The Successor of the Saint Does Not Fight - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Saint Who Would Surpass Even the Holy Saint

Those of us who grew up in privileged surroundings, like me, have never experienced the sound of gunshots up close.

The closest encounter I’ve had with gunfire was during ceremonies in the holy city, where blank shots were occasionally fired…

So, I couldn’t immediately grasp what was happening.

“Stay still.”

Dozel raised his right arm as if signaling, and the holy knights, armed with their long guns, took aim.

The recent gunshot seemed more like a warning, with only one person directing the barrel toward the sky.

“Especially you, Lady Meril. If you make the slightest move, I’ll slaughter all of your beloved subordinates.”

“Hmph.”

I struggled to process the unfolding situation.

Why was this rural priest threatening me?

Why were the holy knights, who should be kneeling before me, aiming countless barrels in my direction?

“You are truly… truly putting on a shameless act. If you’ve seen through it to that extent, you already know. I, who authored the initial investigation report of the incident, am also an accomplice to the fraud.”

A cold sweat broke out all over my body.

I hadn’t contemplated such a possibility at all.

After all, if I had even the slightest suspicion about Dozel, I wouldn’t have nonchalantly accompanied him to the mountain pass in the middle of the night. W

hile I was still feeling disoriented, one of the recovered underlings shouted at the holy knights.

“Y-You insolent fools! Holy knights serving God should never point guns at Lady Meril. It’s absolutely unacceptable!”

Instead of a response, gunfire ensued.

The underling, who had threatening bullets fired at his feet, lost his resolve and crumpled on the spot.

“Ah, these guys are just failed mercenaries. They couldn’t bring in actual reinforcements within a day or two. And when I talked to my benefactor, about the ‘smart saint possibly uncovering the fraud,’ they quickly put this plan together.”

“S-So, it’s just that. Do you believe you can oppose me?”

Confronting murderous intent from humans, instead of demons, was beyond my expectations.

Almost in a panic, I resorted to a desperate bluff.

“Sure, I won’t be able to stand against you. However, taking care of that group of insignificant followers is a rather straightforward task.”

My group consisted of around ten people.

In contrast, the fallen mercenaries, not holy knights, numbered more than twenty.

What’s more, none of us had any combat experience; we were all inexperienced novices.

If they chose to attack us, we would likely be wiped out in less than a minute.

“So, Lady Meril, how about we make a deal?”

“A deal…?”

“Yes. Now that my plans have been exposed, I have no choice but to break free from the church’s influence. Could you please overlook this situation? If you do, I’ll guarantee the lives of your subordinates.”

I nodded vigorously, knowing that my life hung in the balance..

I didn’t care much about the lives of my underlings, but saving my own life, much heavier, under these conditions, was my top priority.

Just letting them go was a small price to pay, with no reason to refuse. However, the underlings protested.

“Don’t joke…! Lady Meril! Please, forget about us and just fight!”

“Excuse us from becoming a burden!”

Foolish idiots saying unnecessary things.

Even when we were about to be let off unharmed.

If you’re so eager to fight, then take the lead and protect me as a human shield.

I silenced the underlings with a wave of my hand and addressed Dozel.

“I understand. Then, please leave this place immediately.”

“I’d love to do that, but you see, even if we escape now, won’t you chase after us on your own after a while? If that happens, we won’t stand a chance.”

I am absolutely not chasing anyone.

Just crying and trembling right here, waiting for rescue.

“So, I need assurance. Assurance that we can safely escape from you.”

Saying that, Dozel glanced back at the mercenaries.

One of them retrieved a steel shackle from his backpack.

Thick and heavy, it unmistakably resembled something used to restrain a wild beast, not a human.

“Could you wear this? One on each limb. With those weights, even you wouldn’t find tracking us easy.”

I wonder what they think of me.

If I’m not chained like a wild beast, do they see me as a monster capable of chasing down mercenaries and turning it into a bloodbath?

It’s truly outrageous.

That’s what a monster would be like, right?

I glanced sideways at the White Wolf.

He was still sitting inside the barrier and he stared at me intently.

No, there was a change in his expression.

The moment our eyes met, the White Wolf ever so slightly curled up the corner of his mouth, as if mocking.

(This beast… he’s enjoying watching humans fight against each other…)

I almost lost my temper.

Expecting reason from such a grotesque demon would be foolish, but the thought of him reveling in my agony made me furious.

Giving in to anger, with a somewhat indifferent mood, I reluctantly put on the ankle shackles, followed by the handcuffs.

“Yes! Are you satisfied now? I can’t move anymore, so please feel free to escape!”

“Yes, thank you.”

Dozel raised his right hand again.

I thought it might be a signal to withdraw, but…

“…Huh?”

All the mercenaries with their poised long guns were now aiming at me.

Dozel informed me with an expression I couldn’t quite grasp.

“Please forgive me. Even if we were to escape somewhere, no one would accept an old man like me without a gift.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“There are surprisingly many people who dislike the church. Your head would be the perfect gift for such individuals.”

Several of the underlings who realized the situation tried to rush out in a panic.

However, it was too late. Dozel’s signal for firing was much faster.

“Well done, Meril Klein.”

A thunderous roar shook the surroundings. However, it wasn’t the sound of gunfire.

The demonic White Wolf, who had slid in front of me in an instant, swept away all the mercenaries with a swing of his foreleg.

He didn’t directly reach them with his claws.

However, the shockwave that tore through the air effortlessly sent the fallen mercenaries flying, slamming into trees and the ground, rendering them unconscious.

“Why…”

The only one who stood away from the mercenaries, Dozel, maintained consciousness, but he trembled in astonishment.

I, too, turned towards the barrier in confusion.

There was a large hole in the barrier that had imprisoned the White Wolf, and it was collapsing with a rattling sound.

…Huh? Why is he nonchalantly escaping right now?

Probably, Dozel and I shared the exact same question simultaneously.

And in response, the White Wolf spoke triumphantly.

“Foolish man. You’ve been manipulated by this girl all along.”

“What…?”

Dozel, with a pale face, turned to me, but I really didn’t understand what was going on.

Chuckling with amusement, the wolf continued.

“Let me tell you, this girl never intended to imprison me from the beginning. She intentionally set up a barrier as fragile as thin paper. When I saw that barrier, I felt like she said to me, ‘I know you’re innocent. Hold on there for a while.'”

I never thought such a thing.

I was actually trying my hardest to punish you, demon.

“I was planning to see how you would prove my innocence… but I never expected you would bring the real culprit right in front of me. It’s nothing short of splendid.”

“You, you’re foolish…”

Dozel collapsed.

The White Wolf glared at him, then turned away, looking uninterested.

“I’d like to tear him apart, but… Girl, I see you don’t enjoy death, right? I’ve also made sure to show mercy to those I knocked down.”

“Eh, uh, yes.”

I didn’t particularly care about Dozel’s life, but I didn’t want to witness a gruesome scene unfolding before me.

After that, with a swift swipe of his unstoppable claws, the White Wolf effortlessly destroyed my handcuffs and ankle shackles.

The speed of the White Wolf’s actions was so fast that I didn’t even have time to feel fear, but I belatedly thought.

“If this dog’s movements had been slightly off, wouldn’t he have torn me to shreds? Too careless for a creature like this.”

“However, girl, you successfully carried out your plan, but I can’t praise the way it concluded. Why did you entrust the task of dealing with those guys to me?”

“Leave…?”

“You sent a signal with your eyes.”

Ah, yes.

He did smirk when our eyes met.

Did he interpret that as a signal?

“As capable as you are, there should have been plenty of ways to overcome that situation. I thought the handcuffs were sturdy, but judging by how easily I tore them, you could have destroyed them effortlessly. Why pretend to be powerless and entrust the final move to me?”

“Uh, well…”

It wasn’t pretending to be powerless.

I was truly powerless and didn’t know what to do.

However, I couldn’t disclose this truth.

If he discovered my true vulnerability and incompetence, this demonic beast might attack me on the spot.

I didn’t have the luxury of contemplating reasons or excuses any longer, and these words that instinctively came out of my mouth.

“I didn’t think you were a malicious demon! I thought you would help me!”

It was a childish and naive emotional argument.

I entrusted him because I thought he would help me.

With my current overwhelmed brain, that was the only thought that crossed my mind.

After hearing my painful explanation, the White Wolf snorted.

“Girl, you should reconsider the meaning of the word ‘demon.'”

“Ngh…”

He was openly mocking me. Well, indeed, describing him as ‘not a bad demon’ was a contradiction in itself.

In that moment, the underlings, who had been bewildered, finally regained their senses and approached.

“Um… Lady Meril.”

“Oh, everyone. If you’re safe, let’s quickly return to the town…”

“We were deeply moved!”

“Huh?”

They rushed in like an avalanche and knelt before me, crying not out of fear but out of inspiration for some reason.

“This is what Miss Meril meant by becoming a ‘Saint that would surpass even the Holy Saint’! Instead of exorcizing the demon, you’ve made it your subordinate…”

“With Lady Meril’s power and the demon who now serves her, no challenges remain for us!”

Amidst the cheers and excitement of my subordinates, I immediately widened my eyes and objected.

“No! It’s not about defeating or having underlings! Absolutely not! Please don’t misunderstand!”

The use of such words carried the risk of displeasing the demon.

What if it angered him?

The current situation was more precarious than when guns were aimed at us just moments ago.

A mere swipe of this wolf’s claws could make everyone here vanish in a bloody haze.

“Wolf, please don’t misunderstand. I have no such intentions!”

“No need to say it. I know it.”

Turning its massive body, the White Wolf walked toward the forest on the mountain pass.

“I appreciate that you believed in me. My friend.”

With the rumbling of the earth, the White Wolf disappeared into the depths of the mountain.

His final words left me wondering, what was he even talking about?