Chapter 128

128.

Charles had disappeared to capture the Dark Cultists, and I returned to the square after rounding up the unconscious ones.

What had been a chaotic scene in the square had now calmed down. Around the stake, the crowd had formed a circle, and the revealed Dark Cultists were bound within it.

People exhaled white breaths into the cold air as they trembled not just from the chill but from the sharp anger in their gazes directed at the Dark Cultists.

Some appeared ready to pelt the cultists with stones in their outrage. Listening to their sobs revealed that most seemed to recognize the faces of the cultists.

‘A being of malevolence.’

According to what Jelbin told me, one of the Dark Cultists burned at the stake had cried out the name Keltarren.

When I asked the expert Myna about it, she described this particular being of malevolence as one of the more insidious among its kind. Even the Goddess was deeply troubled by its presence.

The most defining trait of the Dark Cultists who worshipped Keltarren was infiltration. They would kill an existing person, assume their identity, and then slowly offer the entire town as a sacrifice.

Combined with their unique psychic interference, an entire village could vanish without anyone knowing. Due to their ability to disguise themselves as ordinary people, they were impossible to detect until they revealed themselves, a particularly exasperating part of their nature.

‘…They’re more in number than I thought.’

Checking the stake, I confirmed that over twenty Dark Cultists had been captured in the square alone, including those who died by fire.

There weren’t even half of Yelkin’s population gathered here, meaning that the remaining residents likely harbored more hidden cultists. Everyone seemed to realize this fact, as their expressions turned grim.

“Cromwell Baron. All those who fled the square are dead.”

Thud.

After releasing the captured Dark Cultists to Charles, Jelbin lowered his head.

“Thank you for your help, Holy One. And these…?”

“They were about to torch a building.”

With a furrowed brow, Jelbin gave a gesture, and soldiers dragged the unconscious pair and threw them into the stake.

The bound cultists thrashed about in response, hurling insults and resisting wildly. When a soldier angrily struck one with a spear, the man simply laughed, muttering incomprehensible words, showing no signs of feeling pain.

“This son of a—!”

A soldier’s face reddened as he drew his sword, approaching a cultist who had been loudly speaking ill of his wife and daughter, raising the blade above his head.

His bloodshot eyes and trembling arm signaled he was about to strike.

It seemed Jelbin didn’t care if a single one was eliminated, but then…

“….”

Something was off about the soldier’s movements.

His rage-soaked body grew calm, and he carefully lowered the weapon he had raised.

I noticed the corner of the cultist’s lips curl slightly in what appeared to be a smirk as he whispered something indistinct. Upon observing the soldier further, his gaze appeared vacant, as if he were chasing something in a dream.

‘Hypnosis?’

It wasn’t surprising by now, but one unexpected element was that unlike the priests of the church, the cultists wielded strange abilities.

“Hmph!”

“Ckckckck!”

Upon having a pendant attached to his forehead, the cultist had a seizure.

The pendant emitted a white light that incinerated the cultist’s body, causing him to collapse. The dazed soldier standing nearby regained focus.

“This fiend would still try to charm people in the middle of all this! Cultists must all be cleansed!”

Myna shook the pendant as she moved along, repeating the process on another cultist who began to burn, interrupting the mutual accusations between residents and bringing them back to reality.

As I shook my head at the chaotic scene, Jelbin, holding a torch, spoke gravely.

“This… There are more than I had anticipated. We were thorough about managing the gates. Where could they have entered from?”

“Lord. These aren’t all of them.”

“Yes. More remain scattered throughout the city. We should handle what we have here first and then mobilize.”

“Let’s light them first.”

Jelbin nodded and set the wood alight.

As the flames consumed the logs stacked high, the bound Dark Cultists spewed out hateful words.

With a tired expression, Jelbin asked:

“For now, we are burning them according to the doctrines, but do we not need further interrogations?”

“Interrogating cultists requires experts. There is a risk of falling prey to their evil tricks, as we saw earlier. Sister Myna also said it’s best to burn them first.”

“Don’t worry. There are other candidates for interrogation.”

The gentle voice suddenly interjected. Myna spoke with a refreshed expression.

“Dark Cultists always include a guide leading their group. There should be one here, most likely… in the church.”

“The church.”

I nodded in agreement with Myna’s certainty.

Cultists were also known to destroy holy relics.

The half-buried-in-a-snowstorm environment of Yelkin was also likely due to issues with the relics. It was obvious why the intact relics suddenly started malfunctioning.

“Alright. Then time is of the essence.”

“Pardon?”

“Considering the speed with which events unfolded, the news may not have spread throughout Yelkin yet. Let’s sweep it thoroughly.”

Myna, who stared at me in puzzlement, was abruptly picked up.

“H-Hey! Lord Cain?”

In surprise, she instinctively hugged my shoulder.

After adjusting her for maximum comfort, I addressed Jelbin who looked on with astonishment.

“Leave minimal personnel at the square and disperse the troops to gather residents from every area.”

“Surely you don’t…”

“I’ll be back soon, so hurry.”

The knights and soldiers dispersed in organized fashion.

“Let’s go as well, Sister Myna. Just unleash your blessings.”

“What? I don’t understand…”

“I’ll carry Sister Myna through Yelkin. She needs to cast blessings. Then?”

“As the people see the light…Ah, I see.”

The pendant emitted a burst of white light.

*

The plan to race through Yelkin using superhuman endurance was successful.

Holding Myna close, while she unleashed her blessings, we could spot concealed cultists among the populace who promptly caught fire.

We left the clean-up to Jelbin, and our task was simply to ensure as many people as possible were within range of the light.

After thoroughly sweeping through every nook and cranny of Yelkin,

We finally captured the cultist’s guide who was hiding in the church.

He had already fled carrying a relic, but being only an ordinary human, he was overpowered and pinned to the ground, barefoot and on the run.

We needed information, so controlling the force was essential.

In the church basement, we interrogated the guide and learned various details.

“Five years. These are persistent fiends.”

Jelbin sighed, looking worn out after confirming the information.

The Dark Cultists had infiltrated the northern regions five years ago, with this year marking the start of their grand plan. By now, agents of their cause were embedded in every city.

“Solorun is fine though.”

When asked about their grand plan, the guide refused to talk. It appeared to be a forbidden secret that could not be revealed. Attempting some forms of physical persuasion only induced him to murmur incoherently while shedding blood.

“Confess your plan freely, cultist! Repent your sins and turn towards the light, and it will forgive you!”

Myna, her face stern, placed the pendant on the guide’s forehead.

Thump.

“Cccchhhh! Hah, hah. Even if you torture me a hundred or a thousand times, it’s futile. Foolish woman! Cut out that wicked tongue of yours and shred the body to use as fodder for the brethren… Ghhkk!”

As the guide wiped spit and blood from his face, several teeth were ejected. The violent sight left Myna’s mouth agape.

“Since this creature showed disrespect by looking at Sister Myna inappropriately… I instinctively reacted.”

“Well, then there’s nothing to be done.”

The sheepish expression on her face changed as she again presented the pendant and resumed the interrogation.

“Ghh! Get rid of that dirty pendant!”

“Shut up!”

“Ckchhh… Is it too late for you to realize? Our savior has ordered us to prepare. O sun’s harlot, your doom is destined to strip all from you!”

“Eeek!”

The guide’s laughter and screams created a dissonance until Jelbin and a knight couldn’t help themselves, alternately punching the creature’s abdomen.

“…”

A faint tremor was felt.

The source of the vibration originated from the north of Yelkin.

Was it some beast? There were… five. Or perhaps more.

Perhaps due to the long distance where I’d detected it, the exact quantity couldn’t be discerned with my senses fully reined in.

Guided by a strange feeling of unease, I moved outside the basement.

Boom!

With a light tap of my foot, my body shot skywards to an immense height.

The entire panorama of Yelkin stretched visibly under me. Amidst the snowstorm above, I unleashed all my suppressed superhuman strength.

Expanding my senses.

The mind accelerated, and the world slowed.

When the relentless blizzard ceased, and the view expanded as if gazing down from heaven,

Toward the north of Yelkin.

Past the frozen lake and over the faraway snow-covered mountains, a massive dust cloud rose.

Peering closer, shadowy forms emerged within the dust cloud. Not a single figure, but multiple ones.

‘This is…!’

It wasn’t merely the five creatures I’d sensed earlier.

The horde likely numbered in the hundreds. They moved together so tightly that it resembled a black wave covering the snowy mountain.

‘Their destination is Yelkin.’

Their path ended at the castle’s walls.

The distance was so vast that ordinary sight couldn’t perceive them yet. No one had noticed the approaching horde. Checking the castle walls, no one had realized their approach yet.

‘…Hmm.’

Suppressing my senses again, the world returned to its normal pace.

“Charles!”

I cried out imbued with mana while descending back to the ground.

“An enemy army approaches! From the north! Inform everyone!”

Leaving the sound of her footsteps retreating to the church basement behind, I turned my gaze beyond the castle walls.

My thoughts grew complicated.

An army, not one or two beasts, was heading this way.

‘Did the front line collapse?’

Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought.

The momentum I sensed was similar to that of other monsters. If the dragon was fully released from its seal, the other monstrosities would be vastly stronger than what’s here.

The dragon hasn’t awakened completely. Thus…

‘The Dark Cultists.’

The Dark Cultists who infiltrated the frontline succeeded in their scheme. With the frontlines gone, the enemy army was advancing unobstructed.

Thud.

After lightly landing in the courtyard of the church, I shot towards the northern wall.

Urgent footsteps echoed from all sides. The alarm bells rang across the entire city. Knights roared orders, and soldiers armed with spears and bows rushed to the walls.

‘…We’re still okay.’

The enemy forces crossing the snowy mountains numbered only in the hundreds.

Had all three front lines fallen, the flood that would pour in would number in the thousands. A ridiculous amount that could cover the entirety of the north in darkness.

But, with just a few hundred…

We can handle this.

Recalling the mana nucleus within me, I called out again.

“White Beast! Bring Nia here!”

The White Beast’s hearing should suffice to hear that. With the faint howl that followed, I nodded in confirmation.