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Chapter 11: Folly
THE news came to Krähe Imlerith, the Inquisitor in charge of Lenea’s restoration, just as it became possible to cure the epidemic plaguing the Divine City Amrita. Once they rebuilt this city, which had the largest population in the Southern Province and had sustained the most damage, the rest of their work would go much smoother. The urgent news came in just as she thought they could finally breathe a little, and it pertained to something they had feared was coming from the start.
The forces of evil had begun a second invasion.
It sounded better to describe the situation away as having fallen one step behind their enemies, but it really came down to the simplest of mistakes—failing to confirm what was going on around them. Everyone was so busy with the task at hand, they all believed someone else was looking into it, when no one was. Then again, perhaps it was expecting too much of Qualia’s clergy to know how to act during times of crisis when their nation had been at peace for ages.
Everyone falsely believed Mynoghra wouldn’t reinvade. Or at least, not for a long time. Their false sense of security was coming back to bite them.
“Are the reports true?” Krähe asked.
Ẁe b n̊ óv̄e l̆ È ǹ u ṁ ӓ
“Yes, communication has been severed with all of the towns and villages in the southernmost region, including Seldoch.”
It took Krähe a few long seconds to fully understand the meaning behind what the soldier told her with a stiff face.
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Communication with other cities was often delayed. The messenger or the person dispatched to investigate might’ve fallen behind schedule due to unavoidable circumstances, or they might’ve been neglecting their duties, or just outright incompetent. As much as no one liked to acknowledge it, things not going according to plan for various reasons was the norm for the Holy Kingdom of Qualia. But there was nothing normal about losing contact with an entire region. Especially when that region just so happened to be concentrated around the southernmost part of the Southern Province…
“That’s…bad news,” Krähe said. “Have you received any reports or heard rumors about anything unusual happening in the city?”
“No. We haven’t found anything unusual, nor has there been any word of the people being in danger. The towns and villages are avoiding contact with us. All of the messengers are turned away before they can ask what is wrong …”
It was a strange report. No matter how paralyzed Amrita’s functions as a capital city were or how much control it lost over the rest of the Southern Province, it was inconceivable for the entire region to rebel. As far as they knew, the King of Ruin’s curse of forgetfulness was limited to the capital and hadn’t affected the other towns yet. They had confirmed as much during their preliminary investigation, which was why Krähe focused on restoring Amrita instead of splitting up her troops. She acted with every belief that Arlos’s faithful would fulfill their respective duties and overcome the pandemic throughout the province…
Ẽ_núm̄ а
“The messengers are making it clear that they are divine agents for the Scribe Saint, yes?” Krähe asked to be sure. “Refusing contact without due reason is an act of treason against the Saint. Making it a direct betrayal of God.”
“Yes, you are absolutely right, Inquisitor! However…well, I can’t do much about it…” the soldier squirmed.
“Ah, right. My apologies. I don’t mean to criticize you. I just needed…confirmation. It seems I lost my cool there,” Krähe apologized to the cowering soldier and stopped her pen hand. She took several deep breaths, but each came out as shallow huffs of air. She tried to calmly grasp the situation, but her confusion exceeded what she could handle. Her beautiful, long fingertips trembled in silence.
I heard that the El-Nah Alliance of Elementalshad lost contact with each of its clans too. This is bad news indeed. Our situations are too similar, she thought.
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The El-Nah Alliance of Elementals—it was already public information that the good nation run by Elves had fallen into the hands of evil, sparking a world crisis. The Mystic Saint was currently taking measures against the problem, but Arlos’s Miracle Artes showed no signs of resolving this freak phenomenon that was unlike anything in all of Qualia’s long history.
As it was, the departure of the Southern Province along with two Saints had critically weakened Qualia. It was the sacred responsibility of Qualia to drive away evil in the name of Arlos, but willpower alone isn’t strong enough to solve every problem…
Ё ń u m ǎ. і d
They needed the means—powerful means—to overturn the odds in their favor…
“Please summon the most prominent Paladins,” Krähe said. “I would like to consider our next move.”
Always assuming the worst-case scenario and reacting appropriately is a skill necessary for those in positions of power and entrusted with the lives of others. Krähe thought of the many people living in the regions they had lost contact with.
Ah, but was this truly the worst-case scenario for the shining kingdom of light blessed by the holy god? Of that she was not sure… Only a foreboding of ever-increasing shadows drawing closer to the light of Arlos haunted her dreams.
◇◇◇
Krähe’s meeting went in circles, never getting anywhere. She’d summoned the Paladins to tackle the emergency, but no one came up with any solutions. Who could blame them? They never expected to face such a threat and couldn’t conceive an immediate answer.
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That said, they were people too. They required rest. Getting a brief change of pace when stuck at an impasse tends to help things go smoother after the fact. For this reason, they took a break, and Krähe used her free time to patrol the town, hoping it’d unravel her wound thoughts.
Our situation is dire, and evil is just outside our door. Meanwhile, Nerim’s memory consumption is at an all-time high. Arlos, what should we do…?
Krähe had considered retreating from the Southern Province. If they withdrew to Central, they could expect support from the Mystic Saint and prevent the worst-case scenario. But they couldn’t just abandon people in need. And it’d be delusional to even consider bringing everyone back to Central.
Either way, Krähe needed to stay here.
If only I could abandon everything and run away with Nerim. Wicked thoughts dominated her mind, wrenching a wry smile out of Krähe at the realization her true feelings were surprisingly weak and pitiful for someone serving in such an esteemed role as Inquisitor.
Then she heard it…the faint cries for help.
Е n u m a
“Somebody! Help! HELP MEEEEEE!”
“…Oh no!”
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Krähe took off running like the wind. The cries for help came from quite a distance, but that was no hindrance to her. Before long, she came to a stop in one corner of the mazelike city.
The scene of distress seemed to be taking place at the end of a poorly lit alleyway. She heard the unceasing cries for help and something being hit. Someone was likely being assaulted by a thug, and there was a chance the victim was seriously injured, so she needed to rescue them as soon as possible.
If someone is suffering, it’s the duty of Qualia’s soldiers to save them. The same applied to an Inquisitor like Krähe.
She dashed as carefully and quickly as her feet would carry her through the dark alleyway. Soon she was upon the scene where several men surrounded someone.
Е̇ n û ṁa
“What are you doing?!” she roared, though she did not draw her sword. She deemed it too extreme to wield her blade for a citizen’s quarrel. Of course, should their actions require it, she wouldn’t hesitate, but Krähe wouldn’t lack in a fight against a normal person even without her sword.
However…
“Stop!”
She became extremely wary of the hair-raising strangeness of the situation. First, all of the ruffians who’d turned around at her shout had dead, vacant eyes and were mumbling something under their breath as foam dribbled from their mouths.
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Second, there was something strange about the victim’s attire. He seemed to be dressed like a street performer and not the type seen around these parts. Her eyes were especially drawn to his lanky and gangly body.
Lastly…
Е̊n üṁ ă
“Oooh! It’s one of Qualia’s Lady Clergy! I’m saved!”
The man rose to his feet without a sound, casting a long shadow. Despite having just been beaten, he stood as if nothing had happened at all. He dragged his hawkish gaze over her, a devilish glint in his dark eyes.
“Who are you…?” Krähe moved on instinct. She braced her knees and placed her dominant hand on the hilt of her sword. She sucked in a small breath and sent strength throughout her body.
“I’m Vittorio. Gleeful Spin Doctor Vittorio, at your service.”
The man executed a respectful bow. His perfected gesture seemed almost theatrical and lacked sincerity.
Yes, I know without you telling me. I know without conversing.
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There was only one explanation for who the man in front of her was—to his skin-crawling appearance.
“I am Vittorio—from MYNOGHRAAAAAAAA!”
Lastly…was the strong evil presence emanating from him.
The archnemesis of the forces of good had suddenly shown up right in front of her.
“O Lord our maker! Grant my sword the strength to defeat evil!”
The flash of her sword was faster and sharper than any other. Her Holy Sword Artes, honed through constant training, did not allow even an ounce of evil to exist. She ruthlessly tries to harvest lives according to God’s will. In terms of ability, it was an attack on par with a High Paladin’s. If she were up against a normal spawn of evil, her blow would’ve ended everything before her opponent knew what hit them.
E nu mа̂
Yes, if only she were up against a normal spawn of evil. Unfortunately for her, she was facing someone who strode right past normal in more than a few dozen ways.
…It’s also true that the sudden appearance of an enemy shook her. And it was also a fact that her inner turmoil clouded the sword she drew at the speed of light.
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Still…
“Nuuuuuuuuuooooooooo! Emergency Evasion!”
The man dodged Krähe’s attack with strange, twisting movements that were almost inhuman—not even the supernatural could move like that. Krähe was momentarily stunned that her killing blow had missed its mark. But she didn’t put everything into that one hit. Since her opponent lost his balance, she concentrated her strength to deliver the fatal blow on her return swing.
However…
Е ň um̈a . і̀d́
“Stop! STOOOOOOP! Wait up, young lady! Halt! Cease! Puh-lease! Stop right there, fierce young lady!”
Her blade sliced the air. It’s not that she missed, it’s that she couldn’t land a hit.
Krähe distanced herself from her opponent after her second full-strength attack missed. Even she didn’t know whether she withdrew to better gauge his strength or to call for help. Whatever the case, she’d given this man called Vittorio a chance to speak.
“Hee, hee, haaa, haa, I’m fwagged… I’ve never screamed so loud my entire life,” Vittorio panted out.
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“Any last words?”
Krähe came across strong, but she was unsure how to deal with him. Her opponent had named himself a member of Mynoghra, the nation ruled by the King of Ruin, who’d devastated Amrita and its surroundings. And in support of his own words, the evil aura that oozed from him was too strong and bone-chilling for him to classify as a mere scout or vanguard. Krähe found it hard to believe that Mynoghra’s evil had reached this city, but she couldn’t refute that they had already taken possession of several towns and villages while she had her hands tied here.
W̃ éb̌ n o v̄ еl Е n úm̂ а̇
In other words, their encounter was inevitable.
But she never expected she’d be forced to fight for her life in a place like this before she even had the chance to mentally prepare herself. Krähe’s breaths came fast and shallow from nervousness as she worried about Nerim back at base camp.
However, contrary to her fighting resolve, the situation unfolded in a different direction.
“I surrender! Waving the white flag here! Have mercy! Please show me overwhelming merccccccccccy!!”
The man—her would-be enemy, Vittorio, suddenly threw himself down on the ground, prostrating before her as he begged for mercy. It would be easy to cleave his head from his body with her sword as he desperately pressed it to the dirty ground. Though she faced the spawn of evil, she erupted with anger and confusion at his pathetic display.
“Hogwash!”
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She didn’t know what else to shout. She’d never seen someone take such a bizarre course of action before. It’d be a tad harsh to chalk her reaction up to a lack of experience. After all, her opponent was the Gleeful Spin Doctor—the master of wheedling and undermining through nonsense.
“I surrender! I shan’t run nor hide! I’ll let you tie me up! I’ll go peacefully, so please, let me talk it out with you fair and squaaaaare!”
“…Huh?” Krähe squeaked in a high-pitched voice. She was incapable of any other reply. Her mind blanked because she never expected him to say that.
If her opponent was putting on this charade to get an opening in her defenses, then Krähe would’ve been dead as a nail right then. But that’s not what happened. For of all the misfortunes to befall someone, she had to have Vittorio as her opponent…
“I’m anti-violence, you see?”
Vittorio grinned as carefree as can be. Krähe froze stiffer than a statue on the receiving end of Vittorio’s overly eager and innocent gaze. While she was rendered speechless, Vittorio took that opportunity to advocate his case, seemingly used to people reacting like she had.
W̌ е b n̊ оv̇ ê l Е.n um̂ а̌
“You will accept my surrender, won’t you? According to your religious teachings, God values dialogue, not violence!”
All reason told her to take up her sword.
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Her heart screamed at her to cut down evil.
The faith within her argued she shouldn’t listen to this man’s words.
But…
“The Teachings of the Holy God Arlos, chapter 4, verse 4 of the second great book: ‘The Holy God has gathered the people and said thus: avoid violence and do not point your blade at those who have chosen to surrender. Even if they are a sinner.’ In other words, this law established by the Holy God Arlos forbids his believers from harming those who surrender.”
E núm ă
Aaah, the spawn of evil speaks of God’s law. Is there anything more hopeless than this?
“Am I wrong? Dame Krähe Imlerith of the Qualia Inquisitors?”
The hands of evil had already closed in around her before she could do anything about it.
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