Chapter 30: The Ruinous Gathering (5)

‘Wh-what in the world is this…?’

Having descended into the basement, Arian clamped a hand over her mouth at the grotesque and horrific scene spread before her.

Iron bars like a prison, and inside them, bizarre creatures trapped within.

She had heard stories about the cultists committing heinous acts, but she hadn't imagined it would be to this extent.

It truly exceeded imagination.

To the point where it was hard to believe the creatures responsible for this were fellow humans.

Fighting down the urge to vomit, she turned her head and saw the Saint, just as Franz had said.

The Saint was kneeling, hands clasped before her chest, reciting prayers.

Brilliant golden divine power flowed from her body, gradually transforming the monstrous creatures inside the cages back into human forms.

However, it clearly wasn't easy; numerous beads of sweat dotted the Saint's forehead.

Anyway,

She wondered where Franz had left his coat, and it turned out the Saint had it.

He must have been concerned about her being only in her sleepwear.

It was flimsy, thin sleepwear that seemed almost translucent.

‘Wait, sleepwear?’

Arian felt a pang of upset for a moment but quickly shook her head, banishing the thought.

No matter what, the Saint was working so hard; she couldn't just stand beside her feeling jealous.

And the Saint must have been flustered too.

Suddenly barged in on while in her pajamas and dragged here.

What's more, if it was by a man she was interested in?

She'd probably kick her blankets furiously for a week, wondering, 'Why did I have to wear these pajamas today of all days?'

By the way,

‘Is everything alright upstairs?’

Arian worried about Franz and the Hero back in the gathering hall.

It was clear Duke Ishtar was planning to pull some stunt.

While she thought the Hero and the Tower Master would be fine, a sense of unease lingered in a corner of her heart.

It was then.

BOOM-!

A sudden roar echoed as the ground trembled.

Consequently, the mana stone lamps hanging on the walls shook violently before falling to the floor, and dust rained down from the ceiling—pat-pat-pat.

Even amidst this, Yustia continued her prayers, unfazed.

Not a speck of dust stained her clothes; they remained pristine.

This was thanks to Arian creating a transparent mana barrier just in time to protect her.

‘That startled me…’

Arian clutched her racing heart and looked upwards.

It seemed something had happened in the gathering hall.

I hope it’s nothing serious…

The small anxiety in her heart grew larger.

How much time passed like that?

Beads of sweat gathered at the tip of Yustia's chin dripped, wetting the floor, and her breaths grew ragged.

Finally, when Yustia stopped reciting the prayer.

The bizarre monsters inside the cages were nowhere to be seen, and only two red-haired women lay on the cold floor.

It had been uncertain if it was possible due to their prolonged exposure to Magi, but Yustia had managed it.

"It's, it's finished."

As she said that and tried to stand up, Yustia's vision momentarily went black.

Simultaneously, she felt something warm trickle from her nose.

Having used too much divine power and then standing up abruptly, she experienced temporary anemia.

"Ah, really…"

Arian quickly supported her and took out a handkerchief, offering it.

Yustia, barely regaining her balance, accepted the handkerchief and wiped away the nosebleed.

‘Admirable.’

Setting aside personal feelings, Arian respected the Saint.

How many people in the world could sacrifice themselves like that for others?

She felt like she understood why she was called the Saint.

Of course, that didn't mean she would hand over Franz.

Soon after, Arian sent a mental message to Franz.

[It's done. Both women are safe.]

***

This happened before Yustia saved Yuna's mother and younger sister.

KWAAANG-!

Magic clashed against magic, and a deafening roar echoed.

"Do you have any idea how much effort I put in for this day?! It's been a whole 7 years since the Hero appeared! For 7 years, I've waited only for this moment! And you!"

Duke Ishtar practically spewed raw emotion.

He frantically fired off spells, proving to be utterly annoying.

If Franz had his way, he'd want to kill him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, which was troublesome.

It felt like dealing with a persistent gnat buzzing right in front of his eyes that he couldn't kill.

‘This won’t do.’

Ultimately, Franz decided to use a firmer approach.

One should know when to give up when being toyed with moderately, but what was with this overflowing passion?

Snap-.

As Franz snapped his fingers, a massive magic circle materialized beneath Duke Ishtar's feet.

Immediately, chains erupted from the magic circle, binding the Duke's body.

It was an application of the sealing magic the Duke himself had used.

There was a phrase for this situation, surely…

"Ishtar, your magic was awesome."

Yes, that was it.

"Do you think you'll get away with this! I'll tear your limbs apart and kill you! The secretary you brought, the Saint, the Hero, and that pointy-eared one too! I'll rip them to shreds…"

Finding it hard to ignore the insulting words, Franz teleported directly in front of the Duke.

As Franz raised a finger and slowly began to trace a circle, simultaneously, one of the Duke's arms, bound by the chains, started to twist grotesquely.

"St-stop it! Ugh, Aaargh-!"

Snap, crunch-.

Ligaments and muscles tore, and the skin, unable to stretch further, ripped open.

Only after the arm was completely detached from the body did Franz's finger stop moving.

Franz grabbed his hair, pulling his head up to meet his eyes.

"Keep talking. I'll make you wish you were dead."

Gulp-.

Duke Ishtar swallowed hard.

Fear filled his eyes.

He couldn't move, and magic didn't work, so what exactly was he relying on to act so cocky?

Was he perhaps stupid?

Then again, if he were smart in the first place, he wouldn't have thought of collaborating with cultists or using the Hero.

Franz released the Duke's hair and turned towards Yuna, who was similarly bound in chains.

"Franz, hurry up and undo this."

Yuna's voice was calmer than ever before.

So calm it felt eerie.

They say some people become calmer when their anger reaches its peak, and Yuna felt exactly like that right now.

If he released the seal now, she would probably destroy the world.

So, apologies, but he couldn't grant that wish.

Instead, it seemed he could deliver better news.

[It's done. Both women are safe.]

It was the mental message from Arian.

She had said she wasn't sure, but Yustia had pulled it off after all.

Franz inwardly cheered repeatedly.

Finally, finally, the end of this damned branching point was in sight.

"Yuna, your mother and younger sister are safe."

Franz smiled and spoke softly.

Gradually, life returned to Yuna's eyes.

Soon, she blinked, then her eyes flew wide open as if they would tear.

"Really, really? Mom and my sister are alive?!"

"Yes, Yustia worked hard. Thank her later."

"Where, where are they?! I, I want to see them. Quickly…!"

At Yuna's urging, Franz immediately brought Arian, Yustia, and the two red-haired women from the basement.

Yuna's family wasn't in good condition.

They were so thin they looked skeletal, and their skin was pale.

But they were definitely alive.

The faint sound of breathing and the rise and fall of their chests were proof.

"M-Mom, Yuria…!"

Yuna cried out desperately.

Her voice, thick with tears, somehow made the tip of Franz's nose tingle.

"Franz, quickly, quickly undo this."

"Alright."

Franz channeled mana into the massive magic circle drawn on the floor.

The layered magic circles scattered into the air one by one, and the chains binding Yuna's body also decreased one by one.

A little time passed, and when only three chains remained,

Crack-.

It seemed like a crack appeared on the chains, then Yuna snapped them and stood up.

Heh-.

A dry laugh escaped Franz's lips.

Even weakened, she shouldn't have been able to break them herself.

Well, her love for her family must be that incredible.

‘What a relief.’

It was a relief for Yuna who regained her family, and for himself who didn't have to face that Yuna.

"Mom, Yuria…"

Yuna embraced the two lying on the floor.

Her tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped from the tip of her chin.

Unaccustomed to such scenes, Franz turned his head and awkwardly scratched his nose.

He felt like if he kept watching, he might needlessly catch the emotions.

Anyway, with this, Yuna's Bad Ending branch was safely passed.

Then, only one thing remained.

Dealing with the root cause of this whole situation, Duke Ishtar.

Yuna wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes gleaming menacingly.