Chapter 89

The day after I delivered Lamia, I sneaked into the church headquarters, having prepared everything.

I was gripping the rosary Lamia had given me.

With this, I could expose the true identity of the mastermind.

"But even at night, there are people around everywhere. It's better than during the day, though."

"Among the devout believers, there are those who come to pray after finishing their work. The church cannot be left empty... However, Sir Lloyed, are you here to confront the mastermind directly?"

"That will become clear soon enough."

As I responded to Jiriel, I ran through the darkness.

Thanks to the magic that blocked detection, no one noticed me, and I easily reached my destination.

It was the main hall, located at the very back of the church headquarters.

It was the residential area within that hall.

When I opened the door and stepped inside, an old man—the Pope—was sitting in the dim light.

"Oh, what a rare visitor."

The Pope greeted me with a gentle smile.

His profile, illuminated by the moonlight, slowly turned to face me.

"Good evening, Your Holiness."

"You are... yes, the boy who played as the opening act at the concert. Lloyed, wasn't it? What brings you here at such a late hour? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry, but it's urgent. ...Do you know about the recent disappearances caused by monsters in the city?"

At my words, the Pope's shoulders trembled.

But he quickly narrowed his eyes and put on a sad expression.

"Well... I don't know much, but it seems something terrible is happening."

"A few days ago, Iesha was kidnapped. I followed her trail to the sewers, where they were conducting research to combine monsters and humans."

"Such a heinous act, defying even the gods. It's a terrifying story."

"That's where I found this."

I took out the rosary I had hidden in my pocket.

The silver chain reflected the moonlight, shining brightly.

"It's something worn by people from the church. And it has a serial number, so I can find out who it belongs to."

"Perhaps, yes."

"Iesha was kidnapped right after the concert. The mastermind must have thought I was the one who defeated the monster possessing the priest. If you consider everything, the person who was at the church that day is the culprit. And you, being the Pope, should know who that person is, right?"

"Who could it be, I wonder?"

The Pope wore a smile that seemed like a mask.

A moment of silence followed.

"Enough of this nonsense!"

Suddenly, Jiriel spoke up.

As she did, my left hand glowed brightly, and a pair of wings extended from it.

The light took the form of an angel, Jiriel's true appearance.

"My name is the heavenly messenger, Jiriel! Pope—no, Gitan! Your evil deeds are already exposed! You can't talk your way out of this any longer!"

Jiriel glared at Gitan, calling him by his name, with a look of anger.

"This light... Could you be the Jiriel I heard about...?"

"Yes, it's been a long time, Gitan."

The two exchanged glances.

"It seems these two know each other."

"Probably because one taught the other sacred magic."

After years of training and being recognized by the angels, one can be granted sacred magic.

As the Pope, Gitan must have had the opportunity to learn it.

In fact, the only way he could have known Jiriel is through that.

"Ah! ...But why is Jiriel here...?"

"I'm here to condemn your evil deeds. The mastermind behind the incidents is you, Gitan! Confess!"

Gitan thought for a moment and then bowed, as if giving up.

"...Yes, you're right. I can't lie to you. I confess. Everything was done by me. Well done for figuring it out."

I was taken aback by Gitan's words.

What a surprise. He really was the mastermind.

I just thought that as the head of the church, the Pope might be able to identify the culprit from the rosary. I didn't expect to find the culprit right away.

"Sir Lloyed, to determine this person as the mastermind from such limited information is impressive. I thought he was from the church, but I couldn't pinpoint him. What was your reasoning?"

"Well, it's a secret."

I couldn't bring myself to say that I just came to ask and he confessed on his own.

"Hmph, my master, Lloyed, cannot be deceived. I don't know what drove you to such acts, but you must be judged by human law and repent."

"Sir Lloyed, let's capture him quickly."

"Sure, that's a good idea."

Since the culprit is identified, we can hand him over to Albert or someone similar.

With that in mind, I approached Gitan.

"...Lloyed, was it?"

Gitan suddenly spoke.

"What do you think of me, a servant of God, kidnapping people, capturing monsters, and creating new life?"

"..."

Was there any special reason other than curiosity?

Gitan continued with a self-mocking smile as I tilted my head.

"It's because I had doubts about the power of God. I was born in a poor farming village. I worked hard every day to survive. One day, thieves attacked the village and stole all our crops. Those who resisted were killed. My parents and young sisters were among them. The weak are taken and killed. Realizing this, I sought sacred magic and joined the church. I had seen with my own eyes how sacred magic could purify and reform evildoers. I thought that with this power, I could save the unsaved and protect myself. After joining the church, I worked hard and learned sacred magic. I became a priest and had a family. I was happy... until then. Haha."

Gitan's shoulders shook as he laughed.

"I will never forget the day five years ago when thieves broke into my home. They looked like they were struggling to find food, their cheeks sunken and ribs visible. I thought it was finally time to use sacred magic. To save the unsaved and protect myself... that's why I learned sacred magic. However, the purifying light did not reach him. I later learned that the purifying light can only reform evil hearts. Evil emotions are jealousy, anger, and contempt... such feelings. He had none of these. He was hungry, and when he saw food, he naturally tried to take it. It was a rational act... that's why it didn't work."

In other words, sacred magic eliminates negative emotions.

Conversely, it only works if the person has such emotions.

"The purifying light only heals the evil emotions defined by the scriptures."

"It doesn't work on people who are desperate or don't see their actions as evil."

A magic that only works on the 'evil' defined by the scriptures.

There are other magics that affect emotions, but they come with heavy restrictions.

Otherwise, one could manipulate others at will.

"The thief, thinking I had attacked him, stabbed my wife and children with a knife and fled. I tried to heal them with sacred magic, but they never woke up. The knife had pierced through the ribs and into the heart, causing instant death. I lamented. Oh, God! How powerless is your power! I hated and feared God. I wondered if even I, with such devotion and training, would be left without protection and die like my family."

"That's when you turned to the power of monsters."

"Exactly. I had always been interested in the extraordinary vitality of monsters. I started research to combine monsters and humans and create a new existence. After many years, a large amount of money, and precious sacrifices, it was finally completed...!"

Gitan's hand reached into his pocket.

Instantly, a tremendous heat burst from his withered body.

"What is this... Gitan! What are you planning to do!?"

"However, I can't let go of the position of Pope, so I will eliminate you by force."

Smoke billowed up.

Gitan's figure, enveloped in smoke, grew larger and larger.

When the smoke cleared—

It was a being that combined the features of various monsters.

While the base was human-like, it had four arms with sharp claws and a strong physique, a tough fur coat, insect-like compound eyes and a carapace, bird wings and a beak... and other features of various monsters.

"This is the ultimate being, combining the strengths of all monsters. How about we call it a 'divine monster'? Haha, hahaha...!"

Jiriel gasped at Gitan's muffled laughter.

"...What a monstrous form... Gitan, have you lost your humanity...!"

"Humanity is a trivial thing. Jiriel, it has been a long time. I will now depart from the path of humanity."

Gitan said this and gathered strength in his legs to leap.

His thighs, swollen to three times their size, were about to release—

"!?"

—But he couldn't leap.

I had created a barrier to contain Gitan.

"Sorry, but I have to immobilize you."

After all, that body is a collection of powerful magic.

To combine the features of monsters, it uses many unknown spells, woven and combined.

I want to examine its structure carefully.

"Boy, are you going to keep interfering...!"

Gitan glared at me with hatred.