Chapter 52

As we were heading toward the examination hall, a disheveled man appeared before us. The wounds scattered across his body and his torn clothing indicated that he had endured considerable hardship.

At first glance, he didn’t seem infected with silver corrosion. How did he end up so injured?

“The Ten Towers Emergency Relief Team. We’re currently moving to a safe location. Would you like to join us?”

Niobe stepped forward and asked. In that short moment, it seemed she had already assessed that the man was not a host of silver corrosion.

Even if they were somewhat clumsy, Blasphemia agents were still agents—impressive keenness despite everything. Just as I marveled at this, the man began to speak.

“You….”

“Are you from Blasphemia?”

“…What?”

The man’s hair stood on end as fighting spirit enveloped his entire body.

Damn. Judging by his search for Blasphemia, he’s likely a priest of one of the vanished gods, about 90% sure. As I mentally prepared, I asked Lampades quietly.

“Have you seen this face in the mercenary world?”

Perhaps he could be some solver hired by Blasphemia for a secret mission. Maybe he got mad because the client didn’t pay him.

“No. Never seen him before. Though it has been quite a while since I retired from the industry to establish my Magic Tower, he could be a newly emerging powerhouse who appeared during that time…”

Lampades cautiously guarded the disheveled man while loading magical energy into the tools wrapped around his body.

I suppressed an impending sigh. So, he really is a priest then? For a moment, I thought he might be a solver using fighting spirit.

In this world dominated by magic, those who wield fighting spirit are rare. It feels almost like a refuge for those who have been overshadowed by magic.

Among solvers, there are relatively more users of fighting spirit. Most use it as an emergency measure when their magical power runs out or as auxiliary physical enhancement.

So, what’s the probability that this person is also a solver…

“Blasphemia bastards! Where are the members of our sect that you kidnapped!”

Nope. He’s 100% a priest of the vanished gods.

‘A priest who wields fighting spirit.’

Recalling information about the deities, it’s common for priests to acquire other abilities to conceal divine power.

But the level of proficiency shown by this individual isn’t something achieved merely for disguise. It’s clear that he underwent serious training.

A warlike deity who values the cultivation of both divine power and fighting spirit as virtues. It wasn’t hard to guess which sect this man belonged to.

“If you won’t answer…!”

Red light swirled in the man’s clenched fists. The menacing aura made the children trailing behind us tremble.

I quickly sent Kine a message and stepped forward.

“That’s enough.”

***

The smiling man took a step closer. An ordinary step devoid of any intimidating presence or pressure.

‘I don’t sense any magical energy…!’

However, that very ordinariness felt alien.

The reason the priest of the vanished god could discern the identity of the young mage was due to the magical artifacts carried by the agents of the Ten Towers.

The life-sign detection device distributed by the Ten Towers to its agents. Having completely memorized the pattern of the magical field emitted by these devices specialized in signal transmission and reception.

Normally, the faint output would be obscured by the individual magical fields of the agents, making it undetectable. However, after countless clashes with the underlings of the Ten Towers, the priest developed the ability to detect the faint magical field of the artifact hidden within human magical fields.

From this man, no such traces of magical energy were felt—just absolute stillness.

None of the Blasphemia agents he had fought against could suppress their magical energy to this extent. There was no doubt he was an incredibly skilled mage.

“Are you… the responsible party here?”

“In a way, yes.”

Ortes shrugged slightly and spoke softly.

“Let the others go. Let’s just talk between the two of us. They’re just inexperienced newbies and innocent bystanders caught in terror, aren’t they?”

“Hah! When have you ever let anyone go? Did you ever listen to pleas to save even one child?”

Niobe took a hesitant step back at the menacing aura, but Ortes remained unfazed.

“If you proceed this way, you’ll never find out where your believers went.”

“……”

The exact skill level of the Blasphemia agent standing before him was unclear, but instinctively, he knew this wouldn’t be an easy opponent. If reinforcements arrived during the battle, even someone as confident as himself might struggle to secure a complete victory.

“Fine. I admit time isn’t on my side. But how can I trust you?”

“…I’ll be the hostage.”

The resolute figure stepping forward from behind Ortes was Kine. The gazes of the people escaping with her fixed on her.

“I don’t fully understand what you’re saying, but… if I become your hostage, then this person won’t act recklessly, right?”

The forgotten god’s priest glared at Ortes, who calmly nodded in agreement.

An unspoken agreement was reached. Kine gradually moved forward.

***

Being the only one aware of the relationship between Kine and Ortes—student sponsored by a company and the secretary of that company—Lampades was shocked.

‘This kid…?!’

Is he seriously offering his company-sponsored student as bait without hesitation?

‘No. Could a child come up with the idea of becoming a hostage on their own? Surely it’s Ortes’ directive!’

How could someone be so ruthless?

“Rather, I’ll be the hostage!”

There wasn’t much distance left until the examination hall, and with the Ten Towers relief team—a mage—and the admissions officer present, Astrape would arrive safely.

Upon hearing Lampades’ offer, the admissions officer also raised his hand. It was the manifestation of professional ethics as an adult responsible for protecting the children.

“No. Even if you seasoned mages disarm yourselves, unless you’re sealed with a mana inhibitor, you’re still dangerous. Go now. Hurry!”

However, the priest of the forgotten god rejected their offers. To the adults gnashing their teeth, Ortes’ voice came.

“You all should take the other children to a safe place. I’ll handle this.”

“Director Ortes…!”

The admissions officer’s voice choked up.

He assumed Ortes, who introduced himself as part of the emergency relief team along with Niobe, was her superior. Despairing over his own inability to protect the students, he bowed deeply and begged the mage of the Ten Towers.

“Please rescue them safely. This child, this child…!”

The admissions officer had learned a little about Kine’s past when he inquired about her prosthetic limb. Despite her unfortunate past, she possessed a gentle nature willing to sacrifice herself for others. She shouldn’t lose her life to superstitious zealots like this.

Ortes solemnly nodded.

Lampades couldn’t help but close his eyes tightly at the natural acting.

***

As Kine slowly moved forward, Ortes whispered to Niobe.

“Don’t report this matter to higher-ups. There are rumors of people colluding with superstitious followers. Like the incident at the Charlotte Branch, I will directly report to the Inspector General.”

Niobe sensed tension beneath Ortes’ smiling face. It was the kind of burden one carries when dealing with matters concerning the survival of an organization and the lives of innocent citizens.

“All you need to focus on right now is evacuating these people to safety. I’ll make sure this child returns safely.”

With respect and encouragement, Niobe nodded.

After the aspiring Musion entrants and other mages disappeared, the priest of the forgotten god finally moved. Lifting Kine onto his shoulder, he began moving in a complex trajectory to evade possible pursuit.

Ortes cursed silently as he ran after the overly suspicious priest.

“Damn it. That ignorant brute. The surveillance cameras aren’t even working anyway, yet he’s so paranoid.”

The man’s sprint came to a halt. Ortes stopped shortly afterward and thought.

‘Once I leave Elysion, I’ll probably have to stay holed up in Etna City for a while.’

***

The priest set Kine in front of him and glared at me.

“Where did you abduct the sect’s believers?”

Damn. Why am I stuck doing this ridiculous act?

But this was also an opportunity. Bold enough to infiltrate Elysion alone, he must hold a high position within the sect.

If we play our cards right, he could be a great asset in the upcoming conflict with Argeyirion.

…Though, his intelligence is somewhat questionable given his solo infiltration of Elysion.

“First, greetings. Priest of Enyalius.”

***

Demosthenes, the priest symbolizing struggle and violence as the war god Enyalius, tensed his muscles.

“I’ve never spared the Blasphemia bastards I’ve encountered. How are you still alive?”

“It’s simple. Because I─”

“Is that it! Information extracted through torture from the people you captured! You despicable creatures!”

“…possess a relic of Phobos.”

“What?”

Confusion. A good start. Ortes’ smile deepened slightly.

It was, after all, a straightforward deduction. How common are close-combat specialists wielding fighting spirit?

Having seized the initiative in the conversation, Ortes’ mind began working rapidly.

“First, may I ask: Is your mission sanctioned by the Theistic Order, or is it your personal decision?”