Volume 1 Chapter 18 ACT.16 The Heretical Cult (II)
"M-Master, about this matter..."
"Ah, leave it to me."
An awkward, uncomfortable atmosphere lingered between them.
The reunion of the master and disciple after 3 years was not going well.
──Yes, it had been 3 years.
Since the day Rai was appointed as a Purge Knight, the two had not seen each other at all.
After that day, Aslan began to avoid Rai, and Rai hesitated to visit him out of guilt.
As a result, a 3-year gap had formed.
"Then, I'll go in from the front, so it would help if you could enter through the back exit that the advance team has secured."
"──Ah."
His response was somewhat absent-minded, and communication was clearly not going well.
Moreover, Rai felt a sense of frustration.
"Is that all there is to discuss? I'm leaving now. I want to scout the area first."
Saying that, Aslan turned on his heel, turning his back to Rai.
"──M-Master!"
Rai called out to his retreating figure instinctively.
There were many things Rai wanted to say.
Why was he avoiding him?
Why had he stopped talking since that day?
However, even though he had called out, when it came time to put his thoughts into words, they just wouldn't come out.
How should he start?
How should he speak?
The 3 years of silence had robbed them of even the casual atmosphere needed to talk.
"──No, please take care."
In the end, all Rai could do was send Aslan off with those words.
* * *
And so, in the chaotic cult's base carved into the cave, Rai wielded his sword, leading to the present.
Rai advanced deeper into the blood mist.
He searched the intricate interior thoroughly, killing the remaining cultists.
In the midst of this, Rai opened a certain door.
'What is this place?'
Unlike the other rooms that exuded a sinister atmosphere, this one had a soft ambiance.
Thick fabric covered the floor, and several wooden toys were scattered here and there.
The atmosphere was reminiscent of──
'A children's room?'
Yes, if I had to describe it, it was exactly a child's room.
Rai too was perplexed by the room, which didn't suit the ominous altar.
But, within that, a reason came to mind.
'Could it be that children are being held captive?'
He had heard that the Chaos Cult was also involved in the illegal trafficking of children in various places.
And that they were performing suspicious rituals, using those children as sacrifices.
If so, he had to help them.
'Is anyone there, please answer me! I'm not an enemy, I've come to help you!!'
As he shouted in the room, he sensed something moving somewhere in the room.
Rai hurried in that direction.
There was a large table with a tablecloth on it.
Rai gently pulled off the tablecloth.
"Huh!?"
Under the table, 6 children were hiding.
'Oh, good. They're safe.'
That relief was short-lived.
Looking at the children's frightened eyes, Rai remembered.
That he was currently dressed as a blood-soaked, stern black knight.
In this outfit, it was inevitable that they would be frightened.
Chuckling inwardly, Rai reached out to remove his helm, when suddenly.
CLANG
With such a sound, something hit Rai's body and shattered.
'──.'
It was a hailstone, unsuited to this season.
And the oldest-looking boy among the 6 children was pointing at Rai.
──The tip of his finger was wet with condensation.
'──Ah, I see.'
Saying that, Rai alone understood.
He understood that this was what the saint had been talking about.
'Then, there's one missing.'
Saying that, Rai lowered his hand from the helm and instead placed it on the hilt of his sword──.
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