Kate recalled the prophecy Luminous had delivered after so long: “Go to the darkest and most wretched place to welcome the honored guest.”

    As expected of a divine prophecy, it was cryptic, but she couldn’t help but wonder why such ambiguous prophecies were given.

    After defeating the fallen cardinal, her divine power had grown so much that she could now directly foresee the future like Isaac, rather than rely on vague prophecies.

    Normally, such an abstract prophecy would have been replaced with a straightforward request like “Go to this specific place.”

    Still, Kate humbly accepted this as the will of the deity and moved without much thought, understanding the prophecy’s meaning well enough.

    The only thing that saddened her was being away from Isaac for an extended period, but since her task was merely to bring the guest, she considered it an easy journey—until news from the underground temple reached her.

    “Did you say skeletons have appeared?”

    “Yes, yes! And it’s an intelligent entity capable of speech.”

    A skeleton had unexpectedly resurrected in the underground temple. The moment Kate heard this, her brows furrowed deeply.

    Who or what is a skeleton?

    A being resurrected against the natural order through wicked necromancy—a troubling existence for deities like Luminous, whom Kate served.

    And to think it could speak!

    Skeletons typically lacked intelligence and followed their necromancer’s commands.

    While it was possible to summon intelligent skeletons or undead through necromancy, such cases indicated the necromancer’s extraordinary power.

    Kate, as an Inquisitor, had encountered such individuals—most often those who imbued heroic souls into the undead.

    Occasionally, naturally occurring monsters like Dullahans existed, but they rarely posed significant harm to humanity.

    These beings, unaware of their own death, wandered the mortal realm, guiding lost souls like grim reapers.

    “How many victims are there?”

    “Victims... other than a few minor injuries, none to speak of.”

    “None, aside from the injured?”

    “Yes, that’s correct.”

    Kate’s expression grew puzzled upon hearing the investigator’s report.

    It was surprising enough that the skeleton had intelligence, but no casualties?

    If the investigator’s words were true, it meant the skeleton was stronger than the entire investigation team.

    The Minerva Empire wasn’t foolish; they had deployed elite soldiers in preparation, including clerics—natural nemeses of the undead.

    “What did it say?”

    “Well... uh...”

    The investigator hesitated, swallowed hard, and cautiously spoke.

    “It asked about Lord Zenon’s whereabouts.”

    “...Excuse me?”

    Kate frowned slightly, thinking she had misheard.@@@@

    “It asked for Lord Zenon’s location and where his father is.”

    Upon hearing the full explanation, Kate’s composure snapped.

    Her lips pressed into a thin line as her face grew expressionless.

    She was known for her soft and fresh smile, akin to a village maiden, but when her reason gave way, she had a habit of adopting this stern demeanor.

    This was one of those moments.

    She reached for the mace she had prepared at her waist.

    Though she wished to don her armor, there was no time; the unholy being needed to be dealt with immediately.

    The investigator, alarmed by her sudden change in demeanor, hurriedly followed and tried to dissuade her.

    “Wait, please! Hear me out! Even if it’s a skeleton, it might be a reasonable opponent!”

    “It’s still an undead, a being that defies the natural order ordained by the gods.”

    “Y-Yes, but divine power doesn’t work on it! The clerics tried all kinds of holy spells, but none had any effect!”

    “Huh?”

    The investigator’s frantic plea seemed to give Kate pause.

    His claim about divine power having no effect was even more perplexing.

    “Are you saying divine power had no effect whatsoever?”

    “Yes, none at all.”

    “Not even smoke?”

    “None.”

    Divine power having no effect... Kate pondered for a moment before resuming her steps.

    It was true that divine power was a natural enemy to the wicked, like demon worshippers—an undeniable fact.

    But the idea that it had no effect was... strange. Even Kate, devout and zealous, couldn’t ignore the absurdity.

    ‘No matter.’

    After all, it was still a skeleton and an undead.

    Though there were too many suspicious details, she couldn’t trust anything without seeing it herself.

    And more importantly, it had asked to meet Isaac and Hawk in person.

    Whatever kind of skeleton it was, that could never happen.

    ‘Then, who is this honored guest supposed to be?’

    Despite her doubts, Kate didn’t stop walking.

    Confirmation was her top priority.

    The investigator trailing her tried to dissuade her again, noting that the higher-ups had yet to provide any instructions for the situation.

    “...You’re a strange being. Skeletons like you are supposed to defy the natural order. Yet holy power doesn’t affect you.”

    [The gods have granted me a temporary reprieve.]

    “Do not speak of the gods so lightly, undead.”

    Kate’s voice turned cold.

    For a fanatic like her, the gods were her very existence. Naturally, the undead had no right to mention them.

    [Huh?]

    Clark sighed, noticing her fanatical tendencies.

    Meanwhile, Kate’s aura grew increasingly fierce by the second.

    He shook his head and scratched his skull, the smooth surface feeling strangely odd.

    [Fanatics are the same as ever... Anyway, can you let me go now?]

    Kate hesitated.

    He was indeed an unnatural being, but if he could withstand a direct hit from a holy spell, something was off.

    Yet, she couldn’t let him leave.

    His goal was to find Isaac and Hawk. If he turned on them outside, the consequences would be unthinkable.

    Besides, there had been a demon worshiper last time who could change his soul.

    This skeleton might be similar, earning trust only to reveal his true nature later.

    Moreover, she had her own task here.

    She had been commanded by Luminous to find and bring back an important guest.

    Until she fulfilled that mission, she wouldn’t leave the underground temple.

    “No.”

    With a resolute voice, Kate grasped her mace.

    A golden aura began to envelop her. It was a spell to strengthen her body using holy power.

    Normally, it required a prayer, but she had no need for that.

    [Figures.]

    Thud—

    Clark scoffed as he lowered the massive axe he had been carrying on his shoulder, gripping it with both hands.

    Its sheer size radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

    As the two prepared for a fight, the investigation team hurried to evacuate.

    “Please don’t fight too fiercely! Leave the site intact!”

    “We still have so much to study!”

    “My books! My books are over there...”

    “Shut up and move!”

    The archaeologists seemed more concerned about losing their research opportunities than the impending battle.

    One even lamented the potential loss of his precious collection, including the Chronicles of Zenon he had handed to Clark.

    When everyone except the two had evacuated, Kate spoke solemnly to Clark.

    “Prove it.”

    [Prove what?]

    “That you’re not an evil being. Otherwise...”

    Boom!

    Before finishing her sentence, Kate suddenly dashed forward.

    Her speed was so swift it seemed to fit the phrase, “in the blink of an eye.”

    “I’ll crush your skull.”

    By the time she finished her words, she was already in front of Clark, swinging her mace upward to shatter his jaw.

    Just as the mace’s tip was about to hit Clark’s jaw—

    Thud!

    Clark stepped back lightly, evading it with minimal movement.

    [Honestly. This is why...]

    Clark clicked his tongue as he muttered under his breath.

    Meanwhile, Kate calmly prepared her next strike without showing any signs of panic.

    [Fighting fanatics is such a hassle.]

    Thwack—

    Clark spat the cigar he had been holding onto the ground. As it hit the hard surface, scattering ashes, his axe began to rise slowly.

    By the time the cigar hit the ground with a soft sound, Kate had also raised her mace.

    It was surrounded by golden flames. Her title, “Blue Flame,” referred to the blue holy flames she once wielded.

    But as her holy power grew stronger, the flames had turned golden, their strength doubling.

    On the other hand, Clark’s old, battered axe appeared utterly unremarkable. It looked like any ordinary axe.

    At a glance, it seemed like Kate had the upper hand...

    [How inexperienced.]

    To Clark, she was nothing more than a fledgling who couldn’t even control her own power.

    Boom!