Chapter 192: Cult Leader

Inside Bakurad Fortress...

The temporary infirmary had a busy atmosphere.

Injured people from the earlier eradication of the demonic humans were all recuperating silently.

The medics of the fortress scurried around, trying to provide assistance to the overwhelming number of patients.

They carry with them healing potions, bandages, threads, needles, and other sorts of medical equipment.

"Ugh, if only the priests are here..."

"It’s a pity that the Temple of Light did not send any more priests..."

"Now that I think about it, I suspect those demonic worshippers to be behind them too!"

...

Some of the medics murmured amongst themselves while getting supplies from the destroyed infirmary buildings.

As a fortress, Bakurad had multiple infirmary buildings.

Unfortunately, demonic humans destroyed them in the battle earlier.

As for a branch of the Temple of Light, there were none since it was concentrated on other battlefields that were at war with demons.

There were a few priests who were on a pilgrimage who visited the fortress from time to time.

But even that had ceased over a year ago.

Amidst the somewhat chaotic atmosphere, a girl in a simple black dress adorned with laces on the sides also ran around with bandages in her hands.

Her obsidian black hair flew around wildly, while her eyes radiated both worry and determination.

Worry for her uncle, friends, and the patients.

Determination to do what she could to help in the best way she knew.

It was none other than Aurelia.

At this moment, a number of people assisting the injured arrived at the temporary infirmary.

Aurelia noticed this and asked a nearby soldier, "Are they from the East Gate?"

"Yes, Madam." The soldier replied, "They reported that the fortress commander and the others who were still capable of fighting immediately headed to the North Gate."

"Is that so..." The worry in her eyes deepened.

In the next second, however, it was replaced by determination, "Thank you. I’ll get some bandages and—"

Before Aurelia could finish, the soldier’s expression turned serious.

He immediately stepped in front of her and gently used his arm to move her behind him.

Then, with a grave voice, he asked, "Who are you!?"

His sudden shout caused everyone in the temporary infirmary to look towards them.

It was then that a serious expression appeared on all of their faces as they brandished their weapons.

Even those who were only mildly injured got up and glared.

The subject of their hostility was a hooded figure, wearing an elegant robe that had exquisite silver patterns.

Not batting an eye at the soldier and the numerous weapons pointed at them, the figure only stared at the girl in black dress hidden behind the soldier.

"Interesting... so you’re the child who inherited the curse of the foolish human in the old times."

The figure’s voice was surprisingly like that of a young man in his twenties.

"W-What do you m-mea—" Aurelia stuttered, feeling an unreasonable terror in her heart.

The soldier interrupted her, "You don’t need to speak a word to a demonic worshipper, Madam."

"These kinds of people don’t deserve being spoken a word to."

Hearing the soldier’s words, the figure laughed, "Haha... such hurtful words from a mere soldier."

Two Aura Stars shone on the soldier’s chest as he drove his spear towards the figure’s heart, "Die!"

Seeing the sudden attack, the figure merely raised his hand.

The wide sleeve of the silver-adorned black robe that resembled an emperor’s garment began trembling, as if something inside it was wriggling its way out.

Clatter— Clatter— Clatter—

Strange sounds not unlike that of bones clattering were heard before...

WHOOSH— SHUIKKKK!!!

...a snake that was made from bones shot out from inside the figure’s wide sleeves and penetrated the soldier’s chest in an instant.

"Wha..." His eyes widened as he coughed out blood, even heavy steel armor he wore was helplessly destroyed.

Nevertheless, the soldier’s eye was only filled with rage as he walked forward, not minding the skeletal snake that was ravaging his chest as he stood in front of the figure.

"Oho? I didn’t expect a mere nameless soldier to be this determined."

"You’re right." Not a single hint of fear could be seen on the soldier’s face, "I may just be a mere nameless soldier in your eyes. But my commander has given me an order: to protect his niece. And so..."

The figure tilted his head, "So...?"

To his surprise, the soldier used his hands to grab his sleeve along with the skeletal snake that extended from it.

Then, as blood dripped from the side of his mouth, the soldier cried out, "Attack!!!"

In an instant, numerous weapons arrived before the figure.

The stars of the warriors brightly shone, as if wanting to swallow the figure with their light.

"Annoying."

Only a single word was heard before everything fell into silence.

Aurelia, who had been frozen in shock, felt helpless as she saw the heads of the soldiers fly into the air.

Each of their faces still had angry expressions, as if unaware that they had left the world.

"Finally, everything’s quiet."

The figure sighed, as if relieved, before turning towards Aurelia, "Allow me the honor of offering my greetings first."

"My name is Sadler, leader of one of the cults of the highest order." The figure lifted his hood off, revealing his ethereally handsome face, "The Children of the Last Silence."

His features looked as if they were a beautifully carved piece of jade, his sclera were black while his pupils and irises were respectively gray and red.

He had long white hair that was tied into a bun, which looked like it was glowing under the moonlight.

His ears were also long and pointed, an indication that he was not from the race of humans.

But even with all of this, Aurelia’s eye remained fixed on two things.

One was a skeletal serpent that extended from his sleeve, slithering through the air as if it were alive.

The other resembled a spine ending in a bone-forged scythe, which was responsible for killing the other soldiers, extending from beneath his robe.

As if noticing her gaze, Sadler apologized sincerely, "I’m sorry. I seemed to have shocked you..."

Following his words, the skeletal snake and the spine scythe both slithered back into his robe.

"Now, where were we?" Sadler walked towards Aurelia, "Ah, right! I need to deliver you to the general of the Demon Lord of Greed’s army!"

With a gentle smile on his face, he slightly bent his body and offered his hand, "Can you please come with me?"

"O-Okay..." Aurelia raised her hand with eyes filled with fear.

However, Sadler’s gentle facade suddenly dropped, "Do you think I’m a fool?"

"You think I didn’t notice you sneakily removing your gloves? He merely stared at the girl’s bare hands.

"Did you really think that I won’t know about your curse?"

"Do I look like a fool to you?!"

With every word, Saddler’s voice rose, his anger showing.

Then, all of a sudden, the gentleness returned to his face.

"Come on, be a good girl for me and wear those gloves back."

He smiled, highlighting his handsomeness.

If it were women who did not know any better and solely judged him based on his looks, they would have fallen for him already.

However, Aurelia, who had witnessed his atrocities first hand, was not swayed.

Instead, she closed her eyes and concentrated.

And there, she saw it.

Deep inside her consciousness, a shining silver piece of paper was floating.

It was the contract Regis had offered her back then, when he promised a way for her to finally pursue her original dream of walking the path of mana as a mage.

In the paper, the following was written.

Soul Contract Agreement

Parties:

Party A: Regis

Party B: Aurelia Midas

Terms and Conditions:

Burden Sharing:

Party A shall bear the burdens of Party B as deemed necessary by Party A’s discretion, with full rights to assume any damage or harm in place of Party B when deemed appropriate by Party A.

Protection and Loyalty:

In return, Party B agrees to maintain unwavering loyalty to Party A, ensuring that no action shall be taken to harm or betray Party A, nor shall any harm be directed toward those whom Party A deems important or worthy of protection.

...

Soul Connection:

This contract shall establish a binding soul connection between Party A and Party B.

Execution:

By verbally acknowledging and consenting to the terms set forth, both parties accept the binding nature of this agreement and the consequences of failure to uphold the terms as dictated by the soul connection.

On the section that indicated the parties, Regis’s name was shining while hers was dim.

This signified that Regis had long accepted the contract, leaving only her response to finalize the agreement.

At this moment, Aurelia had made up her mind.

"I accept."

Hearing her, Sadler’s expression became filled with joy, "Excellen—"

SHIIIIIIING—--!!!

However, before he could finish his words, a blinding brilliance erupted, engulfing the entire area in a searing golden light.

Everything was consumed by the blinding radiance, as the light itself even erased the shadows, leaving nothing but an overwhelming, otherworldly luminance.

In the sea of golden brilliance, only a single chant was heard.

[Hand of the Greedy King]