“Ah, no…”
Baldwyn stammered, flustered.
Why was Lyra calling him a traitor?
This was undeniably wrong, deeply wrong.
Lyra’s appearance was particularly shocking.
“Lyra… why are you…”
Lyra, dragged in naked with her limbs severed, inflicted a pain greater than a sword through Baldwyn’s heart.
Her once-comrade face, a beautiful half-elf, was contorted with pain and despair.
Simultaneously, her hair was stained with blood and dirt, and her eyes blazed with nothing but hatred for Baldwyn.
‘This can’t be.’
His mind was in turmoil.
Necros, Celia, Lyra… and all the things he had done, began to fit together like puzzle pieces.
But the puzzle was forming a picture entirely different from what he had imagined.
“Could Sienna also…?”
If Lyra was alive, couldn’t Sienna be alive too?
He harbored that hope, but only a despairing sound came from Lyra’s lips.
“You… sold us out. Sienna… only suffered… and died…!”
Lyra’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“…And now… you come looking for us? After you… abandoned us?”
“No!”
Baldwyn cried out desperately.
“That’s a lie! I was trying to save you-”
But at that moment, his mind felt like it was clouding over again.
As Celia approached him, Baldwyn’s thoughts began to scatter.
“Lyra knows what choice you made, Baldwyn.”
Celia’s sweet voice whispered in his ear.
“You chose me over Lyra. Didn’t you?”
He tried to shake his head.
‘No, I never did!’
But what came out of his mouth was different from his thoughts.
“That’s right… I chose. I sold you out.”
“You bastard…”
Lyra’s hot tears wet her cheeks at his words.
Each tear dug into Baldwyn’s soul.
‘This isn’t me. The words from my mouth aren’t mine!’
He was desperately screaming the truth inside, but his body was already moving under Celia’s control.
He looked at Lyra’s despairing face, but his own expression was cold.
“I don’t regret it. This is my choice.”
Baldwyn bowed at Celia’s feet, kissed her shoes, and swore his allegiance.
“You are my only one, Lady Celia. My life, my soul, all are yours.”
‘Stop! This isn’t my true feeling!’
His inner self screamed.
But disappointment and anger were mixed in Lyra’s eyes.
Celia smiled elegantly and raised her hand.
Then, several men approached. Their eyes were vacant, moving like human-shaped dolls.
They were all humans controlled by Celia’s charm.
“Baldwyn, it seems your old comrade has been living in solitude. How about introducing her to some friends?”
Baldwyn’s heart froze with fear.
‘No, please… don’t touch Lyra!’
But the words that came out of his mouth were entirely different.
“That’s a good idea, Lady Celia.”
Only emptiness resided in his eyes.
Celia gestured to the men, and they approached Lyra.
“No! Stop! Baldwyn, please!”
Lyra screamed and struggled, but without her limbs, her resistance was futile.
A desperate cry echoed.
Baldwyn felt his heart tear, but his body remained motionless.
Celia gently stroked Baldwyn’s hair.
“Now, witness what kind of pleasure your old comrade is experiencing.”
‘No… I must protect Lyra, Lyra!’
His inner self writhed. But his body remained kneeling, unmoving.
The cruel acts the men were doing to Lyra began.
Her screams and cries echoed in the street.
Baldwyn wanted to close his eyes. He wanted to turn his head.
But under Celia’s control, he could only watch the scene.
“Ah, it’s so beautiful, Lady Celia.”
Words of ecstasy flowed from Baldwyn’s mouth.
However, tears flowed endlessly from his eyes.
One stream, then two… more and more tears streamed down his cheeks.
Celia smiled at the tears flowing on his face.
“Why are you crying, Baldwyn? Isn’t this a joyous moment?”
Baldwyn’s lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were filled with pain.
It was a grotesque and eerie contrast.
“I’m so happy… I’m crying, Lady Celia.”
His voice trembled with joy, but inside, screams reverberated.
Lyra’s pained cries, the men’s rough breaths, and Celia’s satisfied laughter mingled.
In that terrible symphony, Baldwyn’s soul sank deeper into darkness.
The tears continued to flow, and a smile remained on his face.
It was like someone crying with a smiling mask.
It was a bizarre spectacle, a mixture of extreme pain, despair, and forced ecstasy.
“Lady Celia, show me more.”
The words that came out of his mouth were enthusiastic, but inside, he was constantly calling Lyra’s name.
Celia lightly wiped away his tears.
“Look how happy your comrade is, Baldwyn.”
Lyra’s eyes had lost their light.
Her gaze was vacant.
‘Lyra… I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…’
The voice inside grew weaker, but a smile remained on his face, and tears continued to flow from his eyes.
That was the only part of his body he could control.
Those tears alone represented his true feelings.
The street was filled with Lyra’s pain and Baldwyn’s silent screams.
‘Ah…’
Baldwyn was frustrated.
How did it come to this?
He should not have entered that dungeon back then.
If he hadn’t, his comrades wouldn’t have died, and Lyra wouldn’t have had such a terrible experience?
If this hadn’t happened, wouldn’t he be living happily as an adventurer now?
He regretted it so much.
But it was already irreversible.
His tears stopped. Instead, an unfamiliar emotion began to take its place.
Something cold, dark, yet powerful stirred deep within his chest.
“I’m so… sad… Lady Celia.”
Baldwyn’s gaze changed.
Lyra had stopped moving. There was no more pain or anger on her face.
All that remained was deep despair.
It was as if her soul had already left her body.
Celia stroked Baldwyn’s head with a satisfied smile.
“What was the beginning of all this?”
The answer to Celia’s question was too obvious.
Celia herself, asking the question, was the cause, wasn’t she?
But Celia’s whisper continued.
“Do you think it’s me?”
Yes.
But Baldwyn’s mouth wouldn’t form words.
He couldn’t scream or cry out.
His body wouldn’t move.
Celia laughed and asked again.
“Do you really think it’s me?”
It was obvious.
But Baldwyn’s mind was becoming foggy, as if there were a mist.
“You’re wrong. The culprit behind all this is the Free City Alliance for hiding the warlock.”
Sophistry.
“And isn’t it the fault of the White Church, which failed to control such an Alliance? If the White Church had performed its original duties well, this could have been prevented.”
It was sophistry.
But listening to it, it felt somewhat right.
‘Strange.’
It was definitely strange.
Celia’s words were close to sophistry, but why did they feel convincing?
Baldwyn was confused.
If.
If, truly.
If the White Church had been faithful to its original duties, as Celia said, this might not have happened.
“The White… Church?”
Then, where should this unbearable anger go?
“…Lyra.”
He saw Lyra, her breath caught.
Her chest was no longer rising and falling. Her face was already frozen pale.
To whom should the revenge for his comrade Lyra be directed?
Was it truly right to direct it towards the White Church, not Celia, who was before his eyes?
“I don’t know…”
He couldn’t think.
Why?
He didn’t know.
His mind just felt blank.
‘I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know’
Nothing came to mind.
Emptiness and despair began to settle in Baldwyn’s heart.
“Now, take my hand. Let’s defeat the White Church whom Baldwyn resents.”
‘Revenge on the White Church…’
His memories gradually blurred. He felt like he wanted to hold Celia’s hand.
He didn’t know why.
He just wanted to be intoxicated by Celia’s sweet voice.
“…”
The moment Baldwyn took Celia’s hand.
*Thwump-*
From behind, the Death Knight’s sword pierced Baldwyn’s heart.
***
– You have acquired the unique monster, Paladin of Despair Baldwyn (★★★★).
***
The commander of the Crusaders, Priest Clayton, immediately sent a dispatch to the Church.
The content was simple but impactful.
The Free City Alliance had colluded with the undead.
The Wyverns flying in the skies of the Free City Alliance, and the Lich and Skeletons riding on their backs.
What Priest Clayton reported and saw was enough to shock the White Church.
Not only was the Holy Sword stolen, but they were an evil group colluding with monsters!
The Church’s deliberation was not long.
Since there was clear evidence that the Free City Alliance had indeed colluded with the undead, there was no reason to stand idly by any longer.
“Under the Goddess’s light, His Holiness the Pope has commanded! All Inquisitors are to head to the Free City Alliance immediately! There, they will unite with our Sacred Crusaders and burn the darkness of heresy with the flame of purification! In the name of the Church, for the glory of the Goddess, our swords and judgment will befall the wicked heathens!”
The White Church began to move in earnest.
***
The wide corridors of the Grand Garden of the Free City Alliance were filled with urgent footsteps.
Mayor Atilane led the way, followed by Vice Mayor Reinel and key councilors, including Caleb.
Among them walked proud mages in blue robes.
At the forefront was Sharia, the Leader of the Twilight Church.
*Boom – Kaaaang-*
Even as they walked, explosions could be heard outside the windows.
“The Crusaders’ actions are a clear violation of sovereignty!”
Mayor Atilane said.
His voice was filled with anger and resolve.
With the Mage Guild now on their side, what was there to fear?
“There is no evidence that we have been in league with warlocks. Innocent citizens are being harmed by their unilateral judgment.”
Vice Mayor Reinel nodded at Atilane’s words.
“That’s right. It’s time for us to step forward directly and reveal the truth. With the help of the Mage Guild, we can prove our innocence!”
Councilor Caleb even bowed his head to Sharia to express his gratitude.
“Without the participation of the mages, our claims would lose their persuasiveness. Can you go with us?”
To that, Sharia gave an innocent smile.
“Of course. It is only natural for us to lend our strength for the honor of the Free City Alliance. I will lead the way in informing the Church of the truth.”
The gates of the Grand Garden opened, and the party stepped outside.
Already, waiting guards were lined up.
Mayor Atilane paused for a moment and looked at the crowd.
“Today, we will march for justice and truth!”
The Mayor declared loudly.
