The third day after the Cathedral was burned to ashes.
Numerous nobles who believed in the Church gathered outside the ruins, praying devoutly.
The Cardinal Archbishop sat in his carriage, not bothering to step out and offer comfort. After all, his power didn't rely on faith, but on the drugs.
"I was only away for two days, and this happens."
"Leitman, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"..."
Kneeling before him, Leitman lowered his head even further. "My Lord Archbishop, please give me one more day."
"Give you more time?"
"I've found someone in the streets inquiring about Church business. I only need one more interrogation..."
"Do you know something?"
The Cardinal Archbishop interrupted him, lifting the carriage curtain to peer outside. The prosperity of the Holy City was in full view.
"A man of equal rank to me tried to pull some fancy tricks in a small border town. As a result, that place turned into a worthless fog zone. The 'believers' he created were nothing but powerless puppets. He was executed."
"But I am different. What I have created in the Holy City are true believers. Many powerful figures have high expectations for me. I met with one of them during my trip, and I told him everything in the Holy City is proceeding smoothly. I was rewarded; as long as the Holy City falls into place, I am the next Pope. No one can compete with me."
"..."
"And you."
The Cardinal Archbishop grabbed Leitman by the hair. "As my loyal dog, you dare let such a massive blunder occur under your watch? Are you seeking revenge? Do you want me to become the laughingstock of the Church?"
"..."
Even as his hair was torn from his scalp, causing blood to stream down, Leitman remained silent.
"Fine. Go and grind those drugs into powder. Wait for my command."
"I have no time to waste on these low-lifes. As for the one who defies the Church, I will find them personally. You should be glad I don't smell the filth of commoners on you. Now, get out."
"..."
Leitman stared at the Archbishop's boots, then looked up slightly. He saw the other man's unnatural face.
It was a human face, but with a snout as protruding as a wolf's.
He could feel it—the other man had completely transcended human limits. He was far stronger than the elite guards who had easily suppressed the Elisa royal family.
Saint Hua Imperial Academy.
Recently, the impact of the "Succubus" incident had faded—largely because the Succubus now had a much higher quality source of food. However, the news of the Church being torched had left everyone in a state of panic.
Knight patrols became more frequent.
At the same time, everyone living in the Holy City was required to provide a small vial of blood. Those who refused were taken to the Church for private interrogation.
"Teacher, it hurts..."
The young noble ladies pricked their fingertips, and after offering their blood, they waved their fingers at Silas, hoping for some comfort.
"If it hurts, I can help you."
However, Elisa stepped in front of Silas to "help" instead.
She didn't like biting other people's fingers, but she hated the idea of Silas letting these noble girls bully him even more, or seeing him sink further into depravity.
"Tch... has the teacher's niece been getting more arrogant lately?"
"If you're too clingy to your uncle, you'll be ostracized, you know?"
"..."
Elisa didn't care about being isolated.
She never felt these people could be her friends. She didn't need friends like that.
"Hey, the Church suddenly demanded blood tests... maybe they have a way to identify who was there."
"U-Use my blood. I'll give two portions."
She whispered urgently into Silas's ear.
"..."
Silas's mouth twitched. "Is it possible your blood is even more problematic? What if someone smells it and knows immediately it's from a Succubus?"
"I am NOT a Succubus!"
Elisa's face turned red with anger.
Just because she licked his fingers once? How did that make her like those legendary lewd creatures?
Ugh.
Eating secretly in the middle of the night didn't count. He didn't know about that.
"We have to rely on your ability then. Draw my students' blood... mmh... let's take Dorothy's. Then make her forget."
"...Eh?"
Elisa froze for a moment. "L-Let's pick someone else. She... she's not good."
"Why?"
"!"
Elisa gritted her teeth and stamped her foot in frustration.
Why doesn't this man understand?
He clearly has the potential to be a royal guard, but when it comes to girls... he's too blunt.
Pinning her down until she can barely walk the next day... is that his hidden nature?
Ah.
Thinking about it, Elisa recalled how she had been instinctively avoiding Dorothy these past few days. She really couldn't maintain her composure in front of her.
"..."
Silas was just teasing her.
As the one collecting the blood, he could easily spare a little from the samples.
The only question was whether the Church truly had the ability to test the blood. But it didn't matter; he was going to blow up the Church anyway.
He wasn't afraid of being found; he was only afraid of where the Cardinal Archbishop might be hiding.
Nighttime.
Silas woke up and entered the Regular Simulation.
[You went straight to sleep after lunch. You gave Elisa the 'hypnotic' chance to feed on you.]
[After waking up, you changed into the gear you prepared in advance and checked your flintlock bullets. You equipped your newly replaced sword.]
[You sternly warned Elisa that she must not go anywhere tonight.]
[...]
[You arrived at the Leitman noble estate. Even with the tense atmosphere in the Holy City, this place remains unaffected. You know that all the blood samples were sent here, under Leitman's jurisdiction.]
[You also know that the Cardinal Archbishop, who has returned from abroad, moved here from the ruined Cathedral.]
[You silently eliminated the knights guarding the place and found that they were all living dead.]
[You didn't see Leitman, but you found a massive amount of unopened blood bags in the living room. That blood wasn't for finding a culprit; it was to feed the living dead.]
[As seen in your previous memories, corpses revived with twisted limbs. They consumed blood and became true living dead. But clearly, these are more agile than the ones you met before; they know how to use weapons.]
[You killed them all. You set fire to this place as well. You no longer care. Even if you have to turn the entire Holy City into a sea of fire, you will force the Cardinal Archbishop to show himself.]
[...]
[You encountered the Archbishop in the place you least expected: a brothel. It seems he was also looking for you.]
[The nasal cavity hidden under his vestments is wider than normal. He seems to be able to distinguish your scent. Even though you are masked, he recognizes you as the sword instructor from Saint Hua Academy.]
[He asks: what grievances do you have against the Church?]
[You decided to...]
[Important Choice Triggered]
[Option 1: Explain "New Era Values" to him and see if he falls into deep thought. Use the chance to escape.]
[Option 2: While he's still talking, kill him first.]
[Proceeding with Free Simulation]
Screw "New Era Values." If it's the new era, how could this be the Middle Ages?
[You chose Option 2]
The back of the brothel was the complete opposite of the front. The former was full of laughter, while the latter was a trash pit filled with vomit and filth. Naturally, the pit was dark.
Bang!
Silas drew his flintlock without hesitation.
His swordsmanship was good, but why charge in when a bullet could solve it?
Clang!
Something was wrong.
Why did a bullet hitting a person make that sound?
"Sword instructor, I have actually been watching you. You move among many nobles but never indulge in any of them. You only take the benefits you desire."
"Logically, I quite admire you... I think you would be a better servant than Leitman."
"..."
Silas used X-Ray vision.
This guy's internal structure was a total mess, no different from a ball of tangled yarn. Why was his heart in his stomach? The skin on the outside... looked more like animal fur.
Clash!
Silas stabbed his sword into the Archbishop's stomach, but it didn't go in. The blade snapped.
"However, by destroying my Cathedral, you have lost the right to believe in the Church. The Lord will not forgive your sins."
Squeltch!
The hand under the Archbishop's robes was not made of human fingers. It was a wolf's claw.
It easily pierced Silas's chest and gripped his heart.
The movement was too fast. Silas could barely see it.
"Your blood... interesting. Is there a Succubus in the Holy City? Copulating with such a filthy creature and absorbing its blood... you are beyond forgiveness."
[You realized the Archbishop is not human. You failed to react to his movements; your heart was crushed, and your flesh was devoured by him.]
[You died.]
If I treat him like a wolf...
Using the way I thought back in the fog zone... in the animal world—or in TV shows—you often see fire being used to drive away wolves.
[You chose to Load Save.]
[You escaped. You lured him to the burning estate. You were the first to enter the fire.]
[But soon, you discovered that he ignored the flames. He stood by the entrance smiling, very close to the light of the fire, telling you he would wait outside the estate until everything burned down. Once you come out, he will kill you.]
"..."
Damn.
Did my foolproof method just become a trap for myself?
[Skill: Hypnosis Master activated]
Bang!
Silas ignored the searing pain and rushed out. He drew his gun and shot the Archbishop in the head.
"..."
The lead bullets indeed lodged into the Archbishop's forehead and left cheek. But he didn't seem bothered at all. His eyes glowed with a ghostly green light. "Do you know? You are being disrespectful to the future Pope."
The bullets can penetrate, but they aren't lethal?
[Skill: X-Ray Apprentice activated]
Silas saw it—there was a large mass of rotten flesh in the Archbishop's stomach. That flesh was like a plant sprouting, with capillaries winding all the way up to his head.
"You should feel honored to meet me, who has received the Lord's blessing. And to have your entrails torn out by me."
Rip!
"..."
[Your body was torn to shreds. You died.]
[You chose to Load Save.]
[...]
After several attempts.
Silas didn't know if continuous attacks to the head could kill the Archbishop, but he gradually began to predict the opponent's movements. He could last a few more rounds, no longer getting insta-killed.
"Truly... annoying."
Then, the Archbishop lost his patience. The robes on his body burst as his frame expanded.
If it were just a typical muscular transformation from a movie, it would be fine.
"Do you think you are fighting a mere mortal?"
"..."
But his size became so immense that Silas had to look up. His face, which could previously be called human, was now covered in fur, distorted and fanged.
No way, man. This trash game has living dead who use guns, and now I have to fight a three-meter-tall hairy werewolf? Can we have something a human can actually play?