ACT 6: CHAPTER 25: 《REVERSE MAN, LUNIMAN》

Disciple of Immortal

When I stepped outside the cathedral, I saw the people of Rupelm running while screaming in terror.

It was as if they were fleeing from something.

And it was by no means a trivial matter.

「What in the wo—」

「This… Everyone seems to be escaping from the palace.」

Said Cardinal Wardell.

Today seems to be the anniversary of Jonas' death.

People from Rupelm were said to gather at the palace every year to offer prayers for him, but judging by this spectacle, it seems those who had gathered are now fleeing away.

「O-Oi Kanata, look! The upper part of the palace got blown away! Ridiculous… How can the 《Divine Execution Knight》 stationed in there allow such transgression!」

Cardinal Wardell pointed at the palace in the distance with his forefinger.

It seemed to be the tallest building in Rupelm, but the upper part had already been blown away.

It looked like the destruction caused by attack magic.

Damn, this was the worst situation.

It was troubling since the 《Saint Staff》 was kept somewhere inside the palace.

The fact that the palace was raided meant that the target was most likely the 《Saint Staff》.

They might have made it in time, but due to Cardinal Wardell's unnecessary scheming, we ended up being completely delayed.

As we looked up at the blown-away upper part of the palace, a thin man dressed in a dark red robe came into view.

His limbs were restricted with chains and metal balls connected to the chains.

And he held a large golden staff adorned with jewels.

The man looked over the chaotic streets of Rupelm with a satisfied face.

「There's a man in a red robe standing over there. Is that man related to the church?」

「Red robe!? Of all things, to attack Rupelm on this very day wearing the attire of those despised by our religion.」

Cardinal Wardell was truly enraged this time.

「Does your religion have some kind of problem with red robes?」

「It's not just a problem, it's a grudge! After all, the red robe is said to be the attire of Jonas' greatest disciple and betrayer! The 《Reverse Man, Luniman》, the one who murdered Jonas-sama on this very day two thousand years ago! This act of transgression is a literal insult to us!」

Although I’m not well-versed in the history or religion of this world, it seems that Saint Jonas was killed by one of his own disciples.

「Luniman was known to be an extremely selfish, deceitful, and violent man. He was a troublemaker who committed theft and was hated by many, nearly beaten to death before being rescued by Jonas-sama. Traveling with Jonas, he seemed to have overcome his turbulent past, focusing on helping others and restoring order. However, at his core, he never truly changed. One day, despite being Jonas-sama's beloved disciple, he betrayed his own teacher and disappeared after killing his own master. To this day, no one truly knows why he committed such a heinous act. In Jonas' faith, the mere mention of Luniman signifies betrayal.」

Luniman was clearly a hated figure in Jonas' faith.

It was true that dressing as such a figure and coming to Rupelm on Jonas' death anniversary seemed far from appropriate.

「T-That guy… Ah, I saw him! He's holding the 《Saint Staff》 in his hand! So he's the one you mentioned! The other pawn of the higher being aside from the 《Invisible Hand of God》!」

I focused my attention on the man in the red robe and checked his status.

If the man's level was abnormally high, it would be safe to assume he was an agent of the higher being.

====

Luniman Lugae

Race: Ningen [Human]

Lv: 2643

HP: 8457/8457

MP: 8387/8457

====

Yup, his level was abnormally high.

Since his level was far higher than Ramiel, the member of the 《Invisible Hand of God》, it was easy to see that he was an agent sent by the higher being.

As Veranta had predicted, they came out to retrieve the 《Saint Staff》.

Fortunately, his level was significantly lower than mine, but the problem lay in the fact that he had already retrieved the 《Saint Staff》.

Moreover, there was one more thing that caught my attention.

「Just for confirmation, is that Luniman's full name Luniman Lugae?」

「Uhm… I think you're not familiar with Jonas' faith, turned out you are pretty knowledgeable, aren't you?」

「To be honest, it's a question that just popped out of curiosity just now.」

It turned out the red-robed man was undoubtedly the very same Luniman who assassinated Jonas two thousand years ago.

There weren't that many individuals with such high levels throughout history, but even so, they really brought an unimaginable opponent this time.

「… What shall we do now, Kanata-san?」

Pomera grasped her cane tightly as she asked me.

「… Fortunately, if it's just that man, we might be able to handle him. However, the staff is a different matter. Originally, Sophia expected a simple negotiation, but once it falls into the hands of those with ill intentions, the danger posed by the 《Saint Staff》 skyrockets.」

Retreating for the time being and calling for reinforcement was another option.

Everyone else should be busy gathering other pieces, but if I went ahead and failed, all of our efforts would come to waste.

If we could get either Veranta or Nobunaga, it would be a significant boost to our forces. And if Lunaire could be called, that's even better.

「Oh, oh… Flee in terror. Weak and pitiful, lost little lambs. My master, Jonas-sama, will surely forgive your frailty.」

The red-robed man raised the staff in his hand.

「Ghost Magic, 15th Rank《Hamelin (City of Death and Rat)》！」

He deployed a massive magic circle that illuminated a vast area.

The next moment, the crowd of hundreds of people near the palace vanished, or rather, they transformed into a swarm of black rats.

「W-W-What's happening now…!?」

Cardinal Wardell murmured as he fell on his knees with a bewildered look on his face.

In fact, I was also rooted on the spot upon seeing the horrifying spectacle before me.

It turned out a villain who could unleash such magic without hesitation did exist.

「Oh ho ho ho! My master will surely forgive my foolishness! Isn't that right, master? Yes, it must be so, isn't it, Master Jonas?」

Luniman was laughing maniacally while talking to the large staff tightly in his hand with a fond expression.

I glared at Luniman who said so from atop the palace.

It seems I was left with no other option but to defeat him right away.

If I fled here, Luniman would surely continue to spread chaos and devastation across this land.

Rather, I doubted that it was only Luniman who was sent to this world.

Sending someone like him down meant that the higher being started to feel threatened by Locklore.

As long as Nyarlhotep had his sights set on me, I couldn't afford to take the safe route and flee here.

「That scale of magic is unimaginable… He turned this city into this state with just a single magic… The city is finished… no, the world is! Am I being punished for daring to defy the higher being, is this divine retribution?」

Cardinal Wardell collapsed, his body trembling non-stop, frozen in a posture of despair, motionless as he clutched his head tightly.

It couldn't be helped that he collapsed after seeing this kind of spectacle, but perhaps his timid nature hadn't changed much since fifty years ago.

「It seems there's no need to worry about trying to persuade the pope anymore. I assume that I am allowed to defeat that man in the red robe and secure the 《Saint Staff》 into our custody, Cardinal Wardell?」

I took a large step toward the palace, drawing my sword from its sheath and preparing to face whatever lay ahead.

「Summon Magic, 18th Rank《Urzottle (Sacred Beast Puppy Who Summons Death)》」

A magic circle appeared before me.

A giant dog with beautiful blue fur, Urzottle, appeared from within.

「Lend me your assistance, Ur.」

「WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!」

Ur replied with a war cry as they raised their head to the sky.

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My first CN project, why waifu though? Well, coz the main heroine's job is buying soy sauce till the end of act 1

New Project:

Harem, Hero, Demon King, Seven Deadly Sin, Seven Virtue, Sacred Beast, Sword and Magic, Dystopian Future, DESTINY PROJECT HAD IT REALIZED!, Dungeon, Dragon, 72 Demons, Reincarnations