A Visit to the Pastor

This was the third day since the Knight Order had voted to eradicate the beast pack.

The once deep and quiet pine forest was now shrouded in flames.

Daphne sat sideways on her horse, waving her oak staff as she recited prayers. She casually cast the “Decree of Holy Judgment” a few times, and the few lesser beastmen scattering nearby were instantly pierced through the chest by scorching light-forged lances, turning to ash on the spot.

Catching sight of the High Psalmist displaying such strange and powerful divine arts, the guards’ morale soared. They beat their swords against their shields, shouting, “Follow Lady Ellenore!” before plunging into the fray.

Without their war-horn beast leader, the beast pack was nothing but a rabble. A few Templars and their guards were enough to sweep through the empty camp.

Daphne looked up as the horned-skull banner in the center of the camp was torn down, replaced by the slowly rising flag of the sun-dial and judgment longsword.

The battle was decided. This beast pack would be uprooted.

“It’s unbelievable. I thought the situation would be more intense, but it only took a few hours…” Edith rode hurriedly to Daphne’s side. “A message came from Sister. They’re done too—the war-horn beast leader died on the spot. Everything went smoothly.”

On the battlefield, Edith wore light chainmail over her robe. She had tied her golden hair into a ponytail that hung down her back, looking more capable than her usual gentle, quiet demeanor.

Her warhorse today also wore light silver chainmail. Though not as heavy and thick as full barding, it provided ample protection.

Despite Edith’s usual preference for light dresses and ornate high heels, she was no pampered child. She knew what gear to wear for the occasion.

“Just a small beast pack. It couldn’t withstand so many Templars.” Daphne sighed.

“But we had almost zero casualties!” Edith reined her horse to a stop in front of Daphne, frowning slightly. “Little darling, where did you learn to plan so well?”

“I… I don’t remember… I’ve been sealed for too long, my memories are hazy…” Daphne looked away, stammering.

“Is that so? I thought Father might have…” Disappointment flickered across Edith’s face, but she quickly shook her head. “Never mind. Today is full of good news. It seems there really is a Klogotia mole inside Kohl Town. We spread a little false information, and they took the bait.”

“From now on, don’t casually discuss the Order’s internal affairs in town,” Daphne reminded her softly.

Though Kohl Town did originally have a mole, that mole had lost Grover’s trust thanks to Daphne’s instigation. Now, the one filling that mole’s position was naturally Daphne, the Deathbringer of the Ice Tomb Lord.

She had fed Grover a false message, deliberately luring this beast pack’s leader to ambush a passing carriage.

The result was obvious: without the protection of their camp, even war-horn beasts couldn’t contend with several Templars. Meanwhile, the beast pack’s camp, stripped of most of its fighting force, was left vulnerable. Daphne and Edith took it easily with just a small force.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain while also beheading it—the ambushers became the ambushed. Caught off guard, these beasts could hardly put up strong resistance.

Daphne wasn’t worried about losing Grover’s trust either. This disguise was fragile from the start. As soon as Grover communicated with the Great Witch, Daphne’s lie would naturally be exposed. So she had to seize every opportunity.

But before her complete break with the Witch, Daphne decided to first root out the real mole still hiding in Kohl Town.

Although the main storyline of “COG” didn’t explicitly point out a Klogotia spy lurking before Kohl Town’s fall, lore enthusiasts on the forums had analyzed fragmented task descriptions and character backgrounds to find evidence proving their existence.

This hidden infiltrator had provided the Dead Falcon with crucial intelligence about the Nors Territory and had also caused chaos inside Kohl Town, leading to the guards’ defeat.

Not long after Bertram disappeared, Grover received the news—undoubtedly the work of this same mole.

Although Daphne’s instigation had somewhat cut off Grover’s trust in that mole, once her lies were exposed, Grover would surely pick up the only remaining spy again.

‘Why must it be done before the Deathbringer’s lie is exposed?’

Hehe, naturally to extort another payoff.

“Lady Ellenore, the remaining lesser beastmen have been cleared. How should we handle this camp?” Carl rode out from the burning camp, stopping abruptly before Daphne and Edith. He removed his helmet and waited respectfully for orders.

“Kill all the living creatures. Burn the entire camp.” Daphne pulled the reins to turn her horse, pointing at the flames deep in the pine forest. “Strictly warn your soldiers: don’t even think of taking anything. Violators will be severely punished.”

This was a necessary measure.

Beastmen were purely aligned with Chaos. Their shamans covered themselves in amulets woven from tangled hair, listening directly to the whispers of the Dark Gods. Through mad, blasphemous rituals, they imbued the pack’s warriors and weapons with evil, rotting power.

Any mortal who casually touched something tainted by the Chaos Gods would have their mind affected. The livestock raised by beastmen were even more heavily polluted by Chaos energy.

These corrupted, twisted monsters could never be tamed.

Only destruction remained.

“Understood. I’ll convey and execute the order immediately.” Carl donned his helmet again and nodded to Edith beside him. “Miss Edith, your divine arts are exquisite and powerful. Thank you for today’s support.”

“Please thank Lady Vatitaya. It was my devout prayers that drew her response.” Edith clasped her staff in her hands and brought her palms together, lightly closing her eyes.

“She is merciful and great.” Carl touched his forehead, left shoulder, and right shoulder with two fingers. After praying, he immediately whipped the reins and galloped away.

“Cleaning the battlefield will take at least a day to a day and a half. Let’s return to camp; our work is done.” Daphne cast a fleeting glance at Carl’s back, then adjusted her posture from sidesaddle to straddling and whipped the reins.

Edith watched Daphne ride away, frozen in place for a moment.

Because the half-blood girl’s tone and orders just now were so much like Bertram’s that she even saw her father’s shadow in Daphne.

Could it be possible?

She recalled everything she had done to the half-blood girl, and her heart suddenly trembled.

‘Probably… not possible, right? How could a human suddenly turn into a half-blood?’

After calming down, Edith couldn’t connect this nobody half-blood with the great Pope. After all, when Daphne tried riding, she had been so sensitive that she…

‘The more capable she is, the more fun it is to tease her. Tonight, I’ll have my little darling make plenty of adorable sounds.’