Chapter 11: A Worthy Rival, Also Known as an Idiot

We climbed into the Royal Knights' carriage. Alyssa-san handed over the remainder of the Knights to the command staff, hopped onto the coachman's seat, and drove the carriage.

The horses pulling the Royal Knights' carriage were strong, resilient warhorses, and the carriage itself was engineered for lightness at the expense of comfort, making it faster than a regular carriage. The journey that took an hour and a half to get here was completed in under an hour.

The carriage sped along the Royal Capital's outer wall, stopping at a spot close to the Reese Great Cathedral. I could see the chalk-white spire over the city wall. Although we were outside the wall, we were close enough for the Cathedral interior to be within range of Lily's 〈Strategist〉 Skill.

"...They're here. Lecty and Saintess Rosalie are in the Cathedral's basement. They're both still alive!"

Lily's words brought a collective sigh of relief in the carriage.

"...However, Cardinal Malicious is nearby too. And a few others... I'm sorry. They don't have any recognizable features or ill-will towards us, so my Skill can't provide any more details."

"No, that's enough. Thank you, Lily."

"Hugh, please. Lecty...!"

"Yeah, leave it to me."

Lily seemed to feel that Lecty's kidnapping was her own fault. She regretted not being more suspicious when the school nurse came to call Lecty earlier on the road...

But, speaking of responsibility, I had run off to search for Rosalie, who wasn't even there, and Idiot was fooled and allowed Lecty to be snatched right in front of him. The blame wasn't solely on Lily.

"Hugh."

Lugue called my name after I had stepped out of the carriage. Lugue only spoke my name, saying nothing more. She just silently nodded, and I nodded back.

"I'll rescue Lecty and Rosalie and come back."

"Yeah!"

"I'm leaving our students to you, Cicely-chan."

"Understood, Alyssa-senpai...!"

Alyssa-san nodded at Cicely-san's reply and snapped the whip on the horses. The carriage began moving, rushing away towards the city gate.

"We must hurry! The passage to the Cathedral's basement is right here!"

Cicely-san guided Idiot and me to the entrance of a secret tunnel concealed in the bushes.

She had told us about it in the carriage, but the existence of such a thing becoming public knowledge would be a massive problem. Cicely-san had apparently stumbled upon it accidentally while escaping. It was highly likely that Cardinal Malicious had built it in secret, without the knowledge of the State or the Church.

Alyssa-san had been appalled when she heard that, muttering, 'The Knights have more than enough grounds to raid the place now...'. Apparently, it could have been used for smuggling, or even for kidnappings involving Greed Lecheley.

A discarded horse was milling around near the tunnel entrance. It seemed the school nurse who kidnapped Lecty had used this passage to get to the Cathedral.

"It would not be surprising to be ambushed beyond this point. I believe you two, chosen by Alyssa-senpai, have sufficient ability, but please be careful."

"Understood..."

I answered Cicely-san, placing a hand on the sword I had at my hip. I had borrowed the sword stored in the carriage, and the genuine blade felt heavier than its actual weight.

"You've never killed a man, have you, Hugh? Do not worry. The same is true for me."

"You're not afraid to kill, Idiot?"

"It is for the sake of rescuing Miss Lecty. I must atone for my own carelessness. Whatever sin it is, I shall shoulder it."

"...You're strong, you are."

Even to save Lecty and Rosalie, I felt I couldn't be so coldly decisive. I felt disappointed in my own cowardice.

"...Wait? Did I seriously get saddled with two students who have zero combat experience in actual killing!?"

Cicely-san looked stunned, having overheard our conversation. For now, I'd just concentrate on not holding them back. I hadn't resolved to kill a person yet, but I should at least be able to provide support with the 〈Ninja〉 Skill.

Besides, if it came down to it...

With newfound resolve, I stepped into the secret tunnel. The inside was pitch dark without any light, but my vision was good thanks to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill. My enhanced senses could even detect the presence of people waiting at the end of the passage.

"Three people at the end of the tunnel..."

"You can sense that?"

"Yes, well."

As long as I knew the numbers, an ambush wasn't much of a threat. Idiot and Cicely-san charged forward while I supported them with throwing stones from behind. Our impromptu coordination worked beyond my expectation. Or rather, I pretty much subdued the assassins with my thrown stones alone.

In the darkness, the visibility must be poor for them, too. When I used 〈Throwing〉, a sub-Skill of 〈Ninja〉, and hurled stones with all my strength from a range they couldn't detect me, the stones accelerated and flew directly into the assassins' heads, every single time.

It was a simple job: just striking the assassins who leaped out of the shadows to attack Idiot and Cicely-san.

The assassin who was struck in the head with a stone and collapsed was finished off by Cicely-san with a thrust of her sword to the heart. As expected of a Holy Knight, she showed absolutely no mercy to the heretics.

"I never imagined you had such a hidden talent! Truly, you are my Rival!"

"A-Ah, well, I guess so..."

There was no way my stone-throwing belonged in the realm of 'talent', but if Idiot was satisfied with that explanation, I guess it was fine... Cicely-san looked visibly suspicious, but she refrained from saying anything, presumably prioritizing Rosalie for now.

The underground tunnel was a confusing labyrinth, but by following the bloodstains Cicely-san had left, we reached the Cathedral's basement in the quickest possible route. All the assassins waiting along the way were subdued. In fact, we relied on the presence of the waiting assassins to guide our way.

"This is the Cathedral's basement..."

Contrary to the grand and beautiful appearance of the structure above ground, the basement revealed a prison filled with exposed brickwork and iron bars. Reddish-black stains and bones were scattered beyond the bars.

What is this place...? The thought of the purpose of building such a facility beneath the Great Cathedral sent chills down my spine.

"Apparently, when the Great Cathedral was built, the Royal Capital was an area with many heretics. The outward reason for the Cathedral's construction was to strengthen missionary activities in the Royal Capital, but I've heard that the Church's actual need at the time was the underground facility for the protection and persuasion of heretics."

"Protection and persuasion, you say..."

It looked exactly like confinement and interrogation to me...

Unlike the passage, the inside of the prison was illuminated by magic items set at regular intervals. Hiding and creeping forward in the dark wasn't an option, and confronting opponents head-on was unavoidable.

However, the security wasn't as strict as in the tunnel. The heretics Cardinal Malicious had gathered weren't well-equipped or skilled in martial arts. They didn't seem to have battle-oriented Skills either, so they were no match for Idiot and Cicely-san.

While the two of them fought, I searched for Lecty and Rosalie. I peered into every cell, but the prison was quite large. I wondered how many people had been imprisoned here at its peak.

Just as I lost track of how many cells I had checked, a faint light-blue came into my sight.

"Lecty!"

"Hugh-san...?"

Reacting to my call, Lecty, who was squatting and hugging her knees, looked up. Tears welled up in her amethyst eyes.

"Hugh-san...! Hugh-san, Hugh-san!"

Lecty cried out my name repeatedly, rushing toward the iron bars.

"Wait there, I'll save you right away!"

The iron door was locked, but I kicked it open with a full-force kick using 〈Body Enhancement〉.

"Hugh-san!!"

Once I stepped into the cell, Lecty rushed at me without hesitation, clinging to me. Burying her face in my chest, she couldn't hold back her sobs.

"I-I, I just woke up and I was here! You weren't here, nor was Lily-chan, or anyone!"

"It's alright now, Lecty."

I wrapped my arms around her trembling back, hugging her gently.

"I'm sorry it took so long to rescue you."

Lecty had no idea what was going on, and found herself locked in this prison. The fear she must have felt, even for a short time, was immeasurable. Why in the world did Cardinal Malicious kidnap Lecty...!

As I held Lecty, I looked inside the cell where she was confined. I noticed spots of blood left on the floor. I felt a sense of unease from those spots, though I had already seen them several times in this prison.

My observational skills, sharpened by my Skill, sensed that the blood was fresh.

"Lecty, are you hurt?"

"Eh, um, well..."

I put my arm around Lecty's shoulder, creating a little distance. I saw that the right sleeve of her uniform was stained red. Looking closely, I could see a slit, as if cut by a knife.

Malicious!

"I-It's alright! The wound is already closed with my Skill, and there's no pain!"

"That's not the—... No, just... I'm glad you're safe."

Suppressing the anger boiling within me, I hugged Lecty again.

"...Thank you, Hugh-san."

Lecty relaxed in my arms, sighing with relief. I would never forgive Malicious for hurting her. I'd make him regret this, no matter what it took!

"Hugh, is Miss Lecty safe!?"

Idiot and Cicely-san, who must have finished the fight, appeared beyond the iron bars. Idiot's expression twisted slightly when he saw us embracing, but he shook his head and showed a look of relief.

When Lecty and I stepped out of the cell, Idiot bowed his head to Lecty.

"I am truly sorry, Miss Lecty! It was due to my carelessness that you were exposed to danger!"

"N-No! It's not your fault, Idiot-san! Thank you for coming to my rescue."

"Miss Lecty..."

Idiot looked crestfallen as Lecty bowed to him. Idiot would probably have felt more at ease if he had been blamed...

"Um, Lecty-sama, have you seen Rosalie-sama!?"

"Rosalie-san, you mean? No, I haven't seen her..."

Lecty shook her head when Cicely-san asked. Rosalie's presence couldn't be felt nearby, so they were undoubtedly confined in separate places.

"Oh, but just now..."

"Do you know something!?"

"Y-Yes. Just now, the old priest who was with Rosalie-san came to my cell and said he needed my blood..."

"Miss Lecty's blood!?"

Noticing that Lecty's right arm was covered in blood, Idiot's eyes widened, and he clenched his fist.

"Cardinal Malicious... Why would he need Miss Lecty's blood...?"

"I don't know... He only said 'this will finally awaken the power of the true Saintess' and mixed my blood into a pink liquid."

"What!?"

Pink liquid. Don't tell me, that is...!

"Lecty, did you drink that!?"

"N-No! But, judging by what he said, if he gave it to anyone, it would be..."

"—Rosalie!"

I took off running. If the liquid Malicious had was the same as the one I knew, something irreversible would happen if Rosalie drank it!

"Where is she, Rosalie!"

I no longer had the composure to worry about being seen by the enemy. I kept running, shouting Rosalie's name.

I finally reached the innermost part of the prison. I saw Rosalie, restrained in a chair with confining restraints, in a cell about twice the size of the others. Malicious was beside her.

"Rosalie!"

Rosalie showed no reaction. A red liquid was dripping from her half-open mouth, and Malicious held an empty test tube in his hand.

Hey, you've gotta be kidding me...

"Did you make her drink it...?"

"Oh my, I wondered why it was so noisy. Are you students here again? This is a sacred ritual. Disturbing it will incur divine punishment."

"Answer me, Malicious! Did you give Rosalie the Monster-transformation drug!?"

"Monster-transformation drug? No, that is incorrect. This is a holy elixir granted by God. It is a helping hand extended by the merciful God to us foolish people who cannot fully utilize our Skills!"

"What the hell are you talking about...?"

A holy elixir? A helping hand extended by God? If you truly believe that, then explain it to me.

Why is Rosalie losing her human form, turning into a Monster!!

"What is this... A person turning into a Monster...!?"

"No way, Rosalie... san?"

Idiot and Lecty, who had followed me, witnessed Rosalie's changing form and were speechless.

"...Huh? W-What is this!? This is different from what I was told! Why is Rosalie's body turning into a Monster!? Wasn't this the elixir to awaken her Skill!?"

Malicious seemed panicked, noticing Rosalie turning into a Monster. The restraints binding Rosalie to the chair instantly burst, unable to withstand her growing bulk.

"Impossible! A person falling to evil! What have I done!? Oh, God...! Rosalie, forgive me—"

An arm covered in peach-colored body hair swung, slamming Malicious against the wall. He crumpled to the floor, no longer moving.

GAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOONNNN!!!!

A beast's roar echoed in the prison. Rosalie, transformed into an ape-like Monster, the same as Lecheley, grabbed the iron bars with her abnormally developed arms, distorting them as she tried to break out.

"Damn it...! Ready your sword, Hugh! We will be killed if we do not fight!"

"Idiot..."

Idiot yelled, seeing me stunned and lost.

Fight? Rosalie...?

Our voices would no longer reach her, transformed into a grotesque creature. If she broke out of the cell, she would definitely attack us.

But...

"...It's fine, Idiot."

"What...?"

"You saw what happened to the Monster we fought at Lecheley's manor. ...This is the same thing."

"...! Are you saying she will self-destruct over time?"

When I nodded, Idiot lowered his sword, looking extremely pained.

There was no reason to fight her and cause Rosalie any more suffering. We just had to escape. That way, Rosalie could die without further harm.

"Is there really nothing we can do?"

"............"

Even with the power of the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill, which could freely switch abilities, I couldn't return Lecheley to her original form. If a Skill that could rewind time on a target existed, I might be able to revert Rosalie to her original form...

The problem was that I didn't know the name of that Skill. How much time did we have left to try? I didn't know, but I had to try anyway...

"Miss Lecty, what are you doing!?"

I reached for the mirror in my chest pocket when I heard Idiot's shout, and looked up. Lecty was walking toward the peach-colored Great Ape that was struggling to get out through the gap in the iron bars.

"Lecty...?"

"Hugh-san, Idiot-san. Can you stop Rosalie-san's movements? I feel like I can cure Rosalie-san."

"—! You're right, with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill...!"

The status description for the 〈Saintess〉 Skill was: 'Gains the power to oversee healing and purification, and to drive out evil.' If the force that transformed Rosalie into a Monster was the 'evil' the 〈Saintess〉 Skill referred to, then Lecty might be able to save Rosalie.

"You can sense that, Lecty...?"

"Yes! Will you believe in me, Hugh-san?"

"Yeah, I believe in you."

If Lecty felt she could do it, then it wasn't impossible. It was worth a try. I glanced at Idiot, and he gave a decisive nod.

"However, even if we stop her movements, how...? If she continues to thrash like this, there is no way for Miss Lecty to approach her safely..."

"No, stopping her movement is easy. ...I just have to use my true Skill."

I answered Idiot, taking the hand mirror out of my chest pocket.

It was terrifying to let Lecty and Idiot know about the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill. They might not accept it as Lily did, and Idiot, especially, would likely have serious doubts about me if he knew about the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill.

...Still.

"Brainwash Release."

To save Rosalie, I cast aside all hesitation.

"Skill—〈Brainwash〉."

The [BRAINWASHED] display appeared above the Great Ape, and the Monster, which had been twisting the iron bars, froze, stopping its movement entirely.

I sensed Lecty and Idiot gasped behind me. Since I wasn't using the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I shouldn't be able to sense their presence, but I felt it all the same.

I was afraid to see their expressions.

But I forced myself to turn around.

"Please, Lecty. Save Rosalie."

"Yes! Leave it to me, Hugh-san!"

Lecty ran past my side and rushed toward Rosalie. She touched Rosalie's face, enveloping it with both hands, and activated her Skill.

"Rosalie-san, I'm going to heal you now...! 〈Cleanse/Purify〉!"

A pale blue light illuminated in Lecty's hands, wrapping Rosalie's entire body.

Gradually, glittering particles of light began to lift from the Monster's colossal body and dissolved. The scene was somewhat transient, beautiful, and fantastical.

Slowly, Rosalie's gigantic form, which had grown within the faint blue light, began to shrink as the particles of light floated up and vanished. It seemed the 〈Cleanse/Purify〉 sub-Skill of 〈Saintess〉 truly had the power to revert a Monster-transformed person back to their original form.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned around once more, meeting Idiot's eyes.

I decided to take the initiative and tell him about the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill myself.

"Hear me out, Idiot. ...My real Skill is 〈Brainwash〉. It is the power to freely control the target I make eye contact with. If I use it on myself with a mirror, I can change my Skill to whatever I want. I changed my Skill to 〈Swordsmanship〉 when we fought the duel. ...I'm sorry."

If I hadn't changed my Skill at that time, I would undoubtedly have lost to Idiot. Even though I felt I had no choice, given Lily's and Lecty's situations, Idiot had the right to complain.

Besides, the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill was a power that should be shunned. It was normal to be rejected and acceptable to be scorned. If Idiot chose to kill me here and now, I wouldn't question it.

Idiot closed his eyes and sighed.

And when he opened them, he had a gentle smile on his face.

"You don't need to apologize. That duel, to begin with, was fundamentally unfair. Since I had 〈Chevalier/Guardian〉 and you did not possess a swordsmanship Skill, it wasn't a proper duel to begin with. If you had not changed your Skill and fought me, I would have remained a foolish man all this time. I am the one who is truly sorry. I am grateful, My Rival."

"No, are you sure about that...? My Skill is 〈Brainwash〉... Don't you worry about the possibility that I could have brainwashed you or Lecty and controlled you as I wished?"

"What foolish nonsense are you uttering? Speak while you sleep, Hugh Pnocis. My Rival, whom I, Idiot Hortness, recognize, could never be such a villainous scoundrel."

Idiot spoke so nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, that I felt my knees buckle under me. He must sincerely believe, in the deepest part of his heart, that I was not that kind of person.

Idiot, Lecty who didn't even mention the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill and rushed immediately to Rosalie's side, and Lily and Prince Lucas...

To be accepted so easily, it almost made me think that I was the only one who saw the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill as such a big deal.

I didn't exactly want to be rejected, but I felt a bit anticlimactic, for lack of a better word...

"Hmm. What's wrong, Hugh? Suddenly sitting down... Did you catch a stomachache? I warned you to keep your stomach warm and rest."

"No, it's not that..."

I couldn't help but almost laugh at Idiot, who seemed genuinely concerned.

It would be too embarrassing to tell Idiot face-to-face that I was happy he accepted the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill or that he was the best rival. But I wanted to express this emotion, so I said the only average words that came to mind.

"Thank you, Idiot."

"Indeed. I do not understand why, but be grateful to the end of your days that you have become the Rival of this Idiot Hortness!"

"Where does all that confidence come from..."

Seriously, you're the greatest idiot, you are.

While Idiot and I were talking, Lecty continued the fierce treatment of Rosalie. Large beads of sweat on her forehead dripped down her chin. Rosalie was gradually returning to her human form, but she still heavily resembled the grotesque Monster.

It felt like she could fully revert to her original form if given enough time. But whether Lecty's stamina and mental strength would last that long...

"...It's getting noisy over there."

Idiot looked behind him and whispered. Indeed, even my un-enhanced ears could faintly hear the clash of swords from around the corner. Cicely-san might be fighting the enemy.

"I will go check on the situation. Hugh, I'm entrusting Miss Lecty to you."

"Yeah, leave it to me."

We nodded to each other, and Idiot ran off in the direction of the sword clashes.

I, who was left behind, could only continue to watch Lecty's treatment. This frustration... If only I could target two subjects with Brainwash, I could switch my Skill to 〈Saintess〉 and help her.

"Aghhh..."

Lecty was near her limit. She gritted her teeth, desperately trying to keep her Skill active. Rosalie was finally showing vestiges of her former human face. Her body size was also returning to human limits.

Just a little more... but,

"Kuh... —Ah."

The next moment, Lecty's body swayed precariously.

"Lecty!"

I quickly rushed to her side, catching Lecty's body before she could fall. Lecty wept profusely, biting her lip in frustration.

"I'm sorry...! I failed Rosalie-san...! I was so close! I-I can't go on...!"

"...You're right. I truly thank you for giving it your best until the very limit, Lecty."

I carried the sobbing Lecty, walked a little distance, and put her down on the floor. By the time she was able to use 〈Cleanse/Purify〉 again, Rosalie's physical form would likely begin to break down.

To save Rosalie, I had to take a gamble.

I'd release the Brainwash on Rosalie and switch my Skill to 〈Saintess〉, taking over the treatment. That should fully revert Rosalie back to human form this time.

The problem was that Rosalie might attack me the moment the Brainwash was released. Only by releasing the Brainwash would I find out. That was the gamble.

Since her body was now small enough to easily fit through the twisted iron bars, whereas before she was stuck, she could escape easily...

I had moved Lecty out of the way. If anyone was going to be attacked, it would be me.

...I didn't like the thought of pain, but I had to brace myself.

"Brainwash Release."

The moment I released the Brainwash on Rosalie—

GAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Rosalie let out a beast-like scream, squeezed through the gap in the twisted iron bars, and leaped onto me.

"—Agh! Ahhhhhhhhhh!?"

I instinctively thrust my left arm forward, staggering back from the impact.

Looking down at the intense pain, Rosalie was biting down hard on my left arm with sharp teeth. Her teeth easily penetrated the blazer sleeve, tearing into my flesh. They might even have reached the bone.

The pain was so intense that my vision started to black out. Still, I gritted my teeth and forced myself to look into the hand mirror I was holding in my right hand.

"Hugh Pnocis...! Your Skill is... 〈Saintess〉!"

I felt the sensation of the Skill switching in my mind with a distinct click.

"〈Cleanse/Purify〉! Come back, Rosalie!"

I grabbed the head of Rosalie, who was still biting my left arm, and activated the Skill. Rosalie's entire body was enveloped in a faint blue light, and particles of light began to surge out.

Rosalie thrashed around, hating the light. I tried to restrain her using the 〈Body Enhancement〉 of the 〈Saintess〉 Skill, but with my left arm useless, I couldn't hold her down properly.

"Hugh-san!"

I heard Lecty scream my name.

"Lecty, hold down Rosalie!"

"Y-Yes!"

Lecty leaped onto us, covering me and Rosalie, pinning down the thrashing Rosalie. With the two of us restraining her, I continued to cast 〈Cleanse/Purify〉.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

"Just a little more! You can do it, Rosalie!"

"Return to normal! Rosalie-san!"

I used 〈Cleanse/Purify〉 desperately, losing track of how much time had passed. The strength of Rosalie, who was trying to escape, rapidly waned, and she eventually collapsed weakly.

Looking down, Rosalie had fully returned to her original form. The light particles that had been floating around had disappeared.

Since her body had swelled, all her clothes were torn, leaving her in her birthday suit, but there were no visible signs of injury or vestiges of the Monster transformation.

For now, 〈Cleanse/Purify〉 didn't seem necessary anymore.

Cooperating with Lecty, we laid Rosalie gently down on the floor. I stood up, making a conscious effort to avoid looking at Rosalie's naked body. Blood was relentlessly flowing from my left arm.

I wanted to use 〈Heal〉 right away, but... it was no use. I was too dizzy from continuously casting 〈Cleanse/Purify〉 and the extreme blood loss.

I didn't think I could use the Skill.

"Are you alright, Hugh! Miss Lecty!"

"Rosalie-sama!"

I could hear Idiot's and Cicely-san's voices from a distance.

I guess, everything would be alright now...

"Lecty, please cover Rosalie with my cloak... I need to rest for a bit..."

I slipped my cloak off with my right arm and was about to pass out when.

Someone gently hugged me from behind.

"〈Heal〉."

A kind, warm, faint green light wrapped around my entire body, bringing a sense of security, like a cradle.

"Please rest well, Hugh-san."