novelraw Chapter 56 : Archbishop (2)
Chapter 56 : Archbishop (2)
Chapter 56: Archbishop (2)
Vigo went to find Morgana as soon as he returned. His body desperately needed rest, but work came first.
Morgana, unchanged, was nailed to the Sun Cross and atoning for her sins. She greeted Vigo like a condemned prisoner addressing her executioner.
“You are here. You have grown very gaunt.”
“Does it please you, damn witch.”
“Of course not.”
The prisoner’s face was blank. Yet Vigo knew she was laughing at his weakened state on the inside and taking pleasure in it.
Vigo tapped the eye covered by his patch and spoke.
“Your wish has crept much closer. But I will not die so easily, so abandon that foolish hope.”
“My wish is the extermination of witches.”
“How loathsome.”
With a cigarette between his lips, Vigo let the condemned woman perform her treatment. Morgana’s black snakes coiled around him and repaired his body. Skin rotted by mana exposure and torn muscles regenerated.
“…Now I feel alive again.”
Mana was dangerous and hateful. It was also convenient and miraculous.
Vigo understood well why so many people drowned in that demonic charm. A witch hunter’s work was to resist a deadly temptation at every moment.
“The right eye will be difficult to restore.”
“I was not even expecting it.”
Vigo’s one eye had lost its light. The once keen gaze was exhausted. With little time left, he had to burn his final candle bright.
The condemned woman stepped back. Leaning against a pillar, Vigo described what had happened in Banyaksenir. He needed Morgana’s knowledge.
The talk grew long.
Morgana wanted every detail. Vigo explained until his tongue tasted sweet, and at last he finished.
“…Intriguing.”
“Explain, now.”
Vigo did not care for Morgana’s impressions.
“First, the Ascendants were nothing more than a baseless rumor. It is closer to a legend that circulates among witches.”
“What do they claim?”
The condemned woman hesitated, then answered. Her manner was exceedingly cautious.
“Ascendant means the first three witches became demigods or evil gods, rose to the heavens, and turned into stars.”
“Stars? You mean evil gods.”
“Yes. They worshiped the stars, then themselves became stars.”
“Is that possible?”
“It seemed impossible, which is why we took it for nonsense. How could a created being dare rise to the level of the Creator.”
Morgana spoke firmly, then added,
“Of course, that’s within the bounds of what I know.”
“Within your knowledge huh… Is there anything you don’t know?”
“Yes of course. I am not so great among witches.”
Vigo gave a faint smile, born of disbelief.
Even a vicious and dangerous witch like her did not count for much before the true ones.
The world of witches and evil gods was the unknown itself. That was why it was frightening.
“However, three hundred years ago and one hundred fifty years ago, the first two witches disappeared in turn. Twenty years ago, even Sin concealed her traces.”
“So you are saying that was not their disappearance, but ascension.”
“If what they claim is true. Yes.”
“…”
Vigo stroked his long beard.
One of the first witches, by that alone, was a natural disaster.
If such beings had become evil gods and risen to the heavens, he had no idea how to find them or how to defeat them.
Massaging his temples, Vigo asked the next question.
“What about the shards?”
“Given that the Third Order’s Seventh Seat has appeared and that Bougainvillea moved, the first witch related to Nike is certainly Sin.”
The Golden Dawn Society regarded Nike as a sacrifice and also called him a vessel.
“Putting it all together, if we infer. Sin, who shed her mortal flesh and ascended to the heavens, will… descend again by taking Nike as her vessel. That explains why Nike holds mana and why he uses magic.”
Without replying, Vigo stared out the window where the sunlight shattered. His face looked deeply troubled.
“When Sin ascended, her body was torn apart and scattered across the world. Among those parts, Nike… has the heart. Therefore, Nike, who bears the heart of Sin, is the most important sacrifice required for the rite to call down an Ascendant.”
Vigo finished the deduction. It was the final piece that completed the tale.
Chin in hand, he asked carefully,
“Are you certain?”
The condemned woman smiled slightly and answered,
“…It is conjecture. Certainty is forbidden.”
Even so, Morgana was half convinced, and added another inference.
“Beyond the arm of Sin that Bougainvillea took, the rest of Sin’s sundered body seems scattered around the world. If someone gathers it all, Sin will descend.”
“…And the shards will gather toward the most important piece, the heart.”
“As Bougainvillea’s prophecy said, a storm will blow. We must prepare.”
The present calm was the stillness before the storm.
Vigo held his tongue for a moment. The tale felt like it would burst his head. If a truly transcendent being descended through Nike, the end would be assured.
“That means we can’t leave things to the Golden Dawn Society or Bougainvillea.”
“We must gather the shards ourselves and destroy them, before they pass into the hands of Bougainvillea or another witch.”
Morgana advised him gravely. If Ascendants truly existed and were preparing to descend, they had to be stopped.
Evil gods were beings outside this world.
Because they were so far away, their influence had been limited to producing witches. If an evil god descended directly and exerted influence in the present world, the problem changed in scale.
“Hm…”
Even Vigo felt a chill.
The deeper he dug, the greater the unknown terror grew.
“In any case, we must protect the boy and use him.”
“Bougainvillea spared Nike in order to use him in turn. She has another scheme. We should exploit that.”
“The Witch of the Sword too?”
“Yes. Bougainvillea broke one of the Three Taboos and grafted the arm of Sin. Her intent is impure. She is likely planning to use Nike to eliminate other witches.”
“Betrayal everywhere huh. Truly filthy creatures.”
The scale was beyond endurance, and his head only hurt. Disgust swelled so much that Vigo gave up thinking for a moment.
“Then the key for now is to lift the boy’s curse.”
“Unless it is Bougainvillea herself, lifting the curse will be difficult. At best, we can alleviate it.”
“You said you could not do it either, right?”
“That’s right.”
The condemned woman answered slowly.
“In fact… I have asked the Hall of the City God for help.”
“The Hall of the City God?”
Vigo rubbed his face with his hand. Problems piled on problems.
Witches and the Golden Dawn Society were already too much. Now he had to worry about the Hall of the City God.
“Lifting witches’ curses is their specialty.”
“…True. But will they not catch a scent? They will suspect Nike’s identity.”
Wearily, Vigo asked.
“I will handle that.”
“…Fine. We have no choice. I will leave the Hall of the City God to you. I’m going to go see how far the Order of the Scales have rotted.”
“I will prepare a carriage.”
* * *
Rowen made time for Nike whenever she could, even in her busy schedule. Every time she visited the infirmary, she brought food Nike liked and fed him while he lay in bed.
“Nom.”
Nike accepted it like a baby bird. Anyone could see that the two were no different from real siblings now.
“Apple. Tasty.”
“Tasty, is it? Shall I peel another?”
“I will just eat it.”
“Okay, here.”
Rowen picked up the apple, polished it on her clothes, and handed it to Nike. Nike meekly accepted and ate.
In front of Rowen, Nike was quieter than usual. Everyone found that curious.
The only person who could control Nike was Rowen.
Sunset came, and the ward’s patients were beginning to drift to sleep.
Creak.
The door of the ward, which Nike alone used for now, opened. A woman entered, her pallid skin striking in the moonlight.
“Who are you?”
“An intruder is it!”
Rowen rose warily.
Since Nike’s name had become known, the attention of women had increased markedly. It was the witch’s temperament. Rowen tensed, wondering if this guest came with lewd intent.
“Rowen. It is me.”
When the woman spoke Rowen’s name, Rowen relaxed.
For a stranger to speak in such refined, delicate tones, it could only be the Captain.
“Captain. Why are you here at this hour—”
“I am the Captain after all. I should pay a visit at least once.”
The pale woman approached unhurriedly. Shackles circled her wrists.
‘A condemned prisoner. She seems unusually clean.’
Her attire was neat as well.
No, it was more than neat, it was overly dressed up. Rowen had never seen a condemned prisoner appear in a gown cut low to show cleavage.
‘But why so suddenly…?’
Had she not always controlled a condemned wretch draped in rags?
It was hard to grasp why she would do this now, during Nike’s sickbed visit. Rowen’s face tightened slightly.
Nike had little reaction even to Morgana’s visit and kept chewing his apple. Morgana folded her hands before her and said to Rowen,
“Rowen. I have completed what you asked. You can leave at once.”
“Huh? Oh… already huh.”
The condemned woman smiled.
“You seemed desperate.”
“…”
“Do you have more to see here?”
Rowen had indeed been desperate, and she had asked in a roundabout way. She had nothing more to say.
Only the timing was hard to read. Morgana was using her authority to push Rowen out of the room.
“…No.”
The condemned woman smiled. She was a pretty-faced prisoner, like the fallen daughter of a noble house falsely condemned to death.
Feeling out of sorts, Rowen bid Nike farewell.
“Nike… I will be away from the Order for a while.”
“Hah? Why!”
“I feel I am personally lacking in too many ways.”
“How long! Where are you going!”
“About two months. A place called Batuan. It is a specialized training ground for witch hunters.”
Nike furrowed his brow, showing his displeasure.
“Then who will bring me meat.”
“Instructor Hans will drop by now and then. And the Captain will treat you, so you will be moving around soon.”
“Hah…”
Rowen brushed Nike’s shoulder where the curse mark lay. Her heart hurt. If she had been a little stronger, Nike would not have suffered like this.
Seeing the wound, her heart firmed again.
Instead of wasting time worrying here, she had to grow stronger.
“I will be getting stronger there. You recover before then and come find your senior. Okay?”
“…Okay.”
Nike’s answer had no strength. He was sadder than he expected to see Rowen, who cared for him most, leave.
“I will be waiting.”
Rowen patted his head and stood. She bowed to Morgana as well.
“It was a difficult request. Thank you for granting it, Captain.”
As always, Morgana answered kindly.
“I am the Captain. It is only proper. Rowen, I will pray that you overcome Batuan’s trials and become a stronger hunter.”
“…Yes.”
Rowen gave Nike one last look and turned to go.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing felt like Rowen’s heart dropping.
She leaned against the wall and hesitated for a moment.
‘Why did I… not want to leave Nike’s side just now?’
Even she was startled by herself.
Was it simply because the condemned woman’s outfit was strange?
Because leaving Nike felt regretful?
Because she worried about him?
Or perhaps, was it jealousy.
‘Nothing will happen, I hope…’
Unable to sort out the confusion she felt, Rowen left.
To become stronger.
Because only by becoming stronger would she earn the right to stay by Nike’s side.
* * *
When Rowen left, Morgana’s condemned woman took her place. She sat beside Nike and stroked his shoulder.
Her delicate touch was strangely suggestive.
Uncomfortable at being alone with Morgana, Nike looked away and ate his apple.
“Nike. Everyone loves you.”
“Hah?”
“Rowen, who once suspected you of being a witch, has become a gentle older sister. The women of the Order, who know you only by name, desire you. Is that all? The fanatics of the Golden Dawn Society and witches, and even a legendary witch, have left their marks on you. This painful curse is only a romantic kiss mark. Surely a sign of tender interest.”
The condemned woman leaned close to Nike’s face and asked,
“Just… what should I do about you?”