The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me

Chapter 231

“Everyone, this way!”

A girl in white robes called out.

A glimmering forehead and a pristine priest’s robe, a group of young girls.

In order, they were Silvia, Lina, Elena and Danya.

They were walking along a secluded path behind the Vatican. A narrow alley stretched ahead, with a massive ancient tree visible in the distance.

— Tap, tap

With every step, black sludge splashed beneath their feet.

“… Are you sure this is the right way?”

Elena glanced back briefly as she hurried her steps forward.

“Trust me, Sister Danya. To infiltrate the Vatican, one must endure such grim paths… Ah!”

Elena suddenly slipped on the muddy ground, tumbling over once before scrambling to her feet again.

Although her companions looked at her with some doubt, they continued to follow her lead.

Silvia asked in a slightly cold voice.

“Are you certain this back route into the Vatican is reliable?”

“Yes, Lady Silvia! As members of the Numina faction, we are in fierce opposition to the Celeste faction of the Saint! Since the Vatican is the stronghold of the Celeste faction, it’s only natural that we have knowledge of such infiltration routes!”

“… That does lend some credibility. And honestly, this seems like the best choice. If we tried walking in through the front gate, we’d definitely have our weapons confiscated.”

Silvia’s expression hardened.

Their opponent was the Vatican.

On the surface, they appeared merciful, but in truth, they were a ruthless and calculating organization.

As the head of a trading company, Silvia knew firsthand how formidable and cunning the Vatican could be.

Ian had been branded as a “witch”.

The Vatican’s most brutal and underhanded method of dealing with major criminals.

The label of “witch” effectively ensured guilt, as the masses would blindly believe it.

It was nearly impossible to escape the stigma of being branded a witch.

‘Even for Ian, this might be too much.’

Thus, the plan was clear.

Rescue Ian by any means necessary.

“According to our informant, the Vatican has concentrated their defenses at the main entrance. Once we get past that, our chances improve. Elena has even managed to procure an authentic priest’s robe, so as long as we act convincingly, moving around inside should be relatively easy.”

Picking up her pace, Silvia continued.

“Our focus is solely on rescuing Ian. We’ll adjust the plan as the situation unfolds. Be prepared for combat if necessary. And if worst comes to worst and we’re captured…”

She cast a glance at Elena.

“We can try to leverage our status as students and the resources of the Laurent Trading Company. But Elena… I can’t promise I’ll be able to save you.”

“Urgh! I-I’ll find a way to appeal to the Numina faction to avoid punishment!”

With contingency plans in place, the only thing left was to charge forward with everything they had.

For Silvia, this was uncharted territory—acting impulsively rather than meticulously planning every detail.

All for the sole purpose of saving Ian.

“It’s here!”

Elena pointed to the massive tree. A large hollow opened into darkness.

“Down this wayyyy! Aaaahhh!”

Elena’s voice faded as she disappeared into the dark.

““…””

Silvia and Lina stared at the hole, uncertain.

“We don’t have time to hesitate, nyah!”

Danya leapt into the hole, and the others followed suit.

Sliding down as if on a giant slide, they landed on a stone floor.

“Shh!”

Elena, who had arrived first, quickly motioned for silence.

She pointed to a hole in the ground, covered by a crude metal grate.

“… Looks like a ventilation shaft for the Vatican.”

Silvia murmured.

“See? I told you it’d work!”

Elena beamed.

Silvia nodded, though unease lingered.

‘It’s a bit too convenient.’

The poor security of the ventilation shaft was troubling, but they had successfully infiltrated the Vatican’s interior in one go.

“Let’s find an unguarded area. This grate seems easy enough to get through.”

They searched for a short while.

Finally, in a dimly lit area where Lina’s light barely pierced the darkness, they found a deserted spot.

— Nod

With Silvia’s approval, Elena deftly removed the metal grate.

Beneath lay a cold stone floor.

“If we just jump down, they might hear us.”

“I’ll lower some vines, nyah.”

Swoosh.

Danya’s vines unraveled, sturdy enough to hold their weight.

One by one, the group descended to the ground below.

The corridor was dark and silent.

“Based on the path we saw earlier, it should be this way…”

Elena was about to move in the indicated direction when—

— Flash!

A sudden burst of light flooded the area.

— Intruders detected!

Silvia’s face turned pale in an instant.

As expected, was this place a trap?

Calculating the situation in a split second, Silvia shouted urgently.

“Hide your weapons, everyone!”

At the same time, a faint streak of light extended from her hand.

?

“Get in there!”

The cold voices of the Holy Knights rang out as the girls were thrown into a thick iron-barred cell.

“Ouch!”

Elena, flung the hardest, was the last to be shoved inside.

— Clang!

The iron bars slammed shut.

Elena, sprawled on the ground, staggered to her feet and clung to the bars, shaking them in vain.

“It… It was a trap!”

She whimpered, her voice trembling.

Watching her tear up, Silvia let out a small sigh.

“It was to be expected. For the Vatican, the security seemed far too lax. Even the information you had… It was likely leaked by the Vatican on purpose.”

“I… I’m so sorry.”

Elena murmured, her shoulders slumping.

Silvia shook her head.

“No. I anticipated this to some extent.”

“… So, do you have a plan?”

“Yes. I prepared for this scenario.”

Silvia’s confident response drew everyone’s attention to her.

“Before we were caught, I released a small trail of light magic to track Ian’s location. As long as we can pinpoint his position, we can proceed with the next step…”

Silvia’s words trailed off as her brow furrowed.

“… Ian?”

She looked intently at the door, her expression tightening.

Before anyone could ask what was wrong—

— Clang!

The cell door swung open, and a bright light poured into the room.

From the light, a figure emerged.

“Ian!”

It was unmistakably Ian.

“Brother Ian!”

“You’re safe!”

“Thank goodness, nyah!”

Everyone greeted him, their voices a mixture of relief and joy.

Silvia, however, could only stare at Ian in stunned silence.

“… You’re alive.”

Her eyes welled with tears, but something caught her attention—a figure standing beside Ian.

‘… The Inquisitor?’

Oscar Javert, the infamous Inquisitor.

Known only to a select few, he was a figure of terror.

That he was standing next to Ian could only mean one thing…

“Were you captured too, waiting for execution?”

Silvia murmured weakly, directing her words at Ian.

It was the only conclusion that made sense.

There was no other reason for Oscar to be smiling beside someone accused of witchcraft.

“You’ve been caught too, haven’t you, Brother Ian?”

Elena echoed, her voice filled with despair.

Ian, however, approached them with a smile.

“No. I’m here to set you free.”

“… Yes?”

Silvia stood frozen, replaying Ian’s words in her head.

Set them free?

Ian?

How could he, as a great sinner?

Her head went blank.

Ian continued.

“Oscar.”

“Yes, Brother Ian.”

“These are my companions. Can you release them?”

“Of course, but one of the three indulgences granted by His Holiness will be used.”

“That’s fine.”

Oscar smiled and stepped in front of the iron bars.

— Crack!

The lock shattered instantly, and the bars swung open.

“”Ian!””

The moment when Lina, Danya, and Elena clung to Ian and enjoyed their long-awaited reunion.

While the others were celebrating, Silvia stood silently, exchanging a calm gaze with Ian.

She whispered softly.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I sensed your magic while I was walking. I followed it and found you here.”

“We came to rescue you, but… it turns out you’re the one rescuing us.”

“No, you’re amazing. I was impressed by that spell—you created a clone to take my form and transmitted my real self as a being of light. That’s advanced magic.”

Silvia’s eyes widened in shock.

“How did you know that?”

“I’m fairly adept at interpreting magic.”

“…”

Silvia glanced cautiously at Oscar, who stood nearby.

He was still an agent of the Vatican.

If he learned about this spell, Ian—and all of them—could be in danger again.

“Don’t worry. Oscar has agreed to cooperate with me now.”

“… Huh?”

Did she mishear?

Who was cooperating with whom?

Oscar smiled at Silvia’s incredulous expression.

“Brother Ian is the guide who will illuminate our path. My role is to support him.”

Silvia instinctively rubbed her ears, unable to believe what she’d just heard.

?

How to persuade Osgar?

Talking alone wouldn’t be enough.

So I made a choice—to show him through my abilities.

Oscar’s gaze sharpened, intense and predatory, like that of a beast.

A fierce wave of emotions radiated from him, an intensity unlike his usual composed demeanor. His eyes burned as they locked onto me.

I activated my authority, channeling my power to purify the elemental energy of the Earth.

Shadows clinging to the ground were cleansed and lifted.

The purified essence resembled something divine.

Pure, radiant energy—the very aura the Pope once described as akin to the presence of the divine leader.

I extended a single, delicate strand of this energy toward Oscar.

“… The grace of Deus.”

Osgar murmured, dropping to one knee.

?

“His Holiness has arranged everything. You’ll be escorted to the nearest portal.”

Oscar said, leading us to a waiting carriage.

— Clatter

The Pope’s carriage carried us smoothly along the road.

Reunited with my companions, I shared lighthearted conversations with them, basking in the comfort of camaraderie.

For the first time in what felt like forever, a sense of peace settled over me.

But that tranquility was short-lived.

— Dong, Dong, Dong.

The chime of a bell rang out—exactly three times.

And in an instant, the world around us froze in time.