Chapter 153

The gilded ceremonial robes trailed along the ground like scattered thorns, as if groveling on the earth to commune with the divine above.

At the very instant the scepter—symbol of the Theocracy’s authority—touched the floor...

It was the aged Gustana who opened his clouded eyes and looked up at the dome, murmuring softly,

“Firex is dead.”

Had there been someone else present, they would’ve thought he was merely muttering to himself.

But there was no one else here.

From above the Holy See, a flicker of golden light circled—faint, unstable, flickering in and out as though mocking something.

“Ha... dead is dead. And what of it? I said it long ago—humans are ever greedy, and they will one day reap the bitter fruits of their own making. Gustana, weren’t you always convinced that Firex was nothing but a despicable wretch? Now that he’s dead, why do you seem even slightly mournful?”

“Mournful...?” Gustana scoffed. “Heh, in my twilight years, I doubt I even possess such emotions anymore.”

He closed his eyes once more, patiently listening to the sound of the wind rising... and where it would eventually return.

“His greed sealed his fate. Firex never truly believed in our doctrine. He was lost in endless desire, unable to extricate himself, and ultimately destroyed by it. But his death won’t slow the turning gears of this world. The symphony that stirs the world—it will still play on, as fated.”

“Hehehe... And yet you sound rather confident, despite having just been beaten into a sorry retreat by that little Demon King brat on the battlefield?”

“That was simply due to my own lack of ability. Sigh... The Demon King’s power far exceeded what I’d anticipated. This time was just a probe. Next time... it won’t end so hastily.”

Gustana tightened his grip on the scepter.

The seven gems embedded along the staff, each a different hue, still retained their original luster, brimming with magic.

“And the trials for the magic cannon have also proven fruitful. We’re grateful that you taught us the method to condense magic—without it, the cannon’s design would’ve been impossible.”

“Spare me.”

“Eh...?”

The circling Aimeris above the rooftop didn’t seem the least bit moved by Gustana’s gratitude.

In fact, her mood appeared rather foul.

“You haven’t even grasped the core issue... The Demon King couple—yes, they’re formidable, but do you truly not understand where the real threat lies?”

“Sheffy Harl.”

CLANG————

As the golden light abruptly ceased its flow, cracks spread inch by inch across the stained glass, like some uncanny fracture of space itself.

Aimeris said no more.

And as the golden light gradually faded, Gustana bowed his head and gave his vow.

“Please rest assured... With the power you’ve bestowed upon us, we fear no obstacles. Your long-cherished wish shall be fulfilled. The myth shall return to the mortal world.”

“Someone’s coming.”

“Who?!”

A flash of anger instantly flared in the Pope’s eyes.

Again and again... there were always those insolent enough to trespass into the sacred realm where the divine resided!

He looked toward the cathedral’s tightly shut doors, hearing heavy footsteps approaching from beyond.

It seemed an uninvited guest had come to call.

63. She Arrived

The approaching footsteps were undeniably heavy, yet the speed at which they drew near was disturbingly swift.

Logically speaking, someone of such weight should not have been capable of such rapid movement.

But if this was indeed the case, then it could only mean... the visitor was not only hostile but also highly formidable.

What was even more baffling was the complete absence of any magical fluctuation outside the door.

This didn’t just mean that the individual hadn’t activated any magic...

It also implied that the guards stationed outside the Holy See had all likely been taken down.

———— Boom!!

The Pope calmly fixed his gaze on the door, watching with his own eyes as the massive cathedral gate—crafted entirely from a single slab of mountain stone and weighing several tons—came crashing inward.

The door fell onto the crystal floor without kicking up a speck of dust, merely fracturing the tiles with inch-deep cracks.

It hadn’t been broken through by some kind of magic attack.

It had simply... been pushed open.

And the proof was plain: the woman standing at the entrance still held the posture of knocking.

“Ahhh? What’s this? I was only trying to knock, you know? It just fell over the moment I touched it? Oops, oops~ But really, your Theocracy’s doors are kinda poorly made, huh? Oh ho! Isn’t this the esteemed Pope himself! Pardon me, pardon me!”

“Heh... What brute strength... Young lady, are you sure that was accidental?”

“Hahahaha! If I said I did it on purpose, you wouldn’t make me pay for the door, would you?”

“There’s no need to pay for the door.”

The Pope’s gaze remained calm, though it now bore more than a trace of displeasure.

“However, your life... I’m afraid you won’t be taking it with you when you leave.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that~”

When it came to intruders, intimidation through words was crucial.

Yet... as the Pope squinted at the woman standing atop the collapsed doorway, still posing with carefree nonchalance, he couldn’t help but feel a mild headache coming on.

The same arrogant grin as the Demon King. Crimson hair, crimson eyes. Dressed in bright red light armor with kneepads and bracers, fixing a celadon skirt to her tall, proud, and striking figure. The battle intent radiating from her was so intense it seemed to warp the very space around her.

And the most glaring, nauseating detail to the Pope—undoubtedly—were the six pitch-black wings fully spread behind her.

Encircling the wings was a dark, ominous red glow.

The Pope could tell—this wasn’t magic. It was pure, unfiltered battle lust.

The corridor behind her was strewn with fallen guards of the Holy See, collapsed in a heap, forming a path that led straight into the heart of the cathedral.

There hadn’t been any noise earlier... yet in such a short span, she’d taken down so many guards...?

The disgust on the Pope’s face lasted only a moment.

Soon, his aged and weary expression softened, and he spread his arms wide, exuding the commanding presence of a true leader.

“You must be the famed ‘Wanderer’ of the Demon Clan, Lady Ailellek, the【Battle Maniac】. I’ve long heard of you.”

“Hah...? What an honor. Even the Pope knows me?”

“Not really. Hardly anyone’s ever seen you. But with those wings on your back, it’s clear enough. Those who walk the path of chaos are few in number.”

“Ohh... I get it now. Process of elimination, huh? Makes sense—there’s only a handful of Six-Winged Demons in the clan. My little niece taught me how elimination works back in the day. Thinking about it, yeah, it could only be me, haha!”

“......”

Tch, just as expected—are all Demons really just powerful but simple-minded fools?

Still, the Pope didn’t dare take her lightly.

Ailellek had long distanced herself from Demon Clan affairs. She wandered aimlessly, drifting from mountain to river, showing no concern for national matters—so much so that most had already forgotten her existence.

Even if some remembered a Six-Winged Demon, they had likely forgotten her surname.

Harl.

A member of the Demon Royal Family.

She was the Demon King’s biological younger sister.

In fact, even the Demon King himself might have already forgotten he had such a sister...?

That was precisely why Gustana dared not be distracted. Given her unique identity, this wasn’t just a surprise assault—it could very well be a political maneuver.

And yet...

“Relax, old man. I’m not like my royal brother—I live free and easy. I’ve no intention of representing the Demon Clan in some tiresome negotiation with you.”

“Is that so? But from what I see, Your Highness, you came brimming with killing intent and ill will.”

“Haha! So even an old geezer like you can tell!”

The woman laughed with reckless abandon, completely unconcerned that she stood in the very heart of the Theocracy’s central sanctum.

Her laughter faded.

Ailellek’s mature and unrestrained smile was swiftly overtaken by a glint of bloodlust.

“Old man... don’t even think about calling for help, yeah? Everyone within a hundred miles who could lift a finger has already been knocked flat by yours truly. As for those loyal Tenth-Ranks of yours—you’ve got them stationed on the border to watch out for Aurus retaliation, right? They won’t make it back in time~ Not that it would help even if they did. And don’t accuse me of launching some sneaky night raid, alright? I’m just a nocturnal gal, that’s all. I sleep during the day.”

“Hoh... So, it seems Her Highness came fully prepared, slipping in while the Theocracy’s defenses were thin... Forgive the directness, but may this old man understand this to mean that the Demon Clan is formally declaring war on the Theocracy?”

“Not at all~ Didn’t I just say? I don’t want to represent the Demon Clan. You can consider this a personal act. Speaking of which, old man, aren’t you the same? At the Aurus Kingdom Arena, you clearly orchestrated that ambush yourself, yet you dumped all the blame onto the internal moles you planted. Me? I’m just imitating your fine example, is all.”

“You jest, milady. I truly had no knowledge of the arena incident.”

“Old fox... die.”

“!”

The Pope had known she meant no good—but he hadn’t expected her to strike so swiftly and without the slightest hesitation!

A flash of dark light surged in Ailellek’s hand. An invisible shockwave-blade shot toward the Pope’s neck with blinding speed.

There was no time to think. Confronted with this unknown threat, the Pope chose the safest course of action.

Instinctively gripping his scepter, one of the embedded gems—specifically the blue one—began to lose its glow.

【Absolute Magic Defense】

A pale six-pointed star-shaped barrier instantly condensed before the Pope.

This was a rule-type magic bestowed by the divine—no matter how powerful the opponent’s magic, it would be completely blocked by this absolute defense.

It was not a matter of strength, but an unbreakable law.

—— Clang!

A crisp sound rang out.

The seemingly insignificant wind blade actually shattered the Absolute Defense.

It continued onward, slicing cleanly through a distant column that supported a holy statue.

Half of the statue came crashing down with a thunderous rumble.

The Pope, stunned, raised a hand to his neck—finding a warm trickle of blood.

The defense... had failed.

But the clash between the wind blade and the magical shield had slightly altered the blade’s trajectory. That minor deflection was the only reason the Pope’s head hadn’t been cleanly severed.

How was this possible...?

A divine-granted defensive spell was absolute. There was no way a mere wind blade could break through!

“Ha, lucky old man, huh? Is this what they call divine favor? Let’s see how long you can hold out—here comes another!”

“Tch...!”

Ailellek once again flung a wind blade from her hand. This time, the Pope didn’t try to block it head-on. Instead, he chanted a new incantation.

This time, a green gem embedded in his staff dimmed.

【Infinite Speed Boost】

The Pope vanished from his original spot like an afterimage, and the barrage of wind blades missed their mark entirely.

Even Ailellek raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise at the sight.

She let out two low chuckles, as though quite pleased by the turn of events.

While dodging her continuous assaults, the Pope considered switching to another rule-type spell.

But suddenly, he sensed something off.

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