Chapter 96
The plaza was teetering on the edge of madness.
Just a few minutes ago, the citizens had been united in their chants, but now everything had flipped upside down.
The video magic was still ongoing, and discussions about post-event actions were being made, yet the crowd was too busy raising their voices in excitement.
When a man watching the video started to wonder aloud, an old man with white hair chimed in.
“So, what does this even mean?”
“What does it mean? It means Craine has tricked us all!”
“Why on earth would that quiet dude, who lived like a mouse, do this…?”
“Ugh. Tsk tsk tsk. Do you still not get it, old man? He went to all that trouble to get the Divine Beast, Frikkanrisk! Innocent people have died because of it! If I see that wicked bastard in front of me, I’ll smash him into bits!”
Another man interrupted their conversation.
“Hearing you guys is so ridiculous. Weren’t we all screaming just a moment ago about hunting down Frikkanrisk? We’re all rotten to the core, so who are we to blame each other?”
“That’s completely different! We’re the victims deceived by that scumbag Craine!”
The ones shouting about hunting down Frikkanrisk had now split into different groups.
⎯This video magic was a plot devised by a guy named Vargan.
⎯No, what have you all been watching? Didn’t Craine confess it himself? The hero who was supposed to protect us turned out to be the one committing a massacre!
Overall, there was a strong consensus that Craine needed to be taken down. Although he seemed mentally unstable, his direct confession was the most compelling evidence.
The old man shouted.
“Anyway, we haven’t done anything wrong. It’s all that sinner Craine’s fault! We need to catch and beat him up!”
“…….”
The man in the top hat grimaced at their conversation, not out of disdain for humanity’s inherent wickedness, but because the old man’s voice was grating on his ears.
He felt a moment’s temptation to silence them permanently, but swallowed that thought.
He grabbed the tip of his hat with one hand and lifted his head to watch the video. A young student with an extraordinarily noble and dazzling appearance came into view.
The person reflected in the video was Vargan.
He was the one who had recently shocked him during his visit to the “Terrarium.”
‘So this is how you’ve used the “Cardinal’s Contract.”’
To be precise, it was a contract infused with the power of the Cardinal, Beled, creating a binding effect.
The fact that he made a contract equal to that of Frikkanrisk implied that it was based on the Cardinal’s contract, rather than the usual familiar-type contract.
It wouldn’t be words based on the Contract of the Cardinal but rather under the contract of a Familiar.
I spoke as if it were a hypothesis, but in fact, it was almost a certainty.
Vargan had come to the Terrarium requesting the contract imbued with the Cardinal’s power. Just from that, it was solid evidence.
Of course, that wasn’t the only thing he asked for.
He mentioned this.
—Is one of the Twelve Divine Beasts, Frikkanrisk’s child currently affiliated with the hero, Craine of Dortmund?
The answer to that question was predetermined, and I already knew it.
However, it was quite a difficult one to answer.
It was simply a matter between Frikkanrisk and Craine.
If it were just their issue, I could have easily sold them off for a hefty price and started a good relationship with the mysterious Vargan, but it was not that simple.
Ami from the Goddess Church was involved in their relationship.
While I didn’t think it would be easy, I also realized that if I carelessly handed out information, there might soon be another head rolling after Zagan and perhaps even the Archbishop.
Thus, Ultreman regrettably conveyed that the information was not stored in the Terrarium.
From that point on, the relatively cheerful atmosphere showed by Vargan completely shifted.
“……”
After mulling over the conversation for a moment, Ultreman, the Bishop of the Goddess Church, smiled slightly.
Vargan.
He knows too much.
I didn’t consider him for assassination, but ironically, because he knows too much, I couldn’t kill him.
He was aware of that too.
Is that where his confidence comes from?
‘Quite the formidable guest in many ways.’
But as always, business reaps profits from these sorts of people.
He likely also has a high probability of understanding what the ‘voice’ mentioned by Craine refers to.
He pretended not to know and merely regarded Craine as a lunatic, but kindred spirits recognize each other.
Ultreman, who kept a giant snake coiled within him, sensed that Vargan was of similar ilk.
‘The doors of the Terrarium are always open. Welcome, guest.’
He stopped looking at Vargan’s departing image. He lowered his hat and moved on.
Like a desert creature disappearing into the sands.
He blended into the crowd, erasing his presence.
If one were to examine Vargan’s movements, it wouldn’t be long before….
‘This… I may have to start selecting new Archbishops.’
They always exist among the people.
Where people gather, that is essentially a space where they can exist.
It was true in the past.
It’s true in the present.
And it will be true in the future.
*
In the place where Craine was subdued.
Vargan took the lead and cast Curse Magic on him.
His mouth moved erratically as if his focus had slipped away.
It was as if the restrictions in his brain had been released, and he began to spill out all the information he knew.
Then.
The sound of a bird chirping echoed.
One of Yannick’s team members, who was accompanied by a Familiar capable of communication, reported this.
“We’ve safely secured Frikkanrisk’s child. However, the injury is too severe, so they are receiving treatment first.”
“…I see.”
Yannick responded in a conflicted yet seething voice.
Though he seemed calmly settled, the flames of wrath were definitely igniting in his eyes.
Craine, who had heard that news alongside him, shouted out.
For sure, through the Curse Magic, his mind was distant, yet the news of securing Frikkanrisk’s child jolted him back to reality.
He was immersed in the truth of the gods when news that the Frikkanrisk’s child had been secured jolted his mind awake.
“What gives you the right to steal that? It’s mine!”
“Craine….”
“Oh, no. It wasn’t me; it was the voice… It’s definitely mine, but I just….”
Yannick’s thick legs approached heavily like they might break the floor. His hand, reaching toward Craine, was tightly clenched into a fist.
Seeing Yannick like that, Craine said, “Yannick… you need to help me. We’ve known each other for a long time, just like Aintern… Clear up my misunderstanding!”
Yannick, barely managing to suppress his anger, couldn’t bear to watch a man who had already hit rock bottom.
WHAM—!
With a massive iron fist, he slammed it into Craine’s face.
The shockwave sent items in the room shaking.
Craine, with a broken nose, groaned as blood streamed down his face.
“Craine, do you have no sense of shame?!”
Yannick, breathing heavily, gritted his teeth.
He suppressed the desire to beat him to a pulp and instead opened his mouth.
“Just so you know! Even though I desperately want to rip your heart out, I’m holding back not because I’m forgiving you, but because it isn’t my right!”
When he thought about it, the one who could punish him directly wasn’t himself or Vargan; it was someone else entirely.
Even with feelings of betrayal and guilt tearing at his heart, compared to her, his emotions were like a grain of sand in a sandcastle.
Yannick respectfully bowed his head to Helion’s party, Vargan, and Finn. Like a sinner, he deeply apologized.
“I’ll take Craine to face judgment. This incident is truly… shameful.”
From Dortmund’s perspective, this incident was utterly disgraceful.
To subdue the Frikkanrisk, they requested support from the Central Church and borrowed Helion’s team.
Just when they thought they could solve the problem solely with their help, the root cause was lurking within Dortmund itself.
There was no way he could hold his head up in front of them.
“I’ll be sure to take full responsibility in the aftermath. Well….”
He deliberately used the word ‘responsibility’ as he dragged the restrained Craine away. His team members all humbled themselves before exiting.
Craine shot a last vacant-eyed glare at Vargan, though the actual Vargan didn’t seem to care.
Thus, only Helion’s team, Vargan, and Finn remained.
“It seems Vargan is quite skilled in negotiations. To handle things verbally without even forming a contract with Frikkanrisk is impressive.”
“I’ve already mentioned it to Lord Helion, but to reiterate, if what the opponent wants aligns with what I want, there won’t be any problems in negotiations. Even without a sense of coercion.”
Vargan concealed the fact that he used the Cardinal’s contract.
Helion wasn’t completely trusting his words, but he chose not to show it.
“Thank you for not spilling any details about Ami. Even if all the blame falls on Craine, it would have been a big blow to the Church’s reputation, but thanks to you, it can be somewhat maintained.”
The fact that Craine acted unilaterally and worked alongside the Goddess Church’s Ami carried different weights and implications.
Ideally, it would have been perfect to let all the arrows fly at Ami, but realistically, that was impossible.
This is realistically impossible.
So, the Church has chosen to abandon only Craine.
Everything unfolded because Craine acted unilaterally and independently, showcasing his exceptional abilities while hiding the Church’s incompetence as much as possible.
Moreover, the possibility of the Hero and Altife joining forces would severely damage their credibility and image, so they decided to keep it under wraps.
In the end, it was like cutting off a rotten limb, ensuring that other parts didn’t suffer.
Isn’t this how the world rolls?
“That Familiar wants to be transferred to Vargan?”
Helion pointed to Craine’s Familiar, Chimera.
Chimera was bound in chains of light, sealed by Helion’s powerful magic.
“Yes, as you know, I deal with Familiars. Although its master Craine was trash and utterly incompetent, the Familiar he created is a Monster in its own right. It deserves some love and care.”
“You’re not just taking it because it looks strong, right?”
“I can’t deny that, but I would appreciate it if you see it as the noble intentions of someone who truly cares for a Familiar.”
Helion chuckled softly and nodded.
Vargan is the one who has contributed the most to this issue.
Originally, the Church should protect Craine’s Familiar, but gifting it to him is not a difficult task.
Vargan knelt before the purring Chimera, which was firmly stuck to the ground.
What a magnificent mane like a lion!
As he slowly stroked it, the sharp teeth threatened him, but it couldn’t move, making resistance impossible.
“Outwardly, it looks like five types of Monsters mixed together… but there are two more inside. Is there a total of seven Monsters combined… Truly a Chimera.”
Vargan released mana and examined the Familiar from all angles.
The first two Familiars are the foundation, surrounded by five others. The triple fusion seems to have failed, and the gaps were physically filled in.
Still, overall, it wasn’t poorly done, showing better efficiency than a typical triple fusion.
Though it’s unfortunate to call them materials, each Familiar used was top-notch.
At this rate… it’s just shy of properly fusing four high-level Monsters. Moreover, the characteristics it possesses equal the number of used Familiars—seven.
Oh my, the more you look, the more you see it’s a pitiable yet charming creature.
In terms of pure power, it has become a stronger ally than any Familiar he currently possesses.
“All I need to do is make it obedient.”
Vargan muttered to himself while stroking Chimera.
Then, the parrot Familiar of Gaon, the youngest member of Helion’s team, screeched.
⎯Group detected approaching Dortmund. Group detected.
Everyone’s previously relaxed hearing became tense in an instant.
⎯One Archbishop. Eight Bishops. Approximately 3,500 Priests advancing towards Dortmund.
Right on cue.
It’s about time they showed up.
After running away so disgracefully, they wouldn’t just sit idly by.
Vargan looked at Helion.
“It seems Ami is really angry this time.”
Surely, they must be coming back after completing the Liberation.
They must have been hit hard last time for being so careless.
The end of the story at Dortmund was slowly coming into view.
