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Ariel’s plea was unexpectedly first responded to by Esiocles.

“If Count Wolfenstein is in trouble, as a comrade, I can’t just ignore it. Let’s go.”

With those words, Esiocles immediately urged Ariel with his gaze. Under his silent pressure to hurry before it was too late, Ariel quickly nodded and turned to start flying. Watching Esiocles swiftly follow, Sophia shook her head and soon spoke to Conra and Maria.

“You two wait here.”

“Master, I’m coming too.”

In response to Sophia’s instruction to wait while they went, Conra expressed his desire to follow and fight alongside them. Sophia clicked her tongue and retorted.

“Are you planning to leave Maria alone?”

“Uh…”

Silenced by Sophia’s single remark, Maria stepped forward and said.

“I’ll take care of my senior brother. Be careful on your way.”

“Alright. I’ll trust you with that.”

“Wait!? Junior sister, Master!”

As the two exchanged words, Conra’s mouth hung open in disbelief and frustration, unable to close.

“Anyway, time is of the essence. I’ll hurry back. Both of you, stay put and wait.”

With that, Sophia’s figure disappeared from the ship’s side. The next moment, her figure reappeared beside Ariel and Esiocles, who were already far ahead. Using the principle of Mind-In-Action, she had skipped the physical distance and process of movement to catch up.

A spirit and two humans thus traversed the night sky of the city. They ran as if flying, stepping on rooftops and terraces of buildings.

Moving in a nearly straight path without detouring through alleys, they arrived at their destination in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea.

However, upon arriving at the scene, Sophia and Esiocles couldn’t take immediate action.

The situation at the scene was… utterly bewildering.

“Uh, um. What on earth is that?”

Sophia’s bewildered gaze fell upon the person hanging on the cross before them.

“Whoa…”

Esiocles, too, took in the gruesome sight before him and unconsciously struck a pose reminiscent of a dynamic marble statue, letting out a sigh. His naturally exposed back showcased his overly pronounced trapezius, deltoids, and triceps, flexing dramatically.

“Truly a bizarre sight.”

‘Is that something you should be saying?’

Sophia internally criticized but chose not to voice it out, as she too was at a loss for words at the sight before her.

In the middle of the clearing stood a large cross. And there, a person was hung—no, more accurately, bound to it.

The person was tied to the cross with unidentifiable tentacles, and below the cross was an altar engraved with blasphemous symbols. Surrounding it were shadowy, otherworldly creatures. These creatures circled the altar, making sounds that were either laughter or growling—it was hard to tell.

Seeing the shadowy creatures with antlers resembling wild dogs, Sophia furrowed her brows slightly, as if something clicked.

The person bound to the cross with tentacles was someone Sophia and Esiocles knew well—Hildegard. It seemed she had been roughed up before the group arrived, as she was in a somewhat embarrassing and humiliating state, unable to move on the cross.

“Count Wolfenstein, how on earth did you end up like this?”

Shifting from one bizarre pose to another, Esiocles asked. Hearing his question, Hildegard, with an utterly humiliated expression, gritted her teeth so hard it was worrying for her molars.

Every time the tentacles binding her squirmed and brushed against her exposed skin, she muttered.

“Hyuk! D-damn it! To have this happen in front of everyone… How infuriating!”

If she had been properly equipped with her armor and the standard gear of a Nun Knight, she might have avoided such humiliation, but that was now in the past.

In any case, in the precarious situation of being offered as a sacrifice to an otherworldly aberration by demons, the possibility of being rescued before things escalated seemed to have slightly restored Hildegard’s mental state. Otherwise, her earlier reaction would have been impossible.

In fact, the situation she had been in until just now was worse than imaginable. Her primary weapon, the halberd, had been taken, and the tentacles binding her seemed to block her connection to light, as no matter how much she tried to summon her Light Power, there was no response.

Even trying to use her physical strength to break free from the tentacles was difficult, as being bound to the cross made it hard to control her breathing, and naturally, her Ethereal Muscles couldn’t focus their strength. Breaking free through sheer force was nearly impossible.

Thinking she should add cross endurance to her training regimen, Hildegard tried to calm her anxiety, but maintaining her sanity while seeing the grotesque altar and the demonic entities performing some ritual around it was no easy task.

It wouldn’t have been strange if she had fainted at the thought of becoming a sacrificial offering in this bizarre ritual. Yet, Hildegard, still unbroken in spirit and striving to preserve her strength, truly embodied the essence of a Paladin Nun Knight.

“Let’s save the admiration for later.”

As Sophia noticed the demons’ ritual beginning to intensify, a Long Sword flashed in the air, and in an instant, the tentacles binding Hildegard were shattered and fell apart.

Simultaneously, Hildegard, now free, landed like a cat and swiftly flew out of the ritual area. The shadow demons, shocked by the escape of their offering, rushed to stop her, but in pure physical ability, Hildegard surpassed the demons.

Not only could they not catch up to her escape speed, but they also couldn’t withstand the furious soccer kicks she delivered to any demon that got close. Hiding in the shadows alone wouldn’t stop a Nun Knight focused on escape.

Finally freeing herself, Hildegard clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“Grr, to make me experience such humiliation? I won’t let you demons get away with this.”

“Hmm, that’s all well and good, but how about putting some clothes on first?”

Esiocles crossed his arms, leaning his upper body slightly, covering half his face with one hand as he spoke. At that moment, his pectorals, abs, and biceps flexed and bulged.

But Hildegard didn’t listen to him. Frankly, Esiocles’ comment lacked the persuasiveness needed to be taken seriously… it was his own fault.

“Come, Ariel!”

Responding to Hildegard’s call, Ariel flew to her, and Hildegard embraced the spirit. The next moment, light condensed in Hildegard’s grasp, forming into a halberd—the very one she had lost during the fight with the demons.

It was the blessing of Surraz, the god of warriors and protector of peasants. With sufficient time and composure, Hildegard could fully utilize the blessings of the various gods she knew and communicated with. The various prayers, mantras, and hymns she knew were briefly invoked, and in an instant, Hildegard’s form was densely filled with divine power, glowing brilliantly.

Finally, she unleashed the Immovable King’s Heart Resolution. As the golden Light Power, containing the enlightenment of the Immovable King, unfolded, her divine aura also turned golden.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn out this much power.”

Stepping forward, Hildegard spoke.

“This form requires a lot of preparation and is extremely difficult to maintain for long periods.”

Considering that combining one or two blessings is usually the most stable method, stacking multiple blessings like this wasn’t the wisest approach. Nevertheless, achieving this form proved Hildegard’s genius and deep expertise in this field.

“It means I’m that angry.”

Rather than killing her, they shouldn’t have humiliated her like this, Hildegard muttered with a furious expression.

Suddenly, Ariel, who was within her, whispered something to Hildegard.

[……?]

Nodding at the spirit’s whisper, Hildegard said.

“I know. Their existence. They won’t die unless their shadows are erased and they’re struck down all at once.”

Wasn’t that exactly why she had been dragged along by their pace and ultimately exploited? Hildegard said, holding her halberd at an angle.

“That’s why, Sophia, Esiocles, I’d appreciate your help.”

“Gladly.”

“Don’t worry.”

Sophia and Esiocles responded to Hildegard’s request in their own ways.

Hildegard didn’t specify what she wanted each of them to do. Yet, Sophia and Esiocles moved without hesitation, knowing exactly what they could and should do, and how their actions would aid each other.

Sensing something unusual, the demons let out awkward, eerie growls, wary of the three high-ranking clergy.

The time for retribution had come.

 

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