The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 103

Lilith, disguised as the lower-ranked Holy Knight Sephine, silently stared at me through her helmet for a while.

“No, Saintess Cecil entrusted this mission to you. It would be problematic if you backed out.”

After quietly finishing her statement, Lilith murmured a sacred incantation. The blood splattered on me disappeared as if it had been swept away.

I knew I was putting Lilith in a tough spot, but I had no choice but to remain silent, staring at the body of the Inquisitor lying in the wasteland.

The commander of the Bernard Holy Knights being present at the brutal murder of an Inquisitor—no matter how you look at it, this is a serious problem. If word got out in the capital, the consequences would be unimaginable, especially since it’s Lilith herself erasing the splattered blood and the beheaded body with her sacred techniques as if by a miracle.

Once the “cleanup” was complete, Lilith spoke.

“Now, I am your accomplice, Don Michino.”

As we neared the Hill of the Sun, the sound of lively drums echoed in the distance. Around the hill, the Sun’s People were drinking and celebrating the wedding of their new chieftain.

Despite the festive scene of revelry, there were armed warriors of the Sun’s People stationed around, and even amid the noise, a tense atmosphere pervaded the air.

More than anything, the most troubling issue was the unsettling aura. Lilith and I both stopped at the same time.

Lilith spoke.

“What do you think this heretic skill does, Don Michino?”

As we approached the Hill of the Sun, where Sia Seiren and Glenn Deeth were present, Lilith had obviously noticed that some sort of skill was in effect.

“It seems to be a skill that cancels out heretic skills and sacred techniques.”

A thin mist drifted around the hill, giving off a sweet scent reminiscent of burning incense wood. However, the more you inhaled it, the more it seemed to sap your concentration. There was no doubt—this was a heretic skill activated to trap intruders.

In fact, Kano’s “Shadow Walk” ability was becoming uneven, its precision faltering.

Lilith commented.

“Kano-san’s ability is truly remarkable. It’s not every day you see someone capable of hiding their presence so completely, and for such an extended time. But with the fatigue from continuously activating skills and the interference from this heretic skill, the enemy might detect us.”

“And your illusionary sacred technique?”

“So far, it seems to be functioning, but unlike Kano-san’s ability, I can’t hide the presence of more than two people at once.”

Lilith’s illusionary sacred technique could only mask the presence of two people simultaneously.

I gazed up at the Hill of the Sun. At the top stood a domed temple. According to Cisia, Glenn Deeth and Sia Seiren’s wedding ceremony was being held inside.

Next to the temple was a temporary hut known as the King’s Bedchamber, where they would spend their first night together. After the ceremony, Glenn Deeth would take Sia Seiren there. They would consummate their union, and Glenn Deeth’s royal skills would be strengthened.

At present, Glenn Deeth could only command a few Holy Knights at a time, but if he were to gain Sia Seiren’s sanctity, he might even be able to exert his royal authority over Saintess Cecil herself—that’s what Cisia had speculated.

I turned to Kano.

“Kano, if you reduce the number of targets, can you maintain Shadow Walk?”

“Yes, it would make things much easier.”

If that’s the case, the mission can continue. I gave the order.

“From here, we’ll split into two groups. Kano, you and Cisia will hide in the temple and report Glenn Deeth’s movements to me.”

I then looked at Lilith.

“You and I will handle capturing Glenn Deeth.”

Lilith and I parted ways with Kano and the others, advancing up the Hill of the Sun, hidden by sacred techniques. The hill was heavily guarded by hulking heretics. Even so, thanks to Lilith’s illusionary sacred technique, we managed to reach the innermost part of the hill without being detected.

As per the plan, we hid in a certain location, and Lilith remarked.

“I see, this spot certainly is poorly guarded, Don Michino.”

Now that Cisia was gone, Lilith no longer needed to hide her face under the armor of a lower-ranked knight. She had changed into a lightweight ninja-style suit. Her golden hair, a symbol of her beauty, was tied up in a single strand, and the special fabric clung to her ample chest, which Prince Raymond had once gazed at in reverence.

Although the outfit wasn’t overly revealing, I couldn’t help but think that the men around Lilith, even in such a place, must have a hard time. Especially in a place like this, alone with her, even a Holy Knight trained to suppress his desires would probably lose his mind.

Yes, we were hiding in a room with a canopy bed—inside the King’s Bedchamber itself.

The room was filled with the fragrance of Inyo-bana, known to stimulate desire, evoking memories of a room in Sofia’s brothel.

We had previously decided that the best time to capture Glenn Deeth would not be during the Sun’s People’s festivities but during his intimate moment with Sia Seiren. The guards would be minimal since the act would be private, and it wouldn’t be unusual for Glenn Deeth to remain unseen by others until morning. Moreover, Sia Seiren might even cooperate.

Occasionally, updates on the progress of the wedding ceremony came through Kano’s skill. The latest report said that a sacred cow had been slaughtered in the temple, and the Sun’s People were now beginning to barbecue. Whether they were actually barbecuing or not, the ceremony still seemed to have some time left.

As I sat silently on the bed, Lilith pulled out a detoxifying potion from her leather pouch.

“This potion has been regularly delivered to my estate by someone anonymous.”

She examined the bottle and continued.

“After looking into it, I found that this is an extremely expensive medicine—something even a commander of the Holy Knights couldn’t afford. It’s far better than what I had been using before, and thanks to it, I’ve been feeling much better. Do you have any idea who would do such a thing for me?”

“You have no shortage of admirers among the nobility. It’s probably one of them sending it to you.”

“Perhaps. But after investigating, I found that the Michino Family has been purchasing this potion regularly. Is there someone you know suffering from the aftereffects of a powerful aphrodisiac?”

I cursed silently. I had suspected for a while that the old man at the apothecary might have loose lips. I replied.

“I have a woman named Sofia Gracier, a popular figure in the capital. It’s a request from her.”

Lilith stared at the bottle.

“I see… so that’s how it is.”

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the bedchamber. In stark contrast, the inside of the King’s Bedchamber remained eerily quiet. Lilith’s expression instantly paled.

Lilith said.

“It seems something has happened.”

Then, a report from Kano resonated in my mind. Her first words were clear.

“Glenn-san has been slashed! Glenn-san is bleeding!”

I exhaled and spoke to Kano.

“Kano, calm down. Tell me exactly what’s happening.”

“Uh, right now Sia Seiren is treating Glenn-san! Ah! Cisia-san, no! Don’t go out there!”

“The assailant escaped! The culprit was wearing the armor of the Bernard Holy Knights! Don! Please give us orders!”

The information transmitted to my mind included an image of the Holy Knight that Kano had seen.

Even in full armor, both Lilith and I could tell at a glance who it was. The one who slashed Glenn Deeth and attempted to flee was none other than our former instructor from the Holy Knight Training Academy, ex-vice captain Nadale.