"P-Please spare me, I will tell you everything I know. I was ordered by my superiors and had no choice!" The bishop says.
I take a deep breath to calm myself. "Speak. Where is Joana?"
"The apostle? She is heading for the western gate."
The western gate?
Ever since the mini apocalypse caused by Haren, the West of Rodgof has been closed off to the general public, making it a great place for crime and hideouts. There is a gate at the west that allows entry or exit from Rodgof.
It makes sense that she will head there to escape.
"I assume you don't know her exact path," I say, gripping my sword's handle.
"Wait! I know the approximate and I have more information. Someone is guarding the apostle and I am confident not even you can defeat him." The bishop says.
...
Heh, look at this bastard. Fortunately, I already know who is escorting Joana but I will play along.
"Is there any guarantee to your words?"
"Y-Yes, you can kill me if you like, I cannot lie."
"What do you want?" I ask.
"Spare my life and bring me safety."
"Is that so?" I smile. "Then what's that spell you are preparing behind your back."
!!!!!!!!
The bishop quickly throws his hands at me. Red-Black current discharges and zaps through my body, leaving behind a foul black mana remnant.
"Heh...Huff huff...That's a spell that curses the caster and the target. It takes away 1000 years of their lifespan. Unfortunately, I can't let you get to the apostle." The bishop says, showing his true colours. He is planning to go down with me.
But to his surprise, I look perfectly fine, even better when my skin glows brighter.
This triggers a memory within the bishop, he has seen this happened when he was a child.
"Y-You...are a demonic human!!" His jaws drop. The bishop's pale skin starts to twist and dry as if moisture is squeezed out.
--------------
Curse of Life has been applied. Due to the strong affinity with your nature, the Curse of Life has provided nourishment.
Mag +5
--------------
"Let me guess, is Joana planning to travel through Opium City to reach the gate? And her escort should be General Arctius." I say.
The horror in his eyes affirms my answers. "Y-You knew...yet...you...were playing with me...?"
I turn my back and leave.
"Blasphemous...demon..." The bishop says his last words. His emaciated frame rapidly sheds into ashes, leaving behind hunched dusty bones beneath ragged clothing.
I head back to the road and find Alure drenched in dirt and blood.
She throws her giant sword behind her back. "Arsto. How did it go?"
"...Good."
It doesn't seem like the blood belongs to Alure so I refrained from asking about her condition.
"I now understand why you only brought the both of us. They are too weak."
?
"Yes? What did you think were my intentions?" I ask.
"N-Nevermind about that. Did you get what you need?" She tries to change the topic.
"Yes. My target is at the West, Opium City."
Alure freezes.
...?
"You might want to hurry. Rena is targeting the West, you can guess why." Alure says.
What?
I did expect Rena to target the West but not so soon. The Revolutionary Army should be facing an internal conflict for a while.
"Did something happen within the group recently?" I ask out of curiosity.
"Well...not really. There were some disagreements about threats from the kingdom but it was quickly resolved when Rena brought in the Grande household from Elvis. Their strong background settled everyone's worries."
"H-Huh?" I raise my brow and stare at Alure. "T-The Grande household??!!"
W-Why are they here?
"Is there...a mage called Lena and a woman called Maile?"(Recap: Lena is the mage that appeared in volume one. Maile is the mother of Samuel in this world.)
Alure nods. "You know them?"
"Fuck..." I walk away, looking around at the ground.
Damn it...I told my mother to stay put and wait for me in Elvis, why did she come to this fucking warzone?!
I scratch my hair and turn back to Alure. "Uhm...please keep my existence a secret from them."
She stares at me and nods before shifting her attention to the crates and loots scattered.
"You are not going to ask why?"
"Everyone has their own circumstances. Besides, I trust you since you trust me," says Alure with a smile. "Anyways, can I keep all of these luxuries?"
"Sure...Thanks for your help. I will be off first. Godspeed." I say.
Alure waves her hand and I return the gesture. My next stop is Opium City.
As its name suggests, it's a lawless city where drugs are produced and circulated. Due to the nature and strength of the rulers, the government and BOV have left this place alone for some time, but under the facade, part of the profits are shared with the kingdom. It is also the city where Despair's activity is the highest. Joana might have contacted Despair for help and I will be catching two birds with one stone there.
===========================================================
Settled between imposing block mountains, there exists a decaying city shrouded in an air of desolation and despair. As one approaches its outskirts, a palpable sense of foreboding settles upon them, as if the very walls and streets exude an ominous energy. The cityscape is characterised by rotting structures, dilapidated buildings with broken windows and tearing foundations.
There are two types of inhabitants, one that moves through the city with high caution and wary eyes, and the other exerts their dominating presence on the weak and unsuspecting victims.
No eye contact should be made. That is the number one rule of the streets in Opium City if you don't want any trouble.
Amidst the bustling chaos of the crowded city streets, I navigate through the crowd rapidly. Cloaked in a ragged coat and a hood pulled over my head with a mask, my ghostly presence blends perfectly into the norm. No one can notice an outsider acting like a local.
The walls of buildings are filled with homeless, bruised, skinny children and men. Needless to say, powerless women have no chance of survival in this wasteland.
"Fucking brat!" A man throws a young girl against the ground and stomps on her. In her arms are a few rotten apples. "Take her away."
With tears and mucus flowing through her blue-black face, a few men drag her away into a building. No one paid any attention and went on with their business.
...
I should too...
But...
...
...
"Tch." My fist clenched and I take a step forward until someone stops me.
"Don't, you will die." an old man says.
It's a frail old man covered with bandages around his face dressed in a similar fashion to mine. His eyes are empty and distant, I can barely see his pupil.
...
No. I don't want to become my alter ego. I want to be human.
I ignore his warning and step into the building.
"P-Please spare me, I will tell you everything I know. I was ordered by my superiors and had no choice!" The bishop says.
I take a deep breath to calm myself. "Speak. Where is Joana?"
"The apostle? She is heading for the western gate."
The western gate?
Ever since the mini apocalypse caused by Haren, the West of Rodgof has been closed off to the general public, making it a great place for crime and hideouts. There is a gate at the west that allows entry or exit from Rodgof.
It makes sense that she will head there to escape.
"I assume you don't know her exact path," I say, gripping my sword's handle.
"Wait! I know the approximate and I have more information. Someone is guarding the apostle and I am confident not even you can defeat him." The bishop says.
...
Heh, look at this bastard. Fortunately, I already know who is escorting Joana but I will play along.
"Is there any guarantee to your words?"
"Y-Yes, you can kill me if you like, I cannot lie."
"What do you want?" I ask.
"Spare my life and bring me safety."
"Is that so?" I smile. "Then what's that spell you are preparing behind your back."
!!!!!!!!
The bishop quickly throws his hands at me. Red-Black current discharges and zaps through my body, leaving behind a foul black mana remnant.
"Heh...Huff huff...That's a spell that curses the caster and the target. It takes away 1000 years of their lifespan. Unfortunately, I can't let you get to the apostle." The bishop says, showing his true colours. He is planning to go down with me.
But to his surprise, I look perfectly fine, even better when my skin glows brighter.
This triggers a memory within the bishop, he has seen this happened when he was a child.
"Y-You...are a demonic human!!" His jaws drop. The bishop's pale skin starts to twist and dry as if moisture is squeezed out.
--------------
Curse of Life has been applied. Due to the strong affinity with your nature, the Curse of Life has provided nourishment.
Mag +5
--------------
"Let me guess, is Joana planning to travel through Opium City to reach the gate? And her escort should be General Arctius." I say.
The horror in his eyes affirms my answers. "Y-You knew...yet...you...were playing with me...?"
I turn my back and leave.
"Blasphemous...demon..." The bishop says his last words. His emaciated frame rapidly sheds into ashes, leaving behind hunched dusty bones beneath ragged clothing.
I head back to the road and find Alure drenched in dirt and blood.
She throws her giant sword behind her back. "Arsto. How did it go?"
"...Good."
It doesn't seem like the blood belongs to Alure so I refrained from asking about her condition.
"I now understand why you only brought the both of us. They are too weak."
?
"Yes? What did you think were my intentions?" I ask.
"N-Nevermind about that. Did you get what you need?" She tries to change the topic.
"Yes. My target is at the West, Opium City."
Alure freezes.
...?
"You might want to hurry. Rena is targeting the West, you can guess why." Alure says.
What?
I did expect Rena to target the West but not so soon. The Revolutionary Army should be facing an internal conflict for a while.
"Did something happen within the group recently?" I ask out of curiosity.
"Well...not really. There were some disagreements about threats from the kingdom but it was quickly resolved when Rena brought in the Grande household from Elvis. Their strong background settled everyone's worries."
"H-Huh?" I raise my brow and stare at Alure. "T-The Grande household??!!"
W-Why are they here?
"Is there...a mage called Lena and a woman called Maile?"(Recap: Lena is the mage that appeared in volume one. Maile is the mother of Samuel in this world.)
Alure nods. "You know them?"
"Fuck..." I walk away, looking around at the ground.
Damn it...I told my mother to stay put and wait for me in Elvis, why did she come to this fucking warzone?!
I scratch my hair and turn back to Alure. "Uhm...please keep my existence a secret from them."
She stares at me and nods before shifting her attention to the crates and loots scattered.
"You are not going to ask why?"
"Everyone has their own circumstances. Besides, I trust you since you trust me," says Alure with a smile. "Anyways, can I keep all of these luxuries?"
"Sure...Thanks for your help. I will be off first. Godspeed." I say.
Alure waves her hand and I return the gesture. My next stop is Opium City.
As its name suggests, it's a lawless city where drugs are produced and circulated. Due to the nature and strength of the rulers, the government and BOV have left this place alone for some time, but under the facade, part of the profits are shared with the kingdom. It is also the city where Despair's activity is the highest. Joana might have contacted Despair for help and I will be catching two birds with one stone there.
===========================================================
Settled between imposing block mountains, there exists a decaying city shrouded in an air of desolation and despair. As one approaches its outskirts, a palpable sense of foreboding settles upon them, as if the very walls and streets exude an ominous energy. The cityscape is characterised by rotting structures, dilapidated buildings with broken windows and tearing foundations.
There are two types of inhabitants, one that moves through the city with high caution and wary eyes, and the other exerts their dominating presence on the weak and unsuspecting victims.
No eye contact should be made. That is the number one rule of the streets in Opium City if you don't want any trouble.
Amidst the bustling chaos of the crowded city streets, I navigate through the crowd rapidly. Cloaked in a ragged coat and a hood pulled over my head with a mask, my ghostly presence blends perfectly into the norm. No one can notice an outsider acting like a local.
The walls of buildings are filled with homeless, bruised, skinny children and men. Needless to say, powerless women have no chance of survival in this wasteland.
"Fucking brat!" A man throws a young girl against the ground and stomps on her. In her arms are a few rotten apples. "Take her away."
With tears and mucus flowing through her blue-black face, a few men drag her away into a building. No one paid any attention and went on with their business.
...
I should too...
But...
...
...
"Tch." My fist clenched and I take a step forward until someone stops me.
"Don't, you will die." an old man says.
It's a frail old man covered with bandages around his face dressed in a similar fashion to mine. His eyes are empty and distant, I can barely see his pupil.
...
No. I don't want to become my alter ego. I want to be human.
I ignore his warning and step into the building.
