Chapter 97
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 97
"Look, we're only nameless because we're poor, not because we're fake. How can I make you believe us...?"
As I pondered briefly, my eyes caught sight of the metal skewer Idella was holding.
"Ah, that'll work."
I immediately reached out toward Idella.
"D-don't come any closer!"
Idella, her expression bewildered, swung the skewer at me.
It seemed like merely a warning swing, but...I deliberately extended my hand further toward the skewer.
Shing!
The sharp point tore a long gash across my palm.
A stinging sensation accompanied the spray of blood.
"High Priestess!"
"...Huh?"
Apparently she hadn't intended to wound me, as Idella's eyes widened in panic.
"It's fine, calm down."
I soothed Jeremy, who was glaring menacingly at Idella.
Jeremy should have known I'd injured myself intentionally, so why was he angry at Idella?
Besides, a wound like this would heal quickly anyway.
【Activating the skill 'Blessing'. Healing the wound.】
Golden divine power healed the wound on my palm in an instant.
I used the skill on Idella as well.
"...Oh."
The divine power poured over her healed every wound scattered across her body.
Idella stared blankly at the raw wound on her arm that had vanished in an instant.
"Healing is a privilege of the priesthood. How about it—do you believe us now?"
"B-but I've really never heard of the Sun God before.... Are you sure it's the Sun God and not the Sea God?"
Her suspicion remained, but her wariness had clearly diminished compared to before.
Just as I was about to respond, relieved, Jeremy suddenly interjected.
"How dare you compare those worthless fools to our High Priestess?"
Hmm. Jeremy's insults toward the Sea God Cult were becoming increasingly creative.
"We can discuss that later—first, we need to escape this dangerous place...."
"Watch out!"
At that moment, Jeremy threw himself in front of us.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted, and smoke billowed thickly.
One of the kidnappers that Seth and Duke Kali had been fighting was now standing before us.
Apparently, fighting the two of them had been too much—the man was covered in tatters.
Trembling violently, he barely remained standing as blood dripped steadily to the ground.
"You look like you're in terrible shape. Are you really pushing yourself that hard?"
A quick glance revealed the others weren't faring much better.
It was impressive they'd held out this long against those two.
"High Priestess!"
Seth Noel, belatedly realizing one of our group had separated, cried out toward me.
I tried to raise my hand to signal I was fine, but....
Crash!
As the divine power enveloping his blade intensified, Seth Noel cleaved one of the enemies clean in half at the waist.
Wait, I said let them speak, not kill them.
...But I couldn't possibly say that now.
Seth Noel's eyes, rarely so fierce, had gone completely wild.
Wow, that's genuinely terrifying. I need to get out of here fast.
"Jeremy, I'm taking this child to safety—cover us!"
【Activating skill 'Physical Enhancement'.】
I immediately hoisted Idella's waist against my side and sprang to my feet.
She was so light it was almost heartbreaking.
"Huh! W-what are you doing...!"
"Now, stay still if you want to live."
Ignoring Idella's feeble struggles, I bolted forward.
"P-protect the High Priestess!"
"Block the enemies!"
Fortunately, our Holy Knights weren't standing idle and rushed forward swiftly.
Thanks to Jeremy and the others holding back the enemies trying to reach me, I managed to slip away from the fray without difficulty.
"We're safe now."
Only after reaching Victoria Lawrence did I set Idella down.
But her face had gone a terrifying shade of pale as she collapsed.
"Oh no, did that hurt? I'm sorry."
I hastily showered her with divine power, and as she seemed to calm down, her complexion gradually stabilized.
"This is so barbaric...."
"I'm truly sorry. But victims need to be separated from the scene as quickly as possible....
I glanced back at the fierce battle still raging.
Black energy, crimson energy, and golden energy clashed violently across the battlefield....
In truth, it wasn't so much a battle as Seth Noel, Cali, and Jeremy systematically slaughtering the enemies.
Idella's face went pale again.
Crash!
Just as I wondered if any of the enemies would even survive, a thunderous boom echoed as two more fell at Cali's feet.
Unlike the kidnappers who were now pulped beyond recognition, Cali bore not a single scratch—yet her expression had twisted into something fierce and menacing.
Had they released some kind of poison?
Though I saw no visible dark marks, concern drove me to entrust Ordel Kiris to Victoria Lawrence and rush over.
"Duke Kali, are you alright? What's wrong?"
But Cali flinched in surprise and spoke with evident reluctance.
"...I, I did my best to keep them breathing."
Ah, so that was why.
I gazed quietly at the two mangled bodies sprawled before me.
"...They don't seem to be breathing at all."
"Can't make a sound?"
Cali kicked one of the fallen figures with her foot.
Then, faintly—so incredibly faintly that I wouldn't have heard it without amplifying my hearing with divine power—a faint groan escaped.
"As you can see, they are alive."
"...."
Right, they're alive, at least.... What am I supposed to do with these two mangled wrecks....
Squelch, squelch, squelch.
At the sound, I turned my head and saw Jeremy and Seth approaching, the battle apparently over.
Each carrying one mangled body in their hands, no different from the one beneath Cali's feet.
"High Priestess! We brought back the living ones!"
Jeremy called out cheerfully.
His face was brimming with excitement at the thought of receiving praise cookies.
"...I apologize."
As I stared blankly, Seth covered his face.
His exposed ears were flushed red—clearly embarrassed.
"I wanted to bring them back in as good condition as possible, but their power was strangely irritating...."
Well, if these bastards truly served Evil, it would have been difficult even for Seth or Cali to handle them.
Their power was grotesquely twisted, the very antithesis of life itself.
It would have been easier to kill them outright; the condition of keeping them alive must have been incredibly troublesome.
"No, not at all. You all went through so much trouble honoring my request. Thank you."
I bowed deeply to the three of them.
One of the kidnappers had already been killed by Seth, his waist severed clean in half, so now I needed to interrogate these four mangled bodies....
I doubt they'd survive even one interrogation.
I sat before the one Seth had brought—the least mangled of the bunch—and removed his mask.
His eyes were bloodshot and swollen, blood trickling from his nose and mouth, but his face was relatively intact.
So this is the kind of wretch who follows Evil.
Evil treats humans as nothing but tools anyway, so why do they follow it?
All that awaits them in their future is not glory, but utter betrayal.
"Why did you target that girl?"
I gestured with my eyes toward Idella in the back.
Held by Victoria, Idella was glancing around, clearly desperate to flee.
Sorry, but running won't help. I can't let you escape here—I'll just catch you again.
"And what are you people?"
I hadn't asked expecting a straightforward answer, but surprisingly, he responded.
"Stupid bastards who know nothing."
He let out a mocking laugh through trembling lips.
"Soon, eternal darkness shall descend upon your world. There is nothing you foolish creatures can do. In this realm, hope...."
"...Hope's light shall vanish on the day of the apocalypse?"
The creature spouting curses like incantations widened its eyes.
"...How did you...?"
The creature's entire body began to tremble. The others sprawled beside it were no different.
"Speaking such shameful words so openly...."
The curse the creature had recited was something Evil's subordinates habitually spouted in the original work.
In other words, the creature had just confessed that it was a subordinate of Evil.
Though it certainly hadn't intended to.
"Thanks. I got some useful information from you."
I smiled at the horrified creatures.
Very widely.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org