16th of the Red Star

South-West Archwood

Wilsden

Bishop Amara was led inside the Baron’s manor along with the four Paladins. The Holy Knights, however, were instructed to wait outside.

Besides her butler, Julie did the same and ordered her knights to maintain their posts. The Holy Church definitely didn’t send a Bishop just for an amicable talk, nevertheless, the delegation was, so far, acting politely.

Bishop Amara was one of the 3 Bishops of the Holy Church, a very high-ranking individual. Moreover, she was a powerful Mage as well as someone with connections and resources. Out of the three Bishops, she was undoubtedly the most active, especially in uprooting the Demons from the Human Continent.

Julie knew that the Holy Church would react sooner or later. Whether it was the Blood Purge, the death of her father at the hands of a Demon, her transformation into a Vampire, or her not-so-friendly interaction with the Holy Knight.

She might be an aristocrat and a ruler of a territory, but she wasn’t that influential. Wilsden was a backwater town that most people didn’t know existed. It was small and didn’t see any activity for the past couple of years.

Since the Militant Syndicate, or more specifically, the Ten Seats, practically glossed over the Blood Purge and didn’t investigate in earnest, it clearly showed how unimportant Wilsden was.

Not even Duke Sidus Terden or Sulong, the two Seats who co-ruled the Greenbell Forest and its vicinities, bothered to send people to manage the aftermath of the Blood Purge. In fact,that matter was left entirely to the Masked Queen’s discretion.

The Bishop was guided to a spacious Living Room on the first floor.

After sitting down and crossing her legs, Amara stared at the young lady across from her and said,

“Over the past couple of months, I’ve been hearing one thing after the other about the Lernon Family. Speaking of which, I do not see your older brother. Feylord Lernon.”

“He left.” Immediately answered Julie as a deep frown surfaced on her face.

She still didn’t know exactly why Feylord returned out of the blue. Plus, she didn’t have that many connections to properly investigate. All she knew was that he had been expelled from the Nemia Academy, though the details behind that were not made public.

“Is that so? I would’ve liked to meet him. Hasn’t he told you about the offer he received? If you ask me, it was quite bold of the Imperial Court to try and recruit someone as volatile and dangerous as your brother. No offense intended, of course.”

“...”

Julie didn’t deign to offer any response or remark.

“Anyway, shall we move to more pressing matters, Miss Lernon?”

“I am listening.”

Upon seeing the serious expression on the girl’s face, Amara covered her mouth and playfully laughed.

“There is no need to feign ignorance, Miss Lernon. I’m sure you know full well why the Holy Church sent me here. What I really want to know is whether you will cooperate or not.”

“Cooperate?”

“Yes. First and foremost, that foul creature in your arms.” The Bishop pointed at the hissing Furball, a look of absolute disgust on her face.

“That thing is of Demonic origin. You cannot convince me otherwise. One of my objectives in coming here is purifying it.”

“Was it not your intent to speak plainly, Bishop Amara? Why bother saying ‘purify’ when all you do is mercilessly kill it?”

The Bishop creased her brow, her smile vanishing.

“The Holy Church performs purification on all Demonic creatures. If the creature in question isn’t a naturally born Demon, then there is a chance of survival. We do not go around senselessly killing everything Demonic, Miss Lernon.”

“Yet that is exactly what you do. You do not spare any Demons even if they haven’t done anything malicious.”

“Demons are mankind’s enemies. They have to be exterminated for us to live in peace.”

Upon hearing this, Julie snorted and retorted, “Then how come you do not send your army of Holy Knights and paladins to the North? Where the really dangerous Demons are? What you’re doing now is just wandering around and solidifying your authority by massacring innocent living beings.”

“I advise you to think before you speak, Miss Lernon. You are not in a position to criticise the Holy Church.”

The atmosphere turned tense as the two stared at each other. Julie felt a bit nervous but she didn’t keep her opinion to herself. It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t afraid of the Holy Church, but she was still an aristocrat and technically part of the Militant Syndicate. Moreover, she had the backing of the Masked Queen. However, those were irrelevant in current circumstances. If the Bishop wanted to, she could easily overpower her just with the Paladins.

“The next matter I want to speak of regards your nature. You have become a Vampire, yes? Again, we have solid proof so denying it would only prolong this conversation.”

“I have. Does that make me a Demon?”

“We also know that two of the Masked Queen’s Children have visited you. As a Baron ruling over a small territory within the Militant Syndicate, is it not wrong for you to associate with the Aeternus Family?”

“Bishop Amara, I’m sorry but how is that any of the Holy Church’s concern?”

“It concerns the populace. No civilian would feel safe with a Vampire so close by. The Holy Church wants to maintain peace.”

“I still do not understand. Me being a Vampire concerns the Militant Syndicate and if they were displeased with how things are, they would have dealt with me already.”

The Bishop shrugged her shoulders and rebuked,

“Maybe they simply do not care, Miss Lernon. We, however, do care.”

“And where does that take us? Do you want to purify me too?”

“Something like that.” Answered Amara while smirking.

She glanced at the elderly butler standing at her right before continuing, “We know of a ritual that could detoxify you, so to speak. It is harmless, but it must be conducted in our Headquarters. I was sent here to escort you there safely.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Such a notion never crossed our minds, Miss Lernon.” Calmly said the Bishop as she sat straight and took out a rectangular talisman with markings on it.

“This Charm will limit your ‘craving’ and facilitate the task for us. You are going to cooperate, are you not, Miss Lernon?”

As Amara put the Charm on the table and slid it toward Julie, the latter gritted her teeth and controlled her emotions. She didn’t have complete mastery over her vampiric abilities, so there were times when they went out of control when she got too emotional, just like what happened when Elise mentioned Arthur’s name.

Furball jumped off Julie's hands and targeted the Charm on the table, but before he could reach it, a thin ray of light shot from the Bishop’s index finger.

The relatively large rabbit was pierced by the Holy-aspected Magic and blown to the side.

More surprising, however, was that its injuries were healed instantly. The Bishop was startled and hastily stood up.

Her eyes, shaken to the core, were staring at a tall figure materialising right next to the fallen Furball.

“Since when the Holy Church is allowed to brazenly barge into my territory?”

It was a tall woman wearing a mask and dressed in a long raven-black dress. The Paladins reacted the fastest as they grabbed their sheathed weapons and were about to attack.

Unfortunately, they were struck by something invisible and fell to the ground, unconscious.

The Bishop didn’t retaliate, she just stood there, petrified and dumbstruck.

After all, she was facing the Masked Queen, Marjory Na Xivia.

“What’s wrong? Can’t you answer?”

Marjory slowly walked toward the stunned Amara. She stopped right in front of her and looked down, her blood-red eyes hidden behind the mask were focused solely on the pale-faced Bishop.

The Masked Queen was very tall and the bone-chilling aura around her made even Julie feel fear.

“This girl is part of the Aeternus Family. Knowing that, you came here and demanded… What was it? A Detoxification Ritual?”

“I… I greet the Masked Queen.”

The Bishop finally returned to her senses and bowed her head. She spoke stutteringly, her clasped hands trembling.

Marjory Na Xivia was one of the Five Original Vampires, an old being no different from a God. Even though the Holy Church sent such a strong force to subdue Julie, it still didn’t make sense for the Masked Queen to personally appear.

From the Holy Church's point of view, Julie was a new member of the Aeternus Family and only became one due to the unusual circumstances regarding her transformation.

No matter how much she wrapped her head around it, the Bishop couldn’t understand why Marjory would come.

“I’m guessing this wasn’t the Archbishop’s decision, yes? He wouldn’t be this foolish.”

A small volume of swirling blood cascaded upon the fearful Amara, shredding her clothes before piercing through her stomach and coming from the back.

The agonising pain notwithstanding, the Bishop gritted her teeth and bore through it. She didn’t curse or attempt to fight back because she knew she stood no chance.

Marjory kept looking down at the fallen Amara as she spoke again,

“Take your goons and leave.

“Y-yes. Thank you for your m..mercy.”

While pressing her hand against her bleeding abdomen, Amara dragged her injured body out. She didn’t even spare a glance at the unconscious Paladins.

Julie stood up and, with visibly stiff movement, bowed toward Marjory.

“There’s no need for such formalities. Sit. We have much to talk about.”