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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 19: Capricorn (3)
【You believe in another god?】
"...!"
A moment of wavering.
Capricorn's dry laughter echoed.
【Hihit! Hihihit! Kikikikik! Even after receiving such power and such grace, you still believe in another god?】
Ray didn't respond to the demon's mockery.
He simply repeated his prayer, squeezing out his holy power and projecting it as a verbal command.
But it wasn't enough.
The holy power Ray possessed was clearly inferior compared to Aaron's or Jenny's.
Ray, Ray Anderson is Kim Gwango.
Pastor Kim Gwango believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though he was reborn, how could a faith he'd held for half his life vanish like snow melting in the sun?
This was why Ray accumulated less holy power than others despite his vast talent and innate aptitude.
Would Ray Anderson ever be able to forsake Pastor Kim Gwango's faith?
Could he ever believe solely in Sol Invictus and pray only for him?
'Probably not.'
Ray was resolute on this matter.
As Kim Gwango, he had already experienced God's miracles and received His protection.
He couldn't deny the life of Kim Gwango that formed Ray Anderson.
Unless his memories were completely gone, Ray Anderson wasn't ungrateful enough to betray a debt he acknowledged.
Therefore, as Kim Gwango and as Ray Anderson.
He could only maintain the life he had chosen for himself.
"I believe in another god, you said? Well, that's not wrong. But you know what..."
Ray whispered into Lady Ophelia's ear so only the demon could hear.
"I believe in Sol Invictus too, you bastard. That's why holy power accumulates."
【???】
For a moment, Capricorn wondered if he had misheard.
Believing in another god but also in Sol Invictus?
This made no sense.
【You're... talking... nonsense】
For the first time, Capricorn's voice trembled.
As if desperately trying to deny an absurd sophistry he simply couldn't accept.
But Ray spoke with an infinitely calm voice and firm conviction.
"Jesus and Sol Invictus are both great beings, so why can't I believe in both?"
Capricorn realized from the determination in Ray's voice that he was serious.
Wait, is this guy really crazy?
Is he truly a priest of the Solar Theocracy?
Regardless, with his hesitation gone, Ray recited his prayer.
"Sol Invictus, Holy Sun. Drive this wicked soul away."
"Save this suffering soul and fill it with holy blessing."
"Purify the demon with your light."
But.
It wasn't enough.
Despite Ray's change of heart, his holy power was critically insufficient.
Moreover, as the goat demon's power burned Ray's palm that covered its eyes, his limits would soon become apparent.
"Covering the eyes is a good choice, but holy fire can also substitute."
At that moment. A kind voice, along with a shroud covering the demon's eyes. Then he grasped Ray's burning hand.
"Father Moro?"
The man who had fainted from the demon's attack had recovered himself.
Wiping the blood trickling from his mouth, he spoke to Ray.
"Focus. This exorcism must be completed by you from beginning to end."
Then a holy aura flowed from Father Moro.
He was trying to supplement Ray's insufficient holy power.
【You...!】
The demon squeezed out its strength against the priest it had initially excluded.
Unlike the apprentice members, he was a veteran inquisitor who had truly fought against evil beings.
The aura flowing from Father Moro was beyond what the exhausted demon could handle.
"Daddy! Daddy! Help me! Save me!"
The desperate Capricorn called for the Margrave using Ophelia's voice. But...
"Ophelia!"
"Urgh...!"
"Jenny!"
Jenny, struck by the Margrave's rough fist, brought her hand to her face.
Then, immediately recovering with her healing power, she latched onto the Margrave.
"Let go! I said let go!"
"Hehe... commoners can be quite stubborn, noble sir?"
Jenny's desperate struggle filled with venom. The Margrave, who was restrained by Aaron's strength, dragged himself toward his daughter.
But he was too late.
The Margrave couldn't reach her before Ray finished his prayer.
【No, don't...!】
"Yes!"
What do you mean 'don't'!
Ray unleashed his final verbal command.
"Capricorn! In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I command you. Withdraw!!"
"This is the holy land of Lord Sol Invictus!"
Father Moro's holy power followed Ray's command and enveloped Ophelia.
She writhed in agony, but gradually the holy power began to purify her.
【KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!】
The demon screamed with a terrible shriek.
Ink-black light poured from the noble lady's pupils and mouth, soon emerging as a thick fog.
Everyone knew.
That wicked and terrible dark fog was the demon's soul.
"It can't escape the barrier!"
The demon's black soul tried to flee outside, but it couldn't cross the barrier drawn with holy water and salt.
And for a demon unable to escape the barrier, there was only one option.
"Oink?"
The only living creature within the barrier. It had no choice but to possess the piglet they had prepared in advance.
"Oiiink!"
As the demon possessed it, the innocent piglet's eyes blazed blood-red. Everything was going according to plan.
"It's not over yet! A demon is most dangerous when it has a complete physical body! Quickly, we must seal it...!"
Father Moro hurriedly took out a holy relic to seal the demon that had possessed the piglet.
But was he still affected by the initial shock? Father Moro's movements were sluggish, and the demon didn't miss this opportunity.
Boom!
The demon threw the bed that had been shaking and crashed it into Father Moro.
This was clearly different from when it had merely shaken the bed to dislodge the brass star necklace.
"Urgh... th-the seal...!"
They needed to hurry.
They needed to quickly suppress the demon's power and seal it deep underground in the Theocracy state.
But was this possible for apprentice members?
"Huh?"
At that moment, what entered Father Moro's eyes was Ray, who had grabbed the
demon-possessed piglet from behind.
Ray Anderson gripped a swing-ready hand axe, his gaze fixed on the utterly defenseless piglet.
'Surely not?'
That won't do.
Killing the demon is not the solution.
It would only release the evil soul that had lost its physical form.
While still within the barrier, sealing the demon's power and taking it to the Theocracy state was the only way to prevent the demon from manifesting in the world.
"Brother Ray, you mustn't...!?"
Thwack!
The swung axe cleaved the demon-possessed pig.
Blood from the piglet stained the salt barrier crimson.
【Fool! You've committed a reckless act with your misguided knowledge!】
As the demon's soul mocked Ray heartily while trying to escape through the damaged barrier.
"Where do you think you're going?"
【...?】
With a thud, the demon's soul was caught.
【How... how...】
"Die, demon!!"
Ray's superhuman strength tore apart the demon's soul.
***
Before Ray's eyes stretched a desolate world with no end in sight.
Lightning struck relentlessly from a red sky as winds carrying the stench of blood blew through.
Black smoke rose from the cracks in the earth, blood-stained rivers flowed in tangled streams, and screams of agony could be heard.
'Is this... Capricorn's memory?'
Ray's ‘possession’ absorbed the evil deeds of the possessed soul.
In the process, he read the soul's memories, and the scene revealed was a hell beyond words.
'Is this truly hell?'
The horrific scene unfolding before his eyes was enough to freeze his heart.
KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
Screams echoing everywhere.
There were beings that rejoiced at these long, piercing screams that reverberated through the air.
Horrific, evil things.
'Demons...!'
Evil beings emerging from blood-stained rivers and cracks in the earth, violating living creatures.
The wicked beings occasionally encountered during exorcisms.
Beings so evil they could only be described as wicked beyond words.
They existed in this world too.
'Calm down. This is within the demon's memories. It's not really in front of me.'
Ray remained frozen in place as he watched demons violate the world.
The world these evil beings desired.
As if showing the future that would burn when they descended.
The vivid, horrific sight before him that made him want to flee.
Gulp.
Ray reminded himself once more that this was a scene from Capricorn's memory.
【...】
"...!"
Did he just make eye contact with a demon?
'Must be... my imagination?'
Ray swallowed as he met the demon's ominous gaze.
This isn't reality.
It's just a dream.
So, so...
【...】
【...】
The gazes multiplied.
One, two... demons turned their heads toward Ray.
Ah... a nightmare.
What a hellish nightmare...
'This is really just a dream... right?'
The boundary between reality and nightmare gradually blurred.
Though he understood this rationally, his mind was a chaotic mix of despair and fear.
Even though this was just a vision from his possession, his body trembled, and cold sweat poured down.
Is this reality?
If so, could such a cruel reality exist?
Perhaps... just as he peered into the demon's abyss.
Could the demon also peer into Ray?
【...】
Countless evil beings exhaled hot breaths with ominous howls.
Ray couldn't move.
Like being pinned down by sleep paralysis.
He sensed it. That he would be trapped here forever.
【...】 【...】 【...】
The heat approached.
Gazes concentrated.
Black energies bound his entire body.
【...】 【...】 【...】 【...】 【...】
【...】 【...】 【...】 【...】 【...】
This is the end.
The moment Ray, sensing his doom, closed his eyes.
***
A brilliant radiance warming his back drove away the blood-stained world.
【...!!】
Ray couldn't understand what was happening.
He only guessed that the evil beings were suffering and scattering in panic.
Who on earth?
Who could chase away so many evils and instill fear in them?
And above all...
'There are many more gazes?'
He didn't dare look behind him.
But he could feel it.
So many, so many ‘eyes’ looking at him, more than all the eyes of those evil beings combined.
And soon, the warm and soft light he spread enveloped Ray as a low voice whispered in his ear.
【Fear not.】
***
"Huff!"
When Ray opened his eyes, what entered his vision was a red-haired girl about his age.
"Oh! Little brother Ray! You're awake?"
"Jenny?"
Had he fainted?
Ray looked around and asked about the situation.
"How long has it been?"
"Three days?"
"Are you kidding..."
It had been that long?
Ray tried to get up in surprise, but perhaps due to not moving for so long, he couldn't muster the strength.
"Calm down, little brother Ray. It's all over now."
"How's the situation?"
Jenny placed the back of Ray's head on her lap and examined his minor wounds with her ‘healing power.’
"The enraged Margrave has come to his senses, and Young Lady is safe. However, many people on both sides were injured and are recovering."
Jenny complained that she had been using her healing power for three days straight because of this.
"By the way, how do you feel? You collapsed after killing the demon-possessed pig."
"I'm fine."
The reason Ray killed Capricorn, who had possessed the pig, was to absorb its evil deeds.
Having gained a holy power and ability by absorbing the evil deeds of a warlock he had killed, how much would a demon's evil deeds amount to?
Of course, even after recovering the witch's evil deeds here, his holy power had increased, but he hadn't gained any additional abilities.
Not every absorption of evil deeds necessarily grants abilities, but given that the opponent was a demon, it was worth expecting.
'And an Archdemon at that.'
Archdemon Capricorn.
One of the twelve fallen stars.
The reward for absorbing such a prominent figure should be exceptional, but...
'Hmm... doesn't seem like much has changed.'
When he had received the 〈Sun's Blessing〉 or the Ability of Hymns, there was a clear intuitive feedback.
Could it be a dud?
Then there would be no reward for absorbing evil deeds after that terrible experience...
"Ouch."
At that moment, Ray frowned at the pain he felt on the back of his hand.
Wondering if there was a wound, he found his left hand wrapped in bandages that were stained red.
"Huh? I don't remember injuring this..."
And the wound suddenly opening up?
As Ray tilted his head in confusion, Jenny cautiously said to him.
"Little brother Ray... seeing it will be easier to understand."
Jenny unwrapped Ray's bandage.
After removing the reddened bandage soaked with blood and wiping away the spread blood, the cause of the wound was revealed.
"Huh?"
A torn wound. A vivid scar from which red blood still dripped.
What on earth is this?
It seems familiar somehow.
"Could it be..."
Jenny nodded to Ray, who muttered in disbelief, and said,
"It's a stigmata."
Stigmata.
Evidence of a miracle.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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