Chapter 98 – Salvation (1)

A rough sensation was felt first. Following that, something fishy and damp invaded his mouth. It was the taste of devil’s blood that Belloc had also tasted a few times (though not voluntarily). However, soon, a dense and sweet scent filled his mouth enough to cover all of that. It was the effect created by the soft lump of flesh that raided his mouth.

“Mmm.”

Isabel’s arms wrapped around Belloc’s neck showed no sign of letting go. Rather, she applied full strength to both her arms and tried to cling even tighter like a snake. Her neatly folded legs also crept open slowly, trying to capture his thighs. ‘Why did she become so bold?’ ‘More importantly, if things go on like this, it’ll get out of hand.’

-Adele. Just in case, tie her up a little tighter. Because we have to drag that bitch along.

-You bitch! Can’t you stay still?

[Kuuuugh! Stop it!]

Adele was tightly binding Harmoa’s faded phantom body with her whip of holy power. Cara, who was standing beside her, was slapping her ghost-like frame (to no effect) or spitting curses. Cara turned her head and spoke.

“Belloc! Things are finished on this side. How about your side?”

Belloc, who was picturing the situation behind him like reality with his transcendent five senses, hurriedly bit Isabel’s tongue.

“Argh!”

Subsequently, his hands and feet moved, leaving blurry afterimages. He swept away Isabel’s arms and thighs that were clinging like a coil, and changed her position back to exactly how he had first held her. His robust physical body accomplished all of this in less than a second.

Shit. Did I put out the urgent fire for now? As Belloc let out a sigh of relief, Isabel closed her eyes slightly after her lips, which had a thin thread of saliva, chewed. Whether she fainted from the aftereffects of the battle, was too embarrassed to look at his face, or found it hard to lock eyes with Adele and Cara. Whatever the case, it was certain that this elf lady who became a devil had become even more coquettish.

“Are you leaving it all to me?”

As Belloc muttered, Isabel’s body flinched. Looking at her in his arms, he smirked and turned his head.

“It’s over. Isabel is also safe.”

“Really?! Thank goodness! I thought you were going to kill Isabel…”

‘This woman?’ Cara approached with a bright expression and inspected the two. Adele also approached, dragging Harmoa with her whip of fire. Her gaze shifted. It was toward the naked Isabel and Belloc holding her. Adele spoke with a blushed face.

“Um, Lord Belloc. Shall I carry Isabel? Perhaps it would be more comfortable… between us women.”

What would be comfortable? Belloc wanted to ask that, but Cara spoke first.

“Adele. Hmm. I also think that would be good, but you must keep Harmoa bound. Because without the power of holy energy, the phantom can flee at any time.”

“I can easily carry her with my remaining hand.”

Adele spoke while rotating one shoulder, but Cara let out a sigh. Her gaze directed to the sleeping Isabel. She did not look like the monster from earlier with leathery wings sprouted and a larger size. However, her skin was still grey like a corpse’s, and horns were attached to her head. She was not an elf. She was a devil. Cara hesitated slightly and spoke.

“I’m a bit cautious to say this… but you and Isabel are now polar opposites. You are the Goddess’s paladin, but Isabel is…”

“Ah…”

The two spared their words. Soon, a somber air settled between them. To the extent that no conversation occurred, except for Harmoa’s groans. When the trembling of Isabel’s body grew severe and her eyelids quivered, Belloc patted her and spoke.

“Let’s rest for now. It has been a long day.”

“Right! A damn long day! Yes, let’s move quickly! Let’s go to the inn, warm ourselves by a nice fire, and eat something delicious!”

Along with Cara’s intentional fuss, the three of them moved. Steel boots clanked, and leather boots made clicking sounds. As they moved, the ashes scattered, forming a path.

The dark residue reflecting under the blue moonlight. They were remnants. The oasis with hundreds of years of history, the residents who lived here for generations, the man-eating demons, and the sinister witches—fragments left behind by them. The group silently walked through that storm of ashes where only faint traces remained. Even if their throats tickled and their eyes stung, the four of them did not care. Whatever the case, they had survived this time too.

#

Although Belloc carried a horned devil and Adele dragged a transparent woman bound by her whip, the inn was quiet. Because the drunkards venting their stress while spouting curses, or the people who would open their eyes wide and scream, were all dead.

“Is this the best inn in this city? The facilities are quite decent.”

Walking on the floor covered with a thick carpet, Cara muttered. Her lips forming a curve, she seemed pleased that the wooden floor did not scream. Adele also nodded upon seeing the chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the spacious interior designed in a duplex structure.

“There’s no need to clear the table and lay out blankets. Besides, we can use individual rooms.”

Of course, there were plenty of traces of victims here too, like intestines or fallen arms, but the group did not care. Cara discarded the leather armor she was wearing, fluttering her sweat-drenched cotton pants and t-shirt. Adele also put down her axe and removed her helmet. Gripping the whip in one hand, she shook her loose short hair and spoke.

“Lord Belloc. Before preparing food and bathwater, I think we should deal with this bitch first.”

As she moved her wrist slightly, Harmoa wriggled like a worm. Her body size was gradually shrinking and her shape was fading, making her condition look not very good.

Right, we had things to repay to that bastard. And there’s a lot to dig up. Belloc gently laid Isabel, who had really fallen asleep at some point, onto the table. Then, covering her naked body with clothing, he spoke.

“If possible, I’d like to let Isabel taste the moment of revenge… but just facing her face-to-face might be painful for her. Shall we go outside?”

Adele pointed to one side and spoke.

“There was a small door over there. By the look of it, it should be the basement.”

“Good. Shall we show off some skills?”

Cara, with a smile on her lips, stood up. Soon, she lifted a rune book with a strap and a small backpack. A clinking sound resonated from inside. It was the noise produced by various sorcery materials, including flasks. Leaving the soundly sleeping Isabel behind, the three descended to the basement.

The flame produced by Adele’s holy power and the light from Cara’s staff made their faces look red or white. Whichever it was, it was only a terrifying sight to Harmoa, who was dying.

[P-Please…]

Looking at the phantom that was trembling while turning transparent and opaque, Belloc smiled. It was a wild smile revealing his fangs. He spoke.

“You know it’s too late to beg for mercy now, don’t you?”

The phantom’s trembling grew even greater. To the extent that the faintly visible wrinkles around her mouth and her face couldn’t hold their shapes. Belloc was unaffected. He merely thought of a woman while looking at the witch’s rotten soul. The elf who used to prick up her long ears, with golden hair.

“She was too good a woman to be done in by someone like you.” His fist went past the phantom’s body and smashed the stone floor with a thud. He knew it was useless. It was merely simple venting.

[Heeeek!]

Nevertheless, Harmoa screamed loudly. Was it because the man in front of her was the culprit who had wiped out hundreds of demons and her sisters with a single gesture? Or was it because her soul itself was carved away by the pain from the paladin’s holy power? Whatever the case, Harmoa could not suppress the rising terror. The moment the witch’s soul shriveled up, Belloc’s indifferent eyes stared at her. He spoke.

“Even when Isabel pleaded, you probably didn’t even pretend to listen. I will repay you in kind.”

As the knight gestured, the whip of flames whipped out with a whoosh. Along with a strange pronunciation, the clinking sound of a glass bottle was also heard. Shortly after, the phantom’s wails echoed fully inside the basement of the ruined city.

#

“Since they called her a high witch, I thought she would know a lot… but we didn’t get much more than expected. Should we capture and ask those devils called demons next time?”

Cara, who was climbing the basement stairs, spoke while shaking the glass bottle in her hand.

“I don’t know if a devil who isn’t human will readily open its mouth, but… that is also a way.”

Adele replied after staring with a slightly sickened face at Cara and the flask in her hand. Belloc, who was walking at the very front, also spat out a word.

“Whatever the case, it is certain that to go to the witches’ tower and the demons’ residence said to be below it, we must cross the capital of Arian and head to the Rungen Great Desert.”

“Not only is their scale larger than expected, but their area of activity is also extensive. Can we arrive in time?”

“Indeed… by the time we arrive at this speed, this country will already be…”

The moment Belloc, who trailed off, opened the basement door, a savory aroma stimulated the tip of his nose. Soon, the slight crack in the door widened completely, revealing the sight before him. Atop the neatly arranged dining table. A soup pot boasting rising steam was placed in the center. Next to it sat chicken seasoned with bright red spices, soft white wheat bread, and plenty of liquor bottles with cork stoppers.

Was it because they had just finished a hard battle and interrogation? The bellies of the three automatically rang with a growl. However, their gazes did not head toward the food. They merely stared at the horned woman who, with her back turned, was placing forks and glasses on the dining table. She spoke. It was a pleasant, beautiful voice with a moderate mix of nasal tones.

“Are you here? Everyone looked busy, so I showed off my skills after a long time.”

“Isabel! Goodness! When did you wake up? Are you okay now?!”

Cara was the first to rush forward. She wrapped her arms tightly around Isabel’s back and rubbed her face. A mumbling voice was heard through her curly red hair. Her eyes were also flushed red, as if she was crying.

“Just now… Yes. I’m fine now. My head doesn’t hurt either.”

Isabel, though slightly flustered, gently held Cara’s shoulders and turned around. Her indigo eyes, which held a turbid yet warm light, stared intently into the brown eyes. Smiling as she embraced Cara, she raised her head.

Belloc was smiling warmly, as if it was a good sight, and Adele was hovering around, stomping her feet. When Isabel silently stretched out one hand, Adele glanced around and cautiously took her hand. Sparks crackled between the two.

“W-Wait! This is a bit…”

Adele was startled and tried to pull her hand away, but Isabel held onto Adele’s hand tightly instead and spoke.

“I can… endure it. Adele, won’t you… hug me too? I… missed the warmth of humans, no, I missed you guys so much…”

At Isabel’s pitiful words, Adele’s pupils shook. Soon, Adele also embraced Isabel tightly.

Geez. Why do girls like physical contact so much? Well, it looks nice… When she eventually tried to stretch her hand even to Belloc, he smirked and waved his hand.

“Because I’m not confident I can hold back this time. Let’s save it for later.”

At those meaningful words, the corners of the horned elf’s eyes curved into a deep line.