"Eh? What's going on?" Aya still looked astounded, a bit dazed by her surroundings. As her memories, isolated by an illusion, gradually returned, she pieced together what had just happened.
"Why don't you ask this guy? It seems you're the culprit," Tiran crouched in front of Sullivan, carefully examining the feeble man. "The illusion was well done, and your characteristics match the description. You're the one who broke into the castle that night, aren't you?"
"Didn't use the front door, my apologies," Sullivan forced out a smile, his body completely relaxing.
Regardless of his own dire situation, facing three Holy Rank individuals, there was likely no chance of resisting, so it would be better to think of ways to minimize the negative impact on the church.
Moreover, Johannes was still escorting the queen out of the castle, so he needed to delay them enough.
"Big trouble, your mom's gone," Aya patted Tiran's shoulder, noticing something amiss, sounding concerned.
"Can you stop using such insulting phrases?" Tiran clicked his tongue, though he didn't seem too worried. "Any accomplices? How about outing them?"
In truth, Tiran and the others had already guessed the church's intentions since the discovery began. If everything went as expected, the church wouldn't have a falling out with the kingdom. Therefore, there was no need to worry too much about Vivian's safety.
Of course, the urgent matter was to quickly rescue the queen. However, Sullivan remained stubbornly silent, laying flat without a word.
"Aren't you just going to use soul searching directly? Or should I extend my psychic senses to find?" Aya suggested.
"That may not necessarily work," Tiran glanced at the position of the sun. "We have been under the illusion for quite some time now. They could have run far away."
"However," Tiran changed the subject, extending his hand towards Sullivan with a hint of mockery, "Did you not realize we had no preparations when we found the traces of your intrusion earlier?"
As he spoke, a bracelet-like storage item on Tiran's wrist flickered, and a smooth, spherical gemstone appeared in his hand, with a red light flashing on its surface. It was a small tracking alchemical device, with another part hidden in Vivian's hairband, which she and Tiran had secretly discussed after discovering the traces of intrusion.
"Aya, help heal Mimi first. Once she wakes up, make sure to supervise this guy. We'll go after his associates." Without giving Sullivan a chance to react further, Tiran knocked him unconscious with a single punch to the head.
Aya also found Mimi knocked unconscious at the bottom of the pit by numerous vines. Mimi's robust demon physique and quick defensive reflexes meant she wasn't severely injured, but she was definitely in a sorry state.
"Wow...this...," Aya hesitated, covering her eyes in the pit, unsure whether to look.
Previously, Mimi had been wearing a swimsuit, but under the intense movements and ruthless attacks of the vines, her clothing had become tattered, and her current position at the bottom of the pit was far from dignified.
"Aya, hurry up. While catching up should be easy, we can't waste time," Tiran's urgent voice came from outside the pit.
He quickly used a healing spell on Mimi, leaving the pit without looking back, darting towards Justice, who had arrived wielding a sword just moments ago.
"Aya, are you also here? Your Highness, what exactly happened here? I rushed back to the castle after hearing the explosion," Justice, holding a sword, surveyed the fallen figures around him with a solemn expression.
"It's hard to explain right now, but please keep an eye on this guy lying on the ground. Be careful, he's also a high-ranking knight...wait, did you say explosion?" Tiran pointed at Sullivan on the ground, trying to pull Aya away to flee, but suddenly caught onto the information conveyed in Justice's words.
Indeed, he had heard an explosion before but had become focused on the illusion and Sullivan after regaining his senses and had overlooked this.
Were there other intruders present?
"Ding Ding~ The beautiful gardener is shining on stage!"
As if reading their thoughts, a few steps away behind a bush, a girl with a mischievous grin appeared, striking a pose like a magical girl transformation.
This elicited puzzled looks from Tiran and Aya.
"Hey, at least show a bit of surprise, even if it's all just acting!" Vera said somewhat discontentedly.
"Um... it's not that surprising, to be honest," Tiran shrugged, "After all the incidents involving you and that dog Yuan, I'm not easily amazed. Besides, while your companion's methods are interesting, they seem rather lackluster."
"Hey—why do you say that?" Vera drawled, then suddenly flashed a sly smile. "But I actually think the same thing. So, to witness a more exciting performance, I've prepared a good show for Your Highness Tiran."
Before she could finish her sentence, Tiran had already rushed forward. A Holy Rank swordsman's speed far surpassed that of an ordinary person's reactions. Before Vera could respond, the ice-formed blade had already ripped her body in half.
Her now disconnected torso leaned backward, a hint of surprise on the girl's face. "Wow, the Silver War Maiden is truly worthy, your speed is much stronger than Brother Yuan's."
She wasn't panicking, and there was no blood or internal organs visible in the severed body. The girl's appearance quickly dissipated, leaving behind only withered vines as the magic that created her was no longer sustained.
"Tch, this one is just as annoying as that Yuan guy," Tiran swung his ice blade in frustration, casting a wary glance at the remnants on the ground.
What kind of show was she referring to?
