Chapter 8

The black dogs of Roschka.

As the name suggests, the place where that fiend first appeared was a fief called Roschka.

Two dogs suddenly appeared in the dark dawn, rampaging through the domain and barking ferociously.

The villagers watched them trembling with unease.

Soon the knights and soldiers who went out to deal with the dogs heard it.

The ominous sound of a trumpet echoing from afar.

That night.

The fief of Roschka was erased from the map.

---

“Yelp.”

One of the black dogs let out a dying cry and collapsed from Hamel’s swung sword.

The other dog watched briefly, then turned and fled.

“Aren’t we going after that one?”

Hamel shook his head at the Red Knight’s eager expression, as if he would give chase at any moment.

“The black dogs are only a harbinger of what’s to come.”

“…What on earth is happening?”

Hamel brushed the blood from his sword and replied.

“Reteil, the man-faced lion. The Beast-King will come here.”

“A high-rank demon?”

Hamel fell silent at the knight’s grave question.

If that were the case, there would be less cause for such worry.

Hamel swallowed and spoke.

“It’s a super-class.”

“…!”

The Red Knight flinched and stepped backward in shock.

And that wasn’t all.

The soldiers and knights who had been watching with concern froze in place.

Super-class.

It denotes beings beyond the limits of ordinary observation.

Over the long history of the Order, demons classified as super-class are but a handful.

Each of them carried a name.

Moreover, instances of defeating a super-class demon are counted on one hand.

They are an unknown terror with little information because none who encountered them survived.

An encounter with them means nothing but death.

“…”

The knight with the red adornment fell silent.

Super-class demons are called living calamities, acts of God.

They cannot be confronted; one must avoid them, and if avoidance is impossible, pray.

However.

“Even if you say it’s suddenly a super-class…”

The knight tapped his sword at his hip.

It was hard to believe.

No, it was more that he couldn’t get a grasp on it.

In fact, everyone gathered here wore the same expression.

They felt vague fear but had not accepted their own deaths.

Super-class demons are so rare they’re encountered only in rumors.

They did not want to ask for help, but of those here, the only one knowledgeable about demons was the exorcist priest before them.

After a silence, the knight with red trim spoke.

“Is there no way to capture it?”

“Impossible.”

Hamel dashed that faint hope with certainty.

The others knew nothing.

But Hamel knew their fear all too well.

A super-class is not something humans can oppose.

To them, humans are no more nor less than prey and toys.

‘To catch them…’

A single order of paladins and three or more exorcist priests.

That is the minimum requirement to slay a super-class.

With the forces here, attempting an exorcism was out of the question.

There was only one sliver of possibility.

“We must perform the ritual even now. If the ritual succeeds and we can hold until sunrise…”

Hamel’s words trailed off as he spoke.

Because he knew how abysmal the chances of success were.

There was only one possible way to survive.

To abandon the sacrifice and have everyone flee now.

That was the only path.

It was at that moment, while Hamel hesitated.

Antonio placed his hand on Hamel’s tense shoulder.

Warmth ran through Hamel’s fingertips.

Antonio’s hand trembled as much as Hamel’s.

But his eyes were unwavering and resolute.

Not because he did not feel fear.

It was the look one can only have when prepared to face death.

“Please continue, Mr. Hamel.”

“…If the sun rises, it might withdraw.”

There are tales that Reteil hates sunlight and stays in deep pits during the day.

Of course, these are unproven rumors.

Whether it would simply withdraw from the humans before it was uncertain.

Still, they could not simply flee.

Hamel had never turned his back on a demon before.

He only hesitated briefly out of a desire to save Antonio and the others.

“Can we trust that?”

Distrust still coloured the Red Knight’s voice.

It was not skepticism of the plan but doubt toward Hamel himself.

To doubt even in such a situation.

What sort of bad blood did this man have with exorcist priests?

Hamel did not know his past.

But he could feel that the knight’s desire to save the lady and the fief was genuine.

“It’s the best option for now.”

Hamel and the knight’s gazes met briefly in the air.

After a moment, the knight nodded and spoke to Hamel and Antonio.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to the lord.”

“…”

Hamel bowed in thanks and followed behind the knight.

In the pitch-black dark, a faint light of hope flickered.

---

The lord’s manor exuded a somehow gloomy air.

Long shadows felt ominous, and the servants’ faces were deeply shadowed.

Only faint candlelight flickered in the lord’s study.

“…What on earth is this?”

The lord of Rengbaster glared at the knight he had hired and asked.

More precisely, he hardened his expression as he looked at Hamel standing behind him.

The Red Knight bowed deeply and replied.

“I was mistaken. This one appears to be different.”

“But you… No? Then what is going on?”

The lord was exhausted.

Events in the past month had aged him decades.

His mind felt foggy and his body unbearably heavy.

He could not tell what the right choice was.

In a state of resignation, he looked at the knight and Hamel.

Hamel stepped forward and spoke.

“This is dangerous. We must perform the exorcism on the lady immediately.”

“Ritual? More dangerous than that? My daughter?”

Hamel spoke calmly to the ashen lord.

“No. What’s in danger is this Rengbaster fief.”

“W-what does that mean?”

The Red Knight supported the lord, who swayed as if about to faint.

“My lord, for now please follow this priest’s advice. There’s no time.”

“…Very well. I understand. Lead the way.”

The weak-looking lord’s decision was unexpectedly quick.

No matter how disordered, he was still the lord of a domain.

They were led to a girl breathing heavily and sweating.

“Irene Rengbaster. My daughter. Can she truly be healed?”

“I’ll find out now.”

Hamel approached the girl without hesitation and whisked the blanket off her.

A maid gasped at the sight.

Of course Hamel paid it no mind and focused on the task.

Hamel quickly undid and opened the girl’s blouse buttons.

Whether fortunate or not, she was almost unconscious.

The lord flinched but did not stop him.

Hamel carefully inspected below her collarbone.

“As I thought. It’s the sacrifice’s mark.”

An ornate beast-shaped sigil.

The beast within the sigil had a black mane and the form of a lion.

“That’s strange.”

“What is?”

Hamel could not answer the knight’s question.

The design differed somehow from what he remembered.

Hamel frowned at the similar yet subtly different sigil.

Nothing came to mind immediately.

“…No. I must have been mistaken.”

With the black dogs in Roschka, Reteil’s coming was certain.

That was all that mattered now.

“Antonio.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how to perform the ritual?”

“I’ve practiced it several times in curse-studies class.”

“That’s a relief.”

Hamel nodded expressionlessly.

“Then I’m counting on you.”

“…Yes?”

Antonio blinked as if he’d heard something unbelievable.

Hamel leaned down and whispered so only he could hear.

“I am inherently unable to perform consecrations or benedictions.”

“…So that nasty rumor was true?”

“It’s true.”

Antonio’s legs trembled.

If he failed at the ritual, the operation would fail regardless of any holding on.

Somehow he had been given the most crucial role.

“Recite the incantation. I’ll assist.”

“I beg you… Please.”

Antonio placed his hand on the sacrifice’s mark and began to chant the prayer.

Hamel spread salt on the floor and lit incense.

He anointed the lady’s earlobes, eyelids, and philtrum with holy oil in turn while joining the chant.

“O Ehuurshika, god of death and cycles, drive out the evil from this girl and show mercy. O Batoushi, war-god who leads the heavenly host…”

Even without spiritual effect, the incantation itself holds meaning.

Hamel’s words layered with Antonio’s voice, transforming into a higher-ranking prayer.

The room filled with holy power enough that even ordinary people could feel it.

And at that moment.

Fsss

The salt on the floor began to rot away.

The pleasant incense was scattered by a gust, and a nauseating stench filled the room.

“Ugh, what on earth…”

As the lord staggered.

Scrrreee

Squirming maggots, centipedes, earwigs, cockroaches, and all manner of flying insects swarmed.

Bugs of unknown origin encircled them.

That was not all.

Something was present.

An intense presence filled the room.

Noticing that presence, Hamel involuntarily drew away from the girl and stopped the chant.

The lord and the knight turned pale and sank to their seats.

Hamel stood stunned, staring at the mass of insects.

Above the writhing insects, a single form began to appear.

An eye.

A huge eye oozing maggots and yellow pus.

Meeting that gaze, Hamel briefly rolled his eyes back and dropped to his knees.

It was a moment when no one could even breathe.

“O Yanisi, father of all gods and lord who watches over humankind. Cast down your light and cleanse the evil from this place.”

A young but reverent voice rang powerfully through the room.

Only one person.

Only Antonio did not stop the prayer.

Fsss

Antonio’s arm reciting the incantation blackened and began to rot.

Blood trickled from his mouth and cold sweat streamed from his brow.

In short, he was dying.

Yet Antonio did not stop.

“…!”

Hamel’s eyes widened at the sight.

He bit down hard on his cheek until it made a cracking sound.

Blood poured from his mouth as consciousness returned to him.

“Continue… please.”

Hamel staggered forward and placed a hand on Antonio’s back.

Whoom

In an instant, blue flames burst from Antonio’s rotting arm and skin.

Hamel’s innate power: Blue Flame.

It heals wounds and destroys evil at once.

Blue flames swept through the room and flared up.

“…”

How much time had passed?

Before they knew it, Antonio had recited the equivalent of a whole book of scripture.

It was then.

A hot radiance burst forth from Antonio’s clasped hands.

Hamel saw it.

Waves of golden light.

A dazzling radiance.

Hamel watched, incredulous, his eyelids trembling.

“Is this… a solemn exorcism?”

A powerful benediction said to be seen only at the bishop level had been realized at the fingertips of a young deacon.

Swoosh

The presence of that thing seemed to be washed away.

Before long, the stench and the insects vanished.

He was a prodigy.

No, a child blessed by heaven and the gods.

That was the only way to describe him.

‘A remarkable child. The bishop hoped he would join you, Hamel. Please watch over him.’

Hamel suddenly recalled the bishop’s words.

He understood why the bishop had urged him so.

“…He’s more than just remarkable.”

Hamel muttered, incredulous.

He had never seen a child with such divinity and talent.

This child would not end up an ordinary cleric.

The pinnacle of the Order.

Or a talent that might be recorded as a saint.

Thud

At the same moment Antonio collapsed from exhaustion, and Hamel quickly supported him and said.

“The ritual is finished.”

“Ah! Then?”

The lord hurried to his daughter and brushed her damp hair aside.

The girl who had been burning with fever moments before now slept peacefully, breathing softly.

“Thank you. I will never forget this favor my whole life!”

The lord, forgetting his pride, bowed and gripped Hamel’s hand.

Hamel shook his head with a slightly weary expression.

Regretfully, it was still too early to celebrate.

“It’s not over yet.”

“What else remains?”

“That is…”

Just as Hamel was about to continue.

A sound came from afar.

Wheeeeeeee

Like a kettle boiling.

A strange sound like a flute or that trumpet.

It had come.