As a Human

"I'm just checking on my situation... This place is some distance from where I live. If the uncontrollable factor you're referring to is some kind of creature, then leaving alone might expose me to some unknown dangers..."

Maria whispered, her face remaining unchanged.

But the words she uttered were somewhat unsettling.

If those who knew Maria heard what Maria said at this moment, they would probably be grinning from ear to ear.

Maria... in danger?

That uncontrollable factor only becomes dangerous after encountering Maria.

After all... Maria was never a kind person...

However, at this moment, the Laterano people clearly did not realize how terrifying Maria was. They looked at Maria's fearless appearance, then at the long sword that was tucked at Maria waist, and after thinking carefully for a while, they nodded.

"Indeed... we will send a few people to escort you back to a safe place..."

"Grateful."

Maria gave a lukewarm response.

After a moment's thought, the group of people present had a few people follow Maria to begin the escort mission.

Maria waited a few moments before calmly taking her first steps and slowly choosing to leave...

However, Maria wasn't on her way back to her rented apartment; she simply walked around in circles for a few moments before stopping.

The guards were still a little confused, but a moment later, their eyes rolled back and they knelt down with a thud...

Maria didn't seem surprised. After a few moments of silence, she turned her head and looked at the gray-white figure that was gradually emerging from the darkness.

He looked somewhat old, his face ashen, but these features paled in comparison to the dark aura surrounding him, despite being a Laterano...

That... Father Sarkaz...

Maria paused, glanced at the unconscious people beside her, and then turned to look at the other person.

"It really was you."

When Maria first saw the black light, it was just a guess, but now she can finally be sure.

The priest before her was the same Sarkaz priest to whom she had received her blood!

The priest also looked somewhat surprised.

After all, according to the timeline, Maria had only recently set fire to Kazdel, and she herself had disappeared within Kazdel.

A normal person would think...

"I'm already dead, aren't I?"

Maria whispered, her eyes calm.

"But I'm not that easy to die... You should know that."

"... Yes, I should know."

Only after Maria reminded him did the priest realize what was happening.

He touched his chest, a helpless smile on his face.

If a few drops of blood were enough to bring her back from the dead, how could Maria have been so easily burned to death by the flames?

Although that flame didn't seem like an ordinary flame either.

After a few brief pleasantries, the two quickly got to the core issue.

Maria was the first to ask a question.

Are you being chased by them? Why?

Judging from the conversation these people just had, it seems that their target is the priest.

But...

Why?

"Because you are a traitorous priest who returned from Sarkaz?"

Maria asked curiously, and the priest gave a wry smile.

His helpless voice and the expression on his face complemented each other, making him appear even more desolate.

"That's part of the reason... but more importantly, Laterano doesn't accept the fallen Laterano..."

As he spoke, he pointed to the Black Ring above his head and the black wings on his back, his voice low and eerie.

"This is a symbol of depravity..."

But Maria only glanced at it a few times before shaking her head slightly.

"I don't think what you did can be considered depraved... If I had to describe it, I think the people you killed were the ones who were depraved."

Maria remembered that the priest had fought the Allied Forces to protect the Sarkaz children.

Although there may have been instances of irrational, angry killings along the way, Maria did not consider them wrong.

At least, he killed soldiers, not children...

"Ha... Thank you for your understanding, but in any case, according to the Tenets of Laterano, I am a fallen one. After failing to protect those children, I killed for the sake of killing..."

The priest grinned, revealing a bitter smile, still seemingly troubled by what he had done in the past.

"..."

Maria shook her head slightly, not continuing on the topic, and instead asked another question.

"Since you know that your return will lead to you being hunted down by others, why did you still come back?"

This was something Maria didn't quite understand.

She assumed the priest was unaware that such a thing could happen, which was why he came.

But now it seems that the priest knew from the beginning that as a fallen Laterano, he would be purged by the church once he returned.

If that's the case, then why did he insist on coming back?

"... Because I feel it's necessary for me to convey the current situation of the Sarkaz."

The priest took a deep breath and, after a long pause, spoke his heartfelt desire under Maria's gaze.

"I hope His Holiness the Pope can make changes... even if it's just some changes."

"The Sarkaz anyone else. We are all living beings in this world. Although the Sarkaz are ostracized by everyone for various reasons, they are no different from us! We are all exactly the same! There is no distinction between high and low!"

"Now, the Sarkaz Demon Lord has ushered in a major transformation, which may be an unprecedented opportunity to change the thousand-year-old blood feud Laterano and the Sarkaz! It is also an opportunity to change the entire situation of Terra!"

The priest spoke, his voice trembling with emotion.

Laterano and the Sarkaz... these are centuries-old feuds.

This has become a consensus among everyone, and some have even declared that one of the Sarkaz or Laterano races is destined to become history!

If they can reconcile, then perhaps the whole of Terra can give each other a chance!

An opportunity to change the world!

The priest became more and more excited as he spoke, and his wide eyes shone with light once again.

Maria simply looked at the other person calmly.

The priest, having regained his composure slightly, looked at Maria's calm eyes and a wry smile appeared on his face.

"A bit naive, isn't it?"

"... Sort of, but at least it shows that my choice wasn't wrong."

Maria's tone was calm, but her eyes showed no change whatsoever.

Just as she just said, the reason she chose to save the priest was not only because she really needed someone to help her, but also because the priest's idealistic actions moved Maria.

That's why she chose to save the priest.

The priest's current actions also indirectly prove that Maria's choice was correct.

Even at this point, he never gave up his dream of peace.

Only...

Maria turned slightly to the side.

Just as the two were talking, the tall, silver-white figure began to slowly approach.

Their bodies were adorned with unique patterns, and their faces, hidden beneath their armor, were not clearly visible, but what was certain was the unwavering determination in their eyes.

The Pontiff's Knights! The symbol of supreme military power in Laterano!

As a Laterano who had once lived in Laterano, the priest's expression changed drastically upon seeing these Pontiff's Knights.

He never expected that someone as insignificant as himself could attract such a powerful force to hunt him down!

This time...

Something bad is probably going to happen...

Thinking of this, the priest gritted his teeth and gradually clenched his fists.

He glanced at Maria beside him, paused for a few moments, but still chose not to involve Maria in the matter.

He simply took a deep breath, silently raised his weapon, faced the tall, silver-white knight, and slowly exhaled a puff of white mist.

On the other side, the Pontiff's Knights seemed to have been prepared, his body trembling slightly as he prepared.

White walls lined their sides, the open ground reflecting the images of saints arranged in the center.

They stared at each other, their breaths freezing in their throats.

The night air grew increasingly cold...

409

Chapter 409 As a Human Being

"The fallen... accept judgment!"

The arrival of the Pontiff's Knights was without any unnecessary words.

They are the highest-ranking regulated military force in Laterano, and their presence signifies, to some extent, the will of the Pope...

But the priest knew that this was probably not the will of the current pope.

He had only just returned, and the information should not have reached the old pope yet. The current Pontiff's Knights were simply carrying out the order to annihilate him according to the Law.

The priest returned to Laterano not to fight, which is why, despite possessing formidable martial prowess, he never actually harmed anyone.

He came back to negotiate.

But the Pontiff's Knights showed no interest in listening to him; these men were among the most obedient to orders in Laterano.

Without any hesitation, he charged forward in a few instants!

Its towering, fully armored form makes it look like a humanoid Great Beast in motion!

And there were three such colossal Great Beast at this moment!

Each movement caused a tremor similar to an earthquake.

Their actions were so brutal and ruthless that they were terrifying!

The priest's expression changed drastically upon seeing such a fierce attack.

Faced with such a beast, he could only sway his body like a falling leaf to dodge the attack.

The terrifying attack sent a chill down everyone's spine.

But their target was only the priest, not Maria...

This made Maria frown slightly.

Just as she was considering whether to help the priest, he suddenly shouted.

"I alone am enough to deal with all of you!"

He spoke sharply, his tone fierce.

"..."