Chapter 46

The basic knowledge that a priest must possess before an exorcism is to not be swayed by the words of demons.

Demons are treacherous and deeply understand the human heart. They excel at manipulating and disturbing the psyche with cunning precision.

For this reason, demons often display great confidence when confronting an exorcist.

Traversing various places without being exorcized for a long time indicates that they possess the remarkable ability to elude exorcists’ pursuits, or that they have the skill to make priests abandon their attempts.

So, yes. They are masters at spinning their deceitful words.

An exorcist must not waver in the face of this. Falling for the demons’ tricks is dangerous.

I was quite confident in that. Even while participating in several exorcisms conducted in the battlefield with Priest Helena, I never faltered into relinquishing an exorcism due to the demons’ manipulations.

However, reflecting back now…

Perhaps it was simply that I had not given them any openings before.

Unlike now, where my body, mind, and soul have become shattered.

* * * * *

“Cough…! Hack…!”

When I regained consciousness, I was gripping Priest Peter’s neck with all my strength.

Priest Peter’s face changed color with the movement of my fingers. I stared at it vacantly. I found it hard to express the emotions I was feeling at that moment in words.

This indescribable feeling was neither irritation, nor anger, nor confusion. I quickly realized what this feeling was.

I was experiencing ennui. A sense of boredom, as if I were going through an extremely ordinary experience, filled my mind. I grew weary of choking Priest Peter, and even of witnessing the pain it caused him.

Why was I feeling this way?

In the past, I had vowed to hate all humans involved in Helena’s death.

Thus, I continue to curse them, eagerly anticipating that hellfire will await those I have yet to meet or hear about, and I will likely not regard them as humans henceforth.

So, that was it.

‘Because it’s only natural.’

Choking the neck of the one who killed Helena was something entirely natural for me. Therefore, I felt no emotions whatsoever.

It felt as if I were urinating on an anthill. A sense of ennui stemming from the pitiful sight of someone so easily nearing death.

The claim that they killed Helena. The moment that was uttered, my required emotions and attitudes had been determined.

“Priest, Head Priest!”

Suddenly, Sofia Sub-priest grabbed my arm. In contrast to my firm grip on Priest Peter’s neck, my body followed Sofia Sub-priest’s guidance effortlessly.

“Head Priest! Please come to your senses! Head Priest!”

“Sofia Sub-priest. Why did you intervene?”

“What, what did you say?”

Sofia Sub-priest looked at me with an expression of disbelief. My gaze remained fixed on Priest Peter’s face.

Priest Peter’s face, flushed red and seemingly about to burst. To me, it looked entirely natural.

“Why did I intervene? Does that even make sense right now…!”

“Is it not something that makes sense?”

“…What?”

“You said she was killed by Helena. Did you not hear?”

Sofia Sub-priest leaned in close. After glancing at Priest Peter, who had gone eerily silent, she took my hand and strode out the entrance.

I obediently followed her lead. After shutting the door loudly, Sofia Sub-priest leaned against the wall and sighed.

“Head Priest. What will you do now?”

“I have to finish what I started…”

“Head Priest.”

Sofia Sub-priest spoke firmly. I stared vacantly into her eyes.

“Do not be swayed by the demon’s words. To say that they killed Priest Helena is plainly false.”

“How can you be sure? They possess the power to do that.”

“Head Priest, if you concede that Priest Helena was indeed killed by a demon…”

Sofia Sub-priest paused momentarily to take a deep breath. I quietly waited for her to continue.

“If you concede that, you will nullify Priest Helena’s death.”

“…….”

“Do not think of Priest Helena. Do not be deceived by the malicious lies of Satan.”

They are the father of lies and the primordial negation.

I blanked my expression and stared intently at Sofia Sub-priest. She bit her lips tightly and met my gaze.

I felt something surge up inside me. I suppressed it strongly.

Then, paradoxically, while my chest felt constricted, my mind grew clearer. It was as if a cool breeze was ventilating my head.

Sofia Sub-priest, who had caused this magical change, spoke with a worried expression.

“Head Priest. Are you calmed down now?”

I slowly nodded and stood up. Though I felt the weight of emotions swallowed within me, I endured it.

It felt as if I might vomit at any moment. However, I somehow managed to suppress it.

Yes. Those eyes. Those eyes…

They became a tremendous source of strength for me.

– Just don’t think of her as a mere substitute for Helena. It could be a great wound.

At the same time, they made my heart feel heavy.

* * * * *

We re-entered the dormitory. The rancid smell of mold had somewhat lessened compared to before.

“Head Priest. Do not be swayed by the words of demons.”

“I’m alright now. I apologize for showing such an ugly side of myself.”

“…It’s nothing. If it were me, I couldn’t even imagine how I would have reacted.”

I slowly approached the bed. A candle that had nearly melted a third of the way down flickered precariously, providing light.

After Sofia Sub-priest poured salt back into a container, I had already taken a place on the left side of the bed where Priest Peter lay.

I slowly traced the sign of the cross and quietly murmured.

“Lord, grant me rest.”

As a servant of the Lord, I seek rest.

Here, grant peace to suffering brothers and sisters.

And, pass judgment upon the wicked demons.

“…….”

Priest Peter was still with his eyes closed. The slightly darker color of his face made it apparent that we could not afford to waste any more time.

The cross that had been placed upon Priest Peter’s chest had now flipped to form an upside-down cross.

“You wretched creatures know nothing but to insult the Lord.”

The symbol of Saint Peter is an upside-down cross. To place the symbol of Saint Peter during an exorcism seeking the Lord’s grace was a wicked ploy to redirect worship toward Saint Peter. I turned it back upright.

I placed my amulet on my left hand and covered the corners of Priest Peter’s eyes. Priest Peter’s head felt as hot as if it were on fire.

I gently moved my left hand and drew a cross in the air with my free right hand.

In an instant, a shuddering vibration coursed through Priest Peter’s body. I opened my closed eyes slowly.

Priest Peter’s body writhed. His joints twisted grotesquely as his arms and legs moved erratically, and his withered lips, caked in dried blood, thrashed uncontrollably.

The holy water on his forehead had long since dried up. I dipped my thumb into the holy water again and traced a cross on Priest Peter’s forehead.

Priest Peter’s body suddenly lifted off the bed. Had his limbs not been bound, he likely would have risen all the way to the ceiling.

I pressed down firmly with my left hand. Unlike before, it didn’t require much strength.

However, Priest Peter’s convulsion quickly subsided. I murmured softly to Priest Peter, who was slowly reclining on the bed.

“May the Lord’s holy glory be with you.”

Priest Peter’s eyes slowly opened. They remained rolled back.

Seeing the whites of his eyes was a common trait among those possessed since ancient times. This meant that the battle with them was not yet over.

Priest Peter’s eyes, wide and wild, rolled as he looked at me. Simultaneously, the corners of his mouth twisted into a sinister grin.

“Back again? You’re here again. The priest has come once more.”

“…….”

“How much longer will you endure this time? It might not be so bad to end this body here and now.”

He laughed wickedly, looking down at me with a dismissive expression. To the priest giving me a mocking smile, I quietly murmured.

“May the Lord’s spirit sanctify me.”

“Such a joke. Shall I tear you apart like that whore?”

“May the Lord’s blood cleanse me.”

“You foolish priest, you still dream delusively. Well, I’ll weave her entrails and serve them to you.”

Priest Peter teased me, flicking his tongue. Something deeply seated within me stirred, but I suppressed it strongly.

Regrettably for them, I had already made up my mind.

“…May the Lord’s passion grant me strength.”

As I finished the prayer, Priest Peter’s mocking face twisted dramatically. He must have realized that his provocations were no longer having any effect.

“Cough, ugh…!”

“Defeat all demonic possessions that come from them. Prevent them from touching all of the Lord’s creations.”

I felt the trembling of the hand pressed against Priest Peter’s forehead. I gave my left hand a little more strength.

“Saint Michael the Archangel, please protect us in battle and serve as a bulwark against the wicked traps of Satan and demons.”

“That, no…!”

“To the Lord, the celestial commander, I humbly beseech you, let your heavenly army chase Satan and evil spirits down to hell.”

“Gaaaaah—!!”

Priest Peter screamed. A swarm of centipedes, which had been crawling down from the ceiling, hurriedly retreated back into the holes from which they came. I held the Bible before him.

“Ask, and you shall receive; your faith has reached me.”

“Guuuuh…! Ugggh…!”

“You, Peter. It is time for you to repent.”

Priest Peter’s body trembled violently. The bed’s posts seemed as if they would be pulled from their place.

After placing the open Bible on Priest Peter’s abdomen, I took the holy water vessel and held it aloft.

Whether it was the leader or a minion, someone had to meet their end. That would weaken their overall strength.

Holding the holy water-laden container, I drew the sign of the cross and swung it toward Priest Peter in the shape of a cross.

“Be eradicated. The Lord’s light is here.”

As the holy water sanctified from the Samadan River was scattered, black blood began gushing from Priest Peter’s eyes, nose, and ears.

I quietly observed the scene. Sofia Sub-priest traced the sign of the cross and repeatedly murmured prayers.

Priest Peter, who was bleeding profusely, slightly opened his mouth. From his mouth, a large blood-soaked centipede and a three-headed snake slipped out quietly.

The large centipede flipped its head and rolled around, eventually curling up and coming to a halt.

The three-headed small snake writhed in agony, biting its own tail, each of its heads gnawing at the others, twisting in pain before ultimately suffocating itself in its own entangled body and dying.

– Bang!

Suddenly, a loud thud was heard from outside the entrance. As Sofia Sub-priest glanced at me to seek permission, I nodded.

“Yaaahh!”

What Sofia Sub-priest witnessed upon opening the entrance was a dog that had decayed and rotted in various places. It had slammed its head against the door and died.

“Head Priest! A, a dog’s corpse…! It seems to have jumped out from Priest Camilla’s room!”

Sofia Sub-priest shouted, pointing to the bloodstains trailing in front of the entrance.

It seemed that even the evil spirit dwelling within Priest Camilla had put forth its full effort. I looked down at Priest Peter, whose complexion had noticeably improved, and murmured.

“…You, wretched offspring. Nothing now remains to protect you.”

This was undoubtedly a decisive blow that could sway the outcome of this long battle.