Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 197

§ 197. Sigismund Order (6)

The place where the giant type 4 demon species swept over was extremely cruel.

The ground was layered with scratches from the roots of the magic tree, and the black, eroded corpses of people and horses were lying everywhere. Despite extensive purification, the bodies were shriveled to the point where identification was impossible.

The Wolf Knights roughly collected them, buried them in the ground, and began the task of salvaging useful items from the broken wreckage.

Fortunately, unlike the creatures whose lives were completely stolen, most of the items on top were intact other than physical damage.

The work of the Wolf Knights accelerated as they additionally rescued some of the horses that had escaped to the outskirts and a couple of unbroken wagons.

Thanks to this, they were able to complete all settlements and depart for Sigismund Range two days after Seongjin’s group left.

“Lord Valerie.”

Sir Ilma, who had been organizing the ranks by going back and forth between the knights and carts, slowed down his horse and approached the Inquisitor once he had finished organizing things to a certain extent.

“I will tell the drivers to take turns watching. So, how about taking a little rest?”

Currently, Valerie was keeping an eye on one of the wagons.

There were about a dozen prisoners crumpled up there, most likely remnants of the Penitent Church.

“As soon as we arrive at Sigismund Territory, the knights will take care of handing them over to the church.”

Then the Inquisitor shook his head.

“Thank you, Sir Ilma. They will be transported to the Imperial Heresy Tribunal. “It would be a little troubling if a hasty summary judgment occurred in the church there.”

“… … .”

“I will personally hand them over to the guards and receive them intact when I return.”

A firm expression of intention not to hand over disposal authority to the Margrave.

Lord Ilma did not question him further. This is because I assumed that there was something complicated going on.

Although she did not receive a separate explanation from Orden, she, too, had recently sensed the subtle aura of discord flowing between the head of the family and the archduke.

“Anyway, it’s surprising that they survived in the middle of that demonic energy. “The area around the campsite was completely withered, with not a single blade of grass left.”

“Isn’t the fact that they remain unharmed even amidst the demon race’s rampage strong evidence that they are devil worshippers?”

“okay. But is this level of restraint okay? If you even try to commit suicide… … .”

Although they were close to death, they might do something extreme if they realized that they were being dragged to the Inquisition.

Then the red-haired Inquisitor smiled.

“The Church of Penitence does not fear the torture of the Inquisition. Rather, they will be willing to endure the pain. “This is the only advantage of the Penitent Order.”

Valerie explained that they believe that suffering is the only way to repent and the ultimate path to being embraced by the Lord.

As he said, Lord Ilma looked a little tired as he looked at the prisoners whose bodies were covered in scars and wounds.

“It’s a doctrine that no one in their right mind can follow.”

“Aren’t they the ones who serve the devil, who loves human sin and misfortune, as a god? So, it’s not something I can understand why they do such crazy things.”

It was right then.

“… You dirty apostates! “Who does Ethan dare to frame?”

Flashing.

One of the prisoners opened his eyes wide and scolded. It was Belinda, the parish president.

Even though she had lost a lot of her life force from the Demon Tree and was becoming extremely thin, her eyes were burning brightly as she glared at Valerie.

“Shame on you, you evil things! Heretics! “You are sinners who betrayed the Lord who sacrificed everything for this world!”

Due to the sudden commotion, everyone in the group unconsciously listens to Belinda’s voice.

Ethan, who are you calling a heresy now?

“Look at the evidence of that ugly sin! You have forgotten the main lord, and according to your own taste, you have elevated a worthless human being into a new god named saint! They also made their images into sculptures and scattered them across the continent, praising and worshiping them instead of the gods. But how can this not be called heresy?”

Even though the prisoner was shouting that he would be punished right in front of him, Sir Valerie was just smiling with an at ease look on his face.

In the end, Lord Ilma came forward and scolded him in a stern voice.

“Be careful with your words and actions! Adults receive only the courtesy and respect they deserve as adults. He is not held up as a god.”

Then Belinda glared at her with glossy eyes and gritted her teeth.

“Can you guarantee? Can you swear that you have never once made a wish to the demons named saint? “Are you sure deep in your heart that you are not looking for an easy name to call on behalf of the Lord?”

“I’ve never… … .”

“Do not lie! Know your sins, you apostate!”

It was so reckless that I couldn’t communicate at all.

Who on earth do devil worshipers call the devil?

Sir Ilma hoped that this blasphemous and unscrupulous man would quickly shut up, but for some reason, Sir Valery listened quietly and then quietly asked a question.

“Then the reason you summoned the Demon Beast to this land was to punish us apostates?”

Then Belinda glared at him with a laughable expression and then snorted.

“I can clearly see your shallowness. But there’s nothing we can’t deal with! Yes!”

He admitted that it was the Church of Repentance that summoned the Demon Beast.

“But why was it a campground at the top of Milo? “Thanks to you, your friend wasn’t caught up in the unfortunate event?”

“what?”

“I mean Milo Sangju. “Isn’t he also your brother who worships the same god?”

“What? “Aaaah!”

At Sir Valerie’s words, Belinda began to scream, almost in a fit, with sparks flying in her eyes.

“dare! dare! “How dare you bring that apostate who deserves to be torn to death against our brothers!”

“Isn’t it?”

“That makes sense! From the beginning his contribution to our plan was only a small part! He couldn’t even do that properly, so he ended up being executed by our hands! Do you understand?”

And from her mouth, words of unpleasant curses towards Milo Sang-ju poured out for a long time.

“You’re the one who will do shit even if you die! How could that filthy apostate even guess our noble [preparation]! “A great cause for which brothers of all denominations have prepared with all their heart for many years!”

“… Spare?”

When Sir Ilma, who was listening, unconsciously asked a question, Belinda straightened her back and shouted proudly at her.

“Yes. Now, listen carefully! In order to reclaim the name of the main god, our brothers… … !”

Right then.

“Oh my gosh!”

Pow!

At the sudden blow of the Inquisitor’s fist, the vicar rolled his eyes and fell back.

In his weakened state, a light blow to the face was enough to cause him to lose consciousness. As the attention of the entire Wolf Knights, including Sir Ilma, was focused, Sir Valery shrugged his shoulders as if he were embarrassed.

“We didn’t try to get them to open their mouths after being tortured, but we tried to listen to what they had to say. “But it’s all just nonsense.”

It’s a lot noisier than I thought. ha ha ha.

With everyone quiet, only the Inquisitor’s empty laughter echoed in the air.

* * *

After a skiing skirmish on a snowy mountain.

Seongjin, whose feet were numb, calmly returned to the carriage with the two people.

“This was truly unintentional, Lord Martha. “It was just an unfortunate accident that happened because I’m not very good at ‘shunishuhe.’”

Seongjin carefully made an excuse while watching Masain’s thoughts. But surprisingly, Masain didn’t nag Seongjin much.

I simply straighten the winter clothes that have become disheveled from rolling in the snow, and shake off the snow that has settled on the winter clothes on their heads.

But if he looked alright, to be honest, his face looked as if it had been shaved for at least ten years.

-I don’t expect much from you anymore. Just please don’t die suddenly like before.

Come to think of it, did he ever say that to Seongjin?

It seems like he has decided to give up on what he has to give up, but that part made Seongjin feel even more uncomfortable.

Rather, it was Orden who gave Seongjin a stern warning.

“Lowering! The influence of the Demonic Sutra is very strong in this area. No one knows when and what kind of accident will occur. Please consider Sigismund’s position in inviting you here!”

“hmm… … .”

Seongjin reflected deeply in his heart.

Sheesh, I can’t believe I’m getting nagged by someone like Orden. Even though I’m angry, I have to be more self-respecting from now on.

“Oh! “But I saw a very big wolf in the forest.”

Masain looked surprised next to me, but I guess that’s all over now.

Seongjin decided to prioritize his curiosity.

“I’m not sure if it’s actually a wolf. “In some ways, it seems like he was a wolf dog.”

Seongjin spread his arms wide open to Orden, assessing the size of ‘Max’.

“So, roughly speaking, this is it? “Are there many big wolves like that nearby?”

Then Orden’s expression became strange.

“The wolf… “You mean?”

“It was that big, how could it possibly be? “I’m sure you saw it wrong.”

Hermann, who was listening to their conversation from the side, intervened.

“Unless it is something like the Lycan Slope of the Demon Lord, it is of an absolutely impossible size.”

“Then what about wolf dogs?”

“It’s not that different from a wolf dog. “Wolf dogs are often used as hunting dogs in the Sigismund Territory, but in all my years of age, I have never seen a dog of that size.”

Hey Max. You say you don’t lie, you bastard?

How on earth did this happen? uh?

“Then, other than the dogs raised on the estate, are there any dogs that found their home in the wild?”

When Seongjin asked with a shocked expression, Hermann shook his head resolutely.

“Sometimes wolfdogs are created through self-breeding, but such cases are extremely rare. Even if they do exist, in most cases they become completely wild and join a wolf pack. By now, it would have moved to northern Ortona with other wolves.”

hmm. That’s right.

Seongjin thought for a moment and then asked the last and most important question.

“By the way, Hermann. “How different are Sigismund’s wolf-dogs from ordinary dogs?”

“yes?”

“So, just in case, just in case… … .”

“… … ?”

“hmm. How smart are you? For example, just talking to the owner… … .”

Then Hermann smiled warmly at Seongjin, like a grandfather looking down on his immature grandchild.

“Talk to your dog. It’s a very romantic story. “You truly love animals.”

“… … .”

“Haha, everyone imagines something like that at least once when they’re young.”

… An ordinary wolf dog is a piece of shit.

Max, you cheater!

Before the next afternoon, Seongjin and his party were finally able to arrive at Sigismund Range. It was a territory formed in a huge basin surrounded by low mountains.

When they arrived in front of the gate, the security forces were mobilized to greet Seongjin and his group. They recognized Orden, who was in the lead, and let the group in right away without any further confirmation procedures.

‘… ‘The territory is bigger than I thought?’

When the carriage stopped just inside the gate, Seongjin stuck his head out the window and looked around.

I thought it was a completely rural village, but the entire basin was a fairly large estate filled with houses.

Due to the nature of the climate, there were not many rice fields within the territory, giving it a slightly urban atmosphere.

‘And it’s cold…’ … .’

Even though it is late summer, the weather in Yeongji is already winter.

The heavily trafficked floor had already melted snow and was all muddy, but the roof of the building was still covered in white snow.

“Sir Sebastian!”

Orden got off his horse first and quickly walked towards the man who seemed to be in charge.

“Have you had any trouble, Grand Duke?”

The man greeted Orden with a gentle smile.

Guard Captain, Sebastian Battel.

Even at a glance, it was clear that he was as strong as Sir Ilma, the leader of the Wolf Knights.

If Lord Ilma had the force of sharp fangs that could bite at any moment, the guard captain was giving off a heavy and static force as if he were a huge mountain.

“okay. Ah, the Wolf Knights stayed behind because they had some business to take care of.”

“I heard the news. “I will take you straight to the Count’s residence so that you can relieve the fatigue of your long journey.”

After saying that, the guard captain led all the guards and approached Seongjin’s carriage.

He then placed his hand on his chest and showed impeccable manners.

“I meet the Third Prince of the Holy Empire. “It is an infinite honor to be able to serve you like this.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

But the moment his eyes met, Seongjin felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Have I ever seen this person?

Why does it feel so familiar?

fantasy,