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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 15: The Greater Danger
Killing the witch wasn't particularly difficult.
A witch who couldn't even escape after being accused and was easily caught.
That meant she wasn't very powerful to begin with.
Moreover, her luck in matchups was terrible. She faced Father Moro, an officially armed priest, along with top-ranking candidates: Ray in first place, Aaron in second, and Jenny in fourth place, all carrying holy relics.
With the collective beating from the villagers added in, the witch was excellently exorcised.
"Hooray! The witch is dead!"
"Long live Sol Invictus! Sol Invictus!!"
"Long live Sol Invictus! Sol Invictus!!"
The villagers shouted in celebration after successfully hunting the witch.
The apprentice members who had unexpectedly hunted the witch looked dumbfounded, but Ray didn't miss the opportunity.
Swoosh!
He caught the soul leaving the dead witch's body.
[······!?]
The startled soul wailed.
The round, dark red soul with rising tendrils was torn apart on the spot.
The torn soul scattered and naturally flowed into Ray.
His vision transformed with the possession. A lower viewpoint than usual and a heavy weight felt on his chest.
'This is why I hate possessing women.'
It had been about a month since he killed the prisoner by breaking his neck during the entry exam, but this certainly wasn't a pleasant experience.
'Looks like this is the village. Why was the witch here?'
The witch's name was Mary. She had come to this village searching for something, and Ray could quickly discover what it was.
"I need to get into the lord's castle to help Capricorn!"
Capricorn.
That was the reason witch Mary had come to this village.
The problem was that access to the lord's castle wasn't easy.
Mary had stayed in the city for months looking for a chance to infiltrate the lord's castle, but there weren't many ways for a commoner to enter.
Meanwhile, a plague spread through the city.
It wasn't Mary's doing.
Diseases spread easily in medieval cities due to hygiene issues.
This time too, the plague had spread due to unclean hygiene and poor management.
Mary saw this as an opportunity.
"Everyone, eat these herbs. They will help alleviate your symptoms."
She disguised herself as an exceptional healer to build her reputation!
The plague didn't just sweep through the commoners' quarters. Soon it would spread to the lord's castle as well.
At that time, if there was a renowned healer in the village?
Mary, who had become well-versed in pathology since becoming a witch, created herbal remedies that actually worked against the plague.
Thanks to Mary, many people survived the plague who would have otherwise died.
'Great! If this continues, I'll be able to infiltrate the lord's castle!'
Who would have thought the unexpected plague would be such a help? But she was the one who seized the opportunity.
‘I'm so clever after all!’
"Margaret. Won't you go on a date with me today? I've made a fancy dinner reservation for you."
What was this? A man obsessed with lust.
With plague spreading throughout the city, a male was asking her for a date when she was busy caring for patients.
Margaret looked at Ronald, the oblivious son of the mill owner, with contemptuous eyes.
"I'm busy."
"What? No! I've already paid a deposit! If I cancel now, I'll be charged a cancellation fee!"
This creepy bastard. Making reservations on his own and then complaining about it.
He always acted so high and mighty as the mill owner's son, but this was disgusting.
"Just get lost, please."
"Margaret...! How dare you...!"
The witch who rejected Ronald's date didn't realize.
That a significant portion of medieval witch hunt accusations were motivated by ‘revenge for rejected courtship.’
"That woman is a witch! I saw her using suspicious poisonous herbs!"
"What? Margaret is a witch? I thought she seemed suspicious!"
"......Oh, shit."
For this, at least, the witch felt wronged.
***
"Hmm......"
After reading the witch's memories, Ray felt somewhat sympathetic.
Really bad luck. An accusation from there? And she was an actual witch. Why is this actually true?
In any case, through the incredibly unlucky witch's soul, he confirmed that there was something in the lord's castle.
"Capricorn......"
"What does that mean?"
Jenny tilted her head in confusion. Aaron and Henry were equally puzzled.
"Ah, it seems the witch called out that name as she was dying. Do you know it?"
Father Moro shook his head at Ray's question.
"It's the first time I've heard that name. It could be a high-ranking contractor the witch served."
Ray was skeptical about this explanation. If there was a high-ranking contractor named Capricorn in the lord's castle, why wouldn't he allow in a witch who came to serve him?
"I think it's related to those who posed as the domain's soldiers."
"I think so too. Was that also why you sang the exorcism hymn?"
"Yes, actually, when you were conducting the heresy interrogation, Father, I sensed an ominous energy flowing in."
Father Moro realized that the witch, who had remained unmoved during his interrogation, revealed her true form through Ray's hymn.
Exorcism means driving out evil from outside. It indicated that they were guarding against a power other than the witch's disguise.
'How did such a young brother notice that?'
What surprised Father Moro was that Ray had keenly detected it and performed the appropriate exorcism ritual.
Among the clergy, there were those with the power of demon detection who could easily track evil energy, but Ray wasn't one of them as far as Father Moro knew.
That is, he had detected the strange change purely through spiritual power......
'Is his innate constitution different?'
That was a very precious quality.
A power that could be even more powerful than abilities granted later in life. Something that could only be awakened by receiving God's selection.
'Could it be......'
It was no coincidence that Father Moro thought of the deepest part of the Theocracy. The lofty celestial beings who communicated with beings more noble than even the cardinals.
"Brother Ray. Did you notice anything else unusual?"
"Well......"
Ray cautiously whispered while keeping an eye on the villagers who were intoxicated with the fervor of witch hunting.
"There's something in the lord's castle. It seems that the entity the witch called Capricorn is there."
"In the lord's castle......"
Of all places, it had to be where the nobility resided.
The Violet marquisate, the owner of this city and the lord of four surrounding cities and more than twenty villages.
A margrave adjacent to the northern border with over fifty knights under his command, a military noble.
Not a size that even the clergy of the Theocracy could easily invade.
"Father Moro. Is it still difficult to enter the lord's castle?"
"The nobility tend to be wary of priests. Especially wandering priests."
That made sense.
Wandering priests were typically armed combat pilgrims.
In other words, they were unwelcome guests like heresy inquisitors or holy knights.
"But do we have to visit as priests?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... We have a noble among us, don't we?"
Swish.
The gazes of the three people turned in one direction.
From the distinguished noble of Graham and son of a cardinal.
Aaron Graham.
"Uh, well... strictly speaking, my father is a religious man, so......"
Once a noble, forever a noble.
***
It had been nearly half a year since the Northern Margrave Violet cut off contact with the outside world.
With mysterious closed doors and strange mages coming and going, it wasn't strange that the atmosphere inside the castle had become gloomy.
Margrave Ralph Violet was aware of this atmosphere.
"Lord, I have a report about the witch hunt that took place in the city......"
"Not interested."
The steward closed his mouth at the margrave's sharp response.
Instead, he asked something else.
"What happened to the mages you called in this time?"
"They failed again... My Lord! You must stop bringing in these suspicious mages! Rather, the Theocracy-!"
"The Theocracy is out of the question!"
Bang! The margrave slammed his fist on the desk, shattering the solid oak.
Even thick hardwood meant nothing before the monstrous strength of a Sword Expert.
"Bring in new mages! There must be a mage among the barbarians who can heal my daughter!"
"My Lord......"
This was a conversation that had been repeated for half a year. Margrave Violet, the leader of the North and guardian of the kingdom, wasn't originally this kind of person.
He was a warrior who had protected the kingdom's border regions with iron-like firmness.
A commander who had protected the kingdom from the northern barbarians throughout his life.
To think he would bring in the barbarian mages he so despised?
No one who knew the margrave could have imagined such a thing.
'If only the young lady hadn't become like that...!'
The reason the margrave had lost his reason like this was because of his daughter, who had been bedridden for half a year.
Lady Ophelia, who had been injured while subjugating monsters rampaging in the domain, had not opened her eyes since then.
No doctor in the margrave's domain could treat Ophelia, and when the young lord suspected evil sorcery and wanted to bring in clergy from the Theocracy, the margrave had refused for some reason.
'I understand not wanting rumors about evil sorcery affecting the young lady's marriage prospects, but......'
But to bring in barbarian mages? The steward remembered a margrave who was not this irrational.
"He refused again?"
"Ah, young master......"
The steward bowed his head to Lawrence, the heir of the Violet marquisate.
"Father has changed since my sister became like this. He wasn't originally like this......"
"Young master......"
Although young, Lawrence was a brilliant prodigy.
He knew that what had happened to his sister wasn't something to be delayed by talking about marriage issues.
"I heard that priests from the Solar Theocracy are visiting for a witch trial. Can't we invite them to the castle?"
"The lord has strictly forbidden the entry of clergy. The soldiers will... prioritize following the lord's will."
"I suppose so......"
If clergy from the Solar Theocracy visited, rumors would inevitably spread.
The very act of a noble bringing clergy into the castle was a suspicious matter.
"Jackson. Let me ask you honestly."
"Yes, young master."
"...The smell coming from my father. It seems to be getting worse. Could it be a disease?"
It was something the castle servants wouldn't dare mention. As Lawrence said, an ominous rotting smell had begun to emanate from the margrave. It was as if......
"It's similar to the smell coming from my sister. I don't have as much experience as my father or sister, but... it smelled like a rotting corpse."
"Young master...!"
Jackson looked around nervously, checking if anyone had heard. If someone had, it would be a disgrace to the Violet family.
"It's just that the young lady's condition is serious, causing an unusual smell. The lord smells similar because he's been by the young lady's side for so long."
"...Is that really so?"
"Yes, that's right. So the young master should also be steadfast at a time like this. The lord will soon......"
Just then.
A guard who had been watching the firmly closed castle gate came running in a hurry.
"What's the matter!"
"Ah, young master! We... we have visitors!"
"Visitors? I haven't heard about any visitors?"
As Lawrence expressed his surprise, the guard revealed the identity of the visitors.
"He identified himself as Aaron Graham, the heir of the Graham family!"
"Graham? Isn't that a noble family far to the south from here?"
Why would an heir from such a place come here?
"Ah...!"
Jackson's eyes lit up.
Having served the Violet marquisate for many years, he knew the encyclopedia of nobility by heart.
"Young master! We must welcome them as guests right away!"
"Yes, I suppose we should... but first I should report to father......"
"That can wait! First, we must bring them into the castle!"
"......?"
While Lawrence was puzzled, Jackson had an expression as if he had found a ray of hope.
The Grahams. A distinguished family that traditionally produced clergy for the Solar Theocracy.
***
Thanks to the steward Jackson's quick thinking, Ray's group was able to enter the Violet lord's castle.
Nominally, they were received as visiting nobles, but in reality, they were all clergy and revealed their identities as soon as they met Lawrence.
"I am Aaron Graham. A candidate member of the Solar Theocracy's armed organization, and these are my colleagues. Lastly, this is Father Moro, an inquisitor of Eclipse."
"Ah......"
As Aaron readily revealed their identities, Lawrence's pupils shook.
He had disobeyed his father's strict order forbidding the entry of clergy into the castle.
But before Lawrence could say anything, Ray beat him to it.
"Young Lord Lawrence. Have there been any suspicious signs in the castle recently?"
"T-That is......"
Lawrence hesitated to rashly speak about his sister's condition. The final destination of a noble lady was to marry into another family and become its mistress.
Although his sister was one of the finest knights of the Violet marquisate, marriage was an inescapable fate.
If strange rumors were associated with her, it would ruin his sister's marriage prospects.
"Young master...! If not now, then when!"
"Jackson! Father commanded us to keep silent!"
Lawrence scolded Jackson, but Jackson knelt down and spoke in a plaintive voice.
"Young master...! We must still save the young lady! Marriage is important, but how can it be more important than life!"
"Jackson......"
Moved by his retainer's desperate plea, Lawrence wavered. Finally, he decided to disobey his father's order.
"Actually......"
Lawrence explained the situation. What fell from his lips was disturbing.
Lady Ophelia Violet had been injured while subjugating monsters and transported back.
A strange smell emanated from the lady who couldn't open her eyes, and a similar smell had begun to come from the margrave as well.
With each word from Lawrence, Father Moro's expression grew more serious.
And Ray's was the same.
'Could this be......'
At that moment, Father Moro spoke.
"May I examine the lady's condition?"
"That is......"
"It's necessary. The situation may be more serious than you think."
At Father Moro's insistence, Lawrence nodded silently. Father Moro turned around.
"Everyone except Brother Ray, please wait here."
"What? But......"
"We'll be right back."
Father Moro took Ray with him and discreetly followed Lawrence.
They arrived at the door to Lady Ophelia's room. The guards at the door spoke.
"Young master, who are these two people......"
"Mages newly hired by my father."
"Ah......"
The guards gave them strange looks while trying to manage their expressions.
They seemed disgusted by the bizarre practices of the mages who had entered the lady's room over the past half year.
"We're going in."
"Ah, yes......"
As the guards obediently opened the door, Lawrence said,
"You should cover your noses."
They understood the meaning of his words as soon as they stepped inside. A terrible stench of death poured out from inside the room.
"Brother Ray, hold your nose tightly...?"
Father Moro advised the less experienced Ray, but Ray was already tightly covering his nose.
"Young lord, don't you have something like mint powder? You can apply it under your nose."
"Ah... I'll try to get some."
"???"
Ray seemed to have surprisingly practical knowledge of such situations. He strode purposefully toward the lady lying on the bed.
"...Shit."
Then he immediately cursed.
And for good reason.
Black.
A pitch-black color with no hint of red had taken root in the lady's body.
"This is......"
"...Yes, I felt it too."
The terribly evil energy emanating from Lady Ophelia. Both of them immediately recognized the malice that could be felt through the skin, beyond intellectual understanding.
A demon.
Ray didn't speak aloud to avoid stimulating the demon inside the lady.
Father Moro also signaled that they should go outside to talk quietly.
Just then, the door burst open with a bang! A man with a fierce expression and large build. A large man with distinctive purple hair.
"Father......"
Margrave Violet. Ralph Violet.
"You... get away from my daughter at once!"
The margrave's fierce gaze was directed at the two of them.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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