Chapter 54
“The ones who opened the gate here are from that New Era Church. Until now, their magic circles could only summon a single demon… but it seems they have found a way to open a larger gate.”
“They must have increased the number of sacrifices. That’s why they keep taking humans.”
“That’s right.”
It had taken more than a hundred years to create the first demon summoning circle. Or perhaps several hundred, since no one knew when the heretics had first come into existence. And seven years after the day they first summoned a demon, the heretics succeeded in increasing the number of demons crossing through the gate.
Once the foundation of the magic circle was laid, the speed of its development was frightening. According to what she had forced out of the demons, six demons had crossed through the gate this time. Then how long would it take until the number of demons became ten, twenty, a hundred? At most, it seemed like it would only be a few months.
“The next gate that opens will cause twice the damage.”
“We have to make sure that does not happen. We need to raid the base where the New Era Church is gathering sacrifices.”
Johan looked at Eden with expectant eyes. Eden shook her head irritably.
“It’s no use looking at me like that. The demons I encountered later were the lowest of the low. All I heard was that if they hung around here, the worshippers would come pick them up. They didn’t know anything.”
To get information, she should have asked the demon that had taken the form of a centaur. Before Bezel had made killing it easier and she thought ‘Now’s my chance!’ and split its crown open with her sword.
“Then the rest is our responsibility.”
At Oscar’s words, the other Holy Knights chimed in.
“We have arrested several worshippers who were surveying the scene. We’ll try to extract information from them.”
“Please do not worry too much, Miss Hunter. Now that we know they are plotting something, whatever it is, we will be able to stop it.”
If only it were that easy.
“Yes… How very reassuring.”
Eden muttered in a drained voice as she looked over the gentle-looking Holy Knights’ faces one by one. Wow. Where did they even find men like these to form a knight order? Every single one of them looked painfully kind.
It would take more than ordinary torture to pry open the mouths of demon worshippers. They were people who would not hesitate to sacrifice even their own lives out of strong loyalty to demons.
However, the temple forbade killing, so inhumane acts like torture were taboo as well. Even for the Holy Knights, the only ones among those belonging to the temple permitted to kill, there was no exception when it came to torture. Criminals captured by Holy Knights were guaranteed at least minimal humane living conditions even while imprisoned.
If it were Eden, she would think, ‘Who cares about such rules as long as I don’t get caught!’ She would be confident she could make them talk by beating them in places that would not show. But these people would not even dare to imagine such deviation.
‘Just looking at the incident Bezel was involved in…’
Eden looked at the man who was quietly listening to their conversation and nodding.
The day she rescued Bezel, before leaving the church after the investigation into the incident ended, Eden made one request to the Holy Knight.
“I can’t keep that man with me forever. If any information comes out, please tell me immediately.”
“Yes, of course.”
It wasn’t even as if she had asked them to extract some grand secret from the demon worshippers, only the identity of a captured hostage. It would not cause great damage to the cult to reveal that much, but seeing as there had been no word until now, it seemed they had failed to make the demon worshippers talk.
This time would be no different. If they would not reveal even such trivial information, there was no way they would give up the location of their headquarters.
“If we’re done talking, let’s eat. Delicious smells have been coming from the door for a while now and it’s killing me.”
Eden quickly wrapped up the situation. Even if she urged the Holy Knights to interrogate more aggressively this time, they would not change.
What great change could she expect from the most conservative group in this Empire? It would be faster for Eden to take action and find their headquarters herself.
To scout out the location for opening the next gate and prepare to draw the magic circle, those bastards would have no choice but to move as well. If she poured money into information brokers and ran around everywhere, something would turn up.
Ding ding.
When the Viscount rang the bell placed on one side of the table, the waiting maids entered carrying trays.
“While you enjoy the appetizers, we will quickly reheat the main dishes. I cannot serve cold food to all of you who have worked so hard.”
“Ah, right.”
Eden clapped her hands as if suddenly remembering something. Thinking she had more to say, everyone looked at her at once. Eden pulled out proof of this commission from her shirt pocket.
“Please take this, Viscount.”
The object that flew in an arc landed in the Viscount’s hand as he reflexively reached out. The Viscount opened his hand gripping the long object.
“……”
A very brief silence fell. Soon, the Viscount’s face turned deathly pale.
“U-uaaaagh!”
Oh my, she had not expected him to be that startled.
“Was it a bit much to give it during a meal?”
Eden asked shamelessly, snickering as she lifted her fork. The demon’s finger the Viscount had thrown away unfortunately landed on Johan’s salad. Johan looked at her with a horrified expression.
“Good heavens, Eden!”
“M-Miss Hunter. What did you cut that off for?!”
Among the Holy Knights calling out to her as if trying to stop her, only Eden looked amused. No, one more. Bezel was also smiling happily beside her, covering his mouth with his hand.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.