Chapter 130 – Punishment
Chapter 130 – Punishment
#130.
Through the door behind the counter, they passed through a heavily guarded warehouse and entered a room at the end.
“Sit down.”
“Excuse me.”
The room was just tidy. It was an ordinary reception room suitable for welcoming guests to the extent that there was no dark or dangerous atmosphere in it.
Sitting on the sofa, Priscilla looked around for a while and looked at Gaon across from her and asked.
“Gaon-gyeong. So how did it go? Did you find out about the Doppelgänger King?”
“… Please promise me one thing before that.”
“Yes? Promise? What is it?”
Priscilla couldn’t understand. What promise did you make at such an important moment? She was puzzled, but she didn’t even bother to argue, so she obediently listened to Gaon’s words.
Looking at her face, Gaon gave a bitter smile and struggled to open his mouth.
“Even if you find out the identity of the Doppelgänger King, please hide it for the time being. Even if you run into them, you should be able to smile casually.”
“… Are you telling me to laugh at the murderer who killed the child? Is that really what you’re saying to me? Gaon Kyung. Tell me Is that really what you want from me? To laugh at the beast that killed my son!!”
Cooong!
Priscilla couldn’t contain her rising emotions and involuntarily raised her voice. She thumps the table between them! He got up from his seat and hit him.
After completing his understanding in the form of language, he realized how absurd his proposal was.
The emotion of her anger was the fuel that kindled a fire in her heart. The heat that had engulfed her and took over her brain made her question her bitterly.
“I still haven’t forgotten my child. From the time I open my eyes in the morning until I close them at night. No, even with my eyes closed, my head is full of only children. Do you know how much I regretted seeing the child appearing in my dreams every day? How dare you turn your back on me! Are you serious? Say Gaon-gyeong!”
“… You should. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get your revenge.”
Priscilla even felt betrayed by Gaon. Who the hell is her doppelgänger King to make such an unreasonable proposal?
She asked impatiently.
“Who the hell is this? Who are you to be so hesitant? Please tell me right away!”
Gaon let out a long breath. She exhaled all the air that filled her lungs, as if she was trying to shake off any hesitation, then she inhaled and she answered.
“I am Kaldran Orgius, the leader of the Iron Knights.”
“… I beg your pardon?”
“Kaldran Orgius. It means that the flame knight is the king of doppelgangers.”
“Ah…”
Carl Dran Orgius was a knight in the service of Priscilla even before she married her earl.
So he is the king of doppelgangers? He just can’t believe it.
I can’t believe it… On one hand, it was understandable.
‘I see.’
I thought I knew why Gaon made such a request.
Because I can’t afford it.
Even with all the strength of the three guilds, even with the help of the church in Barrymore Manor, they couldn’t handle Kaldran Orgius.
Even if his identity was known to the whole world, he could not be decisively punished. Even if he confronts him head-on, he will have to take enormous damage, but if he decides to run away, there is no way to catch him.
If you miss it once, you’d probably do well to give up looking after that. If he changed into another body, tracking would be impossible.
Understanding Gaon’s difficulties, Priscilla felt the heat engulfing her body fade.
At the same time, the strength drains from her whole body.
“Ah… Head.”
“Priscilla! Dangerous!”
Grabbing her head, as she staggered as if she was about to fall, her warm body hurriedly came over her table and hugged her. He held her against her firm chest and stroked her back.
Priscilla raised her head and stared at Gaon.
“Really? Is it the truth without a single lie?”
“… That’s right. Kaldran Orgius has already been devoured by the Doppelgänger King. I have confirmed the facts from his subordinates.”
“Ahahaha… I see. Really, you were right next to me.”
Priscilla let out a self-deprecating laugh. Her disappointment in herself welled up from deep within her.
Then, Gaon’s voice was heard.
“Sorry. I beg you for this.”
Raising her head, Priscilla was able to meet Gaon’s guilty eyes. A corner of her heart suddenly warmed at her worried and worried gaze.
She felt her firm forearm supporting her back and a gentle hand brushing her back, then shook her head as she slipped out of her arms.
“No. No. I really did not think of Gaon-kyung’s position. Thoughts were short. It’s okay now, so let go. Thanks for catching me.”
“… Let’s lie down on the sofa for now. Let’s rest for a bit and then we’ll talk.”
“Okay, I’ll rest for a while.”
Gaon carefully laid Priscilla on the sofa. Fortunately for her large size, she did not have much trouble getting her rest.
Priscilla closed her eyes and, based on the information Gaon had told her, she began to piece together what had happened.
There are holes in the middle due to the truth that has not yet been revealed, but most of the things fit snugly.
In fact, in the case of Kaldran Orgius, he and Calidora often spent time together. Until now, she thought it was the count’s order, but now she could see that it was to order something.
‘Sorry. Baby.’
How many times have I sworn since hearing information about her doppelganger from Gaon? She repeated that once she knew about the king of the gnomes, she would immediately subdue him, but even after she found out, she couldn’t find a way to deal with him.
I was helpless and pathetic, to the point of tears.
Priscilla desperately suppressed the tears in her heating eyes, taking a deep breath to calm her emotions. He clasped her trembling hands and muttered to herself as if to soothe her.
‘Are you okay. You just have to be patient. If the church requests support, it can be dealt with quickly.’
It is true that the level of 9 stars is truly amazing, but even so, it is not to the extent that she cannot handle it in the church.
There are numerous paladins in the Holy Land of the Healing Church in the capital, and among them, there are 12 high-ranking paladins who guard the Pope right by his side.
They are also called guardians, and each one of them is made up of at least 9 stars, and the leader of the Guardian Castle Knights was a whopping 11 stars.
There was no need to worry that the church would reject the request for support, as they were so frantic that they would chase and slaughter demons to hell.
That’s how Priscilla somehow gave herself a reason to be patient.
After about 5 minutes, Priscilla, who confirmed that the darkness that had colored her mind was all gone, opened her eyes and carefully raised her body.
Gaon looked down at her from the couch and hurriedly approached and helped her.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah yes. Are you okay. You don’t have to support me now. Rather, let’s finish what we were talking about.”
“… If you want that, I know.”
After confirming that Priscilla was taking care of her body well, Gaon sat down across from her and opened her mouth again with a worried look.
“In the case of the king of doppelgangers, Kaldran Orgius, we cannot capture it with our current power. So I’m thinking of asking for support right away from the church. However, Guardians in the capital will probably take a few days to get permission to go. So until then, he shouldn’t let him know he’s been spotted. Can you?”
“… I have to. Somehow.”
Priscilla’s eyes were full of determination. Even if her heart was ripped apart and left with irreversible scars, she conveyed her will to write and endure her evil to Gaon as it is.
“And I have one more thing to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Gaon put out her tongue and moistened her lips, as if these words were difficult for her to say. Priscilla felt uneasy at such an action, and she was about to open her mouth when Gaon struck her.
“The doppelgangers you’ve captured so far.”
“Yes.”
“Actually, there are more ordinary people. There were many who had no choice but to cooperate and not be involved in something like a wagon overturning accident.”
“Well, what…”
Priscilla felt as if her internal organs were being twisted. She couldn’t bear it any longer if the words she expected now came out of her warm mouth.
I was afraid that I would develop a hatred for him without even realizing it, and that I would lose even the person I could barely trust.
‘Please, please don’t tell me.’
Her fists were clenched so tightly that blood did not flow through them before she knew it.
In her eyes filled with anxiety and fear, she saw the sight of Gaon opening her mouth.
“So I hope that Priscilla-sama will make sure to dispose of them.”
“Yes?”
“Shouldn’t the victim make a judgment against the perpetrator? If you send it to the church, it will probably go through interrogation, torture, and even execution. We’ve gathered all the doppelgangers here in the underground lair, so let’s go see them.”
Priscilla was relieved at the unexpected words, but answered.
“No. You don’t even have to look. Send them all to the church.”
It’s much more solid than you think. Gaon, surprised by her decision, asked one last time.
“Can you really not see it?”
“… Would you like me to see it?”
“My opinion is not important. I’m just asking if it’s okay to leave it to me without seeing my doppelgangers.”
She frowned and wondered if Priscilla was feeling a little lingering at the repeated question. She couldn’t open her mouth for some reason, hesitated, then sighed and answered.
“Song. Let’s take a look. Sir Gaon, she was right. If it ends without seeing her face like this, there will be regret. We need to face it properly to be sure.”
“You did well.”
Gaon was also full of feelings to send to her church without hesitation. But she couldn’t abandon her promise to the madam.
She has no intention of persuading Priscilla to save her life. She just wanted her to make her decision as she saw, heard and felt everything in her.
If you still don’t change your mind, it can’t be helped. Because he did his best.
Gaon stood up from his seat.
“Then let’s go.”
“Yes, please guide me.”
Gaon immediately got up and approached the wall in the corner. When I pressed the tile there in a certain pattern, the wall cracked after a while and a staircase leading to the basement appeared.
He stepped aside and looked at Priscilla.
“This is it. It’s dark, so please be careful.”
“Do not worry. It’s not as dark as I thought. Come on.”
In the basement, magic attribute lights were installed at regular intervals. Although not bright, there was visibility up to 2m around.
At this level, even Priscilla would not fall.
Gaon took the lead and guided her.
This underground space was divided into two parts.
Prison and shelter
In prison, doppelgangers who do not cooperate or have a great resistance are locked up. Those who attacked them yesterday will be in jail now.
And the shelter is literally a resting place, and is often used by guild members who are monitoring the imprisoned doppelgangers.
Now, the doppelgangers who cooperated with them, such as Jake and Madam, are waiting.
Percussion!
The stairs weren’t too long. When I came down, I saw a road that forked on both sides. Screams mixed with screams and anger echoed through the tightly closed door to the right.
Gaon turned to the left.
When I opened the door, I saw a large space. There were rows of rooms inside, and I stopped in front of the 12th room. Gaon turned his back to face Priscilla.
“Here it is. Are you ready?”
“Of course.”
“Then I will go in.”
Kiik-
When the door was opened, a luxurious reception room was revealed, just like the room before. There were thirty people inside, half doppelgangers and the other half guild members guarding them from doing nonsense.
Gaon looked at the doppelgangers and spoke to Priscilla, who was stiff.
“Priscilla. Those kneeling over there are doppelgangers.”
“… It’s normal.”
No matter how much they wear human skin, demons are demons. Priscilla, who naturally assumed that there must be something eerie about her that was not human, was startled by her indistinguishable normal appearance.
She watched them intently for differences, then chewed her lips.
Then she suddenly turned her back and hurried her steps outside as if she were running away.
Just before Priscilla left her room, Jake, who was kneeling in front of her, screamed desperately, as if through her unique survival instinct, she realized that this was her last chance.
“My daughter is waiting for me at home! Please save me!!”
Priscilla’s movements stopped at his cry.
