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Chapter 74 Part 3 – The Blazing Flames and Hearts That Scorch the Night

「…… Hmm, that’s enough.」

The voice echoed eerily.

With his cloak fluttering like a black wing, the Inquisition official Matthew appeared as if he descended from the sky. Those who had been watching from a distance could not believe their eyes. Matthew had leapt over the crowd from behind. He stepped on the fire with the soles of his pointed boots and quickly moved his legs in a circular motion to extinguish the flames.

「Could you give us a little space? It’s hard to talk in such a crowded place.」

With just a light touch from Matthew’s hand, the men who boasted of their strength were blown away. It was like magic. None of the people there could understand that this was a technique that utilized the power of the opponent, just like aikido. The angry crowd was subdued by fear.

In no time at all, a quiet space was created with Matthew at the center.
Matthew stroked his mustache and calmly looked around.

「Very well. Now, you devout believers. Do you know that the witch who is the cause of all this turmoil is lurking somewhere in here?」

The quiet murmur of the crowd grew louder again.
Matthew nodded in satisfaction and called out.

「Jo-o-o-hn. Bring the witch here.」

「Yeah!!」

Matthew’s close aide, John, approached Rona through the crowd. With a vulgar smile, he snatched the unconscious Rona from the hands of the men who were protecting her. He savored the smell of Rona’s neck, rudely groped her body, and carried her over his shoulder like a piece of luggage.

「Heh, she smells like a witch. Hey, open the way. Or else you’ll be polluted by the witch’s curse.」

John’s words made the people’s expressions stiffen.
The crowd instantly made a road for him to pass through.
Ronny’s face twisted in despair and disbelief.

「…… No ……!? That’s not what you promised ……!! You clearly said that you’ll let sister Rona go ……!!」

But Ronny’s pleading voice died out.

「Don’t interrupt me. Listen quietly to the end.」

Matthew slowly placed his fingertips around Ronny’s neck and squeezed his vocal cords.

Matthew had a cruel smile on his lips as he whispered into Ronny’s ear.

「Don’t get me wrong. I was going to keep my promise to you. But remember. You guys have another valuable family member, don’t you? It’s not nice to leave him out. Let’s hear what he has to say. Come on, don’t be shy. Come on out.」

John walked over to the stake and violently threw Rona to the ground from his shoulder.

Beside Matthew’s feet, Rona groaned and writhed.

But Ronny was tied to the stake and did not see Rona.
His face stiffened at the appearance of an unexpected person.

A middle-aged man with a dreary appearance who had been hiding behind Matthew timidly stepped forward. Cold sweat trickled down Ronny’s cheeks. That person was their father. He looked around with the eyes of a servile little animal. He seemed like a different man from the drunken tyrant he had been. Ronny had never seen his father looking like this.

「…… Rona ……!! Ronny ……!!」

Shocked by the miserable state of his children, their father stood there stunned.
Matthew patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner and spoke cheerfully.

「How is it? Reuniting with your family with a sober mind after all these years. You’ve got a sane look in your eyes. Good. You see. These children are suspected of being witches and her followers. But, they are just young children. I can’t bring myself to kill them. They are still young and it’s understandable that they can stray to the wrong path. Yes, for example ……」

Matthew looked straight at their father’s pale face.

His suspicious laughter made their father lose strength in his legs.
Then Matthew closed the distance between them.

「For example, the children may have been deceived by their father without knowing anything. If so, I can say that they are innocent and they will not be charged with a crime. Of course, in that case, you, their father, will bear all the blame as the minion of the devil and will be burned at the stake.」

With the smoke surrounding his feet like the miasma of hell, Matthew pointed his finger at their father and asked.

「Now, as their father, answer me honestly. Are these children witches and her followers? Or are they just pitiful, ignorant, and deceived lambs?」

Their father’s eyes swam.
It was because of guilt.
While he had been running away from reality and drowning his sorrows in alcohol, he had caused the death of his wife, whom he had loved dearly, through overwork, and had driven his children to this point. It is hard to believe, but deep down, this selfish father still had a little bit of compassion left in him.

「These children are not ……」

Their father made up his mind to take the blame alone in order to save his children. He thought it was the least he could do as an atonement to his family. Until he heard Matthew’s devilish whispers.

「…… Take a good look at that girl’s expensive clothes. She must have been rescued by a wealthy family who felt sorry for her. And yet she was willing to risk everything to come save her younger brother. Her younger brothers certainly also wish to live together with her. Ohh, the children will surely be happy from now on. But, what about you?」

Matthew showed a delighted smile.
It was like the smile of Mephistopheles.

「You will end your miserable life as a good-for-nothing, incompetent person who can do nothing but be deceived and drink alcohol. In addition, you will be burned in the fire as a witch. Even if you fall to hell, there will be no one in a lower position than you. You will forever be a shitty insect crawling around at the bottom of the pile. And you know what? Do you think that your children will forgive you for this one thing you did for them? The hatred for kinship does not disappear so easily. You won’t even remain in your children’s hearts.」

Rona’s father’s body began to tremble.

Matthew nodded benevolently, took out a bottle of liquor from his pocket, and shook it in front of their father. Their father’s eyes quivered as if he was being manipulated by the amber-colored liquid.

「It’s about time you crave alcohol. Well, if you’re going to be hated by your children anyway, why don’t you at least end your life as a demon who tramples on the children instead of being a lonely, shitty insect? Then at least you won’t be at the bottom of the pile. Be honest with yourself. Why should you be the only one unhappy? I like to buy drinks for honest people. This is a fairly high-quality liquor.」

Rona’s father’s eyes were bloodshot and his breathing was ragged.
The human-like expression that had been there for a moment melted away and revealed a despicable look.
He swallowed his saliva with an anxious expression.

「…… U …… Uuh ……」

Rona groaned, curled up, and then blinked her eyes.
She had regained consciousness.

「…… Ronny!!」

Seeing her younger brother Ronny tied to the stake, Rona jumped up and tried to run over to him.

「Stop there, you witch. Don’t do anything rash.」

John grabbed Rona by the hair and pulled her away from Ronny.

「Let go of me!! A witch!? What are you talking about!?」

Rona still has no idea that she has been framed as a witch.

Matthew looked down at Rona coldly.

「…… Are you planning to feign ignorance? You are a witch. You remember the small, drug-addicted guy, don’t you? He said that you are a witch. That you gave birth to a demon right in front of his eyes.」

The people who had been watching over their conversation with bated breath froze.

「That ……!! I do know that person, but I never gave birth to a demon ……」

Rona was seriously injured because of that small man who had a peculiar fetish of pretending to be an Inquisition official. That person did call Rona a witch, but it was just a charade. It definitely doesn’t mean that she is an actual witch.

「I have certainly done shameful things with that man. But I have never ……」

Rona desperately tried her best to argue against Matthew, but his eerie smile made her shudder. He had a smile full of contempt that said, ‘what does it matter after all this time’. The truth or falsehood of the matter is not important as long as it is something that he can utilize as an excuse to wreak havoc. His eyes told her that he would do everything in his power to frame Rona as a witch. There is no use in trying to persuade him.