Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 208

Chapter 208. Hunting the Bishop (2)

"It's to put an end to an old bond."

It was Rinne who questioned the words of the Sword Saint, Hayden Reich.

However, after a bit of thought, she understood what he ant by 'old bond'.

'Pursuit of the Dawn Society.'

The Sword Saint.

She had heard that the reason he pursued the Dawn Society was to track down an individual nad Tenelon, the remnants of an organization that killed his family in the past.

For revenge, quite like her own.

Because of this, Rinne felt a kinship with her master, Hayden. Perhaps Hayden felt the sa and took her as his apprentice.

"Sebion, join the other Followers and stand by."

"What?"

"There might be sothing that cos up. As the acting Sword Saint, I entrust the Followers to you."

Sebion looked at Hayden, who was placing his trust in him, and nodded vigorously, as if he had sensed sothing.

"Understood!"

Determined to et Hayden's expectations, Sebion quickly ran towards the rendezvous point.

Now, staring at the fallen cult mbers, Rinne shifted her gaze towards Hayden.

"Master."

"What is it, Rinne?"

"I still don't understand what you are thinking."

Once they were alone, Rinne decided to be more upfront and try to uncover Hayden's true thoughts.

"You don't understand my thoughts?"

"Yes."

"Would it change anything if you did?"

"Even if it wouldn't, I still want to hear them."

Hayden gave a faint smile as Rinne expressed her intent clearly, unlike before.

"You've changed a lot. Originally, you wouldn't have objected to anything I did."

I could sowhat grasp what he was trying to say.

Originally, she had followed 'Hayden's' orders like a shadow, silently carrying them out.

"However, it seems now is not the ti for unnecessary words."

As Hayden spoke, a strong presence began to emanate from the alley.

Thunk, thunk──!

I sensed it simultaneously; figures wearing hoods appeared before us.

Even without scrutinizing them closely or asking, Rinne could tell they were mbers of the 'Dawn Society'.

"Really, my reputation seems to have diminished while I was away."

As Hayden assud his stance with his drawn sword, an overwhelming aura overwheld them.

***

"You an to head to the Genl Monastery as it is?"

The first to react to the implications of replacing the High Pontiff was Zahard.

Even though Zahard had only joined the 'Dawn Society' recently, he understood the structure of the cult.

I had also inford him about the position the 'Genl Monastery' held within the Dawn Society.

"A bad idea."

Perhaps due to this understanding, Zahard warned against my plan to resolve matters with the 'High Pontiff', calling it a bad idea.

"Even if we all here were to storm it, we couldn't possibly fend off the many cult mbers waiting there."

His reasoning was acceptable.

Though the number of mbers hiding within the Dawn Society was not entirely known, it was apparent that there were many.

"That's right! It's madness, Yulian!"

Felkhor also vehently began to agree with Zahard.

However, I had my counterpoint as well.

"No, I suspect there may not be as many people at the Genl Monastery."

Zahard is only aware of one aspect but not the other.

He knows much about the 'Dawn Society' but lacks understanding concerning the 'High Pontiff'.

"To utilize the cult mbers as sacrifices for the Demon God's Chalice, they must die."

For that purpose, the cult mbers must not be guarding the Genl Monastery but instead be sent out for a 'Bishop Hunt'.

In other words, unlike before, the Genl Monastery will be quite vacant.

"Do you have any proof?"

However, my confidence in this fact stemd from my experience in 〈Kill the Demon King〉.

When asked for proof.

"It's intuition."

It felt frustratingly like an absurd response.

"So, intuition, is it?"

Zahard let out a short sigh.

"Normally, I wouldn't partake in such unreliable claims, but... there were instances in the North where we navigated dangers in this manner."

"... It's true."

It seed from the way I had spoken like this until now, Zahard and Felkhor found so credence in my 'intuition.'

"... Finally."

While Zahard and Felkhor were nodding in understanding, Pintel's small soliloquy quietly filled the air.

Naturally, my attention shifted to Pintel.

'What's going on?'

This guy tended to tremble like that when sothing strange was about to happen.

"Yulian, have you finally resolved yourself?"

With an impassioned voice and bloodshot eyes, Pintel began to plead.

"It's not so much that I've resolved myself; it's more that the ti has co."

From the start, the thought of dealing with Tenelon was on my mind.

"Finally... Good, Sir Yulian!"

Clap──!

Pintel raised his hand and clapped loudly.

Thereupon, presences began to manifest around Genin's mansion.

'Who are these?'

What erged was a group of over ten suspicious figures.

"Hmm... So those lurking in the vicinity were them?"

It seed Zahard was aware of these lurkers with his unique 'aura'.

"They weren't hiding. You were unable to deal with all the demons, so these n were tasked with it."

Tsk, Pintel clicked his tongue and threw a piercing look at Zahard.

"Because you didn't deal with them properly, Sir Yulian almost had to act again, didn't he?"

Zahard shrugged once with a shoulder receiving Pintel's gaze and looked at .

More accurately, though his eyes couldn't see, his deanor conveyed, 'What's he talking about?'

"Who are they?"

To change the subject, I inquired about the people gathered, addressing Pintel. As though he was waiting for it, Pintel began to speak.

"They're a newly ford group ant to guard Sir Yulian, 'Twilight'."

"Twilight...?"

As I let out a brief sigh, Pintel's face bead.

"How do you find them? I've hand-picked talented individuals under my purview. Are you pleased?"

"Hmm..."

Am I pleased?

'Are you out of your mind!?'

Organizing a private militia not for the family but solely for an individual's benefit.

And not just anyone—soone from a royal-exclusive agency like the Blind Eyes forming a private force? Unthinkable.

If the Imperial Court were to find out about this...

I would undoubtedly be reprimanded as if attempting to bring spring to the imperial capital with this move.

"Sir Yulian, well done, indeed."

"... What are you talking about?"

"Revolution if successful, treason if failed!"

We are discussing the Dawn Society, right?

"These individuals will remain loyal to Sir Yulian's words. They'll kill if ordered to kill and die if ordered to die."

"That's comndable."

"Twilight and I will assist you, Sir Yulian, ensuring the Dawn Society's history is rewritten!"

"No."

Naturally, I chose to decline Pintel's suggestion.

'There are over 10 individuals just in plain sight.'

If Pintel's proud assertions hold weight, there must be far more than the visible number of 'Twilight' mbers.

Otherwise, there's no way he'd dare boast so.

"S-Sir Y- Yulian... Why?"

"Sir Pintel and the Twilights will be given tasks only they can accomplish."

"...which are?"

"From now on, eliminate the society mbers and protect the bishops from the attacks."

"Yes!?"

His tone questioned the aning behind my words.

"Even if the High Pontiff perishes, the Dawn Society must persist."

Otherwise, the waste won't overflow.

"For that, the presence of the bishops are necessary."

"... Simultaneously forging a debt, to further solidify Sir Yulian's standing, I presu!"

That, too, is part of the purpose. However,

'Once the High Pontiff falls, I'll leave the Dawn Society with Eleanor and slip away.'

Strengthening my position would be nice, but it is also a strategy for ensuring silence remains.

"You've run across the capital, convincing the bishops against , haven't you?"

"Th- That's true."

"By borrowing your hand, even the bishops who opposed

might change their stance."

Speaking in a trusting tone, I nodded while facing Pintel.

"Sir Pintel, this task can only be accomplished by you."

"Exclusively by ..."

He nodded in confirmation.

"I understand, Sir Yulian! I shall lead the Twilights and safeguard the bishops!"

To fulfill the trust placed in him, Pintel began summoning 'Twilight'.

Afterward, Pintel and those he gathered vanished into the shadows of the capital.

"... He's lost it."

Once their presence faded entirely, Zahard mumbled to himself as if finding it absurd.

I felt the sa.

"Then, shall we also move?"

Calming my sowhat chaotic mind, I spoke as Zahard nodded.

Shortly, Zahard, Felkhor, and I began heading towards the Genl Monastery.

***

Rinne, following without hesitation in the footsteps of her master, Hayden, asked,

"Master, where are we headed?"

Leading the way, Hayden turned in response to Rinne's inquiry and answered.

"To et the leader of the Dawn Society."

"... The leader?"

"Yes."

"Did you know where he was all along, master?"

Rinne was taken aback by Hayden's words.

While 'Followers' gathered under the Sword Saint's na were many, there were also plenty assembled to uproot the 'Dawn Society'.

And now, to hear that the founder of the 'Followers', the Sword Saint, actually knew where the leader of the Dawn Society was?

"Yes, he was always within the capital."

"Why didn't you share that information?"

"Rinne, every matter cos with its own ti to bear fruit."

With a gentle tone that seed to explain, Hayden's deanor left Rinne visibly perplexed.

"That's no answer, master."

"... Oh, really?"

With a nod, Hayden halted montarily.

An atmosphere suggesting he wanted to say sothing. But his lips never parted.

Because once more, he began sensing the intent to harm directed towards him and his apprentice.

"It's endless. The empire truly is rotting."

Swish──!

Accompanying the Sword Saint's murmur, two shadows leaped down from a building rooftop.

The ominous glints of a sword and a dagger caught both Hayden's and Rinne's eyes, leading them to swiftly counter the surprise attack with their already unsheathed swords.

In the alley thick with darkness, sparks flew wildly.

"Hah!"

Rinne, shouting as she cleaved through a startled cult mber, quickly scanned her surroundings, searching for other cult mbers' locations.

What caught Rinne's attention.

"Keheuk, cough...!"

Was the Sword Saint wheezing blood.

"Master!"

Although the ambush was quickly subdued, the Sword Saint's condition appeared concerning.

As though experiencing so internal injury. Though devoid of external wounds, he repeatedly coughed up blood and trembled violently.

The society mbers, not missing this opportunity, charged in.

"So, it's true you're in poor health, as the High Pontiff said!"

"You fool! Why did you return to the capital?"

Unlike the clumsy ones earlier, these cult mbers swiftly closed the gap, utilizing the walls for montum.

'These bastards...!'

They were strong.

Spotting individuals who seed to have the prowess of 'Monsignor' level, Rinne glanced nervously between the Sword Saint and the cult mbers.

While not unable to claim victory, protecting the master in a questionable state elevated the challenge.

'Even so.'

I would prevail.

Just as she was steeling herself, a flash of swordsmanship akin to lightning struck down upon the cult mber leaping off the wall.

"Aaaaargh!"

As a cultist fell to the ground with a wretched scream, the remaining cult mber turned around in shock.

Yet again.

They were struck down by a bolt of lightning.

"Keheuk... I never wanted my disciples to witness such a disgraceful state."

Recognizing the familiar swordsmanship, Rinne heaved a sigh of relief. Hayden, too, stopped his coughing and directed his attention towards the Sword Saint who subdued the cult mbers.

"Worry not. Since leaving the capital, you've always been a disgrace."