The Priest of Corruption

“What do you want? Actually, let's save that conversation for later."

Releasing her. Pearly landed lightly on the ground, giggling.

“Why? Why not ask me now?"

I glanced at the Capels and the snow bats still causing chaos. Dealing with the current situation was more crucial than extracting information. Pearly's smile widened.

“You're so different! Unique! You're an evil god worshiper too, so why are you trying to save others?"

“Please return to the forest for now."

“You're so cold! Colder than the snow in the middle of winter..."

I had no interest in listening further. Leaving Pearly behind, I sprinted across the snow, the Butcher held high.

Whaaaaaang!

I leaped across the snow. A Capel's head fell, and steaming blood gushed out.

The snow bats were dangerous due to their size, but also light, so the guards managed to fend them off. The real issue was the Capels. As natural warriors, they were adept at

using their bodies as lethal weapons. The remaining Capels were now down to five, no, four.

Sajita's spear had just skewered one through the jaw. Dachia and Carmen were working on taking down the rest, so I targeted the largest remaining Capel.

The Capel's gaze locked onto me as he was about to strike a guard. When our eyes met, he bolted into the woods without a backward glance. I had no intention of letting him

escape. I switched the Butcher to my left hand and drew the Bone Sword with my right. I tightened my grip, and my muscles surged.

Whoosh.

The flying sword impaled the Capel's left leg. The monster lost its balance and tumbled to the ground. The Butcher let out a ravenous scream as I closed the gap.

Whaaaaaaaang!

Fresh blood splattered across the white snow. I wiped the blood off my face and surveyed the area.

The monsters were retreating. The enemy was incredibly tenacious and skilled, and blindly pursuing them would be risky. What I needed first was information.

I dragged the corpse of the Capel I had slain towards the merchant group. A Capel corpse was far more valuable than the snow bats. The guards dragged their weary bodies along to organize the corpses.

After assisting them with the clean-up, I glanced around and stealthily approached the section of forest where Pearly had appeared. As I ventured deeper, I heard a voice from a tree.

“You're late! Late!"

Pearly jumped off a branch and landed lightly beside me. Her eyes twinkling, she asked:

“Now! Will you do anything I want?"

I frowned.

“What are you talking about?"

“You won't?"

“Not at all. I'm warning you now, if it's a request that crosses my boundaries, I'll cut you off right here."

Clink.

The Froststeel sword left its sheath with a cold metallic sound. I couldn't use the Butcher; it was too loud, and those with the group would hear.

Pearly grinned mischievously.

“So brutal! But that's why I like you even more!"

“So, what do you want from me?"

“Hmm. Hmmmmm."

She rubbed her chin and thought for a while before tilting her head.

“Nothing comes to mind right now."

“Then I'll start with my questions. I have a lot to ask, so think about it carefully."

“Good! Good!"

As I cleaned up the bodies, I pondered what to ask first.

“How many evil god worshipers are involved in this raid?"

“Let's see...one, two..."

Pearly tapped her lips and counted on her fingers.

“Three, not including me!"

Three. Was there a rule for these worshipers to gather in groups of three or more? All the groups I'd encountered had at least three members.

“What powers do these three possess?"

“I don't know!"

“Why?"

Pearly chuckled.

“I didn't ask them! I'm not curious! Besides, I've only recently joined them! But you know what?"

“What?"

Pearly glanced around and whispered in a hushed voice.

“They act as if I'm not there. Honestly! Honestly! I think it's a bit too much!"

I would've acted the same way. I refrained from saying that, though. I wouldn't get any information by offending her. So, I responded to make her feel good.

“That is too much."

“Right?! Right?!"

“Let me continue asking. Do you know why they're attacking these guys?"

I needed to find out from Pearly how the evil god worshipers found the relic sealed with Mother's divinity. If I could use their method, it might be easier to break Mother's seal. “Ummm...I've definitely heard why..."

Pearly thought for a while as if she couldn't remember what she had heard, then clapped her hands.

“Oh, right! Necklace! They said they had to take the necklace from the Merchant Lord!"

Good.

“I see. But do you know how they discovered this necklace belongs to the Lord?"

“I don't know that!"

As soon as I asked, an answer returned. Yeah, honestly, I wasn't expecting much. How could they have told such a big-mouthed child information that important? Even I wouldn't.

“But I know this one!"

“What?"

“The client who entrusted the necklace to the Lord over there belongs to Liberatio!"

Liberatio?

“Isn't Liberatio a secret society of evil god worshipers?"

“That's right!"

“You belong to them too."

“Yep!"

“Aren't the evil god worshipers attacking us now also members of Liberatio?"

“That's right too!"

What the hell was going on? An evil god worshiper entrusted the relic to Aurelius, and another tried to take it. Then there was only one answer.

“It's an internal conflict."

Such unusual people gathered together; if they got along well, that would be even weirder.

“Calling it that would be an exaggeration! It's just that two factions are fighting with each other! Surprisingly, they cooperate well with each other! They don't kill each other that much either!"

“Why are the factions divided?"

Pearly, falling into serious contemplation again, shook her head.

“I heard about something, but I can't remember."

“There's a faction you belong to, right? But you can't remember?"

She smiled as she stretched out a finger and poked her chest.

“I'm neutral! lust give me money, and I will move! Oh, I take materials too!"

“What material are you referring to?"

“What kind of material?! Obviously, it's the stuff I use for my dolls! I'm a priest devoted to the Swaying Strings!"

Could that be why she hadn't died? It would imply that all I had killed were dolls, meticulously designed to mimic her.

“That's right, you should be cautious. The guys who accompanied me seem to be preparing for something!"

“Why are you so friendly towards me?"

Her purple eyes softened into gentle curves. In contrast to her previous demeanor, her response was far from light-hearted.

“Do you genuinely want to know that? Are you truly interested in why I favor you? That's a bit different from the questions you've usually asked me."

Much like a doll changing its hair, she altered the atmosphere around her. The current Pearly was akin to a snake, a purple viper with dangerously venomous fangs. I responded with a grin.

“Suddenly, I'm not so curious anymore."

She instantly whined in a childlike manner.

“Why! Why! Ask! Ask now!"

“No. You should have answered when I initially asked. If I linger here any longer, everyone will realize I'm missing, so I'll take my leave. But first, please tell me what you want."

If I agreed to her request, I might be able to glean a hint of what the puppeteer really wanted.

Pearly replied with a broad smile.

“I'll tell you that next time we meet!"

“Is that so?"

“Yes!"

“Then goodbye."

Swoosh.

The Froststeel sword glistened under the moonlight as Pearly's head rolled across the ground. Blood spurted from her severed neck, and she let out a cry.

“I'll see you again!"

With those final words, Pearly's life ceased. Or more accurately, her doll ceased to function.

“Was this another doll, as I suspected?"

The red blood and flesh were indistinguishable from a real person's, so convincing that I hadn't even considered the possibility of it being a doll. Was Pearly's doll-making skill exceptional, or was the power of Swaying Strings superior? Perhaps it was a combination of both.

'Kill!'

I reassured the weary Mother, indicating it was time to return. I had to fulfill the promise of a palm massage I had made earlier.

“I'll take a shower before the massage."

I retraced my steps, heading back the way I had come. Fires flickered in the distance between the barracks, each casting a pulsing glow. Snowflakes began to fall, blanketing the ground in white.

This would undoubtedly slow our pace. However, since we were likely to face another attack from the evil god worshippers tomorrow, it was crucial to rest now.

I walked a little faster toward my barracks when someone called me.

“Priest Marnak?"

I turned to find Dachia and smiled.

“My lady, we don't know when the evil god worshipers might attack again, so you should sleep now."

Dachia nodded.

“I was just about to. But where have you been? I searched the barracks for you earlier, but you were nowhere to be found."

“I had to leave for a bit. I sensed the presence of the evil god worshipers in the vicinity."

“Really?"

“Yes. Sadly, by the time I got there, they had already escaped."

She approached me, carefully wiping the dried blood off my face with a cloth.

'KILL!'

Startled by Mother's furious outcry at her audacity to touch me, I recoiled.

“The cloth will get dirty, my lady."

“I had been searching for you to give you this cloth to clean your face. Please, don't shy away."

Her unwavering determination to assist me compelled me to stand still. Dachia meticulously cleaned my face, then smiled with contentment.

“Done."

“I was planning to wash up anyway."

“But it's more refreshing now, isn't it?"

“Yes, but..."

She handed me an extra piece of cloth and bid me goodnight.

“Go on, wash up and get a good night's sleep, Priest Marnak!"

“May you also have pleasant dreams, my lady."

That night, the monsters did not attack. Instead of washing up again, I found myself placating Mother. She was so infuriated by Dachia's actions that she insisted on washing my hair herself. *

The morning dawned bright, and our group, having finished preparations swiftly, began to traverse the blizzard. Thankfully, the wind was mild, but the snow fell heavily, settling on our shoulders.

Boom!

We were greeted by white forests and mountains. As we trudged along the snow-covered road, a distant roar echoed. Turning towards the sound, I recalled Pearly's words from the previous night.

(Be cautious, alright? The folks who accompanied me seemed to be preparing diligently for something!'

The mountains were spewing white snow in rough waves towards us. It wasn't another ambush that the evil god worshippers, Pearly being the exception, had meticulously planned.

No, it was an avalanche.

I yelled out to the group.

“Drop everything and run! Now!"