Volume 1, Chapter 54 – Ambush

Using a strange footwork that wouldn’t draw attention, the four slipped into the crowd, disguising themselves as spectators standing beneath the stage.

“If not for a hero’s intervention yesterday, dozens, perhaps even hundreds of us would have fallen under the hands of the Darkborn. As fellow humans, why do you side with the Darkborn and slaughter your own kind?!”

Although the priest shouted at the people behind him who were afflicted with Darkborn disease, not a single one answered. It wasn’t that they dared not speak, but that they had been fed a magical drug before going on stage, one that temporarily robbed them of the ability to think. With temple guards watching over them as well, it was impossible for them to respond.

Knowing the truth, the priest softened his tone and continued.

“The Goddess of Life is merciful. If you are willing to reveal the hiding places of other Darkborn and abandon your contracts with them, I may grant you forgiveness in Her name.”

Naturally, the three remained silent.

After waiting in vain, the priest’s expression sharpened.

“Unrepentant, are you? Faithful of the Goddess of Life, how should we deal with these treacherous sinners who refuse to repent?”

“Kill them!”

“They must be killed!”

“Don’t let them spread the Darkborn plague to us!”

Stirred by the priest, the crowd roared in unison. For people who already had to struggle desperately just to keep their families alive, religion was their only solace. None would question what the Darkborn plague truly was, and even if someone occasionally did, the Church would marginalize them or snuff them out early.

Rеαⅾ oո KαtReαⅾingСafе

Let alone the fact that, for many, watching executions was entertainment in itself.

With the support of the faithful, the next part of the script was simple.

The priest had the temple soldiers bring out silver trays engraved with the Church’s crest, declaring them talismans blessed by the bishop. An amulets that, once worn, would protect against Darkborn temptation. But since the number was limited, not everyone could have one. Only those who offered their devout hearts to the Goddess of Life could obtain them.

Of course, “offering a devout heart” meant nothing more than paying money. Yet even so, the believers scrambled desperately for the charms, terrified of becoming one of the Darkborn themselves.

Once the chaos of the scramble ended, it was time for the execution of the plague victims. By then, the temple soldiers had already pressed a man’s head onto the guillotine.

“Tch.”

From the crowd, Calista clicked her tongue heavily.

“Calista, we can’t just stand here. Ordinary people don’t know the truth, but we do—these people are innocent.”

“Of course I know they’re innocent. But didn’t you see those soldiers? And even if we dealt with them, what then? The Unsinkable Moon has locked down Aurora City, we can’t leave.”

“That’s still better than watching innocents be beheaded. With our strength, even if we can’t leave Aurora City, we can still find somewhere to hide, like the Elf Princess did. In a city this large, there must be somewhere for us. If we pretend not to see today, I know I’ll regret not saving those who should have been saved!”

Her companion’s words made a low growl rise in Calista’s throat. She frowned and turned to the other two.

Rеаԁ оո KαtRеαⅾіոɡСafе

“And you?”

“I joined the Eternal Daylight Mages to strike against the Church. As long as it’s against the Church, I have no objection.”

“Rescuing those deceived by the Church is one of our goals. The time is now.”

Three votes in agreement. There was no need to hesitate.

After scanning the square once more, Calista drew a deep breath.

“Then let’s move. Don’t aim to rescue those three—we only need to create chaos, to warn the Church not to go too far. There’s no way we could escape carrying three helpless people anyway. You two take the guards near the square, I’ll handle the ones on stage. If you encounter anyone troublesome, don’t hesitate—retreat to the western slums immediately. I’ll cover the rear.”

“Understood.”

Calista and her companions had done similar things before like raiding supply convoys bound for the Holy Nation, or ambushing bandit strongholds, they had gained some experience.

And then—

From the crowd, Calista drew a short staff from her storage magic and began chanting softly.

“[—Scatterfang Ice Spikes].”

A second-tier spell capable of area damage.

Rеad οո ΚαtRеaⅾiոɡСαfе

As her incantation ended, the air rang with the sound of water freezing into ice. In a single breath, a massive ice lance as thick as a tree trunk formed before her. Ignoring the frightened cries of the surrounding crowd, she directed the spear straight at the priest and temple guards on stage.

“An attacker!”

The vigilant temple soldiers immediately raised their shields before the priest, golden light of defensive magic shining upon them.

But Scatterfang Ice Spikes wasn’t merely a larger Ice Lance. Ten meters short of the soldiers, the giant spear suddenly shattered into countless shards and mist, raining across the stage.

Though it caused no real harm, it was more than enough to draw attention and block vision.

Stowing her staff back into storage magic, Calista drew her true weapon—a towering blood-red scythe taller than herself.

First, cut the ropes binding those three unfortunates. Then, kill the priest who riled the crowd. Lastly, find a place to hide.

With her plan set, Calista gathered strength in her legs and vaulted onto the platform, bypassing the shield-bearing temple knights in one bound.

But just as she twisted to swing her scythe at the priest, a fierce sense of danger suddenly flared from her side.

On instinct, she glanced toward it and saw a sharp spear thrusting into her vision, wielded by a seasoned knight with cold, unyielding eyes.

There was actually a paladin on the stage!

Read on КαtReadіոɡСаfе

It was a trap set by the Church.

No time to dodge.

Yet before Calista could close her eyes to accept death, a thunderous explosion erupted at her side, blazing fire bursting forth.

Boom!

The shockwave hurled her away, while the veteran knight at the blast’s center was forced to halt his attack.

As she adjusted her landing midair, Calista watched helplessly as fireballs, seemingly from nowhere, hurtled towards the Paladin. And then another, and another. Arcing in perfect parabolas, relentless, leaving no moment to breathe.

She didn’t count them precisely, but there were at least ten.

Using her scythe’s tip to brace against the ground, Calista landed steadily.

Could there really be an anti-Church squad of spellcasters hiding in Aurora City? A squad meant at least thirty people—how had they gathered without being noticed?

Shock welled up within her. As a member of Eternal Daylight Mages, she knew full well just how difficult it was for dozens of mages to cast in unison, linking their spells together in such harmony. Without long-term training and practice, such perfect coordination was impossible.