Hero without Blood or Tear - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - Meeting Great Evil (3)

Translator: Q&Agollem

Editor: Deus Ex Machina, Perditor

A calm voice interjected amidst the stunned crowd .

“The Canon of Seven Evils?”

It was a familiar voice . I let out a small sigh after turning to look at the person who just walked into the room .

“Ah…”

Large well-built body, gentle appearance like a grandmother looking at her grandchild . She was the Abbess Angela of my memories . Although she’s a Prioress right now .

“Prioress . ”

The nearby nuns bowed to greet her . I actually felt rather light-hearted to see her . We cooperated closely to fight against the demon lords in the past .

We grew especially closer after Walpurgis’ death . She was a precious comrade to me and to her a precious daughter-figure . The loss of someone so cherished gifted a bond transcending age to us .

“I’ve read it before . I can definitely help . ”

I hoped Angela would take me seriously . However, she suddenly shouted at me in anger .

“My! Who is this ruffian? The Canon of Seven Evil? That book is a myth . ”

All the nuns jolted a little at Angela’s rebuke .

“The Abbess is ill! Is this really an appropriate time to argue with a mere mercenary?”

“No, Prioress . ”

“Remove him at once . Do not kick him out of the Convent as he is a guest of Sister Walpurgis; but, all of you should have stopped him from coming into the inner sanctum at the very least! . . . I said at once!”

Angela’s stinging disapproval concluded the situation in an instant . I was immediately turned into a liar and several nuns grabbed me to escort me out .

“We will not punish you for this, but know your place and spend the rest of your time here quietly . This Convent is under crisis . ”

I was curious even as I was being pushed out . Angela in my memory was a calm and wise person . She was not someone who would drive a person out just for mentioning the Canon of Seven Evils .

Then she kicks me out screaming all of a sudden?

It was strange…

“The Canon of Seven Evils! My, what is this world coming to for people to indulge in such fairy tales . ”

Some even mocked me openly . Some nuns who, even for a moment, thought I was telling the truth bowed to Angela in repentance .

“Our apologies, Prioress . Our faith was lacking . ”

In mere moments, I was pushed completely from their interest . Even if I had to leave the convent, I really needed to prove my innocence . But in that moment, my eyes met with Angela’s . She was trying to tell me something with her composed look .

Things weren’t all that meets the eye here . I quietly left the area and Walpurgis followed . We walked down a silent hallway devoid of people .

“I am sorry . I did not think the elders would be so against the idea . ”

Walpurgis apologized to me profusely . It was quite clear she felt disappointed about the situation .

“Valler, you tried so hard to prove to them you had knowledge regarding the Darkness… You would have been a great help to the Abbess…”

“I don’t think you should feel so bad about it . ”

“Hmm?”

I pointed to ahead of me . One of the elder nuns from moments ago was standing there . She must have used a shortcut to get ahead of us .

“Please, follow me, Mr . Valler . ”

I understood how the situation was playing out now . This elder was probably sent by Angela to guide us to where we could meet secretly . As expected, we were led to a hidden area .

“Please wait here . She will arrive shortly . If you will excuse me . ”

Angela arrived rather quickly .

“Prioress!”

Walpurgis went and hugged her like a small child .

“My, what an energetic young lady . You can take off your armour in the convent . It’s very stiff and cold when you hug me with your armour still on . ”

“I understand . ”

Walpurgis looked like her obedient daughter . I finally understood why she liked the Order so much . Other nuns filled in the place of the parents she lost at such an early age and siblings she never had .

“Mr . Valler, I am Prioress Angela . ”

Her courteous greeting was just as I remembered Angela . I also took off my feathered cap and bowed to greet her .

“I’m Valler from Spandau . ”

“I heard that you saved Walpurgis . I extend my thanks regarding the situation . ”

“No, I survived thanks to her . I only returned the favour . ”

“You are a modest man . I see why Walpurgis vouched for you . ”

Everything from before was an act . She seemed quite friendly to me just by the fact I had saved her . The conversation flowed favourably due to that . However, she skipped right to the point as the Abbess was not faring too well .

“Mr . Valler, you have read the Canon of Seven Evils?”

“Yes, with my own eyes . ”

Angela nodded when I confirmed it .

“Goodness… My, such a thing . For a legendary relic to exist . ”

“Do you believe me?”

“Honestly, I find it difficult to . However, there is no reason to suspect you would be lying either . That is why I prepared this meeting . ”

She was thorough yet logical as ever . She was the kind of person you’d prefer to work with than others .

“And it is for your safety as well, Mr . Valler . It may have been to persuade us; but, talking about the Canon of Seven Evils publicly is dangerous . We also do not know if there are other traitors in the Order as well . ”

“I was short sighted . ”

If I saved the Abbess earlier in front of everybody, it was highly likely for Pejamut to learn about me . He would never forgive anyone who ruined his schemes . Furthermore, the contents of the Canon of Seven Evils were something that even demon lords coveted .

He would torture me to learn everything I knew about it . Angela acted knowing fully what could happen . She was indeed wise .

“Thank you for your concerns . ”

“No, I cannot put someone who volunteered to aid this Order in any danger . Even if it is not about the Canon of Seven Evils, it will be best to keep the fact you tried to help the Abbess a secret . You may gain renown, but you will also be Pejamut’s target . ”

The circle of grudge knew no end . I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if demon lords were really angry with me . Now was not the time to antagonise them .

“Mr . Valler, may I confirm you have indeed read the Canon of Seven Evils?”

It was only natural . This was something entirely separate with how she valued my character .

“Of course . ”

Questions flooded out as soon as I gave my approval . They were all information only those versed in Darkness would know . Angela could not hide her amazement at how I could answer all of them without any hesitation .

“You are still a young man! But to have learned such knowledge!”

I even told Angela that I would answer anything she was curious about . Others would never even believe this situation without seeing it with their own eyes . The Prioress of the Order of Sisters of Walpurgis was renowned as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge .

Since the moment and opportunity was here, I wanted to share as much knowledge as possible . Even Walpurgis sitting beside me was surprised .

“ . . . Valler, your knowledge is truly tremendous . ”

Angela was wide-eyed as well . At first it felt like she was a teacher giving a test; but now, it was more like she was the student . I was fairly well-acquainted with the main interest of the Order, Pejamut .

“The Prince of Darkness Pejamut serves has been a secret for a long time; but, I think I can find out if I see the Abbess’ condition . I have a guess of my own…”

“Ah, you are most wise, Mr . Valler . ”

Angela swayed her head with her mouth still wide open .

“I can only conclude that you have indeed read the Canon of Seven Evils . You wouldn’t be able to find the kind of knowledge you’ve shared today even if you searched the libraries of this Order . ”

She changed her attitude and asked carefully .

“May I ask for the name of the sage?”

She probably thought I wasn’t who I appeared to be .

“A sage? No, you give me too much credit . I’m simply an ordinary man . ”

“Surely you do not take me for a fool . I may be an old nun who has severed ties with the secular world, but I know enough to know an ordinary mercenary cannot save the Lady Templar and know the contents of the Canon of Seven Evils inside and out . ”

“There’ll come a day when I can reveal myself . Until then, just think of me as a mere foot soldier working hard to defend humanity . ”

She didn’t ask further when I drew the line there . She bowed to me instead .

“Thank you for coming to this Order’s aid . I will lead you to the Abbess now . ”

We headed to the chamber deep in the inner sanctum through a secret passageway .

“The ones standing guard inside are all trustworthy nuns under my command . Please do not worry . Your actions here tonight will be a secret . ”

I felt that Angela was trying to protect me as best she could .

“Over here . ”

An evil aura was already radiating out from the sturdy door in front of me .

“Please steel yourself . You may be shocked by what is inside . ”

Angela blessed both me and Walpurgis . It was because you could die from a sudden encounter with a powerful Darkness .

“Please, enter . ”

I followed Angela in to see a rather small Abbess lying in the middle of a holy circle glowing white . For some reason, she looked like a young girl . Around the holy circle were kneeling high ranking nuns praying endlessly .

“Ah!”

I let out an exclamation after looking at the Darkness that swallowed the Abbess . The pitch black Darkness sprouted spider-like legs from the centre of the chest .

I immediately knew the Darkness’ identity .

Domineering aura of death .

The irrefutable master of the eventuality .

“Mr . Valler, do you recognize it?”

“ . . . yes . ”

Angela sounded surprised as if she didn’t expect me to know it as well . Why not, after all even the most knowledged experts in the Order didn’t know . However, the one most surprised was me .

“That’s… the husk of the avatar of the Prince of Darkness ‘One Crouching by the Grave’” .

It was only natural for the Order to not know what it was . The husk of the avatar of ‘One Crouching by the Grave’ was an important feature in the later storyline .

But why was it here now? However, that wasn’t my immediate concern right now . The real important matter was that power was something that players could absorb .

“A husk of the avatar? Also, I have never heard of the ‘One Crouching by the Grave’ . ”

“It can’t be helped . He is a Prince of Darkness not well known to humans . Only those who read the Canon of Seven Evils would know of him . Also known as the King of Gravekeepers, he oversees the dead . In other words, he controls the powers of necromancy . ”

“Necromancy! How vile…”

Angela drew a cross in the air as if just the thought alone repulsed her .

“That is the power of the avatar of the ‘One Crouching by the Grave’, but it seems he died a long time ago and only the husk remains . But even that husk is fatal . ”

“Then what is the purpose of the remains? Is it to kill an enemy by cursing them?

I swayed my head at Angela’s question . Purely by the condition of the Abbess, it may seem that way, but that was not the exact usage for the husk of the avatar .

“That is a dark relic which bestows power onto the user . It’s something that demons covet yet fear . ”

Walpurgis titled her head in curiosity .

“Covet yet fear? Stange . Demons are something that would not hesitate to murder their own parents if they could gain more power . They would not fear a mere curse . ”

“That’s because it’s not a mere curse . That husk demands your life in exchange for power . ”

It was definitely one of the worst kinds of dark relic . It bestowed power to those who accepted it, but took their life in exchange .

Pejamut, being the coward that he is, probably struggled for awhile on how to use it after obtaining it . In the end, he seems to have used it as a trap . He probably thinks himself so smart for using it like that . Though to be fair, it did work .

If you knew how to, you could keep the power and still live . I decided this was the time for decisive action .

“I can save the Abbess by siphoning all the Darkness from her . ”

“Is it possible?”

“Is that true, Valler?”

Angela and Walpurgis seemed relieved . However, there was a pre-requisite .

“But I have a condition . ”

“What may that be?”

I looked straight at Angela .

“I need the Angel’s Heart . ”

Maybe they already had a plan to use the Angel’s Heart on the Abbess . But, since the Abbess would never accept Darkness’ power, it would be just killing her twice .

On the other hand, I was different . I wanted to sacrifice the Angel’s Heart and take the Darkness’ power .

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity .

If I’m right, the class I would get after absorbing the husk of the avatar is ‘One Without Blood or Tear’ . It was the top necromancy class rivalling even the guardians .

 {Editor’s Comment, Perditor: “Roll Credits!”}

I still remembered . How the enemy ‘One Without Blood or Tear’ showed up on a bone dragon guarded by liches . The coldness of death aura froze all living creatures in the vicinity .

It was a truly a sight to behold .

A true lord of the dead .