Demon Sword Surtr.

A perilous weapon with incredible power.

Yet, it cannot be used frequently. Here's why.

"Damn!"

A substantial amount of divine energy drained from me, leaving deep wounds on my body.

[Warning.]

[Warning.]

[Part of the vessel has been damaged.]

[Be careful not to overexert your body which is pushed to its limits.]

After using it, I become defective. This will remain the case until I get stronger. It's expected that I'll be groaning for several days.

Furthermore, there's the downside of all the combat experience being absorbed by Surtr. I should be leveling up multiple times as a reward for defeating Grasshopper, but I can't hear that satisfying sound at all.

All I can hear is Surtr's pitiful low wails.

【Ha-eut...I've gotten so dirty…】

I quickly slipped the wailing Surtr, who cried in an innocent voice, into my pocket. Lying on the ground, I looked up at Grasshopper.

The monster, from head to torso, was completely obliterated. Normally, the limit of skill output achievable by humans is S-rank. Anything beyond that surpasses human capabilities.

If I had unleashed the full output, it would have been almost like a nuclear bomb in force. What I released now wasn't even close to the tip of that, but it still could have wiped out a small village.

[You have defeated Grasshopper.]

[The heart of Vaigines is slowly stopping.]

[The abilities of the parasites have greatly diminished due to losing their guardian.]

The overly long legs fell off belatedly. The swept-away parasites stuck themselves to the ground, sticky and sluggish.

However, the problem was that there were still remnants left. That's why I brought this team.

Even if I defeated Grasshopper, to handle the remaining forces.

"Noonaaaaa!"

"Huh, huh?"

A muddled response came. I didn't even remember turning around; I just shouted while lying down.

"I have no strength left! I feel like I'm going to die!"

"What?! Oh, no!?"

I heard the sound of the remaining parasites crawling toward me.

But footsteps even faster than that stopped in front of me.

"Hey, are you okay?!"

Isabella’s face came closer. I extended my hand. I was relieved to finally be getting out of this disgusting, smelly place.

A smile naturally appeared. I leaned on Isabella.

"If I die, bury me in a Sunny Place."

"...You really."

Isabella supported me. She glared at the approaching parasites with her drawn sword.

"Stop making people worry."

"I'll try."

"...You talk a good game."

Radatok quickly assessed the situation. The remaining tasks were relatively easy.

With the disappearance of the colossal demon that was challenging even to look up to, the remaining demons faltered and crawled weakly across the ground.

Their shells weakened and lost their luster. Now, the sword that previously struggled to pierce through could do so with ease.

Radatok was drenched in blood. The grotesque undulation of flesh walls ceased, and everything grew silent.

He felt the end was near. And at the heart of that ending stood him.

Apprentice Priest Jahad.

...The one guided by the divine.

Amidst the surging demon army, he glimpsed it. A mighty sword of flame and a back that, though small, seemed mightier than anyone else's.

But it wasn't the flame of Ra. It was the demonic fire that brought ruin, even to its wielder.

This was power beyond what any human could produce. It was a power unattainable even by selling one's soul to a demon.

‘What on earth... How on earth...

Oh God.

Is this also Your will?’

Radatok stood before the boy after entrusting the rest of the parasites to the Inquisitor. Looking down at the young Apprentice Priest, he asked briefly.

"Brother, what was that flame earlier?"

"The Flame of Ruin. It's also why Ra chose me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's an evil presence we discovered at the Church Branch. I succeeded in sealing it."

Radatok's eyes widened. Did that mean that an ancient evil was now resting within this young body?

"Is that when you made contact with Ra?"

"Yes, that's right. She chose me, and I accepted my mission. My role is to protect everyone from this ancient evil."

"Oh God... How could such a heavy responsibility be given to such a young body..."

"I chose this path."

Jahad struggled to stand, then flashed a grin.

"Even if it were someone like you, Radatok, I believe without a doubt you would have made the same choice."

That sincere smile melted Radatok's heart. He cursed himself for having doubted the boy even for a moment.

‘What on earth was I... attempting to undermine this young, strong priest for?’

"...But Brother."

Radatok knelt down, meeting Jahad's gaze.

The timing is not right. It's terribly wrong. If only he had been born ten years earlier, perhaps the church wouldn't be in such disarray now.

"The Sun God Religion is in turmoil. The forces left behind are too weak to rectify everything. It's not unusual for an Apostle to have appeared within the Sun God Religion. There have been several. Even now, three Apostles are still alive."

"And so?"

"We suspect that it was originally four Apostles reduced to three. We currently suspect Archbishop Dwayne, a candidate for Cardinal, as the main suspect in the Apostle Murder Case.”

“Is it okay to kill an Apostle just like that?"

"The stigmata extinguish immediately when a fellow believer is killed. But it's a different story if done through someone else."

A young and talented prospect, yet he's already become a whistleblower, making enemies within the church.

Archbishop Dwayne.

As one of the current candidates for Cardinal, he would certainly not view the boy standing before him favorably.

"What is it that you truly want to do, Brother?"

"To spread Ra's teachings far and wide."

"Is that all?"

"No?"

He spoke with his usual confidence.

"I'm going to clean out the rotten core and rise above it."

A bold declaration.

A declaration of intent.

At a glance, it might seem ambitious, even suggesting a lust for power. But Radatok found comfort in it for that reason.

He felt as though he had glimpsed into the young man's true intentions, understanding the kind of person he truly was through his own observations.

A figure who extends a hand of mercy, even to other denominations.

A being who personally cooked for the starving.

A being who, in a hellish situation where death seemed inevitable, sacrificed themselves to provide an escape route.

A person marked by self-sacrifice. If such a person were to lead, wouldn't any order change?

"...Inquisitor Radatok pledges allegiance to you."

Above him is Dimona. He cherishes her, thinks of her like a child, and always wants to protect her.

But the boy standing before him is different. He is not someone to be protected.

He is someone to be followed.

"I will keep today's events a secret. I will not turn my back even in the face of adversity. I pledge to follow you wholeheartedly."

"What about the Inquisitor?"

"That is a separate matter."

"...Ahaha."

Jahad laughed.

"Isn't it the difference between a subordinate and a bodyguard?"

"...If I have to say it, yes."

"That's nice. The Iron Blood Bear of the Cult of Ra."

"I’m not fond of that title."

"Why not?"

Jahad lightly extended his fist. Radatok stared at it absentmindedly.

"It's cool, you know. Iron Blood Bear."

Radatok disliked that nickname. It felt as though it was stained with innocent blood, and he didn't want to be called that.

But for some reason, when it came from him, it felt endearing in a way it never had before.

"...Is that so?"

Radatok hesitated, but finally, he slowly bumped his fist against Jahad's.

"Thank you. Priest."

"Brother, are you done?"

"Shouldn't you call me with respect?"

Radatok smiled back at him.

"I pledge my loyalty, Priest."

A portal opened. To be precise, the space itself tore apart as the heartbeat stopped.

Beyond the rift, snow was falling. We watched it slowly. Radatok murmured.

"...The Sun God Religion is probably waiting outside."

He exchanged glances with Isabella. Isabella clicked her tongue.

"They'll be enemies once we go out, won't they?"

Radatok took a step back.

"Go ahead, heretic. This time, I'll let you escape."

"What?"

"It would be wise to disappear before I change my mind."

Radatok gave me a meaningful look, and I smiled.

Such a good stance, Radatok. Haha. Even as a subordinate, you know how to take a hint!

You're on a whole different level than those Hector folks!

"Let's go, Noona. It's been fun."

"......"

The surviving followers of the Serpent God and Paladins watched us. Isabella knelt before me.

I made eye contact with her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm in pain, but I guess it'll heal on the way. Well."

"...Are you going to do something dangerous again?"

"If that's Ra's will."

She gently touched my stigmata.

"Don't forget there are other possibilities for you. If you're ever confused, come back. The Snake Cult is always open to you."

"Hey! Just leave when we're letting you!"

"How dare you say such things to our Priest!"

"Oh, come on! Our Leader can do that if he wants!"

"Why are you acting so petty?!"

"What?! Petty?!"

The Paladins and Inquisitors stood closely, gritting their teeth. Then, without anyone saying a word, they burst into laughter.

"Go. You heretics."

"Live well."

"If we meet again, I'll kill you."

"No, you're the one who's going to die."

"I noticed you're not bad at poker."

"Next time, let's bet something."

"Yeah. Losers. Get lost."

"Do you want to die?! Let's have one more round before you leave!"

Isabella looked at the two laughing and chatting sects. They had become friends over the time they fought together, and she seemed quite fond of them, making it difficult for her to leave.

But the time for farewell had arrived. She pressed her forehead against mine.

"...If, really if, the day comes when these two sects become one... I will follow you, my little friend."

"I'll miss you, Noona."

Even at the end, she set up a farewell flag. Acting as if we'd never meet again.

Until I've repaid all my debts, you're mine! You're practically a spy I've planted in the Snake Cult!

"Don't speak so bluntly like that... It's embarrassing..."

"You won't forget me, right?"

"How could I?"

She rummaged in her belongings and took out something. An old, battered brooch.

"This is really important to me. Return it to me someday."

"I’m not going to give it back."

"What?"

Well, that way, I'll have a reason to keep coming after you!

However, I couldn't say that, so instead, I leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"If I hold onto it, I can keep seeing you, right?"

Isabella's face flushed a deep red. She glanced sideways at me and then burst into laughter.

"Really, you...are unbelievable."

Smooch.

Her lips briefly brushed against my forehead. The nearby Paladins whistled, causing Isabella to turn even redder as she growled.

"Shut up, all of you! Get ready to escape! As soon as we get out, we make a run for it! Avoid battle at all costs!"

Her cape, stained with blood, fluttered as she moved. Before stepping into the gap in the space, she turned back to look at me one last time.

"...See you again."

"Take care, Noona."

She disappeared into the gap in space, with the followers of the Snake Cult quickly following her lead.

"Farewell, you idiots!"

"Let’s never meet again!"

"Get lost!"

As the last Paladin vanished amid the cheers and whistles from the Inquisitors, the interior of Vaigines was left eerily quiet, with only the followers of the Sun God Religion remaining.

We managed to clear the event boss mostly because it relied on overwhelming numbers. I stretched, feeling the ache in every joint, as if I'd aged drastically.

I want to rest. My divine power hasn't fully returned, so my injuries haven’t healed properly.

But there's still work to be done. And it’s the most important task!

"Priest, if you’re not well, perhaps you should rest for a bit..."

"Just call me Brother, please. I worry that others might misunderstand."

"Understood."

"You all agree with me, right, Inquisitors? You'll keep what happened at the end a secret."

The Inquisitors glanced at each other before shouting in unison.

"Of course, Brother!"

"Oh, don't worry!"

"We can keep our mouths shut!"

"We're thinking of switching over to the Priest's side anyway!"

"Who just said that?"

"It was me!"

"Well said, you rascal!"

I feel like a popular celebrity. It's as if I have new allies at the Cult Headquarters.

Well then, shall we investigate it a bit? The reasoning behind our attempt to subdue Vaigines.

"We can afford to be a bit generous. Shall we take a look inside the Demon of the Snow?"

It's reward time!

Please support the series on NovelUpdates