Chapter 227

Following Bels, we walked deep into the alley.

Only after seeing her back did I notice—she was limping slightly on one leg.

If it were a miracle of healing, she could’ve used it anytime.

So, it’s not that she couldn’t heal it, but rather that even after using healing magic, it hasn’t fully recovered yet.

Judging from my experience, it seems like she must’ve suffered a severe injury, maybe even had her leg nearly torn off.

Did Isabella strike first? Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

—

The further we went, the worse the condition of the path became.

Empty liquor bottles, cigarette butts, and trash were scattered everywhere, and even some skulls were rolling around.

Rats in groups were gnawing on something thoroughly rotten.

The stench of filth wafted from the stains everywhere, but it was still more bearable than before.

Guess I’ve gotten used to having my guts turned inside out.

“Ugh, the smell.”

Seems like Her Highness is having a hard time holding it together.

We changed directions several times as we moved.

The alley was as complex as a maze.

At every corner, there were warehouse-like buildings with no signs of life, but their appearances were too bizarre to be ordinary.

No windows, and rusty chains hung at every entrance.

It didn’t look like a place to let people in, but more like a facility to lock them up.

…Yeah, like a prison.

“What was this place used for?”

“It was a brothel, I heard.”

The answer that came back was quite shocking.

“A brothel…? In a place like this?”

Even horny men would probably turn back after seeing the state of this alley.

“To be precise, an illegal brothel. They disguised the entire ground floor as a weapon warehouse and kept women, either kidnapped or illegally sold into slavery, locked underground, drugging them to force them into prostitution. Eventually, they were all caught and purified.”

Purified, huh?

Probably means they were all rounded up and burned to a crisp.

“No matter how evil people hide from the heavens, the stench of their sins can’t be concealed. Sooner or later, they’ll be dragged out under the sky and receive their rightful punishment.”

Hmm, well said.

If you do evil, you deserve to die.

“The entrance is like a maze, the building walls are as sturdy as a warehouse, and it even has a secret basement… Perfect for a hideout.”

“Kind of like your idea, huh?”

I shrugged at Renee.

She, too, had hidden in a smuggler’s secret warehouse.

“Hideouts are all pretty much the same. People’s ideas don’t differ that much.”

“Is that so?”

Still, it’s ironic for a saint candidate to hide in a criminal organization’s brothel.

Soon, Bels’ footsteps stopped in front of an utterly ordinary warehouse building.

Not at the entrance chained up, but at the wall.

It was just a plain stone wall, but upon closer inspection, there was a tiny hole.

A secret door, perhaps.

“Here we are.”

Bels took out a key, inserted it into the hole in the wall, and twisted it.

With a clanking sound, the latch unlocked, and part of the wall slid open.

A staircase leading underground was revealed.

—

After passing through the staircase and hallway, we opened an iron door and stepped inside.

The basement was surprisingly spacious. A communal bathroom, dozens of private rooms, a central lobby, and even a counter. Whoever these guys were, they really decked the place out.

Honestly, I expected something more like a cattle pen.

Well, if it were like that, Lacey would’ve probably looked for another place.

—

“Long time no see. I’m glad to see you’re safe. This must also be Elpinel’s blessing.”

[What Elpinel? It’s all thanks to me. Isn’t that right?]

Don’t bring up bad memories. It’s making me nauseous.

“You don’t look too safe yourself. Your complexion is awfully pale.”

“…I had a bit of a hard time getting here. If it weren’t for Sir Bels, I might’ve been captured.”

Lacey smiled softly at Bels.

“It was only natural.”

She bowed her head awkwardly in acknowledgment.

“So, what exactly happened? Did Isabella’s minions attack you?”

“You could say that. On the day Magnus Kaelum collapsed, I was secretly meeting with the covert missionary order from the Holy Kingdom. Six monsters attacked us, led by a high-ranking magician. A man I’d never seen before.”

A high-ranking magician, huh? Did Isabella have such a subordinate…?

I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. I don’t remember the small fry.

“Monsters, so it was those guys?”

“Yes. Those insect-like monsters wearing the shells of masters… They called them Paladins. We fought with all our might, but the difference in strength was clear.”

So they call those monsters Paladins. First time I’ve heard that.

If six of them showed up, there’s no way they could’ve won.

“So… only two of you survived?”

“Yes. The others sacrificed themselves heroically to save me. May they find grace and rest…”

Lacey clasped her hands and offered a prayer.

“That’s a shame. They must’ve been fine priests.”

“It’s alright. Elpinel must’ve embraced their souls. Someday, when I stand before Elpinel’s scales, I’ll meet them again. Until then, my duty is to tear all the culprits to shreds and burn them as offerings to mourn them. I must burn everything, from the roots to the smallest branch.”

The first words were clearly saintly, but somehow, as it went on, it got more intense…

“Well… I guess you can do whatever you want with that. So, did you two come here alone after that?”

“Yes. The fact that the monsters ambushed our meeting spot means that information leaked from somewhere… It’s truly blasphemous, but it implies that someone among our believers has turned into a disgusting traitor. Until we find out who it is, I judged it too dangerous to contact the Church Order.”

“Isn’t it Archbishop Triar? He kept making lame excuses even after knowing you disappeared, and declaring neutrality was suspicious too.”

Nana and Leopold were practically certain that Isabella had taken over.

“That rat must be crucified, but it’s not just him. We were already wary of him, so we didn’t even share information with the archbishops of Ernst’s faction.”

“…Rat?”

“He’s a traitor who betrayed Elpinel, so calling him a rat is too kind. He’s no better than maggots clinging to a corpse.”

Lacey gritted her teeth. Her face twisted in anger. Seeing such a gentle and pure-looking face make that expression and tone is always jarring…

“Originally, the dispatch of the Secret Martyr Apostles was a confidential matter known only to the cardinals in the homeland and myself. Triar couldn’t have known about it.”

“Does that mean… there are evil worshippers or their associates infiltrating even the Holy Kingdom? At the cardinal level, no less.”

If that’s true, it’s no small scandal.

“Probably so. The fact that Triar knew about my meeting… means someone from the homeland informed them, so they must also be a traitor. …For sin to seep into the heart of the Church Order, it’s an unprecedented disgrace. No wonder my attempts to realize Elpinel’s will were constantly thwarted.”

Wait, wasn’t that thwarted for reasons other than just traitors…?

—

Lacey continued her story.

Thanks to the martyred comrades, they managed to escape that place, but the monsters’ pursuit never let up.

Bels almost died.

After struggling and losing limbs, they managed to take down three of them.

But since they couldn’t identify the traitor, they couldn’t ask for the Church’s help either. The moment their whereabouts were known, the pursuers would swarm again. They had to hide thoroughly until Bels recovered.

“So, you’ve been hiding here?”

“Yes. I thought Sir Median would eventually come if we waited near Landenburg. I considered asking the Margrave for help, but… unless Sir Bels recovered, it would only end with us being exploited.”

Lacey didn’t seem to trust Ludwig much.

Well, he’s a hard man to figure out. You might think he’s just a loyal servant worried about the country, but there’s something subtly different about him.

“While we were here treating our wounds, we heard that Sir Median had arrived, so I asked Sister Lillieze to relay our location.”

Lillieze Bianchi. She was a woman who left me quite flustered.

“You really trusted her? Even though you avoided all the other believers.”

“Sister Lillieze is a member of the Special Holy War Unit. It’s not officially established yet, but the members were already recruited. She has unwavering faith, deep goodwill toward me, and outstanding skills. She’s the one who arranged this hideout.”

…The Special Holy War Unit? That’s the one, right? The extermination squad for other races.

That priestess, with her cheerful smile, was part of such an organization?

People really can’t be judged by appearances.

Well, Lacey looks like a saint who wouldn’t hurt a fly at first glance.

In reality, she’s a fanatic preparing a concentration camp for other races.

—

“So, what now? We failed to even start gathering evidence that Isabella is a witch.”

“Even without evidence, we must proceed. For the sake of the martyred apostles, we can’t just sit back after all this. Don’t you agree, Sir Median?”

A firm resolve filled Lacey’s face. Bels, listening from behind, nodded in agreement.

“Your enthusiasm is great, but I was asking about plans, not determination.”

“There is a plan. Though, Sir Median, you’ll need to cooperate.”

“Cooperate?”

“Yes. First—”

…The plan Lacey explained was outrageously radical.

Honestly, it was barely a plan, more like reckless abandon. But I liked it.

[This is going to be fun.]

Hersela let out a hollow laugh. She seemed to like Lacey’s plan too.

Well, when else would I get to experience something like this?

“If it succeeds, it’ll be quite a sight. Alright. I’ll cooperate.”

I shook Lacey’s hand.