Chapter 66

"What... a person...?"

In the darkness, what appeared was indeed humanoid. No, it was almost certainly human.

The fact that it had been sealed in a wooden box was puzzling, but more concerning was the fact that it had emerged from the box after receiving the blessing from Bishop Levious.

Surely, they weren't stuffing injured or seriously ill people into such boxes.

"Wh-what!?"

Thud, thud.

Not only the box that Bishop Levious had blessed, but people were also rising from the other boxes scattered around.

Damn, wasn't that a targeted spell? No, I'm ignorant about magic, but normally, wouldn't a prayer and incantation like that be aimed at a single target?

The number was six.

Six bodies... no, six people? Either way, six more unknown and presumed hostile forces had appeared. It was too unusual to simply dismiss them as ordinary humans. It was more likely that they possessed some special abilities.

"I cannot allow anyone to interfere until this miracle is completed."

"Bishop, this way."

Whether addressing the six who had risen or me, Bishop Levious spoke and then slowly turned around.

Shupoor seemed to be following the bishop as well. The gaze through the helmet felt dull and piercing.

"Wait!"

Damn, he's trying to run! I won't let him get away after all this.

I had intended to go help Kurni, but the situation had changed. If I let Bishop Levious escape, all our actions would be in vain. I didn't need to hurt or kill him, but I had to at least incapacitate and capture him.

"Wh-what!?"

The six people blocked my path as I tried to run.

Their movements were slow, not at all like those of well-trained individuals. I could easily break through. That's what I thought and planned to run through them.

But my feet stopped.

One of them, approaching with unsteady steps, had dull blue hair and a face that looked too much like Mui.

"No way...?"

I had anticipated it.

Bishop Levious, who dealt with those who could die without issue or the dead, and the miracle of resurrection described in the Sphen religion's scriptures.

I had suspected that he was using magic to desecrate the dead.

But this.

This was too much.

"Damn you...!"

A dirty word slipped out of my mouth.

I couldn't sense any life in the six approaching. They didn't appear to be alive. They were just being remotely controlled corpses. It was a state that didn't feel strange at all.

"Teacher, we're done... what...?"

"Teacher! We won... what's this?"

Fissel and Kurni, who had been fighting the knights, now ran over to me.

It seemed both Fissel and Kurni had won their battles, which was a relief. Kurni was sweating profusely, indicating a fierce battle. It was a good sign that the still-developing Kurni had won a direct human confrontation.

However, even they were speechless at the abnormality before them.

The best course of action for me now was to ignore the six and go after Bishop Levious. Logically, that was clear.

The movements of the six who had emerged from the boxes were slow. Anyone with even a little athletic ability could easily outmaneuver them.

Meanwhile, the sound of Bishop Levious's footsteps was getting farther away. Quick decision-making was crucial. I had to act fast or it would be too late.

But.

But.

"Both of you, step back. I'll take care of them."

Me, Fissel, and Kurni.

Considering the three of us.

The one who had to thrust a sword into their chests was me.

"..."

There were no words from them as they moved again. They were probably just following Bishop Levious's orders, obstructing us.

"I'll put them to sleep again. ...I won't ask for forgiveness."

I readied my sword to face the approaching six.

If asked who was to blame, it would undoubtedly be Bishop Levious. Fissel, Kurni, and I were just caught in the crossfire.

I wouldn't have been involved in such a request if I hadn't heard the story from Lucy and Ibroi. The same went for my former apprentices.

But the situation had taken a bad turn.

The resurrection miracle was likely incomplete. Bishop Levious had used this half-baked miracle to ensure his escape.

Even if it had been complete, it probably wouldn't have been forgivable. I'm not a follower of any religion, but as someone who makes a living with a sword, I can't claim to be completely detached from matters of life and death.

Especially when the opponents are ordinary people I don't know. The psychological burden of cutting down someone who can't speak, even if they are already dead, is too much to place on the young Fissel and Kurni. They are different from mere monsters.

"---!"

I took a deep breath and charged into the crowd of former humans.

The first one.

I cut down a young man with brown hair, still retaining some childishness.

The second one.

I cut down a well-built older man, likely in his early old age.

The third one.

I cut down a young woman with a childlike face.

The fourth one.

I cut down a middle-aged woman with long flowing hair.

The fifth one.

I cut down a clearly young boy.

---The sixth one.

I cut down a woman around the age of becoming an adult, with dull blue hair.

There was no death cry. They probably didn't even realize they had been cut down. They were just souls that had been forcibly called back from a distant place.

Still, there was no denying that I had cut down six innocent civilians. Even if they were once people who had already lost their lives.

"...I'll go after him. He can't have gone far."

"Y-yes, sir!"

What kind of face am I making now? What kind of tone am I using to speak?

I probably don't show this side to my apprentices. It's a good thing it's night. Fissel and Kurni are still young. I shouldn't burden them with the unpleasantness of an angry middle-aged man.

But as I said, Bishop Levious can't have gone far. With his build, even if he ran at full speed, I and my apprentices would probably be faster. Letting him escape now would make everything a waste.

I'm sorry to the knights I cut down, but I didn't kill them, so they should be able to manage on their own.

No, Kurni and Fissel are here. This is---

"Kurni, go get the Lebelio Knights. I want to secure and preserve the scene."

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Fissel, you and I will go after Bishop Levious. I don't know the way, so I'll leave the details to you."

"...Understood."

There's no need for all of us to chase Bishop Levious. It's also important to properly handle the sudden battlefield in front of the quiet church.

I'll leave the scene to the Lebelio Knights. Fissel and I should be enough to chase him.

After giving instructions and getting their agreement, I immediately started running.

I don't know what they're thinking right now. But from their reactions, they must be somewhat confused.

First, I need to give them a clear goal to stop their minds from being overwhelmed by confusion. We all have our roles to play right now.

As I ran,

I felt like the dull blue-haired woman I had cut down was looking at me with hollow eyes.