Chapter 635
My Villains Episode 635
73. Army of Evil God(3)
A day has passed.
The punitive force was still drawn in thick, heavy darkness, as if poured with black ink, and a whitish light with an unknown light source..
The sense of time was vague because there was no sun or moon, or no sight. However, thanks to the royal newspaper-magic engineering watch that a young knight had, it was confirmed that about twenty hours had passed since entering the underworld..
Considering that we were placed in an abnormal environment, it was not a very short period of time, but the strange peace in the garrison continued..
As if laughing at the subjugation team members who were anxious as if something terrible would happen at any moment, the world behind them showed no change..
As in the dark imaginations of some soldiers, he did not bring out the devil from within his black embrace, nor did he summon a ghost wrapped in gloomy light, nor did he split the ground and spit out hellfire..
The world behind the scenes was just gnawing away at the fragile minds with its shady air, heavy silence, and turbid magical power..
Fortunately, those who initially went mad were all subdued or calmed down. Following Lionel's merciless hand and his angry roar, it was the result of the leadership and clergy who had gathered their wits and comforted the crew..
The approximately 300 troops, including Baron Acraden's regular punitive force and student punitive force, rested, recovered their stamina, and sharpened their discipline..
In the meantime, I carefully observed my surroundings and pondered what to do. Avoiding the gaze of other punitive forces, he met Ellen and his subordinates and exchanged opinions..
The first topic of discussion was horsepower..
When exploring the underworld in the royal capital, we extremely refrained from using magical power. There are two reasons - the first is that it is difficult to use or replenish magical power due to the unique magical environment of the other world, and the second is the concern that using magic power may have unexpected effects outside the other world - that is, in the real world. In addition, the fact that the party's combat power was sufficient and there was no danger without using magic was also an important factor..
I had no choice but to come to a half-forced conclusion on this matter. Even before I could make any judgment or take action, magical power was being used throughout the garrison..
Almost as soon as they entered the underworld, the family wizards of Colmaros and Teryx casted 'detection' spells and at the same time applied all kinds of defensive spells to their lords, while the priests continued to treat the injured soldiers, and the two The cathedral knight opened his ‘eyes to reveal the truth’ in a reaction close to instinct. Young knights also used magic tools without hesitation..
Even I was momentarily taken aback by the use of mana and sacred power throughout the garrison. It was too late to warn or dissuade them. Of course, how do you convince people that magic power should not be used here?.
Of course, there was no need to explain the turbid magical power of the other side and the pressure it brought. Because this is something that any magic user can feel. In the end, after some confusion, I had no choice but to be satisfied with everyone's decision to refrain from using magical powers..
The second topic was return..
Iopiya served as a guide during the search in the royal capital. The routine was that I would activate the dimensional seal when he guided me to the central axis of the underworld, that is, the soul of the patient suffering from servant disease. Then, the other world would disappear, we would return to Middle Earth, and the patient with servant disease would wake up - a perfect happy ending..
But now there is no Iopiya, and I am not sure whether there is one central axis of the hidden world. The discs vomited by dozens of injured people merged into one to create the current world, so we may have to wander around without a guide in search of the souls of dozens of people..
The last topic was information..
The question is whether we should share the information we know about the underworld with the punitive force..
In fact, since the situation was unusual, the right answer would of course be to share information, but the method was the problem. Who would naturally accept explanations about this strange dimension from foreign swordsman teachers or mercenaries who are just beginning to gain fame?.
While I was busy reorganizing, discussing, and observing, the leadership of the punitive force was not idle either. They too were in a hurry to understand the situation..
The leaders of the punitive force first chose the easiest and most efficient method. The method was to control the magicians of the Order of Dawn..
“Please, please save me, please-”
“Stop crying, sister. you don't die today.”
“Ahhh, stop it, I-I really don't know anything..”
“Please remain calm. Quietly.”
A middle-aged man wearing a white surcoat and plate armor smiled benevolently. Then, he plunged the dagger under the fingernails of the magic teacher who was begging while tied up in a chair, and broke it in one go..
Crack, patter, patter..
“Hak, kuaaaaaa!”
“Bright and merciful Lord, look down on the Lamb who has fallen into the firmament. Please give me courage to face the truth. Give me wisdom as I face Your servants..”
The middle-aged man tended the wound with his left hand, soaked in sunlight, and continued the torture with his blood-soaked right hand..
The young wizard rolled his eyes and shook his limbs as the penitence continued for over six hours. The middle-aged man's calm smile did not change despite the screams and the stench of blood and feces that filled the tent..
It is said that cathedral knights are usually crazy people, but the two who were dispatched to the student punitive force were on the severe side. In a good or bad sense, they were like the elites who assisted the patriarch at the church headquarters..
It was basic to master the various talents and abilities required of a cathedral knight. Thanks to his solid mental power, he did not blink even at the turbid magical power of the other world, and his power was so strong that he was as good at healing as most priests. He also had the skills to be an interrogator, so he was able to predict the future and read minds, albeit at a poor level..
However, it was true that seeing the wizards humming quietly as they were repeatedly disassembled and reassembled alive made me question their mental state. I know that this unusual composure and firmness is having a very positive effect on the punitive forces, who are all Gwangmyeong believers, but I can't help but feel uneasy..
In conclusion, the interrogation did not yield much results..
Above all, the nine wizards of the Order of Dawn currently at the garrison - this is the number plus those captured by Alvin Hawks, his collaborator - were mostly just minnows..
At least the two masters, excluding Alvin, were the only ones who knew in advance that the two delegates, Orr and Menella, had hid in the garrison. The rest of the gang, including Aun, the teacher of the occult sciences, were unaware that their superiors were plotting some kind of conspiracy..
In the end, after the interrogation was roughly concluded, only the two masters were brought before the leader of the punitive force..
“Commander-in-Chief of Acraden, His Excellency Count Os! I, I feel really unfair.!”
“The council leadership was concerned that the precious children of the student punitive force would be in danger, that is, unexpected danger. I heard that because of that, Orr went along with the leadership's wishes..”
“That's it! Betrayal, treason, I don't know.!”
Lionel, who participated in the interrogation with unbecoming enthusiasm, laughed sarcastically..
“A big man like a representative, and that's it, came out to chase after two kids? I didn't receive any special request.?”
“I didn't even know about Menella's existence - no, I didn't know about Menella's existence - but I just thought it was a worthy service as a subject of His Majesty the King.!”
“Serve. It's refreshing even though it's bullshit..”
“The Order of Dawn is the most loyal group of wizards in the kingdom! Please, doesn't Lord Lionel know better?!”
“joy.”
Lionel snorted and looked back at the cathedral knight..
“It seems like the teachings are lacking. Lord Iphus needs to work harder..”
“yes, willing.”
“Wait - I really don't know anything! Musketeer! Count, suck! Yeah!”
The wizard, whose entire body was bound, struggled and wriggled like a bug. The cathedral knight, who smiled, put a gag on him with a kind hand, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and left the command barracks..
The audience's gaze turned to another master. He was a wizard who was dispatched to the Hunting Office and served under Baron Acraden..
His demeanor was neat, but his droopy eyes and the foam around his mouth showed that he had also experienced the cathedral's deep 'teachings'..
“master ten.”
Hearing Baron Acraden's soft voice, the wizard shuddered his shoulders and hung his head..
“Sorry, sorry, Mr. Musketeer. Please forgive me and have mercy. There are four children waiting for me in the royal capital..”
It was very sad to see him shaking his head, but I wasn't in a leisurely situation right now to harbor unnecessary sympathy..
“Take it easy, Ten. We will all return to the royal capital. Same goes for you..”
“Thank you, thank you, Commander.…….”
“But for that, I need your help. Very active help.”
“I'm also sorry, but I don't know anything about this matter. Menella, I knew that dirty traitor was with the student punitive force, but I didn't receive any information.-”
“Stop, stop. You've already heard this, right?.”
When the wizard closed his mouth with a frightened look on his face, the Baron asked the question again as if admonishing him..
“He is a direct disciple of Menella.?”
“Yes, that's right. Ha, but Menella never talked about what happened in the leadership, and uh, again… … . Yes, as you know, Commander-in-Chief, I have been with the Game and Game Office since last spring. I swear to the Lord that I know nothing about this. Of course, I had no involvement whatsoever..”
“Still, isn’t there something to be aware of? You must have often heard various news from your colleagues. If you remember carefully, you might find some helpful information..”
“I am-”
“master ten.”
Os, who was sitting at the head table, interrupted the wizard and calmly warned him..
“It would be better to answer carefully.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep in mind that the fate of not only yourself but also your loved ones will depend on the answer you give now..”
“……Huh, huh.”
The wizard's chin began to tremble at the young count's low threat. He rolled his anxious eyes here and there and finally opened his mouth..
“Recently, Menella… … I believe he lived in the Cathedral of Mattiario..”
“Mattiario Cathedral?”
“To be more specific, they are two monasteries attached to the cathedral..”
“You mean the Monastery of St. Adeion and the Monastery of St. Thomasia? Why is there?”
“It's because of the patients with Hain's disease being treated there..”
According to his testimony, the Dawn Council has been conducting related investigations since soon after servant diseases began to be observed in the royal capital, especially the Avenue of Glory. Since the Order of Dawn is in fact a group of wizards used by the royal family, it appears that they officially received royal approval and proceeded with their work with the cooperation of the church..
However, up to that point, it was information that was nothing new to Baron Acraden, who was also the head of the palace and the head of the hunting office. What was important was what happened next..
“I understand that the investigation is progressing and has achieved significant results..”
“result?”
“Well, let's say, um... … It has been revealed that the unidentified symptom called Servant's disease is a problem centered around two elements: 'soul' and 'dimension'..”
At that point, I too, who had been standing silently, inwardly swallowed a sigh of relief. This is because what the wizard named Ten started giving out was more advanced information than expected..
“Soul and dimension... … . I don't get it at all..”
“Well, just to explain the basics - Servant disease is a condition in which the soul is separated from the body and is a kind of… … This is a symptom of being trapped in a quasi-dimension..”
A deep wrinkle appeared between the Baron's eyebrows..
“……Umm. I at least guessed that it wasn't just a contagious disease. Even so, what does that have to do with this situation??”
“So, I think the results achieved in finding out the cause of the symptoms are related to the treatment.…….”
“It's a cure for servant's disease. It's something I've never heard at court..”
“Yes, of course. This is information that is considered confidential even within the Dawn of Women’s Association... … . As a master, I also just inferred it through conversations with several close friends..”
The wizard, who was babbling, noticed that several pairs of eyes were looking at him with irritation, so he quickly got to the point..
“The treatment, to give you the gist of it, is to return the soul imprisoned in another dimension to the body..”
“It's simple.”
“Yes, it's very simple. But it is extremely difficult. Because you need a transference skill that can go back and forth between dimensions - or at least a quasi-dimensional level. You must also have the basic ability to manipulate the soul..”
Now, it was so surprising that it was starting to feel empty. The various secrets that I have learned over the past four weeks while struggling to keep up are flowing out of his mouth..
Do the leaders gathered in this command barracks, including Acraden and Os, realize how valuable the information Master Ten is currently spitting out is??
“And, from here on out, it's just my guess... … . The scenery unfolding around was very similar to what I heard from my colleagues.…….”
“Speak quickly. Don't hesitate.”
Despite the Baron's urging, the wizard hesitated for a moment and then spoke as if sighing..
“Menella, no, I don't know if Menella realized the cure..”
“what does that mean?”
“She was better at environmental manipulation and transfer magic than at the magic of the Order of Dawn's arcane illusions. So after researching the Servants, I realized how to access the dimension where their souls were imprisoned..”
While he was talking passionately, did he forget his fear and tension for a moment? Master Ten's eyes had a hot glow that contrasted with his haggard face..
“Confining the punitive force to this quasi-dimension must have been an application of that method. Personally, I think it is a sufficiently convincing hypothesis..”
“Wait, wait. What does this have to do with accessing the soul of a patient suffering from Heine's disease? It's not like there were any patients with servant disease in the punitive force.-”
As if he finally realized it, Acraden opened his mouth without speaking..
“…… Are they my soldiers? The injured people at the aid station... … . I couldn't believe it, but it was really a servant's disease.?”
“Maybe it's more than that.”
The Baron's gaze turned to the side..
“More than that? What do you mean, sir??”
Count Aines continued speaking slowly, with her sapphire-colored vertical pupils fixed on Master Ten..
“Is it really a coincidence that the servant bottle, which is popular in some parts of the royal capital, appeared in this mountain valley??”
“Unless it's a coincidence,”
“Representative Menella, or someone else on the Council of Dawn, played a trick on the Baron's soldiers. To get servant's disease. Isn't that right, Master Ten??”
“……Yeah? Well, I'm fine up to that point.,”
Looking down to see the wizard blinking in surprise, Acraden closed his mouth quietly..
“I really don't know! I told you everything I know, you could swear to the Lord!”
Whether he continued talking or not, everyone gathered in the command barracks remained silent as if they were lost in thought. Everyone in the leadership, including the Baron, had an intuition that something more sinister than imagined was hidden behind this incident..
widely.
“I think that's enough to understand the situation..”
Os, who had been sitting quietly, knocked on the table to attract attention. He chased Master Ten away with a glance and then continued speaking calmly..
“I know that there are people within the Council of Dawn who are plotting some evil plan, and I also know that we are caught up in it and trapped in this quasi-dimension or something... … . So now let's find a way out of here.”
The young earl glanced at the audience with a look of determination, and not only Garwin and Aeneas, but also Viscount Arthur and Lionel expressed their agreement with small nods..
“The time given to us is one week. Of course, that's what the remaining supplies are, and looking at the condition of the soldiers, there's a high probability that they won't be able to survive even half of that. Hurry up and make sure there are no mistakes as much as possible..”
“In that case, we need to gradually expand the scope of reconnaissance..”
Gawin expressed his opinion in a cautious voice..
“First, I looked all around the garrison. The magical darkness limits visibility to around 30 meters, but this does not prevent scouting. First, after determining whether the surrounding terrain is the same as the original,-”
-That’s right!
What cut him off was the faint but heavy rumble of the ground that came from far away..
“…….”
“…….”
The first strange incident I encountered in the underworld. Everyone's gaze was intricately intertwined in silence..
Just as I guessed the identity of that ground shaking and was about to say something,.
Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
A loud and clear roar rang out, as if hundreds of high-quality glass bottles were breaking at the same time. The 'alarm' installed by the wizards of the Colmaros family went off..
Those gathered in the command barracks rushed out without anyone else taking the first step. And before I could ask the soldiers around me what was going on, a tearing shout was heard from the side of the temporary barrier..
“Oh, the goblins- no,”
There was a short pause, and the sound of hard breathing could be heard all the way up here..
“It's green skin!”
Just like that, the peace of the garrison was shattered before it even lasted a full day..
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