Chapter 280 : A Smile Like a Snake

"So. Where is Siri?"

Actually, I didn't care much about what dirty things these guys were doing behind the scenes.

Our main concern was where Siri was and what she was doing.

Shushuruta said in a cautious tone.

"The Saint of Pure White... is at the center of all this."

"The center?"

"The core itself. It is presumed that she is performing the most important role. To the extent that this system is running because of her existence."

"Details."

"The Saint of Pure White, who has accepted the midday sun god, Hope, is said to possess an overwhelming amount of divine power compared to other saints. It's said that even the Pope was surprised to see it, so that says it all."

"Hmm."

Our Siri was indeed amazing.

"It seems she is using that talent to mass-produce potions to heal the injured, and to cast the blessing of light on the holy knights who participate in the underground fighting arena."

"Hmph..."

Lyle sighed and wiped his face.

"How did it come to this..."

I also let out a deep sigh.

How did that innocent girl get caught up in such a dirty mess?

Although Siri had an innocent and dazed side, she was not a fool.

At the very least, she could distinguish between right and wrong.

It was certain that she was not doing this of her own free will.

'Was she being threatened?'

If they had tried to threaten her with something absurd, her head would have been smashed by Siri's mace long ago.

Was she being blackmailed with some weakness?

"..."

Just then, Shushuruta's meal arrived, and for a while, we focused on our meal without a word.

I soaked my bread in the stew and thought and thought...

Clink.

I put down my spoon.

'There's no answer to be found by racking my brain here.'

First, I had to meet her.

I had to meet her and hear what had happened.

"Siri's location?"

Shushuruta chewed diligently and swallowed what was in her mouth.

"To get straight to the point, the location of the Saint of Pure White is unknown. It's a complete mystery."

"Why is that?"

"There is someone who brought her."

"Who?"

"A man named 'Holio'."

"Holio?"

Shushuruta nodded.

"He's a man who rose to the rank of archbishop for the merit of bringing the Saint of Pure White, and it seems he's very fond of her. It's said that she has never shown her face in public except for two times: when she was baptized at the Imperial Papacy, and when she returned to the Hilden Kingdom and was officially recognized as the saint of the Hilden Kingdom. It seems they've hidden her away."

A smile bloomed on my lips.

"...Aha, so that damn bastard is the despicable one who lured our Siri?"

Shushuruta looked at me and flinched.

Lyle, who had been listening quietly while eating, also cracked his knuckles.

"Ah, I'll have to separate his limbs for him."

"How dare he touch our Siri?"

"It seems his life was boring?"

"Let's make it a little more interesting for him."

"Hehehe."

Shushuruta calmed us down.

"...Calm down a little."

"So, you're saying you don't know where Siri is?"

"That's right."

"But you're sure she's somewhere here?"

"Right?"

"Then that's fine. Let's just charge in. If we break everything, something will come out."

Just as I was about to get up, Shushuruta stopped us.

"You idiot. Do you think you can find her by doing that?"

"Then?"

"Even if you poke a black hole with a stick, the opponent will only dig deeper. There's a high probability that she's hidden in a deep place that even the insiders don't know well, and if we charge in and fail to find her, the security will become even tighter, making it harder to find her."

"Hmm."

"Archbishop Holio is said to have a very cautious personality, so there's a possibility that he will flee to the Imperial Papacy. If you're going to charge in, you have to pinpoint her location and then go in."

I crossed my arms and chewed on Shushuruta's words.

"So, you're saying we only have one chance."

"Conservatively speaking, yes."

It certainly made sense.

Lyle stroked his chin and muttered.

"Then what do we do about this..."

It seemed Shushuruta had something to say, so I said.

"Shushuruta. If you have an opinion, feel free to share it."

As if she had been waiting, Shushuruta opened her mouth.

"The most efficient way is to divide the area and then split up to search."

"Oho. How?"

"One person goes to the underground fighting arena, and the other infiltrates the cult."

Lyle looked at me.

"Then it's decided. I'll infiltrate the cult disguised as a holy knight who came from the papacy for surveillance, and you go to the underground fighting arena that suits you and find Siri."

I thought for a moment, then shook my head.

"No, I'll go to the cult. You go to the underground."

Lyle frowned.

"Is this the time to be stubborn? We don't know what kind of hardship Siri is going through."

"It's not stubbornness. I'm suggesting the most efficient way."

"What nonsense."

I wrapped the knife I was using to cut the meat with starlight and held it up in front of my eyes.

It was sparkling with a pure white light.

As if it were imbued with divine power.

"The light will guide the way."

With the added line, I had transformed into a faithful holy knight of the Hope Cult.

"Nothing to say?"

"..."

"Then that's that. First, let's find this kid named Johan. A commission is a commission."

Judging by the content of the letter, it seemed to be a very urgent situation.

That was also the reason why I had hurried.

"Let's each prepare for the infiltration and do it tomorrow. Today, let's just quickly rescue the little client."

Shushuruta looked out the window and answered.

"We'll have to hurry. The city is so big."

I grinned.

"Don't worry. Shady business always happens at night."

* * *

"Heok... heok...!"

A dark night road.

Two figures were running through the darkness.

The all-white buildings shone palely in the faint moonlight.

"He went that way! Chase him!"

"Keuk! The pursuit is already...!"

The ones chasing the two brothers were not holy knights.

They were men in similar attire.

"Jacob! Are you trying to save only yourself!"

"You selfish bastard!"

"Don't you stop there?!"

The other participants who had participated in the underground fighting arena together.

All of them were injured and had huge debts, and they were hunting dogs who followed the cult's orders.

If they didn't want to be dragged into the war, they had no choice but to listen quietly.

So, it was a case of hunting dogs with hunting dogs.

Jacob shouted.

"Johan! Don't look back, just run!"

Johan shouted back, not losing.

"You're the one who shouldn't fall behind!"

The two brothers ran with all their might, but the distance was gradually closing.

In the first place, Jacob had many injuries from carrying out various dangerous commissions to pay off his debts, so he couldn't run properly.

"There he is!"

"Jacob! You traitor!"

The voices from behind gradually grew louder.

It was obvious that both of them would be caught at this rate.

'This won't do.'

It was a moment that required a decision.

Jacob grabbed the sword at his waist and turned around.

Johan stopped in surprise.

"Big brother!"

"I'll buy some time. You run away."

"No! Let's go together!"

Jacob pushed away his brother, who was pulling his arm.

Then, he smiled at his only brother, who was looking at him with a stunned face.

"You fool. I'm already done for."

"Big brother...!"

At that moment, the hunting dogs rushed in.

"Jacob, you bastard!"

"Did you think you could live alone!"

Jacob shouted at his hesitating brother.

"Go!"

Johan gritted his teeth and ran.

He could hear the sound of clashing blades and loud shouts from behind.

Thump, thump, thump!

How far had he run?

Soon, he began to hear the sound of footsteps chasing after him.

"There he is!"

"They said to bring the kid too!"

"Get him!"

Johan ran with all his might, but he was already out of breath and his legs wouldn't listen.

In a very anxious state, his stamina was running out, and his legs wouldn't listen.

It was natural that his feet would get tangled.

Thump!

Johan fell hard.

"Keuk..."

He had fallen while running at full speed, so he couldn't breathe for a moment.

He had to get up and run again, but he couldn't.

When he came to his senses, the cult's hunting dogs were already surrounding him.

"Heok... heok... finally caught him."

"Why is a little kid so fast?"

The hunting dogs frowned and slowly approached Johan.

"Hey, kid. Wouldn't it have been better if you had just been caught earlier? We wouldn't have had to get angry at each other."

"Damn it. What is this in the middle of the night?"

"Was it Johan?"

"First, let's get a few hits in."

Johan closed his eyes tightly.

Just then.

"Johan?"

An unfamiliar voice descended among them.

Johan looked up to where the voice had come from.

A man was squatting on the roof of a building, looking down at them.

Did they feel an unusual atmosphere?

The hunting dogs began to bark at the person above.

"Who are you!"

"You'd better just go. If you don't want to die."

"Pretend you didn't see anything and pass by."

The man brought a finger to his lips.

"Shh. I wasn't asking you. Be quiet for a moment."

"What is this..."

The hunting dogs were dumbfounded and looked up at him blankly.

The man, without caring, spoke to the kid who had fallen on the floor.

"Hey, did you say your name was Johan?"

Johan nodded in a daze.

"The Johan who sent a messy letter to the Sherwood Mercenary Corps?"

"...!"

Johan's eyes widened.

That was right.

He had written a letter to the famous mercenary corps that was said to solve anything, with the feeling of grasping at straws.

He had sent it without any expectation that it would arrive properly, so he had even forgotten about it.

'He came all the way here after seeing that letter?'

Johan looked at the man who was looking down at him from the edge of the pale building.

His eyes were as red as blood.

Under the faint moonlight, he looked like a mysterious monster from a cruel fairy tale.

'Then, is that man...?'

The hunting dogs muttered.

"Sherwood Mercenary Corps?"

"What nonsense is that?"

The man who had been looking down at them quietly smiled with satisfaction.

"Alright, the talk is over."

The man jumped down from the pale building.

A dark street.

A blood-red gaze drew a tail and fell like a shooting star.

* * *

Sirila had a dream.

That time, when she had gotten lost in the forest.

—Awoooo!

From here and there, the cries of unknown beasts could be heard.

Sirila buried her face between her knees and trembled.

The night in the forest was cold.

But the pitch-black darkness that she couldn't see in front of her made her even more scared.

Just then, she heard a familiar footstep.

—Thump. Thump.

The footstep stopped in front of her.

Sirila stealthily raised her head.

"What are you doing here?"

A blunt voice.

Sirila smiled brightly.

"Big Brother Ashuban!"

"Hey, don't cling to me. What are you doing here?"

"I got lost."

"Are you a fool? To get lost here."

"Do you know the way, Big Brother?"

"I don't."

"...?"

"But it's better for two to wander than for one to wander alone."

Sirila chuckled.

"What's that?"

"Let's go."

At some point, the fear had receded far away.

With him, she was not afraid of anything.

Sirila stealthily reached out and held his hand.

He did not pull his hand away.

The hand she held was rough, but warm.

—Saint.

Someone shook her shoulder.

—Saint. It's time to wake up.

Sirila stealthily opened her eyes.

Warm morning sunlight was coming in through the window.

"...Ah."

"Saint?"

Sirila touched her eyes with her fingertips.

They were moist.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"No, it's the opposite. I had a good dream."

"I see. The archbishop is looking for you."

"I'll get ready and go out right away."

After the priest left the room.

Sirila lightly got ready and left the room.

"This way."

When she followed the priest who was waiting outside the door, a man in a pure white priest's robe greeted him.

He had a benevolent smile, but his eyes were small, so his gaze was not clearly visible.

"Good morning, Saint."

"Yes. Good morning, Archbishop."

"The light of Hope is particularly warm today."

"I know, right."

"Did you have a good night?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then let's share the grace of Hope with the lost flock today as well."

When the archbishop gestured, a priest brought a large basin.

It was full of holy water.

Sirila took a small breath as she dipped her two hands in the holy water.

"Saint."

"Yes."

"You said you had a good dream?"

A faint smile appeared on Sirila's lips.

"I heard my big brother's footsteps in my dream."

"That's a good sign. It seems you're getting closer to your goal."

"Really?"

"Of course. So, let's work hard today as well. For the ultimate divine magic, Resurrection."

"...Yes."

Sirila closed her eyes.

Soon, a dazzling light came from her hands, and the entire holy water began to shimmer with a holy light.

Archbishop Holio watched the scene and smiled with satisfaction.

At a glance, it was a smile that resembled a snake.

(End of Chapter)