Chapter 54
Yuna was absolutely furious because that Cultist bastard destroyed the house. Her Golden Haze, Yuna's aura, was surging even more violently than when she subjugated the Demon Lord, so it spoke volumes. At this moment, she looked ready to subjugate not just the Cultist, but the entire world.
Given the situation, Franz couldn't help but get angry either.
*That crazy bastard finally did it.*
The fact that he had destroyed Yuna's house was already infuriating. It was even more so because Franz had diligently checked the facilities himself.
But what was even more infuriating than that was the fact that the bastard had made Yuna angry.
How much had he striven to prevent such a situation after realizing Yuna was a villainess?
He had somehow stepped forward to resolve the atrocities committed by Duke Ishtar, eventually appeasing her, and even checking on her condition separately later.
But that bastard ruined all those efforts in one go. While Franz lived each day with bated breath, that bastard, who was nonchalantly creating Monsters, had ruined everything.
However, there was something he had to do before expressing such anger.
Yuna.
Yes, Franz.
Still, it's a relief we found out beforehand. Imagine if we had moved later and then found out there was a Cultist. Even your family could have been in danger.
First, he had to gaslight her. *This is really nothing. On the contrary, it's a good thing, so don't worry about it.* He had to instill the most positive mindset into Yuna in that way.
This is why I said we should change houses...
When they left the real estate agency, he had suggested it would be good to change houses beforehand, but it was Yuna who hadn't listened and had been stubborn. So, to some extent, it could be seen as her own doing, but...
What good was all that now? There was no point regretting the past, so he decided not to think about it at all.
So, because of that bastard, our family almost ended up in danger...?
Yuna's voice became even more chilling.
Of course, it wasn't wrong. But that wasn't what he meant. It seemed the gaslighting hadn't worked properly.
Yuna, let's try to think as positively as possible. Anyway, there was a Cultist in that house, so even if we had moved, problems would have arisen. It's a good thing we found out beforehand like this.
I see. Yeah, since you said it, it must be right....
Yuna nodded and trailed off. She still felt a little uneasy, but it seemed a positive mindset had somehow been instilled.
By the way, what kind of being was he in Yuna's mind anyway? For some reason, he felt uneasy that she might follow a similar path to Hera. If she came saying she wants to be a slave, he might really want to run away.
*No, no.*
Franz immediately shook his head and cleared his thoughts. Now was not the time for such thoughts. Since Belphegor's true form had appeared before his eyes, dealing with this was the priority.
Yuna, I'm sorry, but we need to capture that bastard.
He wanted to deal with him cleanly and cheer Yuna up, but unfortunately, he couldn't, because Belphegor was one of the Seven Great Evils. If it was one of the Seven Great Evils, it was a being with absolute authority even within the Cult, so it surely knew a lot, perhaps even the locations of the other Seven Great Evils.
Capture? Why?
It's complicated if I explain in detail. Hmm, that bastard is a high-ranking member of the Cult, so there's a high possibility he knows a lot of information. So, we need to capture him and extract information.
I see. Then we shouldn't kill him.
Yuna said in a regretful tone. Yet, she seemed to understand the situation clearly, so there didn't seem to be any worries.
Well, if he told her in detail about the process of the bastard being tortured later, he wondered if Yuna's mood might improve. It also seemed that it would be more painful than dying cleanly here.
So what should I do?
Just go and give that bastard a good hit, just enough not to kill him.
Honestly, there wasn't anything Yuna particularly needed to do.
What could a Monster Tamer who had lost his Monsters do in the first place? He would just be a Mage who could use a little magic.
But telling Yuna to just stand still...
She's really angry.
So, he thought it might be okay to hit him just enough not to kill him.
That old man looks very weak, so please control your strength.
Franz urged Yuna. Considering physical abilities alone, Yuna, who didn't have the Hero's power, was still a cut above. Honestly, that old man was as thin as bones, though he was practically a skeleton.
Just then, Yuna uttered a shocking remark.
It's okay if I break his arms and legs, right?
As she said that and showed a chilling smile, a shiver ran down Franz's spine.
He wondered if she would make such an expression even when destroying the world. Such a thought came to him for some reason.
Anyway.
Then he'll probably die from shock?
...Really?
Probably.
Honestly, he didn't know the details. He just thought that if his arms and legs were broken while he was alive, he might die from shock. However, if the bastard died, the loss would be immense, so it was better not to do it if he was uneasy.
All right. Then I'll go first.
Okay.
Yuna bent her knees slightly,
*CRASH-!*
She kicked off the ground and shot forward. Then a loud roar echoed and dust flew behind her. It was a scene that seemed to come straight out of a comic book.
Franz merely waved his hand indifferently in front of his face, clearing away the dust. He had seen such sights too many times to be surprised anymore.
So, the question was now how to capture that bastard...
As he had mentioned before, although Mages have certain Activation Triggers, they can also use magic with Silent Casting. Just as Arian used magic in the Magic Tower Lord's Office.
Therefore, capturing a Mage was no easy task, because even if you tied all their limbs and even gagged their mouth, they could still use magic.
But that doesn't mean they're invincible.
A herb called Chorongcho has the effect of disrupting Mana Circulation, and the moment a person consumes it, they become unable to use magic for about a day. No matter how renowned a Mage a person is, the moment they consume it, they become no different from an ordinary person.
But Franz didn't have that herb right now. And he certainly had no intention of going to look for it.
So, there was no choice but to use another method, even if it was a bit aggressive.
It was when Franz had reached that conclusion.
*CRASH-!*
Yuna, who had started from the mountainside, had already arrived in front of the mansion and was fighting Belphegor. As Yuna's fist struck, bone fragments shattered and scattered everywhere.
Fortunately, she's holding back.
If Yuna had truly intended to kill the bastard, she would have killed him as soon as she arrived. The mere fact that the bastard was still alive meant Yuna was controlling her strength.
*Snap-.*
Franz snapped his fingers and used Teleport. Light flickered, and Franz's form disappeared, then reappeared in front of the half-destroyed mansion.
If there had even been Time-Reversing Magic, he would have somehow saved the mansion. Unfortunately, Time Magic didn't exist in the world, so there was nothing he could do.
It was then.
*CRASHHH-!*
A loud roar was heard, and Yuna grabbed Belphegor by the collar from among the piled bones and dragged him out.
C-can't you let go of this?!
Belphegor, dangling from Yuna's hand, struggled this way and that. He kicked and punched her face.
But Yuna didn't budge at all. Only marks were left on her clothes, and not even a scratch appeared on her fair skin.
I'll just hit you once. Don't die. I don't want to get scolded by Franz.
W-what are you trying to do...!
*SMACK-.*
Yuna's palm struck Belphegor's cheek. Then, with a dreadful sound, his head snapped to the side, and the struggling bastard went limp just like that.
...Huh? W-wait a minute.
Yuna, flustered, shook the bastard back and forth, but he remained limp and motionless.
Following that, Yuna's gaze turned to Franz. As if afraid of being scolded, she bit her lower lip and glanced at him sideways.
Franz, who had watched the entire situation, furrowed his brow for a moment and pondered,
*Snap-.*
He arrived in front of her with Teleport.
F-Franz, it's not that. I, uh? I didn't mean to do this. I just meant to lightly slap his cheek...
As Franz appeared before her eyes, Yuna, who had been watching his reaction, stammered and made excuses. At the same time, her eyes were trembling as if an earthquake had struck.
Franz felt a sense of unease instead at her appearance. No matter how much he thought, she seemed no different from Hera. *A slave is really not good...*
Anyway, rather than that, checking Belphegor's condition was the priority.
Yuna, can you please put that bastard down on the ground for now?
Ah, okay.
Yuna gently placed Belphegor on the ground.
Franz placed his hand on the bastard's body to check his life or death. He felt faint Mana circulating within his body. It seemed his life was not in danger.
If so, now he had to begin the work of capturing the bastard, because if he were to wake up during transport, he might cause a commotion.
It was a bit aggressive, but there was no choice.
Thinking that, Franz began to pour Mana into the bastard's body.