The Priest of Complete Dispel ~ Every Time I Save a Cursed Beautiful Girl with My Status Abnormal Cure Skill, For Some Reason Her Dependence on Me Maxes Out ~

Chapter 48.2: Mansion Infiltration ※

With a low voice, the man in black suit spoke curtly.

An expressionless face behind sunglasses.

Erina followed his back and quietly boarded the carriage.

Behind her, Glen and the others tailed at a distance. The destination was the outskirts of the west district—Bulldog’s mansion.

The moment she looked up at the mansion they reached, Erina caught her breath.

“This is…”

What loomed before her was a magnificent building like a castle.

The grand gate, which resembled iron bars, was adorned with goldwork, and a fountain was visible in the grounds beyond.

It was far too luxurious to be funded by church sources alone.

(As expected of an archbishop class… But even so, isn’t this earning too much…?)

With astonishment and wariness in her chest, Erina pressed her lips together.

The man in black behind her bowed respectfully.

“—Please enter. After that, feel free to enjoy yourselves.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

The man said nothing more and vanished with his footsteps.

Left alone before the door, Erina took a small breath and stepped inside with resolve.

Inside was the very clamor of a glamorous social party.

Glimmering light from ornate chandeliers sparkled, and women in dresses and gentlemen in tailcoats chatted in the venue.

The scents of perfume and wine mingled, creating a sweet, suffocating air.

“Oh, are you a first-time participant?”

“Uh, yes…”

The one who spoke to her was a small man with a trimmed mustache.

His eyes gleamed strangely.

“I’m a merchant named Balbo. Actually, this is my first time too, so I was a bit nervous.”

“Mr. Balbo… I’m Liena. This is my first time as well…”

“Haha, what a coincidence. Would you like to join me? I’ll introduce you to the others.”

“…Yes. Please.”

Erina—no, Liena, as she called herself—smiled and followed.

Along the way, a waiter offered a silver tray.

“Customer, this is the wine.”

“Thank you.”

Red light rippled on the surface of the glass she took.

But—Erina’s eyes sharpened slightly.

(I can’t trust the drinks served here…)

She quietly began chanting in a low voice.

“<Purification>”

Faint light enveloped the glass, and the liquid instantly turned clear and transparent.

She observed her surroundings while sipping the water.

“—Everyone, this is Lady Liena, a first-time participant like me. Please get along with her.”

The place she was led to had four men and women.

But the moment she saw their faces—Erina’s body stiffened.

(J-Jilbe…!?)

The one there was a guard—Jilbe.

The man in charge of inspections in the adventure city of Hares. It was impossible for a commoner like him to be in such a luxurious place.

(Why… Why are you here…? My disguise…)

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jilbe. Nice to meet you, Liena.”

“Y-Yes…”

She forced a smile and exchanged formal greetings with the other three.

Fortunately, she had not been exposed—Erina let out a small breath of relief.

And so they continued chatting as a group of six for a while.

But at this rate, she would gather no evidence.

Erina boldly changed the topic.

“—Um, is the archbishop not attending today?”

She still had not seen Bulldog.

“The archbishop seems busy. Do you need something?”

“No… I just thought, as one of the faithful, it would be an honor to meet him.”

“Haha, that’s understandable.”

Light laughter mixed in.

Erina smiled to cover the moment—but in the next instant.

“Ah…”

“What’s wrong? Did you perhaps drink too much?”

One of the women suddenly staggered and collapsed into the chest of the man beside her.

The man supported her while looking around.

“This… It seems the alcohol has hit her. I’ll let her rest a bit.”

With that, he carried the woman off down a corridor deeper in.

(…No way, was something really slipped in!?)

Erina’s heart pounded like a bell.

Straining her eyes, she saw similar irregularities happening one after another around her.

Women collapsed in succession, men supported them, and carried them deeper in.

(—As I thought, this party is to entrap women…)

Erina began chanting a magic to prompt awakening—but in that instant, her vision shook.

“—Ah… U…!”

“Liena? Are you okay?”

Jilbe reached out and supported Erina.

(The wine was purified… So why… No, my consciousness… If I collapse here… Jilbe, you…)

Her vision turned white, and the last thing she saw was

Jilbe supporting her—with a sneering smile.

◇◇◇

“—Erina, is she okay? It feels a bit too late.”

“Glen, I understand how you feel, but… Let’s wait a little longer. The signal hasn’t come yet.”

“Nnnu… I’m about at my limit too. I hope nothing’s happening inside…”

As night began to fall.

The three of Silver Blade hid their breaths before the gate of Bulldog’s mansion.

“Now that I think about it, this infiltration might have been a bit too straightforward. If her identity is exposed… The temple knights might come storming the guild.”

“If the scandal hasn’t become public yet, Bulldog might be able to mobilize the temple knights… If we mess up, we could end up being framed instead.”

Silence fell.

The three knew all too well the terror of the church’s power.

No matter how strong the adventurers, they were not opponents to make enemies of as a group.

“Erina… Please be safe…”

As Glen muttered that—

“Finally, I found you!!”

A hurried voice echoed from behind with the sound of footsteps.

Turning around, Iris and Medina came running, out of breath.

“Iris, and even Medina… What happened? Is something wrong?”

“Lord Glen, it’s terrible!”

Iris continued with an urgent expression.

“When Lady Medina infiltrated the underground facility, she overheard it! The guard Jilbe—that Jilbe was using the underground facility! And now, you are being targeted by the demon Dorotheia!”

“Wha… Jilbe!? No way…”

“And the demons directly targeting us—?”

Glen and Risia returned shock at Iris’s words.

“Yes, I definitely heard it. So please leave here immediately! If it’s near Bulldog’s mansion, Dorotheia could be there too!”

“But Erina is inside…!”

“Erina is infiltrating in disguise right now.”

Iris, having grasped the situation, tried to advise evacuating Erina.

“But it’s dangerous now, retreat! Your lives—”

However, another voice drowned out Iris’s words.

“—Oh…? I heard there were four preys. Hehe, it seems a bit different.”

Across the street.

With the night lights at her back, pale purple skin and white hair gleamed妖しく.