How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Key (3)

Splash.

The monster’s body slowly collapsed.

“Hmm.”

As expected, it’s not easy to decapitate it with a single blow. Along the mouth that was split vertically, not horizontally, the oddly shaped neck bones were dangling, half broken.

Crunch.

I lifted my foot and crushed the monster’s neck bones, glancing at the cross-section.

Even considering the size and direction of the mouth, there’s no esophagus or trachea. Such a crudely formed experimental subject.

I stepped back slightly, avoiding the thick green blood gushing out of the twitching monster, and wiped the blood off my sword.

A sword plated with Holy Silver.

One of the items that Support Head Barok reluctantly, or rather pretended to be reluctant, readily gave me.

It’s not as valuable as weapons made entirely of Holy Silver, but it’s quite useful when dealing with these low-grade magical beasts.

Thanks to this, there was no need to waste Holy Power in such a useless place.

Of course, no matter how sharp the weapon is, it’s not easy to decapitate a bipedal monster a head taller than oneself.

You’d need to be able to wield a sword as freely as your own limbs and have the skill to imbue the weapon with mana accumulated through long training, like the knights. Or at least have invested a considerable amount of time in swordsmanship training.

“……”

In fact, I failed to completely and cleanly cut through the monster’s thick neck bones. I managed to break it in half, though.

Fortunately, my current skill is at least past the minimum threshold, enough to take the monster’s breath away.

Whether I inherited the talent of a knightly family, or the influence of basic swordsmanship training I received at the monastery like other Candidates, I don’t know for sure.

In any case, having more options is a good thing.

Whether it’s a sword, Demonic Energy, or Holy Power, they’re all good tools in the end.

‘By the way.’

I turned my gaze away from the completely motionless monster and looked up the mountain. This half-made monster is probably a failed experiment of the cult. That’s why they abandoned it so carelessly.

The nearest village from here is a full day’s ride on horseback. So, they probably thought that leaving this failed experiment on the mountain wouldn’t cause any problems.

This monster, lacking an esophagus and trachea, wouldn’t be able to function for more than a few hours at most.

‘The entrance must be nearby.’

I sheathed the blood-wiped sword and looked around.

Originally, I should wait for Sister Lephra here and then search with her.

However……

“You’re too late. It can’t be helped.”

Thanks to my fervent pursuit of these wicked heretics, I arrived a whole day earlier than the original meeting time.

It’s unavoidable if I want to carry out God’s solemn will as quickly as possible.

I nodded nonchalantly and slowly closed my eyes. As I took a deep breath and focused my mind, I began to sense things that are invisible to the ordinary eye.

The faint Demonic Energy floating in the air.

Seeing the world not with the eyes of this flesh, which has lived for less than twenty years, but with the eyes of a soul that has long reached the great realm.

Vision Field.

High-level magic that can only be cast by those who have broken through the walls in front of them and surpassed a certain level.

It excels at seeing through various barriers and protective shields.

Of course, even those who have completely mastered the magic require a tremendous amount of energy to activate it.

Ssst.

Not the Demonic Energy received from the demon, but the Holy Power dwelling within my body began to pulsate and flow out.

For me, who perfectly understands the Vision Field magic, it wasn’t difficult to twist and transform its circuit.

Wheeing.

A gust of wind blew, and a radiance slowly began to form above my head.

Goooo.

Not the crimson eyes that gleam with ominous green light, but transparent eyes that emanate sacred radiance blinked and appeared above my head.

It was a somewhat unstable completion due to not yet being able to handle Holy Power as perfectly as Demonic Energy, but this is enough for now.

It seemed that this half-baked cult wasn’t capable of casting black magic that could counter Vision Field, like Dsaris’ Black Curtain or Kehallan’s Red Fog.

“……”

A slight pain was felt as a tremendous amount of Holy Power flowed out due to the somewhat unstable operation.

Of course, as I did in the village graveyard, if I absorbed and gathered Demonic Energy, I could use the knowledge and black magic I possess more effectively.

However, Holy Power and Demonic Energy can never become one, and if two opposing forces are contained within a single human body, even I wouldn’t be safe.

That’s why I haven’t absorbed even a bit of Demonic Energy since the Holy Power that Anton Lebecht sent to test me settled in my body.

‘But that won’t be for much longer.’

If I obtain the artifact that sleeps here, I will be able to use both opposing forces.

The shining eyes in the air darted around, quickly scanning the entire Mount Pehern.

‘Ah.’

After about ten minutes.

I was able to find the barrier placed on a cave located halfway up the mountain. As expected, it’s not far from here.

I deactivated Vision Field and headed towards the entrance of the cave, overgrown with bushes, and carefully examined the transparent barrier.

A rather elaborate method. The key probably lies in the unique Demonic Energy manipulation method of the Bergecia cult’s black mages.

Perhaps, in the past, I would have easily followed their method and cleanly opened the barrier’s door.

But now, unable to handle Demonic Energy, I have to use a slightly different method.

‘Hmm.’

If you can’t make a key that fits the door, you just have to break the doorknob.

Ssst.

And now, I have the most effective power to destroy a spell made of Demonic Energy.

Whoosh!

The holy light emanating from my hand touched the empty air and flickered as if exploding. Then, black smoke began to rise as the Demonic Energy burned.

Sizzle.

It’s still impossible to break the entire barrier, but it’s possible to create a gap just large enough to squeeze through.

Twisting and breaking the Demonic Energy barrier, my will-infused Holy Power seeps through the torn gap.

And.

“……!”

Below the cave, underground. Past the long corridor and dozens of rooms.

The deepest part of the Bergecia cult.

Something is felt there.

Thump.

The something, sensing the presence of my Holy Power-infused soul, pulsed as if welcoming me.

The first artifact I left behind, the Artifact of the Rift.

I slowly opened my closed eyes and muttered softly.

“Found it.”

🔹🔹🔹

Thump.

“……!”

High Priest Godric of the Bergecia cult’s eyes widened.

The old man, staring ahead with an incredulous expression, had a mysteriously sparkling sphere emitting light in the air before him.

It was a truly mystical sight, but the old man was surprised for a different reason.

“Just now…… what was that?”

Something definitely happened.

Despite looking in a different direction, he clearly felt a surge of power from behind him. And what caused that something was undoubtedly this unknown object.

Crackle!

Thinking it might be dangerous, the old man brought his staff close to the object but quickly withdrew his hand after the sparks that flew out. He frowned and muttered.

“What in the world……”

They say curiosity killed the mage and the cat.

Even though he knew it was beyond his capabilities, Godric couldn’t stop his inquiry into this artifact. Perhaps it would bring him a future he couldn’t even dream of.

“The sacrifice is almost ready. Soon……”

He muttered, turning his gaze towards the altar, overflowing with a sinister aura. If he made a new contract with a higher-ranking demon, he would be able to get closer to this secret artifact.

At least, he believed so.

Burst!

Without the proper courtesy, his door suddenly burst open, and a black mage rushed in, panting heavily.

“You damn bastard……!”

As if to show that it was a half-baked cult that hadn’t been established for long.

High Priest Godric of Pehern glared at the black mage, who was panting and running in a vulgar manner, with angry eyes.

“Hi, High Priest-nim……!”

Does he have some urgent news to deliver? The old man frowned.

Alright, let’s hear it.

If what interrupted his thoughts was for a trivial reason, he would cut off the black mage’s limbs and throw him in as a sacrifice.

But the words that came out of his subordinate’s mouth were of a kind that the old man hadn’t expected at all.

“He, Heretic……”

“What?”

Has this guy gone mad from the side effects of black magic?

“Heretic, Inquisitor. An Inquisitor of Hesterica!”

After hearing the following words, the High Priest’s face contorted into a similar shape as the black mage who delivered the news.

🔹🔹🔹

Splish.

The woman moved her foot from the puddle of green blood that had temporarily pooled on the damp earth and raised her head.

“……”

In front of her, holding two rapiers in each hand, lay the corpses of at least nineteen hideous monsters.

As if determined not to be seen by anyone, she, clad in chainmail and a thick cloak covering her entire body, raised her hand and pulled her robe back down, which had become dishevelled from the short battle.

Inquisitor Lephra.

Recognized for her talent at a fairly young age, she quickly rose to the position of Inquisitor and was considered the most likely to become the youngest Chief Inquisitor.

“It’s about time they arrived……”

She seemed to be waiting for someone on Mount Pehern, where there were no signs of human life and only terrifying monsters roamed.

There are usually two types of people that an Inquisitor waits for.

The heretics they must punish, or fellow Inquisitors.

And what she was waiting for was the latter. The rookie Inquisitor named Luciel, who hadn’t shown up even though the time set by the Inquisition had passed.

“……He didn’t run away, did he?”

There were occasionally those kinds of people. Those who applied for the position of Inquisitor with their hearts filled with a shallow sense of justice.

But such people soon realize.

That the Inquisitors of this era, where evil is rampant, are far from the cool individuals who administer righteous justice.

Taking the lives of those who resist fiercely to the very end and those who curse the Inquisitors with hateful voices even as they die.

The Inquisitors of Hesterica even slaughter those who kneel and beg for mercy without batting an eye and set fire to them.

The work of those who follow God’s will is never humane.

‘He didn’t seem like the type to run away.’

She thought as she moved quickly.

He was brought in directly by Anton Lebecht. The child recommended by the one who captured and burned the most heretics among the Chief Inquisitors.

As if to prove it, the boy was the first to pass the test given to the Candidates.

Whoosh!

Lephra reached into her bosom and scattered the powder she took out of a small pouch into the air.

The sparkling powder then flowed slowly forward, defying the direction of the wind. The mountainside where a small cave was located.

After confirming the location once again, she quickly moved.

“……”

Arriving half a day early in Pehern, she searched all over the mountain without rest.

It was a tiring and tedious process, but she was quite skilled in this kind of tracking and eventually managed to find the place where traces of Demonic Energy remained.

“Wait.”

Carefully walking deeper into the cave with two rapiers in hand, Lephra stopped, sensing something strange.

Although she couldn’t be considered an expert in magic, she possessed a certain level of knowledge, befitting a competent Inquisitor.

Carefully halting her steps, Lephra began to examine the suspicious traces she felt ahead, and soon came to a conclusion.

Grit.

She gripped her rapiers, her jaw clenched, and a harsh sound escaped her lips.

The meaning of the traces left behind, not even attempting to hide, or rather, seemingly intended to inform her of his entry, was clear.

“This…… arrogant brat……!”

The rookie Inquisitor, Luciel, had already entered.

As if he didn’t need Lephra’s help, who had diligently rushed here to support the inexperienced Inquisitor, he had gone in alone without waiting for her.

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