Taming the Evil Saintess

---

“Ugh.”

Hell Duke Derabilice felt a strong sense of discomfort.

Since he had personally tuned the territory, he could instantly recognize that a large cavity had formed there.

Not just any cavity, but a new territory made of intense power. However, that power was certainly not magic. Rather, it was the energy opposing magic.

“Divine power, huh? This is troublesome.”

If it were a divine power of this magnitude, it had to be the Pope.

No.

The Pope was firmly bound to him by a deal. Moreover, that old man couldn’t possibly wield divine power so freely. Since the manipulation of divine power could astonish even someone like Derabilice, the source could only be one person.

“Saint Ophelia Meredein. How dare you use my territory to interfere? How infuriating.”

The Hell Duke’s face twisted in irritation.

Though it was an unprecedented act, the territory created by the Saint was functioning effectively.

In that space made of divine power, magic could not intrude. An alternate world where the rules of the territory did not apply. It was no different from a safe zone within the Erosion Zone.

Above all, that territory was expanding. A gleam of light shone, and the hemispheric realm, imbued with radiance, was inching closer toward Derabilice.

It was only a matter of time before the territory lost its core and crumbled. This was troublesome. If he didn’t act swiftly…

“Are you distracted with the enemy right in front of you?”

An ominous voice filled the air.

At the same moment, a massive impact hit Derabilice’s body. Azar, cloaked in a sword’s energy, struck him with a mark.

The pain. Since it was within the territory, he didn’t suffer significant damage, and even that was quickly recovering, but allowing the attack to land was detrimental.

“What on earth are the others…?”

Within the territory, there were countless eyes. The Hell Duke observed mercenaries adeptly handling his demonic subordinates.

He thought they were mere strays, but their way of dealing with demons surpassed that of veteran knights. The Possessor siblings were struggling against the Sword Saint’s attacks, and two of his lieutenants were blocked from closing the distance by the next Archmage and Archery Master.

Finally, the lieutenant he had deemed the most reliable, Negilus…

“He’s dead.”

It was shocking.

In such a short time, within the territory, the Black Knight Negilus had been overwhelmed and killed.

Derabilice gradually accepted the fact that his forces were at a disadvantage.

“I told you not to get distracted!”

“How annoying.”

Azar charged in, and the Hell Duke unfurled his cloak. A massive swirl of black magic engulfed him.

“Why?”

Why had the plan gone awry?

The answer came quickly.

It was all the fault of the Hero and the Saint.

With mercenaries brought in to butcher his demons, the Hero’s might had crushed Negilus, and finally… the audacity of the Saint to unfurl a new territory in what was practically his kingdom.

Especially that last point; the territory unfurled by the Saint was the most troublesome. Not only was it tough to suppress with brute force, but the Saint, imbued with the Mark of the Heavens, possessed a superior amount of that power.

“This is maddening.”

A thick vein throbbed on the Hell Duke’s forehead. Typically, he believed expressing anger was beneath him, but it was now an unbearable situation.

“Lord Azar! I’ve come to offer my assistance!”

To make matters worse, Ice Warrior Cecilia rushed in. Azar, caught in the storm of magic, was battered but still standing.

The surrounding mercenaries, despite sustaining grievous injuries, showed no signs of losing morale, ready to charge in at any moment.

“Hell Duke!”

Cecilia spotted Derabilice and charged forward, her slender sword aimed sharply.

Thanks to the effect of her mark, her sword energy was chilling. In this place replete with magic, wounds heal quickly, but if she struck with her absolute zero sword energy, recovery would inevitably slow.

He couldn’t afford to get hit.

Derabilice clicked his tongue and stepped back, teleporting slightly upward. Cecilia’s sword strike missed, chilling the surrounding air.

“…Such lowly things.”

Fine.

He had to show them the difference in class.

The Hell Duke unbuttoned all the buttons of his suit and unleashed his magic.

Centered on him, a new territory began to spread.

*

The moment he confirmed the anomaly was right after killing Negilus. Upon seeing the Black Knight dissolve into magic and disappear without leaving a last will, a dazzling brilliance illuminated behind him.

Ophelia was surrounded by a golden hemispherical space. Within it, the swirling energy was undoubtedly divine.

“What is that…?”

Inside, Ophelia knelt with her hands clasped together as if praying.

Amidst the golden turbulence, the white-haired Saint was praying.

The sight was so striking that even the nearby demons engaged in battle were taken aback.

However, Ophelia was not such a devout Saint.

“…Hehehe.”

Ophelia reached out with a wicked smile.

The golden space expanded as that immense divine power scattered around her.

“How about it, Elliot? My new ultimate skill.”

“…What the heck is this?”

I asked Ophelia, who was proudly puffing out her chest.

“The Sanctuary.”

It seemed she had thought of the name in advance. Around her body, flames made of divine power were blazing, reminiscent of a certain Monkey King awakening from a manga.

“With this, I can even destroy territories.”

The divine territory, colloquially known as the Sanctuary, moved at Ophelia’s will. It pierced through demons with spear-like edges and temporarily nullified the effects of the territory by driving away the surrounding magic.

It was, quite literally, the ultimate ability.

Such a scale of magic scarcely appeared in games.

The high-tier officials of the Magic Tower, including Eldarian, would typically have to chant spells all day to cast such grand magic. Yet, she accomplished it alone with somewhat less versatile divine power.

Indeed, Ophelia was a genius.

“So, don’t you have anything to say to this older sister?”

“…Hmm.”

After pondering, I said what I thought Ophelia wanted to hear.

“You’re pretty.”

Perhaps due to the golden illumination, her already beautiful face seemed even more radiant. It was a heartfelt comment, and Ophelia’s mouth gaped open.

“Uh, uh….”

It seemed she didn’t expect me to respond that way.

In any case, having acknowledged her commendable act, I ruffled her hair and turned away.

The remaining duration of the mark was about five to six minutes. I needed to deal with the Hell Duke quickly. It would be best to join Cecilia. Just as I reached that conclusion…

“Something’s coming.”

Ophelia muttered, her expression stiffening.

No sooner had she finished speaking than a black orb swelled and emerged from one corner of the Cathedral.

“Territory….”

Ophelia’s Sanctuary had evidently scratched at the Hell Duke’s core. It was possible that the Hell Duke, cornered, had unleashed a new ability.

Derabilice unleashed his trademark territory.

‘If it’s the Hell Duke’s Phase 2, then the effect is….’

Possession or mind control.

I sighed, holding my forehead.

*

Possessor Luna looked like she was about to cry.

“Ugh!”

The Sword Saint Albrecht, the very knight I had seen in the game, was currently overwhelming Ruin and Luna.

They couldn’t rely on their lieutenant’s support. They were both in dire straits.

When setting the initial plan, Ruin had borrowed knowledge from the game. With advice from the two Possessors, the Hell Duke had taken it without suspicion. It was quite rational. The Hell Duke’s territory was enormous, and his demonic subordinates were among the top in hierarchy. He could also deploy Holy Knights. Having taken control of the Cathedral, the Hell Duke was invincible.

However, what the two overlooked was that this world was not a game. This was the most common mistake of the Possessors.

Ruin was too focused on merely blocking the Sword Saint’s flashy weapon techniques, and Luna’s magic had no effect whatsoever.

It was entirely different from the Hero Party in the game. Far stronger. The difference in skill was overwhelming.

Why was this so?

“Ugh! Luna! Support!”

“I-I’m doing it!”

In her panic, she completely forgot to be respectful and hastily cast dark magic.

The dark magic known as the Demon King’s Grasp, with dozens of hands reaching toward Albrecht from all directions to bind him, but…

Screech.

“…What the hell! That wasn’t in the game!”

Ruin yelled.

What Albrecht held was none other than a massive greataxe.

There were no weapons of that category in the game. Naturally, it wasn’t a target of Albrecht’s Fluid Sword. The reason it was possible was…

‘Because Hero Elliot is a Possessor.’

Each artifact attached to Albrecht’s body was of high caliber. The Sword Saint, adorned with artifacts that the Possessors of the Demon King’s Army couldn’t even carry, was akin to a calamity on the battlefield.

This, in professional terms, is referred to as min-maxing.

Just looking back confirms it.

Next in line, Archmage Emily Barried held a magic book that had a cover made from the skin of a human, a dark artifact.

The artifact that Possessor Ian had taken was Maleficarum. That ominous item was now in Emily’s hands.

The Hero Party had thoroughly grown by any means and methods, even utilizing artifacts from the Demon King’s Army.

Moreover, Luna had briefly witnessed it. The Saint Ophelia unfurling her golden territory. Making divine power weave to produce effects similar to a territory.

Whether or not that was truly possible aside, the Hero Party was overwhelmingly strong in the eyes of the Possessors.

It was a miscalculation.

And a rash act.

“Ugh.”

Luna just wanted to go home…

Bang!

Albrecht cleaved through Ruin’s sword, severing his arm.

Ruin fainted from the shock, and Albrecht casually tossed Ruin’s body into a corner of the roof while looking at Luna.

“Eep!”

Swish.

The tip of the Sword Saint’s sword was naturally aimed at Luna’s cheek.

“Dispel the territory, now.”

“…A-Ahhh. I-I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Even as she spoke, absurdity swept over her.

Could it be that I had no wrongdoing?

I certainly did.

In fact, I had plenty.

“Ugh…”

Luna felt like crying.

No, she was already crying.

Her cheeks were damp.

“I have no intention of killing you. It’s a promise to Elliot. If you obediently dispel the territory…”

Albrecht began to speak but paused, glancing over the roof.

A black aura was seeping upward.

Possessor Luna’s expression brightened.

“Phase 2!”

“Phase 2… what?”

“…Huh?”

Luna and Albrecht locked eyes.

In that moment, he squinted.

“Ah, I see. You are a Possessor and also one of the Hell Duke’s aides. You know his current power better than anyone.”

“W-What?”

“You said you don’t intend to kill me? That statement could be revoked. I’m not exactly known for my pleasant personality.”

gulp

Luna swallowed hard.

Albrecht lifted her chin with the tip of his sword and said, “Tell me everything you know, or don’t know. If you don’t want to die.”

Once again, she just wanted to go home.