The knights, paladins, and priests began their search methodically. They started from the outskirts and worked their way inward.
This was Ed’s suggestion. Knowing that the necromancer was hiding somewhere near the inner castle, he argued that the smaller the search party, the more thorough their efforts needed to be.
The paladins were filled with resentment as they followed Ed’s lead. They were displeased that a mere monk, rather than the bishop, was the one directing them. However, since the bishop did not attempt to stop him, they had no choice but to comply.
Ed immediately joined the search. Though he was aware that the necromancer was hiding in a house near the inner castle, he did not know the exact location.
He knocked on every door he came across.
“What brings you here?”
The residents who opened their doors showed no wariness toward Ed, who was dressed in the robes of a monk of St. Arian. Instead, they welcomed him with cautious friendliness.
“May the Goddess’s mercy bless this home. I am but a humble servant spreading the word of Arian. If you would spare me a moment of your time?”
Like a missionary, he naturally stepped inside and engaged the residents in a brief conversation.
But his true purpose lay elsewhere. Throughout their discussions, he carefully observed their reactions and discreetly examined the atmosphere inside their homes.
He understood well the risks of this approach. Even if he did find the necromancer’s hiding place, if he aroused the slightest suspicion, he might never make it back out.
That was why he had spoken to Montrant in advance.
He promised to return every hour without fail. If he did not return within that time, it would mean he was in danger.
Montrant had given him a perplexed look and did not readily give an answer,
– Why are you saying this?
– You speak as if you are certain the children are nearby.
There was doubt in Montrant’s tone. If Ed was merely acting on speculation, his reckless actions could be a mistake.
But Ed responded in a calm, unwavering voice.
– I am not certain. But if I hesitate out of fear, I will only be swept away by it. So I must do everything I can.
His determination to find the necromancer was absolute.
A knight who had been listening nearby frowned, seemingly displeased by Ed’s audacity. But Montrant, on the other hand, looked at him with admiration, as if he was impressed by how personally he was taking this mission.
– …If you find them, I will grant you a great reward.
A short but weighty promise.
After visiting five houses, Ed headed farther away. He still had enough time to visit one more house before returning.
During his search, he came across a shabby isolated house standing alone.
As he approached, he knocked on the door for a long time before a man cautiously opened it and looked out. The moment Ed saw him, he was sure.
“….…”
This man was the necromancer. He was a gaunt figure with pale skin, sunken eyes, slumped shoulders, and a thick mess of green hair.
Bimellion stood before Ed. The necromancer and later a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s army, as described in the original story. There was no way two such individuals existed in this area.
“I am a humble servant spreading the word of Arian. Would you be willing to spare a moment of your time?”
Ed calmly stated his purpose for visiting. The man stared at him for a long moment before finally responding.
“I’m sorry, but I’m too busy trying to survive each day. I need more time to plow my fields than to pray.”
“Arian understands your hardships. Faith can be a source of strength to lighten the burdens of life. If you take a moment to speak with me, you may find solace in Her words.”
Ed pressed on persistently. Few would go to such lengths to engage in conversation, and he knew that this approach would only make Bimellion suspicious.
But he couldn’t turn back now. If he simply walked away, the ever-cautious Bimellion might flee immediately.
Ed’s plan was to stall for time. If Montrant noticed the delay and stormed in with his knights, this encounter could end with Bimellion’s death.
Yet for some reason, Ed felt no fear. Perhaps something had changed in him ever since the day he threw himself into danger to save Lina.
Had his courage simply grown stronger? Or was it that having once risked his life, he no longer hesitated?
After a long silence, Bimellion finally stepped aside and let Ed inside.
His cramped house was completely barren. There was no dining table, no bed, no decorations. It lacked even the faintest warmth of a home where someone actually lived.
Ed quickly scanned his surroundings but remained composed, maintaining a light smile as he spoke.
“Where would you prefer to have our conversation?”
Bimellion leaned against the doorway and slowly fixed his gaze on Ed. Then, in a low, indifferent voice, he spoke.
“…You don’t need to try so hard. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later.”
Ed realized it immediately.
He intends to kill me here.
“Let’s continue our conversation under my roof. Forever.”
A deep smile formed on Bimellion’s hollow cheeks. He raised his long, claw-like nails, and in an instant, they turned a glowing shade of violet.
Ed spoke in an unshaken voice with his hands calmly clasped behind his back.
“Bimellion.”
“…What?”
“Don’t just stand there like a fool. Put your hands down.”
Ed’s voice was astonishingly calm. It wasn’t because he had a naturally cool-headed temperament in dire situations but because he had already decided that if he couldn’t buy time with his preaching excuse, he would handle it this way.
“Wh-What…? How do you know my name?”
Ed unclasped his hands and tapped his fingers against his head.
“If you have a brain, use it. Think about how I know your name.”
“…Did they send you from the Abyss Rift?”
The Abyss Rift. Ed knew that name well. It was an organization that had existed before the Demon King’s army was formed. It was a gathering of those who worked in darkness, like Bimellion. It wasn’t a place one could simply step into, nor was it a name that could be spoken without proving one’s worth.
“And you came without even sending word?”
“Why would I bother informing someone like you?”
At this time, Bimellion’s rank within the organization wasn’t high. There was another reason he would later rise to become an officer of the Demon King’s army.
Bimellion frowned.
“How long has it been since you officially joined, and you’re already throwing your weight around? Are you looking to die?”
His tone carried clear irritation at being treated with such disregard.
But Ed remained, simply clicked his tongue, and shook his head.
“Are you saying the Abyss itself is throwing its weight around?”
“Hngh….”
For a moment, Bimellion instinctively shut his mouth.
The Abyss. There was only one being they referred to by that name.
The leader of the Abyss Rift. A future member of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings.
But then, confusion crept into Bimellion’s mind. Why would someone of such status concern themselves with him? Just as he was about to voice his doubt, Ed spoke first.
“When the light fades, the whispers…”
“…never cease.”
Bimellion recited the passphrase automatically, then hesitated. He grew confused.
“Are you really an Executor of the Abyss? Then why the hell were you pretending to be some ridiculous monk?”
“There is no place beyond the Abyss’s reach. Do not be so quick to judge.”
Bimellion flinched instinctively.
“…I hadn’t been there long enough to know. I apologize.”
Overwhelmed by Ed’s presence, Bimellion found himself believing his words without question. In truth, his mind was too preoccupied with wondering why the Abyss had sent one of its direct subordinates to him.
“Why would the Abyss personally…?”
But once again, his words were cut off. This time, with firm finality.
“Leave this place.”
Ed had no intention of answering his questions, nor of relinquishing control of the conversation.
“L-Leave?”
“This is no longer where you belong.”
“Wait, do you have any idea how much I’ve accomplished here…?”
“It no longer matters. The time has come.”
“What do you mean, the time has come?”
“You’ll understand once you go.”
Frustrated, Bimellion rubbed his forehead irritably.
“You’re just spouting vague nonsense. And I’m supposed to throw away years of research based on that?”
At that, Ed met his eyes and asked in a quiet unwavering voice.
“Are you saying you refuse to obey?”
Bimellion swallowed hard.
Ed’s gaze was cold and piercing.
Instinctively, Bimellion tried to gauge his opponent’s strength. His body looked well-trained, but that was all he could discern. There wasn’t even a hint of magical power emanating from him.
And that made it all the more unnerving. Knights formed a core within their hearts to accumulate magical power, yet Ed had none. Not even a trace.
It felt like he was staring into a deep, black void. Like he was facing the Abyss itself.
“Ha… fine. If I go, I’ll understand, right?”
Ed gave a slight nod.
“Leave now. There’s no time.”
“Where to?”
Bimellion still looked visibly uneasy. However, Ed simply shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Where do you think you need to go?”
Bimellion frowned. He thought that Ed was being ridiculously unhelpful.
“I haven’t been here long, you know. Would it kill you to just tell me straight?”
“The western forest.”
“You don’t mean the Silent Forest, do you?”
Ed nodded once more.
“You… you actually want me to go there? Do you have any idea how dangerous that place is…?”
“I’ve already made all the necessary preparations, so there’s nothing to worry about. Stop acting like an idiot and get moving. There’s no time.”
“Damn it, fine. But I still need to pack my things.”
“I already told you, there’s no time for that! Now get lost.”
At Ed’s sudden outburst, Bimellion flinched and took a step back.
“Alright, alright! I’ll go. S-Shit… I just got here, you know…”
Even as he stepped out the door, empty-handed and dejected, he kept glancing back. He was reluctant to leave.
“The basement…”
“I know. I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry about it.”
“…Must be nice, knowing everything.”
With a final, mocking remark, Bimellion spun around and disappeared.
Thud.
For a long moment after Bimellion was gone, Ed remained frozen in place. Then, as the tension suddenly drained from his body, he let out a deep breath.
Was this really the right choice? For a brief moment, Ed hesitated. At first, he had only intended to stall for time until the knights arrived.
But Bimellion had fallen for it far more easily than expected, and in that instant, Ed had changed his plan entirely.
If Bimellion had some hidden trump card prepared, one even Ed wasn’t aware of, there was no telling what would happen once the knights stormed in.
Not like he’ll be joining the Demon King’s army as an officer anymore… so it doesn’t really matter.
Ed took a deep breath now that he had made his decision, and surveyed his surroundings.
There was no longer a trace of life in the place Bimellion had left behind.
But Ed paid no mind and searched every corner of the house. It wasn’t until sweat drenched his body that he finally noticed a faint crack in the floor. He pulled out the dagger Count Montrant had given him just in case, and used it as a lever to pry the floor open.
Creak—
With a heavy sound, the floor slowly began to lift.
What lay beneath was a staircase descending into darkness. It was the place where Bimellion had imprisoned his test subjects.
At that moment, a deafening crash shattered the silence as the front door was blown apart, and a group of people stormed in.
When Ed hadn’t returned even after an hour, Montrant had led his knights in to raid the house.
Ed looked at them and spoke.
“I think I’ve found where the children are.”
***
At that very moment.
From a distant ridge, Bimellion stood watching his house.
The sight of knights pouring inside was clear even from afar. Seeing this, Bimellion muttered to himself.
“He was making such a fuss about running out of time… So this was the reason?”
Deciding there was no longer any reason to watch, he straightened up and resumed walking.
But after only a few steps, he suddenly came to a halt.
“Come to think of it, I never told him about that. It’s a real masterpiece too…. what a shame. Oh well… The Executioner will take care of it.”
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