Chapter 29 - Apostle and Angel (1)

The Apostle's sudden appearance had thrown the camp into chaos. Screams and anguished cries echoed across the ridge.

Taking advantage of the pandemonium, Yohan and Gaf made their way to their destination.

At the very center of the camp lay a broad clearing. A single white casket stood alone on the bare ground. It surely held a fragment of the Great Saint's corpse.

There were no sentries. The Church would have considered even dozens of guards well spent, yet there wasn't so much as a damned ant nearby.

Gaf sounded puzzled.

"They must have sent even the casket's guards into battle. I understand, with an Apostle appearing and all, but I never thought they would leave no one behind."

The pilgrimage party's primary purpose was to transport the fragment of the Great Saint's corpse safely to the Holy See. Even with an Apostle manifesting, someone should have stayed to guard the casket.

Gaf spoke again.

"Whatever the reason, it makes our job easier. Once we take that casket, this whole shitshow is over, isn't it?"

Just as he was about to step forward, Yohan spoke.

"Stop. Cross that line and you die."

Gaf whipped around to look at him.

"What?"

"Look closely at the ground beneath your feet."

A faint line had been scored into the ocher soil, so fine that it was impossible to notice without looking carefully. Gaf stared hard at the ground. The thin, unbroken line formed a circle around the casket.

Yohan explained.

"It's a Holy Perimeter Array. A barrier spell easily worth hundreds of sentries."

In the original novel, Tier Six holy sorcery protected the Great Saint's casket. The spell array was triggered by an unauthorized person's approach. If Gaf had crossed the line just now, his body would have turned to dust and vanished in an instant.

Gaf cleared his throat and retreated a few steps.

"... Do you have a way around it?"

"The spell array isn't actually a problem."

The holy relics Yohan had brought from the forbidden library could easily neutralize a spell array like this. The problem was what came afterward.

"It's opening the casket that's the issue..."

Blue chains were wound tightly around the white casket. Commonly known as the Moonbinding Shroud, this Class Five holy relic could only be dealt with by someone who possessed the relevant knowledge or could wield unlocking magic. Yohan had neither, making the Moonbinding Shroud a headache.

'There's a fallback, but it would throw the plan off somewhat.'

He could steal the casket itself and take his time finding a way to unlock it afterward. But that wasn't the best option. If the casket vanished, the Holy See would scour the entire south, and its search might eventually extend to the Miyatro domain. For a half-demon like Yohan, that would be rather troublesome.

'If I could just open it, there would be nothing to worry about.'

The best approach was to remove only the corpse fragment and close the casket again. As long as the casket stayed where it was, Yohan could keep the Church from even realizing it had lost the fragment. There was a way to do that.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

'Unless I can open it, that's all just wishful thinking.'

For now, he had no choice but to settle for the fallback, even if it meant taking on some risk.

'No helping it. Let's grab the casket and get out.'

Yohan pulled an ornate, jewel-encrusted box from his backpack and rummaged inside. He emerged holding an ash-white key, rather shabby compared with its case.

"Gaf, step back from the spell array."

Yohan held the key out into the empty air. At once, white lines spread from it in every direction, revealing the hidden barrier. Misshapen equations began to writhe wildly. The barrier was breaking down.

A holy relic capable of neutralizing even a Tier Six holy spell array. The key in Yohan's hand was an artifact that controlled all holy barriers of Tier Six and below.

Gaf could only stare, overwhelmed by the spectacle unfolding before him. Sorcery and magic of Tier Six and above lay beyond human comprehension, inspiring awe in ordinary people.

Nature convulsed as the barrier and key clashed. Fierce winds raged, and the earth shook. Scattered holy power rained down while shattered spell arrays dissolved into the darkness.

Like Gaf, Yohan was captivated by the spectacle, but he gave no sign of being shaken. He watched it with a composed expression, then spoke.

"It's over."

Stillness had returned to the convulsing landscape. Where the barrier had stood, only a white casket remained, stark and solitary.

"Stop staring and let's move."

Coming to his senses, Gaf started forward, then hesitated. Yohan gave a small, derisive laugh.

"They call you the Lion of the East, yet you're more timid than a deer."

Then he moved first. As expected, nothing barred his way. They reached the casket safely.

Gaf asked, "How do you intend to transport it back to the domain? It's quite bulky."

Yohan shrugged.

"Tie it to a horse and drag it. What else?"

"... The Great Saint's body?"

"Surely this is nothing for a Demon's partner."

With a troubled expression, Gaf made the holy sign.

"Pray, grant this blasphemer no forgiveness. I shall pay for my sins in hell."

Yohan clicked his tongue and took out a large black cloth. Being spotted would cause trouble, so he intended to cover the casket before moving it.

Just as he was about to drape the cloth over it, a familiar voice sounded overhead.

"You really do have some nerve. You've caused quite a terrifying commotion."

Gaf and Yohan looked up into the night sky. A silver-haired girl sat astride a broom, looking down at them.

Gaf cried out in surprise.

"Ilea!"

"Yes, Father. It's been a while. Have you been well?"

The two had kept their distance since the incident in the inn room. Things had been awkward between father and daughter ever since.

Gaf answered, "Same as always. More importantly, what brings you here?"

Ilea turned her gaze toward Yohan.

"I've come to help Yohan."

Yohan spoke without expression.

"Didn't you refuse because it was reckless?"

"I still think it's reckless. But I've learned that it's something you absolutely need to do. I hear you made a contract with Young Master Raguel? To restore his sight."

"... You think the sacred relic in that casket is the Great Saint's eyes?"

"Am I wrong?"

Yohan regarded her silently. After a brief pause, he answered.

"No. You guessed correctly."

"Yet you didn't explain the circumstances to me. I never had a choice anyway."

If Yohan failed to honor his contract with Raguel, he would die. And the moment he died, Ilea would die too. They were bound by a contract of protection.

Yohan said, "Because I didn't need your help badly enough to force you into this."

If he kept exploiting Ilea through the contract of protection, he might eventually face a serious backlash. A witch was still a witch. Having her on a leash was no reason to feel secure. If she wanted to break her contract with Yohan, she would find a way someday.

His basic approach to dealing with Ilea needed to be cooperation rather than coercion.

"I understand perfectly."

She smiled playfully and added, "Then you don't need my help now, either."

Yohan cleared his throat softly.

"Since you're already here, I'd like to borrow a hand."

Ilea pretended to consider it, then clapped her hands.

"All right. But I have a condition."

Apparently she meant to propose a bargain. Yohan felt more comfortable with that, too.

"Anything reasonable."

"I'd like to study your body sometime."

Yohan's brow furrowed slightly.

"My body?"

"Yes, exactly. As you know, you're unusual in all sorts of ways. Everything about you is shrouded in mystery, from your birth to how you came to be in your present circumstances. There's so much to pique my curiosity."

Yohan certainly made an excellent research subject for a witch. Anyone devoted to exploring the unknown would salivate at the sight of him.

"Let's uncover your secrets together."

Yohan felt somewhat uneasy. Entrust his body to a witch? He might suffer the indignity of being dissected, his entire body taken apart.

When he said nothing, Ilea chuckled.

"I promise. Nothing I do will harm you. I won't hurt you, either. And I'll share everything I discover. I'm sure you'll benefit as well."

Frankly, it wasn't a bad offer. Even Yohan didn't know what he was. He would have to investigate someday, and nothing could be more reassuring than a witch's help in that investigation.

After considering it at length, Yohan spoke.

"I'll accept your offer. But promise me one thing."

"Anything."

"I remain in control of the research at all times. If I want you to stop, you take your hands off my body, whatever the reason. Agreed?"

Some of the secrets the investigation uncovered were certain to be things he couldn't share with Ilea. That was why he drew the line in advance.

"I'm not entirely happy with that condition... but all right. I agree."

With that, Ilea hopped off her broom. Her body drifted in the night breeze as though defying gravity, then settled to the ground.

"So, what can I help you with?"

Her gaze was already fixed on the chains wound around the casket.

Yohan said, "Open the casket. You should be able to."

Ilea examined the chains carefully, then spoke with a doubtful expression.

"It's the Moonbinding Shroud. A binding artifact of the highest order. Honestly, it would be difficult to undo it here and now."

Yohan handed her the box from which he had taken the key.

"Can you do it now?"

Interest flickered across Ilea's face as she inspected its contents.

"You must have brought this from the forbidden library."

"That's right."

"Could you take me there sometime?"

"Someday."

Ilea nodded slowly.

"I can open the casket. Thirty minutes will be enough."

Yohan inwardly rejoiced. He could now steal only the Great Saint's eyes and leave the casket here. Ilea's arrival had made the best option possible. This unexpected stroke of luck put him in a very good mood.

"I'll wait quietly."

His delight was short-lived. A strange pressure began to bear down on the entire area.

"D-damn it! Again!"

Gaf dropped to his knees, cursing. Yohan, who had sat down to wait, sprang to his feet. Ilea stared at the forest path, her face uncharacteristically tense.

A pitch-black figure was slowly approaching. Yohan swallowed a groan.

"... Finished already?"

The uninvited guest came fully into view: a monstrosity clad in ash-gray robes. Beris, Apostle of the End, was staring at Yohan.

Ilea spoke in a near whisper.

"You do have a way to control him, of course?"

She had realized from the start that Beris's appearance was Yohan's doing.

Yohan answered quietly, "Well, it's not as though I have none."

Ilea frowned slightly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Why so vague?"

At that moment, a grotesque voice pierced the three of them like an awl.

"Do you know in whose presence you dare to whisper? Kneel at once and greet an Apostle!"

Gaf coughed up blood and writhed. Murderous intent filled Ilea's eyes.

"... Father."

But even a witch could not stand against an Apostle. Remaining on her feet was all she could manage.

Yohan spoke.

"I'm not your thrall yet. I've no reason whatsoever to bow. Have you forgotten our contract already?"

Beris's tiny mouth split all the way to his ears, and he burst into wild laughter.

"Kahahahaha! You mean the redheaded bitch? She's long since dead!"

"Are you certain she's been annihilated?"

Beris's expression abruptly hardened, and he roared.

"Why do you ask again? That bitch was torn to shreds before my omnipotence! Her upper body was ripped clean away!"

"And that's all?"

"What?"

The corners of Yohan's mouth lifted.

"I requested Shaperia's complete annihilation. Yet all you've done is tear the bitch in half."

"What are you talking about—"

"An Apostle who can't even fulfill a contract with a mere mortal. Aren't you afraid of the price you'll pay?"

No sooner had Yohan finished speaking than a blue flash erupted from the cliff beyond the forest path. Their surroundings brightened as though dawn had come. The soaring radiance climbed as if the sky had no limit, until at last it touched the full moon.

Beris's eyes shook violently.

"Th-this is...!"

Yohan immediately spread his wings.

"Good luck with round two. If you lose, you'll pay dearly for breaching our contract."

Then he took flight with Ilea and Gaf tucked under either arm.

Beris bellowed.

"Mortaaaaal!!!"

An instant later, a blue flash plunged from the full moon like a thunderbolt. The descending radiance slashed down through Beris's body in an instant. Black blood erupted like a fountain.

With half his face torn away, Beris staggered backward in shock. His pupils quivered.

"... An angel."

Before the Apostle stood the Great Saint's emissary. A Valkyrie bearing a colossal executioner's sword, her four pairs of wings beating. Cloaked in moonlight, the angel pronounced:

"I, Shaperia, Knight of the Great Holy War, sentence the Apostle of the End to death."