[ ~ Chapter • Start ~ ]
Rance raised Chaos to effortlessly deflect a dagger that was thrown towards Rozen, even if she was able to dodge it.
The Archbishop walked up towards Rance with a disdainful expression present on his face, leaving the six bishops under him to begin observing what was going to unfold at this moment.
"Tsk.... How troublesome...." Archbishop Lumens began to speak, as mana began to gather towards his staff. "Rise up, templars! Once we're done with this Demon, we'll make our-"
Rance immediately wanted to shut him up by throwing Chaos right towards Lumens, as under reflex, a barrier of golden light appeared before him to prevent Rance's sword from going further, yet cracks were already showing up.
Our protagonist leaped forward and broke the barrier by pushing Chaos forward, and with a careful movement, threw an uppercut to the Archbishop.
"TOOOUUU!!!!"
*crack!*
Lumens was launched up to the air, and soon landed on the ground head-first, his staff tossed away and his mitre (basically his headdress) launched out of him. He became unconscious seconds later.
The Templars that were awake rushed towards Rance to attack him, yet one of them suddenly screamed in pain, as two obsidian daggers dug into his back.
"We completely forgot about the Demon's subordinate!" One of the templars yelled, before Rozen flipped forwards, daggers pulled out and eyes locked on towards another Templar.
"Stop them both!" A bishop spoke, yet the Rance and Rozen immediately dealt with the heavily armored knights inside the very room, the latter having more trouble than the former.
After that, almost two dozen Templars were laying on the ground, either dead or just unconscious.
"I'm taking you all to Celestine." Rance spoke, glaring at the six bishops with a frown on his face. He knew that if they were let alone for a long time, something bad would happen like him being overthrown quite easily.
He really didn't like losing a position given to him by the busty, former virgin goddess Celestine. Especially when he knew it would raise his chances of getting the other princesses to his harem on this world.
In short, he wants to do his priorities straight.
So, he beat the crap out of the Bishops, except two of them who swore loyalty to him instead of shouting pure nonsense. After that, he pulled the Archbishop by his hair and commanded anybody to carry the living and barely alive bodies with him to Celestine.
Don't worry, the room they entered will be cleaned and will look new once they come back here. Also, after this, Rance would manipulate the information to paint the fact that one of Olga's new monsters had sneaked into the Castle and left no traces after it's death.
Meanwhile.....
"What happened?" The archbishop woke up in a dark cell, sitting on a chair, tied up tightly to prevent escape. The dim light nearby suggested they were at a deeper part of Geofu's prison, made especially for the lowest of criminals.
Once he tried using magic to escape, he found out that he was unable to because of cuffs locked on his wrists and ankles. At least his clothing was still the same.
Lumens then remembered something, he was knocked out by Rance and brought to this accursed place.
"Archbishop Lumens..... I have a question to ask."
Celestine's voice reached his ears, and he immediately looked at her, who was just beside him.
"Lady Celestine-?"
"Don't "Lady Celestine" her, you shitty traitor."
Suddenly, Rance appeared from the shadows, walking towards him with an obvious expression of disgust.
Upon seeing him, Lumens immediately growled and glared at him.
"And shut your mouth old man. Do you know the punishment of the crime of treason?" Rance asked, and Lumens grimaced, knowing whatever would come out of his mouth wouldn't be good. "Normally, you'd be locked here for several decades. But now.... I decided execution is the best way to cut of whatever future annoying pests would do."
'What?! Does he really mean it!?' Lumens thought, as when Rance was close enough to deliver a killing blow, Celestine interrupted him.
"Rance, please wait for a moment." Celestine spoke, approaching Rance and gently pushing his arm back then narrowing her eyes towards . "Lumens.... I am very disappointed in you, why must you do this? I cannot forgive you for this treason, therefore I must take away the blessings I have given you."
Those words alone struck the old man's heart. The way Celestine looked at him added salt to an imaginary wound as there was pity, disappointment, and even a small tinge of regret on her face. There was no sign of hatred, and any other negative emotions.
"Y-you don't understand, Lady Celestine! I-"
"Stop the drama already and accept your punishment like the others that served you!" Rance impatiently yelled, swiftly swinging his sword to decapitate the archbishop, leaving him dead almost immediately before several glowing particles of Divine Energy came out of him, flowing towards Celestine.
Celestine didn't dare look at it, only slowly leaving the cage with closed eyes. Even if this was needed, Celestine had began to realize that she was.... idle.
This was her fault, right? The kingdoms were all turning against each other due to her, yet she felt as if something like this was needed even if she did hate it.
She almost wished she was never born to this world, everything horrible that happened all traced back to her.
But enough of that, Rance must know the truth at the very right time, maybe at the time he reunites the seven kingdoms back into the Empire of Eostia.
And then, Rance blocked her way, looking as if he had something in his chest to speak out while a grin crept up his face.
"Celestine, you remember where I was summoned, right? And you said you can transport us to the insides of the fortresses, too? I have a plan I've been wanting to tell you all this time, and surely you wouldn't mind it?"
Celestine's eyes widened. Without her powers of divination she was unable to know what was his plan, and due to this a burst of curiosity came from her.
[ ~ Chapter • End ~ ]
Author's Commentary: And with that, I don't have to worry about lengthening this volume because most of the corruption that would have taken root was cut off before something bad happens.
Next chapter: Infiltrating Ur
[ OMAKE ]
Several hours after Rance killed Lumens, news spread about Olga Discordia's monsters that blended in the shadows and vanished after their deaths.
Lumens and the four bishops under him's "martyrdoms" were also spread, and due to that, most of the citizens of Geofu mourned him.
One of the bishops was immediately put into the Archbishop Position even though it was too sudden, yet without hesitation gave an oath towards Celestine and Rance before accepting his role as the new Archbishop.