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Why would he go through the trouble of tearing down this monastery just to catch one Rahan Norwich?
If that were the case, he would have simply ended it by making a simple deal with Akim Norwich over there.
However, the moment Philod Ahen encountered the scene of the deal with the mage, Prince Elio decided to change his plan on a larger scale.
Summon a demon to dispose of Rahan Norwich. Then, he could take out his sister, Grand Duke Lacheize, who used Rahan Norwich like a tool, all at once.
Not only that. Since Archbishop Victor was also involved, even if he couldn't dispose of the Archbishop, he could at least break his spirit.
‘How wonderful is it that I can gain so much in exchange for destroying a single Wind Rock Monastery?’
At the same time, he felt he understood why people of old contracted with demons. What one gained in exchange for commanding a demon was incredibly sweet.
Since he wasn't the one who directly contracted, he had nothing to lose. If things went south, he could simply use House Ahen as kindling.
‘If this were a drug, I think I’d get addicted….’
Prince Elio watched Rahan Norwich with a face filled with ecstasy.
Rahan's Red Eyes swirled with anger. His face, covered in the black blood of magical beasts, was filthy and smelled.
But it didn't matter. No matter how much a piece of trash like you rages. He raised his voice.
“I heard you were called the child of a demon from birth. I wonder where my sister intended to use you after picking you up. Rahan Norwich. Can you see the things that have happened because of you?”
“….”
“Surrender now. If you do, I will specially treat this as a personal deviation on your part.”
Of course, it was a lie.
Meanwhile, Rahan had also vaguely noticed Prince Elio's intentions.
He didn't know exactly how Prince Elio had come to command demons. What was certain was that by killing him, the Prince intended to implicate Grand Duke Lacheize.
Demon worship was the greatest crime in the Foldenbach Empire. The Grand Duke would undoubtedly fall.
“You son of a bitch….”
“Aha! It seems you're adding lèse-majesté to the list!”
Prince Elio laughed loudly. Rahan stared intently at the Prince. It was likely a coincidence, but he had delivered a quite plausible attack on Rahan.
If it had been the old Rahan, he might have been slightly tempted by the words ‘everything becomes easier once you're dead.’ It is an emotion that anyone who has suffered from constant helplessness throughout their life can understand.
The gaze that always concluded he was the child of a demon, no matter how hard he struggled to prove himself. And the self-loathing that he had eventually turned that gaze into a brand through his own stupidity.
In truth, ever since the incident at the Liligius Strait, he had lived with a hidden longing for death in a corner of his heart.
But now, Rahan could not do that.
‘Iris.’
He had a wife.
Just because of that, he absolutely could not die. It was surprising.
Even though he had a damn son of a bitch right in front of him, the moment he thought of Iris, his heart became remarkably calm.
“What is your goal?”
“Whatever my goal is, it's none of your business.”
Prince Elio thought it was strange even as he answered.
Because the eyes of his opponent, which had been confused until a moment ago, had suddenly turned cold. This was not a good sign.
“But was my sister's right hand so dim-witted that he didn't even know that? Unexpected.”
So, he lightly poked at his opponent. But Rahan Norwich didn't budge. Was this not it? Prince Elio narrowed his eyes.
“Whether you surrender or kill me and my knights right now, I don't care. I only need to cut out my sister. Thankfully, because you lived as my sister's right hand and even worshipped demons, things have become quite convenient for me.”
“And the accuser is Philod Ahen? The man who has the most to gain by accusing me of contracting with a demon?”
Was this not it either?
Prince Elio tilted his head slightly and looked at his opponent.
“As a ruler, I believe it's best to discard the conjecture that an accused person is necessarily innocent just because the goals of the accuser and the accused conflict.”
The next moment, with a clang!, swords clashed. Prince Elio clicked his tongue. Rahan Norwich had noticed his surprise attack.
It seemed the claim that he was Grand Duke Lacheize's sharpest blade was not an empty boast.
“Remove your sword from His Highness!”
The escort knights immediately intervened, separating the Prince and Rahan Norwich.
Magical beasts instantly lunged at Rahan Norwich, who had been knocked back. It was because he had been separated from the Prince.
Kieeeek!
As Rahan struck down the magical beasts that attacked relentlessly, the Prince threw a sneer.
“Iris Achen's fate is truly miserable! Not only a kidnapped marriage, but now her husband is a demon worshiper! I shall hang you in a gruesome state on the castle walls, then tear your limbs apart to feed the dogs! The priests of Wind Rock Monastery will be no exception!”
Blood rushed to Rahan's head. How dare that son of a bitch mention her name….
It was then.
“No, that's not true! Your Highness! Iris is merely a faithful servant of Eridrahan!”
It was Priest Marid. Covered in muddy water, he crawled toward the Prince.
The knights were flustered and tried to push the priest away, but soon stopped. Priest Marid clung to the Prince's trouser leg and wept.
“Iris is innocent!”
Priest Marid could not bear the terror and horror of the current situation, which had escalated so drastically over the past few days.
He had been anxious and terrified that Rahan Norwich was keeping a demon, and then suddenly a demon appeared and destroyed the monastery.
Abbot Wilbert had coughed up blood and fallen into a near-death state, and people were becoming corpses under the claws of magical beasts while screaming. Mages and demons flew around cackling, and the corpses of goats and sheep lay scattered.
The monastery he had served his entire life was half-destroyed, with the cliff only ten steps away.
He was confused. He cried out the name of Eridrahan, but the god did not appear.
In that situation, Prince Elio suddenly appeared. Prince Elio pointed to Rahan Norwich as the culprit of this entire situation. On charges of demon worship.
If Priest Marid had been a bit more accustomed to death, he might have seen the situation with the same eyes as Rahan. But he, like Iris, was someone who had lived in a rural monastery all his life.
In this scene of pandemonium, the only person the magical beasts did not attack was the son of the Foldenbach Imperial Family. And standing on the opposite side was Rahan Norwich, who raised a grotesque demon.
Belatedly, he felt a sense of betrayal. He had been anxious because he held a secret, but without any reward for confessing, Abbot Wilbert had forgiven Rahan Norwich.
He thought the Abbot must have had his reasons, but now that the Abbot had collapsed coughing blood, that Rahan Norwich was….
‘The man who has the most to gain by accusing me of contracting with a demon?’
He continued to deny the charges. What a brazen human.
Abbot Wilbert had become like that, and now even Iris was about to be hung on the castle wall, yet he only thought of himself.
Just thinking about it was terrifying. Hanging that small Iris on the castle and tearing her limbs apart?
How could he….
His body trembled just thinking about it. Those Red Eyes he had seen among the magical beasts earlier.
Priest Marid couldn't believe his own hand that had slapped the man's cheek, but now he felt he knew why he did it. Eridrahan, sleeping within him, must have granted him discernment.
Priest Marid cried out and wailed.
“You brazen man! I saw you commanding that red demon lizard! And yet you lie!”
“…Priest Marid. What is….”
Priest Vera, who was holding Abbot Wilbert, called out to him in a dazed voice. But Priest Marid did not stop. He was swept away by irrationality.
Because of a demon worshiper who talked to demons, he couldn't let Iris and all the priests of Wind Rock Monastery be hung on the walls. He was the only one left to protect this place.
“Priest Vera, that man is a hypocrite! Even after stepping into the courtyard of Wind Rock Monastery with a demon, he brazenly claims to love Iris….”
As Prince Elio looked down silently at Priest Marid, the priest pleaded with him.
“Your Highness, it is not Iris. She is a good child. She was merely used by that man. That man violated the pitiful Iris and deceived her. I can be a witness. Please, just leave Wind Rock Monastery alone….”
What a windfall.
Prince Elio shifted his gaze from Priest Marid to Rahan Norwich. Unlike before, Rahan was looking this way as if he had lost his mind.
And then….
“Kieeee!”
A large spider magical beast swung its leg and struck Rahan's head. Rahan, who had been dazed, let out a groan and was knocked backward. Blood splattered.
At that moment.
“Rahan!”
Someone's scream echoed through the monastery.
It was a woman.
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