While enjoying the desperate expressions of the nobles, while watching the nobles dying, suddenly the barrier began to crack.
"Everyone..."
I said to all the Umbra Vitae members who were here.
They nodded their heads as if they understood what I meant.
I then looked at Jack, and asked Frum.
"Do you still have that mask?"
"Our Umbra Vitae mask?"
"Yes."
"Yes, I brought some. Esie hasn't gotten it either."
"Then give it to me again."
"Ah."
Frum finally realized what I meant. So Frum took the mask out of his bag and threw it to me.
I accepted the mask and gave it to Jack.
"Put this on. It will cover your face."
"Is that okay?"
"Just shut up and wear it."
"Okay!"
After I gave the order, Jack immediately put on the Mask.
This way, Jack wouldn't become an enemy of the Church this time.
"Have you put everyone to sleep?"
*Nod*
I looked at all the nobles and rich merchants here and they were all asleep thanks to the sleeping pills we put in the air when the auction started.
I then stared at the hole to the barrier that was getting bigger, only a few seconds left before it completely opened.
"Everyone, prepare to escape."
"Eh? Is it really over?"
"Yes, the appearance of the Theocracy here already guarantees our victory. Although it was not a pleasant battle, but our goal has been accomplished."
(I'll leave the rest to them.)
Then I suddenly got a call from Esie.
"Esie? What's wrong?"
"I've secured our escape route. I'm just waiting for your orders."
"Good job, Esie. Ah, I brought your mask. When you come here, wear it."
"I understand."
"Alright, then leave the rest to me. I'll trick them."
"Is it really okay? Aren't they people with S rank?"
"Yes, but they're still humans. Humans are creatures that are easily tricked."
I then looked at my Crow Cloak.
"I believe you."
Then the barrier broke completely and silhouettes of several people appeared there.
(Time for the master trickster to appear once again.)
"Let's start this funny stage."
...
"Kate, how about we go on a date after this?"
Zachary suddenly started talking silly again as I managed to destroy the barrier that was blocking us.
"Stop messing around, right now we have a mission."
"Eh! Does that mean you'll accept my invitation this time?"
"I won't."
"Ehhh~"
"Stop joking around, Zachary."
After making sure the barrier was opened for all of us to enter, I looked at all the members.
"Everyone, we're going to capture the people inside. They are dangerous people who are corrupting the religion of our god."
I then took the sword from my waist and raised it up.
"For the sake of the Theocracy!"
"""For the sake of the Theocracy!!!"""
After that we prepared and were about to open the barrier but at that moment, Zachary whispered to me.
"But we still have to be careful, Kate."
"What do you mean the person who gave us this information?"
"Yes, we don't know what they're telling us."
"Right, it's quite suspicious to tell such confidential information if it's not from a direct member of this Slave Market."
I then held tightly to the necklace on my chest. A dark but also very warm memory of that day. Thanks to that I was able to stand here.
I then began to continue my words.
"But it could be that the person who gave this information is a truly sincere person."
"...You're still too kind, leader."
Zachary seemed to sigh with an expression as if he was used to it, even so Zachary's expression looked pleased.
"But that trait is what I like about you."
"Yes yes, I'm grateful for your feelings. If you have time for such things, then you better give it to our god."
"Ahaha!"
After that we started to enter the barrier in combat mode.
And as soon as we entered, our noses immediately smelled a very strong odor of blood. I and the rest of the group were immediately shocked when the ground we stepped on was a pool of blood.
"What the hell?"
"Welcome, friends of the Theocracy."
And in front of us appeared a man in a dark black robe bowing his head to us as if welcoming us.
We were all immediately alerted by the appearance of the mysterious person.
"Who are you? Did you do all this?"
The person then raised his head and we who should have been able to see his face could not recognize him.
(Cognitive manipulation magic?)
If it's illusion magic, then I should be able to recognize it after all, illusion magic doesn't work on me. But I currently can't recognize the face of the person in front of me, meaning this isn't illusion magic.
I heard that there is indeed magic that can manipulate a person's cognition, but I didn't think there would be someone who could do it.
Not only did it make me unable to recognize appearance but also that person's strength. Whether that person is strong or weak, I don't know.
But if that person can still be relaxed even when facing me and Zachary then it's at least certain that this person is stronger than the knight we fought before.
I then used a very strong killing aura to intimidate that person but that person did not look scared.
Instead, the person beside him who was carrying a scythe that had a terrifying aura looked wary of us.
(Besides, that person looks like he has already predicted our appearance.)
"Are you..."
"Yes, we are the ones who called you here."
Then 8 people appeared behind him. I was a little surprised by the appearance of the additional members.
When I entered the first time, I sensed that there were 7 existences that I couldn't analyze their strength but now there were more.
"Us?"
"Yes, let me introduce myself. We are the organization that takes care of the darkness of this Kingdom, at least for now. Just call us, Umbra Vitae."
The man then threw an injured noble at me. I caught the noble.
"What are you doing! How dare you-"
"That person is the one who supports this slave market."
Hearing those words, I immediately let go of my hand and the noble immediately fell down. Feeling like my hands were tainted because of that disgusting existence, I backed away from the noble.
"What a reaction befitting a Theocracy enthusiast."
"What? What does that mean?"
Although I didn't understand this person's power, I couldn't stand idly by while the Theocracy was being insulted.
"Okay, it looks like it's time for us to leave."
"Huh? You thought we'd let you!"
Although these people helped us find the slave market, their identities were too suspicious. We had to check them out as well.
"Of course, since we are shadows."
Then one of the members began to disappear into the darkness as if being swallowed by the darkness.
(What was that?)
I didn't feel any traces of magic at all, so does that mean it wasn't magic?
"Leader, don't stand idly by. We have to catch them!"
"Ah! Everyone! Catch them!"
Then everyone immediately moved towards the people who called themselves Umbra Vitae.
But each member began to disappear into the darkness, even as our members couldn't touch them.
"Ah, by the way if possible please don't execute all of them. At least you can execute people who don't have strong influence, but people with strong influence can definitely escape punishment. So it's better that you focus on executing people with weak influence."
When only that person was left, instead of being afraid, he started talking casually even though he was surrounded.
"Why-"
"Before I go, let me tell you, Kate."
"What?"
I was immediately surprised, did that person just call my name? Does this person know me?
"The country you love and want to protect is not what you think it is. You should take a good look at your own country, if you want to be someone who can save someone."
Then the person's body began to become dark, then the person looked at me and began to say something in a very low voice that only I could hear. After that, the person's body disappeared into the darkness.
"Shit!"
Zachary, who had fallen silent at the man's words, realized too late that it was a trick and we ended up letting them get away.
(There are dark shadows in the Theocracy, huh? What does that mean?)
I remembered that person's words and could only remain silent while staring at the broken roof.
"Looks like we got fooled by them."
Zachary looked annoyed to see the previous suspicious people get away. I was also a little late in realizing that.
"A-ah. Yeah, that's right."
"It sucks but it's probably better to let them get away. We're not sure of the strength of each member of them. Plus they must be very strong to slaughter this army alone."
"Yes. I feel like we'll see them again someday."
"Does Leader think so?"
"Yes, so we should find out about them."
"That's right."
(Umbra Vitae. I'll remember your names.)