There is good news and bad news, which do you want to hear?

　It's a common question in movies.
　But it's better to have good news.

　In real life, bad news often comes in succession.

　Well, the first piece of bad news that came to Hercule was ......
　The first piece of bad news that came to Hercule was the death of the High Priestess (Medium). 　

　And a man named Gregorius ascended to the mysterious position of Pope.

　It seems that this position of Pope is concurrently that of Patriarch of Lemuria, and that the previous Patriarch of Lemuria, Cronus Clorius, has been disgraced .......

　A week later, exiles began to arrive in the Lemurian Empire one after another.
　They were all pro-Lemurian clergymen who had been very powerful in the Lemurian Patriarchate, loyal subjects of Millenia Peter, and who should have supported the young Cecilia.

　They said that the previous Patriarch of Lemuria, Cronus Clorius, was in the midst of the Inquisition, and that Cecilia was imprisoned.

　At about the same time, the Patriarchate of Lemuria, the self-proclaimed Papacy of Lemuria, announced that "the system of mediums has been abolished. From now on, I am the Pope and the leader of the Messianic world. This is a decision made by everyone, so it has nothing to do with you. I won't let you complain. Please come to Lemuria City so we can discuss things.







　What the hell!　This brazen attitude is ！！！！　Who would recognize an old man like you as a leader of the Messianic religion? ！！！！　I don't accept anyone but beautiful girls as mediums!　TS and then send me a letter!!!

　Hercule shouted and tore the letter to pieces.
　He also stomped on the paper with his shoe.

　Please don't do that, it's too much trouble to clean up.

　I'd rather not have to clean it up.

　Lucanos makes a comment.

　"I heard that she used to be a beautiful girl. I mean, just look at Cecilia.

　Cecilia is Millenia's grandson.
　Cecilia is the great-great-granddaughter of Millenia, and Hercule can somehow tell from her DNA that Millenia used to be a beautiful girl.

　I don't care about High Priestess Millenia's past. But who is this Gregorius?　Who's Gregorius? What?　The Pope!
　He's the leader of the anti-Lemurian faction of the Lemurian patriarchate. He's the great-grandson of High Priest Millenia. According to his explanation, the Pope is the head of the entire Patriarchate. He's the leader of all the Messianics.

　Lukanos said, and Hercule sniffed unhappily.

　Top of all the Messiahs?　You've got a lot of nerve being above me!
　"Don't be mad at me.

　Don't be mad at me." Lucanos chuckled.

　How shall we deal with this?
　You've invited me here. Let's go to the Patriarchate of Lemuria. And ...... we'll bring Cecilia back, and Lord Kronos as well. Prepare the ship!







　Now, as Hercule prepares his ship and prepares to board the Lemurian Patriarchate, ......
　In the basement of a building in the city of Lemuria, ...... there were two people.

　One was a man with silver hair.
　He is in his mid-fifties and has no obvious physical characteristics, indicating that he is a human being.
　He wears a pure white vestment.

　The other was a beautiful girl with silver hair.
　This one wore shabby clothes that were slightly yellowish and dull.

　Metal shackles were attached to her feet.

　"I have told you many times ...... to cooperate with me. Cecilia.
　I have told you many times that I have no intention of being a part of your evil. I will not say anything bad about ....... Just stop it.

　The girl, Cecilia, brushed aside the words of the man, Gregorius.
　Then she glared at Gregorius.

　Gregorius said in a slightly annoyed voice.

　"Well, ...... will hold you prisoner for the rest of your life, is that okay?
　It's a funny joke. Are you going to live for more than two hundred years?　You're not a medium, you're not an elf.

　Cecilia said with a smile, and a blue streak appeared on Gregorius' forehead.

　The inherited magic, God's Blessing, had already been transferred from Millenia to Cecilia.
　He could take away the power, but he could not take away the magic.

　The Divine Blessing is a spell that has been passed down from the first Medium to the current Cecilia.
　This spell has the effect of extending the life of the heir.

　Gregorius had an irritated expression on his face, but ......
　I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that.

　"So let me ask you this. Do you really believe that you can live out your life to the fullest?
　...... What are you trying to say?

　Gregorius smirked.

　The previous Patriarch of Lemuria, Cronus Clorius, has been found guilty and he will be burned without incident.


　"Yoo, guilty?　What are you talking about?

　Cecilia had been captured and imprisoned immediately after the death of the Medium.
　Therefore, she was unaware of the political upheaval within the Patriarchate of Lemuria, or that Cronus was facing the Inquisition.

　He confessed that he was a heretic, that he had intercourse with demons, that he had made a pact with them.
　"No, of course not!　He made a pact with the devil. ......
　That's what he said, in fact. He even signed it.

　Gregorius smirked.
　A cold sweat ran down Cecilia's spine.

　As far as Cecilia knew, Kronos was a very devout man.
　He couldn't be a heretic.
　This meant that he had been forced to confess to .......

　In other words, he may have been tortured.

　As Cecilia's face grew tense, Gregorius snapped his fingers.
　A soldier appeared behind him and grabbed Cecilia's arms, forcing her to stand.

　The chains were removed and she was blindfolded.

　"What are you doing?
　What are you doing?" "I'm going to have to ask you to move on. ...... No, to the interrogation room. The execution of Cronus Clorius will take place in 20 days. As soon as that's done, we'll interrogate you.
　"Interrogation?

　Gregorius smiled furtively.

　You are suspected of being a ...... witch who has made a pact with the devil as well.
　"No, that's absurd!　That's impossible. ......

　Cecilia's voice stopped mid-sentence.
　Cecilia's voice stopped mid-sentence as Gregory's fist slammed into Cecilia's stomach.

　"Geez, geez, ......, you're so violent ......, you're even more suspicious ...... than Kronos and I.
　"If you don't confess soon, you're going to be in a lot more pain than you are now.

　Gregorius said, ......
　Gregorius moved off with his soldiers.

　Cecilia was dragged along by the soldiers.






　"What the hell is this place ......?

　Cecilia's blindfold was removed and she looked around anxiously.
　It was pitch black and she couldn't see a thing.

　"Turn on the lights.
　Yes, sir.

　On Gregory's orders, the soldiers turned on the lights.
　Gradually the whole room became clearer.

　Oh, that's nasty .......

　Cecilia muttered to herself.

　Cecilia's description of the room as "bad taste" was understandable.
　The walls were covered with torture devices.
　And there were reddish-black stains everywhere.

　Perhaps Hercule would call it "good taste".

　"This is the room where Cronus Clorius slept until a few days ago.
　It's a terrible place to stay, not even a bed.

　There's nothing to be afraid of.
　There's nothing to be afraid of," Cecilia said, her voice trembling.

　Cecilia said, as if to say that there was nothing to be afraid of, but her voice was trembling and it was obvious that she was afraid.

　"Sit her down.

　At Gregory's command, the soldier sat Cecilia down on a metal chair in the middle of the room.
　Then they tied her hands and feet together.

　You said it would be twenty days before the full interrogation began, but ...... we'll do a preliminary interrogation first.

　Gregorius smiled.
　In his hand he held what looked like a pair of metal pliers.

　"Twenty fingers on each limb. And twenty until the execution of Cronus Clorius. One a day, don't you think that's about right?
　Well, I don't think so at all. ......
　Really? That's too bad.

　Gregorius pinched Cecilia's nails with a pair of pliers.
　Then he smiles benignly.

　Are you ready for this?
　You can do what you want. ...... I'm innocent. God sees everything.

　Cecilia glared at Gregorius as the least she could do.

　Then ......













　Cecilia's scream rang out.