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A Deep Rift – Part 02

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Translator: Kell

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I looked over my shoulder to see Gemma standing there with a grimace, and her men carrying some load.

Barcel immediately rose to his feet. “Captain! What brings you here?”

“Am I not welcome here?”

“O-Of course, you are.”

“I asked the Bishop if I could borrow some books.”

Hearing the word “book,” the Director stopped eating. “I-I thought… I couldn’t read more… until after the world is saved…”

“That is your agreement with Lady Zero,” Gemma said. “This one’s from me. A token of my apology, for lashing out on you yesterday. I let my emotions get the best of me. Take it, Director.”

“Hihi… Haha… Wonderful. A-Absolutely wonderful… That’s my mate…”

“Never mind. I’m taking it back.” When he called her “mate”, Gemma quickly pulled the book back.

For the first time, the expressionless Director looked hurt, hanging his head low.

“Come on. You’re making me look like a bad guy. Here, I’ll leave the book, so cheer up.”

“You’re too easy, Captain,” I remarked.

“What do you want from me?! His ability served us well on the journey. If Lady Zero gave her permission, I would like to borrow him for today’s meeting.”

“Oh? Are you going to use the Director’s eyes to search for survivors in the vicinity?” Zero asked.

“And ask him for the names and characteristics of every single demon that could potentially threaten us. The Director can write, can’t he? If we know the names of the demons, we can leave Knox Cathedral safely without you escorting us.”

The Director took the book from Gemma and softly closed and opened his hand. “I can’t… move my fingers… very well…”

“I’ll help you with that,” Gemma said. “What do you think, Lady Zero?”

“I do not mind. If you provide me with a list of the demons’ names, I will gladly allow it.”

“That’s great. Barcel.”

“Yes, sir!” Barcel straightened up.

“Get the Director a special tent and take him there.”

“Uh, what?”

Gemma arched an eyebrow. “What? Any problems with that?”

“N-Not at all!”

“Then get on with it. I’ll be in the Cathedral. Come get me when you’re done.”

Barcel took off to prepare the tent.

After watching him go, I turned to Gemma. “Did you forgive him?”

Gemma’s brows drew together. “I simply gave an order to my subordinate.”

“You hated doing that.”

“Yes, and I thought it was stupid.”

Fair enough… So what about me, then? I’m the one who actually killed your father.

I decided not to stir anything up myself.

“What about Mercenary?” Zero asked.

But apparently witches loved stirring things up.

Not expecting the question, Gemma eyed me with a frown. “Mercenaries are hired muscles who simply follow orders. As far as I know, your life was in danger. And from your perspective, my father deserved to die, didn’t he?”

For a moment I considered how to best answer her question, but I realized what she wanted was the truth, not the best answer.

“Well, yeah. All the things he ordered me to do were sickening.”

“I suppose all the ugly rumors I dismissed were true. Thanks for disobeying my father.” There was a pause. “And thanks for killing him.” Her expression was bitter.

“Stop,” I said sharply. Her reaction was different than what I had expected. “Unless you asked them to do it, don’t ever thank the guy who killed your family again. Forget the circumstances and just think about what I did. I killed your father to save myself. I don’t regret it, and I won’t apologize for what I did, but you can still hate me for it.”

Caught off guard, she fell silent, then burst out into laughter.

“What’s so funny?!”

“Ah, my bad. You’re just too nice.”

“Whaaat?!” I looked at Zero for help, but she simply nodded, as if to say, ‘She is absolutely right.’

“I can still hate you, huh?” Gemma mused. “I see. So if I were to challenge you to a duel, you would not complain, yes?”

“Uh, I will.”

“So you will accept the challenge?”

“Well, I guess you won’t even get to hurt me.”

Oh, shit. I shouldn’t have said that.

Gemma’s smile turned sour, and her hand slowly reached for the axe at her hip.

“W-Wait! I didn’t mean that! I’m sorry!”

“As you should be,” Zero said.

“M-Many books say… that your remark… is a valid enough reason… for a duel,” the Director added.

“Stop making things worse, you idiots!”

“I’m just joking,” Gemma said. “I know you’re strong. I’ve seen you in action throughout the journey.” With a thin smile, she took her hand off the axe.

Just a nasty joke, huh? You scared the hell out of me. Wait, a joke?

“Since when were you able to crack jokes?” I asked.

“Since the Vice Captain taught me. Anyway, I better get going. Oh, right. Mercenary.”

“What is it this time?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. Don’t get too close to town.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve seen enough people who were attacked by possessed Beastfallen freaking out whenever they saw me.”

“I’m talking about armed knights. Not helpless, frightened people.”

I felt a searing tension in the air.

“Does the Bishop want me to leave?”

“No. They don’t mind your presence and Lady Zero’s. Even the Director’s. But the knights in Knox Cathedral don’t feel the same way.”

I remembered the attitude the Vice Captain showed in the beginning, how he regarded us with disdain. He believed Zero was trying to trick the Knights Templar. He disparaged me, calling me an embodiment of depravity. He even tried to kick Gemma out for taking our side.

“Do they know that a Beastfallen is working with the Knights Templar?”

She nodded grimly. “When I informed the Bishop about our troops, the personal guards were listening. I insisted that you were not dangerous, but they showed extreme contempt. The entire unit probably knows about you already. To be honest, I don’t know what they’ll do if they see you. The Lady Witch and the Director can pretend to be normal humans.”

But not me.

If I wrapped myself in a hooded cloak and blended in with the crowd, I could pass myself off as just a huge guy, but if word already got out that there was a Beastfallen among the unit, no amount of covering up would help. They would immediately recognize me.

“Are you suggesting that Mercenary should keep out of sight?” Zero asked, her face stern. “He traveled all the way here with you. He scaled the tower in the Forbidden Library to rescue you.”

“Stop!” I said. “You can’t blame her. It’s just how it is.”

“You are always like that, Mercenary. You are being deprived of what you deserve, but you insist that that is the norm. I find it infuriating.” She rose to her feet and marched into the carriage, closing the canvas behind her as if to say not to follow her.

“What’s with her? This is nothing new.”

“I’m furious as well,” Gemma said. “You’re willingly staying outside the ward, but now they’re treating you like a pest. I hate myself for not being able to stop it.” She clenched her fists tight.

I flicked Gemma’s forehead with my claw. “If you’re not cautious around a Beastfallen in these times, there’s something wrong with you.”

“But you’re not a dangerous man. Lady Zero is not a dangerous witch either.”

“It’s our fault for not being able to prove that. The only thing we can do is behave and put their mind at rest.”

“But you two will never—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, just go! You’re putting yourself in a tight spot by talking to me.” I shooed her away.

Gemma looked like she still wanted to say something, but she reluctantly trudged back into town.

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Bottom line: I did not think things through. I thought there wouldn’t be a problem as long as I stayed away.

Barcel took the Director to the tent, while Zero was sulking inside the carriage. I was checking the supplies needed for our trip to the Altar, when I stopped at the sound of approaching footsteps.

Some footsteps were friendly and some were not, and these ones were clearly the latter.

I hung my sword on my hip and threw the luggage I had gathered into the carriage. Zero, sensing the situation, crawled out of the carriage.

“It is just how it is, huh?” She glared at me, her eyes saying ‘I told you so.’

“Yup. To the knights of Knox Cathedral, I’m not a friend who traveled with them, but a Beastfallen who could be possessed by a demon.”

“Goody-two-shoes.”

“Just don’t make a scene. I want to keep things as civil as possible.”

The footsteps were getting closer and closer. There had to be around ten of them. The clinking of armor marked them as fully-armed knights.

When they entered my vision, my mood turned foul. “Doesn’t look like the understanding type.”

At the head of the group was a man in his mid-twenties with a good complexion. He looked to be from a wealthy family.

His footsteps were overbearing, but he had his arms outstretched as if to emphasize his lax attitude.

“Hello there. Sorry for disturbing you,” the man said, wearing an iron-clad smile. “My. You’re even worse than I imagined.”

Really? Is that how you address someone you literally just met?

My first encounter with the homicidal priest was also a disaster, but at least he wasn’t pretending. He was actually trying to kill me back then.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I said. “As you can see, I’m staying away from the town.”

“Oh.” The man stopped in his tracks. “It seems that Captain Gemma has already told you that you’re not welcome here. Yet you still haven’t left.”

“That’s because our companion was taken to a different tent to assist the Knights Templar.”

“You mean the Director of the Forbidden Library who has a demon imprisoned inside his body? Yes, I’ve heard about him. So what about it?”

“What?”

Keeping his smile, the man cocked his head. “The Director’s ability will be extremely useful in the defense of Knox Cathedral. As such, he will remain here.”

“Bullshit! Why do you think he’s making a list of demons’ names?!”

“To serve the Church and the people.”

Wow. He’s a complete asshole. He was like a bully wrapped in a cloak of arrogance and wearing a smiling mask.

“So you’re taking the useful one and driving us away,” I said.

“Now you’re just putting words in my mouth. Normally you would be executed, but I doubt the Bishop Excellency, merciful as they are, would allow it. Therefore, I am asking you to leave of your own will. Do we understand each other?”

No, we don’t. And I will never try to either.

“I got a question. Does the Captain know about this?”

“I’m the one in-charge of security in Knox Cathedral.”

“So she doesn’t know.”

“It makes sense,” Zero cut in. “The Captain would not allow such despicable actions. She did not realize that creating the list was a ploy to separate us. I failed to realize it too.”

The man eyed Zero. “From the way you talk, I take it you’re the witch Zero. I heard you’re going to save the world.”

“What about it?”

“Nothing. It’s a lofty goal. I would very much like you to accomplish it as soon as possible.” He clapped his hands and gestured toward a different direction, as if urging us to leave.

Now I kinda want to intimidate him.

I let out a low growl. “You’re not even going to let us say goodbye to the Captain? Besides, saving the world requires a certain amount of preparation. It’s not like we’re going to attack the town, so can’t you just let us stay for one more night, my good man?”

“That’s a tough one. Will you please go?”

“Not right now.”

“Then as much as it pains me, we will have no choice but to deem you harmful to the Church.”

The knights drew their swords.

“I thought you weren’t gonna execute me.”

“Not if you are found to be a threat to us. No hard feelings, please. We are doing this to protect the Church and the people. If you two serve the Church, then you’ll understand.”

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