Chapter 97
At that moment, terror and despair clearly spread across the eyes of the Radiant Knights, including Commander Gedville.
“Th-that gold coin… th-that… that is…!”
There was no room for excuses.
Commander Gedville trembled, unable to finish his sentence.
Instead, his subordinates gave an honest reaction. They began clawing at their hair and scratching their faces.
“N-no, that’s not why… I didn’t mean for this… Aah, ahhh…!”
“N-no… anything but that… not the heresy interrogation…!”
“I-I don’t want to… I don’t want to be tortured…!”
“O Order and Goodness, please! Please forgive us…!”
Their words fed each other’s fear and despair. They screamed and harmed themselves.
It was time to finish things.
“Then, since we all need to head to the Holy See, shall I fix your legs first?”
“…!”
Holy power gathered in my hand. As I used a group heal to completely restore them—
A crazed light flickered in the eyes of the Radiant Knights. As if by prior agreement, many of them sprang to their feet.
“UAAAAAH!”
With a shout, they kicked off the ground and sprinted with all their might toward—
“AAAAAAAH!”
“AAAAAAH!”
—the cliff.
Their screams faded into the depths of the canyon. More than a dozen Radiant Knights chose death as their escape.
[“The Cynic Who Balances the Scales” clicks their tongue, remarking how terrifying heresy interrogation must be.]
The necklace rang.
<You stood by and let them kill themselves.>
I could have stopped them if I wanted. But I didn’t.
I had given them a choice from the start. In truth, it was closer to abetting.
Six Radiant Knights still remained before me.
Even excluding Vice Commander Lecto, who had become a wreck, the remaining five who lacked even the courage to flee were enough as witnesses for trial.
I looked at one of them and muttered:
“If you pushed others to their deaths, at least have the courage to take your own life the same way.”
“H-hic… I-I…”
“That’s enough, Commander Gedville. I wasn’t going to let you die anyway. You’re the most important witness.”
“Ugh… sob… sob…”
I turned my gaze away from the weeping Gedville.
At that moment, a presence approached. Tesilid, having finished inserting the box into the black triumphal arch, came toward me.
“Ailet.”
His voice was calmer than expected.
While he had been occupied with closing the gate, I had acted on my own.
I thought he might at least scold me a little.
But it seemed my understanding of his character was off.
“I’ve finished closing it.”
“Oh, uh, good.”
“It’s thanks to you. The restriction is lifting, so I think my strength will recover soon.”
“That’s good.”
“And…”
“Yeah?”
He gave a faint smile. There was a hint of bittersweet reflection in it.
“Is it because you’re a Saint? You’re merciful—giving them the chance to end their lives comfortably.”
Of all misunderstandings.
“Hmm, not really.”
“No?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you were letting them at least choose their method of death, since they’d only face torture and execution anyway…”
<You looked like it was too much earlier when you saw Lecto’s state.>
As if hearing Agnes’ blunt remark, Tesilid hurriedly added:
“Lecto… I thought he did it for me…”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
His sea-colored eyes widened.
Were you only half-sure and just said it anyway?
He continued awkwardly:
“Anyway, I wasn’t trying to criticize you earlier. I just thought it was excessive, even if it was for my sake…”
“Yeah, I get it.”
He seemed uncomfortable having someone step in for him.
If I kept listening, I’d start feeling awkward too, so I ended the conversation.
First, I needed to clear up the misunderstanding about my so-called mercy.
I pulled out a smooth stone from my satchel. It was a teleportation stone that could warp us to Elfenheim, where the Holy See was located.
“This is for eight people. Now the number fits perfectly.”
“…I see.”
I felt a bit awkward ruining his expectations.
As I put the stone away, I took out a taste-enhancing nutrient pill.
“Want one?”
“Whenever you do this, I feel like you’re treating me like a kid.”
He complained but didn’t refuse. Instead, he tucked it away somewhere without eating it.
<He avoided the sparrow-droppings-flavored supplement. What a shame.>
Too bad.
As I was tying up the six Radiant Knights tightly with the Spirit King’s harp strings—
“By the way, Ailet.”
“Yeah?”
“I forgot to mention earlier, but I can’t open the closing gate.”
“Oh, right.”
“Did you forget something too?”
“Yeah.”
There was another reason I let them jump.
Rumble—!
Right on cue, the black arch began to tremble.
[<System> Warning. Condition ‘10 or more corrupted believers as sacrifice’ has been fulfilled. The seal of A-rank dungeon ‘Pandora’s Bottom’ is lifted.]
[<System> Warning. The dungeon difficulty has increased to S-rank.]
[<System> The hidden master of the dungeon, Demon World Rank 791 ‘Calamity Warden Grelleus,’ has appeared.]
The darkness of the canyon gathered into a massive form.
A giant Grim Reaper wielding a scythe. Each time its black robe fluttered, corrosive dust, red sparks, and sickly green plague energy scattered everywhere.
The boss—named Calamity Warden—was the lord of Grim Reapers.
Its skull, adorned with jewels like grotesque decorations, clattered its jaw.
<I shall grant you rest.>
[“Architect of the Tower of Trials” expresses excitement at the hidden boss.]
[“Manager of Creative Economy” complains about using an expansion without purchase.]
“Hiiiii…!”
The Radiant Knights gasped, overwhelmed by the S-rank boss.
I casually said to Tesilid:
“It felt like a waste to just leave, so I summoned the boss.”
“You really know everything. Impressive.”
“It’s nothing to praise. Let’s finish it quickly, loot, and leave.”
I reached for my sword—
But Tesilid gently stopped me with one hand.
“Ailet, step back and rest.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll handle it.”
He turned his back to me and walked toward the Grim Reaper Lord.
<Oh? That guy…?>
A dark energy crumbled away from his left arm. At the same time, his aura changed.
His power had returned.
A sword materialized in his right hand.
Libra—the beautiful holy sword of judgment, with its deep blue square gem.
“It’s been a while.”
He stopped ten steps away from the boss, within its deadly aura.
The scythe rose above him.
<Mortal insect, accept true rest.>
“By ‘true rest,’ you mean death?”
<Indeed.>
“A tempting offer, but unfortunately—”
Holy aura gathered on Libra, shining with pure white brilliance.
“Your scythe cannot grant me rest.”
<Insolent!>
The scythe and sword clashed.
The ground collapsed under the force.
Tesilid leapt away and unleashed a flurry of strikes, sending dozens of light blades flying.
<Krrgh! Insolent…!>
The boss’s robe was shredded.
“Wow…”
<Wow…>
Agnes and I admired the sight.
He was stronger than I expected.
[“The World-Building Wordsmith” seems pleased you’ve found a great tank.]
“This’ll take… 15 minutes?”
<About that.>
Then—
“…cough.”
Tesilid coughed up blood.
The corrosive, burning, plague-filled air had injured him internally.
He lacked healing ability—his weakness.
“…The holy sword isn’t helpful in times like this.”
Time for me to step in.
“Heal.”
I cast healing from afar.
Tesilid turned, surprised.
“A healer in battle… it’s been a while.”
Of course—it’s a boosted level 67 heal.
But then—
<…There was a healer?>
Grelleus turned its hollow gaze toward me.
