Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 120 - Interloper, PART 2

"IT WAS HELLIX! IT WAS VAN HELLIX!" Misa cried out as Marcy and Amoria rushed into the guild, alarm etched on their faces.

"What?!" Marcy exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at Misa.

"Michael admitted it right in front of me! He called him his 'Master.' Said his plan had failed! Then Van grabbed him and escaped through the upper window!" Misa pointed upward, her voice rising with emotion. "He's the one who branded them—he was giving Michael the orders!"

Amoria and Marcy exchanged a puzzled glance, their expressions more confused than outraged.

"W-What about Lizzy and Anne? Are they safe?!" Marcy pressed, her tone sharp as she shook her head at Misa.

"They're safe," Misa assured her quickly. "Van asked if they were in the guild after Michael confessed. The fact that he knew they were in the next room... he must've known. But Van only took Michael and left. Lizzy and Anne weren't touched."

Marcy frowned, her gaze flicking to Amoria again. "... Sounds a little..."

"...Too perfect," Amoria finished, her tone calm yet cutting.

"W-What...?" Misa stammered, staring at them in disbelief.

'Michael hates Van. Why would they work together?' Amoria thought, recalling how Van had shooed Michael away at her apartment with barely a glance.

Both women's thoughts seemed to align at once. They remembered Michael standing up to Van, going so far as to rile up an angry mob against him.

"You're wrong, Misa," Marcy said firmly.

"Van would never do something like that. And frankly, I don't care what Michael said—he despises Van," Marcy spat, her tone unyielding.

"W-What...?" Misa's voice faltered, her gaze darting between the two.

"Where did he go?" Amoria asked, cutting through the tension.

'Why are they protecting him...!? Isn't it obvious it was him!?' Misa thought, her mind swirling in disarray as she narrowed her gaze at the two women. Still, she relented.

"H-He escaped through the window. I'll show you," Misa finally said, guiding them to the room and pointing to where Van had dashed off.

"I couldn't follow him at all... I've never seen anyone move so fast," she admitted, gesturing toward the direction he'd run.

"Escaped, huh?" Marcy said skeptically, crossing her arms.

"Isn't it obvious?!" Misa pressed, frustration building in her voice.

"Our guild is close to the city's exit," Amoria said thoughtfully. "Someone as fast as Van, who even outran you, could've blitzed past the guards easily. But... he ran in the opposite direction."

"...!!!" Misa's eyes widened in realization.

"He must've found something," Amoria concluded, glancing at Marcy, who nodded in agreement.

"Let's follow that helmet-head," Marcy said, already moving. She cast a quick look back. "Misa, stay here and protect Anne and Lizzy."

The two women left the guild, urgency in their steps. "Let's go—" Amoria said, riling up Marcy as they started to pick up the pace. But just as quickly, Amoria suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Marcy turned, confusion flashing across her face. "Amoria!? What are you doing!?" she yelled.

"...The Bishop is calling all the priests," Amoria said quietly, her hand reaching into her dress pocket to pull out a faintly glowing [Vibration] stone.