Adam noted his earlier lapse in composure. Such an unusual emotional outburst in these circumstances could only signal danger or some hidden scheme.
The urgent matter, however, was locating the Witch Cult and villagers — this demanded his immediate focus.
The Mathers domain stretched vast before him. While Arlam Village and the Count's Mansion occupied just a small portion, the Beast Forest dominated most of the territory.
His return from the village had confirmed his fears — not a soul remained in the empty streets. The Witch Cult must have retreated to the Wolgarm Forest!
Of course, they might have already fled the area entirely.
But no — these deranged cultists weren't the type to abandon their mission so readily.
At the Beast Forest's edge, Adam discovered the destroyed barrier that once repelled Witchbeasts. Though a few creatures had slipped through into the village, he dispatched them with a single decisive strike.
"So they really are hiding in the Beast Forest."
With their location confirmed, he plunged into the forest without hesitation.
Armed with the 〘Divine Protection of the Sun〙— which enhanced all his daytime actions — Adam held no fear of confronting the Witch Cult.
Still, he employed his 〔Perception〕 ability for swift tracking, while maintaining his 〔Stealth〕 skill to mask his presence. His enemy detection would warn of the Witch Cult's proximity.
When confronting enemies alone, the first strike must be decisive — eliminating as many foes as possible!
This approach would simplify his task considerably. Though confident in his abilities, why refuse a strategy that guaranteed both safety and success?
He methodically swept the area with his detection skill, leaving no stone unturned.
After three hours of careful searching, he finally discovered traces of the Witch Cult along a cliff face.
The cultists crouched outside a dark cave, apparently awaiting someone's arrival. The surrounding stone forest provided an expansive view with strategic advantages.
"You've chosen quite a nice place for your burial ground, Sloth."
Rather than engaging immediately, he surveyed the area once more.
He needed to locate all Ten Fingers. The Archbishop of Sloth mustn't be allowed to escape by transferring his consciousness to one of these vessels after death.
{T/N: He was typically accompanied by special followers known as the Fingers—ten Witch Cultists who served as both sub-commanders and potential host bodies for Petelgeuse. Each Finger led their own group of lower-ranking cultists.}
That was something Adam wanted to avoid.
Using his 〔Perception〕 skill repeatedly to scan the surroundings, he found no other Witch Cult members standing watch. Though he couldn't identify which ten were the Fingers, knowing all members were gathered here was sufficient.
Having confirmed the enemy's positions, how could he let such an excellent chance slip by?
He activated his Divine Protection, instantly forming Magic.
◈ Divine Protection of the Sun ⫸ El Goa ◈
Countless arrows of condensed light materialized from thin air, their tips blazing with scorching flames.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With barely a whisper through the air, they rained down upon the black-robed Witch Cult members.
Precision guidance, exceptional results!
With 〔Enemy Detection〕 skill assisting, every Solar Flame Arrow found its mark! The arrows carried such intense flames that neither physical force nor Magic could extinguish them — burning their targets to ash!
The field was cleared in an instant!
"Excellent!" Adam showed no mercy toward these unprincipled puppets who barely qualified as human.
Strike when necessary! After all, were he the one surrounded, they would show him no mercy.
The arrows striking ground echoed like raindrops on glass — rhythmic yet haunting.
Sloth, hiding in the cave, sensed the disturbance. After witnessing his subordinates' annihilation, he emerged slowly.
He found a man in Knight's attire standing amid his charred followers, wearing a smile as their eyes met.
"Huh? Who are you?" The Archbishop of Sloth tilted his head at the sudden visitor, oddly unconcerned about his dead subordinates.
But before Adam could answer, Petelgeuse began frantically biting his fingers.
With a terrifyingly manic expression, he screamed, "What have you done to my fingers — so cruel, so heartless! You truly are slothful!"
Blood dripped from his mouth as he gnawed his fingers raw, seemingly immune to pain.
What an extremely twisted individual!
"Pleased to meet you, my name is Adam Carter. And you are?"
"Y-y-y-you... I am the Sin Archbishop of Sloth of the Witch Cult, Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, desu!" Unlike Adam's composed introduction, Petelgeuse's response was bizarre — he tilted his head with wild eyes, emanating an inexplicable terror.
His rapid shift from rage over his murdered fingers to formal introductions revealed the chaos within his mind.
"Sniff sniff, sniff sniff." He moved his nose as if catching a scent, "Indeed, this enchanting fragrance... you are a beloved disciple."
After a moment, as if understanding something, Petelgeuse's demeanor shifted completely. He shook his head and screamed.
"Love! Love! Love! You are beloved, you are the witch's beloved disciple!"
"Fragrance? Love?" Adam frowned.
The witch's lingering scent and this talk of love... He must be referring to the kid Subaru.
After all, Subaru had died ten times and attracted the White Whale — the witch's scent on him was overwhelmingly strong. The Witch of Envy certainly loved him dearly, loved him to death and back.
But what did any of this have to do with him? Had spending so much time with the kid caused the scent to rub off?
"Oh beloved disciple of the witch, have you come to join the Witch Cult? Wonderful, truly wonderful!" Petelgeuse twisted his body, overjoyed at Adam's arrival, completely forgetting his fallen fingers.
"I apologize, but I'm not here to join the Witch Cult."
"You're not?" Petelgeuse's face twisted in confusion, "Impossible! Could it be you haven't received the gospel yet?"
"Gospel? No, I don't have such a thing. Besides, I never had any intention of joining the Witch Cult."
"You would reject the witch's love?! My brain, my brain trembles! Proof of the witch's love — the Authority of Sloth: Unseen Hand!"
Without warning, Petelgeuse attacked. Dozens of invisible tentacles burst from his back, rushing toward Adam with lethal intent.
But how could Adam, with his 〔Perception〕 skill, be caught so easily?
Though invisible, the Unseen Hand had physical form. Under his skill's scanning, every tentacle was exposed to view.
He dodged with a casual leap, taunting, "Oh my, how dangerous — that almost got me."
His words ignited Petelgeuse's fury.
"You can see my Authority?! Indeed, you too are a beloved disciple!" His face contorted from disbelief to savage rage, "Very well, let us begin! Let's see who is more worthy of receiving love!"
With that, he unleashed even more tentacles!
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