Chapter 27 – Witch Hunt (2)

“Are you talking about rooting out heretics based on church law?”

The soldier, shaking his head slightly at Adel’s question, explained further.

“To be precise, it’s rooting out demons. Apparently, a demon has sneaked into the city.”

Velloc was silent for a while. Though it was partly due to his aversion to the barbaric act of burning people alive, the more fundamental reason lay elsewhere.

Hameln was not originally a city where a witch hunt took place. The future had changed.

The reason was easily guessed. Just like the soldier’s words: demons. Those bastards were always the problem.

‘Somehow, I feel like things are going to get messy. I should assess the situation first.’ Velloc asked,

“If this is happening under the church’s leadership… what is the lord doing? Have they reached an agreement?”

“That is…”

As the soldier hesitated, Velloc was about to take out a coin. But Adel beat him to it.

She quickly pulled a silver coin from her bosom and handed it to the soldier.

Money instead of a sword. Good. She was improving. Along with Velloc’s admiration, the soldier grinned.

“It’s not something good to reveal anywhere, but since you two knights seem very tight-lipped, I will tell you.”

‘Not because of the money?’ Velloc nodded as if telling him to speak quickly. Glancing around, the soldier’s voice dropped even lower.

“The witch hunt currently taking place is indeed being carried out by the church under the lord’s tacit approval.”

“Was the Lord of Hameln such a deeply devout person?”

The soldier shook his head as if that were out of the question.

“No way. But if a curse spreads in the town, and his only son has also caught that curse, wouldn’t devotion grow even where there was none?”

“A curse?”

“His skin splits like rotten wood with pus oozing out, and his nails have grown grotesquely, they say.”

Having finished the explanation, the soldier even made a strange sound with his mouth. It was reminiscent of a ghoul.

“My goodness.”

Velloc shook his head. By that point, it was a real curse. Soon, sounds as terrible as the curse began to reach their ears.

Screams of people, shrieks, and clamor. The smell of roasting meat also grew stronger. He could roughly imagine what was happening ahead. Whether Velloc and Adel frowned or not, the soldier picked his nose as if used to it and said,

“He sought out all the renowned doctors through inquiries, but it was of little use. To make matters worse, at that time, the mage… no, even that woman was away…”

“And then?”

“Didn’t he ask the church for help in desperation, clinging to straws? The Bishop said this curse was cast by a demon, and since the bastard had hidden among the people, they must find and kill him to lift the curse. So they are arresting and interrogating or burning all suspected or reported people. That’s how it ended up like this.”

Velloc shook his head.

“Crazy. What crime did the innocent people commit? Besides, the priests who serve the light can’t even find a single demon? That makes no sense.”

The guard was frightened out of his wits.

“Shh. Sir Knight. Please watch your mouth. In this city right now, doubting the authority of the church means putting your life on the line.”

“I see.”

Looking around, the guard sighed and said,

“Well, what would low-ranking guys like us know? We are just holding out day by day, hoping this situation will be resolved quickly.”

‘As long as my family is safe, it doesn’t matter what happens to others.’ Keeping his true thoughts to himself, the guard continued the guidance.

“To go to the lord’s castle, we must pass through the plaza. It will appear soon. The trials must be in full swing right now. Steel yourself.”

The guard’s words were no exaggeration. When they turned the corner, Velloc and Adel let out groans involuntarily.

Flames surged everywhere. It was an ongoing sight, and a spectacle that would continue to unfold.

People hanging on pillars screaming, and ashes that were completely burned, leaving only black shapes.

People surrounding them and jeering. They were all the same humans.

There was only one difference. Were they truly innocent? Or were they witches in whom a demon had hidden?

Deciding that was a diminutive old man standing on a platform, holding a proclamation.

Looking up slightly at the platform, the guard quickly lowered his head and said,

“That is Bishop Luzback. He is also the high priest who oversees the church of Hameln.”

“Him?”

Velloc and Adel raised their heads. Under the setting sun, there was an old man reading a proclamation while wearing a bowl-like white hat. The moment he saw the old man, Velloc felt a strange sensation.

Something was off. It was like looking at a different creature. It was a different feeling from when [Unquenchable Fighting Spirit] reacted against a powerful enemy.

‘Is this… by any chance?’

Leaving Velloc’s suspicious gaze behind, the Bishop spoke. It was a clear voice, but its content was not at all pleasant.

“Judgment! The sinners have no room for rehabilitation. They shall repent of their sins in the eternally burning fires of hell!”

Having finished speaking, the Bishop raised one hand. It was a clear execution.

Woaaaah!

At that, the people who were determined not to be witches cheered all at once. Soon, they began to throw stones, spit, and rotten fruit at the sinners bound to the pillars.

The same went for a mother and daughter, the mother holding the tiny hand of her child. The mother put a stone in the child’s hand and told her to throw it. At that, the child whined.

“Mom. Can I not throw it? Rosy-unni played with me. She’s not a bad person.”

It was a small voice. It was also a kind heart typical of a young child. However, the child’s words were enough to upset the mad crowd. A few approached with glaring eyes.

“What? Kid. What did you just say?”

A man gestured, pointing at the mother and child.

“I know who they are! It’s Anna’s bitch of a daughter. Right, you were close with Rosy. I was already suspicious. You’re a witch too!”

“W-Wait. It’s a mistake! My daughter is… Eek!”

The man who slapped the child’s mother crouched down. Then, tapping the child’s head with glistening eyes, he said,

“Hey, kid. Do you want to hang up there following your friend too? Huh? Shit, do you think we do this because we want to—”

“Stop.”

At the voice coming from above, the men’s actions halted. Looking up, they saw a heavily armed knight.

The men backed away in fright.

“K-Knight… why are you here…”

Ignoring the men, Velloc looked at the mother and child. The child was sobbing, and the mother was hugging the child, whispering that it was okay.

Although he had intervened because he couldn’t bear to watch, he had to act carefully.

If he defended them blindly here, after he left, the envied mother and daughter could be accused of being witches. So Velloc kicked both the man and the mother and child.

“Ugh.”

“Ah!”

And like any other noble, he spoke arrogantly.

“Dirty commoner bastards. How dare you block my path?”

“S-Sorry.”

“If you understand, get lost.”

“Y-Yes!”

The men and the mother and child retreated in panic. At that sight, the soldier guiding them looked at Velloc with an expression that said ‘as expected.’

Only Adel praised her master’s mercy and hit the men once more along with curses.

“Let’s move along.”

The three of them resumed moving.

“Light the fire!”

“I-I’m not a witch. I am… Aaaaargh!”

“Graaaah!”

Hiss!

From behind, the sound of flesh roasting was heard along with terrible screams. An intense smell that blocked his nose also wafted in. “After human flesh, it’s burning at the stake.”

‘What on earth is wrong with this world?’ Asking himself in his heart, Velloc turned his head slightly before he knew it.

He saw the child holding her mother’s hand tightly, throwing stones with closed eyes.

Turning his head back, Velloc clicked his tongue.

“No matter how I look at it, it’s a fucking world.”

Envy, jealousy, greed, obsession with life. All kinds of gloomy emotions swirled in the plaza.

“It’s horrible.”

Adel also shuddered. Then she looked at Velloc with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m alri…”

Momentarily, Velloc’s words caught in his throat.

Was he alright? Him? Seeing the sight of people casually selling out their neighbors to survive just for today, was he alright?

No, there was no way. But what could he do if he wasn’t?

“I’m fine. Yes, I have to be fine.”

Nodding his head, Velloc muttered as if brainwashing himself. The black-haired knight always had to be fine. Otherwise, how could he endure in this world?

Velloc cut off the rising thoughts.

Now was the time to think only of the goal.

After walking across the plaza for a long time, the two finally arrived at the castle where the Lord of Hameln resided.

‘Now I can meet her.’ It wasn’t thoughts about the lord. The lord was merely a pretext for an audience with the mage.

In the first place, the reason he came to Hameln was to take her away, who should be occupying the position of the lord’s advisor.

However, that plan began to go awry right from his conversation with the lord.

“That bitch is currently thrown in the dungeon.”

Sitting in a spacious chair, the Lord of Hameln spoke with an uncomfortable face.

It was the reply to his inquiry about the mage’s whereabouts along with standard greetings.

‘She wasn’t living well.’ Velloc was flustered, but he soon managed his expression and said,

“May I ask the reason? That woman owes me a debt.”

“You have something to collect?! Ha. Indeed. Were you also deceived, Sir? I almost fell for it too.”

It was a lie to somehow create a pretext to meet her. But thanks to those words, the lord’s attitude, who had been staring at Velloc with suspicious eyes, softened considerably.

“The reason… well, there’s no reason I can’t tell you, since she’ll die soon anyway. The reason is that Bishop Luzback branded that bitch a witch.”

“A witch?”

“Yes. A witch. The witch who dared to turn my only son into a horrible monster, and also cast a curse on the entire fief. Since that bitch is a spellcaster who uses strange sorcery, it is a fully convincing story.”

Even at this moment of speaking, the lord slammed the table, perhaps rising in anger.

“Then what about the witch hunt taking place in the village…?”

“The Bishop said that the witches in this land are not just one. So my loyal servants are currently torturing that spellcaster bitch to pry out information. Does that explain things a bit?”

“…”

Velloc was silent for a moment. Not only was she locked up, but she was being tortured and sentenced to death? The situation was more serious than expected. ‘It has gotten terribly tangled.’

Did he interpret that silence differently? The Lord of Hameln spoke as if making an excuse.

“I think I know what you’re thinking. A noble like me getting along with the church might look objectionable to your eyes, Sir. But think about it. If the Bishop restored my son, who became a monster, to his original form?

What if that child, who could only let out horrible shrieks, could speak human words again! Wouldn’t that… truly be a miracle of God!”

The voice that came out as if spitting it out allowed one to deeply feel a father’s love for saving his only son.

However, Velloc accepted that fact slightly differently.

‘Since the Bishop is the culprit, does he not realize he is being played in his hands? Well, if one’s flesh and blood is involved, they can be blinded.’

The general perspective of the people in this world also played a part. They trusted priests armed with faith and doctrine more than a spellcaster using strange sorcery.

Of course, Velloc was different. The uncomfortable energy felt from the Bishop who routinely engaged in slaughter, and his former companion branded as a witch.

It was clear whom he should trust.

A demon wearing the mask of a clergyman… How should he deal with this? While Velloc was pondering, the Lord of Hameln spoke again.

“Anyway, the starting point of the tragedy that visited Hameln is all Cara’s… all that bitch’s fault. Right, you said she owes you a debt? Would you like to see her belongings? Since they make me uncomfortable, I’ll give them to you if possible.”

“That is tempting too, but could I meet that woman directly? She must look quite interesting…”

Velloc deliberately twisted his mouth to act out a mean expression. Did that work? The lord also grinned and tapped his chair.

“Hahaha! This must be a relationship entangled in ill fate. Fine. Take that broken bitch and do whatever you want—sleep with her or break her somewhere. Just don’t kill her. Because I will burn her alive.”

“Thank you, Lord.”

“Think nothing of it. Go on out. A servant will guide you to the dungeon.”

Coming out after finishing the audience, Adel and the servant were waiting.

Having received word, the servant bowed deeply and offered guidance.

“Please come this way.”

Velloc and Adel followed behind. Adel had also obtained some information while waiting,

and whispered with a worried look.

“Will she be okay?”

“I just hope she hasn’t become disabled… If her tongue is cut out, she won’t even be able to cast spells.”

Velloc also could not know.

A city where a witch hunt was taking place, an abandoned mage, and even a bishop who had become a demon.

Everything was a mess.