The priests dispatched from the Theocracy of Bretus arrived in Rederbelk.
They had only sent a portion of the faithful as a vanguard, but that did not mean their number was small.
A group composed of three hundred paladins and priests.
But what unsettled the Empire far more than those three hundred was the man leading them.
“This is truly sorrowful. To think the city itself is drenched in sin.”
The speaker was a middle-aged man in his mid-forties, with a benevolent impression and slender, half-closed eyes that curved slyly.
The tall frame, the sharp features, and the pure white robes suited him.
If he had been a remarkable beauty in his youth, that image still lingered even now, though age had touched him.
“Welcome, Cardinal Patricio Romelo.”
Bishop Preden stepped forward and greeted him with utmost respect.
Cardinal Patricio Romelo.
Second only to the Pope in power within the Theocracy of Bretus, and one of the five Cardinals that existed.
Considering that Cardinals were usually no younger than sixty, the fact that he had only just entered his forties spoke volumes about his extraordinary ability.
“Fufu. Bishop Preden. How have you been?”
“I live always within the grace of Lord Lumenis.”
Preden moved with utmost care, not daring to offend him.
Though Preden himself held the seat of Bishop, and his own ability could not be said to be lacking, before Patricio such a title felt hollow.
What unsettled Preden most was the peculiar atmosphere that surrounded Patricio.
“I heard the city as a whole has been swept by evil.”
His words were soft, but the sensation was like a snake crawling across one’s skin.
Preden steadied his reason to avoid revealing his unease.
“Yes. It is all my fault.”
“Fufu. Bishop Preden, how can you say such a thing? This is not because of any failure on your part.”
Patricio smiled, shaking his head.
Even in such a situation, the constant smile on his lips made it seem as though he wore a mask.
“It is simply because the people of this city sinned. Evil has accumulated, and thus such things have occurred. Only through purification of that sin will such things never happen again.”
Purification.
Patricio uttered that word.
Preden bowed his head as though in assent, but inside his thoughts churned.
‘Purification? Does he mean to attempt such madness here in the Empire?’
The word carried its literal meaning.
To sweep away all heretics with unclean thoughts and doctrines, and forcibly spread their own creed.
Sheer insanity.
In the past, perhaps the Theocracy’s might was so great that even the birds in the sky would fall at its gesture, but those days had long passed.
The Theocracy of Bretus no longer held the same majesty.
The number of believers had dwindled, and above all, the nearly twenty years of isolation had inflicted the greatest damage.
To Preden, Patricio’s words sounded like the empty arrogance of a frog trapped in a well.
‘But he is not someone who would utter words without purpose.’
He had not ascended to the rank of Cardinal at such an age merely out of ambition.
He had the ability and the mind for it.
Cardinal Patricio in particular was notorious for his serpent-like cunning.
Even Preden, far away here in the Rederbelk diocese, knew of it—so what must his true nature be like?
Preden lowered his head to avoid giving offense.
“Yes. Your Eminence speaks the truth.”
“No, Bishop Preden. That is the wrong attitude.”
“...What?”
“Purification, you say. In the past, yes, such things were done. But as you know, the world has changed. We cannot cling forever to outdated ways in a changed world. We must act and move according to those changes.”
Preden struggled to follow his meaning.
Just a moment ago he had pressed for purification, and now he flipped his words so easily?
Preden realized the true intent behind his actions.
‘So it is not his real opinion at all. He is testing my heart.’
Though Patricio’s rank was higher, the authority over Rederbelk belonged to Preden himself.
Patricio sought to seize initiative.
But was it necessary to provoke trouble so directly?
If he pressed his rank, Preden could never resist anyway.
“Hmm. But Bishop Preden, I see someone important is absent.”
At his words, Preden understood what he meant.
‘Priestess Remria.’
Patricio had never been interested in Preden to begin with.
The one he watched warily was not Preden but Priestess Remria.
‘Though a Cardinal outranks, a Priestess is by no means a low office.’
The Priestess sisters gathered directly beneath the Saintess. Their rank was technically below Cardinals.
But the five Cardinals could not unite easily, whereas the Priestesses moved as one, like sisters.
That was why they were called “sisters.”
To target Remria was, in a broader sense, to challenge the entire order of Priestesses.
Thus Patricio was cautious.
“Her Holiness said she had someone to meet privately, and so she stepped out.”
“Alone?”
Patricio’s brow twitched faintly.
“Hmm. Bishop Preden, I must admit I am disappointed. How could you send someone so precious as the Priestess alone in such a dangerous city?”
“She refused all escorts most adamantly...”
The Priestess’s authority exceeded even Preden’s.
He could /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ hardly refuse her will.
“Even so, should you not have secretly sent guards, or arranged a hidden escort?”
“...I apologize. It is all my fault.”
Preden admitted his failing honestly.
Even if it were not his fault, once Patricio pointed it out, it became so.
“My thinking was too short.”
“Fufu. Do not be so hard on yourself. How could I scold a worthy man such as Bishop Preden?”
Patricio smiled as though he had never meant to rebuke him.
Preden shivered at the sudden shift.
Just then, Remria returned to the Rederbelk branch.
“Oh my.”
Seeing the larger gathering and the Cardinal at their head, she lightly covered her lips with her hand.
“Why, Your Eminence. It has been a long time.”
“Haha. Indeed it has, Priestess. Do you enjoy life outside? It has been so long since I saw your face, I feared you would never return.”
A reproach for not having come back to the Theocracy.
Normally, someone with tact would reply in kind, but Remria did not.
“I enjoyed life outside.”
Even at those blunt words, Patricio’s expression did not change.
Still smiling, he asked,
“I am glad to hear it. So, have you accomplished what you set out for?”
“Of course. And you, Your Eminence, what brings you here?”
“That is what I wished to speak of. I was dispatched because word reached us of a demon’s appearance.”
“Ah. A demon, you say?”
“The city was swallowed by golden sand, tens of thousands perished. If that is not the work of a demon, then what is? Thus I came at the head of three hundred faithful to patrol the city...”
“There is no need.”
Remria cut him off firmly.
“...Hmm. I cannot understand what you mean by that.”
“Exactly as I said. We decided not to interfere in the city’s affairs. I already negotiated with the Princess.”
“Priestess, forgive me, but that was your negotiation. Not mine.”
“But I promised that no one else would wander freely into the city.”
Her tone, as if to say, ‘Is that not enough?’ was almost brazen.
But Patricio was not easily cowed.
“Fufu. Amusing. But Priestess, if so, then what of my face? I came all this way with three hundred faithful, not to mention those waiting outside the city. My dignity must be upheld.”
“I can uphold it for you.”
At those words, Patricio’s half-closed eyes opened slightly.
Through the narrow slit glimmered a serpent’s sharp fangs.
“Now that is tempting. But unless it is something substantial, it will not satisfy me—or them.”
“Do not worry. This is something worthy of the entire Theocracy.”
“Then let us hope your words are no empty boast. What is it?”
With a gentle smile, Remria replied,
“We have made contact with the immortal monster we have so long pursued.”
* * *
Ludger stepped into the inner part of the casino.
Though the city outside was unsafe, the casino building towered high and shone with dazzling lights.
Naturally, the place teemed with wealthy people dressed in luxurious attire.
Perhaps thanks to his clothing, Ludger passed the guards without question and entered easily.
Flashing lights from every side.
People shouting with joy after winning, and others collapsing in despair after losing.
Drunks causing scenes, dragged away by guards. Women in revealing outfits carried trays laden with chips.
A space filled with pleasure, frenzy, and greed.
For an ordinary person, just breathing that air would be overwhelming, but Ludger calmly observed.
“Ater Nocturnus. Take Rine.”
He handed Rine to his familiar.
The crow-shaped shadow embraced Rine and followed behind Ludger.
Onlookers found it curious, but not shocking.
Isla Machia, home of the New Mage Tower, often drew mages.
And large casinos such as this were frequented not only by wealthy businessmen but also by mages.
A common sight anywhere.
Still, Ludger himself was anything but common, so eyes lingered on him.
And on the sight of Rine asleep in the shadow’s arms.
A handsome man and beautiful girl exuding peculiar charisma inevitably drew attention, even here.
But Ludger ignored the stares, focusing only on finding one person.
At last his gaze fixed.
‘Found him.’
From one corner burst loud cheers.
“Whoa! Insane! How many times is that now?!”
“Who wins that much at craps? How lucky is he?”
“Isn’t there some trick?”
“No, the guards checked him several times. It’s no trick.”
Gathering the words, Ludger twisted his lips into a thin smile.
Yes. A dog never changes its habits. Of course he would be here.
Ludger pushed through the crowd.
People parted before the pressure of his presence.
With that massive shadow trailing behind him, who would not?
At last he reached the table where two dice were being thrown.
And he saw him.
A man in his late thirties, with ivory-colored, unkempt hair and a shabby appearance.
His beard was patchy, neglected.
If groomed, he might have been handsome, but his appearance ruined it all.
Yet tonight, he was the star.
“Kuhaha! Well now! I’m on fire today! Who would’ve thought it would go like this!”
The man burst into laughter after winning yet again.
The dealer stared wide-eyed at the dice on the table.
The man gleefully reached to rake in his chips—
Until Ludger spoke.
“Still scamming with your gambling?”
“Huh? Who the hell—?”
The ivory-haired man turned with a twisted face.
And when he recognized Ludger, his face contorted strangely.
“You... you...!”
His expression was a mess of suspicion, unease, anger, and shock.
“[Faust]. I told you countless times to quit gambling.”
“Don’t call me by that ridiculous title.”
Muttering so, [Faust] glanced past Ludger’s shoulder—at the shadow, at Rine asleep within it. His eyes widened.
“Rine...?”
His disbelieving gaze turned to Ludger.
“Why is Rine here?”
“That is exactly why I came for you.”
Meeting his gaze, Ludger spoke his name.
“Gariel Cosmo. As Rine’s teacher, you should know full well what this means.”