Chapter 83
Demonic Energy.
It was the power forming the foundation of heretics.
Usually, refining demonic energy to generate black magic was the common usage.
However, among the members of Baobab, there were also those who overlaid demonic energy in ways that deviated from the norm.
Beings who caused calamities by combining demonic energy with their own talents.
Performance, singing, painting, description, etc.
It was an ability manifested by only an extremely small number.
The church referred to such individuals as Katasto.
It means calamity in ancient language.
'The Conductor.'
He was the most representative Katasto figure in the original work.
You could say the word calamity truly suited him.
In fact, he had caused numerous casualties.
If one fell into the melody performed by the Conductor, their essence would be corrupted by inescapable demonic energy.
It was a principle of transformation similar to becoming a chimera.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!"
Corruption was also a concept in the same category as chimeras.
Once changed, it couldn't be reversed.
A broken vessel cannot be restored.
Of course, it wasn't that there was absolutely no way.
I had 'lies' after all.
It was possible to do something like reverting Anne.
But that was just saying it was possible; in reality, it was somewhat distant content.
As a result, I didn't have the capacity to save these people.
"Process them all."
Even when reverting Anne, I had to consume nearly 60% of my output.
Roughly taking a healthy adult as the standard, the scale of output consumed would be at least 80% at minimum.
If I saved one.
That would be the end after that.
'Moreover.'
It was a situation where I had to conserve output anyway.
To clear the Conductor's stage and save the missing collaborator, there needed to be no more output consumption than this at least.
Capture was difficult as they weren't trapped in iron bars like the previous chimeras.
I had merely made the best choice.
I couldn't save everyone.
It was a sentence I had learned while fiercely surviving the past 3 years since possessing.
Because life was never lighter than several lies.
Therefore,
We had to take steps.
Cutting down one by one the banners that were once pure white priestly robes, now dyed black.
Taking the last breaths of poor lambs who had turned their backs on God.
"Move the remaining survivors outside. Have them quickly transferred to hospitals through Lena."
Of course, death wasn't everything.
People who hadn't changed yet were also sporadically sprawled on the blood-soaked floor.
They were those who luckily escaped the range of the 'melody'.
Though most were unconscious and in serious condition, the members calmly continued rescue operations.
Such exceptional situations existed.
"In the case of young children, even if they are corrupted, they don't show violence. There are only about ten of them, so we'll restrain them separately and take them to headquarters. Treatment is something we can proceed with over time."
"Understood, Master."
I hoped to save at least the children.
When adults give up on adults it's a cold world, but the moment adults give up on children, everything in the world degrades to trash.
My world seemed closer to winter than a landfill yet.
Leaving behind a scene of crimson snow, we crossed the endless corridor.
"I've dealt with those ahead."
Irene was the most active in the melee.
The girl orderly processed the priests swarming from the front along with fluttering flames.
She faithfully carried out the instructions I had given.
In the midst of that, when she turned to look this way, I had to stroke her head each time.
To mean she was doing sufficiently well.
"I've finished clearing ahead."
"Good work."
"...There's no need to stroke me even in this situation, you know?"
The fox furrowing her brow as if asking what I was doing during a mission.
However, contrary to her prickly response, the crimson tail visible behind her was swaying gently.
As if she couldn't hide it herself.
It was Irene who slightly averted her gaze, then grasped her sword again.
Clang! Crack...! Thud!
The battle continued.
Not long after that, we were finally able to reach the end of the corridor.
A single shabby door appeared before our eyes.
"Haa, haa... Is it over once we get past here?"
The fox was breathing heavily.
While approaching close to the door, I firmly shook my head at the question.
What was about to happen from now was important.
If we made a mistake here, it could be a situation where the entire surrounding city including this cathedral would be endangered.
That's why I had been conserving output until now.
"We can't carelessly pass through here."
I stopped the members putting their hands on the door.
Beyond this was hell.
The Conductor's concert would be waiting for us.
In the original work, it was the area that became the boss stage.
As it was a space where a terrible melody continued, entry was difficult without passive mental skills.
I lightly scanned the members standing beside me.
"Hmm."
Neria, Irene, Lena, etc.
They were all outstanding individuals, but not suitable for this stage.
Taking them would only be poison.
They might suddenly change and attack allies.
However,
It was also impossible for me to block mental attacks for them.
Of course, it would be possible if I consumed lies, but considering the danger waiting beyond that door, wasting output on trivial things was not a good choice.
I showed a contemplative look while holding my chin for a moment.
It was for someone to see.
"This is troublesome."
Though there were many people with strong mental power, there weren't many with mental barriers.
It was an innate skill.
I muttered for no reason while smacking my lips regretfully.
"It would be nice if there was someone who could join together."
I glanced sideways behind me.
At the end where my gaze caught, there was only a wall blocking the view.
As if pretending there was no one there.
I smiled gently.
Then I casually threw out a question.
"I need someone with strong basic physical abilities, not easily shaken, and equipped with a mental barrier..."
There happened to be just the right material.
"How about it? Your Highness."
A single word aimed precisely at one side.
Soon, as if realizing she had been found out, a presence that had been hiding in the corner revealed itself.
My gaze was captivated by brilliant platinum blonde hair.
"...You knew."
Blue eyes blinking blankly.
Her characteristic doll-like atmosphere melted into her expressionless face.
The dazzling platinum blonde hair proved the girl's identity.
The First Imperial Princess of the Empire, Charlotte Little von Staufen.
One of the main characters appeared in the original work.
Though it was a time when she should have been at the academy, for some reason the girl had been tailing us since earlier.
I smiled gently towards Charlotte before me.
"I didn't expect to see Your Highness in a place like this."
"Yes. Nice to see you."
The girl nodded her head.
Not even a trace of bewilderment was visible in her calm eyes.
It was Charlotte greeting lightly as if encountering me at the academy as usual.
Rather, I ended up being flustered.
"You're incredibly composed."
"I'm surprised. Very much so."
"I don't get that feeling at all from your shown reaction."
"Is that so...?"
It was an expression of truly not knowing.
The girl tilting her head.
Perhaps because her basic concept was four-dimensional, she always bounced in unpredictable directions.
As we paused briefly, this time Charlotte asked.
"Since when did you know? That I was behind."
"The basement stairs."
"You mean you knew from the beginning."
"I regret it. The moment I heightened my senses, I ended up detecting even Your Highness nearby."
"Yes, that's right. It's regrettable."
A few words were exchanged lightly.
I put the small talk behind and mentioned the previous question again.
"So what do you think? I'd like to hear your opinion."
Charlotte happened to be a person with a mental barrier.
From birth, she was innately protected under the Empire's unique blessing.
In addition, her physical abilities were also top-class.
'Just right.'
Originally I had planned to enter alone, but having a companion could lessen the burden a bit.
It probably wasn't a bad proposal for Charlotte either.
After all, her purpose for coming here was the same as mine.
Investigation of this incident, and tracking heretics.
Though their reasons for chasing them were different, we were in a situation looking in similar directions.
This matter was especially too much for her to resolve with her power alone.
She would need help.
'This will be a good opportunity.'
The girl happened to be in a desperate situation regarding the 'Rose' problem.
It said everything that she was running around the scene directly.
I was thinking I should throw out bait soon anyway, so I was even glad such an appropriate opportunity arose.
It seemed I could drastically narrow the distance with her through this chance.
"...Alright. Let's go together."
Charlotte, who had been contemplating briefly, eventually nodded her head.
We exchanged a light handshake.
Once the decision was made, there was no time to hesitate.
Even at this moment, the given countdown was ticking away.
We placed our hands on the gate covered in ominous patterns, with only a brief equipment check behind us.
A chilling sensation spread through our fingertips.
"We're going."
We opened the door like that.
A bright red flash swallowed our vision.
We stepped with unwavering feet towards beyond the threshold.
***
The boss stage we arrived at like that.
We were facing a bizarre scene before our eyes.
"Is this...?"
A space where crimson blood waves surged.
In the endlessly continuing landscape, a vast sea filled only with blood was waiting for us.
The children facing the expansive scene couldn't help but freeze.
Screech-.
The melody that was faint until just now was now heard clearly to the point it couldn't be erased.
It was a cacophony as if tearing into our ears.
When we turned our heads following the source of the noise, a figure standing amidst the crimson fog came into view.
It was playing a violin while standing in the middle of the sea of blood.
"......"
It was a familiar face.
As expected, perhaps fallen victim to the Conductor's melody, she had a corrupted appearance that had forgotten her essence.
I muttered while looking at the woman continuing her intense performance.
"Miss Medro..."
The Vicar General of the church, and the person in charge overseeing this Liszt branch.
At the same time, a collaborator of Astro.
She was the target we needed to save in this mission.
As expected, the woman had become the Conductor's puppet and was waiting for an audience to come to this bright red stage.
Medro's rolling pupils discovered us.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
The woman immediately screamed.
I maintained calmness while gathering lies at my fingertips.
Charlotte was also drawing her sword.
"Let's give it a try."
"Yes."
It was the opening of a terrible concert.