The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 111

Leon stared intently into the wind-blown passage. His instincts told him that this dark path would lead him to her. A chill ran down his spine.

Where are you now? In what abyss are you weeping alone?

“I’ve heard before that the Grand Cathedral had a secret passage, but this is my first time seeing it.”

Philip, who had stepped closer, stroked his chin with a furrowed brow. The rectangular passage was the perfect height and width for a man of their build to pass through.

“Well, this is convenient. Now, in case of an invasion, we can always—”

“I leave the rear to you.”

Cutting him off, Leon began fastening the armor he had left undone. Philip, momentarily hesitating, shot him a look of disbelief.

“Are you insane? Don’t tell me you actually believe that woman is in there.”

“The holy sword pointed the way. I thought you saw it too, or were your eyes closed?”

Veronica had chosen to save all of humanity rather than stay by his side. After bestowing salvation, she had cast away all attachments and stood tall. To flee after granting salvation—how irresponsible was that for a god? He had the right to serve her.

“So, you think that just because the sword moved when her name was mentioned, it will lead you to where she is? How convenient. People always see what they want to see.”

“Like how the deputy commander, who is responsible for the knights, saw this as an escape route?”

Philip raised a single eyebrow. As Leon finished securing his armor, he spoke again.

“Would you like to argue logic in the face of truth? That sword isn’t just pointing in her direction.”

“Then what is it?”

“The holy sword wants to go somewhere. What do you think is there?”

For a moment, Philip’s expression hardened. The clattering Apocalypse was no ordinary sword. It was a sword that chose its master. But that was only temporary—its true master had always existed. In other words, the one to whom the sword was desperately trying to return…

A ripple formed in Philip’s violet eyes. Before the will of God, there was little a mere human could do. After a long silence, he shook his head.

“Traveling to Blasen in your condition will be an arduous journey. Who knows what might appear along the way? And this narrow passage won’t even allow you to take a horse.”

Though it sounded like a warning, it was, in fact, a cautious concession. From the stream of words that flowed past, Leon caught an unexpected name.

“Blasen?”

Philip did not elaborate. Given his meticulous nature, it was unlikely that he had misspoken. He had let it slip on purpose. After a moment, Leon nodded as if he understood. It seemed as though Philip had made a silent promise to keep his lips sealed.

“So, Veronica has gone to Blasen. Thanks for the tip.”

“If you really want to express gratitude, do it for the fact that, despite everything, I still treat you as my superior.”

“I just see it as your knighthood outweighing your noble pride.”

Leon replied indifferently, causing Philip, leaning against the wall, to chuckle. After all, outside the Order, it was unthinkable for a grand noble like Philip von Wittelsbach to show respect to a commoner, let alone a Berg.

For a brief moment, the two stood in silence, as if they had never even discovered the secret passage. Then, Philip suddenly asked, “Do you truly believe that God resided within that woman?”

“Probably.”

“Then, does that mean I tried to kill God?”

Leon, who had been flexing his hand to check the severity of his injuries, lifted his head. When Veronica had been at the Holy See, Philip had sentenced her, an assimilated one, to death.

“Probably.”

“Hah.”

A dry chuckle escaped him. It was hardly surprising that he reacted with cynicism. The idea that God had inhabited a mere woman sounded no different from the claims of heretics.

After letting out a humorless laugh, Philip muttered something seemingly unrelated, “Two weeks ago, His Majesty Emperor Kaisenmeer passed away.”

“……”

“Next came the gossiping nobles, chattering about the hollow title of the imperial princess and the assimilated one.”

“……”

“And finally, just a few days ago, His Holiness the Pope passed away. His head was split open by an executioner’s axe, and his corpse was burned so thoroughly that identification was difficult. Some claim it was God’s mercy that spared him from witnessing Kart’s fall, but even so, it was an unworthy end for a high priest.”

It sounded like an elegy for prominent figures who had met their demise. However, both men knew the truth. Every single one of those names belonged to people who had persecuted Veronica.

“Judging by your expression, you already knew.”

It couldn’t have been mere coincidence. The wheels of cause and effect turned in accordance with divine will, beyond human comprehension.

“When I heard of His Holiness’s death, I, too, briefly prepared myself for the end.”

“It must have helped your resolve in battle. If you wish, I can arrange a meeting so you can personally offer your thanks.”

Leon, who had been silently listening, finally spoke. Though it was more of an interruption than a response, Philip showed no displeasure. After a brief pause, he merely pushed himself off the wall.

“Forget gratitude. Just tell her I’m sorry for not keeping my promise. I tried to stop him from chasing after her, but he was too reckless.”

Leon looked directly at the last deputy commander of the Holy Knights. The knight granting him passage showed no regret.

“I pray that you meet again. Sincerely.”

It was a deeply ambiguous statement. Philip did not specify who he wished would reunite—Leon and Veronica, or himself and Leon.

Philip signaled to Joachim, who had been standing at a distance. After a brief exchange, the apprentice knight quickly ran off to gather a week’s supply of food and water. Meanwhile, Apocalypse continued to clatter, as if urging haste, as if it had heard the cry of its twin blade.

***

Hennessis trembled. Blood trickled down its white blade.

“Ugh… ugh….”

Veronica thought the sword embedded in the Bahamut’s chest resembled a white snake sinking its fangs into its prey. It dug in deep, tearing through flesh and organs. Her entire body trembled violently as a groan escaped her lips.

“Ah….”

A searing pain surged through her connected body, and she clutched her chest. It felt as though she had swallowed a ball of fire.

Blood gushed from her mouth, and the sword she had released swayed unsteadily in the air. ‘It’ tilted its head at an unnatural angle and gazed down at the wound in its chest with an eerie stillness, like the depths of a calm lake, before shifting its eyes back to her.

“Why… aren’t you dying? I struck your heart….”

A weak murmur trickled out with the blood.

Something was wrong. She was on the verge of death, yet ‘it’ remained composed. Instead, with unsettling ease, it pulled the sword out of its chest. A dreadful sense of foreboding washed over her. Veronica writhed in pain, her body convulsing.

“Do you know why we eat brains?”

‘It’ smiled brightly as it spoke. Her vision wavered. Then, its pale fingers pointed at its head.

“For us, this is where life is concentrated.”

Veronica’s eyes widened. A grave mistake became painfully clear.

Foolishly, in the critical moment, she had made an inexcusable error.

She had been deceived by its human form. Without thinking, she had impulsively stabbed the Bahamut’s chest. But its heart was in its head!

“Why did you try to kill me?”

‘It’ asked. Veronica, gasping for breath, attempted to crawl backward. The excruciating pain and disorientation left her limbs weak, blood draining from her body. The agony in her chest was unbearable.

“Why did you try to kill me?” It asked again. The lack of anger in its voice only made the situation more terrifying.

Dragging herself backward, Veronica suddenly lost her balance, her hand slipping. She fell hard against the bones scattered behind her, their brittle sound filling the air.

No. No. This couldn’t be real.

But just as if mocking her wishes, ‘it’ climbed atop her smoothly, just like it had in the lake. The only difference was that this time, it held the holy sword. Its grip on the blade’s edge made Veronica’s own hands sting as they were cut.

It hurts. It hurts!

“Ugh… I told you… I’m human…”

Veronica gasped, barely managing to form words. But ‘it’ did not seem to hear her. Instead, it asked again.

“Why did you try to kill me?”

The question had not changed. Three times it had been repeated, yet the terror only grew. Veronica realized that merely declaring herself human was not an answer. That was not the true reason. The real purpose behind her actions was—

“I had to kill you… so others could live….”

“Others?”

The Bahamut asked innocently.

“The Red Knight?”

Her hair stood on end. How did it know—how did it know about Leon? Her shock was written all over her face. ‘It’ grinned grotesquely once more. The gaping wound in its chest had already vanished.

“We’ve met many times. From the south, he’s been chasing me all along. Even when I was consuming you, he was there. He is persistent, like a fly.”

By ‘south,’ it must have meant Tiran.

Even the Bahamut know of the Red Knight.

The rumors she had once dismissed as exaggerations suddenly seemed far too real. Veronica shuddered, realizing how closely rumors and reality intertwined. Did words shape reality, or did reality shape the words? Her mind slowed to a standstill. Because of that, she failed to notice the subtle shift in ‘its’ expression.

The Bahamut pulled her trembling hands above her head. A quiet whisper fell like thunder.

“I see. That nuisance must be dealt with. Once he’s dead, you’ll be a loyal family member. Wait here.”

The holy sword drove down like a nail onto her bound hands. Veronica screamed.