1.
“At this moment, <Black Wolf> will infiltrate the main temple of Aria and assassinate five individuals.”
“Yes, Captain.”
As soon as Nahan, who had come to the hideout, declared this in front of Han-Ryang, Luna, and Lactea,
An old man who had been hidden in the background sighed and stepped forward.
“I apologize, Captain. But I must ask you to reconsider this order.”
Before he could even finish speaking, the eyes of the three members—except for Dalan—flashed with a cold gleam.
“The Captain’s… orders─”
“Snap out of it, old man.”
Han-Ryang and Luna sharpened their stances as if they were ready to attack Dalan at any moment. Lactea, already pressing a sword to his neck, uttered just one word.
“Reason.”
Though Nahan was still lacking in many ways, he was sure of one thing as he observed the scene before him.
‘They’re actually ready to kill him.’
Luna, who usually wagged her tail like an excited puppy whenever she saw him after their salvation.
Han-Ryang, who always forced himself to soften his grim expression and put on a smile.
Lactea, who would secretly glance at him with a flushed face while circling around unnoticed.
“Speak. Your reason.”
“…”
Simply for questioning Nahan’s order, they were ready to kill Dalan, whom they had been with for four years.
‘Well, if they remember the moment they were saved, their absolute loyalty to Black Wolf isn’t entirely unreasonable…’
Watching the silent Dalan and the murderous Lactea, Nahan finally stepped forward and pushed aside her hand.
“That’s enough.”
“But Captain…!!”
“Lactea. Are you going to question my orders as well?”
“…!! That’s…”
As expected, Lactea was taken aback.
Taking advantage of her hesitation, Nahan smoothly stepped in and asked Dalan, who remained steadfast even with a sword at his throat, a brief question.
“What’s your reason?”
Monstrous Dragon Dalan.
The tenth among the Great Ten and the eldest member of <Black Wolf>. If he opposed this mission, he must have his reasons.
And sure enough, just as Nahan expected, Dalan immediately knelt on one knee and answered.
“At least one of our members will lose their life during this operation.”
“Reason?”
“…If you permit it, Captain, I will speak of our <Black Wolf>’s weakness.”
His calm blue eyes shimmered.
However, since Nahan had recently learned of the pasts of the <Black Wolf> members, he wasn’t surprised.
‘When Black Wolf first recruited Dalan, he asked to be stopped if something like <Rose> were to happen again.’
Recalling his first meeting with Dalan, Nahan nodded toward him.
Of course, Lactea twisted her wrist as if she was about to slice him at any moment.
“Weakness? Are you daring to insult the Captain’s <Black Wolf>?”
“Enough.”
“…Yes, Captain.”
Stopped by Nahan’s curt command, Dalan slowly began to speak.
“All of us in <Black Wolf> owe our contracts to the Captain’s grace. However, because of that, we cannot exhibit our full strength.”
It was true.
Except for Lactea, every member of <Black Wolf> was currently under a Restriction.
Despite possessing power comparable to <Hero of Light>, they remained at an S-rank level unless the Restrictions were lifted.
“But as I predict, the five individuals the Captain has designated are <Demon Worshippers>. Their combat ability is on par with <Hero>.”
That was also true.
Episode 11 – The Fanatics’ Revolt.
Asha had been staying at the main temple in an attempt to recruit the <Saint> as an ally. During that time, she discovered a trail of the infiltrating <Demon Worshippers> and ultimately eradicated them.
The second phase of these <Demon Worshippers>, the <Demonic Authority> mode, could elevate their strength to a level comparable to the <Heroes of Light>.
“Thus, if we proceed with this assassination as ordered, our side will inevitably suffer casualties. Remembering the promise you made when you saved me, I felt compelled to speak out, even if it was presumptuous.”
To put it simply.
‘Right now, <Black Wolf> is not strong enough to face the <Worshippers>. Either lift the Restrictions or reconsider the operation.’
As Nahan contemplated how to respond to Dalan’s reasoning, the older warrior clenched his lips and furrowed his brows, muttering.
“Why, Captain?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why are you insisting on carrying out this mission while disregarding our lives?”
“How dare you!!”
Before Nahan could reply, Lactea’s sword flashed faster.
– [Now. Three hand spans in front of the hilt.]
‘Thanks, old man.’
Clang!
Following the whispered guidance of Balak Gardner, Nahan deflected the tip of her sword.
“Captain!!”
Lactea, flustered, was left staring at him in shock. But Nahan simply gestured for her to stop and gave his answer to Dalan.
“Because I can save you.”
“…What, Captain?”
To summarize the result, there is only one casualty in this episode.
‘Selena, the Hero of Exploration.’
Due to certain circumstances, she is unable to attack the Pope, creating a massive opening.
In an attempt to make up for her failure, she saves Asha, who is on the brink of death, and perishes.
‘This is a crucial event in the original story.’
By witnessing Selena’s sacrifice, the Fallen Saint undergoes reformation, and the Hero, having lost a comrade, awakens once more and grows stronger.
The Saint’s reformation triggers Episode 12, which continues through to Episode 15, allowing Asha to eventually wipe out <Black Wolf>.
Thus, in the original timeline, Nahan had planned to intervene around Episode 14.
He intended to follow the original work up until the climax of Episode 14 and then change the decisive moment—simultaneously achieving the salvation of both the Empress and the Hero.
The reason was simple.
‘Because it’s safer that way.’
The earlier he distorted the flow of the original, the more the future he knew would be rewritten.
The amount of usable information would decrease significantly, effectively throwing away the massive advantage of knowing the original.
However…
– Selena, Luna. You two were the only light in my otherwise dark life.
– So, my daughter, I leave her in your care.
Watching the tragic end of a woman whose life had been ruined by <Eclipse>…
– …You saved me again, Captain. Thank you. I’ll follow you forever.
Saving a comrade who, in the original work, would have died silently without a word…
And just the same…
– I love you, Mom.
– Thank you… for trying so hard for me.
Seeing even minor characters—who didn’t even have backstories—become part of salvation…
At this point, Nahan knew.
‘I have the power to save all of them.’
Of course, even with all the strength he had gained, his power alone was limited.
‘But if I combine my knowledge of the future, fortuitous encounters, the privileges I obtained as a possessor, and the allies I gained—whether it be <Black Wolf> or the <Heroes of Light>…’
Then the salvation of <Black Wolf>, the main scenario, as well as the Empress and Hero, the main quest, and even the nameless supporting characters who would have perished—none of it was impossible.
Naturally, by choosing to save Selena, the future could become even more difficult.
– Brother Han. Why are you still by my side? Even my own family abandoned me, but you…!!
– …Because I can.
Because that was the kind of person Nahan was.
He had received help from various people to survive.
So, if he had the ability to give, he would give.
“That’s all there is to it, Dalan. I’m doing it simply because I can save more people. It’s not as serious a reason as you’re hoping for. And more than anything…”
Above all.
– Helping you isn’t going to ruin my life or anything.
– …What?
– Honestly, if helping you was going to wreck my life, I wouldn’t do it. I’m helping because I can afford to.
– …Pfft. That’s just like you, Brother.
No matter how many people he helped, Nahan always ensured he had a way to survive.
“So don’t worry. Right now, none of you—who are more important to me than anything else—will be in danger.”
“…Captain.”
At Nahan’s firm declaration, Dalan’s previously narrowed eyes widened in surprise.
And it wasn’t just Dalan.
“…As expected, Captain is the only one.”
“…As expected…”
“…Hmph.”
Luna and Han-Ryang,
And even Lactea, who had been furious just moments ago, all softened their expressions and looked at Nahan with shining eyes.
‘……Why are they twisting their bodies like that?’
Still uncomfortable with their expectations, Nahan quickly averted his gaze and turned toward Ruby, who had arrived behind Dalan.
“Are the preparations ready?”
“All done, Captain.”
As mentioned earlier, Nahan always made sure he had a way to survive.
“That guy… we can trust him, right?”
“Of course! He might seem a little crazy, but he’s still a part of <Black Wolf>!”
Well, all of them were a bit strange anyway.
Nodding at Ruby’s words, Nahan retrieved the mask from his waist and put it on before shifting his gaze.
“Anyway, Dalan, I’ll explain the details on the way to Aria’s main temple.”
“…Understood, Captain.”
Now that things had been explained this thoroughly, Dalan nodded and rose to his feet, accepting it.
‘Oh, right. Lactea.’
Just in case Lactea was still thinking of acting on her own, Nahan patted Dalan’s shoulder and added—
“Thank you, Dalan, for remembering and keeping your promise from our first meeting—to always offer your honest advice.”
“It is nothing, Captain. …Rather, I am grateful that you remembered.”
Only then did the sharpness in Lactea’s eyes soften.
‘…She was really ready to kill him.’
With her—the most fanatically devoted of them all—settled, Nahan opened the door of the hideout and swiftly listed five names.
“Luna, your target is the Archbishop of Radiance. Dalan, the Archbishop of Silence. Ruby, the Archbishop of Mercy. Han-Ryang, the Archbishop of Love. And…”
…Gulp.
Unconsciously swallowing, Nahan added a final name.
“No.1, Peter. I order you to take the life of the Pope of Faith, Felix von Arendal. This mission will be carried out in complete secrecy. No noise will be tolerated.”
In the next moment—
Yes, Captain.
Everyone except for Peter, who was not present, vanished in the blink of an eye.
2.
Aria’s Main Temple.
Towering walls reminiscent of the Gardner Barrier, and radiant, pristine white structures within.
Inside one of its main buildings, the Confessional Hall, a counseling session was taking place.
“…When I was a child…”
The man confessing his sins spoke of his past negligence and cowardice.
After pouring out all his regrets, he gazed beyond the confessional screen and asked, as if gasping for air:
“…Can even garbage like me be saved?”
Guilt.
A trembling voice.
Guilt again.
As remorse and self-reproach intertwined in his voice, the intermediate priest on the other side replied briefly.
“It seems that Salvation has arrived personally.”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean, the Captain is here.”
In the next instant—
Crash!
A pale hand burst through the opaque confessional screen, striking the penitent in the neck and knocking him out instantly.
“Come with me. It’s time for you to receive Salvation from the Captain.”
With a grin that had no place in a holy temple.
With a sinister smirk stretching across his face.
The man leaped straight through the roof and roared—
“The One True God, Black Wolf, has personally descended to punish the heretical believers!!!”
Thus began the assault on the main temple by Black Wolf.
“H-holy hell! It’s Black Wolf! We’re under attack!”
“Rise, all faithful! Take up your spears!”
“Stop them! Alert the guards immediately!!!”
A tale of an early dawn raid.
3.
Before the assault even began, their cover had already been blown by someone’s loud shouting.
“…Ruby. What did I say?”
“…The mission must be conducted in absolute secrecy. No noise will be tolerated…”
“And what’s with that guy? He doesn’t seem crazy—he’s actually just out of his mind.”
“…I apologize, Captain.”
Honestly, whether it was Hero of Light or Black Wolf.
None of them were normal.
“Peter, Intermediate Priest?”
“Ah, perfect timing! Tell me, do you believe in God?”
“…Are you referring to the Goddess of Light, Aria?”
“AAAARGH!!! Such blasphemy!!! There is only one true God—Black Wolf—Brother!!!”
“…What?”
“Atonement Punch!!!”
Wham!
“Gahk!”
“Aaaah~ This… this is ‘atonement’, Brother.”
“…Ugh. My head hurts.”
Not a single sane person among them.
