Chapter : 108

“Last night, the key witness was attacked by an assassin.

His name is Adric Seiron. He was once a heretic inquisitor under Benaya Ignos.”

“If he’s a heretic inquisitor, wasn’t he under the Sword of Doctrine’s command?

Are you trying to pin the blame on me for a mishap caused by the Sword of Doctrine’s failure to properly manage his own heretic inquisitor?”

“According to Adric Seiron’s autopsy, the cause of death was asphyxiation.

He died right after the assassination attempt.”

Fel nonchalantly tapped a document that looked like an autopsy report.

Then, his gaze subtly shifted towards Lerwon, who was standing alone at the back of the courtroom.

“There were clear pressure marks on Adric’s neck. And we found signs of resistance under his fingernails.”

According to the Pope’s plan, all evidence should have been swallowed by the flames and disappeared.

He should have moved with more and more caution, but he failed to do so.

His impatience had finally become a noose that strangled him.

“Your Holiness the Pope, would you please show me your left hand?”

The Pope remained silent at Fel’s question.

All of it had happened last night.

With holy power and healing magic, the traces of the wound could be erased at any time. But then, traces of healing would remain.

That would become another piece of evidence, and the Pope would have wanted to wait until the wound on his left hand had disappeared.

“This is not good.”

Lerwon, who was observing the whole situation from the back, muttered to himself.

Yes, he was cornered with no room for rebuttal.

He had wondered if hunting a Pope could be this easy, but it was something that a man named Fel had been preparing for 10 years, even leaving his original name behind.

However, feeling a sense of futility that this was not even the end, Theo let out a thin laugh.

“…By all means.”

The Pope willingly revealed his wrist.

A clear and distinct wound. Amidst the commotion, the Pope calmly rolled up his sleeve.

The adjudicator, who had been watching the whole situation, asked in a calm voice.

“May I take it that you have effectively admitted to the charges, Caelus Levian?”

“If you wish to think so, by all means.”

A look of resignation, as if he had given up on everything, flickered across the Pope’s face.

But immediately, his eyes filled with complete anger and turned towards Fel, or more precisely, towards Theo, who was seated in the witness box next to him.

Was he saying he no longer needed to hide his emotions?

Rather, Theo felt a sense of relief that the anger was directed at him.

He had admitted to the charges.

No matter how many achievements he had accumulated, now that his sins had been revealed, Caelus Levian could no longer be the Pope.

“According to the ancient rules, a verdict on the verification results can only be given fifteen days after the verification has begun.

However, it seems no further proof is necessary.

Sword of Doctrine, is there any evidence that you must submit?”

“There is one, a decisive one.”

A decisive one. Both the Pope and Ferdiel knew what it was.

The artificial creation of a saint, and the human sacrifice, which was practically a massacre, committed for it.

It was a feast of countless crimes, even to the point of blowing up a building to conceal it.

If everything was revealed, the verification would be followed by a heresy trial.

“Then will you present the proof after the day of the final verdict?”

“I will do so.”

“In that case, I will adjourn the court.”

The adjudicator made his pronouncement, and Caelalus rose from his seat.

On the way back to the Pope’s chambers, no one dared to speak to Caelus.

They were afraid of getting entangled with him and losing their positions.

The very people who had once been anxious to exchange a single word with the Pope!

Contrary to expectations that he would erupt in a fit of rage, the man who was now just Caelus Levian, no longer the Pope, looked surprisingly calm.

Caelus, leading Benaya, arrived at the Pope’s chambers and calmly began to read the Bible.

Just then, a knock was heard, and a young priest entered.

“It’s about─”

Omitting the title, the priest cautiously spoke to Caelus.

The priest cleared his throat several times, as if he were quite embarrassed just to be speaking to him.

In the past, it would have been an unimaginable insult.

There was no need for courtesy towards a Pope who had lost everything.

This was a given.

Even knowing that, Caelus’s head was filled with anger.

He barely managed to conceal his anger and responded with a gentle smile.

“Yes, I will finish organizing my personal belongings so I can leave on the day of the verification.”

“My apologies.”

The priest bowed his head once more and left the room.

The veins on the Pope’s clenched fist bulged as he watched the priest’s back.

After taking a few deep breaths, the Pope smiled at Benaya.

“Benaya, I will give you one last chance. You must succeed.”

Failure meant disposal.

Benaya, who had silently accepted everything, knelt and bowed his head to Caelus before leisurely leaving the room.

Soon, the Pope rose from his seat.

Preparations were needed to summon a demon while offering a sacrifice.

Caelus would not make a foolish mistake like the lord of Belmir, who had foolishly lost his life because he could not even control the demon he had summoned.

“Let’s see whose victory it is.”

He did not want a church that had become so sullied.

All that would remain for the church that Caelus had abandoned would be ruin and downfall.

* * *

Benaya covered his face with something like a black mask.

Even so, his height, which was at least a head taller than an average man, could not be hidden.

But soon his presence disappeared, and he became one with the shadows, his very existence fading.

The priests who passed by Benaya were too busy talking about today’s events to even notice that a person had passed by them.

The punishment of those who dared to speak ill of the Pope could be dealt with later.

The first thing to do now was to offer a suitable sacrifice to the Pope.

“……”

Theo, the Sword of Doctrine’s witness, was protected in the same building where Fel was staying.

As soon as he entered the building after the trial, he came face to face with a familiar face.

“Stop right there.”

As if he knew everything, the one who stood guarding the entrance was Hartain Ignos.

Although he was his own son, Benaya had no feelings for him.

He was a being created solely to be offered to Ferdiel Levian.

“Hartain Ignos. How foolish. ‘That’ is not Ferdiel Levian.”

Ferdiel Levian had died on that day in the basement.

“Stop serving a false god.”

This was the last chance he was giving him because he was of his bloodline.

After all, he was the one who had ordered him to serve him, even if he was a fake.

But that was it.

If he were to continue serving the false Levian, he would have no choice but to condemn it as an insult to God and punish him.

“Who served a false god?”

Hartain brought his scabbard to his neck and tapped it.

Contempt was mixed in his indifferent gaze.

“A heretic inquisitor, calling a mere human a god and serving him. It’s a pitiful sight.”

Further conversation would be meaningless.

Benaya, having made his judgment, rushed to crush Hartain with force in an instant.

At the assault that came like a lightning strike, Hartain gritted his teeth and blocked the blow.

He would overwhelm him with sheer force!

“Keuk!”

He was being pushed back!

The tips of his feet scraped the ground as he slid, and his balance wavered.

A sharp pain spread throughout his arm.

Despite the pain of his muscles tearing, Hartain gritted his teeth.

‘I must endure.’

His breath came out in ragged gasps.

He blocked the overwhelming force that was pressing down on him from above, the pressure that felt like it would break his bones, with his will alone.

“I will buy time.”

Screech! A metallic sound erupted.

Even as Benaya’s sword came down relentlessly, a strange emotion flickered across his face.

Regret or pity.

The method of countering force with force was taught by Benaya himself.

However, a sense of regret arose because he knew an opponent who was fast and nimble, and who rarely left an opening.

Surely, there would have been a chance to teach him more sharply. But it was already too late.

“Repent for your sin of not serving the right master in the afterlife.”

“Who do you think you are to tell me to repent! You damn father!!”

Burst capillaries stained Hartain’s eyes completely red.

His clenched teeth ground as if they would break.

Strength erupted in his arms, shoulders, and his entire body as if it would explode.

It didn’t matter if his muscles tore! He squeezed out his holy power again and again, and forcefully raised his sword.

I’ll bet everything on this one move!

It didn’t matter if he could never hold a sword again for the rest of his life.

In this moment, he had to stop Benaya. Somehow, he had to.

Buying time for Fel and Theo to escape was Hartain’s only goal.

“Kuaaaah!!!”

Suddenly, a heavy vibration was transmitted from Benaya’s fingertips.

The tendons twisted and the sword bent.

Boom!

The blade was deflected.

Benaya’s sword, which had soared through the air, spun once, twice, and then plunged into the ground far away.

Along with the roar of metal hitting rock, dirt and fragments scattered in all directions.

His swordless hand fumbled in the air.

A fleeting silence descended.

He couldn’t stop like this.

If he missed this opening, it would be the end.

Hartain’s bloodshot eyes flashed and aimed at Benaya.

Just as he was about to rush and grab his sword again—

Swoosh, the sword slipped from his grasp.

The empty fingertips scraped the air.

“Keuk.”

The muscles, forcefully enhanced with holy power, had far exceeded their limits.

The excessively swollen forearms and fingers were stained red and twisted.

There was not even enough strength left in his reddened skin to hold a sword.

And at that moment, a cold hand grabbed his neck.

Before Hartain could even scream, Benaya’s hand tightened as if to cut off his breath.

He couldn’t breathe. All his senses rapidly faded.

I have to get out… he tried to resist, but he didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

Am I going to die like this, at least a peaceful death…

Hartain, who had given up on everything, relaxed his body.

“Stop!!!”

At that moment, Fel’s voice cut through the air.

There was no reason to obey. But Benaya gave his fingertips some leeway.

The tightening force loosened slightly.

Air barely seeped into Hartain’s windpipe.

However, in the hand where the killing intent had not been completely withdrawn, that opening swayed precariously.

“What’s your purpose.”

“Fel! No!!!”

Even as hoarse breaths escaped, his voice was rough and desperate.

“Tan, I’m not going to give up on you.

State your purpose. Killing Tan can’t be your purpose, Benaya Ignos.”

“Hand over Theo Lisitoel.”

Benaya’s purpose was concise.

“No, Fel!!!”

A cracked scream, as if squeezed out while his neck was being pressed.

Hartain twisted and struggled with his whole body to escape from Benaya.

“Take him as you please. ‘We’ won’t mind.”

“No, you two will stop Lerwon Viden. That is the condition.”

“Alright, so hurry up and put him down.”

Fel’s suppressed voice grated.

At that one sentence, the strength in Benaya’s fingertips slowly drained away.

Thud! Tan’s body fell carelessly to the floor.

“Cough, cough!”

Even amidst the violent coughing, Tan twisted his body and tried to stand up.

Ferdiel, though stumbling, blocked Tan’s path as he tried to block Benaya.

“Fel!!!”

If he lost the witness like this, Fel would be condemned.

He couldn’t let him bear that for his sake, never!

“It would only take a moment to kill a man who can’t even use his arms.”

“…I know.”

Fel’s answer was short and firm.

He approached Hartain and reached out his hand.

Holy power poured out. A stream of light enveloped his arm, which was now not just red but blackish-red.

The skin gradually regained its color, but movement did not return.

Perhaps if he didn’t pour healing power into it for a few hours, Hartain would never be able to use his arm again.

“A good choice.”

Benaya muttered and turned his back.

Leaving his footsteps behind, he quietly headed to the second floor.

He never looked back.

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