Episode 113: The Cursed One
Yohan broke through the defensive line set up by the martial officers, scanning his surroundings.
-Kiaaaak!
-Kieeek!
The beasts swarmed around him, rushing forward to drink his blood and tear into his flesh.
Wuuung!
Yohan extended his hand indifferently. As he clenched the empty air, the bodies of the beasts twisted in midair, grotesquely crumpling.
Crack!
The sound of bones shattering was followed by an explosion of crimson blood.
It was a technique combining psychokinesis and mana manipulation.
‘Francia.’
Yohan’s eyes widened as he searched for her. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his breath grew ragged, and his gaze turned sharper.
He had reached the center where the infirmary was located, but Francia was nowhere to be seen. His fingertips trembled-anxiety gnawed at him.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind.
The ceaseless pounding of hooves, the beasts’ shrill screams, and the frantic beating of his own heart formed a chaotic rhythm.
‘Damn it.’
Where had she gone?
If she had fled, she would have joined the martial officers…
-KRAAAAAH! FRANCIA FERVACHEEE!!
Just then, a rough, metallic roar shook the forest. Though it was clearly a human voice, it was closer to the shrieks of the beasts.
‘Francia?’
Yohan’s brow furrowed. The voice was a disturbing mix of human and beast, yet it had called Francia’s name. Questions surged within him, but he pushed them aside for later.
‘I’ll head toward the roar.’
His grip on the reins tightened.
His horse galloped forward, brushing past the beasts.
-Kiaaak!
-Kiraaak!
The creatures pursued him. Yohan only eliminated those he couldn’t ignore. He clenched the air and twisted his wrist.
Crunch! The beasts’ bodies distorted, ready to burst. Thick blood splattered, and the air reeked of molten metal.
As he cut across the battlefield, a foreboding and sinister energy enveloped him. At the heart of that ominous aura stood Francia.
“…Francia?”
At Yohan’s call, she slowly turned her head. Her previously cold expression instantly softened.
“Yohan…!”
Her voice carried both relief and fear. Francia staggered toward him and threw herself into his arms.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes… I’ve exhausted quite a bit of mana, though.”
Despite her reassurance, Yohan examined her carefully. There were no visible injuries. Her breathing and pulse were steady, and her mana remained stable.
Relief spread through him. He had been plagued by the fear that something had happened to her, but now that he saw she was safe, the tension within him eased.
“That’s a relief. But… what is this aura? It feels ominous…”
Yohan glanced around warily. The sinister energy made his skin tingle. Even the beasts refused to approach this place.
“It’s a long story. For now, could you look over there?”
Francia pointed with her trembling finger.
There, engulfed in dark energy, stood Cain Luhar-his human form lost.
‘That bastard.’
Yohan’s expression twisted. The man had seized the moment while they were repairing the rift to approach Francia. It was a lapse in judgment. He should have assigned someone to watch him.
“Archbishop Cain… suddenly turned into a beast.”
“Could it be the Curse of Beastification?”
“Yes. I’m certain of it.”
The Curse of Beastification.
A curse that transforms its victims into demonic beasts.
“…So he walked the path of forbidden magic.”
“Exactly.”
Ordinary people wouldn’t be afflicted by such a curse. They had no opportunity to encounter it.
To fall victim to this curse, one had to willingly walk the path of dark magic.
“This matter is not something we can decide on our own. The Archbishop has walked the path of dark magic…”
A shadow fell over Yohan’s eyes. He had no idea that Cain Luhar had been cursed with beastification. When he had read the original story, he had simply assumed Cain was drawn to Francia because of her innate constitution.
‘Was there such a secret?’
He immediately understood why Cain had been so obsessed with Francia and why he had approached her.
The purification power Francia possessed was the only way to lift the curse he had brought upon himself through the dark arts.
“I’ll check his condition first.”
“Alright.”
Yohan activated both Eternal Flow Technique and Omniscient Perception to their limits, focusing entirely on Francia. Even if a special-grade demonic beast were to suddenly appear and attack, he would have no trouble handling it.
“…”
Cain Luhar’s skin was as pale as a corpse, with thin veins protruding visibly. His breathing was irregular, as if it could stop at any moment, and his mana was raging violently, as if barely holding his body together.
Most disturbing of all, his eyes were darkening into pure blackness.
‘At this level, he should already be dead…’
Yet, despite the effects of beastification, he was still alive. In fact, his life force and mana were overflowing unnaturally.
‘What should I do? Should I deal with him here and now?’
In the short term, the best option was to eliminate Cain Luhar on the spot and make it look like an accident. After all, they were in a demonic lair—no one would find it suspicious if something happened here.
But in the long term, revealing the curse and ensuring his complete downfall in the eyes of society was the better choice. That way, no suspicions would arise, and many troublesome issues could be resolved at once.
As Yohan was deep in thought—
“Ah! Saint Yohan—! Do not worry! I, Arbella, have slain five special-grade demonic beasts and have come to rescue both you and the Obsidian Saintess!”
Arbella had arrived as backup. She was covered in blood, yet she was smiling brightly.
To have already taken down five special-grade demonic beasts… She might seem eccentric, but her skills were undeniable.
‘It seems looking at the long-term was the right choice.’
She had arrived sooner than expected, which meant sparing Cain had been the correct decision. If he had gone for a finishing blow, things would have only gotten more complicated.
“Hmm…? But what is this situation? Why is Archbishop Cain surrounded by such an ominous aura and collapsed on the ground? It feels like dark magic…”
Arbella looked between Yohan, Francia, and the fallen Cain before asking.
“Archbishop Cain has been cursed with beastification. The reason five special-grade demonic beasts suddenly appeared is because they were drawn to his aura.”
The aura of dark magic stimulates demonic beasts. At their core, they are fundamentally connected. That is why dark mages often use demonic beasts to commit crimes.
Cain Luhar’s aura was so powerful that lower-grade demonic beasts had been unable to approach—only special-grade ones had gathered.
“That…! Is it my lack of comprehension? I have no idea what you are saying! Even if you are a Saint, I cannot allow you to slander an Archbishop of the Holy Kingdom!”
Arbella’s expression twisted slightly. It was only natural that she found it hard to believe.
After all, in the Holy Kingdom, the curse of beastification was considered the most terrifying divine punishment.
And yet, the Archbishop—the one who should be the holiest and most sacred—had fallen to such a curse? It was unthinkable.
“…You may find it hard to believe, but it is the truth. He tried to devour me, coveting my purification power.”
Francia spoke with a firm expression. Her voice carried unmistakable resolve.
“Ugh…!”
Arbella closed her eyes tightly, rubbing her chin. She was clearly troubled. It was difficult to accept, yet the dark energy surging from Cain Luhar was undeniable.
“This will be a long discussion. Let’s talk in detail later and return for now.”
Arbella clenched her fist and nodded.
“A wise decision! This is the heart of a demonic lair, after all!”
Yohan lifted Francia into his arms, then used telekinesis to restrain the unconscious Cain Luhar, making him float in midair.
“Let’s go. The lair has been sealed.”
***
Thanks to their efficient handling of the biggest variables—the special-grade demonic beasts—there were no casualties.
And with many priests from the Holy Kingdom present, the wounded had only suffered minor injuries.
Thus, the first expedition of the Purification Bureau could be considered a success.
…Though there were still some lingering issues.
“Archbishop Cain has succumbed to beastification?!”
Inside the detention center of Rehern Territory, The commander of the Holy Knights, Rassen, widened his eyes in shock, his entire body expressing his disbelief.
“Yes… He claimed my magic was special and tried to devour me. When I attempted to escape, he transformed into a beast and attacked…”
Francia trailed off, a small tear trickling down her cheek.
Though her tears were fake, it didn’t matter. The truth remained that Cain Luhar had made an outrageous demand and succumbed to beastification.
“My god.”
“The Archbishop has been beastified…?”
“That can’t be true!”
“There must be some mistake!”
The Holy Knights and priests surrounded Cain Luhar, their reactions only natural. It was hard to believe that one of the most revered archbishops in the Holy Kingdom had turned into a beast.
“…We can confirm it through a test.”
Francia had expected this reaction. That’s why she pulled out the dagger she had kept hidden in her robes. A soft, golden light shimmered along its blade.
“That is…?”
“The Light of Judgment?”
“How does she have that…?”
As the Holy Knights and priests murmured in confusion at the rare sight of such holy light, Francia stepped toward Cain Luhar, who was bound in magic-restraining chains.
Fwoosh!
As the distance between them closed, the golden light surrounding the dagger flared even brighter.
“Kuaaahhh!”
Cain Luhar, who had been unconscious just moments ago, screamed as his eyes snapped open. His shadow writhed, and black energy rose from his body.
That could only mean one thing.
“The curse of beastification!”
“So it’s true…?”
“Did he make a pact with a demon?!”
“He deceived us…!”
With undeniable evidence before them, the Holy Knights and priests erupted in furious shouts. Their voices carried the sting of betrayal and the fury it fueled.
The cursed energy emanating from Cain Luhar and his reaction to the Light of Judgment proved beyond doubt that he had walked the path of dark magic.
“Archbishop Cain…! How could you walk the path of dark magic?! You were meant to be the most devout among us!”
“Kugh…!”
Arbella, her body wrapped in radiant holy power, grabbed Cain Luhar by the collar. He could do nothing but groan, writhing in agony from the Light of Judgment.
“Answer me immediately! If you don’t, I, Arbella, will exercise my authority as the Saintess and personally deliver judgment upon you! I will break your cheekbone!”
“Ugh…”
Though she shouted with all her might, Cain, consumed by dark energy, remained unresponsive.
“Since he refuses to speak! As the representative of Lady Freya and the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, I will now pass judgment on Cain Luhar!”
Just as Arbella clenched her fist and raised her arm-
“…Enough.”
Rassen, who had been silently observing, raised his hand.
“It is clear that Archbishop Cain has walked the path of dark magic and, in doing so, has been cursed with beastification. His extreme reaction to the Light of Judgment is proof enough.”
Rassen, whose face usually bore a gentle smile, now had a cold and rigid expression.
Crackle!
White holy energy surged from his body in fierce waves.
“As the commander of the Holy Knights, I hereby order the immediate execution of Cain Luhar.”
“Wait.”
Just as Rassen reached for his sword, Yohan stepped forward toward Cain Luhar.
Rumble…
A strange pressure filled the detention center. The very air seemed to tremble.
Even Arbella, whose power surpassed that of a special-class knight, felt the crushing weight of mana pressing down on her shoulders.
“I will personally execute Cain Luhar. That fool dared to lay hands on my fiancée.”
By all rights, it was the Holy Knight commander’s duty to carry out the execution. However, neither the Holy Knights nor the priests could protest. Yohan’s anger was so palpable, their tongues felt frozen.
“If anyone has objections, speak now.”
Yohan’s deep blue eyes gleamed ominously.
Before his wrath, not a single soul dared to utter a word.