The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 76

Following the original plan, after handing over the Torquemada Inquisition Officer, Es and Sada, along with two heretics who had been under Torquemada’s command, to the waiting family near the hidden passage exit, Kano and I promptly returned to Gigastone Castle.

As we emerged from the archives into the castle’s corridors, Kano said in a frail voice, “Don, what on earth is going on…”

I didn’t understand what was happening either. On our return to Gigastone Castle, it was eerily quiet, not just silent. It was as if the entire castle had fallen asleep, with a drowsy presence permeating the air.

Even the Holy Knight guarding this section was odd. He swayed his head and dozed off while standing.

And the more we walked through the castle, the more overwhelming Lily’s skill felt.

“Everyone has been put to sleep…”

In the great hall, in addition to the nobles, the guarding Holy Knights, and, not present earlier, five senior knights from the First Holy Order were also asleep.

Normally, senior knights don’t undertake such duties, so it was clear these five had been assigned after the current situation began.

Kano and I proceeded at full speed to Duke LeBlanc’s room, remaining cautious.

The situation in the Duke’s room was the same. A team composed of elite Holy Knights, including a special class, surrounded the Duke who sat sleeping in his chair. Even they had been put to sleep.

“Don, this person is injured!” Kano pointed out.

It was Michel, a special class Holy Knight, whom I secretly respected for his diligent fulfillment of duties, a knight of the old school.

Knight Michel had stabbed a dagger into his own thigh and fallen asleep, probably an attempt to fight off the sleepiness. However, the result was the same.

I pulled the knife from Michel’s thigh and poured a potion on it to prevent him from dying in his sleep.

In Michel’s other hand was a fragment of paper. I picked it up and unfolded it; the paper had shaky writing on it that was hard to read.

“It was commanded by Knight Commander Cecil to defend Duke LeBlanc at all costs, but one by one, my fellow knights are falling asleep. I don’t know how much longer I can resist. Amidst intense drowsiness, my strength wanes, and I am unable to evacuate Duke LeBlanc.”

The note ended with:

“Just now, Knight Commander Cecil’s presence vanished near Prince Raymond’s chambers.”

A chill ran down my spine. I hadn’t anticipated that even Saintess Cecil would succumb to a heretical skill.

Torquemada had mentioned that the heretical abilities of Lily Ludwig were extraordinary, but I had thought Cecil could handle it.

Through Kano’s abilities, I commanded the escaped heretic, Sokrate, who was waiting near Gigastone Castle, to take Duke LeBlanc out of the castle. It was a risk since Sokrate might also be put to sleep, but it was better than doing nothing.

After instructing Sokrate, Kano and I headed towards Prince Raymond’s bedroom, deducing that the source of the heretical skill might be there.

Prince Raymond’s bedroom was located high up in Gigastone Castle. As we ascended the stairs and approached the room, the strange aura in Gigastone Castle intensified.

When we reached the eighth floor of Gigastone Castle, where Prince Raymond’s bedroom was located, I instructed Kano, “Fly up!”

The moment Kano and I soared up, two slashes crossed where we had been standing. Following that, a statue of a hero in the castle was neatly split in half.

When Kano and I landed back on the ground, we came face-to-face with the source of the slashes. Before us stood a man who had transformed his arms into blades resembling those of a praying mantis.

I knew this heretic, Marikiri, a high-ranking member of the Capone family, from wanted posters I had seen during my time as a knight.

Marikiri said, “I was told everyone was asleep, so why are you here?”

“That’s my line. Why is a high-ranking member of Capone in Gigastone Castle?”

“I know your face. You’re the boss of a rival group! This is a great opportunity for promotion!”

Marikiri laughed as he unleashed continuous wave-enhanced slashes. Kano and I dodged, but with each strike, the furnishings and walls of the castle were neatly sliced.

“Heh, you’re pretty agile!” Marikiri turned his attention to Kano. “Hey, you’re really cute!”

As Marikiri continued slashing, the dress Kano was wearing was cut into pieces.

Kano cried out, “This dress, Don and I chose it together!”

“Sorry about that, I was imagining Saintess Cecil with a doped-up face, and I got a bit

 too excited. Next, I’ll cut your underwear too!”

Hearing Marikiri’s vulgar words, my mind went blank, as if I were reliving the moment when Nadale Deputy Captain, disguised as Grittz, mocked us by showing images of Prince Raymond and Cecil.

Before I knew it, I had punched Marikiri in the face.

Marikiri was blown back, crashing into the wall, which then collapsed. After a moment of dazed confusion, he slowly stood up and blocked our way again, his face now devoid of any smile and dripping with blood.

“You’re incredibly strong, just as the rumors said… Who are you, Don Michino?”

“I’m me. Now answer me, what do you mean by ‘aphrodisiac’?”

Marikiri readied his arms again, blades pointed at me.

“Aphrodisiac is just that, an aphrodisiac. You guys should be happy too. If this plan succeeds, the powers of the Saintess who torments us heretics will be gone. It’s the dawn of a golden era for the Dark Guild!”

The Saintess’s power disappearing? I remained silent, staring at the door to Prince Raymond’s room. Suddenly, Marikiri shouted, “Lucky! Wide open!” and crossed his arms before unleashing a flash of light.

I kept my gaze on the door, activating the ‘Electrification’ skill I had obtained from the female heretic during the earlier skirmish in the hidden passage. The moment Marikiri touched me, he screamed in pain, his body stiffening from the electric shock. Following up with a punch, the Capone executive collapsed to the ground.

I immediately headed to the front of Prince Raymond’s room and flung open the door.

As I stepped into the room, an unnaturally dark ambiance spread, and whispers of a man and a woman were audible. Slowly, I entered Prince Raymond’s room.