Chương 17: Killing an Unbeliever... as a Rock?!

.. as a Rock?!

Chapter Seventeen Killing an Unbeliever... as a Rock?! Nobody spoke. An oppressive silence fell over the cramped room that had so often buzzed with rancor over the last two days.

"Wh-what'd you do?!" Axel broke the silence with the meaty thumping of his fists. He pummeled Erik, who accepted the beating with a practiced meekness. Axel's twin quickly joined in, shoving Erik to the ground.

"That sounded like one of them Puck Boys!" Iver said as Erik tried to shield his already black-and-blue face.

"Why'd you bring them here?! Did you tell them about God?!"

"N-Not my fault!" Erik whimpered pathetically. He pointed a trembling hand at Alice the Rock who was being clutched tightly by Urd.

"God said I would win! B-But... But I lost!" Axel opened his mouth to retort, but he seemed to deflate as Erik's words sank in. He turned to his twin and found he was not alone in his sudden worry.

"Sh-shut up!" The room collectively jumped as Urd stumbled forward. Alice blinked in shock as The Girl kicked Erik hard between the legs. The boy rolled over miserably as Urd glowered down at him.

"Y-You didn't believe hard enough!" Urd said, stamping her feet. This was perhaps only the third time Alice had seen her little priestess in such a fiery temper.

"G-God said if you stayed t-true, you would win! You lost because... because you didn't believe!"

"What should we do?" Mouse blurted as an indistinct shout came from outside.

"I don't want ta die!" another whimpered.

"He said he'd burn us! Fire hurts!" The whole room erupted with worry. Alice could not even hear the taunts that came from the supposed Puck Boys as all her believers crowded around Urd. Iver and Axel stood protectively beside her, perhaps out of habit more than anything else. The twins watched Urd with anxiety written clear across their sunken faces. Alice shared in their anxiety. Whoever had beaten up Erik had followed him back here, and they did not sound particularly friendly.

It was not hard to imagine that they had brought friends, as well. What do I do...? Alice wondered to herself, looking at her scrawny, underfed believers. Should she try and [Bless] all of her urchins? Would seven children roided out on [Bless] be able to take on whatever threat lay outside?

"What is God saying?!"

"Why aren't you telling us anything?!"

"This isn't what you promised, Rotty!" Urd's face was a pained grin, her eyes scrunched up and fearful.

"B-Be quiet!" Urd said with only a fraction of her newfound confidence.

"I can't... Y-You all are too loud! I can't... can't hear Master Merry Weather!" Alice was not sure whether to laugh or cry. The look of concentration on Urd's face was almost too much to bear. Why? Why didn't Alice have bigger followers?

"I-I understand!" Urd shouted suddenly, and Alice could hardly believe her eyes. Urd's face had transformed into a mask of delight. The urchins looked on with wide-eyed anticipation.

"This...! This is a trial!" Urd proclaimed.

"Eh? What?" Mouse said. Eh? What? Alice thought to herself.

"Th-this is a test!" Urd said, her voice swelling with zealous confidence.

"These enemies of the M-Master are...! I mean, Master Merry Weather sent these b-boys here, so we could demonstrate our faith!" No, no, no! Alice wanted to rip out her nonexistent hair. Where had all this zeal come from? Those are just bullies! Don't blame me for them! The words were on the tip of her nonexistent tongue, but in the end Alice said nothing. She was afraid to say anything. Alice was all too aware of the loose grip she had on her believers. Almost none shared in Urd's zeal.

Even now they exchanged wary looks as The Girl continued to proselytize.

"L-Let's go!" Urd said, and she pushed her way through the crowd of urchins, Alice the Rock held tight in her hands. Aside from Iver and Axel, none followed. Alice felt a stone fall into the pit of her nonexistent stomach as her CCTV vision shifted and revealed three tall teenagers lurking outside the ruined house. They were much larger than any of Alice's followers, and a casual violence lay across their crude, unwashed faces.

"Lookie what we got here," the tallest of the three said as Urd and the twins crawled outside and onto the street. He wore a red shirt that looked as though it had not been washed since it first left the loom.

"Thought I could smell some rotshit."

"Ugh! Can't hardly believe they can breathe around that thing," another bully said, wrinkling his pudgy nose. He was wide where Red Shirt was long.

"Couldn' pay me ta do that." Alice's nonexistent stomach was full of butterflies as Urd took a trembling step towards their teenage menace. The Girl seemed to have lost some measure of the courage she had shown inside.

"Y-You all... You all should... go away!" The three teenagers turned to one another with slimy looks. Barely suppressed laughter tickled their faces.

"M-Master Merry Weather will... will punish you!" Urd seemed to hug Alice the Rock even tighter as she said this.

"You all... You all had better- ""That the rock then?" Red Shirt said, and he stepped closer, earning a muffled squeal from Urd.

"Give it 'ere."

"Don't y-you try ta touch- " Axel began. Both he and his twin stepped protectively in front of Urd. Alice knew a flicker of hope!

"Fuck off," Red Shirt said, and he slugged Axel hard across the face. It had only been a couple days since Axel had broken his nose, and the bully's blow left him howling with pain on the dirty street.

"Axel!" Iver shouted, and the twin swung halfheartedly at the much larger boy.

"What the? There's two of ya!" Red Shirt said, avoiding Iver's fists and kneeing him painfully in the groin.

"Freaks flock togetha, I guess." Urd did not tremble, but the last bits of her courage vanished as Iver hit the ground. Red Shirt wore a victorious smile as he stepped over the twin and towards Urd. What am I doing?! Alice wondered with a start. Why hadn't she blessed Axel or Iver?! Why was she just... just standing around doing nothing?! Grabbing hold of Red Shirt's ear, Alice whispered with as much menace as she could muster.

"D-Do not anger me! I am... am Alice of the Merry Weather!" Red Shirt spun around instantly, surprising Chubby who had been standing just behind him. Alice knew a moment's relief... but Red Shirt turned back to Urd within a breath, his eyes narrow and his grin snakelike.

"That was it?" Red Shirt asked. He glanced at Chubby and the third bully, both of whom offered him rich frowns.

"You two didn't hear that? No, I guess not. Seems like rotface over 'ere learned a foul little trick." Alice's thoughts colored with concern as Chubby's face became a mirror of Red Shirt's malice. Both boys drew closer to Urd while the third kicked the still-moaning Axel in the stomach. I guess this is a good chance to practice [Smite]! Alice thought to herself, trying to push down the alarm that filled her with each step the bullies took. Without any further delay, she focused on Red Shirt.

He likely would have been around Alice's age before the start of her isekai misadventure. She knew his type well enough. Just because he was a little bigger than others, he thought himself a king. Y-You may think you're a king, but I'm... I'm a god! She willed the gangly bastard to fall flat on his face, for blood to pour down his ugly features.

"H-Hey!" Urd darted away as Red Shirt tried to grab Alice the Rock. The long-limbed idiot spun around after her, but somehow ended up tripping over his own legs. His mouth flapped open in mild surprise as he tottered off his feet and fell onto his rear end.

"What you doin', Lark?" Chubby asked, laughing.

"Think the rotface is givin' him the slip," the other bully said as he began to stomp on Iver's head as though it were a roll of bubble wrap.

"You little whore," Red Shirt snarled, and he scrambled quickly to his feet, his unwashed face bright with embarrassment. Once more, Alice willed for something bad to happen to the bully. She willed that he be unable to reach Urd, that he fail spectacularly. And once more, Alice was rewarded with a clumsiness that seemed almost clown-like. As Urd yelped and ran away, Red Shirt stumbled over the uneven road, slamming his shoulder painfully into the splintered wood of Alice's shabby church.

"This little...!" Red Shirt cursed, rubbing his arm as a line of red blood appeared. She could see the beginnings of concern spread across his face, and she was not about to let the opportunity pass.

"Just leave!" Alice planted the desire into Chubby's ear with [Serpent's Whisper].

"You, uh, beat up some kids! You did what you wanted, s-so j ust leave!" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Hope blossomed in her nonexistent chest as she saw a flicker of annoyance spread across Chubby's face.

"You don't want to stick around here anymore!" Alice whispered into the third bully's ear.

"You've beaten the kids up enough, and now you're... you're hungry!" With how heated Red Shirt was chasing Urd, Alice did not think the boy would be in much of a mood to leave. But if she could convince his friends...!

"I am going to murder you!" Red Shirt hissed as he stalked slowly towards Urd.

"Come on, Lark!" the third boy called, scratching his stomach.

"You saw the rock. I'm hungry."

"What you mean, you're hungry?" Red Shirt shouted back, confused. Axel and Iver crawled away as Chubby and the third bully lost interest. The twins struggled to their feet and stood protectively in front of Urd. Neither boy seemed to be in much of a state to protect, however.

"Got that thing to take care of," Chubby said, shrugging. He glanced at Urd and the twins and then started away.

"You really think we should waste any more time here?" Alice could have done a backflip. [Serpent's Desire] had become so much more powerful since it had ranked up. It was not yet the mind control she dreamed of, but Alice's desires had definitely become harder to ignore.

"Listen to your friends!" Alice whispered the desire into Red Shirt's ear. His face twitched as though he could feel Alice's nonexistent breath.

"You scared them enough! Just leave!" Red Shirt stared venomously at Urd and the trembling twins. Alice was about to poke him with another [Serpent's Whisper] when...

"Stupid brats..."

"Yes...!" Alice sighed with relief as Red Shirt turned around and stomped over to his friends. He rubbed his shoulder where his shirt had been torn, muttering dark words Alice could not hear. That... That could have been bad, Alice thought to herself as the three bullies began up the street. I really need stronger followers.

"Th-that's right!"

"Eh?" Alice blinked in confusion as Axel filled the afternoon air with a shout.

"Master Merry Weather won't l-let you push us around!" Axel shouted again. His twin stared at him with wide eyes, as did Alice. The three bullies stopped dead in their tracks and turned around.

"Nooooo!" Alice cursed, and she grabbed hold of Axel's ear.

"Shut up! Stop taunting them!"

"Y-Yeah!" Iver shouted, as if encouraged by his brother, and Alice wanted to scream.

"We're not afraid of you! We have God on our side!" And the complete fool looked around, saw a piece of debris, and picked it up.

"Don't you dare!" Alice said, but her words never reached him. Iver pulled back his arm and hurled the piece of rotten wood at the nearest bully. It clattered harmlessly onto the ground, well away from his intended target, but a horrible change came over the three teenagers.

"Dead," Red Shirt said, and he pulled a small knife out from beneath his ragged clothes.

"Yer dead, you little shit."

"Wh-what?" Iver took a step back. He looked to his twin and found no support there. His eyes turned to Alice the Rock next, and for some horrible reason that filled him with courage.

"I'm not... not scared of you!"

"What are you doing?!" Alice screamed, and Urd jumped, finally snapping free from her trance. Iver picked up another rotten piece of wood and held it up like a bat.

"I have Master Merry- " Iver began as the three bullies drew closer, but he never finished the thought. Iver shrieked with pain as Red Shirt slashed his face with the small knife. A line of crimson misted the air as Iver collapsed onto the ground, his hands splattered with red as he clutched his forehead. Before either Urd or Alice could act, Red Shirt grabbed Urd and shoved her to the ground.

There was a brief struggle over Alice the Rock, Urd revealing a paranormal strength as she refused to give up her god's vessel. Curse Spread: Lark Puck Severity: Powerful Received experience! Received cursed energy! But it was not enough. As Urd landed on the ground with a painful grunt, Alice the Rock slipped from her fingers and rolled down the street. One of the other bullies slugged Axel in the face as Alice's victory turned to dust in her nonexistent mouth.

"Nooo!" Urd cried, finding her voice. She tried to stand, but Red Shirt fell on top of her like an anvil dropped from an overpass. Alice felt the breath go out of The Girl. She was about to [Smite] the bastard, but Red Shirt brought his knife to Urd's throat.

"Would be doing the world a service, killin' Fate-scorned scum like you," Red Shirt sneered, pushing the knife against Urd's throat until a thin line of red appeared.

"No..." Alice found herself suddenly dizzy. This couldn't be happening. Not to Urd!

"Always wondered what you looked like, though," Red Shirt said, reaching down with his free hand as Urd trembled.

"What's underneath those bandages?" And he tore them away, revealing the full mask of Urd's miserable panic. Gone was all the courage and strength she had found over the last two days. Gone was all the happiness that Alice had thought she could protect.

"Damn! She ain't half bad," Chubby said from over Red Shirt's shoulder. He landed a painful-looking kick at Axel's stomach as Iver wailed, his hands covered in blood.

"Shouldn't touch her, Lark," the third bully said, frowning.

"Don't want her rot on you."

"Not her face I want to touch," Red Shirt said, and his free hand slid further down Urd's body. Alice's thoughts went numb as she felt the boy's touch as if it were her own body he was invading.

"Works at a brothel, this one. Bet she knows all sorts of... tricks." A noise scratched at the edge of Alice's perception. She had heard this same noise so often over the last few days. Numb with fear, Alice allowed Urd's prayer to wash over her senses.... please god...... don't let me...... become...... even dirtier... Alice forgot her horror. Alice forgot her fear. New Prayer Received Petitioner: Tyri Karlvold Status: Believer (zealous) Category: P rotection Description: Tyri Karlvold does not wish to be shamed.

Would you like to accept this prayer? [Y/N]"Of course!" Alice's practically choked on her hate.

"Of course I accept!" [Tyri Karlvold]'s prayer has been accepted.

"I won't let anyone dirty you!" Alice roared, and she found her nonexistent body practically shaking with rage. She forgot all about her numb worry as she grabbed hold of Red Shirt's ear.

"Don't touch her!" She planted the simple desire in the boy's head, and then the dam broke.

"Don't you dare put a finger on her!" [Serpent's Whisper] after [Serpent's Whisper] was thrown at the boy's psyche. Alice saw his hand stiffen, his face scrunch up in confusion, but she did not stop. She had never used more than two or three whispers at the same time, but she heaped more and more onto the boy, the whispered desires growing harsher and crueler until...

"D IE!" Alice was only half aware that she was still using [Serpent's Whisper].

"JUST ROLL OVER AND DIE!" [Serpent's Whisper] has reached Rank IV.

"Y-You OK, Lark?" Chubby said, as Red Shirt clutched his head and scrunched up his face." HAVE A HEART ATTACK AND DIE!" Alice screamed, but an unwelcome notification made her blink with confusion. Unable to use [Serpent's Whisper]. Insufficient cursed energy. Alice looked at the text only long enough for her hate to return. She realized her thoughts were not wholly sane right now, but she focused on the boy, no longer simply pushing the desire into his head, but willing it to happen.

"DIE!" Alice howled, visualizing how wonderful it would be to have his corpse covered in blood.

"DIE, DIE, DIE! WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!" Over and over she demanded his doom. [Smite] gave no indication that it had activated, and so she simply willed his death still more and more. Until... [Smite] has reached Rank II. A crack like thunder filled the air. Everyone looked around. Nobody looked up. Red Shirt let out a wet gurgle, his lanky body still hovering over Urd's misery. A shard of wood from the dilapidated ruin had fallen off and pierced him like a spear.

Large drops of blood fell from the ruin of Red Shirt's pierced throat, coloring Urd's mystified face with crimson. Red Shirt dropped his knife and grabbed frantically at the shard of wood. Still more blood spurted from what remained of his throat, and he rolled over, tears spilling from his bulging eyes.

"Ha..." The noise left Urd like the deflating of a balloon. [Tyri Karlvold]'s prayer has been fulfilled. Received experience! Received faith!

"G-God! God has delivered us!" Urd rose, trembling. Her fear was a faint outline barely recognizable behind her zealous faith. She looked down at Red Shirt as he continued to drown on his own blood and then turned to the white-faced Chubby who trembled nearby.

"M-Master Merry Weather would not... not let harm come to us!" Urd said, tears streaming down the delirious mask of her blood-stained face.

"If you... If you do not leave, God will serve you the same fate!" A wet spot appeared on Chubby's pants as urine rolled down his leg. Without a word, he turned and sprinted away, the third bully following fast behind him. As the two boys disappeared from sight, Urd ran over to where Alice the Rock had tumbled. She picked up the black stone and held it protectively against her chest. Her body shook with the force of a whirlwind as tears continued to stream down her face, washing away streaks of Red Shirt's blood.

Defeated: Human Thief (Level 8) Received experience! A curse has reached its end. Received experience! Received cursed energy! Skill Progress: Echo of Misfortune [7 /10 0] The notification announced Red Shirt's death. Axel hovered over his bleeding brother, his face somehow an identical reflection of Iver's misery. Congratulations! You have reached Level 9! New Skill Unlocked: [Haunt Object I] Level: 9 END: + 7 INT: + 1 3 PER: + 5 WIL: + 8"Hah..."

Alice took in the new skill and higher-than-usual stat growth with a detached relief. Her focus quickly anchored onto Urd who continued to hug her. The two of them looked less like a priestess and their god and more like a lost puppy reunited with their hysterical owner. But that's fine, Alice thought to herself. [Smite] had revealed itself once more to be the weapon she wanted. She had not been able to kill Red Shirt quickly, however.

As if summoned by the quiet, Alice's useless followers began to spill out from the ruin. Aside from Iver and Axel, none of these boys had put up even the smallest fight. The scrawny Erik and Mouse stared open-mouthed, pointing at Red Shirt's gruesome death.

"I need... I need better followers," Alice said, trying to focus her thoughts on something other than Urd's tears. These children may have been enough to bring bread and toys to her fake church, but this episode made it all too clear that she needed fighters. She needed older followers. But where can I even find someone like that?

"You stupid little shits!" Urd almost dropped Alice the Rock as a furious shout filled the street. The owner's voice lay outside both Urd and Alice's vision, and she instantly worried the teenagers had come back.

"But that voice..." Alice's nonexistent brow furrowed in concentration.

"That wasn't a teenager."

"Oh shit!" Axel and Iver said in unison. The two seemed to forget about their aches and bruises as they stared into the distance.

"It's the Priest!" Urd turned, and Alice was allowed to see the afternoon's newest arrival. A man stood at the end of the street, a man with so much hair that it was hard to tell where his eyes were even looking. He was stomping towards Urd and the twins with obvious fury, however.

"You stupid idiot!" the Priest shouted, jabbing a grubby hand at Urd.

"Put that down! Put that down right now! Can't you tell it's a grudge stone?!"