Chapter 23: Meeting a Holy Inquisitor (1)

“I… what just happened?” Realizing he was in an unfamiliar environment, Jiang Zhe felt momentarily lost, especially at the expression on the girl’s face…
That look of deep concern, along with the tears in the corners of her eyes…
Was this still Ravia?
Was this still the Ravia from his memories?
Seeming to notice Jiang Zhe’s strange gaze, Ravia seemed to remember something. Her youthful face turned red instantly as she stood up hurriedly and awkwardly, stammering, “You’re awake? Well… that’s great! Get up quickly; the floor is dirty…”
“Oh…” Jiang Zhe nodded slowly, staring at her red face in confusion. “Are you… are you okay? Are you sick?”
“You’re the one who’s sick!” the girl retorted angrily, drawing a loud laugh from Connel beside her.
“Hahaha, this is too funny, kid!”
“Hm?” Gradually regaining his composure, Jiang Zhe finally noticed the man standing beside them. Frowning, he asked, “Who are you?” His eyes held a hint of wariness.
Seeming to notice the wariness in Jiang Zhe’s eyes, the man chuckled and introduced himself, “Hi, kid! My name is Connel, Jean Connel! Don’t look at me like that—I’m not your enemy…”
“He’s not an enemy, Thos!” Ravia added.
“Oh, hello…” Jiang Zhe nodded blankly, his wariness subsiding slightly. “That name seems familiar…”
“Indeed!” Connel grinned mischievously. “I think it’s quite familiar…”
Everything was so confusing…
Jiang Zhe stared at the strange man in astonishment for a while before suddenly remembering something. Frowning at Ravia, he said, “Ravia, those Gungro…” As he spoke, he looked around, but there wasn’t a single Gungro in sight…
“Heh!” Connel said with a hint of mockery, “Weren’t they…?” But he was interrupted by Ravia’s louder voice.
“They were all killed by Connel! He saved us!”
“Really?” Jiang Zhe stared in shock at the seemingly unremarkable man before him.
The werewolf glanced at the nervous girl, as if remembering something, then chuckled. “Yes! Those inferior creatures could never be my match. Kid, you should be grateful to me!”

“Uh… thank you!” After being stunned for a while, amidst the werewolf’s eerie chuckling, Jiang Zhe awkwardly expressed his thanks—he wasn’t very good at saying those two words. Due to his unfamiliarity with this man, Jiang Zhe didn’t say much, while it seemed that Ravia was getting along well with him…
“It seems that little brat isn’t aware of what just happened…” While Jiang Zhe was observing his surroundings, the werewolf whispered to the girl, “From the way you spoke just now, you don’t want to tell him the truth, right?”
“Mm,” Ravia nodded, glancing at the boy who was staring in surprise at the dungeon, and said softly, “I don’t want to see him like that again… It scares me so much…”
“Scared?” The werewolf chuckled at the shyness in the girl’s eyes. “Scared that seeing him like that will widen the distance between the two of you? Hah, really…” As he spoke, he seemed to suddenly remember something, his expression turning sad. Shaking his head, he said with deep sorrow, “Your idea is good… but such things often can’t be hidden…”
“Huh?” Ravia raised her head in confusion, looking at the werewolf with a questioning gaze.
“Nothing,” the werewolf’s tone was much sadder now, far from his earlier teasing tone. Deep within his gray eyes seemed to lie profound sorrow. He murmured to himself, “Can you accept it…”
“Accept? Accept what?” The girl didn’t seem to understand. After thinking for a while, her face turned slightly red as she stammered, “If… if it’s about him, I… I already said, I… no, I don’t… I don’t have those feelings…”
“Hah,” the girl’s words made the werewolf smile—a simple but genuine smile, as if he had seen someone familiar. After staring at her deeply for a few moments, the werewolf lowered his head, stroked her fiery red hair, and said gently and sincerely, “If that little brat dares to bully you again, tell me, and I’ll help you teach him a lesson!”
“What are you talking about… bullying…?” Seeming to grasp the deeper meaning in the werewolf’s words, the girl bit her lip and said softly, “You can’t even beat that bear…”
“I can,” the werewolf replied firmly in response to her doubt. “Although it’s a demon of a higher rank than me, if I really decide to kill someone, no one can stop me!”

Indeed, with Gungro, who possessed almost immortal strength—and was created through alchemical potions by alchemists over hundreds of years—Conner had full confidence in his own power!
In panic, the girl instinctively said, “Don’t… don’t hurt him…”
“Hehe,” the werewolf smiled slightly, then suddenly bent down to touch the girl’s hair. His gaze was deep and distant as he said softly, “There won’t be anyone in this world who can hurt you… Remember my words as a reward for freeing me from here… But right now, I still have one thing I must do…”
“Are you leaving?” Ravia was surprised by the werewolf’s sudden tone. Then, as if recalling what he had said earlier, she asked in slight shock, “You… are you going to kill your enemy? But… it’s been hundreds of years—is your enemy still alive?”
Clearly, Ravia found it unbelievable that someone could live for hundreds of years. Even Jean Conner, who was originally a werewolf, had gained almost eternal life by transforming into Gungro.
“He’s still alive… definitely still alive…” The werewolf’s eyes burned with flames of anger and hatred as he said coldly, “He won’t die so easily… nor will I let him die that easily…”
The werewolf’s cold tone made Ravia shiver. Though she didn’t want to say much about others’ hatreds, she still added, “Please remember our agreement—please don’t hurt innocent people…”
“…” The werewolf stared deeply into those eyes that resembled those in his memories, shook his head, stood up, and said helplessly, “I know! Stop looking at me like that—it’s annoying!” Then he glanced down at the girl. Her somewhat angry expression made him smile knowingly.
So similar…
This little girl resembles you so much, Cecilia…
Truly very similar…
That annoying look…
“You… what’s wrong? You suddenly seem so sad…” Seeing the most evil and cruel werewolf from centuries ago staring at her directly, the girl felt no fear or terror. Somehow, she saw deep sorrow in the werewolf’s eyes.
“You’re mistaken!” the werewolf said indifferently, then added wickedly, “I’m the most evil werewolf. Do you think werewolves are some kind of loving creatures?”

But sadly, the werewolf’s intimidation didn’t seem to have the same effect. The girl stared at the werewolf for a long time before suddenly saying slyly, “I saw it, Mr. Connel…”
“What… what?”
“You cried just now…”
“Nonsense!” The werewolf’s voice rose sharply, tinged with annoyance and embarrassment. “You little brat, what are you talking about! I… uh… I’m a werewolf! What are you talking about, a werewolf? Werewolves belong to the category of demons!”
“Is that so?” The girl giggled. “Legend says that if a demon cries, it loses all its power…”
“…” The werewolf was stunned for a moment before shaking his head and smiling at the girl. “You’re really annoying… Instead of focusing on me, you should pay more attention to that little brat. If my guess is correct, there’s a high-ranking great demon living inside him. If you care about him, try not to let that bear come out again. I’ve heard before that the more often the demon inside appears, the greater the chance the host will be consumed…”
“Hmm!” Hearing Connel’s reminder, Ravia nodded and said, “I don’t like that bear either…”
“Then that’s settled,” the werewolf sighed deeply. “I’ll take you two out first, and then we’ll part ways here…”
“Are… are you really leaving?”
“Yes. That guy… I have to deal with him no matter what!”
“Oh…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll remember our agreement. I won’t harm innocent people…”
“Oh…”
“Hmm.” Seeing the girl staring at the ground, clearly disinterested, the werewolf suddenly felt at a loss. Fortunately, Jiang Zhe saved him at that moment.
“Hey, how long do you plan to talk? Talking in a place full of Gungro like this… you guys really have a lot of patience…”
“Heh!” The werewolf grinned and glanced around, saying mockingly, “It seems Ivo Beric took the chance to escape in the chaos…”
“Are you going to kill him?” The girl raised her head and asked softly.
Looking into the depth of her eyes, the werewolf shook his head nonchalantly. “I’ve said it before—there’s only one person I want to kill in this world. As for Ivo Beric, just let him go. Consider it payment for keeping me company and soothing my boredom over the years…”

The girl seemed quite surprised. She tilted her head and stared at the werewolf for a long time before whispering, “I think you’re actually a good person…”
“Stop talking nonsense!” The werewolf didn’t seem pleased by the girl’s praise. He curled his lips in disdain and said, “I’m just too lazy to go kill those guys!” After a pause, he looked at the girl mockingly and asked, “Do you really expect me to kill him?”
“I didn’t say that!” the girl retorted quickly.
“Hahaha!” Soon, the entire dungeon was filled with the werewolf’s hearty laughter.
Later, at Cornell’s insistence, the three of them headed toward the surface through the tunnel. The werewolf could sense that there were still some Gungro lurking in the tunnel. Though not many, they were more than the two children could handle right now.
As for the two children’s plan to find Professor Hode, the werewolf didn’t care much. To him, the lives or deaths of strangers made no difference at all.
Werewolves aren’t creatures full of kindness!
“Creak, creak…” Walking along the tunnel littered with debris from partial collapses, Jiang Zhe glanced at the werewolf ahead and then at Ravia, whispering, “Do you know him, Ravia?”
“Mm, why?” For some reason, Ravia felt a strange sense of excitement when the boy asked.
“You seem to trust him a lot… Are you familiar with him?”
“No, I just met him. Hmph! He’s way more reliable than certain people!” The girl said, pretending to be indifferent.
“Hey, I’ve protected you before, right?”
“What? Do you expect me to repay you?”
“Uh… I didn’t mean that…”
“Hmph!” The girl snorted lightly, biting her lip as she whispered, “It’s not like I asked you to protect me… Idiot!”
“Huh?”
“…Hmph!”
“By the way, I seem to have heard the surname Cornell somewhere before…”
“You must be mistaken!”
“Really?” The boy looked at her in surprise. “It does sound familiar…”
“I told you, you’re mistaken!”
“Oh, was he the one who carried me to that dungeon?”
“Mm… Yes, that’s right! He took care of those Gungro in no time! Way more reliable than certain people!”
“Hey, why are you always targeting me? I’ve protected you before too. Even if I didn’t deal with those Gungro, at least for that reason, stop targeting me, okay?”

“It’s because you’re protecting me!” The girl suddenly stopped in her tracks, looking at the boy with a complex expression and saying angrily, “I don’t need you to protect me! There’s such a big difference in strength… Even if my power is weak, I’m still your companion after all… Stop always…”
“Hey…”
“Anyway… I hate the way you look at me… Do you think it’s great of you to stand in front of me?”
“Ravia…”
“Don’t call me that… Don’t call me!”
“Huh!” Hearing the argument between the two children behind him, Connel, who was walking ahead, stopped, shook his head helplessly, leaned against the tunnel wall with his arms crossed, and murmured with his eyes closed, “Finally, there’s something different about you, Cecilia. Hehe… I feel a bit sorry for that kid… Hehehehe…” As he laughed, he seemed to sense something, his smile vanished instantly, and he straightened up, looking warily ahead in the tunnel.
“Stop arguing, kids, come here quickly!”
“I’m not!” The girl muttered as she walked over, asking curiously, “What’s wrong, Connel?”
“Not yet?” Jiang Zhe also muttered as he walked over. He seemed to sense something as well and said softly, “Ahead… it seems…” Before he could finish, a flash of light suddenly appeared at the end of the tunnel. In that light, one could faintly see a dozen Gungro charging toward the three of them.
“Gungro?!” Even though she knew Connel was there, her voice still carried a hint of panic due to the fear from earlier.
But Connel’s gaze wasn’t on those Gungro—it was behind them…
“Lost lambs, sorrowful souls, may my Lord bless you. Lord, please grant your mercy and send angels to guide these pitiful souls to the gates of heaven. Amen!
All darkness will eventually be exposed in the light. The holy light will surely destroy the evil darkness. Lord, we are willing to be steel guns, willing to be sharp spears, to destroy the darkness in the world. Holy Cross, at this moment, please grant us the power to destroy darkness. Amen!
Those who uphold the Lord’s path never abandon His name. The Lord will open the gates before you; no one can close them…” A chant could be faintly heard at the end of the tunnel, but it didn’t seem like a spell…
Then—

“Swish swish!” Several lightning-like bursts of energy surged from the end of the tunnel. Those dozen or so Gargoyles didn’t even get a chance to scream—they turned to dust the moment they touched that force…
Ivo Beric’s prideful “excellent inferior products” were utterly helpless in the face of this energy…
“What is this? Magic?” Connel’s expression was grave; he sensed that the energy ahead could cause him serious harm.
“This is…” In response to the werewolf’s question, Ravia widened her eyes and murmured, “The Holy See’s white magic?”
“White magic?” The werewolf frowned. Just then, another beam of white light flashed from the end of the tunnel, like a bolt of lightning. Though the werewolf instinctively dodged, it still grazed his right arm.
Watching the white smoke rise from the wound on his right arm along with the hissing sound of burning, the werewolf disgustedly wiped it with his left hand. Instantly, as if darkness swallowed light, the wound healed…
“Hm? More?” A heartless voice came from the end of the tunnel. Along with it, three mysterious figures in blood-red robes appeared before them.
“Salonia’s white mages?” Ravia exclaimed in shock, then murmured, “It doesn’t seem quite like them… Who are you?”
Facing Ravia’s question, the lead among the three robed figures spoke calmly and without warmth, “Pagans, how dare you ask for our names…” With that, he hid himself entirely in his large blood-red cloak and turned his gaze toward the werewolf.
Those bright red magic robes and cloaks, along with the black runes on them—there was no mistake! They were members of the Holy See’s Inquisition, the Inquisitors known as Dark Priests!
“You… such profound darkness. Are you an apostle of darkness?”
Faced with the opponent’s undisguised hostility, the werewolf laughed harshly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but… you’d better not mess with me!”
“To be so rude toward God’s followers… unforgivable!” Though his words seemed angry, his tone carried no trace of irritation.
“Looks like a fight’s coming?” The werewolf chuckled. Whether it was against those Gargoyles or Jiang Zhe, this freed werewolf hadn’t really enjoyed fighting. Due to the werewolf blood in his veins, Connel always felt an uncontrollable desire for battle.

“You rude reader of gods! Let the believers of God grant you eternal destruction… Amen!” The leading Inquisitor stretched out his pure white hands from the sleeves of his long robe and raised them high, as if praying to the gods.
“What kind of prayer is that?” With that remark, followed by Ravia’s cry of shock, a wave of air surged where the werewolf stood, and instantly, his figure disappeared from that spot.
“Bang!” In the blink of an eye, the leading Inquisitor was struck by the werewolf’s powerful fist. Accompanied by a spreading wave of force, the Inquisitor crashed into the tunnel beside them and sank deep inside.
“Such a weakling!” Connel also felt surprised as he said this.
But to his surprise, the man who had been thrown into the tunnel rocks by the powerful fist stood up carelessly, brushed off the debris and dust from his clothes, and said with an irritating tone of pity, “Poor wretches, you will never understand the greatness of the Lord. We serve our Lord; we are believers of God, eternal beings who will never be destroyed…”
“Oh?” The werewolf chuckled coldly. “Immortality? Interesting…”
“No! Connel…” Ravia, who had started to shout, suddenly realized what she was doing and changed her tone, saying, “Don’t attack!” Then she called out to the three Inquisitors, “Are you the respected White Mages of the Church? Please stop! We’re not suspicious people at all…”
But what responded to her words was the Inquisitor’s almost frenzied monologue.
“We are believers of the Lord. Attacking us is an insult to the Lord! Heretics… unforgivable!”
As they spoke, the three Inquisitors raised their heads at the same time and chanted loudly, “Holy Cross, please grant us the power to destroy darkness!” As soon as they finished speaking, the crosses hanging around their chests burst out with a dazzling light. At the same time, the black symbols and spells embroidered on their robes seemed to come to life, emitting golden light.
“Agents of darkness! Let us grant you equal destruction!” The three Inquisitors simply pointed at the three people in front of them, and instantly, three lightning-like beams shot out from their fingertips.
“Is that some kind of strange power?” Connel instinctively tried to dodge. He managed to avoid those lightning-like beams—truly worthy of being the most powerful werewolf in legend… no, a Gungro!
But after dodging, he realized something was wrong…
Damn it, those two brats…

“Huh?” With hardly any chance to react, Jiang Zhe was struck by those three lightning-like beams.
“Sos? No!” Lavia screamed in panic. The unknown bear inside the boy also possessed dark powers!
“No! Sos!” Holding tightly to the boy’s robe sleeve with one hand and covering her mouth with the other, Lavia was afraid that this ‘detestable guy’ would turn into dust like those Gungroes before.
A sense of inexplicable terror and despair overwhelmed Lavia, turning her usually strong self into an ordinary girl whose tears flowed uncontrollably.
But…
To everyone’s surprise, Jiang Zhe turned his head, touched his body, and stammered in confusion, “W-what happened? Just now… it seems I was struck by something like lightning?”
The only response was a long silence…
Everyone present stared at the boy in astonishment… especially the three Inquisitors…
Don’t think holy light is harmless other than against darkness. If that were the case, Salonia would have been conquered by the empire decades ago.
After being modified by Salonia’s white mages, holy light had become one of the most difficult spells to defend against. Why is it so hard to defend against? Because holy light has the ability to [penetrate]. Whether it’s blue magic or black magic, they can only weaken it, not completely defend against it.
The power of holy light is terrifying. Even solid rocks can be turned to dust in an instant. Ordinary people, if struck by powerful offensive holy light spells, would vanish in the bright light just like dark creatures. But now…
“Are… are you okay?” Finally, the girl broke the long silence in the tunnel, examining the boy’s body from head to toe, which made Jiang Zhe feel extremely awkward.
“What are you doing?”
“I…” Facing the boy’s strange gaze, Lavia’s face turned red instantly as she stammered, “Don’t… don’t misunderstand. I just… I just think it would be a shame if you died like this… Yes! That’s it…”
“Oh.” Jiang Zhe nodded in confusion, then turned to look at the werewolf and the three Inquisitors. They, like Lavia, were staring at him without blinking.

“Impossible…” the werewolf murmured. Regarding magic, he had only heard Ivan Beric, who studied him, mention a little about it. He knew that the so-called magic of today was far more powerful and terrifying than alchemy from hundreds of years ago. But confident in his own strength, Connel didn’t take it too seriously.
Until just now—when he was merely brushed by that lightning-like light—his right arm failed to heal on its own as usual. He didn’t know what kind of magic this was, but he realized it could cause him serious harm, or rather, serious harm to him as a dark creature.
Yet, that little brat also harbored a high-ranking great demon within him, yet those strange lights couldn’t cause him any harm at all. This… this made no sense at all!
Compared to the werewolf’s questioning and skeptical gaze, the three Inquisitors’ looks at Jiang Zhe were much hotter. Their original hostility seemed to have turned into friendliness as they huddled together, whispering about something.
“That pagan… isn’t afraid of the holy light…”
“Then he’s not a pagan. He’s like all children of the gods—our companion…”
“Is it the Lord’s will? Then…”
“We must not doubt the Lord’s will. He’s a kind child… not a pagan!”
“Mm, not a pagan!”
“Yes, not a pagan!”
Just as the three Inquisitors reached a consensus, in some unknown space, that giant beast was sleeping soundly, seemingly muttering something under its breath.
“Ugh, that annoying aura… trouble… can’t get out, trouble… even leaving would be troublesome… Yeah, everything’s troublesome… Sleeping is troublesome too… Snore… snore…”
The white mist that had long shrouded the beast seemed much thicker than before. Aside from that unknown beast still revealing half of its body, everything else was covered up, including that huge stone pillar that Jiang Zhe had seen not long ago…