Chapter 62 – Dark Blood Ghost Executioner

Welcoming the two who entered the Papal Court was the Holy Order’s force swept in demonic qi.

Originally, they were clerics and knights who guarded the Papal Court, but now they had fallen into loyal servants of the demon.

Rashid, easily suppressing those who rushed in recklessly, headed with her to the upper floor where the Director of Palace Affairs was.

“The Papal Court doesn’t end up like this all at once just because the demon’s evil influence extends. In nine cases out of ten, a high-ranking demon must have intervened. The Magic Tower’s help would have been immense here.”

“A high-ranking demon? Indeed… then who could it be? An archdemon like the one in Weiman?”

The Archdemon Mephisto.

His lieutenant, Asmodeus, was the culprit.

Though not comparable to an archdemon, he was a sufficiently threatening high-ranking demon.

“At this level, an archdemon must have intervened. Or it could be another demon related to him. An archdemon has many lieutenants under him, after all.”

Rashid continued to make conjectures that bordered on certainty.

“And that demon might be related to your brother. Perhaps your brother himself has already become a demon.”

“You speak with such certainty? I hadn’t even thought in that direction.”

“It is just my thought. Otherwise, the minions kept by the Director of Palace Affairs wouldn’t have all ended up in that state.”

Before long, an inquisitor stood firmly in front of them as they came to a stop.

It was Chief Inquisitor Ed, who had picked a fight this morning.

Probably, multiple inquisitors including him were positioned here as loyal servants of the demon.

“Look over there. Why would the inquisitors be taken down so easily? The Director of Palace Affairs must have gathered them in one place and done something. He might have fed them something, or made them wear something. Otherwise, they wouldn’t end up like that.”

“It is that Chief Inquisitor who visited this morning.”

As she recognized him, Rashid also reacted.

“I will handle the inquisitors here. You only need to take care of your brother. The most difficult opponent will be your brother, after all.”

“My brother? My brother doesn’t even know how to fight.”

“You will find out once you see.”

It was something she was always curious about.

Why did he act as if he knew everything?

She quietly glared at him with narrowed eyes.

At least, she did not think it was bad.

Because a capable person was always favorable to her.

“Take this. You will need it more than me.”

Rashid said as he tossed the Holy Blood Spear to her.

“I am lending it to you to win no matter what. Do not lose to anyone, whoever it is.”

Receiving the Holy Blood Spear, she seemed to think about something before departing with only a subtle smile, leaving only Rashid in the place.

“Inquisitor Ed.”

The inquisitor enveloped in demonic qi sneered as he looked at Rashid.

“I express deep regret that you ended up like that. Well, whether you were trifled with by a demon or not, it was a summary execution anyway.”

Chief Inquisitor Ed’s body, drawing out mana, vanished.

Moving at high speed, he targeted Rashid with rapid fire, but he was no match for Rashid who was wearing mana armor in the first place.

The combat ended quickly, and he became a corpse.

‘The inquisitor positions will be vacant for quite a while.’

Starting with Inquisitor Ed, other inquisitors had arrived before long.

“You guys have a way of communicating with each other. Just tell everyone to come. We need to finish quickly so I can go eat.”

As if they had received an order,

all the servants of evil deployed in the Papal Court flocked to Rashid.

Even amidst their endlessly continuing offensive,

Rashid steadfastly piled up their corpses.

The battle continued, and before long, only the last guy remained.

It was Lucian.

Lucian came to find Rashid holding two guns, and unlike the others, he was in a state where communication was possible.

“Inquisitor Rashid. Were we an ill-fated match from the start?”

Rashid chuckled upon seeing him arrive in a fine state.

Unlike the others who had fallen into servants, he seemed to have contracted with a demon directly.

“Did you make a contract with a demon? Seeing you spout words, it feels exactly like that.”

“Haha, I’ve been caught. His Excellency made a proposal to me first. Asking what I thought of contracting with a demon.”

Lucian grinned.

“Naturally, I had no choice but to agree. Since as a destiny-bound community with His Excellency, I had nothing more to lose anyway.”

Lucian emitted intense demonic qi as he felt a power different from before.

“It is truly an astonishing power. It feels like mana is boiling over inside. They say the Magic Tower bastards do this, right? Saying they contract with a demon and receive an inexhaustible supply of mana. I have no way of knowing why the Holy Order stayed away from such a good thing.”

As Rashid shook his head and pulled out the power of his mana armor, he was also enveloped in intense demonic qi just like Lucian.

“Hey, surely you don’t think you are the only one who possesses a demon’s power?”

Lucian’s eyes shook minutely.

From the moment he made a contract with the demon, it was visible to his eyes.

The power of a certain archdemon completely different from theirs.

“That power… feels definitely different from that Lord’s. Who is it?”

“I don’t really want to waste my breath telling you.”

Lucian, laughing lightly, moved like lightning and began to spray magic bullets.

Armed with double the combat power of Inquisitor Ed, he put up a decent fight in the beginning, but

as expected, he was no match for Rashid.

“However…”

Lucian, while fallen, spat out a deep question.

“Were you… contracting with a demon from the start? I don’t understand. Why are you perfectly fine while swept in demonic qi? Are you saying you’ve become a demon yourself?”

Such a thought reached him.

If only he had focused more on the connection with demons from the start of digging into his background.

Had he done so, he would have been able to dispatch him more easily.

“Do I look like a demon to your eyes?”

A vicious smile hung on the lips of Rashid, who stood stepping on Lucian.

As if playing with him,

his mana armor began to change in an instant.

“P-Play…”

The astonished eyes were soon erased by the Cross Sword piercing his heart.

“That’s right. I’m a player. The only race that does not fear demons.”

Tricking villains at the last moment after concealing that he was a player.

‘It was a joke I used to play often in the past.’

That thrilling pleasure was the same now as it was back then.

‘Though I didn’t do it after it became reality, I specially wanted to do it for you.’

– You have completed the main quest ‘Stop the Director of Palace Affairs’.

– Obtained the trait ‘Jaeger’s Blood’ and ‘Mana +2’ as rewards.

It was immediately after killing Lucian.

Rashid’s smile could only continue.

‘This woman really can do anything. Although I was assuming she would win anyway… Well, she just kills everyone as soon as she goes to them.’

Dark Blood Ghost Executioner.

It was the moment a named character in the hidden route was born.

* * *

The Director of Palace Affairs, who inherited Asmodeus’s power, manifested the demon within and subsequently transformed into a monster to fight his younger sister.

But that power was no match for her, who held the Holy Blood Spear.

‘How… the blood of the Jaeger family…’

The Director of Palace Affairs, returned to his human form, showed an unsightly appearance.

Wetting the floor with his own blood, he reached out his hand toward her.

“Aria… your brother was wrong.”

Of course, he was not sincere.

It was merely a hideous beast struggling to survive.

“Are we not family, after all? Please… spare me.”

She cut him off flatly.

“Brother.”

In that freezing cold voice, not a shred of agitation or sympathy remained.

“It is very unsightly to look at. Where is that confident and dignified brother I used to know now?”

Vane glared at her with burning eyes.

The corner of her mouth twitched quietly.

“Your current appearance is truly like my brother. Yes, my brother should be like that. Only then are you the brother I knew.”

“Aria… it’s that guy’s trick. Since you got involved with him, the relationship between you and me has been completely ruined. Let’s return. Back to those good relations from before.”

“Brother. When were we ever on good terms? We just treated each other like strangers.”

“…”

“Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I think I would have left myself alone too. With the same thought. But not anymore. You drew the sword first, brother, and I am in the process of delivering my response.”

“What do you mean by that? Me drawing the sword first? I was just caught in the demon’s power earlier. I still care for you terribly.”

“Brother, you really don’t blink an eye when you lie. Did you think I wouldn’t know the meaning of that invitation?”

Vane’s pupils began to shake in agitation.

“The matter with Seraphine… was something I didn’t know about either.”

“No way. As if I don’t know you, brother. Didn’t you intend to eliminate all those who were thorns in your side at that time, including me?”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I had absolutely no intention…”

Vane stopped speaking upon seeing the corners of his sister’s mouth curve up in a smile that was not just wicked, but malicious.

He had already felt it.

That his fate had been decided.

“Out of courtesy to you as my brother. I will kill you as cleanly as possible.”

“Aria!”

As the Holy Blood Spear pierced his heart, his hand reaching out to her also fell to the floor with a thud.

Vane’s body gradually grew cold, and she also saw him off in his final moments with eyes growing cold.

‘Farewell, brother. The other brothers who went before you are probably waiting. It would be a relief if they at least welcomed you.’

* * *

The commotion caused by the Director of Palace Affairs was settled faster than expected as an inquisitor from the same Sanctum family responded with summary execution.

The credit for executing the Director of Palace Affairs went to a member of the same family, and since the Sanctum family’s power remained intact, the Holy Order decided not to discuss the Director of Palace Affairs’ matter any longer.

On the morning of commuting to his new position.

She approached Rashid, who had returned after finishing a brief vacation, as usual and offered a formal morning greeting.

“Chief Inquisitor. Good morning.”

Rashid stopped the words he was about to say indifferently, feeling a sense of difference unlike usual.

‘What is it?’

It was the exact same greeting he received every time, so what on earth had changed?

Rashid was able to recognize the reason late.

“Is it… a day you’re in a good mood? I think it’s my first time seeing you greet me with a smile.”

“Yes, it is good. Because all of my brother’s estate has been vested in me. I am now the head of the Sanctum family. Originally, women cannot become the family head, but since I am the only one who survived.”

Ah, is that so?

Rashid, laughing lightly, headed to his office.

The seat left by Ludrick.

It was now his seat.

Rashid, who came to sit in his seat instead, caressed his nameplate and suddenly harbored another doubt as he looked at his office desk, which was different from his last memory.

“Hey. Who touched my desk? Carl, did you touch it?”

Carl, who commuted together, shook his head.

“Not me, Chief Inquisitor.”

Then, an unexpected figure arrived and spoke up.

“I organized it. I hated messy things.”

Why do what she didn’t use to do?

Rashid said seriously,

“Don’t do that. I hate it when someone touches my desk very much.”

“In that case, I will organize it neatly to the extent that it doesn’t bother you. It will absolutely not bother you. This I promise.”

Rashid, choosing his words, soon gave his affirmation with silence.

He affirmed reluctantly because she would probably organize it anyhow anyway, even if he told her not to.

Simultaneously with her leaving with a faint smile, Rashid scratched under his chin.

He came to sit in Chief Inquisitor Ludrick’s seat instead, but why did he feel that… something else had changed besides that?

Knock, knock!

It was her again.

She abruptly held out a letter and asked curiously,

“Do you by any chance date as well?”

A letter from which a heavy scent of lavender wafted out.

Rashid could easily recognize the party who sent the letter.

‘It’s Kaiser.’

Though they had stopped Vane,

if they could not stop the Blood Empress, millions would probably be ground away.

“Why? Am I not allowed to date either?”