Chapter 235

Isaac approached the tentacles that had solidified after running rampant during the whispering night.

The tentacles had turned into a column, resembling tangled tree roots. With a light swing of his sword, they crumbled away like soft ash. It appeared to be composed of the same substance as the white sand that emerged during an outbreak of the white plague.

As Isaac dug through the collapsed ashes with his sword, he touched something inside.

A mask-like remnant of a monk's face, as pale as a skull, appeared. The lower part was tangled like octopus legs, grotesquely deformed.

It was highly likely that what he initially thought was the monk's face was also a mask.

'Claire and his group wore masks while performing their rituals. It's common for the priests of the Nameless Chaos to wear masks, so this guy must have used one as his face too.'

Upon closer inspection, it was no ordinary mask.

[Slithering Fear (A+)]

[Fear never comes boldly. It creeps in with a gloomy and ominous presence in everyday life, and one day, you will find it at your doorstep, around the corner, or at your bedside. When worn, it allows communication through telepathy, and induces fear in those of lower rank than the wearer.]

'This will be useful.'

Isaac felt a sense of satisfaction.

He had been thinking it would be good to have a mask since his face was too recognizable. He liked the intimidating appearance as well. He discreetly picked up the mask, pretending to gather evidence, and hid it inside his armor.

"Is it over?"

Isolde asked, looking somewhat tired. Isaac turned to look at the young priests who were sitting on the floor.

"The real work starts now."

***

Reporting Claire and his group to the church or beheading them on the spot would make things simple. With undeniable evidence and witnesses, the church would just need to scare them a bit, and they would surely confess everything.

But if that happened, they would undoubtedly end up on the stake. Isaac didn't want that. It wasn't out of sympathy, but because they were obviously being used as well.

"Where did you get the materials for this ritual?"

Isaac and Isolde started interrogating Claire and his group, who were kneeling on the floor. They didn't even wonder how Isaac had managed to find and subdue the monster at the perfect time.

After all, a Holy Grail Knight was a mystical being.

"We, we found it in this underground tomb."

As expected, but not the answer Isaac wanted. He shook his head.

"No. You don't have the capability. The deep underground tomb, precise materials, ritual procedures, procuring materials for sacrifices, deciphering documents written in Gorean—it was clumsy, but it's not something you could achieve with a few months' effort. Someone helped you. Name that person."

Isaac believed that Claire and his group couldn't have done this alone.

They were too clumsy and incompetent for that.

While they might be considered clever among their peers, this was beyond their ability. It was highly likely that the Immortal Order had covertly provided materials or that a surviving cultist had subtly instigated them.

Claire and his friends looked at each other in confusion. Isaac watched them with the Eye of Chaos. It wasn't difficult to discern their true feelings amidst their frantic glances and expressions.

"W-we really found the information ourselves..."

Isaac sighed. They didn't even realize they had been deceived.

"Who suggested you explore the underground tomb?"

Only when Isaac gave them a hint did their eyes widen in surprise. Claire hesitated before speaking.

"C-Cardinal Camille entrusted us with managing the ossuary..."

Cardinal Camille? Isaac fell silent at the mention of the high-ranking priest who had given him the mission. After a moment's thought, he asked another question.

"Was it also Cardinal Camille who told you about the teachings of the Owl?"

"Y-yes, that's correct."

Claire answered, still not understanding why Isaac was asking these questions or what connection Camille had to the ritual. He cautiously added, worried Isaac might misunderstand.

"S-Sir Holy Grail Knight. Cardinal Camille is also my grandmother. She entrusted us with managing the tomb because she trusted us, but she never suggested we go underground or hinted at any information related to this ritual. She's a high-ranking official who's also interested in the 'New Doctrine.'"

Claire's words seemed to be more out of respect than just defending his grandmother.

For a priest who often spoke disdainfully of the church's upper echelons, his tone was unexpectedly reverent, but it wasn't surprising if they had heard about the teachings of the Owl from Camille.

However, considering Cardinal Camille's highly political nature within the Order, she wouldn't take such risks without reason.

A person of her rank would have to see every action as a political move.

It felt like pieces of a puzzle were falling into place in Isaac's mind.

'Nameless Chaos, young priests, New Doctrine, teachings of the Owl, Holy Grail Knight... Were they trying to frame me?'

Isaac felt a surge of incredulity.

He was currently one of the most prominent figures in the church. He had driven out the angel of the cult, received the status of a saint, helped his patron bishop rise to cardinal, and recently received recognition as the Grand Warrior of Elil.

But now, the words of the Holy Grail Knight had started to spread among young priests as the 'New Doctrine.' Moreover, it bore similarities to the teachings of the Owl, which the Order frowned upon.

Coincidentally, the Holy Grail Knight had arrived in Ultenheim, and Cardinal Camille had decided to involve the foolish young priests with the Holy Grail Knight. They spread rumors that the 'New Doctrine' was related to Nameless Chaos, tarnishing his reputation.

The Holy Grail Knight would be disgraced, his momentum would be halted, and the Order would tighten its reins on him.

Everyone would live happily ever after, except for the Holy Grail Knight.

Of course, this was just speculation.

It could simply be Isaac's paranoid imagination. It still didn't explain why Cardinal Camille would distribute information about Nameless Chaos to the young priests and then ignore it.

'I'll have to confront Camille about this. Trying to frame me with baseless accusations just because I'm successful... I won't forgive this.'

Isaac sensed that something was amiss but chose to focus on his anger towards the machinations of the wicked Cardinal.

Having identified the mastermind, he now needed to decide how to handle these priests.

He turned his attention back to Claire.

The young priests, who had successfully completed the ritual and pledged their very souls to Isaac, had now become excellent cultists of the Nameless Chaos and heretics.

Isaac spoke to them, who were dreading divine retribution at any moment.

"I don't think you'll be able to return to the church alive."

The already pale faces of the priests turned even whiter. One of them made a strange noise and collapsed. Since Isaac's intention was to instruct them rather than scare them, he kicked the fallen priest awake.

"Listen carefully. This isn't about your true intentions or your noble family backgrounds. Because you're priests, the punishment will be harsher."

Priests and paladins, due to their high social status, often had their minor sins overlooked. However, the same clergy faced far harsher punishments for heresy and apostasy, crimes that were unforgivable and carried penalties many times harsher than those for laypeople.

With the Dawn Army at the doorstep, an excuse of 'research purposes' would not suffice.

"There's only one way for you to be forgiven."

"W-what is it...?"

"First, you need to escape from here. I'll provide a place for you to hide for a while. Work hard enough to become so invaluable that the church will regret killing you. Fortunately, as you haven't been ordained yet, divine retribution won't find you directly."

The priests staggered at Isaac's words.

What kind of achievement could forgive their heresy and allow them to survive?

But the method Isaac spoke of was the path he himself had chosen.

By becoming indispensable within the Codex of Light's Order, he ensured that his value made it too painful for the Order to cut him off.

"So, what should we do?"

"Since there are no official victims from this incident, I'll bury it. I'll arrange for your food, clothing, and shelter, so just follow my instructions."

As Isaac promised to take responsibility for them, the priests seemed relieved, despite their tearful eyes. The idea of being personally taught and cared for by a renowned Holy Grail Knight seemed to them a sufficient act of penance. They couldn't even imagine that this same knight was an Agent of Chaos.

'I'll turn you into useful cultists.'

As the saying goes, if someone hates you for no reason, give them a reason.

Since Camille had branded him as being related to the Nameless Chaos, he would create priests of the Nameless Chaos as she desired.

***

Isaac handed over Claire and his group to Hesabel on the outskirts of Ultenheim.

The guards didn't find it strange that the priests were leaving the city and didn't bother to check them. Isaac gave them travel expenses and instructed them to go to the Issacrea territory.

He didn't give them ample travel funds on purpose. He expected that during their journey, the pampered priests from the comfortable Ultenheim would shed their refined demeanor. Though they would struggle, within the territory of Gertonia, they wouldn't starve if they lowered their pride, as people would be willing to offer charity.

After sending Claire's group away, Isaac returned to the Ultenheim Cathedral.

"Is it okay that I've effectively dealt with criminals on my own?"

On the way back, Isaac asked Isolde, who seemed to ponder for a moment before answering.

"Since it was an attempt that didn't succeed, I don't think it's a capital offense. But if the details were revealed to the church, they would surely be executed. If someone can repent and correct their mistakes without dying, I think that's right."

Isaac felt reassured that Isolde's thoughts aligned with his. Although he hadn't thought of it as nobly as she did, he believed he had found the best outcome.

"By the way, you seemed quite startled when that chaos monster attacked you. Did you see something?"

Isaac's question made Isolde flinch. She hesitated before mumbling while tracing her chest with her fingers.

"I saw a beating heart inside its throat. It looked as if the heart had taken over its body like a parasite, leaving the rest of the body just a shell."

Isaac was momentarily speechless.

Isolde had absorbed the heart of the Prophet of Red Flesh, essentially swallowing the power of an angel. However, she seemed to view it more as a curse than her own power.

Her inability to fully utilize the power could be due to her fear that using it might allow the Prophet of Red Flesh to take over her.

Isaac wanted to tell her not to be overly fearful but stopped when Isolde asked in return.

"The monster turned into a huge tentacle when it died. Is that your fear, Isaac?"

Isaac kept silent. He wasn't in a position to lecture her.

Just as Isaac feared that one day his body would be pierced by tentacles that would engulf the world, Isolde was afraid that the heart within her would eventually take over her.

The two, each harboring a monster within, walked silently side by side.

"I should report this incident to Cardinal Camille. She will wonder why the seminary students suddenly disappeared."

Isolde nodded.

"Give her a good blow, Isaac."

While the Church had tried to bind Isaac, this incident also provided Isolde with valuable evidence of the Church's weaknesses.

But it wasn't something that could be used just yet.

How to act upon it was Isaac's decision.

Isaac headed towards the Ultenheim Cathedral.

It remained to be seen who the real monster was.