The heart, eh?
You'll find there's nothing to be gained by targeting mine.
I told you as much...
You have nothing to show me.
You were off target yourself, you piece of shit pastor!
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability 2nd Season
Episode 17: The Church's Secret
My power...
makes my body extremely flexible,
capable of twisting further than most people at my joints.
Crik
Hurts but better than the alternative!
One of the best aspects of that is how the enemy generally won't notice.
Without any change to my silhouette,
I can twist my insides to avoid fatal blows without any indication.
Add to that...
the ability to twist my skeleton and muscles to their limits,
in order to generate a release of energy strong enough to shatter stone!
Cornered Rat—Pierces the Cat!
He's solid as hell! Not good!
I took more damage than him just off the impact!
But I need more.
To hit closer, deeper, with my full strength—all of my mana
and channel the purification straight into his soul!
Cornered Rat—Dragon Form!
It feels like I'm gonna puke up my guts.
I'm running out of mana. My arms are numb.
Stop. Just stop, already!
Babylon!
Please, let her escape!
Brilliant.
Oh, I understand exactly how you must feel.
"Damn, what good is divine sorcery?!" sums it up, yes?
That said, there is one spell I'm rather fond of...
Luxa.
Unholy Excalibur.
I must say, your body is rather interesting.
Where must I strike in order to kill you?
Unbelievable!
The Guild isn't supposed to be a rain shelter for you.
She says that, but yet she runs around handing towels out.
More visitors without real business?
Escher?!
What in the world happened?!
Well...
You run into trouble, Escher?
If it's for you, we'll pitch in, no charge.
Everyone...
Don't call for help.
It's all right. The Father just slipped and fell in the rain.
I was hoping he could rest a bit here.
I actually need to get going, so...
Please, look after him.
I'm so stupid. Why didn't I ask for help?
They all looked so strong.
That's right.
Because I understand. Deep down, I can tell...
everyone would die.
No one can stop him.
I have to... have to figure out some way to save him...
or Babylon will die!
I was getting sick of her singing, anyway.
Oh, God... the only thing I'm good at is singing and he would reject that, too?
How can I stop him?!
Please! I'll offer up my own life!
So, please, God!
Absurd. And that's the reason you joined the church?
I'm amazed you call yourself a holy woman.
That said... I don't actually disapprove.
And no matter how, I get the feeling your voice will reach the heavens,
Escher...
I knew it was you! That was quite the spill, huh?
It started pouring while we were on our way to report to the guild.
Hang on a sec.
Sylpha and the others are buying raincoats, and then we'll walk you to the church.
Please! You have to save Babylon!
I'm sorry, I...
Why would I ask you that?
I'm sorry.
It's nothing. Forget I said anything...
Well, now you've done it.
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability 2nd Season
I can't really complain.
My life was pretty shitty before I met you.
And I did what I could to help out the boss.
Yeah, yeah... I'll admit it.
I liked Escher's singing.
I bet the boss does, too.
So, y'know, I'd say it worked out.
Hey, does this place have anything to drink?
Ow, ow, ow! What's your problem?!
We're finally reunited and this is what you do?
I guess you're right. We'll save the drinks for next time.
I'll try and have some good stories to share, next time I show up.
Babylon's awake!
What, what is going on?!
Oh, ish shuch a welief!
I'm sho gwad jou're... okay...
She passed out!
Uh, sorry, but could someone fill me in?
Everything that happened during the three days Babylon was unconscious!
Everything that happened during the three days Babylon was...
...Unconscious!
Lloyd grabbed the injured Babylon and brought him to Lordost for treatment!
Church
Lordost Manor
Three days later, Babylon wakes up.
That's where we are now.
And since the church might be infiltrated again,
Church
he had someone stay and keep watch.
He also had someone head to the Adventurer's Guild
Adventurer's Guild
to report back on what happened to the church...
And the ghoul hunt.
Saloum Castle
As well as informed Prince Albert what happened.
At Castle Saloum.
He also brought Escher and the Pastor to Lordost.
Adventurer's Guild
For their safety.
Saloum Castle
In addition to having the sisters from the church move into the castle.
Also for safety.
Lastly, he had the nice guy bros work on patching up the church which brings us...
Church
That brings us to the present!
To the present.
I see.
I get the picture, apart from "the nice guy bros."
The boss...
Where's Prince Lloyd?
You lucked out, Babylon. If you hadn't woken up today...
All right! Time for my forced awakening experiments with Babylon!
JSHWATCH!!
Forced awakening experiment?!
Oh, Babylon... you're awake.
What a relief.
What a relief...
Why do you look disappointed?!
I think I got off easier than I might have because of
how much I had compressed my organs with my flexibility powers.
It might've saved my life.
Stupid! You were still nearly gone for good!
Lloyd and Jihriel were casting healing magic on you for over ten hours,
and you still didn't wake up!
Ten hours?!
I must've really worried you.
You wanna thank someone, save it for Escher and Jade.
Escher was purifying you non-stop, when you wouldn't regain consciousness.
And more than that, without her asking for my help... and if I couldn't teleport...
You definitely would've died.
Right.
So, I have some questions about what happened at the church.
Then the enemy can shapeshift like a monster and use Luxa?!
Don't be ridiculous!
You make it sound as though I bestowed divine sorcery upon a monster!
Thing is, the underground ghoul we ran into blew itself up with divine sorcery.
I... can't really explain that myself.
I hit that pastor with at least thirty shots of Glow.
But there was no sign of him turning good at all.
Then that'd mean...
He probably didn't feel as though he we was doing anything wrong.
Purification generally has an effect on guilty consciences.
It can't create feelings that didn't previously exist...
Or maybe he has some sort of iron-clad belief that Babylon's purification couldn't penetrate.
Whatever the case, he sounds like trouble.
He grabbed me by the throat and started talking about increasing security...
So, he wanted to have wraiths possess the Father and Escher
in order to have more eyes in the church...
But to what end?
He's like a detective.
Around what time did you encounter the mysterious pastor, Babylon?
I had been keeping an eye on the interior garden,
since that was where I first encountered him.
And when I went to check it on the day in question, he was back.
The interior garden again...
Come to think of it, Escher said...
He made it sound like my singing always made him sick.
"Always", eh?
Flick
That inner garden is suspicious!
Yeah, suspicious!
So cute!
The boss isn't your toy.
Hey!
Good work on repairing the church.
Sure thing!
Boss!
Prince Lloyd!
The inner garden looks good as new.
Yep!
Just gotta patch the hole in the wall.
Yeah!
Have they always acted this way?
We'll be sure to finish up
before the Pope arrives for the Great Advent Festival in three days!
Good to see Babylon is doing okay, Lloyd!
Hey, you're an ace detective.
Yep! Thanks for keeping an eye on things, Tao.
Anything happen on your end?
Not a thing!
Katarina came by, though. I filled her in on the details.
And what did she have to say?
That she's mortified!
You're back?!
Yes, and I'm reconsidering my job with the Adventurer's Guild!
What the heck happened?
After what you told me...
I contacted Church headquarters and gave them the likeness of that pastor.
These are from the Adventurer's Guild and the second prince, Albert.
Pope Guitane
They both concern the same matter.
This man apparently attacked the Daen district church,
and they're asking if we know who it might be.
Was anyone injured?
The culprit escaped, and one of the apprentice clergy
who was fighting in defense was seriously injured.
The rest of the church's staff were taken into protective custody.
And they're asking if we know who this might be?
During the attack, the man depicted in that picture cast the divine spell, Luxa.
That's absurd!
Are they suggesting this madman is one of us, God's most dedicated servants?!
Who is responsible for these profane rumors?!
Likely the apprentice who fought to defend the church.
That said, he was formerly a wanted criminal.
He currently serves the governor of Lordost island.
And they believe a rogue like that?!
Lordost Island is a hive of thuggery!
There were rumors of a riot there just the other day!
Silence.
Do not disparage others without certainty.
B-But Your Holiness...
They are the ones casting aspersions on us, with no basis.
That is true. So, this will be our reply...
"If you're accusing the Church, you'd better have evidence," they said!
My boss is furious with me!
We just fixed that window!
But I guess it's okay!
They really are nice guys.
The Adventurer's Guild won't be able to do anything to help with this incident.
We can't even put up wanted posters with his likeness...
I'm so sorry.
Then we need that evidence!
Leave no stone unturned!
Crack Wham
Aye aye, sir!
But we just fixed the garden!
But I guess it's okay!
Maybe too nice?
There's nothing nice about it!
I told you, this is a sacred location where pets have been laid to rest!
Boo, boo.
Boo
Searching without making a mess complicates things...
Shiro's nose is usually pretty reliable but he's avoiding me for some reason.
It's like he noticed something but is pretending he didn't.
Caw!
Caw
Caw! Caw!
{move(208.666,141.333,210.4,189.6,0,1361)\fad(250,0)\fnTimes New Roman\b1\shad0\c&H0737CF&\3c&H55F6FF&\frz5.878\pos(208.666,141.333)\fs18}Caw
Caw! Caw!
Caw
I'm asking them to help us search.
They've got good vision, and there's enough of them to check anything suspicious.
Nice one, Crow!
Using your cursed speech to control your namesake! You've improved.
Shiro looks really conflicted.
He still isn't helping, though.
Come to think of it, Shiro was really scared when he first came here.
I really think there must be something here.
Saria!
What are you doing here?
Babylon! Thank goodness you're awake!
Prince Lloyd!
Listen... I...
I'm so glad you're okay.
Saria...!
Squeeze
Boing Boing
Ah
This is your punishment for ditching practice without telling me!
Ngh
Hah
Yah
Ngh
Ah
Hah
Ngh
Ah
Yah
Ngh
Hah
Incredible! She's actually making music that way!
Ah
Ngh
Hah
Yah
Ngh
Ah
Hah
Ngh
So, are you going to be okay for the recital?
Uh, Princess Saria...
Thank you for saving Escher, Pavlov.
It's Babylon, actually.
It's as you've heard. Escher was attacked by some villains.
She may be targeted again.
Which is why it might be better to cancel the recital.
I see.
I'll perform on my own, then.
Guys!
A basement?! How did I not know about this?
I never noticed it...
The door... it's made of a special plywood that shuts out both mana and qi.
No wonder it went unnoticed.
What is going on underneath the church?
And what is that smell?
You shouldn't see this.
Of course not. You stay here with the Pastor, Escher.
Please! Let me go with you!
I won't cause any trouble.
That is not happening!
You're being targeted—
Yes, and you're injured, so you should stay here with the Pastor.
Drag Drag
Stupid! Do you realize what you're doing?!
You can have this robe.
Huh? I can?
It'll be way more dangerous down there!
I get the feeling it's cold down there.
Come on!
I don't want this to get her down.
Since I'm a fan of hers, too.
Since when did you two get close?
While you were asleep, actually.
Babylon... I'm sorry.
But if I look away now...
I think I'll never be able face forward and sing again.
I have to overcome this fear, and make it back.
What's the call?
Are you going? Or not?
I'm scared, woof. But...
Please! Let me go with you!
Hell yeah! That's why you're a good boy, Shiro!
What blasphemy is this?!
I get why Shiro was freaked out, now.
I was on the brink of sharing drinks with Jade in the afterlife.
But I made it back, thanks to her singing.
Next time, Episode 18:
"Escher's Will."
Episode 18
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Escher's Will
You will witness the depths of sorcery.