The Game Difficulty
Is Insane
The capital, Istirenne.
Because it is the main headquarters of the Minis Order, this place is also called the Holy City, and it is stricter than anywhere else in the Papal State.
Since death can come at any time, the believers of the Order always try to perform good deeds and keep their conduct pure, hoping to become role models for others.
Because of that, some devout believers even reject entertainment, believing it to be something that stains the soul.
That is why there are no taverns or inns along the pure white central avenue that connects the entrance of the Holy City to the Grand Cathedral of Istirenne.
Of course, that does not mean they do not exist at all.
If one steps slightly off the central avenue and enters the narrow alleys, they can witness scenes of pleasure that can be found in any city.
“Kahahahahaha!”
“I’m paying, so drink more!”
The tavern was so packed that some people were clinking glasses while standing outside.
Going deeper into the alleys, women wearing shameless outfits waved their hands.
On the other hand, there were also young men with faces still full of youth, dressed in ways that would appeal to women, soliciting customers.
“Beautiful female knight. If you have time, would you share your stories with me? To meet someone as beautiful and strong as you—”
“…….”
Step—
Of course, none of that worked on Tasha, who had little to no emotion or desire.
She ignored the man who tried to approach her and simply quickened her steps.
That said, Tasha knew very well what those men’s approaches meant.
She was not interested, but she was not ignorant either.
In fact, Tasha knew a lot about such things and did not think they were entirely bad.
—Human desire becomes money.
—From the moment humans are born until the moment they die, they are surrounded by desire.
Words she once heard from someone.
A pleasure district is, quite literally, a place where human desires are resolved with money.
Refreshing beer gulped down at a tavern comforts the hardships of the day.
Money thrown into a gambling hall allows one to dream of sudden fortune, forgetting a boring and exhausting daily life.
And by clinging to insanely attractive women or men, desires are satisfied.
Pleasure districts gather unimaginable amounts of money.
So much so that even the Minis Order, which emphasizes abstinence and purity, tacitly allows the existence of pleasure districts within cities.
Of course, this was merely knowledge implanted in her mind.
Tasha herself had no desire to enjoy such things.
—Come here, my daughter.
If anything, she hated them.
Step, step—
The day her family fell, and the day her surname changed from Pelebin to Alien.
As if trying to shake off that unforgettable memory, Tasha’s pace quickened.
Her expression, however, remained blank.
Bang—!
The door was thrown open roughly.
“…….”
Yellow lighting poured onto Tasha’s face along with loud music.
Several people who were laughing and shouting inside briefly turned their gazes toward her.
And then—
“Wahahahaha! I told you I was right! I said the next customer would be a woman!”
“Kuhhh! How did you know?”
“Trade secret, hehehe! Shut up and bring more drinks! Hey, Clinton! Another round here! Vanessa’s paying!”
“Lucky pig bastard….”
Their gazes were nothing more than bets over drinks, and they soon went back to exchanging money and alcohol among themselves.
A tavern called Saint Hennessy.
Today, Tasha came here to carry out the first mission Glen Wordsworth gave her in Istirenne.
Splash, splash—
Stepping across the tavern floor soaked with something that could be beer, liquor, or urine, Tasha sat down at the bar.
With her usual expressionless face, she ordered a reasonably priced drink.
Clink—
Exchanging a few bronze coins for a filled glass, Tasha looked around.
It seemed the target Glen mentioned had not arrived yet.
—If he’s not there, wait. It might take a while, but he’s an important figure, so I’m counting on you.
Recalling Glen’s words, Tasha hesitated, wondering whether she should drink.
Bang—
At that moment, the door opened.
A middle-aged man with a bulky build and a dignified impression entered the tavern.
His face was hidden under a hood, but the moment Tasha saw the red beard peeking out beneath it, she was certain.
‘Erhiman von Berger.’
The vice-commander of the Red Cross Knights of Istirenne, a Seven-Star Knight, and Tasha’s target.
He walked heavily to the bar and ordered strong liquor.
“One hundred fifty of Lukadi. Fill the glass. No ice.”
“……I’ll bring a fresh one.”
The bartender glanced at him, then turned and went into the back.
Soon, the bartender returned and pushed a large mug filled with strong liquor in front of Erhiman.
Beneath the hood, the lower half of his face curved into a satisfied grin.
At the same time, a sharp glint flashed in Tasha’s otherwise dull eyes.
“…….”
Vice-Commander Erhiman von Berger.
A man known for being honest, steadfast, kind, and righteous—respected by the knights around him.
With considerable experience as a knight, many expected him to succeed the aging commander as the next leader of the order.
However, according to Glen, he would meet a futile end here today.
Because of that one drink he loved so much—so much that it drove him to secretly visit the pleasure district wearing a hood.
Ting—
As Erhiman grabbed the handle of the mug with his thick hand, something dropped into his drink with a clear sound.
“Hm?!”
Startled, Erhiman looked into his mug.
Inside was a single silver coin.
He slightly lifted his hood and glared at Tasha, who had thrown it.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Blue eyes, visible only to Tasha, gleamed like those of a monster.
Tasha replied in her usual flat voice.
“That’s a rude thing to say to someone who saved your life.”
“What? Saved my life—?”
Without answering further, Tasha quietly stood up and headed for the exit.
The bartender reached out.
“I’m sorry. I’ll replace it—!”
“No.”
A thick hand firmly grabbed the bartender’s wrist.
Erhiman’s eyes, however, were fixed on his mug.
The silver coin inside had turned pitch black.
There was poison in his drink.
“Forget the alcohol. First, you need to explain this to me.”
“H-Hiiik!”
The bartender met the furious blue eyes, filled with fear.
Clatter—
Just as Erhiman was about to interrogate the bartender, the female knight who had thrown the coin left the tavern.
He desperately wanted to chase her, but first he had to deal with the situation at hand.
‘Still…’
Glancing at a small piece of paper left at the seat where she had been, Erhiman’s eyebrow twitched.
‘It seems she doesn’t intend to avoid conversation entirely.’
Letting out a small chuckle, Erhiman glared at the bartender.
“Let’s start with how you knew I’d be coming here.”
“This is insane. Seriously.”
Romina looked around with a stunned expression.
The central plaza of the capital, Istirenne.
Who would believe that beneath the busiest place in the city lay a Black Order parish?
‘I’d be lucky if people just thought I was crazy.’
Yet no matter how many times she denied it, everything around her was real.
Hiding a parish beneath the central plaza of the Minis Order was already absurd enough—but disguising it as a traveling circus tent?
What kind of lunatic thought of that?
‘I knew they weren’t normal, but this is on another level.’
Feeling once again how unhinged the Black Order was, Romina pressed her forehead.
