Chapter 168. Ugo (2)
In Seria's hand was a small dagger, gleaming with a pure, white light.
It was the Dagger of Repentance, a sacred relic with an ancient history. The dagger was a treasure of the Holy Kingdom, consecrated long ago to redeem a fallen saint.
On the day she was officially appointed as a saintess, His Holiness had handed Seria this dagger with a benevolent expression. She recalled the words His Holiness had spoken to her as he entrusted the dagger to her.
"This sacred relic is a blessing from the Light upon your destiny. The day will come when you must use it. Until then, keep it safe."
When she asked how she would recognize that moment, His Holiness had simply replied, "You will know, naturally."
It had been ten years since she was entrusted with the Dagger of Repentance. Now, a decade later, Seria realized this was the moment His Holiness had spoken of.
"I must use this dagger," she said, clutching it tightly with both hands as she looked at Caron.
But Caron could only meet her gaze with wary eyes. He said, "I'm an enemy of the Holy Kingdom. Your god must hate me. How could I possibly trust your words?"
Doubt was natural. And so was distrust. Seria knew well how much blood of the faithful Caron's sword had shed. From the outer cities to the capital, countless Inquisitors had died calling upon their god.
Yet Seria answered firmly, "The Light loves even someone like you. I... I do not believe you are truly a bad person."
Caron didn't kill without a reason. He had wielded his sword to protect others from the hands of mad fanatics. Seria remembered the way he had looked after her with an expression of reluctant concern. She knew he wasn't a bad person. In the end, he was simply someone who fought to protect something.
"Do you still think that after seeing the blood on my sword?" Caron asked.
Seria nodded in response. "A truly bad person could never wear an expression like yours."
She studied Caron's face—it bore the strained look of someone grappling with the presence of a half-formed Death Knight. Just watching him was painful.
The tears he shed, the sorrow she felt from him, proved his sincerity. Seria couldn't understand Caron's connection to the Death Knight, but one thing was clear.
It's someone precious to him, Seria thought.
Caron's desperation had reached the Light, and the glowing Dagger of Repentance was proof of that.
Thus, with a strong voice, Seria said to him, "Your desperation has touched the Light."
"Explain what that dagger is," Caron demanded.
"This is the Dagger of Repentance. It eradicates all dark mana dwelling within a corrupted body and restores the person to who they were before the corruption. At least... That is what the scriptures say," Seria explained.
Caron responded gruffly, "So you've never actually used it. If it's so miraculous, why didn't you use it on the Crown Prince?"
"I do not know," Seria admitted.
"...How shameless," Caron said.
"Only He knows everything. So, make your choice. We do not have much time," Seria said.
She could sense the Death Knight's life fading. The dark mana swirling around it was terrifying just to behold. Yet within that darkness, she could see a faint flicker of life.
Caron bit his lip as he looked down at Ugo.
"Owner... There's no other way," Guillotine said softly, voicing its opinion. "If we delay any longer, it'll be irreversible. The dark mana gathering in the core will cause a massive explosion. I guarantee it—we'll all die. From the start, there were only two choices."
"Die together, or leave him behind..." Caron said.
"Typical tricks of the Demon Kings. If the Saintess holds an answer, that must be the only one," Guillotine concluded.
"Damn bastards," Caron muttered.
There was no choice. And thus, there was no reason to hesitate.
Caron bowed his head toward Seria and said, "...Please, Saintess."
The words came out with formal respect.
At that, Seria gave a faint smile and nodded. Clutching the dagger tightly, she gently closed her eyes and said, "Miracles are the glory granted to those who are prepared."
Fwoosh!
Following Seria's prayer, she began to glow brilliantly with reverent light. She continued, "With the desperation of the seeker, I draw near to glory."
Thud.
The dagger pierced Ugo's chest. Ordinarily, it would have been blocked by his ribs. But the blade slipped in smoothly, embedding itself in Ugo's heart.
Moments later...
Screeeeeeech!
Amid the screams of malevolent spirits, a miracle began to occur. Radiant light burst forth from the dagger, washing over Ugo's entire body. The light was blindingly bright, and the darkness that had filled the vast cavern receded in an instant.
Caron silently bore witness to that miraculous moment.
The darkness that had shrouded Ugo was lifted. That tiny dagger had cleansed Ugo's massive form entirely.
It was hard for Caron to believe, even after seeing it with his own eyes.
The dark mana that had tormented Ugo so relentlessly was completely obliterated by the divine power, flowing like a mighty waterfall.
Seria, who had evaporated Ugo's dark mana in an instant, placed her hand on his chest and prayed, "O Light, I beseech you, have mercy on this poor soul."
The Saintess bestowed her blessing.
Whoosh.
Divine power shone brightly once more. And in the blink of an eye, Ugo's scattered limbs flew back and reattached themselves. The Saintess' power to raise even the dead unfolded without restraint.
"Ah." A gasp escaped Caron's lips.
Ugo's limbs reconnected seamlessly. Life returned to his withered, corpse-like body, and a spark of clarity flickered in his eyes.
It was a miracle. No other word could describe this phenomenon.
And at that moment, wings sprouted from the Saintess's back. But they weren't the four wings Caron had seen before.
"...Six wings?" Caron wondered.
Three pairs of wings—six in total—unfurled from Seria's back. And yet, the Saintess herself remained unaware, focused solely on healing Ugo.
Nadia, who had silently approached Caron, murmured softly, "...Six wings. We're witnessing a scene from the history books."
Even Caron, who knew little about the Holy Kingdom, understood the significance of those six wings.
"A Grand Saintess," he remarked.
A Grand Saintess was a being infinitely loved by the Light. One hadn't appeared even once in the past hundred years, existing only within the pages of scripture.
For a long while, they stood in silence, facing that miraculous moment.
***
"Ah," Ugo said as he slowly opened his eyes. The dark mana that had once dominated him was gone. He wondered if he had finally been freed from this wretched life, thinking that perhaps this was the afterlife. He slowly sat up, feeling light.
Clench.
He tightly clenched his hand.
Just moments ago, his arms and legs had been severed. Yet now, they were perfectly intact. For a brief moment, he thought it was all just a dream.
But then...
Smack!
A sharp pain shot across his back. Someone had slapped him hard.
"Are you awake, you stubborn bastard?" Caron asked.
Ugo slowly turned his head to see the owner of the voice. A striking young man with blond hair and blue eyes stood there, smiling wryly.
Ugo carefully chose his words before speaking in a low voice. "I thought you'd have fixed that temper by now. But I see it hasn't changed, even after being reincarnated. It's a relief, really. People don't seem to change so easily."
The face was different, but it was unmistakably his Commander. Ugo studied Caron's face for a long moment before letting out a bitter laugh.
"Caron Leston. So, Commander, it seems you were reborn as the grandson of Duke Halo. No wonder the rumors about you are all so fierce," Ugo said.
"And where did you hear those rumors?" Caron asked.
"From the knights the Duke assigned to keep an eye on me. We'd drink together occasionally, and they'd talk. Oh, does the Duke know about you?" Ugo asked.
"Of course not," Caron replied.
"Typical of you, Commander. You always loved your mischief," Ugo continued.
"That was Kerra, you idiot. But weren't you an old man a moment ago? Now you look young again," Caron said.
"That's because the dark mana is gone. I used to live with this younger look," Ugo replied.
"It doesn't suit your age. Tsk tsk," Caron remarked.
"Better than pretending to be a seventeen-year-old teenager like you, Commander," Ugo pointed out.
There were no dramatic displays of affection. They exchanged jokes in a casual, indifferent tone.
Ugo slowly looked around and asked, "What about Dame Nadia and the Saintess?"
"They said they'd thoroughly inspect the tomb," Caron answered.
"I owe them too much." Ugo said quietly.
"Then you'd better repay them properly. I'm not paying back a single debt, so it's all on you. Got it?" Caron teased.
Nadia and Seria had left them alone on purpose, giving Caron and Ugo space to talk freely. There was much to discuss.
But just then—
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause came from behind them as someone said, "Looks like you're pleased with the gift from the King. You look positively radiant, Caron Leston."
Laia, Queen of the Succubi, hovered in the air and looked down at Caron.
"Haaah," Caron sighed, rising to his feet.
Laia smiled slyly and said, "I never really understood why the King took such an interest in you. Sure, you own the Guillotine, but you're still just a fledgling, honestly. But now I get it."
Her eyes glowed a deep violet as she continued, "You... You're the reincarnation of Cain Latorre. The Malevolent Emperor's little plaything."
Laia was a cunning, shrewd creature. It probably hadn't been difficult for her to guess Caron's true identity.
Whoosh.
Caron infused mana into Guillotine with a faint smirk, then asked, "Since you got it right, should I give you a reward?"
"I'm just so delighted," Laia replied.
"Why? Are you going to run off to my Grandfather and tattle?" Caron asked.
"Halo Leston... That man is terrifying. Why would I bother?" Laia answered.
She licked her lips, then glanced at Ugo, who had risen beside Caron.
The plan hadn't gone perfectly. The King had wanted to see Caron Leston abandon Ugo and flee. He had hoped Caron would be consumed by vengeance, turning into something even more monstrous than the demons themselves.
But it's fine, Laia thought. She was satisfied simply knowing Caron Leston's secret—that precious existence. That vivid hostility. She had discovered its origin.
"Do you want to make a deal? If you want, I can tell you where the Malevolent Emperor is right now," Laia offered.
Caron chuckled darkly and retorted, "Why should I bother making a deal?"
"Huh?"
"If I just capture your true form and tear you apart a hundred times over, then you'll spill everything on your own. That's not a deal," Caron said.
A thick, menacing aura radiated from Caron, and Laia shuddered as the hostility surged toward her.
"I'll make sure you beg me to kill you later. Demons are resilient, aren't they? I'll tie you up and peel off your flesh, piece by piece," Caron said.
"Oh, is that your taste? You should've said so sooner. I would've gladly obliged," Laia said.
It was ecstasy. The thought of tasting that vivid hostility made her burn with anticipation. Laia moved her wings, slowly approaching Caron. She wanted to leave a mark on this sweet existence before leaving.
But her swelling desire was abruptly blocked.
Fwoosh!
A burst of pure white flame erupted from the ground, cutting her off. Moments later, the Saintess' voice echoed through the chamber. "A vulgar succubus dares to covet this place?"
The sacred flames rapidly consumed Laia's projection. From within the blaze, Seria emerged, clad in white priestly robes. She commanded, "Begone, Succubus. There's no place for your kind here."
Barred by Seria's sharp voice, Laia bared her fangs and said, "A feisty one, huh? What kind of dreams do you want? Perhaps you—"
"Silence," Seria interrupted firmly.
Fwoosh!
With a flick of Seria's hand, Laia's form was instantly devoured by the flames. The overwhelming divine power left no room for resistance.
Having neatly ended the situation, Seria quietly approached Caron. She bowed respectfully and said, "Caron, I've thoroughly purified the tomb. Nothing unholy remains there."
"Uh..." Caron was surprised.
"That vulgar thing was the last of them. Honestly, I would've loved to crucify her and drag her around, but alas, it wasn't her true form. Next time, I'll be sure to crucify her," Seria said.
Caron scratched his cheek awkwardly and muttered, "...Was she always like this?"
He'd never expected such a side to Seria, who had always been so gentle. Perhaps the extra pair of wings had changed her somehow.
"I learned so much during my time with you, Caron. It was truly invaluable," Seria said.
"I didn't do much," Caron replied.
"That is not true. You taught me so much," Seria responded. She clasped Caron's hands, expressing her gratitude.
Hearing this, Guillotine sighed and whispered, "Now even the Saintess is corrupted. What a bleak future for the continent..."
Even a cursed sword was wondering about the continent's future.
With that, the situation was resolved.
"Let's have a talk now," Caron said, turning to Ugo. "I'd like to hear how you became a Death Knight while still alive."
Ugo slowly nodded, his voice low as he began his story. "It's a very long tale."
Caron listened intently, his expression serious.
At that moment, they had no idea. Unbeknownst to them, events were unfolding in the royal palace.