman.
"Oh," Konrad felt bad for her, but it didn't change his plans. "Help her up, and get her to walk."
"Y-you'll never get through the guards," she bawled, no longer looking tall and confident. She got dirt on her beautiful, straight hair, hugging her knees, and rocking back and forth.
That was quite the change.
"She's right," the priest noted. "But we won't have to go that way."
The boy raised an eyebrow. Alastair sighed.
"I told you, didn't I? I was the court pastor here in Halaima. I know the catacombs inside and out." Well, that was good to know. Half of the captives have already run in every direction.
What will happen to them? And could he trust the priest?
If nothing else, the enemy of his enemies was a friend, or should've been.
"Lead the way, then," Konrad nodded, taking one of the guard's swords. "But we'll take her, too."
"D-don't dare to touch me, you filth," Stella sniffled, not too convincing.
"If you walk on your own, that's even better," he shrugged. "But don't make me summon another flame. I was gentler to you than you deserve already, so get moving."
He glanced at the bracelet he snapped on her wrist, and it didn't swell whatsoever.
At least she wasn't an arcane threat—or it didn't work with holy magic?
Who was he kidding?
Even in that pathetic state, she could've squashed him with her bare hands. And from the clinking sounds, the guards weren't that far away, either.