Chapter 85: The Threat

"What do you think about dying like this? In this situation, no one would suspect me," Salser asked her with a mocking smile.

Caren silently watched him for a moment, her expression still calm.

"I will pray for you both before I die, Dark Wizard, and the sinner who grants me death."

"Am I on par with this short man then? It seems so. Do you believe I am also a sinner, Sister?"

She directly stared into Salser's eyes, her voice transmitted through the soul was very soft, barely audible:

"Yes, I believe that is indeed the case."

Salser had a peculiar smile on his face. "I've only known you for a day and a night, Sister. This short man is a cult leader, and you believe he is a sinner, which is indisputable, but what about me? What special sin do you think I have committed?"

"Special? Yes, I think—your sins might be even more difficult to..."

"Enlighten me, in which aspect? I'll confess right here, and then you can meet your end."

"He is a patient tormented by fear and poverty, a pitiful soul blinded by the temptations of an evil god. The malevolence he displays is merely the hysteria of fear and despair, but you, you embrace and harbor all forms of profane demons with a cold heart. I believe his sins pale in comparison to yours," Caren said, indifferent to the man holding her, calmly explaining her understanding and views to Salser, "After discovering what you truly are, I decided—to be responsible for your soul under the witness of the Lord."

"…You're being so vague; how am I supposed to confess?"

"Perhaps I will know in the future, as we are currently strangers."

"Heh... Do you see that doctor over there?" Salser was indifferent to her words, pointing to the side, "Anyone can see that he loves you, his concern for you is clearly written on his face. What do you think about that?"

"That doctor? His name is Galus. I once taught him some knowledge about surgical procedures. Galus is a very kind and strong person. For his alcoholic father Trico, his paralyzed mother Helen, and his brother Lunien who is still in school, he has single-handedly supported the entire family. I will pray for him and his family to live in peace, and beyond that... there is nothing more I need to do."

"His father was executed just recently."

"...Yes, he confessed in my church, claiming that he felt relief and even joy at his alcoholic father's death, and blamed himself for this unforgivable sin. Yet, despite this, he wept for three days. Afterwards, I blessed his father's body under the witness of the Lord, hoping this might bring him some comfort."

"A touching story, I think you two would make a good match."

"I am concerned for your soul, Dark wizard, or should I say, the sinner of the Lord," she repeated, looking directly into his eyes, her gaze bright and serene.

"You truly are a peculiar being."

"I..."

"Fuck off, you moron!" the short man interrupted their exchange, his one hand tightly gripping the nun's throat, while the other waved the scalpel at him, "What are you doing! Flirting with this bitch with your eyes? I'm telling you, there's no time for you two to exchange glances here!"

Salser shrugged indifferently, glancing around—the soldiers, under the short man's threat, were backing away. Their faces showed resentment and helplessness, while he stood there like a fool—as if he didn't care about the nun's life-threatening situation at all.

Perhaps he truly didn't care.

Just as Caren had said, he indeed concealed his coldness very well, so well that—he himself believed he was a good person.

The chaotic warnings and anxious curses from the crowd also involved him. Some shouted, "Sir, please step back!" Others cursed, "You bastard, can't you see the nun is in his grasp?" And still, others warned, "Sir, it's dangerous!"

"Quite a mess, isn't it?" Salser chuckled, addressing the short man, "Hey, buddy, how about a deal? You let the nun go, and I'll go easy on you. Do you think that's a fair trade?"

"You faithless mortals only know how to lie! You hypocritical council enforcer! Get the fuck out of my way, I won't listen to any of your excuses! Clear the path immediately, or I'll snap this bitch's neck!"

During the days leading to Cast City, Salser had followed Jeanne in learning how to access the Warren of Light. To be honest, it was a bit troublesome, but having connected to many Warren before and having years of experience with magic, it wasn't too difficult for him to learn. However, deceiving his own soul and telling himself—I believe in the Lord of the Temple of Light—was quite challenging.

Salser waved cheerfully at the short man, who was momentarily stunned. He began to connect to the Warren, the power of the Warren of Light flowing from his feet into the ground. His mind guided the slender white beams of light beneath the earth, causing them to converge, connect, solidify, and intertwine—

He stomped his foot on the ground, just as Jeanne had demonstrated many times for him—fierce white light erupted, and the short man let out a scream. A spear made of light suddenly pierced through the floor, impaling his forearm and forcing him to instinctively let go, causing Caren to fall to the ground. In the next instant, two more ethereal spears shot out from the floor, piercing through his shoulders, lifting him like a skewered fish two meters above the ground, almost hitting the ceiling.

"Don't just kill him like that, Salser," Caren said, while lying on the ground, gasping in pain. Salser could clearly see that her neck had purple bruises from the short man's grip. "The treatment isn't finished yet," she said.

The beams of light dissipated.

He watched as a group of soldiers rushed forward, pinning the short man to the ground.

"You still have time to worry about others?" He helped the nun up by pulling her hand, his tone dripping with undisguised sarcasm: "Or are you going to tell me that you absolutely cannot allow anyone to die because of you?"

Due to the close contact with this half-demon, the bruises on Caren's neck faded visibly, returning to their pristine whiteness. However, the other parts of her body beneath her clothes... made him smell the faint scent of blood once again.

"Do not maliciously interpret my thoughts, Salser, your tone is truly hurtful to others," Caren said with a stern face, her hand tightly gripping his arm: "I am merely a nun, not an inquisitor. I do not have the right to condemn heretics, nor do I possess the strength. That sinner will receive the appropriate punishment according to the laws of this city, so I should not arbitrarily prevent these actions, but I will pray and bless him after his death, as a substitute for him to atone before the Lord."

"Let's not talk about that for now... Can you let go of my arm?" Salser frowned and spoke in a lowered voice, "I feel many malicious gazes directed at me."

Caren's malicious intent flashed in her eyes for a moment. She extended her index finger and drew a cross on Salser's chest, then stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed his cheek, her two clean hands pressed against his chest. "Go get the new scalpel, medical alcohol, suturing needle, catgut, scissors, probe, disinfectant, and a basin of clean water for me to complete the following treatment, 'Mr. Woof,' otherwise I'll tell your beloved Inquisitor about last night's event," she whispered softly to the Dark wizard. 

The surrounding soldiers began to murmur among themselves.

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