Chapter 130
The Medusa twisted its body. Its form, writhing as if unable to bear the pain, became increasingly strangely distorted. Its joints bent unnaturally. Its protruding compound eyes, like an insect’s, became bloodshot.
The heretic’s screams gradually turned into pleas. It thrashed in pain and fear, but its non-human language was merely the cry of an insect or a beast.
Thump, thump, thump.
“……!”
Theogrim gasped. The Medusa’s scales popped open. Through those gaps, the light Ragnar poured forth seeped out.
Kiiiiiiii—!
The heretic writhed in agony with its entire body. No one heard its cries.
As if the skin of a ripe fruit was bursting, the Medusa’s skin was tearing. As the torn parts expanded, the dark underground ritual chamber grew increasingly brighter.
The snakes that had been writhing on the Medusa’s head shriveled as if burned. Beneath the burst skin, human skin, devoid of scales, was glimpsed. Its compound insect eyes split and scattered across the floor like fragments of fallen leaves.
Thud!
“Hmph!”
Theogrim recoiled.
The Medusa’s heart, which had been contorting its body in pain, had burst.
Theogrim looked down at what had soiled his feet. Sticky green blood and fragments of heart lay scattered like messy garbage.
“……”
The moment the Medusa’s heart burst, the surroundings became quiet.
The space where the heretic’s desperate cries of hatred and fear had vanished was silent, as it had originally been.
Ragnar removed his hand from the dead Medusa’s head. The Medusa, which had half-risen, fell prostrate to the floor like a log.
Its appearance was horrific. It was neither human nor monster. As if its original shell had been forcibly ripped off and fragments of human skin had been attached in the gaps.
However, the newly forming skin was precisely… like that of a human, making Theogrim shudder anew.
…It was hard to imagine what kind of monster the Medusa would have become if its heart had ultimately endured Ragnar’s curse, or rather, blessing.
“…It is not the Lord’s fault.”
Carmen, standing guard, offered a towel with both hands. His expression was as unyielding as ever, yet Ragnar’s brow was narrowed ever so slightly.
“It is simply that the infidel’s curse, which has permeated the heretic’s heart, was that deep.”
“…I still cannot control my power. My training is insufficient for purifying heretics who possess life, not inanimate objects.”
Ragnar turned, wiping his hands on the towel Carmen offered. The escort knight’s face still showed that he hadn’t recovered from the shocking scene he had just witnessed.
“You are studying diligently,” Ragnar said as he turned and walked away. He seemed to be referring to Theogrim’s translation of the Medusa’s language a moment ago.
Theogrim bowed his head.
As they ascended the stairs, the light grew brighter. Ragnar’s shadow, cast above Theogrim as he climbed the cold, spiral staircase, grew longer and darker.
“Since the heretical beings are subservient to Salma as slaves, I thought… it would be good if I could understand their language.”
“I am watching your progress, Theogrim. It is truly outstanding.”
“…Thank you.”
Theogrim’s heart pounded. It was rare to hear such praise from Ragnar.
Theogrim was studying everything he possibly could. All kinds of languages, all terrains, all histories, and philosophy, literature, politics, and commerce. He devoured knowledge greedily and regurgitated as much food as the knowledge he swallowed.
Theogrim’s learning was madness.
He had to catch up to Ragnar. He wanted to seize the power, honor, popularity, and the entirety of this domain for himself.
Since Theogrim, lacking divine power and military might, had knowledge as his only weapon, he devoted himself to his studies as if pouring out blood.
To never let go of what he held in his hand, Theogrim could even sell his soul. Even if it were to an infidel god or a demon.
But it was none other than the God of Impellias who had chosen him and led him this far.
“You must not waver, Theogrim.”
“……”
“The moment you waver in the face of pain and fear, all the power you possess will destroy you to that same extent.”
Theogrim took Ragnar’s words to heart. This was why he was being trained.
…At the same time, it was also the reason why Ragnar had to be removed from Theogrim’s world.
Theogrim held his breath and nodded before Ragnar’s emotionless eyes, which were fixed on him.
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