The God of Jesters
Chapter 532 - 8.10.4 A simple shot.

Chapter 532: 8.10.4 A simple shot.

Guns and the rest of the weapons were banned in the Church. However, that only applied to what were traditionally considered weapons.

The hidden weapon aspect was still not developed beyond simple daggers, poisons, and curses. The mechanical aspect was never considered, as it was never considered whether the person who went inside could build a weapon using parts they had spread throughout their body. And that’s what Sheva did.

This whole assassination plan of hers depended on this single moment, the time when the opponent would put down her guard over her surefire victory.

It’s why she hid parts of a very special one-shot pistol in her coat.

Originally with the eyes on her as well as Heroth, it would have been much harder for her to assemble the weapon, but once she was thrown down by the Knights earlier while they focused on Heroth. She did her job and built the gun in a matter of seconds and hid it in the spring-loaded holder in her coat.

A perfect ploy for the perfect job.

With a booming sound whose shockwave caused some bone fractures in Sheva’s arm while completely obliterating the hastily assembled gun, the bullet left the gun and aimed toward the Grand Priestess’s head.

And without any chance for a mistake, it hit the shield that surrounded her, which broke, followed by multiple other shields that materialized out of thin air. But no matter, this was her limit.

"I will re..."

The speed of the bullet was too fast for her to react. Before she could conjure up a lie to defend herself, the last defense of hers was broken and the Bullet penetrated her skull without any question.

"...." And the words ’I will re...’ were the last things she said, as the body flew off the air and crashed into the statue of the Goddess, which got sprayed with the Priestess’s blood.

"NOOO!" Came the screams, who ignored Sheva entirely who had fallen to the floor as well, while the Knights and Nobles rushed towards the Priestess.

Even those who were keeping a watch on Heroth had their mental defenses broken by the sudden attack on the Grand Priestess. Causing them to turn rabid and maddened.

Which finally loosened the pressure on Heroth who tried to get up on his feet whilst his eyes still shone in yellow light, but he stumbled and fell to the floor again as his eyes turned toward the Grand Priestess, whose body twitched from time to time. "What have you done." He asked, looking toward the Woman who had got on her feet again using the Golden Chains as a crutch while one of her arms dangled due to the counter force of the bullet.

"I did what I was sent here to do." She spoke while looking toward Heroth, whose eyes matched her own, and in a way, she could feel what Heroth was feeling at the moment. "Get ready, they will come for you, and for me." She said while throwing a small capsule to Heroth. "If you think you can’t manage, eat it." The pill was poison, given in case an agent might get captured.

It’s the last kindness given to the followers of Jester’s Church. A kindness that would save them from torture.

And although Sheva never explained what it was, Heroth could somewhat see the essence of this pill. "Girl... you are so annoying." But he crushed it while smiling with defeat before making a suggestion. "Break the walls and try to run as fast as you can, they are angry at them... and at you." At those words, the intensity of the Yellow in Heroth’s eye strengthened for a bit before the Court’s aura suppressed it again.

Such odd words, Sheva thought. But then again, most of her subordinates and colleagues were like this. Half of them had some mental defect, because that’s the kind of people that Jester attracted, as they brought some color to missions.

’He speaks of others again, it would seem the personalty issues might be true with him... or it’s just that something else is residing in him.’ On his own, the most strength that Heroth can muster is that of a Master Rank, and even that was suppressed in this odd space.

Unless the old man had a way to break out of it? Or the thing inside of him had that way?

Wouldn’t that be so wonderful?

’Whether to believe him or not?’ For one, breaking out of this court was easier said than done. The walls were made out of some unknown material that appeared to a white Marble, but on closer inspection, it somewhat appeared as if the bricks of this Court were made out of Bone meal. Which won’t be so bizarre considering that there had been such churches made from the bones of his dead followers before.

There is no macabre reason for it, not anything evil. The bones of the dead followers easily absorb the powers of gods and attain a certain level of ascension of their own. Turning from brittle bone meal to something much harder than industrial steel.

And when the thickness is taken into account, the difficulty becomes much harder.

Of course, Sheva had a way of breaking the walls, she knew her limits and once the Knights came for her life with total abandonment, she wouldn’t be able to survive for long after that, which is why she had already made up her mind on how to escape.

But would it really be good?

Just the acting head of the Truthful Deceit was taken down, the majority of the Church’s strength still remained, along with the Pope of the Church who hadn’t appeared for decades at this point.

So why not use this opportunity to take out a few more of its Grand Knights when she had the opportunity?

’I can’t be greedy.’ The death of others was just complimentary, her real Target had always been Lady Lies who was down, for now.

"Are you sure? I can help you escape this place, those people won’t be able to follow you?"

"The moment I leave this place will be the moment you die, I... this place is the only reason I hadn’t let myself go... But even this place seems too weak in front of them." He spoke with a sigh.

Heroth was a smart man, he knew that he had been used by Sheva. As for whether this was the Bartender’s Ploy or not? He didn’t know, but knowing those people, it’s rare for them to make such a massive move on their own. They are closer to neutral merchants, they won’t make such drastic moves, ever.

’Unless.’ He looked at this woman again, the means she used, the lies she told before, and the lies she was telling just now.

Then he recalled the news about Jester’s little cult. ’This old friend of mine.’ He couldn’t even feel angry at this moment, he genuinely liked that little rat who taught him so much before.

And even though the two had only been together for half a decade, Heroth genuinely treated Jester as his brother. An annoying brother who had a penchant for chaos.

"Hey Wraith, what is your goal? Is it really to enjoy the entertaining tales in this world? That can’t be it, can it?

"Does one need a grand ambition to exist?"

"Don’t we all? For me, I want to be an adventurer, the greatest one there is." Heroth spoke with passion. "The kind that explores hidden grottoes and discovers new islands... and if I am strong enough in the future, I might try my hands at hunting those legendary sea monsters, then I might even become a Monster Slayer."

"Why don’t you have this type of dream? It would make more sense for someone in your position to have something similar."

"It does sound fascinating, becoming the greatest Maestro of Plays... but I still think I prefer to watch things." the Wraith paused. "Just like I would love watching you become the greatest Adventurer and the greatest Monster slayer. I can relive a fantasy through your eyes without a little bit of effort needed... isn’t it awesome."

At those words, Heroth had gone silent before asking. "From the looks of things, you are just one lazy bastard."

Their friendship was simple, their banter even simpler. Making it easier for the two to open up to each other.

This is one of the reasons why Heroth understood what kind of being a jester was. What was hidden behind the mask of the Jester he played as?

"He did go mad for a bit before, I guess... this is his revenge." Were Heroth’s words before saying? "Girl, for the mutual friend we both have, I suggest you leave soon, don’t dally any further."

"..."

Sheva paused, she never expected to hear such odd words from Heroth, a man she didn’t even know before and only considered him some important tool of the Bartender’s association.

But with limited knowledge on her end, she thought that Heroth was speaking about someone in the Bartender’s Association. As for who, some faces did come to mind before she nodded.

It’s virtually impossible for people to know her affiliation.

"Then I will leave. But I will make some things easier for you as well." Her eyes turned to Bright Leaf, who was among the first to recover from the shock of Grand Priestess’s death.

"Chains of Judgement." She spoke, causing the golden centipedes around her to unfurl themselves to turn into longer chains with a small dagger at their end. "Judge the corrupt." With those words, she rushed toward the crowd who like wild animals also rushed toward her carrying lies that did increase their strength by a whole new level, but it also brought some malady to their body.

They had gone completely crazy.