Chapter 61: The Witch Association

Felix and Klaus were riding toward the imperial capital on military horses prepared by Klaus. More precisely, they were advancing toward the blockade set up by the army.

The military had surrounded the capital to isolate it, and even the National Gendarmerie had been mobilized to assist.

But there was nothing more the army—or humanity—could do.

"Halt!"

As Felix and Klaus approached the blockade, soldiers aimed their rifles and shouted.

"Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! This is Klaus, son of Imperial Chancellor Alexander von Freudenthal! We’re not a threat!"

"Chancellor Alexander’s…?"

Klaus dismounted as he spoke, and the soldiers exchanged bewildered glances.

"What’s going on here?!"

At that moment, an Imperial Army officer appeared.

"Lieutenant! Someone claiming to be Chancellor Alexander’s son is here!"

"What? What business does the Chancellor’s son have here?"

The officer turned his gaze to Klaus.

"A friend of mine is trapped in the capital. I need to save them."

"The capital is under complete lockdown. No one enters. Even if there are people left behind, there’s no saving them now. I’m sorry."

Klaus delivered his plea, but the officer shook his head.

"Please. There’s a woman I need to save. No matter what, I have to save her."

Felix stepped forward and begged the officer as well.

"Is this woman family?"

"She will be. She’s the woman I love."

"...I see. The Army is about to launch an operation to breach the capital. The entry point is the ruins of the old imperial wall. If you hurry, you might catch up with them."

"Thank you…!"

Felix bowed deeply to the officer, then rushed off with Klaus toward the ruins of the imperial wall. They spurred their horses, charging toward the remnants of the wall that once encircled the capital.

"There!"

At the ruins stood an Army unit—and another force of unknown affiliation.

"Wait!"

Felix shouted toward the troops, and immediately, soldiers swung their rifles toward them.

"You two! Identify yourselves!"

"Felix von Starkburg! I was told your unit is breaching the capital! Let us come with you!"

Felix shouted back at the officer who seemed to be in command.

"Starkburg? From the Starkburg ducal house? Regardless, civilians are to evacuate beyond the blockade immediately! This area is off-limits!"

But the Army officer refused, ordering them to turn back.

"Wait."

Then, a familiar voice called out.

"Lady Elizabeth!"

"Felix, Klaus. I won’t ask why you’re here. I understand your goal—it’s Iris, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. That’s right. Lady Iris is still in the capital."

Before them stood Elizabeth and Matthias.

"Still in the capital? She’s the reason the capital’s in this state. We let our guard down because of her human disguise, and this is the result. Damn it."

"I know that. But—!"

"If you know, then piss off, you brat."

Matthias glared at Felix with open hostility.

"Felix. The Iris you knew no longer exists. She has been confirmed as a divine entity hostile to humanity. Even so… you still wish to save her?"

"Yes. To me, she’s still Lady Iris."

"I see…"

Elizabeth fell silent, deep in thought.

"Very well. Then we’ll take that gamble. We’ll trust that you can neutralize Iris."

"You serious, Bess?"

"We stand no chance against a divine entity as we are. Shouldn’t we bet on every possibility, no matter how slim?"

"...Tch. Maybe you’re right."

Matthias shrugged and nodded.

"Then let’s move. Iris—no, Ith-Sri-Lith’s influence has already spread to over half the capital. At this rate, not just the city but the entire planet will fall under her control. And if that happens—"

"Game over."

Matthias finished Elizabeth’s thought.

"Klaus. Stay behind."

"Hey. You expect me to abandon my friend?"

"Yeah. I need you to protect the people left here. What comes next is pure selfishness on my part. I can’t drag you into it."

"...Fine. But you damn well better come back alive. Got it?"

"That’s the plan."

Felix clasped Klaus’s shoulder in farewell.

"Rosenkreuz Association. You’re ready?"

"Yes. We’re prepared."

"Then we begin the operation."

At the Army commander’s order, the Imperial forces, the Rosenkreuz Association, and Felix charged toward the capital—now crumbling under Iris’s corruption.

Felix’s group breached the city.

"Go, go, GO!"

The joint Army and Rosenkreuz units, armed with machine guns and roaring trucks, sped at full tilt toward Central Imperial Hospital.

"This… is Iris’s doing?"

The capital’s buildings were being consumed by pulsating masses of crimson-black flesh. Tendrils and grotesque growths coiled over streets and structures, twisting the city into a nightmare.

"Getting cold feet, brat?"

Matthias sneered from the driver’s seat, eyes glued to the road.

"No. She’ll understand. I know she will."

"Sure, sure. Off to rescue your damsel in distress like some fairy-tale prince, eh?"

"Maybe I am."

Matthias scoffed, but Felix ignored him.

Right now, there was only one thing on his mind: saving Iris.

"Multiple hostiles ahead! Stay sharp!"

An Army officer’s warning cut through the chaos.

Ahead, shadowy figures emerged—not civilians, but witches of the Witch Association.

"Damn hags. We’re plowing through!"

"Agreed."

Matthias floored the accelerator while Elizabeth braced for attacks. A Rosenkreuz operative manned the truck’s mounted machine gun, unleashing a barrage at the witches. Bullets tore into them, but the witches weren’t defenseless.

"Summoned creatures?! Goddamn bitches!"

The witches conjured abominations—blasphemous monsters that lunged at the convoy.

"Agh! Hel—"

A soldier up front was swallowed whole by a creature, his body dissolving into bubbling sludge under corrosive acid.

"No time to get pinned down! We’re pushing through!"

Matthias swerved around the monsters, gunning the engine. Only half the assault force remained; the rest were already dead.

"What a fucking shitstorm," Matthias grumbled, lighting a cigarette with a flick of magic.

"Wait, Matthias—STOP!"

Elizabeth’s shout made him slam the brakes.

Ahead, blocking the path just shy of Central Imperial Hospital, stood—

"My, my. What business does the Rosenkreuz have with our god?"

A girl in a black dress and military coat smirked at them—Claudia, a high-ranking witch.

"Bess. We’re screwed."

"I know. But we’ll manage."

Matthias grinned like a man with nothing left to lose; Elizabeth’s voice was steel.

"Felix. Leave this to us. Go to the hospital."

"But—"

"You’re useless here."

Her bluntness cut through his hesitation.

"Hey. Ain’t you the prince on a white horse, brat? No—Felix von Starkburg. You yapped enough about love. So go save that woman you’re so damn smitten with."

Matthias punched Felix’s shoulder.

"Let the adults handle this."

"...Sorry, Professor Matthias."

With that, Felix sprinted toward the hospital.

"Welp. Witch-hunting hour."

"Indeed. Let’s begin."

Matthias bared his teeth in a wild grin; Elizabeth allowed herself a small, icy smile.

……………………