Chapter 57: Someone Broke Into My Home (Please Follow)

“Name?”

“Herbert Albert.”

“Age?”

“Eighteen… Are you doubting me?”

“Hmm.”

Herbert stared at the impassive cardinal before him, his lips twitching slightly.

What the hell is going on here?

Looking at the rusted rivets piercing the cardinal’s body, he wasn’t sure whether to call this man overly avant-garde or outright heretical.

But either way… you’re seriously rock and roll.

Don’t you disinfect or care about hygiene?

Those nails look completely rusted!

While his mind raced with these absurd thoughts, Herbert’s expression remained calm—though it was clearly forced.

He had never met this cardinal before, but he could immediately match the face to the figure in his mind.

Cardinal Rust Nail, Grand Master of the Mist Knights, a legendary Holy Knight known for his cold cruelty and brutal methods.

Why is he targeting me?

And not even through proper channels—just dragging me off in broad daylight.

Kill first, report later?

Are you from the Discipline Commission?

No, even if you were, it still wouldn’t be allowed!

I’ve bled for the monastery, I’ve earned merits in the alien prison—you can’t just snatch me up without proof—

Of course.

Herbert could only mutter these thoughts in his head; he dared not utter a single word aloud.

“Master Knight, I am truly not a Desecrator. I don’t understand why you suspect me?”

He looked earnestly at Cardinal Rust Nail and said firmly: “Also, does the Grand Inquisitor know about this?”

Herbert was the warden of the Inquisition, directly subordinate to Grand Inquisitor Thorns.

Logically, even if he had done something wrong, he should have been dragged straight to the interrogation chamber for Memory Recovery Ritual by the Grand Inquisitor himself.

What’s your deal as a Knight Master doing this?

“Hmm. He doesn’t know.”

Cardinal Rust Nail didn’t lift his eyelids, speaking coolly: “He’s not in the monastery right now, and you can’t find him.”

Herbert’s heart sank at the news.

Great.

I’m screwed.

No big shot can save me now.

Click. Click.

Herbert shifted slightly, only to discover the chains binding his wrists had been unlocked without his notice.

Huh?

Opened!?

Just as Herbert was pondering what was happening, Cardinal Rust Nail, after long silence, spoke up: “Why did you stay in the Third Law Chamber last night?”

Herbert suppressed his confusion and countered: “What’s wrong with that? I checked the scriptures—there’s no rule forbidding wardens from staying overnight in the Law Chambers.”

“The Law doesn’t forbid it, but it’s dangerous,” Cardinal Rust Nail fixed his gaze on Herbert, eyes holding colors he couldn’t decipher. “Why take such a risk?”

You ask why?

Should I tell you I was worried about the Hook… hmm?

No.

Herbert suddenly understood, replacing his defense with a counter-question: “Master Knight, for a Holy Knight, is there any task that isn’t dangerous?”

“Hmm?”

Cardinal Rust Nail’s brow twitched as he narrowed his eyes at the boy before him.

The weak Holy Knight’s expression was calm, his gaze resolute, showing not a trace of negative emotion.

No fear. No outrage at being forcibly detained. Only startling serenity—the quiet resignation of one who has accepted death.

“Fighting heretical believers, defending humanity from monstrous demons, resisting the corruption of the Dark Gods… which of these is safe?”

“Master Knight, from the moment I swore my oath, I understood our duty.”

“We are the sword piercing evil, and the shield protecting the weak.”

“And swords and shields should not know fear.”

At the end of his words, Herbert suddenly recalled a phrase that had deeply impressed him, and spoke it solemnly:

“We are guardians—and also pitiful creatures, constantly battling danger and madness.”

Wasn’t that how it went?

I don’t think I got it wrong…

Every day I face “dangerous demon girls” and “crazy chaotic gods”—my life is hard too.

Anyway, praise the Fool!

As Herbert finished speaking, Cardinal Rust Nail’s eyes snapped wide open, then fell into silence.

He lowered his head, pondering for a long while, then slowly exhaled, shaking his head as he rasped:

“Pitiful creatures? Hmph.”

Unlike Herbert’s blunt plagiarism, this phrase struck him with profound resonance.

“You’re right. We are pitiful creatures, never knowing when we’ll be corrupted by evil.”

He raised his head, nodded at Herbert, and asked:

“Where is the Desecrator?”

Cardinal Rust Nail’s expression had returned to calm, no longer mentioning whether Herbert was a Desecrator.

?

Herbert suddenly sensed something was off.

It didn’t look like he believed Herbert because of his words—it looked more like he’d never truly suspected him in the first place…

Then why the hell did you kidnap me?

I’m not playing this game.JPG

“He’s dead.”

Though he desperately wanted to complain, Herbert obediently cooperated.

“His body was destroyed by the [Wrathbringer], his soul dissolved by the [Final Singer], and he fell in the Lightless Prison.”

Though he omitted key details, every word Herbert spoke was true.

After realizing Cardinal Rust Nail seemed to harbor no ill will toward him, his mind began to wander.

Could this… maybe… be a chance to ask for some compensation?

I was illegally detained, you know!

Herbert didn’t hesitate—he chose to charge ahead.

Gamble it.

Doesn’t matter if it works—just try!

“Master Knight, I survived only because they came to my aid. I’m truly grateful to them.”

“My duty is to reform them—I hope they turn from evil. This act proves it’s possible.”

Herbert took a deep breath, his voice softening with pleading:

“So I’d like to request—no, I’d like to petition the monastery—to grant them some reward, as recognition for their actions.”

“….”

Surprisingly, after a long silence, Cardinal Rust Nail didn’t refuse outright—he asked: “What do you want to give them?”

He didn’t refuse!

There’s room to negotiate!

Herbert took a deep breath, knowing this was the critical moment.

He suppressed his rising excitement, forcing his expression to remain calm, and said firmly:

“I wish… for them to be temporarily released from the Third Law Chamber.”

“Hmm. Let them go out for a walk.”

…

…

“Grand Inquisitor!”

Sister Caplan reported to Thorns as he returned to the monastery: “Herbert was taken by Cardinal Rust Nail!”

“Taken… No!!?”

Thorns’s face darkened. “Damn it! That bastard played me dirty!”

Bad.

Someone has stolen my home!!!

Thank you to reader 20220625211750849 for the reward.

……

Three rounds! Three rounds already!!!

No longer celebrating the breaking of the two-round curse—now comes Sanjiang!

Yes, the next step is to push for Sanjiang.

Right now, the chase is nearly at a thousand; we can say there’s a chance, but we still need to try.

Sanjiang’s follow-up depends on Monday, so please, everyone, make sure to read!

Alright, it’s time to go voluntarily offer myself to Big Eye.

This may be the only chance of my life—please, everyone, help me out. ()

If we make it to Sanjiang, I’ll add three extra chapters after the official launch!!!





(End of Chapter)