Chapter 116
Across from them at a makeshift table made of wide wooden planks, a hunched middle-aged man was eating soup carefully.
He was extremely cautious, as if afraid to spill even a drop.
“He is the father of one of the original villagers.”
Charles skipped over the deeper story, fearing that knowing it might affect Irene’s ability to discern the truth.
“Hello.”
The middle-aged man, busy eating his soup, noticed Irene belatedly and greeted her.
“Hello.”
Irene greeted him in return and then asked,
“What do you think about the outsiders?”
“Who do you mean?”
“The heretics.”
“Ah, I see.”
The middle-aged man rolled his eyes. Although they were secretly treating people, it was impossible to prevent rumors from spreading entirely.
Someone had confided in a close friend, and as a result, most people knew that Irene was a saintess.
“They’re bad people.”
“Right? So, if those bad people offered a reward for cooperation, would you agree?”
Wasn’t that too direct?
Charles wanted to say that, but he kept silent.
“Oh, no way,”
The middle-aged man shook his head. But as soon as Irene saw that, a word popped into her mind.
‘Lies.’
The middle-aged man was lying.
“Yes, of course.”
Irene pretended to eat calmly. After questioning several people, they identified two external informants.
One was the middle-aged man they first met, and the other was an old man.
“Those two.”
Charles sighed.
“It’s not impossible. Both of them have complex stories.”
In the case of the middle-aged man, he had abandoned his son, who was born with an ominous mark. He then gambled away his home and, while wandering as a beggar, met his abandoned son again.
He intended to live off his son, which naturally led him to this village.
“He is Eugene’s father. He has always been a troublesome guy.”
The old man was not much different.
“It’s common. Many of us grew up without affection, making us vulnerable to our families.”
“Is that the case for you too, Charles?”
“Yes, it is.”
“May I ask who your family is?”
“Chess. He’s my older brother, and we were both born with ominous marks. It caused our parents a lot of grief.”
Somehow, he seemed familiar. It must be because of Chess.
“Then let’s proceed with the plan, excluding those two.”
“Yes.”
By now, Burt must have figured out where Irene was. And that assumption was correct.
* * *
In the midst of the rugged mountains, Burt and the holy knights were hidden from view.
Their shining silver armor was darkened with ash, and their swords were all sheathed. The fluttering capes had also been removed.
“The place where the Saintess was taken is over there, correct?”
“Yes, Sir Allen.”
“Is she safe?”
“She is still alive for now.”
“She will continue to be alive.”
“Of course, she must.”
The assault was scheduled for late at night, shortly after people had fallen asleep.
“It’s unsettling not knowing how many are inside.”
“No matter how many there are, they won’t be able to defeat us.”
Allen replied confidently. Indeed, the heretics were weak against the power of the holy knights. Additionally, Burt had brought knights and borrowed a patrol team from Shah-Naz. Defeating them would require a considerable force.
“Let’s move in.”
Burt was the first to move. He silently approached the entrance of the cave and swiftly neutralized the guards.
As soon as this was confirmed, the holy knights began to move. Despite wearing heavy armor, they moved like the wind. This was possible because they used their holy power to aid their movements.
They moved so quietly that even as a significant number of heretics were being killed, the inside remained silent. It was much later that the heretics realized they were under attack.
“Intruders!”
A dying shout woke those who were asleep.
“Intruders! Wake up! Wake up!”
“Stop them! It’s the holy knights!”
The heretics quickly gathered and split into two groups. Those in the front grabbed their weapons, while those in the back held black books and began chanting spells.
“In the name of the goddess!”
By this point, there was no need to act quietly anymore. Following Allen’s shout, the holy knights charged at the heretics.
“Kill them! Capture the leaders alive!”
“Prepare to die!”
The two groups clashed with a tremendous noise.
Leaving the chaos behind, Burt moved to find Irene.
* * *
The commotion outside made Irene jump up from her seat. Several people had already gathered in front of the iron bars.
“What’s going on?”
One of the people who had been looking outside answered,
“It seems someone has attacked. The uproar is not ordinary.”
At those words, Charles looked at Irene.
“We need to get ready.”
“Yes.”
Charles quickly moved to gather the people together.
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