◈ 12. Capturing a Swindler
The sun had slipped below the horizon, shrouding the Empire in the cloak of night.
Filma Manor, half-destroyed due to Nikellus’s rampage, was no exception.
The dilapidated estate, hastily repaired to keep out the rain, seemed to shrink into the darkness, embarrassed by its shabby appearance.
As the peaceful stillness of night stretched on, the two guards stationed for the evening watch began to exchange idle chatter.
“I’m exhausted. Couldn’t catch a wink of sleep today with all that hammering going on.”
“Tell me about it. I wish I could try out that sound-dampening item the count uses.”
“I heard it costs a fortune. I just soak some cloth and stuff it in my ears—it works a bit better that way.”
“Really? Guess I’ll have to give that a shot tonight. And all because that damn pope went and wrecked the manor—”
The soldier trailed off abruptly, freezing mid-sentence.
Someone with a pale face emerged from the inky darkness of the path.
It didn’t take long to recognize the figure.
It was the man responsible for all that hammering—the one who had half-destroyed the manor.
“Y-Your Holiness, the Pope! What brings you here?”
“No time for explanations. Just step aside. It’s a classified matter, so even if I had time, I couldn’t explain.”
“…….”
“If you really need a quick summary, the count committed a heinous crime, and I’m here to apprehend him.”
“…….”
“…You don’t believe me, do you?”
Nikellus sighed, rubbing his chin with a troubled expression.
Meanwhile, the guards quickly assessed his current state with their eyes.
‘I don’t know what nonsense he’s spouting, but at least he’s unarmed. He might have weapons in his inventory, but it would take time to pull them out. Plus, he’s all alone without any escort knights…’
They had, of course, heard about Nikellus’s formidable combat prowess.
The day-shift guards, who had experienced his earlier rampage firsthand, often gossiped about him whenever they had the chance.
But now, the Nikllus standing before them appeared utterly defenseless.
‘This could be our chance. Should we take him down now?’
Considering the destruction he had caused, even if they subdued him here and now, the Church wouldn’t be able to complain.
And given his current vulnerable state, they were confident they could capture him.
The two guards exchanged glances, each thinking the same thing:
‘Let’s take him down ourselves and earn a reward from the count.’
With a silent count, they steeled themselves.
One… Two… Three…!
“Now!”
Both guards lunged at Nikellus, thrusting their electrified spears toward him.
While the tips of the spears weren’t sharp, they were enchanted with a potent lightning spell.
The guards could already picture Nikellus writhing on the ground, crying and sniffling from the shocks, and smirked in anticipation.
However—
“Hmm…?”
Just before the spear tips could touch him, Nikellus disappeared from their sight.
‘Did he use teleportation skill?’
Confused, the guards frantically scanned their surroundings, searching for the missing Nikellus.
To their surprise, his voice came from behind them.
“I’m a pacifist. But only if the other party is, too.”
Before they could react, Nikellus swung a massive mace he’d pulled from his inventory and struck one of the guards.
THWACK—!!
The sound of metal reverberated as the mace landed squarely on the soldier’s helmet.
Nikellus had clearly held back enough not to kill him, but the blow was still strong enough to knock the guard unconscious.
“W-When did he—behind us—!”
Panicked, the other guard tried to retaliate, swinging his spear wildly.
But Nikellus was faster.
THWACK—!! THWACK—!!
Another metallic impact echoed in the night, this time from the second guard collapsing to the ground.
The noise was enough to wake the sleeping manor.
“Emergency! Intruder alert!”
The response from Filma Manor was swift.
The moment Nikellus crossed the threshold, alarms rang out as soldiers poured out of every corner, quickly surrounding him.
This was the result of the count bolstering his forces after Nikellus’s previous rampage.
However, none of the soldiers dared charge at him.
A shimmering barrier spread out from beneath Nikellus’s feet—a skill of unknown origin, one that radiated divine authority.
The Holy Inviolability Pact.
No one dared approach recklessly, uncertain of what consequences might befall them if they did.
Facing their hesitation, Nikellus spoke calmly.
“Step aside. I have business with the count.”
Yet, not a single soldier moved.
The soldiers all exchanged glances, united in their disbelief, as if they were all watching a madman.
From among their ranks, the captain of the Filma family knights stepped forward.
“Your Holiness, you have assaulted the guards of the Filma estate without cause.”
“Speak clearly. They attacked me first, and I merely defended myself. Now step aside. I don’t have time for this—I need to capture the count before he slips away again.”
“…I find your claims difficult to understand. Please, lower your weapon and disable your skill. We’ve yet to receive a proper apology or the compensation for the damages caused during your last visit, and this behavior is—”
Before the knight could finish, Nikellus charged.
With his S-rank physical abilities bolstered by his Blasphemy skill, which acted as both a buff and an offensive enhancement, his movements were superhumanly swift.
However, the knight captain was no amateur.
An A-rank combatant who had earned his position through countless battles, he raised his shield just in time to intercept the incoming mace.
BOOM!
The thunderous impact echoed as the mace collided with the shield, the force of the blow reverberating through the air.
The knight captain seized the moment, swinging the sword in his right hand in an attempt to cut into Nikellus’s shoulder.
That’s when it happened—
[The Inquisitor’s Mace has detected malevolent magic! It channels divine power to destroy the tainted artifact!]
The mace, imbued with the unwavering resolve of the Inquisitor, reacted to the magic stone embedded in the knight captain’s shield.
Recognizing the unholy power within, the mace unleashed its destructive force.
CRACK!
Starting from the magic stone at the center of the shield, fractures spread outward like spiderwebs, splintering the entire structure.
The knight captain’s prized, high-grade shield—once a symbol of his strength—split in two.
Momentarily stunned, the captain stumbled back.
But Nikellus showed no mercy.
He lunged forward with relentless precision, exploiting the brief opening.
BANG!
The resounding blow that followed was even louder than before, the sound striking the ears of the gathered soldiers like a physical assault.
Meanwhile, in the eastern annex of the Grand Cathedral.
Despite the late hour, the top floor of the annex remained brightly illuminated.
Luciana sat there, wide awake, waiting for Nikellus.
Her fingers drummed impatiently on the desk.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
The rhythm quickened as her anxiety grew.
‘Why isn’t he here yet?’
‘Did something happen? He said he’d be back soon—it’s not like him to take this long just to bury a spirit…’
Nikellus had assured her he’d return quickly.
He had even seemed uncharacteristically somber, so Luciana had given him space, thinking he might need time to process things.
But now, as the hours dragged on, regret crept in.
‘I should have gone with him…’
Of course, she knew better.
Nikellus was practically invincible, even without relying on his skills.
The idea of him being ambushed or harmed by thugs was laughable.
Even the church remained calm, unbothered by the Pope’s delayed return, which was a testament to their confidence in his safety.
Still, Luciana couldn’t stop drumming her fingers on the desk, her nerves getting the better of her.
‘What if he’s been kidnapped? Maybe someone with a restraint item managed to subdue him and have him locked away somewhere…’
Or perhaps he’d simply gotten lost.
Maybe he’d had an unlucky fall down some stairs.
Worse still, what if he’d naively accepted suspicious candy from a stranger?
‘If that’s the case… he could be lying somewhere, clinging to life, waiting for me to save him.’
BANG!
She shot to her feet, the chair behind her toppling over with a loud crash.
Without a second thought, she strode over to the bookshelf and grabbed a crystal orb.
It was a type of communication artifact—useless for long-distance calls, but perfect for quick, convenient exchanges between high priests.
Pouring her divine power into the orb, its transparent surface began to glow faintly, vibrating with a steady rhythm.
Whirr… Whirr… Whirr…
After a moment, the vibrations ceased, signaling the connection had been established.
Clearing her throat, Luciana addressed the recipient of her call.
“Sir Bliss.”
―Hmm?
Bliss’s familiar, unhurried tone carried a hint of curiosity.
―To what do I owe the pleasure of you contacting me? And at this hour, no less.
“…His Holiness hasn’t returned for quite some time now.”
―His Holiness, you say…
“Yes. It’s strange. I think it would be best if you used your skill to locate him.”
Silence stretched from the crystal orb, the weight of her request hanging in the air.
Luciana bit her lip nervously.
‘As expected, he finds it bothersome.’
Suggesting they search for Nikellus together, despite the improbability of him being harmed, was bound to feel like a hassle.
Especially for Bliss, a man notorious for avoiding anything he didn’t want to do.
Still, Luciana wasn’t flustered; she had anticipated his reaction and continued speaking calmly.
“Of course, it might just be unnecessary worrying. But you never know.”
―…
“If, by any chance, something has happened, we need to act before it’s too late.”
―…
“Sir? Are you listening?”
She frowned, staring at the crystal orb that had gone eerily silent.
Has the item malfunctioned?
Inspecting it closely, Luciana found no issues with the device.
‘It’s not broken… He’s just refusing to answer!’
The realization brought a wave of irritation.
Her tone rose slightly, laced with impatience.
“Sir Bliss. I know you have little concern for His Holiness’s well-being. But as one of the four high priests upholding the Church, you should at least act with the responsibility befitting your position—”
“Are you ready to leave?”
Bliss’s voice interrupted her mid-reprimand, startling her into silence.
But the sound hadn’t come from the crystal orb.
Turning toward the source at the doorway, Luciana’s eyes widened.
There stood Bliss, leaning casually against the doorframe, dressed impeccably in his travel attire as if prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
‘How did he get here so fast…?’
As Luciana stood there in stunned silence, Bliss gave a slight nod toward the door.
“Let’s go. Quickly.”
“…Is that… really the Pope?”
“No… huff, huff… no way, that’s no human!”
“That bloodless, heartless demon…!”
The soldiers of the Count’s household, who had rushed in after the fallen captain, began hesitating as they witnessed the unrelenting carnage wrought by Nikellus’s mace.
No matter how many charged at him, the outcome was the same—more bodies strewn across the ground, one after another.
No one had yet managed to evade Nikellus’s brutal yet precise swings or land a significant blow on him.
His defense was like an impenetrable wall of steel.
His offense felt like a single strike would spell instant death.
Faced with this intruder, who seamlessly combined both unshakable defense and overwhelming offense, the soldiers could only hesitate, their morale waning with every passing moment.
Seeing the troops faltering, the deputy commander finally raised his voice, taking the lead.
“Don’t be afraid! Attack! He’s just one man!”
Nikellus spotted the deputy commander rushing toward him and swung his mace.
The weapon’s special effect activated immediately.
[The Inquisitor’s Mace smashes evil!]
The deputy commander’s enchanted weapon was shattered into two pieces upon impact, and the man himself was struck on the shoulder, collapsing to the ground.
The other knights, witnessing this, charged in desperation.
“Even the deputy commander…! Die, you monstrous bastard!”
Grinding their teeth, they lunged at Nikellus, but the outcome remained unchanged.
[The holy and righteous mace guides its enemies to God’s embrace!]
With each strike of the mace, the enchanted items wielded by the knights were destroyed, and they too fell, one by one, in the same manner as their deputy commander.
It didn’t matter who attacked—nothing changed.
Nikellus dealt with them as dispassionately as a player grinding through low-level monsters in a game.
‘This special effect is useful, but it’s so annoyingly noisy every time I swing it.’
Nikellus thought, casting a dissatisfied glance at his mace.
The ability to shatter magical items imbued with mana was undoubtedly effective; he’d already destroyed a considerable number of the soldiers’ gear.
However, the constant stream of bombastic messages accompanying each activation made him feel like a deranged zealot.
That was the only downside he could think of.
‘Is there a way to turn off these messages…?’
As he pondered this, a new and unfamiliar special effect triggered on the mace.
[The number of righteous blows delivered to evil forces has exceeded ten! The item’s special effect, “Righteous Massacre Under the Moonlight”, has been activated!]
[For 30 minutes, attack damage is increased by 10% due to the item’s special effect!]
[The item’s special effect numbs pain for 30 minutes!]
[The item’s special effect dulls feelings of guilt about violence for 30 minutes!]
A state of numbed pain and reduced guilt—hallmark effects of entering Berserker Mode.
Berserker Mode, also known as the frenzy state, made battles significantly easier.
Coupled with the lingering Blasphemy skill, a wild and overwhelming power surged through Nikellus’s entire body.
‘So, right now, I’m a pope and a berserker at the same time?’
The Berserker Mode was tied to the mace’s special effect, meaning the power would vanish without the weapon.
Even so, the clashing energies swirling through his body at this moment were undeniable.
‘…Not bad.’
Nikellus let out a short sound of admiration at the explosive force coursing through him.
He spotted a knight charging toward him and casually swung his mace to test the power.
BAM—!!
“…Gah!”
The soldier hit by the strike was lifted off the ground and flung far away.
Even with a casual swing, the destructive power was immense.
If Nikellus used his full strength, it would be akin to a cannonball hitting its target.
Power brimmed through his body, and any occasional long-range arrows were intercepted by Rubin, who had come along to assist.
The battle was nearing its end much faster than expected.
‘That one’s the last.’
With a decisive thud, Nikellus hurled his mace at the back of the last soldier attempting to flee, taking him down instantly.
Rubin, who had been blocking arrows from afar, returned to Nikellus’s side.
Unlike the small and adorable guide form Rubin usually maintained, he now appeared in his large and imposing guardian form, befitting a battle.
“Rubin, is it over?”
“Yup! I’ve taken care of all the soldiers inside the mansion! Now we just need to catch the count!”
“He’s still inside, right?”
“Nope, but don’t worry. It looks like he tried to escape through the back entrance. Luckily, Camera 21 on the northwest side caught him.”
“Let’s move.”
The Nikellus from before possession had once let the count slip through his fingers, but the current Nikellus had Rubin by his side.
Rubin carried Nikellus on his back, soaring into the air with his flight ability.
In no time, they raced toward the location where Camera 21 was installed, cutting through the air like an arrow.
And finally—
“Ugh! Y-Your Holiness!”
They caught up to Count Filma mid-escape.
Even the count’s escort knights were swiftly dealt with, taken out in an instant by Nikellus and Rubin.
With his last line of defense gone, the count staggered backward in fear.
His chubby cheeks quivered as his green eyes, usually warm and gentle, welled up with tears.
“Why—why are you doing this to me?! Wasn’t the chaos you caused last time enough? Why now?! I don’t understand—”
“Really? Do you ‘really’ not know? I find that hard to believe.”
The count froze in shock, his expression stiffening.
Nikellus grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him into the air before slamming him against a nearby tree with a loud ‘thud’.
But in his panic, the count hardly registered the pain.
Trembling, he stammered out a question.
“…D-Did you… r-remember… everything?”
