Kate recalled the prophecy Luminous had delivered after so long: “Go to the darkest and most wretched ce to wee the honored guest.”


    As expected of a divine prophecy, it was cryptic, but she couldn’t help but wonder why such ambiguous prophecies were given.


    After defeating the fallen cardinal, her divine power had grown so much that she could now directly foresee the future like Isaac, rather than rely on vague prophecies.


    Normally, such an abstract prophecy would have been reced with a straightforward request like “Go to this specific ce.”


    Still, Kate humbly epted this as the will of the deity and moved without much thought, understanding the prophecy’s meaning well enough.


    The only thing that saddened her was being away from Isaac for an extended period, but since her task was merely to bring the guest, she considered it an easy journey—until news from the underground temple reached her.


    “Did you say skeletons have appeared?”


    “Yes, yes! And it’s an intelligent entity capable of speech.”


    A skeleton had unexpectedly resurrected in the underground temple. The moment Kate heard this, her brows furrowed deeply.Who or what is a skeleton?


    A being resurrected against the natural order through wicked necromancy—a troubling existence for deities like Luminous, whom Kate served.


    And to think it could speak!


    Skeletons typicallycked intelligence and followed their necromancer’smands.


    While it was possible to summon intelligent skeletons or undead through necromancy, such cases indicated the necromancer’s extraordinary power.


    Kate, as an Inquisitor, had encountered such individuals—most often those who imbued heroic souls into the undead.


    asionally, naturally urring monsters like Duhans existed, but they rarely posed significant harm to humanity.


    These beings, unaware of their own death, wandered the mortal realm, guiding lost souls like grim reapers.


    “How many victims are there?”


    “Victims… other than a few minor injuries, none to speak of.”


    “None, aside from the injured?”


    “Yes, that’s correct.”


    Kate’s expression grew puzzled upon hearing the investigator’s report.


    It was surprising enough that the skeleton had intelligence, but no casualties?


    If the investigator’s words were true, it meant the skeleton was stronger than the entire investigation team.


    The Minerva Empire wasn’t foolish; they had deployed elite soldiers in preparation, including clerics—natural nemeses of the undead.


    “What did it say?”


    “Well… uh…”


    The investigator hesitated, swallowed hard, and cautiously spoke.


    “It asked about Lord Zenon’s whereabouts.”


    “…Excuse me?”


    Kate frowned slightly, thinking she had misheard.


    “It asked for Lord Zenon’s location and where his father is.”


    Upon hearing the full exnation, Kate’sposure snapped.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line as her face grew expressionless.


    She was known for her soft and fresh smile, akin to a vige maiden, but when her reason gave way, she had a habit of adopting this stern demeanor.


    This was one of those moments.


    She reached for the mace she had prepared at her waist.


    Though she wished to don her armor, there was no time; the unholy being needed to be dealt with immediately.


    The investigator, rmed by her sudden change in demeanor, hurriedly followed and tried to dissuade her.


    “Wait, please! Hear me out! Even if it’s a skeleton, it might be a reasonable opponent!”


    “It’s still an undead, a being that defies the natural order ordained by the gods.”


    “Y-Yes, but divine power doesn’t work on it! The clerics tried all kinds of holy spells, but none had any effect!”


    “Huh?”


    The investigator’s frantic plea seemed to give Kate pause.


    His im about divine power having no effect was even more perplexing.


    “Are you saying divine power had no effect whatsoever?”


    “Yes, none at all.”


    “Not even smoke?”


    “None.”


    Divine power having no effect… Kate pondered for a moment before resuming her steps.


    It was true that divine power was a natural enemy to the wicked, like demon worshippers—an undeniable fact.


    But the idea that it had no effect was… strange. Even Kate, devout and zealous, couldn’t ignore the absurdity.


    ‘No matter.’


    After all, it was still a skeleton and an undead.


    Though there were too many suspicious details, she couldn’t trust anything without seeing it herself.


    And more importantly, it had asked to meet Isaac and Hawk in person.


    Whatever kind of skeleton it was, that could never happen.


    ‘Then, who is this honored guest supposed to be?’


    Despite her doubts, Kate didn’t stop walking.


    Confirmation was her top priority.


    The investigator trailing her tried to dissuade her again, noting that the higher-ups had yet to provide any instructions for the situation.


    But Kate pressed on silently, undeterred.


    Eventually, she arrived at the underground temple’s central chamber, where a statue stood.


    “Is that the one?”


    “Yes, that’s it… but…”


    Kate’s gaze fell upon the skeleton standing boldly in the temple’s center.


    One knight scrambled to flee in a panic, but that was of no concern to her.


    Thus, the Apostle of the Gods and the wandering hero faced each other.


    Sensing the tense atmosphere, the investigation team began retreating quietly.


    ‘…Interesting.’


    Kate studied the skeleton closely.


    It carried a one-ded, broken axe slung over its shoulder. Despite its bony frame, its towering stature was imposing.


    d in tattered armor from its lifetime, its presence was even more striking.


    But most notable were its eye sockets, glowing with a golden light.


    It wasn’t a real eye, but the color reminded her of someone.


    Golden eyes were exceptionally rare.


    A peculiar detail stood out: it held a cigar in its teeth. Though itcked lungs, smoke curled upward with every exhale.


    ‘A woman blessed by the gods, I see.’


    On the other hand, the skeleton, rk, scrutinized Kate just as thoroughly.


    Though she appeared delicate and beautiful, her aura was extraordinary.


    Beyond her vast divine power, the most striking feature was her determination—a resolve rare for someone her age.


    It’s about predicting, but surely, he must have fought countless battles.


    Otherwise, he couldn’t possess such an aura.


    Apletely different opponent from the riff-raff he had faced until now.


    rk silently waited for her to make the first move.


    Jumping in prematurely could lead to trouble.


    Judging from the fact that she hadn’t attacked right away, she must have been deep in thought.


    ‘She reminds me of Ellie. There’s a resemnce.’


    While rk reminisced about old memories, Kate recalled what a member of the investigation team had said.


    Holy power had no effect on that skeleton.


    Could that statement really be true?


    Or had the demon worshiper strengthened its resistance to counter priests?


    Considering there were no fatalities and not even any seriously injured, it didn’t seem like an evil being.


    However, the skeleton was undoubtedly an unnatural entity, defying the natural order.


    To ‘test’ it, she ced her empty left hand over her chest instead of the right hand gripping her mace.


    Beneath her nun’s habit was a ne she always wore—a pendant bearing the symbol of Luminous.


    “Oh, Luminous, for the deceased before me…”


    “…”


    “Bring down your divine wrath.”


    sh!@@novelbin@@


    As soon as Kate murmured her holy incantation, a golden pir of light descended upon rk.


    It was farrger and more radiant than the holy spells other priests had cast.


    This pir granted beneficial effects to allies while effortlessly obliterating evil beings like demon worshipers.


    Furthermore, as a High Inquisitor, Kate could incinerate demon worshipers with simple incantations.


    [Hmph.]


    Contrary to her expectations, rk was unscathed.


    The cigar in his mouth was still intact, and, as if it had been frustrating him, he even exhaled a puff of smoke.


    His skull appeared shinier than before, as though he had been blessed.


    “H-How…?”


    “What is he?”


    “Even the Cardinal’s holy power doesn’t work…”


    The investigation team, watching the scene, was stunned.


    It was already surprising enough that Kate hade here, but rk’s very existence defied logic.


    How could a skeleton withstand the blessings of a High Inquisitor? It was a situation far beyondmon sense.


    [Hey, isn’t it about time you let me go?]


    rk, holding the cigar between his fingers, spoke bluntly.


    He couldn’tprehend why he was suffering like this right after his resurrection.


    Fighting suddenly, being bombarded with holy spells, and now a visit from the Cardinal?


    If he’d known it would be this troublesome, he might have skipped resurrection and let his soul move on.


    He’d thought of bringing the body along for Hawk’s sake, but it seemed far too naive now.


    Kate twitched at rk’s nonchnt demeanor but calmly opened her mouth.


    “…You’re a strange being. Skeletons like you are supposed to defy the natural order. Yet holy power doesn’t affect you.”


    [The gods have granted me a temporary reprieve.]


    “Do not speak of the gods so lightly, undead.”


    Kate’s voice turned cold.


    For a fanatic like her, the gods were her very existence. Naturally, the undead had no right to mention them.


    [Huh?]


    rk sighed, noticing her fanatical tendencies.


    Meanwhile, Kate’s aura grew increasingly fierce by the second.


    He shook his head and scratched his skull, the smooth surface feeling strangely odd.


    [Fanatics are the same as ever… Anyway, can you let me go now?]


    Kate hesitated.


    He was indeed an unnatural being, but if he could withstand a direct hit from a holy spell, something was off.


    Yet, she couldn’t let him leave.


    His goal was to find Isaac and Hawk. If he turned on them outside, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    Besides, there had been a demon worshiperst time who could change his soul.


    This skeleton might be simr, earning trust only to reveal his true natureter.


    Moreover, she had her own task here.


    She had beenmanded by Luminous to find and bring back an important guest.


    Until she fulfilled that mission, she wouldn’t leave the underground temple.


    “No.”


    With a resolute voice, Kate grasped her mace.


    A golden aura began to envelop her. It was a spell to strengthen her body using holy power.


    Normally, it required a prayer, but she had no need for that.


    [Figures.]


    Thud—


    rk scoffed as he lowered the massive axe he had been carrying on his shoulder, gripping it with both hands.


    Its sheer size radiated an overwhelming sense of intimidation.


    As the two prepared for a fight, the investigation team hurried to evacuate.


    “Please don’t fight too fiercely! Leave the site intact!”


    “We still have so much to study!”


    “My books! My books are over there…”


    “Shut up and move!”


    The archaeologists seemed more concerned about losing their research opportunities than the impending battle.


    One evenmented the potential loss of his precious collection, including the <em>Chronicles of Zenon</em> he had handed to rk.


    When everyone except the two had evacuated, Kate spoke solemnly to rk.


    “Prove it.”


    [Prove what?]


    “That you’re not an evil being. Otherwise…”


    Boom!


    Before finishing her sentence, Kate suddenly dashed forward.


    Her speed was so swift it seemed to fit the phrase, “in the blink of an eye.”


    “I’ll crush your skull.”


    By the time she finished her words, she was already in front of rk, swinging her mace upward to shatter his jaw.


    Just as the mace’s tip was about to hit rk’s jaw—


    Thud!


    rk stepped back lightly, evading it with minimal movement.


    [Honestly. This is why…]


    rk clicked his tongue as he muttered under his breath.


    Meanwhile, Kate calmly prepared her next strike without showing any signs of panic.


    [Fighting fanatics is such a hassle.]


    Thwack—


    rk spat the cigar he had been holding onto the ground. As it hit the hard surface, scattering ashes, his axe began to rise slowly.


    By the time the cigar hit the ground with a soft sound, Kate had also raised her mace.


    It was surrounded by golden mes. Her title, “Blue me,” referred to the blue holy mes she once wielded.


    But as her holy power grew stronger, the mes had turned golden, their strength doubling.


    On the other hand, rk’s old, battered axe appeared utterly unremarkable. It looked like any ordinary axe.


    At a nce, it seemed like Kate had the upper hand…


    [How inexperienced.]


    To rk, she was nothing more than a fledgling who couldn’t even control her own power.


    Boom!