The Murderer Doctor and the Singing Saint

Chapter 5: Investigator Claude (2)

‘The Pope’s Legion is invincible.’

That had always been Claude’s belief. The strength of the Pope’s Legion was so overwhelming that to think otherwise felt absurd.

Their shields seemed sturdy enough to stop battering rams alone, and their swords shone with such brilliance that they looked capable of cutting down any villain in a single blow.

Claude believed that, with the Pope’s Legion at his side, even facing the subterranean overlords who had brought down the Empire wouldn’t be impossible.

And that was why he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Kiru, who had dashed in and snatched Claude’s sword in an instant, immediately began pressing the assault against the Pope’s Legion.

The madman, his eyes glowing red, swung his sword with a terrifying fervor. Slowly but surely, the Legion was being pushed back.

His speed was beyond what the eye could follow. His power, beyond what could be resisted.

When a paladin swung a massive axe, Kiru would twist his body ever so slightly to slip past the blade. When another paladin drove his sword toward Kiru, Kiru didn’t retreat—he clashed blades head-on.

If a paladin chanted a spell to bind his limbs, Kiru would find an opening and rush in, aiming to drive his sword through the paladin’s helmet.

“Sir Claude!”

A paladin cried out in desperation. The situation itself was something Claude could not comprehend.

The Pope’s Legion—desperate? Because of a mere lunatic like that?

“Sir Claude! Please, use a binding spell in our stead!”

Snapped back to his senses by the paladin’s voice, Claude began chanting. Golden shackles formed around Kiru’s limbs. The restraints tightened, constricting his arms and legs.

It is over now. No matter how powerful he was, he couldn’t possibly fight two paladins with his limbs bound.

Or so Claude thought.

He was wrong.

Kiru paused for a moment—then ripped the restraints apart with sheer force.

“This is absurd…”

To tear apart a magical binding spell without so much as an incantation—was that even possible?

Claude tried casting the spell again, but Kiru once again broke free with ease and charged at the paladins.

Claude couldn’t just stand there. He drew the dagger he carried in his cloak and rushed at Kiru.

But if even the paladins of the Pope’s Legion couldn’t defeat Kiru, there was no way Claude could.

Kiru struck him down with ease and resumed his fight with the paladins.

As Claude tried to rise again, he saw Kiru’s sword pierce into the helmet of one of the paladins.

“No!!!”

Claude shouted, but Kiru kept stabbing into the paladin’s face. The paladin’s body finally collapsed to the ground.

“Are you next?”

Kiru’s voice rang out—colder, sharper than before. He began walking slowly, then suddenly rushed at the remaining paladin.

Claude pushed himself up with his dagger and lunged toward Kiru. Just as he thought he might land a blow from behind—

“So annoying…”

Kiru casually dodged Claude’s dagger, then grabbed his head with brutal force and hurled him aside. The impact left Claude unconscious.

When Claude opened his eyes again, the white armor of the two paladins was soaked in blood. Their sacred insignias were torn to shreds.

Kiru wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and approached Claude. Claude gripped his dagger tightly, preparing for a final stand.

***

When I came to my senses, I was pinning Claude down, the tip of my sword pressed against his face.

“How dare you lay hands on one of the Pope’s children… The entire Holy See will come after you now. Don’t think killing me will be the end of it…”

Claude glared at me as he spoke. I laid hands on one of the Pope’s children?

I turned to see the two fallen paladins. They weren’t even moving. Seeing their bloodstained armor sent a sharp pain through my head.

No way… I killed the Pope’s Legion…?

“If you’re going to kill me, do it already…!”

Claude gripped the blade against his face and pulled it toward himself. Startled, I immediately threw the sword aside.

“Why are you hesitating? Scared now? If you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you.”

Claude mocked me.

But I didn’t want to kill him.

I didn’t understand why.

“…I don’t feel it.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“There’s no killing intent toward you. Why…?”

If this were just blind hatred against the Holy See, or mindless bloodlust, I should’ve killed Claude too.

But my killing intent was aimed solely at those two paladins. Once they were dead, my clarity returned. The urge to kill was gone.

“Why the hell!!!”

I grabbed Claude by the collar and screamed. Claude, unable to comprehend the situation, shoved me away.

Staggering slightly, I grabbed my bag and fled. Claude’s voice echoed from behind.

“Don’t think it’s over! I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth!”

None of it made sense. Why did I feel such bloodlust toward the Pope’s Legion? And why didn’t it stop, even after I heard the Song of the Orb?

How did I manage to kill two members of the Pope’s Legion alone?

My head throbbed. I lay on the ground in the mountains, staring at the sky.

Soon, the Holy See’s pursuers would come for me.

I thought it might be better to take my own life before they did—but I’d left my sword behind, so that was no longer an option.

I thought I’d lived a decent life… But this was how it ended.

Then I heard footsteps. Thinking it was a pursuer, I stood to face my end.

But the voice that came was completely unexpected.

“Kiru!”

Saint Arisa.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I followed your song.”

Arisa, hurrying toward me with quick steps, threw her arms around me. Then she flinched sharply.

“Let go, Saint. You don’t need to be listening to such unpleasant things.”

At my words, Arisa only held me tighter. Seeing that made my guilt feel even heavier.

I had betrayed the Saint’s trust.

“Do you even know what I’ve done?”

“Of course. That’s why I came to find you right away.”

“Then how can you act like it’s nothing? I’m a murderer. I killed the Pope’s Legion. And you’re still saying I sound ‘pleasant’ to your ears?”

I should’ve thanked her for coming, but sharp words escaped me instead.

As if she understood everything, Arisa didn’t let go.

“I don’t know either. I really don’t. But I believe there must be a reason.”

“You’re still talking about reasons? This is who I am. A murderer stuck in the past. That’s all I am.”

“Don’t say that…”

A tear trickled from Arisa’s eye.

There’s someone crying for me, a killer… For a murderer, that’s not such a bad end.

“Kiru, I’ve always believed in you.”

“You don’t need to. Kiru’s not even my real name. My real name is…”

I sensed an arrow flying toward us. I could dodge it if I tried, but if I moved, Arisa might get hit.

So I simply embraced her tighter. The arrow struck my left shoulder.

“Ggh…”

It had been so long since I felt pain like this—it was unfamiliar.

Arisa, alarmed, looked at my shoulder and quickly began to cast a healing spell.

“I’ll heal you right away..!”

“There’s no need. It’s all over now.”

I released my arms around her and looked around. I couldn’t see clearly in the dark, but there were at least dozens surrounding us.

Each one is likely an elite warrior. There was no escaping this time.

“That’s far enough.”

A familiar voice. Claude. So he really meant it when he said he’d hunt me to the ends of the earth.

Claude’s conjured light illuminated us. Seeing Arisa with me, he ground his teeth.

“You bastard, using such a vile trick…”

What? What trick?

Ah… he thinks I’m holding Arisa hostage.

“Release the Saint now. She’s innocent.”

“Saint, did you hear him? You should…”

“Pretend you’re holding me hostage.”

Did that really just come from a saint?

I looked down at Arisa in disbelief. She buried her face into my chest.

“That way, we can at least buy time to talk.”

“You know it’s pointless by now.”

“I can’t just let you die like this.”

I knew this would only make things worse. Taking the Saint hostage would ensure a much crueler end.

But I wanted to speak with Arisa more. To hear her song, just a little longer.

To be forgiven—just once—by her.

The problem was, I had no weapon. No tool to play the part.

Dozens of paladins, seeing I was unarmed, chanted in unison.

My body froze. Gravity far heavier than usual pulled me down.

It was hard to breathe—my entire body felt crushed.

“Saint, are you unharmed?”

Claude ran over to check on Arisa.

“Please… release Kiru.”

“He’s threatened you twice now. We know you believe in forgiveness, but we must pass judgment. Please understand.”

“Kiru is innocent.”

“Saint… please go with the paladins. We will take care of this.”

Even as Arisa followed the paladins, she kept glancing back at me with worry.

I wanted to smile—to let her know I’d be fine—but the crushing force made that impossible.

Once Arisa was out of sight, Claude placed his sword against my neck.

“For laying hands on the Pope’s children, your end will not be merciful. But before that, answer me. Do you still deny the murder of innocents?”

“I killed them.”

“So you finally speak the truth. Are you afraid now that the end is near?”

“I have never feared death.”

“I suppose not. If you had, you wouldn’t have dared touch the Pope’s own. But soon you’ll wish for death.”

So… he wouldn’t let me die easily.

That’s fine. I had expected nothing less.

Judgment was simply delayed.

“You will be judged before His Holiness himself. Every sin you’ve committed will be exposed, and no original sin will be hidden.”

So he meant to bring up even the crimes I committed in the past… the murders I committed as a mercenary.

That’s fine. No—perhaps I’d even hoped for it.

“Any last words?”

“I want to see Saint Arisa again. That’s all.”

“Forget it. You will not be forgiven.”

I’m not seeking forgiveness.

I just want to hear her voice again. Her song.

I want to apologize.

The overwhelming pressure dulls my consciousness. I can no longer hear Claude’s words.

I closed my eyes, thinking only of Arisa.