Ch 187
“I can’t believe it…”
Pilgrim Chender uttered pure admiration.
It was an impression of the situation that had been completely concluded with the death of High Priest Dedof.
White Shadow Cult.
The identity of that group, which worships demons and seeks negativity, was thoroughly veiled.
Nevertheless, Chender concluded that they were High Priests of the White Shadow Cult.
Demon Worshippers with that level of power were absolutely rare.
“To think their scheme would be so easily stopped…”
It is extremely rare for the High Priests of the White Shadow Cult to join forces.
And, most of those extremely rare cases result in tragedies too terrible to speak of.
For example, there was a case where the alliance of two High Priests put a city at risk of destruction.
Thanks to the actions of the heroes and the friction that occurred between the High Priests, fortunately, the destruction ended as a crisis-
Nevertheless, the city suffered irreversible damage and began to decline.
The situation Bondales faced until recently was not much different from that.
But such an ending.
Chender still couldn’t understand why he was here.
I mean━ how he got here.
It is absolutely not easy to accurately find a specific target hidden in a corner of a large city.
Even if they just hide in a remote place, finding them requires a vast amount of time and manpower.
What if that specific target is a high-ranking figure in a demon-worshipping group?
Chender recalled the mechanisms that guarded the High Priest’s Secret Location.
The complex alleyway leading to the Secret Location was protected by a clever Barrier-
And the Barrier was guarded by a lower demon.
Furthermore, at the end of it all, what awaited was a complex Maze created through intricate Astrology.
Chender thought about it.
If using the Orthodox Method-
That is, if he had tried to track down the High Priest with ordinary manpower and Ability, how long would it have taken?
He probably would have had to count the units in days, not hours.
It was enough time for Bondales to be swallowed by Confusion.
But.
He, who had set out to track them down, had arrived at this place in the blink of an eye.
‘That’s why…’
Chender came to understand the High Priests’ position.
He chuckled and muttered.
“I thought they were fools.”
“Are you talking about those two High Priests?”
Duke Pallag responded, and the Conversation continued as is.
“Yes. That much power. Moreover, since they are demon worshippers, they must have been skilled at deceiving others. But, to be played in the Palm of that young Man, causing internal strife and driving each other to mutual destruction. A miserable end befitting a demon worshipper. That’s what I thought at first.”
“And now?”
“…Looking back, I realized that even if I were in their position, I would have been tricked in the same way. Who would have thought that he would have broken through that strict Guard, in that short amount of time, using the Orthodox Method.”
Chender’s complex and subtle Gaze turned to Lisir.
“To tell you my True Feelings, there is a huge difference between your method and the method I pursue. Even in this Situation, I still have doubts about your method, so you could say I’m truly Stubborn.”
Pilgrim Chender, wandering the Continent with the Divine Power he possesses, eradicating negativity and helping the Weak.
From his perspective of pursuing Honor, Lisir’s Plan was something he could not accept.
No matter how much it was for the sake of the Plan, to impersonate a demon worshipper and use that Deception to cause internal strife among the enemies.
If a Subordinate had proposed such a Plan, Chender would have almost had a fit.
“However.”
Haa.
Chender took a Breath and then looked at Lisir again.
“I must admit what must be admitted. I pay my respects. The fact that there are no casualties among us is entirely thanks to your Plan.”
“A Plan cannot be established unless it is supported by execution. I, too, express my Gratitude to everyone here.”
“Hmm…!”
Chender’s eyes sparkled.
He was lost in thought for a moment.
Should he be surprised that he has that much Ability at such a young age?
Or should he be surprised that despite having that much Ability at such a young age, he has a modest Personality that is different from other Nobles of the same age?
There was a clear change in Chender’s Attitude towards Lisir.
He continued the story in a more favorable tone than before.
“By the way, since when have you been aware of their movements?”
“Yes?”
“There’s no need to be modest. That cunning and exquisite Scheme! How could you come up with something like that on the spot! Surely, you must have noticed their Plan and movements a long time ago. Even their shallow Relationship! Yes. They were being played in your Palm from the beginning. You must have been waiting for this moment. The moment when their Plan goes wrong and cracks appear in their shallow trust!”
Chender’s mind still vividly remembered it.
Lisir.
The way he impersonated a comrade of the demon worshippers as if he had been waiting for it.
How much would he have to assume such a Situation and practice to produce such natural Acting as if he were breathing!
“Ah, that. Actually, it was a Plan I came up with on the spot.”
“…On the spot?”
That Plan.
That Acting, came out on the spot?
He toyed with the High Priests of the White Shadow Cult with a Plan and Acting that came out on the spot?
At that time, one thought suddenly came to Chender’s mind.
What if.
What if this Man had gone down the wrong Path?
“I’m really grateful that you’re walking the Right Path…”
“?”
Lisir could only tilt his head at Chender’s actions, who suddenly let out a deep sigh of relief.
✦✦✦
Lisir’s Party, having finished the cleanup at the High Priests’ Base, returned to their Base.
“Halona! You’ve come to your senses!”
“…Yes. Thanks to you.”
Those who had awakened from the Nightmare welcomed Lisir’s Party.
Lisir began to check on their condition, including Halona.
At that time.
Lisir’s Expression was serious.
Dray’s Expression was somewhat not good.
“Duke Dray? Is there perhaps any problem?”
“…No. It’s nothing, but for some reason, I feel like I’m the only one who lost out━ I’m feeling quite wronged right now.”
“Yes? Lost out?”
“I. Could it be that I woke up from the Nightmare too early?”
“?”
“I heard it from Halona. I heard that you saved people in the dream?”
“Ah, yes… well… it just happened that way… is there any problem with that…”
“I didn’t see it.”
“Yes?”
“The sight of you defeating the demons in the dream… and the sight of the demons who met you being confused…!”
Only me!
Dray shouted and covered his face with his Palm.
“Only I didn’t see it…! I woke up too early for nothing…!!!”
Dray was truly feeling wronged.
‘Is this person… really becoming strange because of me?’
Lisir was genuinely dumbfounded.
He tried to ignore Dray and checked on the condition of the others.
“Ah…!”
Then, there was someone who recognized his face and approached him.
It was Sheila, a Woman from Chender’s Party.
Sheila approached Lisir as if possessed and quietly stared at his face.
Soon, she muttered.
“Master…?”
“Yes?”
“Could it be that I’m still dreaming? Or━”
“Sheila. Calm down. The Nightmare is over.”
Chender, realizing Sheila’s strangeness, immediately came over and calmed her down.
Even in the midst of that, Sheila’s Gaze was fixed on Lisir.
“He was a real person…?”
It was Sheila’s quiet mutter.
“Hmm…”
Lisir’s Expression became complicated.
Chender watched his Nunchi and said.
“I’m sorry, Lord Lisir. It seems that this Child is still not in her right Mind.”
“Yes? Ah! No. It’s not that━”
After Lisir organized his thoughts, he let out a small Chuckle.
“What should I say. To go into other people’s dreams and run wild.━ I feel like I’ve distanced myself from being a normal Human? It’s just, I had that thought for a moment.”
“Lisir.”
Duke Pallag came over and patted Lisir on the shoulder.
He said with a kind Smile.
“You don’t have to worry about such things.”
“Ah! Duke Pallag! Thank you for comforting me━”
“Even if that weren’t the case, you were already far from the category of a normal Human.”
“…”
It was then.
“Ugh…!”
“Ms. Halona!?”
Halona staggered greatly and collapsed to the floor.
The aftermath of the Nightmare remained in her body in the form of Fatigue.
Lisir exchanged glances with Pallag and Chender and said.
“For now, shall we disband here? It seems like everyone needs rest.”
✦✦✦
Afterwards.
Lisir, who returned to his room with Klana-
“Klana!?”
He shouted urgently.
Klana, whose condition had been strange since her contact with the High Priest.
She collapsed on the sofa as soon as she returned to her room.
“…”
Snoring.
Only then did Lisir finally let go of his Worry at the quiet Breath he heard.
He picked up Klana’s body and moved her to the bed.
“Come to think of it━ I couldn’t do it after all. The Sparring Match. I couldn’t even ask Halona about Klana’s condition.”
Lisir smiled bitterly and shook his head.
‘Well, it can’t be helped. That commotion suddenly happened.’
Not everything always goes as planned.
He couldn’t do anything-
He didn’t gain anything-
But for now, let’s be thankful that he didn’t lose anything.
After organizing a series of events in that way, Lisir tried to lie down on the sofa.
“Master!”
“Oh? Ber?”
There was someone blocking his way.
It was a Sand Spirit whose Expression was so full of Energy that he couldn’t fathom its intentions.
“Why, isn’t it time to sleep yet? Shall we rest a little longer?”
“!!!”
The Crybaby Spirit shook its head violently and opened its mouth ‘ah’.
Thud.
Something that came out of the Crybaby Spirit’s mouth fell to the floor.
“Huh? What is it? Tonsil stones?”
Lisir bent down and picked it up.
And the moment he brought it to his eyes to check-
“Huh?”
Its shape collapsed and was absorbed into Lisir’s body as it was.
Lisir looked down at his body with a bewildered face.
✦✦✦
『Acquired a new Skill!』
『Skill: Embracing Nightmare』
✦✦✦
That day-
The Nightmare that covered Bondales through the High Priest’s Ritual was targeting the strong.
But.
Some of the strong, including Frozen Breath Pallag, were able to be free from the Nightmare.
Because they possessed such great power that the indiscriminately scattered Nightmare could not dare to encroach upon them.
But that night.
The Nightmare came to them too.
The Nightmare, which had a higher level, indiscriminately encroached on them-
Furthermore, it found the fundamental Anxiety that they had kept deep within them.
They often thought about a certain Man.
What if.
What if this Man had gone down the wrong Path?
“Lisir…?”
Now, that possibility has become a reality and unfolded before their eyes.
The World was engulfed in flames.
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