Chapter 70 The Villainous Heir’s Dark Magic and the Fall of the Seraph Grand Cathedral
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A heavy cloud of dust and debris choked the air as the Seraphim Grand Cathedral began its collapse.
”Kee-hee-hee! The Festival of the End? What nonsense are you spouting, showing up out of nowhere like this? Do you honestly think you’ll be forgiven for blowing up this sacred Seraphim Grand Cathedral… are you *serious*?” the Cera Pope sputtered, his voice cracking with outrage.
I just gave him a smirk.
”Dark Magic… Dark Rumble!”
”Gwaaah?! …O-oh god?! What are you *doing* to me?!” he shrieked, the formal pretense gone as the energy slammed into him.
”And what right does an evil existence like yourself have to act so high and mighty, huh? Come on, let’s go on a little trip together. Down to the underground,” I mocked him. “That mental strain you put on Lala-chan? I’m going to pay you back for every single bit of it, nice and neat.”
”Shin-sama… haven’t we… haven’t we just fallen, then? Fallen all the way down into the Grand Cathedral’s subterranean sanctuary?” Lala’s voice drifted up, a little shaky.
A powerful, earth-shaking THUD reverberated through the ruins.
After utterly laying waste to the Seraphim Grand Cathedral in spectacular fashion, I gave the Lax Empire’s top man, the Cera Pope, a massive kick straight down. I’d forced him to move to the underground. Now, it’s me and Lala-chan chasing after the Pope, heading right into that so-called underground sanctuary!
* * *
The wreckage of the Seraphim Grand Cathedral lay scattered in huge, shattered chunks.
”Gi-gi-ki… We must rescue the Cera Pope…” an armored figure groaned, their movement stiff and mechanical.
”…What foolishness are you speaking, my former friend? You shall come with me, to the Clock Tower. The Invitation of the Spire!” a cold, intense voice asserted.
”…Who are you?” the armored figure demanded.
”I am the longtime friend who has come to rescue you. Ayle Bizeldia. To save you from being cruelly overworked even after your death,” Ayle’s essence stated, heavy with sorrow.
…A deep, groaning drag echoed through the stone.
* * *
I (Ayle) had separated from Shin-kun’s body, taking my Lizard Birthmark form, but Shin-kun went after the Cera Pope underground. And now, Fenrir (Female)-san has vanished along with that large man in the full-body armor.
My problem is that I’m left facing the Strongest Holy Knight, Eugenio-kun, and the Fastest Holy Knight, Catoria… Both are tough opponents. What am I going to do?
”Eugenio-sama. The Cera Pope has been snatched away by an intruder who appeared suddenly. Furthermore, Ayle-sama has disappeared somewhere, too,” Catoria reported, her voice tight with urgency.
”This is an opportunity,” Eugenio declared, sounding almost relieved. “Now I can finally go look for my sister. Catoria.”
”Y-yes, sir. What is it? Eugenio-sama. Are we to pursue the Cera Pope after all?” she asked, bewildered.
”No. I’m done with that fake. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to step away for a while. And I’m leaving the command of this area to you,” he asserted, a new, laser-like focus in his eyes.
”Eh? …Eugenio-sama. What did you just say? What did you *just* say?!” she spluttered, utterly shocked.
”Farewell, then. I wish the Cera Pope good luck in the future. I have to search for my dearest sister. My family.” With that, he was gone.
…Thank goodness. I don’t have to clash head-on with Eugenio, the Strongest Holy Knight of the Lax Empire. If it’s just Catoria, the Fastest Holy Knight, I might still have a chance.
”Eu-Eugenio-sama?! Why are you leaving the area?! …” Catoria cried out, unable to comprehend his abandonment of duty.
”…Hello there. Lax Empire’s Eight Holy Knight. Let’s have a little fight, shall we?” a new, calm voice announced.
”That voice… Yulize-san? Why is a Dragonfolk like you here, of all places?” Catoria gasped, recognizing the new opponent.
”Oh, that? Maybe it’s because a beautiful young boy who’s part of my fate-sharing collective asked me to,” Yulize responded with a wry smile.
”A beautiful young boy? …Do you have a thing for that? Are you one of those shota-cons¹? You perv!” Catoria challenged, her own quirks momentarily forgotten in her outrage.
”Hmph! I wouldn’t want to hear that from Catoria, who loves cute boys even more severely than I do! I don’t want too many people in this country to know I’m here, so I’m going to fight you while changing my appearance. White Dragon Arts: Half-Dragon Human (Dragons Case)!… Rooaaarr!” Yulize asserted, her body beginning to shift.
”A Half-Dragonewt form? Yulize-san is capable of such power? …That’s impossible… Kyaaah!” Catoria shrieked as the power surged.
”When you’re always around a very, *very* strong beautiful young boy, you end up fighting only the powerful enemies, and you can get stronger, you know. Even on short notice… and if I don’t defeat them, he threatens to punish my body in all sorts of ways and plays around with me. But that’s not so bad, really, actually. Sometimes those punishments get pretty intense…” Yulize confessed, a dreamy, distant look in her glowing eyes.
”W-why are you making such an ecstatic, blissful face?! You’re still such a pervert, Yulize-san!” Catoria accused, her face flushing crimson.
”Oh! You’re one to talk, Catoria… you get all excited whenever you see a cute boy. Just a moment ago, you were looking at Shin-kun and trying to hug him! You haven’t changed a bit, have you, Catoria?” Yulize countered, a smug grin spreading across her lips.
”…Are that boy and Yulize-san acquaintances, then? In that case, I will defeat you and get the details. Why you are an acquaintance of ‘Dark’ agents who threaten the Alysphia (World)!” Catoria challenged, the hostile edge returning to her voice.
”‘Dark’? Who might that be? Is that…” Yulize trailed off, a hint of genuine curiosity in her voice.
—
Summary:
The Seraphim Grand Cathedral is spectacularly collapsing as the villainous heir, Shin, uses dark magic to kick the Cera Pope into the underground sanctuary for a personal mission of revenge. Meanwhile, the soul of his former friend, Ayle Bizeldia, leaves his body to rescue a comrade from a fate worse than death at the Clock Tower. This sudden chaos creates a surprising opportunity for the Strongest Holy Knight, Eugenio, who decides to abandon his post and his duty to pursue his deepest family desire: finding his missing sister. Left in command is the Fastest Holy Knight, Catoria, who is immediately challenged by the powerful and provocative Dragonfolk ally, Yulize. The scene ends as Yulize transforms into her Half-Dragonewt form, ready to fight and openly discussing the intense ‘punishments’ and drug-like effects of being involved with her powerful young companion.
—
Character Insight:
Catoria, for all her knightly discipline, is hopelessly boy-crazy—a ‘shota-con.’ Her judgmental outrage at Yulize is pure hypocrisy, which Yulize is quick to expose. This deep-seated personal quirk makes her a less effective knight and reveals a vulnerability. Eugenio’s sudden abandonment of the Pope is the most telling moment, showing that even the Lax Empire’s ‘Strongest Holy Knight’ prioritizes family and personal, non-military love above all religious and military duty. His move completely re-sets the tactical situation.
—
Behind the Scene:
The entire opening sequence is a dramatic and violent distraction orchestrated by Shin to get the Cera Pope alone and out of the public eye for his revenge. The sudden appearance of Ayle Bizeldia and his friend, along with Eugenio’s immediate departure, all serve to isolate Catoria, the only remaining high-level combatant, for Yulize to handle. The battle-lines are being drawn in unexpected ways, replacing military protocol with personal agendas like revenge, loyalty, and family love.
—
T/L:
1 [Shota-con (short for shotaro complex): A term used to describe an attraction to young boys, often used humorously or as an insult, as Catoria uses it here, despite her own admitted preferences.] ↩
Notes:
• Sera – the top figure of the Lax Empire’s church, currently possessed by or being a tool of a darker force. He wears white and gold papal robes and has a gaunt, manic appearance with crazed eyes. He is smugly preparing for a ritual using Lala as a sacrifice. His personality is unstable and menacing, focusing solely on the success of the ‘Advent’ ritual.
• Lala – Delusional saint candidate from the Lax Empire who becomes fanatically devoted to Shin, founding a religion in his name and often speaking with the quirky suffix ‘~desuwa’
• Ayle – the No. 6 Holy Paladin of the Lax Church’s Eight Holy Lords (Seiibitsu no Ayl). He is a young man in simple white religious robes with an earnest expression. He is a minor supporting figure inside the cathedral, representing the slight concern over the external situation.
• Catoria – the No. 5 Holy Paladin of the Lax Church’s Eight Holy Lords (Shukufuku no Katria). She is a mature woman wearing ornate blue and white religious vestments. She is gentle and expresses concern about the missing Holy Lords and the Pope Sera’s unusual temperament.
• Left – A member of the ‘Student Council Idol Support and Bishounen Lover Theory-Crafters Club’ who is obsessed with analyzing beautiful boys, particularly Shin Seyfried. He defends the club’s legitimacy and provides Right with the ‘magic paper’ analysis on Alexia’s presidency, representing the ‘bishounen lover’ faction of the academy’s student body.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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