Chapter 380: Tracking in the Ethereal Plane

“No, you won’t.”

A blaze of holy light erupted from Baka’s feet, engulfing him. His body burned to ash, but the chef could no longer feel any pain.

“Th…”

“May death bring you peace. Rest now,” Victoria said, stepping forward. She used Holy Fire Magic to incinerate the commoner’s body, preventing it from being desecrated after death. “The Deities of Heaven Mountain will forgive your sins.”

Heim’s Holy Emblem grew slightly warm, as if in disagreement, but it no longer mattered.

“Baka… sigh.” Daniel sank down dejectedly. Ron handed his Pan Flute back to him. The Bard gazed melancholically at the ashes on the ground and began to play a soft, farewell tune.

“The song is called ‘Will You Never Return?'” Liya said, shaking her head. After telling Ron and the others the name of the piece, she sat down beside her husband.

Although Liya had been the one to spare Baka’s life, Daniel’s bond with him seemed deeper. ‘Perhaps this is the friendship between men?’ Liya wondered.

She didn’t quite understand it, but years of marriage had taught her to be by her husband’s side in times like these—it had been the same at her sister and brother-in-law’s funeral, and it was the same today.

“A moving sacrifice.” Released from their cell by Constance, Hendrix and Sred the butler couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow at the scene. “Lord, we are so sorry this happened. I should have…”

“You did everything you could,” Ron said, patting his springy shoulder. “If you hadn’t refused their outrageous demands, the sacrifices today would not have ended here.”

Ron scanned the surrounding Priests, most of whom had been taken down by the Shapeshifters. “At the very least, they must die today.”

“My lord, my lord, you can’t possibly want to go to war with the Molten Iron Barrier!” Hearing this, the Priests were scared out of their wits. They never could have imagined that this so-called “country lord,” this “upstart brat who hasn’t even secured his footing,” would possess such power.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, no, no! How would we dare? But the Molten Iron Barrier has always been one of the main forces in this world fighting against the Abyss. If you were to alarm our brethren who are fighting demons, not only might the demons press their advantage, but those brethren are battle-hardened veterans. I’m afraid you would also—”

“Judge Aron and Priest Pergrande are but insignificant members among them. Please, reconsider!” a Priest who knew of Aron’s mission from a few months ago hastily added.

“Sounds like a threat to me.” Sera picked at her ear, annoyed. The barbarian was quite displeased that she hadn’t gotten a chance to show off her might this time.

“You only know that your Religious Order fights the Abyss. But do you know that your Archbishop and several high-ranking leaders have secretly pledged allegiance to the Hells?” Ron asked slowly, his eyes sweeping over the prisoners.

“What? That’s impossible!” “My lord, we may have offended you first, but you can’t just make such baseless accusations!”

“Bullshit! What false accusations!” Delaford couldn’t take it anymore. He leaped forward and kicked a Priest over. “Are you blind?! Did you not see the magic your damn Bishop cast! You dare say that was a Divine Gift?!”

Even a Goblin Hunter with little knowledge could tell that the Divine Magic Victoria used and what the Bishop had just used were from completely different systems!

“Actually… it’s not entirely impossible,” Victoria muttered under her breath. She should have a chance to use Etherealization, the final spell, at some point. It was just hard to say how long after this incident it would take for her to earn that right.

Goblins might not be well-liked, but Delaford’s crude words held a rough truth. The Priests looked at each other. “It does seem that way…”

“Lord, I have a bold request,” a Priest said, standing up after a moment of whispering among themselves. “I, too, hold the humble rank of Bishop. While not on the level of Lord Patrick—no, of Patrick—I do hold some authority. If you all could be so merciful as to let us return, I guarantee that I and my colleagues present here will investigate the truth and give you, the Religious Order, and the Deities an answer! What do you say?”

“I suggest you have them swear an oath or something,” Sera said, looking at Victoria. “Priests’ oaths can generally be trusted, right?”

“As long as their hearts are still truly with the Deities,” Victoria said, standing up. “Since you’ve made the offer, come forward one by one. After we inspect your Holy Emblems and your faith, you will make your vow. Then, we can consider letting you leave. Ron, what do you think?”

Victoria suppressed her excitement. ‘Her, interrogating Priests from the Molten Iron Barrier? The world’s turned upside down!’

“You handle it. There’s no point in killing them all now,” Ron said with a wave of his hand. “Aive, you stay here with Uncle Daniel and Aunt Liya. We have to see this business to the end.”

“Okay…”

Just as Aive was about to agree, Daniel dropped his Pan Flute and clapped a hand over his foolish daughter’s mouth. “Your Excellency Ron, the crisis has been averted! We’ll be fine here!”

“That Patrick is extremely cunning. It’s better for Aive to stay with you!”

“Well, in that case, I’ll shamelessly borrow your daughter,” Ron said, not expecting him to be so proactive. He readily agreed. “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t let Aive face this kind of danger again!”

“Nonsense,” the Half-Elf muttered, twitching the corner of her mouth. “When am I not the one charging in first…”

“In that case, the few of you should rest here for a while,” Silvia, who had rescued the Daniel couple but had barely acted since, suddenly said. “Mr. Hendrix, you too. It would be best to wait for us to come get you. It’s a bit… chaotic outside right now.”

“Understood, understood! We will do as our benefactors say!” The big head characteristic of a Half-Elf bobbed up and down on Sred the butler. As a follower of the Lord of Nine Hells, he was more accustomed to pulling strings from behind the scenes. These past few days of being schemed against by his own people and ending up a prisoner had truly terrified the butler, who prided himself on having seen it all.

“Found him?” Ron asked, looking at Silvia. She gave him a confirming glance in return.

“Not only found, but we’ve already contained his movements,” the Vampire Descendant said with a cold laugh, weighing the Walking Stick in her hand. “His location on the Material Plane is right here in Mr. Hendrix’s manor. He’s not getting away.”

Although Etherealization prevents “people” on the Material Plane from tracking him, Ron’s side had more than just people.

The Ethereal Plane… that was the hunting ground of the Night Howling Hounds!