Chapter 191: Ergotism (3)

The Inquisitors who appeared after kicking the door open.

A massive Silver Cross was flashing on their chests.

The Inquisitor standing at the front silently scanned the bloodied, rampaging knights.

Over the shoulders of the Inquisitors, the Knight Commander urgently shouted from outside.

"Everyone, run over here!"

The Vice Knight Commander grabbed his fallen comrades and instinctively ran toward the exit.

As if to cut off their retreat, the darkness obscuring the exit narrowed the passage once more.

At that, the Holy Knight at the front threw a punch at the wall.

Thump!

The Divine Power spreading across the wall drove away the darkness.

The Vice Knight Commander threw himself toward the wide-open exit along with his comrades.

"Gasp...! Hah...!"

"I told you to wait."

The Knight Commander poured a canteen over the head of the slumped Vice Knight Commander.

Splutter!

Thanks to that, the Vice Knight Commander snapped out of it, and his gaze turned toward the exit they had just escaped from.

Ten Inquisitors were silently walking down the hallway.

The Vice Knight Commander reached his hand out toward their backs.

"You must close your eyes! The witches' Hallucination is triggered by sight, not smell...!"

"Stop spouting nonsense and focus on recovering."

As if to cut off his words, the Knight Commander poured a Potion over the Vice Knight Commander's head.

The Vice Knight Commander coughed continuously as the Potion entered his nose, yet he didn't stop speaking.

"Cough! Cough! It's dangerous! Those witches aren't the normal witches we know...!"

"There is nothing uglier than pretending to know about Black Sorcerers in front of Inquisitors, Vice Knight Commander."

The Knight Commander chuckled.

"Vice Knight Commander. Do you know why the Black Sorcerers were left to the Inquisitors?"

"Is that important right now?"

"It is indeed important."

The Knight Commander's gaze turned to the back of the Inquisitor standing at the very front.

"I too had a childish phase like you once. Believing only in my Fighting Aura, I charged at Black magic and nearly lost my Life. The ones who saved me back then were also the Inquisitors."

Clank, clank.

The Holy Knights, clad head to toe in blessed silver and wearing gray robes, silently advanced.

There was no hesitation whatsoever in their footsteps.

Even amidst the Hallucination of the ground giving way Underfoot, and even amidst the Hallucination of Thorn Vines blocking their path.

Their speed never slowed.

The Knight Commander spoke while watching them.

"Inquisitors are the Natural Enemies of Black Sorcerers. Because the Divine Power wrapping their bodies constantly pushes away external interference, most Black magic that burrows into the mind and body does not work on them."

Why were Inquisitors called the Natural Enemies of Black Sorcerers?

Most Black magic works by planting a Catalyst in another person's body and activating it.

To cast Brainwashing, one must steep the target in Drugs, and to spread a Plague, one must plant the seed of Infection in the body.

The essence of Black magic was that it could only be established by always borrowing another person's body.

However, Inquisitors were different.

They could not use their Divine Power to heal others.

Invoking Magic, which is a high-tier spell, requires academic Qualifications,

Because not every Divine Power Awakener can possess such Qualifications.

Instead, they could focus that power solely on their own physical bodies.

Warriors constantly receiving Heal and Divine Protection twenty-four hours a day.

That was precisely what a Holy Knight was.

That was why the Knight Commander had waited for the Inquisitors.

"Vice Knight Commander. Watch closely. This is why we leave Black Sorcerers to the Inquisitors."

The Vice Knight Commander silently listened to the Knight Commander's words.

Their gazes were fixed on the backs of the Inquisitors advancing down the hallway.

Drawing a Mace in one hand and a Stake in the other, they silently advanced toward the pitch-black hallway where nothing was visible.

The leading Inquisitor, Matthias, chanted in a low voice.

"Brothers, open your eyes. What do you see."

Acrid Miasma spewed from the darkness as the walls and floor wavered.

A Hallucination of bright red magma splitting the floor and soaring flames attempted to engulf them.

Those following reciprocated.

"We see only that which the gods have created."

They marched straight into the flames with heavy steps.

If it were a normal human, they would have screamed from the severe Burning Pain of their skin melting away.

But this was not the case for the Inquisitors.

Neither the Hallucinogen floating in the air, nor the geometric patterns decorating the hallway.

None of those things could interfere with their minds and bodies.

"Take a breath. Whose Life do you hold."

"It has belonged to the gods since birth."

From the ceiling, massive Guillotine blades and Cogwheels poured down.

The Hallucination of bodily Amputation.

The Vice Knight Commander's knights had fallen for this, crawling on the ground believing their ankles were severed.

However, the Inquisitors' advance did not stop.

"Brothers. All that we see and feel is given by the gods, so what is there for us to lose?"

"There is nothing. All that we hold in our hands is merely borrowed, so why should we fear returning it."

Crash!!

Matthias's Mace crushed the head of a Ghoul that was blocking the hallway.

It was a real entity mixed within the Hallucination, borrowed by the witches from another School.

However, such a Trick did not work on the Fanatics who were never deceived by the Hallucination in the first place.

"Then what is it that you should fear?"

"We must fear fading away without fulfilling the will of the gods, despite receiving such great Grace."

Ultimately, the witches had no choice but to pull out their final card.

It was none other than the Chimera Sorcerer, raising an Axe Blade tail like a Scorpion and bristling its back with countless spines like a Hedgehog.

As if recognizing its appearance, one Inquisitor spoke to Matthias.

"It is the Martyr Collector."

"..."

As if affirming that murmur, the Chimera Sorcerer trembled slightly.

Dozens of Silver Stakes embedded in its back clattered against each other, making a bizarre Metallic sound like the last words of Inquisitors.

The Inquisitors' steps slowed down a bit.

This was because the Chimera Sorcerer was the only opponent against whom the Inquisitors could not guarantee a Matchup Compatibility advantage.

However, the Inquisitor 1st Department Head, Matthias, merely approached that chimera without an inch of hesitation.

The spine-covered chimera swished its tail and sneered at Matthias.

"When fanaticism goes too far, it's no different from a delusion. To think about the end met by those who mindlessly approached me like you..."

"Do you call what the darkness paints, darkness? Can that which is merely unilluminated by the light claim to exist upon this land?"

However, Matthias merely recited a Prayer that was close to a monologue.

Beyond the Bucket Helmet featuring a slit in the shape of a Holy Symbol.

His eyes were fixed on the Chimera Sorcerer.

"How dare those who fled from beneath the light of the gods claim their existence. How can those who are not Creations of the light demand their share beneath the light."

"Hey, when someone speaks to you..."

Matthias slammed the Silver Stake in his left hand into the wall.

Slam!

And then immediately grabbed the back of the chimera's neck.

The Chimera Sorcerer panicked and bristled its spines toward Matthias behind it.

Countless spines inflicted wounds on his body.

However, Matthias paid it no mind and silently did what he had to do.

"L-Let go of this!"

The Chimera Sorcerer repeatedly struck Matthias's shoulder with its Axe Blade-like tail.

"Therefore, we must burn those who are not beneath the light in the name of the light. That is our calling and our joy."

"This crazy...!"

Matthias shoved the Hedgehog Scorpion Chimera against the wall.

On the wall, the Stake Matthias had set up beforehand was aimed squarely at the chimera's neck.

The Chimera Sorcerer resisted by pushing against the wall as much as possible, raising the spines on its back, and swinging its Axe Blade tail.

However, Matthias steadfastly shoved the Chimera Sorcerer's neck against the wall.

"Gah...! Urk...!"

Soon, with the sound of the Stake crushing flesh, the Hedgehog Chimera's movements ceased.

Only then did Matthias pull his hands away from the chimera.

Sizzle—!

In that time, the numerous wounds on his body were instantaneously filled and healed.

Seeing this sight, the Inquisitors, filled with Overwhelming Emotion, praised Matthias.

"I heard his Faith and Rank rose after the Council..."

"So there was a reason he reversed his retirement."

"He could have stepped back from the front lines, yet he specifically volunteered for field duty. He is a Role Model for us all."

A Holy Knight's strength is proportional to their Faith.

And Matthias had risen to Rank 2 after the Council debate.

For the Inquisitors, whose Faith was their pride, the Faith that Matthias had realized was always an object of envy.

Be that as it may.

Matthias's gaze remained constantly fixed toward the darkness beyond the hallway.

As if to show that no matter The public's Evaluation, his duty remained singular.

As he reached out his hand, the darkness tore apart, and the witches revealed themselves.

Matthias readjusted his grip on his Mace and spoke to them.

"I will ask. Who does your Faith exist for."

"Gasp... Hah..."

"Sisters. Answer me. Do you believe in the gods' response."

"Salvation?"

One of the bloodied witches spat out in a voice filled with spite.

Poisonous energy lingered in her eyes as she was pushed to the brink by the overwhelming martial prowess of the Inquisitors.

"Where is there such a thing! When we were dying in the Gutter, those high and mighty gods didn't answer our prayers even once! The ones who abandoned us are those arrogant gods of yours!"

"..."

"This was the only way for us to survive! What Crime is it to crawl through a Mud Puddle and grasp at darkness to live!"

Along with that desperate scream, the appearance of one of the witches suddenly wavered like a haze.

Beyond Matthias's helmet, his fierce eyes widened minutely.

It was a Hallucination.

However, it was not a manifestation of fear or despair that had blocked them thus far.

The appearance of a young girl.

In a frontier Territory of The West, she held her parents' hands to seek out an unknown Healer to cure her Demon Disease, only to end up becoming a gruesome chimera...

"Mister..."

The girl reached her hand out toward Matthias, shedding tears of blood.

Matthias's shoulders flinched for the first time.

That was not all.

The Inquisitors following behind also showed a similar reaction.

The witches did not miss that momentary opening.

Stab.

Something lodged deep into the Top of the foot of the Holy Knights.

It was a Syringe.

"Heheh... With this, it's over."

The witch whispered, certain of her victory.

Morphine.

The worst Drugs said to have been created by The Black Saint.

It was difficult to obtain, and the Conditions to use it as a Catalyst were even stricter.

Because it had to be injected directly into the opponent's body like this.

However, as difficult as it was, the Effect was certain.

"Heheh. Before this medication made by the saint you believe in and follow so much, even you won't have the skill to withstand it. I'll make you struggle in eternal Delusion."

The Inquisitors didn't deny it either.

Even though they held a Matchup Compatibility advantage over Black Sorcerers, they were not invincible.

If the difference in Rank was vast, or if a Catalyst was injected directly into their bodies like this, it could be difficult to resist their Magical Power.

However,

Click.

Matthias and the Holy Knights did not panic or fluster.

Instead, Matthias and the Holy Knights brought their hands to their left thighs in unison.

They pressed the Trigger of the Auto-injector equipped inside their armor.

Ker-clack!

A short Needle pierced the thigh under the armor, pushing the Medication in.

Naloxone.

It was an Antagonist that blocked the effects of Morphine.

"Wh-What...?"

"Faith is not about passing everything onto the gods. All we must seek is the courage and wisdom to overcome the trials given to us."

They were Specialists meant to deal with Black Sorcerers.

Naturally, they had prepared countermeasures against such Medication.

Their Preparation was not limited to Morphine.

Following Yulian's advice, Antidotes to counter the major Medications used as Catalysts by Black Sorcerers were prepared beneath their armor.

"H-How...? Why isn't the medication working?"

However, the witches, unaware of this fact, could do nothing but collapse on the floor in terror.

The faces of the witches, which had been laced with Poisonous energy, were instantly dyed in pure white terror.

Matthias looked down at the woman who still bore the girl's face.

And gritting his teeth, he continued his monologue.

"For the gods are with us, for they have sent us the Chosen One."

Matthias's raspy voice echoed through the Research Lab.

"Crying out because one cannot see the enemy can be called humanity's inherent weakness. But how can one who witnesses such a clear Miracle and still does not believe be called human."

The witch with the girl's face flinched and stepped back.

But there was no longer any Delusion in Matthias's eyes.

The response of the gods that he had sought for so long.

It was already proven by that single, small Antidote flowing through his Bloodline.

It was not a Saint or Saintess appointed by humans.

The true Chosen One sent down by the gods was with them.

"Now that the night has passed and Daybreak is approaching, how could there be even an inch of Delusion within us."

The Mace reached its apex in the air.

"If we can hasten that Dawn, we will gladly offer these bodies as manure for the Bramble Patch."

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

The Mace slammed into the darkness three times.