Chapter 9: Preparations

Two years have passed since my first task from my Gospel. It's been largely an uneventful time. I've spent the vast majority of it on both magic and combat training. The search for my brother has come up completely empty and I'm becoming more restless. It's been two years since we were lost in that forest. What if he didn't make it out? What if he was eaten by one of those mabeasts? I hadn't considered the possibility at the time, but it's becoming an increasingly likely option. Prylla tried to reassure me that I'll find him and had started gathering contacts around the world to keep an eye out. I fear that will prove fruitless as well. I have no idea what he looks like or what his name is anymore. My only real clue is myself. We must have at least a few shared characteristics, right? The Gospel's my only chance of ever finding him again. That was something I knew as a fact.

The longer we spend apart the more anxious I've become. Drowning myself in books and training isn't working as well anymore. I've exhausted everything Sergei can teach me as I've reached El level in my three spells. My mana capacity has grown quite a bit since I began, which is helpful, especially Murak. A bird's eye view can make searching much easier. Pandora visited the Cathedral shortly after my first task to congratulate me. She told me about the Southern Cathedral that was overseen by Stride, the previous Sin Archbishop of Pride. Apparently on my tenth birthday I'm going to be heading to Vollachia to take it over and in the meantime I'm to follow my Gospel's guidance. In my free time Petelgeuse has started teaching me more about how they're run.

To put it simply: They aren't. In fact it really doesn't matter if I actually do anything there one way or another. That takes quite a load off my shoulders since I don't think I could actually manage something like that. I'd probably just tell Prylla to do it and she'd agree regardless of her personal feelings about it. I'm not sure if I actually like the amount of deference she gives me. I prefer it over Faust's blatant insubordination, but it's not quite what I'm looking for. He's become a larger thorn in my side over the past two years. I've been trying to reign him in by refusing to let him raid the Demon Villages which seems to get him under control.

I don't see the appeal in blatantly harming others frankly. I'll certainly defend myself if I'm attacked, but I don't think I'll ever seek it out. Faust enjoys it, so it's a fitting punishment. Faust's punishments also end up extending to his 'disciples' as they follow him everywhere. That I'm absolutely against, but he still views me as a child and refuses to obey. He's an active hindrance in my search which is unacceptable. The more time I spend disciplining him the less time I have to look for my brother. I'm just glad that Pandora decided to officially put him under my control since having him answering to another Archbishop was a problem.

Pandora also explained what the metia I collected was. It actually was a ring that belonged to Stride, the Scarlet Little Finger. It's a ring that casts a curse that rots a target's limbs. While that might be useful to someone else I find that quite repulsive sounding. I asked Petelgeuse for a box to store it in and I've been keeping it hidden in my room. Maybe I can use it to get Faust under control? Apparently from what I've managed to scrounge up on Stride he actually used it to hold someone's life hostage.

I let out a sigh as I sat at my desk with Stride's journal. I sent some cultists to collect some of his things from the Southern Cathedral for me. This included a peculiar mask with an anti-recognition enchantment. The appearance of the mask is rather unremarkable at first glance. White with a red dot in the center. Some grey lines formed a mouth and slits for the eyes. It was quite plain overall. Frankly it's surprising that anyone could even see with it on. However, when I tried it for myself my vision was as if it wasn't even on my face. In fact, I couldn't even feel the mask at all.

Anti-recognition cloaks aren't an uncommon item in the world, but they are expensive to get your hands on as the only person who can make them is Roswaal L. Mathers, a gifted sorcerer in Lugunica. If I could get him to teach me more about magic one day I'd be elated. Even if Roswaal created it I have no idea how Stride could've gotten his hands on it or if it even was his to begin with. The mask seemed too narrow for a man's face, so it was designed with a female in mind. Pondering this, however, will get me nowhere.

I shut the journal and stood up from my desk. Walking to the door I opened it and began the trek to the training hall. This was a routine I performed daily. I would spend the first few hours after waking reading through whatever struck my fancy at the time then I'd join my subordinates in the training hall. The training hall itself hadn't changed much in the past two years. If anything the only real changes were the occasional replacement of the training dummies which I stopped using about a year ago. Faust, Sergei, Sado, Fogg, and Prylla were already waiting for me as usual.

"Took you long enough." Faust grumbled as I approached the group.

"Hmph. You'll never kill another demon again with that attitude." I replied.

The four men had a melancholic expression on their faces. This was a usual pattern: he'd get snarky, then I refuse to let him kill demons, next he'll try to get physical, then Prylla steps in, and finally I reprimand him. I'm tired of it frankly, but today was different.

"Hey, master? Maybe we'd be better off listening to Lady Archbishop." Sado suggested.

Now this was unusual as Sado and Fogg typically never spoke in my presence.

"You'd be best to listen to your disciple Faust. He seems to have a head between his shoulders unlike yourself."

"Why the hell do I have to listen to this little brat?"

"Faust!" Prylla had an angry expression on her face, but I waved my hand for her to stand down. I'm sure she'd kill him if I didn't.

"It seems you still don't understand your position here Faust." I stepped towards him. "I wasn't the one who put you under my command. I would prefer it if you went and disappeared somewhere in Gusteko personally. You're rude, impulsive, and worst of all arrogant. You think that just because I'm younger than you that you shouldn't listen to me. You'll regret that soon enough."

Faust seemed to only get angrier as I spoke. I guess he's experiencing withdrawal symptoms. He is a murder addict after all.

"Hnk. I don't care what anyone says! I joined this cult to kill demons and that's the only reason. I don't give a damn about your stupid witch!" Faust yelled out.

That, however, crossed a line.

"Did you? Did you just… No… You couldn't be so foolish as to insult the Witch in my presence..." I was already three paces from Faust, but that didn't matter. I could reach him even if he was across the room. "Surely you don't think I'll be so kind as to let that comment go." I was fairly forgiving when it came to him, but if he's going to show such blatant disrespect I have no choice but to punish him.

"El vita." The second those words left my mouth, Faust's head slammed into the ground next to my left foot.

"Grah!" He let out a pained grunt as he tried to struggle against the weight I added to him which I promptly let go.

"Murak. El Vita." Rattling off the next two spells I reduced his weight while increasing my own as my foot struck him. His reduced weight combined with the increased force of my foot sent him flying into a wall and falling back to the ground. I walked over to where he landed to ensure I didn't accidentally kill him as that wasn't my intention.

"Hah- Hah- It hurts..." Faust was panting on the ground gripping his right arm with his left hand. It seems the bone snapped when he hit the wall. Nothing a doctor couldn't fix.

"Now are you going to be good and listen from now on?" I leaned down next to his ear.

"Y-"

"I can't hear you."

"Y- Y- Ye… Yes." He finally managed to get out. I wasn't sure the actual extent of his injuries, but they were probably more than just a few shattered bones.

"Good. Heal him. Training is postponed for today." I gave my orders which they followed silently. Not a single person dared to speak. Prylla gave me a sidelong glance as she went to grab Faust and drag him off. I could barely make out a slight smile on her face.

I returned to my room once again and sprawled out on my bed. I'm frustrated to say the least. He forced my hand. I didn't want to hurt him if I could help it, but I did what had to be done. I got up and grabbed my Gospel from my desk to leaf through it once again. That Vollachia vision was most likely something that takes place after I turn ten, so I could disregard it for now. A new page had appeared recently which I promptly flipped to once again.

The room faded and I was now in a village. Around me were torrents of fire and smoke. Bodies littered the ground and in front of me were two children one with blue hair and another with red hair. It was nighttime as I looked around me. I presumed this must be the final Demon village which Faust had been itching to attack for a long time now. Maybe if I set him loose he'd relax a bit? It doesn't matter either way the village is meant to be destroyed soon. I was going to start travel preparations soon anyway, and he just had to pull today's stunt which will set our time table back a few days. Truly disappointing. I had no real intention of bothering with the village, but that was before I had looked at the writing in my Gospel. Kararagi Border. Destroy the Demon Clan.

I finally had something to do other than sit around and train all day. While it did state to destroy them it doesn't say how I have to have to do it. So, I figured I'll stand nearby to oversee operations while I let Faust have his fun for once. You need to throw your dog a bone every once in a while after all. I'm sure he'd actually start listening out of his own will if I did. A few days passed and Faust was treated for his injuries making a full recovery. I called the group together to give the announcement. Now they were lined up in a single file line in the training room as I stood in front of them.

"I understand that you've been waiting patiently for the day you finally get to finish the last of the Demon Clan. My Gospel has revealed our next task to me. We are setting off to the Kararagi border to destroy the remnants of the Demon Clan once and for all." I paced back and forth in front of the line. Faust's expression lit up as I said we were finishing off the Demon Clan. I think this is the first time I've seen Sergei smile as well. Sado and Fogg had their hoods on so I don't know what was going on in their heads. Prylla had a complicated expression on her face.

In one week we are setting off. The trip is going to take roughly six weeks to get to the border, so a total of thirteen weeks or barely three months. In three months the end of the Demon Clan is in sight. I wish it didn't have to come to this, but I must follow the Gospel's guidance.

To reunite with my brother.