Chapter 155: The Inquisition (4)

Their confrontation began with a brief silence. Eugene couldn’t hear any more grinding noises coming from Hemoria’s mouth. Instead, she glared at Eugene with narrowed eyes, then unclenched her fist and showed her hand to him.

Was she using sign language again?

Soon, Eugene smirked wryly. He had correctly guessed that Hemoria had held her hand up to convey some sign language. However, this time, Lovellian’s help wasn’t needed to translate what she was trying to tell him.

That was how explicit and easy to understand Hemoria’s current use of sign language was. Hemoria had just lifted up her index finger and then crooked it at him a few times. Eugene nodded in understanding as he stepped forward.

“It might be because an Inquisitor is still a priest, in the end, but it seems she’s quite merciful,” Eugene muttered to himself.

Thoughts such as desiring to check the skills of the new master of the Holy Sword, who had finally appeared after hundreds of years... were understandable. And as an Inquisitor, she must be confident in her battle skill.

But could Hemoria really be thinking that she could win this fight?

‘There’s no way that could be the case,’

Eugene thought dismissively.

If Hemoria really did have such a thought, then there must be something wrong with her head. From the looks of it, her pride and stubbornness seemed quite strong, but it appeared that she had probably talked herself into a fight because she didn’t like the look of Eugene and couldn’t accept that he was the master of the Holy Sword.

Of course, Eugene had no problems with accepting such a fight. Because he felt the exact same dislike that Hemoria, no, that both the Inquisitors did. From openly praising him as the master of the Holy Sword to trying to find fault where there wasn’t any to be found.

“Careful of your face,” Eugene said suddenly.

Then he moved without caring whether or not Hemoria had managed to process these words.

He took a large stride forward, but it wasn’t just a simple step. A burst of mana pushed Eugene’s body forward. This allowed Eugene to cover that considerable distance with just one step.

After that, he swung at his target just like he had warned.

Swish!

Hemoria’s short hair fluttered in the wind as she dodged, barely managing to avoid direct contact as Eugene’s foot passed right in front of Hemoria’s noise.

Tap, tatap.

After just one kick, Eugene took a few steps back, a grin on his face. Hemoria’s finger, which was still outstretched, returned to its former position as she once more clenched her fists.

Hemoria sprang into action. She daringly charged forward with a short hook of her fist.

Bam!

The fist that was about to drive into his side was caught by Eugene’s hand. Hemoria’s fist instantly unclenched, and her fingers intertwined with Eugene’s.

Eugene’s eyes lit up as he felt an immense strength push his fingers back. However, Eugene couldn’t feel any movement of mana within the fingers that were intertwined with his. Simply and barbarically — Hemoria was merely exerting her strength without using mana.

‘To have such power with her physique. Could she have a special constitution that makes her similar to a monster?’

Eugene speculated.

This wasn’t a strength that could be obtained through training. As he watched his fingers bend to the limits of their range of motion, Eugene calmly thought to himself. If things went on like this, his bones would be broken.

Though that was only if he stayed still like an idiot.

Baaaam!

Eugene’s foot swept across the ground and struck Hemoria’s ankle, causing her to flinch and sway backward.

‘She’s tough,’

Eugene observed.

Once again, Eugene felt curious. Although he hadn’t intended to shatter her ankle, he had hoped to at least twist it with that strike. However, Hemoria’s foot hadn’t even shaken. Instead, it felt like he had kicked a whole piece of iron without any joints.

Eugene realized something,

‘Her body’s density is different from a normal human’s.’

Was it drugs? Or perhaps it was a mixture of magic and surgical modifications? Either way, Hemoria’s body wasn’t entirely human. While clenching and unclenching his fingers that had almost been broken, Eugene kept an eye on Hemoria.

However, Hemoria was just looking at Eugene with eyes full of disbelief. When his hand had descended to meet her fist, it had certainly been strong, but it had also been fast enough that she couldn't react in time. The same went for that first step he had taken. Hemoria had been able to read his movements, but they had been so fast that it had been difficult for her to respond to them.

The same event had played out again just now. It had been Hemoria’s turn to try and read his movements and block his attack, but that peculiar acceleration.... It couldn’t just be because of Eugene’s physical abilities. If that were the case, there was no way that Hemoria could have overpowered him earlier.

Atarax narrowed his eyes as he watched the spar. Hemoria was actually being overwhelmed in close combat. All of Hemoria’s moves were blocked right before she could make them, and at the exact moment when Hemoria was unable to react, she was struck with precise counterattacks.

‘There’s something mixed in,’

Atarax realized.

The way that Eugene’s mana burst forth was simple yet peculiar. Something was mixed into his fighting style, but what...? Could it be something from the Lionheart clan’s White Flame Formula? No, this was different. Rather than on the technique side of things, something seemed to be mixed in with his mana.

Baaam!

Hemoria’s feet left the ground once more. There weren’t any cries of pain this time, either. She had already been hammered in the jaw several times by now, but Hemoria was always able to react like she hadn’t felt any pain. The same went for this time as well. Glancing at his opponent’s hands that were attempting to get close and grab hold of his body, Eugene used his other hand to grab one of Hemoria’s wrists.

He immediately twisted Hemoria’s arm around behind her back. Although he had definitely dislocated her elbow, Hemoria’s arm didn’t seem to lose any strength. While twisting her dislocated arm, she tried to swing Eugene’s whole body around.

As such, Eugene let go of her arm without any hesitation. Eugene then slammed his fist into the side that had been left completely open by Hemoria’s dislocated arm. He had already pounded that spot several times, but he couldn’t feel any of the cracking sensations that should have come because Hemoria’s ribs were so dense that they didn’t seem human.

‘I’m sure of it now,’

Eugene thought as his brows furrowed.

Apart from Eugene, most people wouldn’t have been able to notice something else was going on. Indeed, it was because of one of his specialties from his previous life that Eugene had been able to discern what was happening — the ability to perfectly recover the mana drawn from his core without wasting any of it.

Thanks to this ability, Eugene could feel that his mana was seeping into her with every blow against his own will. This wasn’t just some coincidence. It had to be part of Hemoria’s plan. Since he wasn’t using sword-force or any type of spell, the mana flowing through Eugene’s body seeped into Hemoria whenever he came into contact with her body.

‘Could it be a drain-type spell?’

Eugene wondered.

‘But it seems too subtle for something like that.’

The mana being stolen wasn’t strengthening Hemoria. Although there had to be some plan where it could be used after it had been stolen, Hemoria didn’t seem intent on using his stolen mana right now.

‘How cheeky,’

Eugene thought to himself.

They had asked him for a light spar. As such, Eugene had assumed both of them would be willing to hold back a little. If Eugene had really wanted to hurt Hemoria as much as he could, he could have finished her off immediately with just one blow.

So Eugene didn’t really appreciate the way Hemoria seemed to be planning on taking advantage of him, stealing away bits and pieces of his mana while refusing to let out any cries of pain.

Eugene didn’t know why she was called Guillotine Hemoria, but rather than wanting to find out why her nickname was the Guillotine, he wanted to hear moans and screams coming from behind that mask instead of that annoying grinding sound.

Crackle.

Lightning and sparks of flame erupted from Eugene, scattering around him. Atarax’s eyes trembled at the explosive burst of speed that Eugene showed next. Atarax wasn’t alone in his surprise. Gilead and Klein were also surprised by Eugene’s movements. Only Genos looked at Eugene with an unsurprised expression, even as the man felt his heart pounding in admiration.

‘As expected of Sir Hamel,’

Genos thought proudly.

The only ones here who knew Eugene’s true identity were Genos and Mer. He definitely must not reveal that Eugene was actually Hamel... so Genos quickly fixed his expression.

As for Hemoria, she couldn’t feel the same sense of surprise as her spectators. The distance between them was too close, so she experienced his speed before she could even sense it. Then, incomparably faster than any attack that had come before it, a heavy blow impaled her side.

Hemoria’s body shook violently as she almost fell. Unable to properly adjust her body, she still swung her arms in an attempt to counterattack. After calmly retrieving his hand from her side, Eugene slammed his other fist into the center of Hemoria’s unguarded chest.

“Kahagh!”

Although she managed to hold back from screaming, Hemoria couldn’t do anything about getting the breath knocked out of her. She tried to retreat as she staggered backward, but Eugene grabbed Hemoria’s collar and pulled her closer.

Crunch!

A rising knee strike into her ribcage caused Hemoria’s whole body to tremble.

Eugene didn’t stop there, unleashing consecutive attacks. With each attack, Eugene checked where the mana that was being sucked from him was gathering.

It wasn’t to the Core near her heart. Instead, the mana seeping into Hemoria’s body was gathering into the dantian below the navel.

‘The dantian?’

Eugene thought in puzzlement.

He had heard of some mana training scriptures that gathered mana to that area, but.... Eugene examined Hemoria’s body. Hemoria already had a Core near her heart, and what was being collected in her dantian was solely the mana she was secretly stealing from Eugene.

“You should have asked for permission first,” Eugene muttered as he grabbed Hemoria by the hair.

Baaam!

Aiming precisely at her dantian, Eugene slammed his fist straight into it. So far, Hemoria had never once released a groan of pain, but this time was different. Eugene heard a gasp coming from behind her metal mask.

Her other reactions were also intense. Hemoria’s body twisted violently, its movements going far beyond a normal joint’s range of motion. As Hemoria fell to the ground, her fist rose upwards, aiming at Eugene’s face. Her fist had enough power behind it that, if it managed to land properly, his head would explode like a balloon popped by a needle.

‘She’s furious,’

Eugene noted.

Her strength was even stronger than before. Her speed had also risen. But all that said, the gap between Eugene and Hemoria still hadn’t been closed. Under these conditions, Eugene couldn’t imagine losing in a close-range battle.

Hemoria’s spine shook with rage, but her rage wasn’t enough to successfully land a hit on Eugene. All of Hemoria’s moves were completely within the palm of Eugene’s hand.

Eugene tenaciously aimed all of his attacks at one location, the place where his stolen mana was gathered. Each time he landed an attack there, a groan leaked out from behind Hemoria’s mask.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

“Kahagh!”

After an unknown number of blows, when Eugene’s fist landed on her dantian again, Hemoria couldn’t endure it any longer. All the mana she had gathered in her dantian scattered as she tore off her mask in a coughing fit. Hemoria tried to stagger backward, but Eugene refused to just let her go like this and grabbed her by the hair once more.

Then he slammed his fist into her dantian one more time. Hemoria’s body was lifted off the ground by the precisely landed blow. Her body folded over like a shrimp as she let out a moan of agony. Seeing Hemoria’s legs trembling shakily, Eugene clenched his fist again and drove in another blow.

In the end, Hemoria wasn’t able to endure any longer and collapsed on the spot.

Eugene didn’t continue striking her, clearly raising his hands and backing away. While covering her stomach with both hands, Hemoria was wracked with hacking coughs. The torn-off mask fell to the ground.

“...Hm,” Eugene hummed consideringly as he openly stared at Hemoria’s revealed face as he lowered his raised fists.

He had been wondering how she was making such a grinding noise. It turned out that Hemoria’s teeth were so sharp that they could hardly be recognized as human. After spitting out a mouthful of blood with a cough, Hemoria belatedly realized that she had removed her mask.

At that moment, Hemoria’s eyes blazed with even more fury than before. No longer gasping in pain, she immediately rushed at Eugene. With her jaws wide open, she tried to bite into Eugene’s flesh with her sharp teeth like a wild beast.

Of course, Eugene wouldn’t just offer up his flesh like Hemoria wanted. He immediately took a step back as he swung his palm around.

Bam!

Hemoria’s head spun to the side as she was thrown off her feet.

After falling to the ground, Hemoria wasn’t able to get up and continue charging at him. Instead, her split and bleeding lips twisted into a grimace as her fingers clawed the ground. Her eyes were getting even redder. The blood dripping from her mouth boiled where it fell, and her wounds began regenerating. Drops of red blood started to gather in front of her churning lips.

“Enough,” Atarax shouted.

Pop!

The drops of blood that had gathered in front of Hemoria’s lips disappeared with a soft burst.

Eugene also heard his shout. However, he pretended not to hear him. While the drops of blood gathered in front of Hemoria’s lips, Eugene had already arrived at her side.

Baaaaam!

A merciless swing of his foot landed in Hemoria’s stomach.

“Kahagh!”

Blood sprayed out from between Hemoria’s lips as her body was sent flying from the impact of his kick.

Eugene slowly lowered the foot that he had just swung to the ground as he laughed and said, “Sorry, you should have said that a bit quicker.”

“Hack...! Kahagh! Kaaargh!” Having landed back on the ground, Hemoria let out pained moans as she wrapped her arms around her stomach.

Blood and saliva dripped down from her wide-stretched lips.

Atarax reluctantly accepted Eugene’s half-hearted apology, “...No, it’s because my disciple was so stubborn. Even after realizing that she wouldn’t be able to win, she still desperately tried to win somehow.”

“But it seems like she’s not convinced of her defeat,” Eugene said as he glanced down at Hemoria.

Having barely managed to catch her breath, Hemoria rubbed away the blood around her mouth and then picked up the metal mask that had fallen to the ground.

Eugene goaded, “Sir Atarax if you let her off her leash, I don’t mind continuing.”

“No, I'm afraid that we would be in a lot of trouble if we did so,” Atarax rejected.

“Why would that be?”

“Sir Eugene has enough spare ability to afford to do so, but I’m afraid Hemoria can’t keep this up. If we continue, Hemoria will surely cross the bounds of a light spar.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“How could that be? I’m worried about my disciple.”

Having said this, Atarax approached Hemoria and placed her cloak back around her shoulders.

“As expected of you, Sir Eugene,” Atarax acknowledged with a nod. “Although it was just a light spar, I couldn’t spot any flaws in your physical skills. It was only natural for my disciple to be overwhelmed like this, and even if it were me facing you, I would definitely have suffered helplessly.”

Eugene waved off the praise, “You’re being too humble.”

“One of my rare strengths is my modesty,” Atarax jokingly said with a laugh.

“Wasn’t that blood magic just now?” Lovellian spoke up without any trace of amusement. While glaring at the metal mask covering Hemoria’s lips, he continued speaking, “That’s one of the ancient magics that were lost long ago. Even Aroth doesn’t have the complete record of that type of magic, so how...?”

“To think that you were able to recognize such an old style of magic, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the Red Tower Master,” Atarax said as he turned to Lovellian with a calm expression. “The Maleficarum is an organization that has been battling enemies of the faith ever since the church of light was founded. We are both priests and hunters, paladins and butchers. Is it really that strange that we use magic other than divine magic?”

“...Of course, that is certainly possible, but it can’t be helped that it comes as such a surprise. Blood magic is an ancient magic that even Aroth has failed to restore. And the reason no complete record remains to this day is that the Holy Empire declared blood magic to be a type of heresy long ago and had persecuted its practitioners.”

This purge of magic occurred in the Holy Empire a long time ago. At that time, the Holy Empire declared that all the various types of magic apart from divine magic were a form of heresy, so treating it like black magic, they attempted to erase all other types of magic. This indiscriminate and self-righteous persecution wasn’t only limited to wizards but also targeted spirit summoners, so countless spirit summoners and wizards were slain by the Inquisitors of the Holy Empire.

“...That’s a story from long ago,” Atarax pointed out without agitation. “Also, the Holy Empire has already made amends for those crimes. In the temples of light we have raised all over the continent, there are facilities that care for children without parents, provide aid to those in need, supply free welfare, and much more. For such a long period following those witch hunts, the Holy Empire has....”

Atarax’s boasts weren’t anything worth listening to. Although it might be true that they had done more good than harm, to Eugene, that still made them no different from the Demon King of Incarceration. Even now, the Demon King of Incarceration was also giving reparation to other countries as compensation for the war three hundred years ago.

“Blood magic isn’t heretical,” Atarax continued his explanation with a cheerful smile. “That was all a misunderstanding based on its use of blood as a medium. The Holy Empire analyzed blood magic a long time ago and came to the conclusion that it isn’t inherently evil like black magic is.”

“...So now you’re able to monopolize its use?” Lovellian questioned indignantly.

“Calling it a monopoly is rather hurtful. After all, doesn’t Aroth claim sole possession of many amazing examples of magic?” Atarax argued.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not possessing; it’s protecting. Since a long time ago, some bastards did something crazy like trying to purge all magic,” Melkith muttered with a derisive snort.

Atarax shot a glance at Melkith before continuing to speak, “...That was... a regrettable incident. Everyone has things they regret from their immature childhood. If you are interested in learning blood magic... please feel free to visit the headquarters of the Maleficarum. We don’t put too many restrictions on what we teach or who we teach it to.”

“As long as we consent to be baptized by the light, that is,” Melkith finished for him.

“It’s not like you have to face a difficult choice on which god to serve, now do you?” Atarax asked with a wide smile.

Grik.

Once again, the sound of grinding teeth leaked from behind Hemoria’s mask.

* * *

“You were far too reckless,” Atarax chided with a deep sigh as he took off his shako. “I never said you could expose your teeth, now did I?”

Hemoria lowered her head as she stood there with her hands clasped behind her back. Atarax looked at his distraught disciple, then he slowly shook his head.

“...Well.... Judging by his insistence in aiming for your dantian, it seems that he saw through the ruse immediately, but... no matter how angry you were, you still shouldn’t have shown your teeth without my permission. Ah, but that restriction doesn’t apply if you truly need to defend yourself,” Atarax reminded her.

In reply, Hemoria raised her hands.

‘I’m sorry.’

Hemoria conveyed her apology through sign language.

Atarax clicked his tongue and continued, “Since you’ve had to endure a lot, and you’ve already been beaten severely, I won’t punish you for the transgression. But still... is there really not even a little of his mana left?”

‘That’s right,’

Hemoria signed.

“No matter how focused he was on attacking your dantian... isn’t it strange that not even a little bit of it was left?”

‘Eugene Lionheart’s mana is strange.’

‘He was also far too quick in noticing it.’

‘All of the mana I stole from him has disappeared.’

Atarax’s expression contorted as he read Hemoria’s sign language. Something was mixed into Eugene’s mana. He was able to tell that much just from watching the spar. The flames of the White Flame Formula and... that peculiar lightning.

‘If Hemoria had only been able to sneak away some mana, I could have analyzed it,’

Atarax sighed in unavoidable regret.

Eugene was the hero recognized by the Holy Sword. Although they weren’t too sure about his personality, his talent and skills were the real deal. Even though both participants in the spar had placed restrictions on themselves, Hemoria had still been completely overwhelmed.

‘...What if we get a hold of his blood?’

Hemoria proposed.

“You really want to infiltrate the Lionheart clan’s territory?” Atarax shook his head with a laugh and said, “We might have used an aggressive method to try and test him, but the hero of the Holy Sword is not our enemy.”

‘Master, do you really think that he is worthy of being called the hero?’

Hemoria asked skeptically.

“The fact that he has drawn the Holy Sword is irrefutable. Also, hasn’t he done something that only a hero could do? Even if they were just the dregs, he destroyed the remnants of the Demon Kings.” Atarax’s laughter subsided as he muttered, “...However... for it to be another Lionheart... God really can be quite cruel. To set aside his countless followers and pick a Lionheart once more... and for the ownership of the Holy Sword to be given to a Lionheart in the same generation that a Lionheart fell to the seductions of the Demon Kings’ remnants.”

‘The Holy Sword isn’t the only special existence.’

Hemoria continued to elaborate in sign language,

‘The Holy Empire has the Saint of Brilliant Light. She might still only be a candidate, but Assistant Bishop Kristina has the exact same appearance as the Faithful Anise.’

“...Haha... you’re right. We still have the Saint candidate,” Atarax agreed with a smile as he looked at the faith sparkling within Hemoria’s eyes.

Grk.

Grinding her teeth, Hemoria continued to admit in sign language,

‘I still wish that I could have become the master of the Holy Sword.”

“It can’t be helped,” Atarax comforted her.

Fwoosh.

Flames erupted from a match that Atarax was holding in his fingers. He lit the end of the cigarette in his mouth, then shook the match to extinguish it.

Atarax muttered around his cigarette, “It seems that faith alone is not enough to make you the master of the Holy Sword.”