Chapter 328 – Wanted Order (2)
A few days ago, a ship anchored at the Hefin River exploded.
The tremendous roar shattered the dawn and shook the streets, and at nearly the same time, a commotion broke out at Riverungr's city hall.
Something chilling.
Sensing an inexplicable foreboding, the knights immediately began a search, and soon succeeded in uncovering a hidden secret chamber.
There they found the corpse of the Guardian, Sandorn.
Beheaded, in a ghastly state shriveled as if Undead... they tried in haste to report it to the higher-ups, but Mayor Trovren had vanished without a trace.
This was no simple disappearance.
They concluded that the mayor had been kidnapped by whoever killed the Guardian.
Bishop Lena also knew the truth.
Because she had been the one who, upon request, directly confirmed Sandorn's corpse.
There she discovered traces of a curse, which she informed the knights about.
Of course, that fact was not spread among the citizens.
Even now they were troubled enough by the demi-humans prowling outside the city, if rumors spread that an evil black mage was roaming the streets, the anxiety would peak...
And how long had it even been since the new year dawned.
"But for you all to be the culprits behind the incident! Surely... you don't mean to capture me now and silence me, do you?! All I did was confirm the body! Please, let me go!"
Bishop Lena shrank back, covering her face with both hands.
She trembled in fear, tears glimmering faintly between her fingers... but Verden and Leira remained expressionless.
For there was not a trace of genuine fear in her voice.
"..."
When there was no response, she rolled her eyes slyly and lifted her head.
"Click, as expected, you're all far too formidable, so my acting won't work at all. If it were the citizens outside, it would have been more than enough... hm hm, let's end the joke here."
Bishop Lena seated herself in the empty chair.
"So then, what exactly is happening in Riverungr right now?"
"...You're not suspecting us?"
"Why would I? I've no reason to. I may not know much about the two over there since I've only seen them once, but Lady Leira has many ties with our Church of Luas. I know well enough she isn't a bad person. Besides..."
Her eyes, imbued with holy power, gleamed sharply.
"Neither of you are the type to cast multiple curses upon Mayor Trovren."
***
It was Leira who took on the task of explaining the circumstances.
Bishop Lena, listening with small nods again and again, lightly bit her lower lip.
"To transport the body of a dead adventurer... that is, rather shocking."
In the past several months, many adventurers had died in Riverungr.
It was the natural outcome of fighting monsters hostile to mankind at the risk of one's life. Even adventurers experienced in subjugations could, if luck turned against them, lose their heads in a fleeting moment...
It is the role of priests to soothe the end of the dead.
Bishop Lena prayed sincerely.
That their souls might find rest by the side of Luas.
'But for there to be open trade of corpses within the city.'
Sacred death was being defiled.
And not by anyone else, but by the upper echelons—adventurer guild master, mayor included.... Though she had only recently been assigned to Riverungr, she felt heavy guilt.
For ignorance could not be an indulgence.
"I understand the situation now. It's shameful, as a bishop, that I failed to recognize such a horrid thing... but fortunately it seems the Church had already grasped it in advance. Rare for them to entrust an outsider with such a matter, even if it is Lady Leira."
"...I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you who."
"That's fine. It only proves how much the Church values confidentiality in this matter. As for me, I'll simply do what I must. So then, how can I be of help?"
Verden answered.
"We must dispel the curses on the mayor."
Adrian had damaged them with the Demonic Sword Cadence, but that was only a temporary measure.
The remnants of the curses were gnawing at Mayor Trovren.
Before he died, they had to restore his body, then hand him over to the priest who had requested Leira.
With that, Verden's group's role would be over.
Afterwards, they would proceed as planned to the Republic of Beldirn, then use Leira's adventurer privileges to move across space to the Central Continent.
"I'm not all that practiced with curses... but first I'll need to check exactly what kind they are."
Bishop Lena strode forward.
Gathering faint holy power at her fingertips, she examined the limp mayor's body here and there.
Each time she made contact, his body jolted violently.
"...
Four curses had been laid.
It was Bishop Lena's first time directly witnessing such a case.
"Ha, whoever it is, their skill is no joke. To so flawlessly implant curses of the 4th and 5th tiers.... But how did you even realize the mayor was cursed?
It was thanks to Adrian's senses.
For he too had surpassed the ordinary realm.
"More importantly, can you erase them?"
"Ah, yes. Dispelling them isn't exactly my specialty, but I think it's fully possible!"
Of the four curses, two still remained intact, the others were only remnants.
Curses are a type of black magic.
Though differing from the ordinary, they were still magic in the end.
To erase them completely was impossible, but they could not escape the innate effect of the Demonic Sword Cadence.
"Any special preparations needed?"
"Not really. I'll erase the remnants with holy power, then purify the two remaining curses one by one, and that's it. We don't even need to return to the Church, I can treat him right here."
Then there was no need to waste time.
Whoooooong.
Verden immediately inscribed a magic circle.
Lines of magic power traced in the air, harmonizing into a law. The three magic circles thus formed descended upon the inner walls of the carriage.
Now this was a sealed chamber.
Whatever they did inside, none outside could sense it.
'And we even rented a particularly expensive carriage.'
Currently Adrian was serving as coachman, drawing the carriage.
Without question, no soldiers would suddenly demand to investigate.
Whether wealth or power, touching the upper class was always a burden.
Without solid evidence, they would not even cast a glance.
"Wow, wealthy, and able to use magic circles? You're about my age too, but you're so capable! Really impressive! By the way, Lady Leira, what exactly is your relationship with him? Could it be...?"
"...No time for idle chatter. Please."
"Ah, my apologies."
At Leira's urging, Bishop Lena stepped forward.
"Hoo."
Two deep breaths.
Calming her heart, she gathered holy power.
In the glow of warm light flooding the inside of the carriage, Bishop Lena clasped Mayor Trovren's forehead with both hands.
***
Qi carries life, magic power carries mystery, holy power carries faith.
Among them, no natural hierarchy exists.
They belong to a category where the concept of above and below does not apply.
Then how can holy power be the natural enemy of black magic.
For it too, like other magic, is undoubtedly implemented and composed of magic power.
The reason is simple.
The essence of magic is none other than diversity.
Magic power, not bound to any one property, can shift into myriad forms and bring forth countless phenomena.
Thus it is mystery.
And black magic is the mystery of magic power, born from the dark concept of death.
Thus it stands opposed to holy power, which contains the concept of light.
It is not simply because one commands Undead who deny death, nor because it feels ominous, that an antagonistic relationship was formed.
Everything has a reason.
Paaaaaah!
Holy power imbued with warmth descended into the mayor.
The curses gnawing at his flesh reacted all at once, baring their fangs. Especially
"Ugh...!"
It was only for a moment that she faltered.
The tautly maintained balance tilted in an instant.
Purification began.
Even if she was not accustomed to lifting curses, even if she was more specialized in healing, it was still the holy power of a high bishop.
If technique was lacking, then sheer strength would press it down.
The unconscious Mayor Trovren groaned.
"Ggghhhh...!!"
The blackened veins slowly subsided.
The ominous aura spilling out also thinned... proof that the curses were disappearing.
Additionally, the severed surface of the right arm was healed.
Srrrk...
The remnants of
At last
'Now!'
Holy power filled her vision.
The mayor's complexion, trapped in a veil of light, fully returned.
The curses were gone.
"Hoo, it's safely done! Now you don't need to worry about the mayor's life anymore."
Turning back, Bishop Lena lifted her chin.
Without using any particular miracle, with holy power alone, she had succeeded in annihilating multiple curses.
That was an achievement worthy of note.
"Ah, don't look at me with such admiring eyes. This is just... what's only natural for a Genius priest who became a high bishop at a young age. Still, I'll accept your thanks. Hehe, I did really we───"
It was at that moment.
"Ggghhhhuuuuuuuaaaaghhh!!"
Suddenly, the mayor screamed.
The aura that had clearly been purified was tainted again in the blink of an eye.
"...Huh?"
Startled, Bishop Lena recoiled.
The mayor, eyes bloodshot red, lunged at her. She tried to repel him with holy power, but it failed.
No, rather, the curse devoured the holy power.
"Wh, what is this...?!"
"Kwaaaaaarghhh!"
The mayor went berserk.
He reached with his left hand, as if to snap Bishop Lena's neck, but it never touched.
Verden intervened, seizing the mayor's arm.
With imbued magic strengthening his body, he invoked the force of gravity, crushing the untrained mayor's wrist with fierce pressure.
"Krrraaaaaaa?!"
Even in pain, he was the same.
His reason was entirely gone.
But then.
"Bishop!"
"Kyaaaaaa...!!"
Bishop Lena clutched her wrist, twisting her expression.
As if she were Mayor Trovren himself.
The curse still clung, inseparable from holy power.
'The pain is being transferred?'
Exactly as she perceived.
For Leira and Verden, who each handled qi and magic power, there was no way to undo the curse.
Even Bishop Lena's holy power did not seem to work.
'Then there's no choice but to use the artifact.'
Whooom.
Verden dispelled the magic circles.
Immediately, sensing the disturbance, Adrian crashed through the carriage, bursting in.
"My lord."
"Sever it."
A single word was enough.
Adrian, grasping the situation, drew his blade.
The Demonic Sword Cadence cut the mysterious curse in one strike. Bishop Lena, writhing in pain, regained her composure.
Huuuuhh.
At that moment, the mayor's body began to swell.
From his expanding frame, as if to burst, intense magic power emanated.
Leira rushed forward, striking the mayor upward with a powerful kick.
From the impact, the mayor's body pierced the carriage roof and flew into the air. Soon, a dusky-black light burst out.
Puuuuuuuuuung!
The deafening sound of rupture struck their eardrums.
Glass windows of nearby buildings shattered to pieces, as blood and chunks of flesh scattered everywhere.
Verden spread his magic wide, shielding them from the debris.
The immediate threat was gone.
But other problems had arisen. Three of them.
The first.
'That explosion just now. Someone interfered.'
Their identity was unknown.
But Verden faintly sensed magic power linked somewhere.
Unable to pinpoint the location, it seemed the black magic had been artificially triggered through the medium of the curse.
In other words, the mastermind of the incident had discovered them.
And the second.
"Wha?! Why, why is the curse on me...?!"
Bishop Lena's right hand turned black.
Ominous magic power strongly emanated. Above all, for a curse to remain, ignoring the holy power of a high bishop... it was no trifling matter.
'If it's black magic of that caliber───'
A mere hypothesis surfaced.
But there was no time for idle thought.
And lastly, the third.
It was far too noisy.
The place where Verden's group was located was the street, in broad daylight.
Though the area had been quiet, the blast just now drew everyone's attention.
Eyes gathered from every direction.
The cruel fragments littering the road entered the eyes of dozens. And then, rolling slowly before the knights and soldiers patrolling nearby, came something.
"...!!"
The head of Mayor Trovren, bearing a horribly twisted expression.
A knight's eyes went wide.
Looking back and forth between Verden's group and what had once been the mayor, he shouted with all his strength.
"M, Mayor's murderers!!!"
Chaos erupted.
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