Former General Is Undead Knight - Act 4-22 - Knight of Blood Mist①

Johann, one of the Four Great Sages, was running in the middle of the desolated holy city, heading toward the central area.

『…Ah, let me ask one last question. I sensed numerous presences in the underground waterway. Can you tell me about that?』

He suddenly recalled the question from the revenant knight.

Johann couldn’t answer that question.

The reason for this was that Cardinal Zebedai, who was in the passages, was the revenant knight’s target.

Although the revenant knight seemed to guess the general situation based on Johann’s reaction, he just kept quiet without saying anything.

The underground passage below Heinstia was an escape route for a small number of the upper class in case of invasion.

It was created secretly by order of the church by using the sinners as their manpower.

And when it was done, all the sinners who made the passages were killed to keep the secret.

After Heinstia was raided by  『Devil’s Piper』, Simon—the leader of the Four Great Sages—made arrangements so that Cardinal Zebedai could escape from the city with his most elite subordinates.

But that alone didn’t explain the “numerous presences” that the knight mentioned..

After all, Cardinal Zebedai, Simon, and the subordinates should be no more than ten people.

”Numerous” implied there were far more people—perhaps twenty to thirty.

Also, there was no way that many people could enter the secret underground passage.

There was only one explanation for that situation, an unexpected situation had occurred.

A certain uninvited group of people had already infiltrated the passage with ill intentions.

That was the only conclusion.

Nevertheless, that revenant knight managed to glean that information from Johann’s expression, a feat quite remarkable since Johann had barely moved.

Rather, if the revenant knight really did spread that kind of information, there would undoubtedly be suspicion.

The revenant knight wanted to meet Cardinal Zebedai. That was why, from Johann’s perspective as one of the Four Great Sages, the former was the enemy.

Johann couldn’t let an unknown undead meet Cardinal Zebedai.

But Johann also realized a contradiction: the fact that the undead who called himself a mere shadow of Lambert, history’s greatest traitor, would have any reason to lie despite his overwhelming advantage against Johann.

His words carried some kind of dignity that would make the others believe him almost unconditionally.

Johann’s birthplace was burned down by a sorcerer researching necromancy during his childhood.

Later on, Cardinal Zebedai—recognizing the hatred in Johann’s eyes—picked him up, forced him into grueling training to kill his emotions, and made him kill anyone who opposed the church’s policies. Over time, Johann acquired one achievement after another, allowing him to be recognized as one of the Four Great Sages.

The number of people ridiculing the inquisition squad as heartless killing tools was by no means small.

Johann himself knew and accepted that fact.

And yet, the revenant knight saw through the deepest part of Johann’s mind, revealing a secret he never told to anyone. Cursing aside, the former even showed an understanding, knowing very well that the latter had taken the matter upon himself. He did that all with just a simple exchange.

Johann doubted that the revenant knight said those words just to pull some information from the latter.

‘But… how did so many people manage to get into the secret underground passage? Could it be that the intruder this time isn’t just some small fries of 『Devil’s Piper』? Or else, is it just the presence of the manipulated insects?’

From the very beginning, 『Devil’s Piper』 was the kind of organization that didn’t even hesitate to kill its own members from 『Angel of Death』, who attacked Tetomburgh, the region ruled by Viscount Le Gael.

Since the raid on Heinstia had to be done without making too many sacrifices on their side, the ones hailed as the Eight Wise Men would also make a move.

But the underground passage beneath Heinstia was a complicated web of passageways. Even if one route was compromised, numerous others would also lead outside.

In addition, Simon—who acted as the bodyguard of Cardinal Zebedai—had excellent perception due to being a sorcerer.

The only way to corner Simon and the others was by using human wave tactics.

”

”

‘The situation isn’t that clear yet, but… Could it be that some of the higher-ups of the church have sold out the church? If  『Devil’s Piper』 assassinates Cardinal Zebedai… there is only one conclusion. There must have been a leak. But perhaps… did our enemy extract the memories of the undead?’

Finally, Johann arrived at his destination: the tall white tower.

It was called the『Sleeping Tower』. It was built to comfort the souls of martyred believers.

The basement of this tower was one of the entrances to the underground passage.

「One of the Four Great Sages will definitely come to this place. It seems my hunch was right.」

A low voice resounded in the surrounding area.

A knight donned in black armor descended from the third floor of the 『Sleeping Tower』, blocking Johann.

Seeing that knight’s presence reminded Johann of the brutish knight he met before.

But the knight before him had a fatal weakness: namely, his non-existent left arm.

「You’re one of the Four Great Sages. Johann, I presume. Philipo and Matai’s corpses have already been confirmed. 『Rose of Subkingdom』 has already entered the underground waterway to go after Zebedai and Simon. Killing you will put an end to the inquisition squad.」

「…」

Johann looked at the black-armored man before him in silence, focusing on the latter’s missing left arm.

「Worrying about me, eh? I assure you that it’s nothing more than a useless worry. I might have lost my left arm, but spare me the sympathy. I’ve already sold my body and soul to the devil.」

After he said this, the man in black armor pulled a greatsword as tall as him and swung it freely.

「Your worry is unnecessary. Don’t you think that using a grand spell to kill an ant is just a waste of resources? I’m one of the Eight Wise Men, the 『Knight of Blood Mist』. Your death will close the curtain of this act. Now come and get me.」

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