Chapter : 32

“A mon… ster?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Are you sure you or the others didn't make a mistake? A monster out of the blue. It's a bit… isn't it? Especially since this is a city. It's hard to imagine a monster living in a city.”

That’s right.

It was hard to see monsters inside a city. Weren't cities built in the first place to be safely protected?

The city walls weren't just for decoration.

They played a crucial role in blocking not only humans but also the terrifying monsters that had been passed down since ancient times.

Besides, the so-called monsters disliked the drab life of the city.

“Could it be a manipulation to cause confusion? If not, it could just be the kind of exaggerated talk that city dwellers often engage in.”

But contrary to my thoughts, Biden's face was serious from beginning to end.

“No, sir. I have confirmed it myself, my lord. It was… the mark of a monster.”

“Is that so? Hmph… Alright. Then let's go to that place.”

Then, there was only one answer.

To see it for myself.

I immediately went to the scene with Biden and ten heavily armed soldiers.

The place Biden led me to was a secluded area of the city near the slums.

A place where anyone would find it plausible for any bizarre incident to occur. But as soon as I got there, I couldn't help but let out a faint groan.

“Hmm…”

The mark of sharp claws spread out before my eyes. It was deep and enormous, as if a monster with giant claws had scratched it.

“What do you think? Was I right?”

“Yes. It seems you are.”

Seeing it in person, I understood why he called it a monster.

Size aside, the fact that the hard stone wall of this city was gouged out meant that this was no ordinary animal.

It was a stone so hard that it would be difficult for someone to even intentionally create such a mark.

“This really seems to be… the work of a monster.”

Slowly scanning the mark, I fell into thought for a moment.

What kind of monster in [Pangea Universalise] would create such a mark?

The numerous data I had gathered while playing the game flashed through my mind.

And finally, when I recalled the name of a monster that would appear in a city and, moreover, leave such a mark.

-Tiriring!

[You have discovered the trail of the Soul Eater.]

[Notification: A Soul Eater is roaming the City of Markel in search of a corrupt soul.]

The alarm blared.

“Hssssss.”

An event-type monster that appears when the infamy stat gets high. It had a hard body like stone and even wings, making it a very tricky opponent to deal with.

Moreover, its long tail showed the destructive power of a whip.

Hadn't I also experienced a game over from often dying to this monster in the early days?

It was a terrifying creature that would relentlessly attack if not dealt with properly.

I had been feeling uneasy because my infamy stat was so high… and it really came.

“How many such marks have you found so far?”

“Hmm, I believe we've found about three, my lord.”

Three times… that meant it was still manageable.

The Soul Eater, true to its name, was a monster that grew stronger the more it hunted.

If it had only absorbed three souls so far, I should be able to deal with it.

“Immediately summon the soldiers into the city and strengthen the alert status.”

“Yes? If the soldiers come back into the city, won't the city be in chaos?”

Hah. With a monster on the loose in the city, such a naive thought. I clicked my tongue and said to Biden.

“If we leave it alone, it will come back as greater damage, Biden.”

“I apologize.”

“There's no need to apologize so much. It's natural to think that way.”

I defended Biden, who was bowing his head in apology, and gave the order again.

“Have the knights on standby, and gather the blacksmiths to silver-plate the spears and swords. Do you understand?”

“It seems you intend to subjugate it outright, not just chase it away?”

“Of course. In the first place, for a monster like this to come into the city, isn't it the same as saying it wants to keep tasting blood? This city has become a sort of its activity zone.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, that seems to be the case. If we don't subjugate it, it will keep coming back for a long time.”

Of course, that wasn't true. The Soul Eater would move to another area after hunting a moderate amount.

In the first place, this monster was a hunter of corrupt souls. If there were no humans that met its criteria, it would fly off to another place without any lingering attachment.

‘But this one will probably be aiming for me.’

Although my infamy stat had dropped a lot recently, it was still quite high. This one would surely be aiming for me.

‘I need to prepare thoroughly and catch it in one go.’

It was a highly intelligent and cunning creature, so I had to set the trap well.

If I let it escape, it would be a true disaster. Since it was a monster that could fly, it would surely be a nuisance for a long time.

“We must be fully prepared. Understand? Tell the knights not to charge in as soon as they find it, but to lure it.”

“Yes. Do not worry. I will not disappoint you.”

Biden said, thumping his chest. Very reassuring. He'll probably follow the orders well. Thinking so, I looked at the mark carved into the stone wall.

‘This damn monster. I'll give it a good lesson.’

* * *

“Excuse me, Bishop Marco. I need to see you.”

“Meeeh-?”

Bishop Lauren had been having many complaints lately.

It wasn't because the city had been captured by an invading army, or because the master of the city had changed, or because a great fire had created numerous refugees, or because the new ruler was harshly giving him a lot of work.

The one thing Bishop Lauren was complaining about was that bishop who wasn't like a bishop (purely from his own perspective), the cunning goat beastman, Bishop Marco.

Just look.

Isn't he drooling right now, holding gold coins in his arms and doing a bizarre dance? Even the clergy he led were influenced by that bishop and were now all about money, money, money.

‘The end of days. The end of days indeed.’

Why did God give him such a harsh trial? Bishop Lauren couldn't understand, but he put his desolate feelings behind him and spoke to Bishop Marco.

“Shouldn't you stop now?”

“Stop what, meer?”

“Are you asking because you really don't know? Those gold coins you're holding! Aren't they all from the citizens?! Why on earth are you selling indulgences to make money? Sin cannot be bought with money. It can only be bought with true repentance!”

“Meeeh-!”

As Bishop Lauren's scolding continued, Bishop Marco narrowed his square eyes and shouted.

“Did I do something wrong? Are you denying indulgences now, meer? The sale of indulgences is a matter authorized by the Holy See, meer!”

“Are you seriously saying that? Do you think the Holy See knew you would abuse indulgences like that?!”

“Meeeh-! Abuse! Are you insulting me now, Bishop Lauren, meer?”

At the repeated accusations, Bishop Marco became furious and snorted.

“I received permission from the Holy See and the rightful ruler of this city, His Excellency, the Margrave, meer! On what grounds are you trying to stop it. Meeeh! Besides, what did you do while I was earning money to save the poor, meer?”

“Hmm…”

“I know people like you well, meer! You talk about integrity like a monk with an obsession for cleanliness, but in the end, you are of no help! Meeeh. While you were emphasizing poverty, I took money from the rich and merchants and fed the poor, meer!”

Of course, he had happily embezzled what he could while doing so. But Bishop Marco was quite confident. If one worked, shouldn't they receive compensation? This was naturally his share(?).

“A-are you seriously saying that?”

But from Bishop Lauren's perspective, it was utterly absurd.

In the first place, wasn't the money given to the poor a pittance compared to the money earned from selling indulgences?

Besides, the money extorted from merchants and city nobles through threats, not just the sale of indulgences, was also considerable. Knowing that full well…

“Ugh…”

But Bishop Lauren eventually couldn't say more and hung his head low.

Because there were things in what Bishop Marco said that pricked his conscience.

For better or worse, after Bishop Marco stepped in, the Diocese of Markel was living a more prosperous life than ever before.

That was why the clergy within the diocese were also subtly following Bishop Marco. What could he say in this situation?

“Remember this, Bishop Marco. God is watching us. I don't know… what kind of heart you are doing this with.

But you'd better not think of deceiving Him. In the end, you will be punished.”

In the end, he had no choice but to retreat with this warning-that-wasn't-a-warning.

Of course, there was no way such words would enter Bishop Marco's ears.

“Mehehehehehet.”

Bishop Marco, on the contrary, just sneered at Bishop Lauren's back as he left the room.

Who was advising whom?

Bishop Marco was thinking of further increasing his influence in this diocese and taking it over soon.

“I will become an archbishop who governs multiple dioceses, meer!”

Bishop Marco giggled as he imagined a hopeful future. Then, he jumped into the pile of gold coins that was stacked up next to him.

-Charrrrr!

The gold coins were pushed aside, and Bishop Marco's body sank deep into the sea of gold coins.

“Meeeeeeeeeh~!”

In the enchanting golden wave, Bishop Marco's square eyes also shimmered with a golden light.

This beautiful gold.

God must surely love him. Otherwise, how could He give him the opportunity to collect gold coins like this?

And as he was thinking that.

-Murmur, murmur.

-Rumble! Crash!

There was a loud noise from outside the door. A loud and breaking sound. Thanks to that, Bishop Marco stopped swimming and got up.

“Meeeh-! Don't tell me Bishop Lauren is making a scene, meer? That would be a headache, meer.”

Still, Lauren was also a bishop, so it wouldn't be easy if he came on strong. Besides, this was officially Bishop Lauren's diocese.

If he treated him carelessly, he could be hit with an iron mace from the Holy See.

But the commotion from outside was a little strange.

-Huh?

-This is bad!!

-Move now. Block it, block it!

-Aaaaaaaaaargh! Report it! Run quickly!

“????”

Why were the soldiers making such a fuss? If it were Bishop Lauren, they wouldn't have acted like that.

For a moment, Bishop Marco suddenly felt anxious. A feeling that something was going very wrong.

And that intuition, unfortunately, seemed to be correct.

-Thump!

-Thump!

-Thump!

Beyond the door, the sound of some heavy footsteps grew louder, and then.

-Crash!

Finally, the door was shattered, and the head of something with a bizarre appearance suddenly poked into the room.

-Grrrrrrrrrrr!

It was a monster.

And it was the Soul Eater, drooling as it looked at Bishop Marco.

“Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh-!!!!”