I quickly stopped them and looked back at Lien. Although I didn't say anything, she must have realized what I was trying to say.
'I told you to bring in the ones that were okay...'
'Those are the ones that were at least okay.'
The woman who was beating up the members immediately responded with her eyes. I immediately read the explicit look in her eyes and had a moment of doubt.
Those were the ones that were okay? Really? Was there not one or two people who could imitate a somewhat normal person?
As Lien said, I searched my mind for a moment to see if there was anyone better than those guys.
'...There is none.'
After seeing Cleter looking at the medicine lying on the floor as if it was a waste, I shook my head.
'There really isn't any.'
Aside from feeling miserable about my situation, I couldn't just waste my time here.
When the commotion seemed to have died down to some extent, I glanced at Ran, who had been looking pitifully at the guys who had been deprived of their medicine and had become sullen.
She sensed my unspoken question as to whether she had still changed her mind and she gave a small nod. Damn.
"...You don't have to spare them all, but you have to exclude those who are simply possessed. So medicine is not an option."
"You're too soft, but..."
"I understand why you brought us here. We would be perfect for distinguishing between the possessed and the unpossessed. However, it would be a confusing situation, so why bother distinguishing whether they are possessed or not?"
I know it too. But it can't be helped. If the shaman doesn't cooperate, it's the end of the plan and all.
"We are going to set a fire inside the building. Most of the people who come out at this time will be ordinary people who are possessed by religion. The four of you will wait outside and select and kill the suspicious people hiding among them."
There was no need to capture them alive. None. Those in higher positions would probably have something to hide or take care of, so they will go deeper. I would acquire the 'things that need to be hidden or taken care of'.
It doesn't matter if they didn't have it. Because I already knew where something like that could be.
"The remaining six are going to mess around inside. Likewise, just kill the suspicious guys. You can go in when you see smoke. Oh, and if there's one moving in a different direction as if they're going somewhere, have some of you chase them."
"Who starts the fire?"
"I will."
I deliberately brought ingredients that smoke well and last a long time. All I had to do was light it and throw it in a place with few people.
Of course, the shaman had to go with me, and Lien will follow even if I don't like it, so in the end, there were no people left. Well, it's neat.
"But..."
"Huh?"
"There seems to be something strange about your plan."
Cleter tilted his head.
"It's not that I don't know what I have to do... It's just that..."
"Are you going to complain about my lord's orders now?"
"No, I have to do it when I'm told. But... "
He looked down at my knight's uniform and looked at me with a confused expression.
Ah, I know what you want to say.
"I think you are confused about the fact that we are letting people live. But the purpose of this matter is not to handle it quietly."
Of course, if I just went out like this, the Emperor, who was known to be patronized, would be criticized even more, but that was none of my business.
I was not a person who cared about the Emperor being criticized, and even if he wanted to reprimand me, I was just following his orders, so there would be no major problem.
"Find a suitable place and wait."
"Yes."
Leaving them behind, I walked around the back of the building and touched each of the windows. I tried to go in through that open window last time... but they were all locked?
'Well, it's even more suspicious if the security wasn't there since though Sir Lien made such a fuss...'
We're in big trouble! I don't know of any other entrances other than the front door! I glanced back at Lien and the shaman. The two of them shook their heads as if there was no other way.
An embarrassing wind passed between us for a moment, and Ran slowly opened her mouth as if a good idea occurred to her.
"How about checking to see if any of the knights you brought know how to open a window?"
"Hmm?"
"I heard that all the knights brought here were poor. I haven't been out into the world a few times, so I can't say for sure, but most of the poor people I've met so far are learning various interesting skills."
Aha. I know what you want to say.
Now that I think about it, there were quite a few members who had quite interesting skills. For example, pickpocketing or how to open a door...
I told Lien to go check without further delay and bring him in if there were any such members. But she, who would normally have listened straight away, showed hesitation this time.
"I can't leave my master alone again..."
"I am not alone. There is also the shaman. I will wait quietly, so don't worry and go."
"..."
"...?"
What? I guess it's not just that? I looked at Lien's back with some confusion as she walked away, showing signs of reluctance.
Not long after, she returned with a member of the group, and only then did I understand why she was upset.
'Lien is a knight.'
This situation of having to open a window like a thief must have been inconvenient.
The lord, who should always be prioritized, was not in danger, and I think I could have found another way if I investigated a little more, but I chose to open the window.
I knew I didn't have time, so I kept my mouth shut. If I had a little more time, I would have been careful and said, let's find another way.
It's not something I say that will make it happen. Pretending not to notice Lien's appearance, I looked away and looked back at the member who skillfully opened the window and was very proud.
"I never thought this would be used here like this...! I'm so moved..."
"Okay, good job. Go back now."
"Wow, you're so heartless. You could have praised me a little more..."
His mouth was grumbling, but his actions followed orders faithfully. I inadvertently let out a laugh as I saw the guy grunting and turning away. I felt this every time, but those guys were just crazy talkers, but they were actually really good at understanding the situation.
Actually, if they weren't smart, they wouldn't have survived that battlefield, but it was still amazing.
Maybe that was why, with a slightly softened heart, I spoke to the back of his head.
"Go quickly."
"Yeah..."
As soon as the member walked away, we held on to the open window and went in. Oh, of course, I checked everything to see if there was anyone inside.
As if it were natural, my two companions followed me through the window without saying a word. Ran was a little tired, but thanks to Lien lifting her up, there were no major problems.
Since it wasn't the window I had passed through before, I stopped for a moment in front of an unfamiliar landscape and fell into a brief contemplation.
'Where would be better...'
It would be difficult if the fire was discovered too quickly and the smoke spread too late.
Just as I was hesitating because I had no idea if I even knew the layout of this place, Lien took the initiative.
"If you tell me where you think is suitable, I will guide you."
"Lord Lien? How...?"
"Last time, when I was looking for my lord, I visited most of the hallways and rooms. I have some idea of the layout."
That's so helpful. What a world...
I looked at her with subtle eyes and laid out the conditions I had in mind. She listened to me with a serious attitude, nodded and began to lead the way.
Thanks to Lien's excellent sense of direction, she was able to navigate several crises without incident, and it may not be an empty statement to say that she had some understanding of the layout for a while, but she found a suitable location faster than expected.
"Here it is, what do you think?"
"It seems okay."
"Then..."
"Yes."
I set fire to the ingredients I brought with me. Wow, there was already a lot of smoke...
Lien covered her nose and mouth with the handkerchief she held out and threw it on the floor.
My vision was already starting to get obscured, so it seemed like I had prepared an incredible amount of ingredients. I looked at the large amount of smoke spewing out with half anxiety and half pride, and then turned around.
From now on, it was a race against time. The leadership, who sensed something suspicious, would take important evidence before they ran away.
"Let's hurry."
Thanks to Lien's guidance, it wasn't that difficult to find the prayer room.
The interior still had a mysterious atmosphere with the white walls and purple fabric, but this time, instead of looking around, I led the shaman directly to the problem that needed to be solved.
There wouldn't be anything more to see, anyway.
There was no one by the way. It couldn't possibly be here. Were they already inside? Or was this a trap?
'...Honestly, I'm not sure there will be any evidence left.'
Because Lien caused that mess. The leadership, alerted by the previous incident, may have already taken important clues or evidence elsewhere.
'It doesn't matter anyway.'
In any case, the Salvation Church will be destroyed due to this incident. This was true if you excluded the possibility of a comeback or a second Salvation Church.
If the leadership stole key documents, Cruel would not be able to find them either, so considering the situation, I would ultimately be the winner of this game.
Neither Cruel nor I could find the key documents.
What about the collapse of Salvation Church? I did it. So who will be the winner?
It was just a thought in my head, but honestly, I felt like I wanted the leadership to steal the ledgers. If I found it, it would only be an element of bonus points, but if Cruel found it, it would be an important hand that will turn the game around.
That's why they came up with such a reckless and weak plan.
'Anyway, I'll find out when I go in.'
I went up to the stage and removed the hanging purple cloth. Ran's eyes immediately fell on a certain point on the wall.
"It appears to be a spell using a magic circle as the main medium. It seems to have a communication function that allows a signal to be transmitted immediately when it is destroyed, and also has a spacial distortion function..."
"I see. All I have to do is pass through this place. Is that possible?"
"..."
"...?"
"...Just a moment... Could you please give me a little more time?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"Something... something..."
Her words trailed off. The initially calm gaze became serious as if sensing something strange, and the quiet black eyes were trembling. And it soon turned into astonishment.
"...Why... Here..."
"What is It?"
"Why is there a spell here?"
"...Yes?"
"This is not alchemy. It is magic disguised as alchemy."
My head was blank for a moment. This was something completely unexpected.
Magic. Of course I thought it was alchemy... but suddenly it was called magic? In the human world?
This was a serious problem. I don't think it will be long before I end up in the demon world again...
'Ugh, my stomach...'
Just thinking about it made me feel stressed, so I tried not to think about it and looked back at the shaman and Lien.
As she was a shaman, the situation was serious . Ran, who felt this more clearly than anyone else, was explaining the device to Lien, who had a stern expression on her face and a question mark above her head. Although she was explaining, she seemed lost in thought.
"I was convinced after seeing the space distortion function. Do you know the difference between magic and alchemy?"
"I only know that magic is breaking the rules of the world, and alchemy is about paying a certain price and slightly twisting the rules to use it to your advantage... Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right. If we take this space distortion as an example, it wouldn't even be a distortion. This is a combination of a completely different space."
"You mean grafting?"
"Yes, completely different spaces are connected through this circle. If you destroy this wall, there will probably be nothing behind it."
"That means that if you break the jewel..."
"It would mean that crossing into connected space is a long way off."
Those words stung me for no reason. Good thing I didn't break it.
Anyway, that's not what I was curious about right now. There were two things I was curious about.
Who cast the spell?
Was it possible to move on to 'that' space through this?