novelraw Chapter 154
Chapter 154
Ch.154 You Turned to Stone at My Words
Alex and his followers moved under cover of night toward the supply depot.
Dozens in robes, slipping through shadows—
each a skilled operative.
Alex checked his wristwatch at the rendezvous point.
‘Three minutes left.’
He stared at the wall surrounding the depot.
‘This mission must succeed. I can’t fail. O God.’
The ticking of the second hand felt endless.
‘If we destroy the Archive of the Covenant… we can cripple them.’
Alex steadied his nerves.
Then—
Pip pip!
A shrill whistle pierced the sky.
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed.
“Charge! Charge!”
“Destroy the heretics!”
Shouts rang from afar.
“The Church of Death! They’ve struck!”
“East wall! East wall’s breached!”
“Move east!”
Alex watched as the imperial troops shifted toward the east.
He turned to the west wall.
Ten soldiers stood guard.
He signaled.
Shhhk!
A volley of crossbow bolts flew from the dark—
each striking throat or heart.
They’d trained for this day.
Thud.
The guards fell.
Alex waved his arm.
Dozens of men emerged from the darkness, hurling grappling hooks over the wall.
Silent. Stealthy.
Classic tactic: distract the east, strike the west.
They wouldn’t move all the guards—but even a slight weakening?
That could be the miracle they needed.
The infiltrators sprinted toward the stone depot.
The food storehouse.
Weapons couldn’t be burned—but food?
Food could be destroyed.
Twenty meters away—
“West wall! Infiltrators!”
“Block the west!”
‘Damn it… caught early?’
Too fast.
They moved like they knew we’d attack.
‘Then fine. We’ll go all out.’
The guards rushed out, forming a line.
Alex shouted:
“Fireball!”
The infiltrators tore scrolls—
fireballs erupted, hurling guards aside.
The team reached the depot—and burst through the door.
“Hello, trash?”
A black-haired man and a platinum-haired woman stood inside.
***
That night, after Leah left—
Tap-tap.
Who at this hour?
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
Icira’s voice.
I opened the door.
“You were right. The Church of Death attacked the depot.”
“Huh? Really?”
Finally—the last event began.
“Then we must go. Wait a moment.”
I changed into travel clothes, grabbed Equality, and stepped out.
“Let’s go. The capital.”
“Teleport.”
The scene shifted.
Darkness.
“Where are we?”
“The depot. You told me where it was.”
Inside, pitch black.
Tap… tap…
Footsteps approached.
Bang!
The door burst open.
The Church of Death members stood there.
I smiled brightly.
“Hello, trash?”
“Y-you…?”
“Icira?”
She groaned.
“Sleep.”
Thud… thud…
One by one, they collapsed.
I stepped outside and shouted:
“Here! Church of Death members! Arrest them!”
Soldiers rushed in and bound them with thick ropes.
Icira passed by, voice cool.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just kill them all?”
“Maybe… but I want to learn more about them.”
Her brow furrowed.
“You’re going to torture them?”
I’m not a fan of torture.
But this wasn’t about modern sensibilities.
If I found Roy’s location, I could end this game.
“If needed?”
“Hm… You’re going to do it yourself?”
“No. I’ve never tortured anyone.”
She gave a tiny nod.
“I’ve heard the Empire’s torture methods are brutal.”
She misunderstood.
“No. Weak torture won’t make them talk.”
“Then how?”
“I won’t ask you to.”
She looked surprised.
“…Unexpected. You always come to me when things get hard.”
“This time, I don’t need you. We have a specialist.”
The greatest torturer in this world.
One touch—and even the most hardened criminals beg to confess.
“Who?”
“Mia.”
“The top torturer of this era.”
I’d heard from letters—she made hardened demonic captives confess easily.
Elves with stronger wills than even elves.
She wasn’t just skilled—she was a genius who rewrote torture history.
Icira’s expression shattered.
“What? The High Elf is a torture specialist? I’d believe you if you said she eats meat.”
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“You have to say something believable to be believed. That’s ridiculous.”
She shook her head, thinking I was joking.
“Fine. At least we dealt with them.”
Once the soldiers had dragged them away, I said:
“Let’s take them back.”
Icira stared blankly.
“You’re not seriously planning to make the High Elf torture them, are you?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“…You’re going to get an arrow through your skull one day.”
I shrugged.
“No. She’ll probably be thrilled. We’ve got a new toy. Let’s go. I want to sleep.”
She sighed.
“Haa… Fine. Teleport.”
Instantly, we were back in my study.
The men lay bound on the floor.
“I’m leaving.”
As Icira reached for the door handle, I said:
“Before you go, call Giovanni.”
She turned, eyes cold.
“I’m not your servant.”
I flinched.
“But… friends help each other, right?”
She turned away.
“Tell Giovanni to come.”
She left.
Moments later—
Giovanni entered.
He stared at the bound men.
“M-my lord? Who are these…?”
“Church of Death fanatics. Put them in the mansion dungeon.”
He gasped.
“Hiih?! Why bring these monsters into the mansion?!”
“To torture them.”
“…What?”
“There’s a torture specialist here.”
“Who?”
“Mia.”
“…What do you mean, the High Elf is a torture specialist?!”
Why won’t anyone believe me?!
“It’s true!”
“Stop nonsense. Just send them away.”
Was I the weird one? Or was Mia?
Icira thought I was insane.
Giovanni thought I was insane.
I sighed.
“Just… get Mia. That’s all.”
Soon—
Mia appeared in her nightgown.
“Why wake me at this hour?”
She looked grumpy.
“I need a favor.”
“A favor? Now?”
Her cheeks flushed.
I feared what she was imagining.
“Th-that’s fine… since we made a pact…”
She twisted her body, embarrassed.
I cut to the point.
“We captured Church of Death fanatics.”
“…What?”
Her face turned icy.
“We don’t know enough about them. Where Roy is… other bases… we need intel.”
“So?”
Her voice was chilling.
“So… can you torture them? Make them talk?”
Mia froze.
“…Me?”
Her voice trembled.
“I know. I’ve read the letters. The High Elves said you’re a torture prodigy.”
“W-what?!”
Her pupils flickered wildly.
“Be honest. Do you want to?”
“Th-that… I…”
She turned away, face burning.
“I’m an elf… I…”
“Didn’t you make demonic prisoners confess everything?”
“That… that was a mission. I don’t enjoy torture.”
I stepped closer.
Flinch.
A peace-loving elf.
An elf who enjoyed torture?
That was a scandal.
“Can an elf lie?”
Her shoulders shook.
She was ashamed.
“It’s not a lie…”
Her voice crept forward.
She knew.
She knew her own twisted desire.
But right now—her skill was vital.
These fanatics were too stubborn.
“I know. You were the best during the war. Haven’t you been bored lately?”
“H-how do you—?”
I whispered into her ear:
“So… can you help? For humanity’s sake?”
“…F-for humanity?”
Her face burned crimson.
I nodded.
“Yes. For all life. Like you did to the demons.”
“But… it’s embarrassing…”
“It’s not. Saving lives is worth embarrassment. And these fanatics? Worse than demons.”
She hesitated.
Then sighed.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But…”
She looked at me nervously.
“…If an elf enjoys torture… is that… very strange?”
I nodded.
“Yes. Very strange.”
Mia turned to stone.
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