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A mysterious thug appeared beneath the ceiling.

No, he was standing there.

From the very beginning, the thug had been there, as if he had been watching us all along.

The only thing we could discern about his identity was his name.

“There you are, Nathaniel.”

The moment that deep voice called the name, a flicker of confusion crossed Veronica’s eyes.

The saint wielding a revolver opened her mouth with a startled expression.

“…The Angel of the Cycle?”

—

Episode 17 – The Tree That Drinks Blood

The dim cavern was eerie and chilling. The light flickered, casting shadows that danced, and the scene of butchered, split flesh dampened the mood.

The massive corpse was nauseating enough to make one retch with just a glance. However, if one could ignore the grotesque bloodstains, it wasn’t so terrible.

Standing firm, even with the dead demon behind me, wasn’t just due to my strong stomach. The corpse of a demon is disgustingly far removed from humans or animals. My composure was purely the result of the serene demeanor of the knight.

As we adjusted our weapons, the knight waved us off and said,

“Stand down.”

“Is this your colleague?”

“Yes.”

I asked the knight, who was alternating glances between his colleague and myself, exactly what sort of relationship they shared. After caressing his helm as if recalling the appropriate words, the knight spoke.

“A strategist.”

“A strategist?”

The helm nodded up and down, and the knight continued.

“To put it metaphorically, yes. Nathaniel is wiser than anyone else. Her wisdom has always opened paths for us in our battles against the legions of evil. Even when sealing demons here, she was the one who uncovered their weaknesses.”

The expression that labeled her the wisest seemed to refer to that thug. With a step forward, the knight began greeting his colleague, each word carrying a weight reminiscent of a stone enduring the flow of a deep valley.

The tone was sincere, yet oddly buoyant.

“It is indeed you. I sensed the energy of the cycle.”

His voice held joy and warmth, while the attitude radiated friendliness.

The knight greeted her as though he were reuniting with an old friend. I had never seen such a jubilant side of him. The moment of reunion, long awaited, made his deep voice shine brighter than ever.

But there was no response.

With neither reaction nor reply, the thug merely stood between the ceiling and the pillars, looking down at us.

As the awkward silence continued, the air surrounding us seemed to shift gradually. Tension began to flow through the air, sharpening our senses.

In the midst of the unspoken conversation crossing between us through exchanged glances, the knight still couldn’t hide his joy.

“It’s been such a long time! It seems we meet again only after a long detour.”

“…”

“Sister, why do you remain silent? Are you not pleased to see me?”

The structure connecting the columns resembled a sort of bridge or fortress. Standing high, touching the ceiling, the thug seemed akin to an assassin scouting the battlefield from a fortress to find his target.

In contrast to the heavy armor, the thin tunic was lightweight and soft, flowing down from head and shoulders to the ankles. It featured a breastplate and shoulder guards that barely protected only the vital areas.

While the knight was encased in iron from head to toe, the thug exuded an aura of lightness and smoothness. The comparison ignited a feeling of suffocation in the knight, creating a stark contrast.

Seemingly taciturn, the thug, presumed to be an angel, finally broke the lengthy silence.

“I have been waiting.”

The slow voice resonated like a haunting melody. It felt quite different from the knight’s deep and heavy tone.

If it were to be likened to an instrument, the knight’s voice mirrored a low horn, while the thug’s was akin to a clarinet, possessing a bright and elegant tone.

“I see it’s been a while. Have you finally awakened?”

“Yes! It seems you have awoken before me!”

“Indeed.”

“Where are the other colleagues? If it’s Anael, you should know Nathaniel; can you tell me where Anael sister is?”

“….”

Conversely, the thug’s voice was high and clear, decorated with vibrancy. It was as though a clarinet with a rich and beautiful tone were speaking.

“One piece of advice.”

However, the atmosphere contradicted the impression given by her voice, turning 180 degrees.

“If you think I would welcome you warmly, then toss that expectation away.”

Nathaniel, standing atop the pillar, responded to the knight’s friendly greeting with a chilling tone that cast a pall over the space.

“There’s no goodwill to bestow upon you.”

Her attitude was not just cold but frigid. Akande’s expression hardened slightly, bewildered, while the knight appeared puzzled by the situation.

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean, keep your words brief and vanish.”

From the spiny words, animosity puffed into the air. It was a troubling atmosphere. Nathaniel was surely a colleague of the knight, yet for some reason, the two were at odds.

Despite the hostility being one-sided from Nathaniel, the vibe was dreadful. Confusion seeped onto Veronica’s face. It was not a good sign.

I called out to her in a hushed voice.

“Veronica? Are you okay?”

“…Ah, yes. Just a moment. Thinking a bit…”

That was a rather strange response. Unlike her earlier demeanor, where she jokingly parried back even when the demon hurled insults, it was entirely different now.

…Ugh. This feels off.

The knight gazed at his colleague with an expression that still held confusion, unaware of the cause.

But that only lasted a moment until a fist tightly clenched against his armor. The knight proclaimed boldly.

“The Evil Tree seeks to take root in this land once more! We must cut it down before the seeds of greed sprout. I plan to gather our scattered comrades to uproot it. Nathaniel, will you fight alongside me once more?”

“….”

“In front of your wisdom, any cunning is futile. To stand on the battlefield with you would be my utmost honor.”

Fighting against evil seemed to be a considerable source of pride for the knight. It appeared almost natural.

With a voice oozing pride, the knight sought help, exuding certainty that his comrade would fight beside him.

However, there are always unforeseen variables in the world.

Nathaniel’s voice sank low.

“I refuse.”

—

A low voice from the ceiling enveloped the silence. The gathering was cloaked in quietude, and all action halted in unison.

In the dim cavern, even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. A chill silence lingered in the chamber.

“Refusing, you say? What on earth do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

The angel revealed herself from the shadows. With her thin, soft cloak flowing around her, Nathaniel strolled atop the pillar.

Calmness, or perhaps arrogance.

The knight looked at Nathaniel, unable to comprehend the attitude she displayed as she walked slowly.

“Enough with the jokes, Nathaniel. I’m not here to play.”

A faint, sardonic laugh dripped down from the ceiling. It was mockery.

However, the knight pressed on, unaffected.

“Why are we here? To stop the evil invading the world. And today, that evil seeks to disrupt the land once again.”

He raised his clenched fist high with a resolute voice. His grave demeanor bolstered the convincing tone.

“Your brother requests you; let’s gather our scattered brothers and sisters to fight against the evil.”

Upon finishing the oration, the knight turned his attention to Nathaniel. He seemed to await her response. Perhaps understanding the meaning behind his gaze, the heavy cloak began to stir.

“You dream in vain, yet again.”

Despite the knight’s earnest request, the response remained as cold as ever, as if it were weary of the incessant words.

Nathaniel glided through the columns with slow strides as she continued.

“I, too, agree with the notion of eradicating evil. However, I dislike the way you intend to do so.”

“What displeases you about my sister’s intentions?”

“It’s these humans.”

Suddenly, her voice, which had felt distant, surged closer in an instant.

Every hair on my body stood up on end. A prickling sensation raced down my spine as all eyes turned in unison.

Akande turned around swiftly, her eyes nearly popping out in surprise. The thug, who had been looking down from above, was now right behind her.

Despite clearly locking eyes, the thug’s face was obscured. It was not just due to the deep-brimmed hat. It was as if there was a veil between us, as the inside of the hat obscured any visibility, shrouded in darkness.

Without a herald, the thug appeared from behind and questioned the knight about our identities.

“Who are these you brought with you?”

“They are my allies.”

The knight stepped forward, shielding us with his body. It seemed protective, and in a way, it genuinely was.

As the sturdy armor stood as a barrier between the thug and us, a stern voice spilled from beneath the helm.

“They have aided me greatly. Without them, I would never have been able to come here to meet you. I would hope you treat them with courtesy and respect.”

“Are you asking that I show reverence to mere humans?”

“Of course I am!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the knight nodded.

“To disregard creations made by our Father is tantamount to disrespecting the Father himself. Furthermore, the anointed one, the master of Altiora, is here. Therefore, respect should be shown.”

With an authoritative tone that felt like a reprimand, the thug’s gaze shifted towards Veronica. The saint, faced with the darkness concealed within the cloak, began to tremble slightly.

From the dialogue and mannerisms, it was evident that both the knight and the thug were angels. In religious contexts, the term “our Father” typically refers to a deity worshipped by their cult.

However, the saint’s demeanor in the presence of an angel was rather poor. I glanced between the two angels before shifting my attention back to her.

“What’s wrong…?”

“…No, it’s just…”

She had been acting strangely. Veronica struggled to string her words together. The trembling of the saint’s eyes fixated on the angel while the thug appeared to lose interest, transitioning her gaze away.

“Are these humans your newfound hope?”

As Nathaniel’s question followed, the knight remained silent, quietly observing us. The angel with a poised demeanor suddenly broke into laughter.

“Ha!”

It was a clear, bright scoff.

“Despite the years that have passed, you still can’t escape your sweet delusions. When do you plan to abandon those foolish dreams and grow up?”

“Nathaniel.”

“To have been humiliated by humans and still cling to hope.”

“…Nathaniel!”

The knight’s voice grew unusually high. The thug retorted coldly, dripping with sarcasm.

“Enough of your childish games. I will no longer be toyed with by your foolish antics.”

The cold words poured forth.

“To seek aid from mere humans. Since when did you become so reliant on others to wield your sword? That burning blade has grown dull as well. Know your shame, Ramiel.”

Ramiel. That seemed to be the knight’s name.

As the thug referred to him as ‘the burning blade’, she began to point accusingly. The creaking sound of old wood…

The knight poked at the plate-mail armor, and it seemed like sparks were flying from the cynicism. Flames fueled by a gooey emotion, possibly anger, began to burn coldly.

The knight swatted away the hand that was jabbing at his armor and raised his clenched fist, raising his voice even higher.

“Do not insult me, Nathaniel! We have come here to protect this land! You are dishonoring my brothers and sisters who stand with me!”

His voice was taut with anger.

The gauntlet clattered as the knight thumped his breastplate with his fist. It looked as if an enraged fist was pounding on his chest, akin to someone who felt deeply insulted.

“Are you angry because of the dishonor towards your brothers and sisters? Or are you throwing a tantrum because you refuse to admit your own ignorance?”

“With your wise insight, I must look like a foolish and ignorant being to you. If that’s how you wish to insult me, I will humbly accept it. However!”

A solemn resonance shook the ground momentarily.

“If I am guilty, it is only because I sought to rescue the suffering souls and root out evil from this land!”

Immediately following his words, a chilling disdain rushed in. The voice, calming the vibrations, froze the very air around them.

“Your indecision does not even allow you to mention the suffering of your brothers and sisters.”

“Do you intend to stand by while evil runs rampant?”

“No. I will personally purify the unclean. But I will not follow your methods. The purification will be done solely in my way.”

As the argument between the angels continued, everyone sensed that something was becoming drastically tangled. A bad premonition tingled in the air. Why does such ominous intuition always turn out to be true?

I glared at the mysterious thug arguing with the knight, who was gripping a rifle. Beside me, Akande was quietly clenching his fists, rolling his eyes around.

The knight posed a question to the colleague who refused to follow his lead.

“Your way, you say?”

“I will purify every impurity that exists on the earth. Everything that has committed sin.”

“…Does that include humans?”

“Yes.”

“Utter nonsense!”

The fierce roar erupted, unlike anything I had seen before. The glowing fury poured forth toward the angel.

“The judgment is not our concern! Have you forgotten that there is only one judge?” Nathaniel retorted.

“The foolish one here is not me, but you. Just how long do you plan to keep watching the corrupted world without taking action? When do you think the judgment you spoke of will be handed down?”

“Are you implying that you will judge personally? What you are orchestrating is not judgment but a cycle!”

The hidden face of the angel in darkness curled into a sneer.

“Death is also part of the cycle.”

“……”

“Judgment is what the soul receives. It is the scale that weighs the gravity of sins. What I seek is simply to send the souls so that the scale can weigh their weight.”

“…Where are you sending them?”

“To the afterlife.”

A cold rage shifted toward the mysterious thug. Fury sharpened into a point. The fierce anger was blazing hotter than ever.

“That is blasphemy.”

A sickly smile was thrown at the knight. In the dark, thick with viscous shadows, the fire settled quietly.

“You, who abandoned your duty to come down here, dare to accuse me?”

“……”

“It is time to wake up from your dreams, Ramiel. Your futile dreams ended in failure hundreds of years ago. We could not root out the evil. If you’ve watched the fall of humanity, you should know this better than anyone.”

“…You’ve grown arrogant during the time we were apart, Nathaniel.”

“You still pretend to be righteous. And how did that hypocrisy end? Have you already forgotten what despair your indecision brought?”

“What do you think your arrogance looks like to your brothers and sisters?”

“My brothers and sisters will empathize. Unlike you, who only has a garden of flowers in your mind no matter the time.”

“Perhaps. But ‘Anael’ would not agree!”

As if fed up, the knight waved his hand dismissively.

“If you’re so wise, you may not know where everyone else sleeps, but surely you know where ‘Anael’ is. She, who was closer to you than anyone.”

“Anael is dead.”

“…What?”

“The cycle’s ring has entrapped her soul. My beloved sister, you will no longer see her.”

Cycle’s ring? What on earth is that?

Just then, while I was puzzled, Akande opened his mouth.

“Pelek.”

“What?”

“Spindle. It cycles. Life, death. It goes back. Following the spindle. Like a ring.”

As if he could read my thoughts, Akande added an explanation with clumsy pronunciation.

A spinning spindle. Is it akin to reincarnation, as spoken in Buddhism?

Now that I think about it, the knight had mentioned something similar. A wise one governs the cycle. It seems the cycle’s ring and spindle are somehow related to this expanse of circulation.

Nathaniel began to step forward. As the angel beside him circled the area, the knight wore an expression of disbelief.

“That’s a lie! How could Anael have ceased to exist?”

“The cycle cannot be halted. Neither can death, which is part of the cycle.”

“Did you just stand by and watch that happen?”

“It was a choice she made herself. My sister, who loved everything that existed in this land, chose death because she loved humanity too much.”

As Nathaniel moved slowly, he spat out.

“…Foolishly.”

His words infuriated the knight. Startled, he suddenly grabbed his comrade’s collar and spoke with a voice full of rage.

“Do not insult the death of a comrade!”

“……”

“It’s the death of your closest sister! A sister who cherished and loved you more than anyone! How can you condemn Anael’s choice!”

“Because it was a foolish choice. Blinded by momentary love, she abandoned her sisters and comrades and chose extinction. Dying while being pointed out as a monster is the most foolish thing she ever did. Like that idiotically pure spirit.”

“Arrogance… is through the roof!”

“How amusing to hear that accusation from the most arrogant of you.”

The enraged knight leaned in close. His trembling hands gripped the collar tightly, and his harsh breath tried to calm his excitement. Just as the knight regained his composure and seemed about to say something to his comrade—

“Shut it!”

-Wham!

The knight’s body lurched forward violently.

The gauntlet roughly yanked the faceguard of the helmet. The one gripping the collar was the knight, yet somehow the thug seemed extraordinarily stronger. The thug, clutching the helmet, unleashed a cold fury intertwined with words at the knight’s face.

“The one who caused my sister’s death is not her, but you! Ramiel!”

“Cough…!”

Boom! As the thug hurled the helmet aside, the plate-mail armor soared into the air. The knight, launched by the impact, crashed into a column of the hall.

The weighty armor was flung away as if it were paper. Standing unstirred like a child bored of their toys, the thug remained unfazed.

“…What the hell.”

I was dumbfounded, unable to process the sight of two angels suddenly brawling. Angels, clashing and punching each other? What in the world was happening?

There was only one person present who might give me an answer to my question. I urgently turned to Veronica.

“What’s wrong with them? Why are they fighting all of a sudden?”

“…….”

“Come on! Get a grip!”

“Nathaniel, Ramiel. Those names… I just remembered…?”

Veronica murmured with a lost look on her face. Growing frustration filled me at the sight of the saint’s vacant expression.

As I was checking her condition, the thug who had sent the knight flying began to click his tongue as if in pity.

“You’ve grown weak. Have you lost your strength in that deep slumber? Such a creature was once a burning sword. What poor eyesight you have.”

“…Nathaniel!”

Dust and debris pounded against the surface of the armor as the knight rose from the wreckage, drawing his sword.

The calm lake rippled. The surface, which had been flowing gently, quaked like waves splashing outward. The handle of the greatsword rose as if spawned from a mythical blade, and as the blade slid out, the waves quaked fiercely.

The knight summoned his weapon with power and drew the greatsword. Though he had been attacked, there was no sign of intent to fight yet. Amid this tension, the knight stood before us like a shield, covering us with the greatsword.

“You dare attack a comrade and then take it upon yourself to judge? That is unacceptable! Have you forgotten your oath to protect this land from evil?”

“I have never once forgotten that oath. I merely vowed to not follow your methods from now on.”

“So, you intend to refuse orders!”

“Yes.”

At that audacious reply, his grip on the greatsword tightened.

“You disrupt even the order. Even if our objectives align, if you disturb the order, I shall recognize you as no sister of mine.”

“You are no longer the burning sword, and I am no different. The moment we decided to come down to this land, we lost all our statuses as punishment. Neither of us has the right to wield the burning sword nor to give orders.”

The air surrounding us shifted dramatically. The wind morphed into a fierce gale, the gentle flow transformed into wild waves.

The shattered calmness sharpened the tension, creating a tingling sensation that almost penetrated the skin. A sign warning that a battle was imminent. Every hair on my body stood on end.

Without needing anyone to say a word, we took our stances. The tattoo etched on my shoulder shone in the darkness, and as the loaded bullets slid into the chamber, the surroundings buzzed with anticipation.

Just as I settled the rifle against my shoulder, Veronica snapped back to her senses and urgently joined in.

“…Wait! Stop, Colonel!”

She began to plead with me in an anxiety-laden tone.

I cast her a perplexed look, as if I was gazing at a bizarre sight.

“What is it?”

“You can’t fight! We have to run! We need to get out of here now!”

Suddenly, what on earth was she saying?

“Ramiel, Nathaniel. I wasn’t sure until now, but I just remembered. Those angels.”

The saint of the cult looked at the knight and the thug. Her eyes like obsidian were filled with fear.

“They’re fallen angels!”

At that moment, as if responding to the saint’s voice, the angel’s lips parted.

“Indeed.”

Nathaniel clasped his hands behind his back.

“I am a fallen angel. A bastard who abandoned his duty and betrayed my Father. An outsider who has sworn to turn my back on the heavens alongside my brothers and sisters.”

The cloak fluttered, and the gauntlet brushed against the tunic. The old breastplate gleamed with the light from the lantern in the pitch-black darkness.

“I am the one who governs not salvation but the cycle. Do not be mistaken.”

The sharp blade sliced through the darkness and surged forth.

From Nathaniel’s back emerged two swords.

The sword-bearing angel addressed the humans.

“μηνομισητεοτιηλθονβαλεινειρηνηνεπιτηνγηνουκηλθονβαλεινειρηνηναλλαμαχαιραν.”

 

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