Chapter 554 - Letter

Freya Marianus was in mortal peril.

Not because she was fighting Moon God Dottore, or Aleph-1, or Rapture Queen.

It was because she was trying to read a scroll.

“Freya, stop! You’ve been at it for hours!”

One of her friends told her to stop, and not for the first time either. Still, Freya kept pushing on. Her eyes were dripping blood and she had nosebleed, but she wouldn't stop. Her friends tried to physically stop her, but the swirling mass of golden wind around her acted as a bulwark.

Freya felt miserable.

She had just found out that Tanael also broke out some extremely dangerous prisoners from the Tower of Remorse’s secret section. This fact had been unknown to her until now.

What the heck? They seriously did this to me? Even Master Gregory and Grandmother!

Apparently, Tanael even let a prison guard become a witness as he recruited the agreeable prisoners and killed the rest.

According to the eyewitness, Tanael held the leash of six Level 5 peak top criminals and pocketed several Inheritances. This meant Tanael was significantly more dangerous than Freya was led to believe. He didn't have those people backing him up during their fight.

“Why didn't you tell me before!?” Freya recalled her response.

“We didn't want to burden you more than necessary.” Flavia sighed with a heavy heart. “We made special strike teams to hunt them.”

“Then why are you telling me now?”

“We have... unconfirmed intelligence. Something went down in the Latias capital city recently. It might be them. Whatever happened, the Latias authorities are keeping it hush-hush. The palace was by no means lightly guarded, even against several Level 5 peaks. If they were able to breach it... We thought to give you a warning, since it is wholly possible Tanael would target you for revenge for defeating him. The Aurora Scroll in your hands is no less of a prize. Watch your back, Freya.”

After the magical communication, Freya forcefully tried to extract information from the Aurora Scroll.

Tanael was too dangerous to be left free. As the one who had crossed blades with him before, Freya felt this keenly. Something that the Church leadership disagreed with. If this were up to her, Freya would mobilize a great deal more resources to hunt Tanael.

It wasn't as if she didn't understand a great many things that the Church needed to do. The Demon King, the relief efforts, maintenance of public order, the emboldened cult activities... She understood the Church’s resources were stretched thin, but she felt they didn't do enough about Tanael.

So it was up to her.

And to catch the phantom rat’s tail, she needed the Aurora Scroll.

But of course, there was a price for peering through god’s eyes, for looking at something not meant for mortal beings.

Since she got her hands on the scroll, Freya had tried to master the artifact. Her success was very limited. There were a lot of intricacies. She wasn't even able to peer the fate of those closest to her or her own, let alone borrowing the power of her fated, future self like in the battle against Tanael.

Now, she was pushing forward with her life on the line to glean something about Tanael. Something. Anything.

Because she felt responsible. Because Tanael gave her a sense of foreboding like nothing she had ever felt before.

Furthermore, if Tanael was a calamity in the future, the Level 5s under him were a calamity of the present. Due to her line of work, she had vivid memories of what a single amoral Level 5 could do. Destructive couldn't do it justice.

Freya wagered that with real commitment, she might have a breakthrough in using the Aurora Scroll. Such a thing wasn't unusual. She even experienced it several times in the past. That was why, even though her brain felt like it was melting and her lungs felt like breathing in burning oil, she persisted.

Until finally...!

...Huh? Why am I looking at the ceiling?

“Hey guys, our stupid leader is awake,” Cedric said from beside her bed.

“Cedric, wha-”

“You collapsed. Then Casey had to keep healing you for two days non-stop. You were under for five days. Congratulations, you’ve won the idiot-of-the-year award,” the otherworlder scoffed.

After a moment of digesting, as the realization sank in, Freya let out a sigh from her soul. Cedric was right. She acted like a fool.

At this time, when time was a precious luxury, she had wasted five days. And her body was still exhausted, needing time to recover.

Really, what am I doing...

After the rest of her team chewed her out and gave her a piece of their mind, Freya was left alone with her thoughts in the confines of her bed.

There were many.

The Church’s leadership looked down on Tanael because he lost to Freya a couple of months prior. The thing was, Freya didn't think she won either.

Every time she revisited that fight, she always wondered why Tanael didn't deliver the killing blow to her at the end. Yes, she was determined to fight back until the end, but it was more like Tanael gave her the victory by backing down.

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The supposed great prize that she won, the Aurora Scroll, so far had proven to be more of a burden than a boon. Not only was she unable to properly use it, people who tried to take it from her were coming out of the woodwork.

Also, she was becoming more and more suspicious about Tanael.

Was it truly the real Tanael that I fought?

Freya had this nagging feeling that she couldn't quite pinpoint. The way Tanael acted like it was all just a game for him, the way he fought that ready to take a blow so he could deliver an even deeper wound... It was as if he was used to that suicidal way of fighting.

Was that Tanael a lesser offshoot, some manner of clone, perhaps?

It wasn't obvious, and her suspicion could be just that. There were a number of explanations to the contrary. For example, Tanael’s self-healing ability. It was known, and Freya saw with her own eyes its potency. That could be the reason why Tanael fought like he did, or simply because he was a mad otherworlder.

However, the way he retreated... I’ve seen many retreating bad guys, but he at the time... He wasn't desperate enough. As if he had done the expected. He let go of the scroll rather easily, too. Was he... testing my abilities?

Still, paranoia kept creeping back into her mind. Besides, there was nothing truly overt considering the other side was an otherworlder. They had so many strange abilities.

If she truly only triumphed against a lesser version of ‘Tanael’ by the skin of her teeth, what would happen if she fought against the real one?

While Tanael indeed initiated battle after she was spent against other opponents, that was not an acceptable excuse for Freya. She had to be better.

His last strike on the scroll... No matter how hard I try to deny it, it seems I have no choice but to admit it. I fear he really did cut his record off the scroll. Or something of that nature.

Tanael had a superb anti-divination technique. It was one of the reasons he was always escaping the hand f justice, but he wasn't the only one with such an ability. Freya’s grandmother, had one too, and the Cardinals, and some of the evil big shots that Freya encountered in the past.

When Freya used the Aurora Scroll, she could still sense these powerful figures with anti-divination. She got an idea which direction to follow to reach them. Even though she hadn't succeeded to peer that deep, but the main thing was, their fate exist.

Tanael’s fate was like a blot. A pit. A vacuum.

It didn't matter if Tanael was an alias. The Aurora Scroll was no lowly artifact that a simple false name could render it useless.

But even in her last attempt, she simply couldn't find the faintest trace about Tanael.

Is this something that you planned for from the start?

“...What are you doing now, you evil bastard?” Freya whispered.

“Did you fall for him?”

Freya’s eyes darted to Cedric. He was beside the door, leaning on the door with his arms crossed. She didn't notice his presence. Her condition must be really terrible.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. You’re thinking about Tanael again, right? I swear, ever since the Azkaban you’re like obsessed with him. Have you fallen for him? Well, Tanael is freaking handsome. His perfect face, golden hair to die for... God, it’s like seeing a real-life Prince Charming from a storybook. With a look like that, he smites ladies’ hearts for sure.”

“Don't ever joke about that ever again,” Freya glared with icy hate.

“Hmm. Just asking because your Tanael is sending you a love letter.”

Cedric whipped out a letter from his chest pocket, dandy-like.

“...What?”

“Yeah, our reaction exactly. The team agreed this might be real and you should see it. Brace yourself before reading it.”

Freya received the letter. It had been opened. On the envelope, with elegant writing: To My Dearest Freya ♡

Freya scowled. It was like she was forced to drink sewer water. Such a disgusting feeling. She promptly read the letter.

***

Freya Marianus.

Legionnaire Extraordinaire, Light that Shines in the Dark, The Darkness-bane, Guardian of Order, Scale of Balance, Sword that Slays Sinners, Arbiter Star in the Darkest Night, Bearer of Silver Wings, Curator of the Aurora Scroll.

I, Tanael, salute you.

Even now, I recall fondly the night when I stabby-stabby your body. The taste of your sweat, the warmth of your breath... I believe for a long while yet, when I sleep with a woman, I will imagine she has your face. Your flesh is that good for the sensation of going in and out. Mmm, I would like to taste you again, my dear. Forgive my French, fufufu.

Now then, that’s enough embarrassment for the voyeurs who read this letter. This is a letter for Freya, man. Shame on you. I thought you Silver Legion guys are supposed to be full of integrity and honor. Guess those are not worth much, huh? Practice what you preach, dude. Look at me; I’m a villain and I do evil things. See? Honesty. Estelle didn't teach you all that? Utterly risible.

Okay, Frey-frey, where were we? Ah, yes. So within this letter there’s a set of coordinates. In this location there is a secret -or not-so-secret- Warbringers' base. Honestly, I hope you Silver Legion bunch already know this. ‘Cause if not, you’ve proven that my information gathering is superior to yours, and this will bring the utmost joy to my black-tainted heart of murder and mayhem.

Next is the meat of the matter. A certain duke’s daughter from a recently destroyed Valentine Duchy is there, in captivity. Not only that, she is being tortured, in body and soul.

She is one of your own, is she not? So get up your asses, muster your army, and drop on these bastards. ASAP.

Now you must be wondering: is this true or false information? Is it a trap? What proof does he have?

The proof is that I’m able to send you this letter. This Tanael knows things. The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.

What’s that? The Church is weak and can't send a rescue team? Not even a single strike team? A single Level 5? Well, I have kinda foreseen that. Then you go. Heck, there’s no reason for you not to go. After all the high-and-mighty talk, the holier-than-thou condescending look you gave me, now you balk?

Oh, what would the Radiant Lady think when she looks at you?

Still hesitating? Fine, I’ll throw you a bone out of the kindness of my decrepit corpse-heart. On the 11th, I’ll storm the den of the war whoresons and rescue the girl myself. If you guys are there, double-whammy on the enemy.

I don't actually need you. Cross on my heart. If you Church guys come, it will make my work easier. If not... Fine, I’ll do it myself.

It’s just, I’ll see what is beneath the golden plating of righteousness you all so proudly parade around.

I won't be disappointed either way.

But I imagine Ciel will. Devastatingly so. Poor, poor girl. She just lost her family, her friends, and her home. After all she has done for the Church. When she needed it most, the Estellian Church, in all its glory and holiness, abandoned her like a dirty towel.

So, come out, come out and play, Freya. It’s a date.

With love and death, Tanael.

***

“The letter arrived yesterday,” Cedric said. “The mailer is a normal local girl. We checked and she’s clean. She was given the letter and money by someone else, and that person got the letter from someone else too. We can't trace the origin in a short time. But, for someone of Tanael’s caliber, I don't think he’ll leave a trail to follow. The fact Tanael knows where we are is... concerning. So, leader. What’s our move? If we go now, we can barely arrive at the coordinates before the 11th. But it will bring us in the opposite direction of our mission, and the rescue of Cardinal Josephine will be delayed yet again. Not to mention, we would be disobeying our order.”

Freya didn't answer. Her expression showed she was struggling with a difficult decision. Cedric sympathized.

“Yeah... Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Bloody bollocks.”