Chapter 544

"So you were listening. Then collect your anger, sir. The time has not yet come," said the priestess, letting her left arm fall back to her side.

The dark red glint of light under her hood curved into a gentle arc.

"We will now make our way to the Lord’s side. Very slowly, carefully, and secretly, all the apostles will gather by his side. Of course, do not worry."

The priestess’s gaze turned beyond the valley ridge, toward the distant southern sky.

"For the Lord will open the way for us. Just like this."

As if in response to her words, the thick, dark clouds flashed for a moment. A dark red bolt of lightning drew a thick, diagonal line as it fell to the earth.

Rumble—

As the sound of thunder echoed belatedly, the priestess, a faint smile on her lips, once again extended her left arm to the side, her palm wide open with the jewel facing down.

Swoosh…

Between the priestess’s eyes, a third, vertically slit glint of light bloomed. The long, reptilian pupil shimmered eerily. A moment later, the jewel glowed red, and dark red mantra circuits began to be carved into the space below it.

Crack… crackle!

Then, web-like cracks spread across the black, sticky ground, stained a dark red. As the light from the cracks intensified, black claws grew like blades from the priestess’s fingertips, which were clutching the jewel. Her fingers, too, were stained black from the tips, as if being burned away. Scales began to sprout on the back of her hand.

Rumble, woosh—

The light from the cracks, which had been shimmering ever more clearly, suddenly melted away around the time the priestess’s hand had turned black up to the wrist. An ominous silence fell for a moment before the entire area began to vibrate as if trembling.

Rumble, rumble, rumble…

The thick, dark clouds billowed as if scattering in all directions, and black dust flew from the withered trees and soil of the demonic realm like dust.

The demonic realm was collapsing.

The priestess stood serenely amid the vibration, watching the scene. It wasn’t long before the magic that was gathered in the jewel she held out to the side scattered in concentric ripples.

The ominous mantra circuits dissipated in an instant, and her blackened hand turned to ash and scattered as if its skin were peeling away. From underneath, a pristine white hand, without a single scar, revealed its true form.

Clutching the jewel and lowering her arm, the priestess closed her third eye and said, "Gathered in one place, we will become the blade that shatters the rusted prison. And on the day the Lord soars again, our faith and patience will be rewarded."

"I do not seek a reward…" A low, resonant voice, thick with a subharmonic growl, rolled through the cavern.

The priestess looked back at the red glint of the black knight standing in the center of the cave.

"If the Lord needs it… I will gladly offer even this wretched life…" he murmured, stepping out of the cave.

His steps were firm, as if he didn’t even feel the continuing vibrations. "I only wish for the Lord to soar again and judge those disgusting heretics and hypocrites of the Empire…"

The sub-harmonic frequency in the black knight’s voice faded. The moment he stepped out of the cave, his dark red glint also died out like a candle flame. The darkness that had covered him was seeping into the gaps in his armor.

"Indeed… you are worthy of being an apostle chosen by the Lord… you are very noble…"

The priestess’s glinting eyes curved gently as she looked at him. Her glint was also losing its light and fading.

Rumble, rumble rumble…

Then, the vibrations subsided. The priestess, finally hopping down from the rock, looked at the approaching knight. "Let us go. Carefully and cautiously, as the Lord has commanded. It will be a long journey."

"Let us…"

The knight and the priestess, who served the ancient dragon that dreamed of ascension, walked down the valley. Soon, the distant sky flashed once more, and a dark red bolt of lightning split the world as it fell.

Rumble—

As if to guide their path.

***

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

A roofed two-horse carriage rolled along the mist-covered road, accompanied by Sir Brennen and his squire on horseback.

"Whoa, whoa…"

They soothed their uneasy mounts again and again.

The fog, which had begun to settle low in the morning, had not dissipated even by the afternoon. In fact, it had thickened, creeping up to the point of obstructing their vision. The sticky, unpleasant feeling inside their armor was an added bonus.

Sir Brennen suspected this fog was not just due to the hot and humid climate of the South. The clouds above had been growing heavier and more ominous by the day. Just as the rumors said, the Black Wall seemed to have collapsed, scattering madness and chaos throughout the world.

However, it wasn’t just the fog that caused the faint tension in the eyes of Sir Brennen and his squire. It was because a group of riders was slowly catching up to them from behind.

Due to the fog, they were already quite close by the time they noticed their presence. Normally, he wouldn’t have been so wary, but this was the outskirts, a two-day ride from the nearest city. It was said that once you crossed the Doren River to the west, you could frequently see people from the archipelago who moonlighted as bandits.

"…Orc."

Sir Brennen’s worries melted away the instant a silhouette emerged from the fog. Just as his squire had said, it was an orc—broad-shouldered, rough-faced, and heavily armed. Somehow, he didn’t look the least bit out of place even astride a pony far too small for him.

Orcs didn’t suddenly turn to banditry; that simply wasn’t their way. If trouble ever did break out among the party, he’d probably be the first to step in and put a stop to it. There was even a saying that nobles trusted their orc bodyguards more than their family.

"A fairy?" Sir Brennen’s eyes narrowed slightly just then.

The figures of two riders on white horses, following alongside the orc, had also become clear. The one who drew the eye was a silver-haired fairy in a white cloak. Her beauty, touched with an air of cold arrogance, seemed almost mystical in the drifting fog.

Of course, the woman riding beside her was just as unique. She was wearing a deep green hood pulled down low and had her face covered with an animal-shaped mask. She seemed to be the silver-haired fairy’s servant.

A fairy being escorted by an orc was not a common sight, but that was all the more reason to be certain that this fairy’s status was far from ordinary.

"What say we ask to travel together, my lord?" the squire whispered.

Brennen’s eyes narrowed a little more. He had come to the South to escort the second son of the family he served. The trip was meant to be a trivial ramble, so their arms were light.

If the second son hadn’t insisted on returning to the mainland, he would never have set foot in this lawless area he had never been to before.

"Well…"

However, Brennen didn’t answer readily. It was better to avoid getting involved with fairies whenever possible.

They were untrustworthy folk—unlucky to be around and certain to collect on any debt owed them. If it weren’t for this situation, he wouldn’t even have been conflicted.

"…For now, let’s just clear the way."

Even as he hesitated, the fairy party, led by the orc, was rapidly approaching. At Brennen’s glance, the coachman pulled the carriage to the edge of the road. Brennen moved along beside it while his squire fell back.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The gray-skinned orc on a stocky pony was first to pass them. Though his face was fierce enough to bring a monster to mind, he gave a slight nod the moment he met Brennen’s eyes. It was clearly a sign of gratitude for yielding the way.

Of course, the silver-haired fairy and the masked servant following behind didn’t even spare them a glance. With their heads held high and their eyes cast down, they simply passed by as if Brennen and his party were invisible.

Brennen, who had been momentarily conflicted as he looked at the profile that seemed to have been sculpted by a god with great care, soon turned his gaze behind them.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Another rider appeared from behind the pair, hidden until now. He was a black-haired knight on a black horse clad in extraordinary armor. Hung over his shoulders was a dark navy cloak, so deep it was almost black.

Brennen swallowed before he even realized it. One look was enough to tell him this man was an exceptional warrior. The blackened plate gauntlets and vambraces gripping the reins were battered with dents and scratches. The armor glimpsed beneath the cloak was missing scales in places—a sign of battles fought and survived.

Yet his face, impassive and unscarred, showed no hint of the life he’d led. His steady, cool gaze held not a trace of emotion. That dissonance alone was proof enough of his skill. Then again, a fairy trusting her back to a human knight was remarkable in itself.

"Excuse me, may I have a moment?" said Brennen just after the black-haired knight had passed him. He had concluded that if this man were as skilled as he judged, he would be a great help in the city teeming with barbarians and criminals.

A beat later, the black-haired knight turned his head.

Unaware that the fairy up ahead had perked her ears, Brennen added, "I am Brennen Turner, a knight who serves Viscount Chambers of the capital. I am on my way to Rune Catis, escorting the second son."

"I see. A pleasure to meet you." The black-haired knight nodded calmly.

He clearly had no intention of revealing his own identity. It wasn’t strange, since his superior was with him. Of course, Brennen was in no state of mind to be concerned with such things. Just meeting those listless, cool black eyes had made him freeze for a moment with an unexplainable tension.

"If our destination is the same, and if it would not be a discourtesy… may I ask to accompany you as far as the city?"

He forced the words out, hiding the dryness in his throat.

The knight, who had been staring at him, said without even glancing at the fairy, "I’m sorry, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible. My lady has no plans to travel with anyone."

"I understand," Brennen, who had paused, finally murmured.

Though the words were firm to the point of being somewhat rude, strangely, he didn’t feel angry.

Swallowing a sigh, he added, "In that case, my apologies for the intrusion."

"There is a merchant caravan following behind, about an hour’s distance away," said the knight.

The knight, at Brennen’s glance, added with an expressionless face, "They would likely be happy to travel with you."

Only then did Brennen realize this wasn’t the first time they had passed others like this. Then again, all four of them were on horseback. They would naturally be faster than those traveling on foot or with a carriage.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

The knight turned his gaze and continued on, leaving Brennen behind. His party, including the fairy, had not slowed down and was already far ahead.

"Thank you for the advice," Brennen said, looking at their receding. His eyes belatedly took in the hilt of the greatsword sticking out over the knight’s cloak.

The knight, without looking back, gave a slight wave of his right hand in greeting.

Brennen would have no way of knowing that the black-haired knight, Ian, was letting out an inward sigh of relief.

I thought he recognized me.

Ian’s party traveled along the main road that led northwest. It was after they had passed the north of the Deep Forest that they began to overtake others traveling in the same direction. And the farther west they went, the more frequently they passed them.

"Slow down. Let’s go slowly."

The low voice from behind made Ian twitch one corner of his mouth.

That knight just now was the first person to speak to them. Until then, no one had spoken to them. It was likely thanks to the unique composition of their party. In any case, thanks to that, Ian was able to continue his journey in relative comfort. And since Thesaya relished being the center of attention, the arrangement suited them both.

"Those people just now, wouldn’t it have been alright to travel with them for a bit?" Lucia asked after a long while.

Placing her mask on top of her head, she looked at Ian. "We could have just gotten some information from them and then passed them off to another group when one appeared."

"Well. They wouldn’t have been much help. They didn’t seem to know much, and the knight’s eyes were full of worry." Ian said calmly.

"That’s right. It’s obvious just from their armament. They were likely escorting some good-for-nothing noble. And that second son was snoring away in the carriage," Thesaya chimed in with a nod.

"If he actually knew what was going on, he wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly," Ian added, as if agreeing.

Lucia also nodded. "I wanted to find out about the situation of the inner sea or other cities before we arrived in Rune Catis, but it seems that won’t be happening until we get there."

"Well, at least we know for sure that the road along the coast is being controlled," Thesaya added suggestively.

"How do you know that?" Lucia asked, her eyes wide as she looked at her.

Thesaya shrugged her cloaked shoulders. "This isn’t the fastest way to Rune Catis. We’re just going this way because we came up from Tahena. The fact that so many people are taking this detour can only mean one thing."

"Your insight is amazing, Sister."

"It’s nothing." Despite her words, Thesaya lifted her chin arrogantly, the corner of her lip curling up as if pleased with Lucia’s admiration.

It wasn’t long before Lucia added, as if to herself, "Is it a measure to prevent any potential accidents? Or has something happened on the coast as well?"

"Well, I don’t know about that. But in any case, this fog seems to be related to the sea. There’s a river to the west, but this is obviously not ordinary fog. And there’s a salty smell mixed in, too," Thesaya said with a shrug.

"That’s true. It’s not like the sea is right next to us," Lucia said with a nod.

Thesaya stroked her chin with her finger and added, "In any case, it’s connected to the inner sea. I’ll have to take a sip of the water when we get to the river. It might be salty, you know."

"That’s such a creative way to check!"

"You’re surprised by everything I say, Lucia. It’s nice to hear and see, so keep doing that."

"I’m being sincere, but I will."

It seems like Lucia is the one playing along.

Smiling, Ian let the ensuing conversation flow in one ear and out the other. Lucia and Thesaya chattered away on all sorts of topics whenever they had a chance.

Thanks to that, Ian didn’t have to say a word and could lose himself in thought as much as he liked. Now and then, their chatter even reminded him of things he hadn’t considered—and this was one of those times.

If they could extend their influence to the river, the number of monsters would have kept growing over time. Travel must have become difficult.

After all, it let him recall situations that could have happened in the game. It was something he had only recently started to think about, but it seemed Bukikia was a boss that couldn’t be killed in the Black Land.

In the first place, it would have been impossible to even go and meet it. There was no way to break through a sea teeming with such sea monsters with just a few ships. No matter how skilled a player was, they wouldn’t have been able to face an archdemon in a situation where the ground beneath their feet was disappearing.

It must’ve been meant to serve as the barrier separating the mainland from the South. And over time, each region as well…

Even in the game, it would have only been possible to subjugate it after the Wall had fallen. He didn’t know how the quest would have progressed, but even now that it had become reality, the flow of events would likely be not that different.

Of course, there was no need to try and find that out in advance. It would be useful to get the information early, of course, but if not, he would be able to find clues without much difficulty once he arrived in Rune Catis.

"—and then she cut off its tail, just like that. Our Kitty is so kind. If it were me, I would have cut off its neck, not its tail… oh?" Thesaya cut herself off mid-story, her gaze shifting past the fog-shrouded road ahead.

Lucia, who had reflexively looked in the same direction, tilted her head. "What is it, Sister?"

"Hmm… it seems you can’t feel it yet. Then again, it is quite far…" Thesaya murmured, her eyes narrowed.

She then tilted her chin forward and added, "Something is happening up ahead. It seems a fight has broken out…"

"A fight?" Lucia’s brow furrowed.

Mukapa, who had been listening silently, also looked back.

"It’s definitely not a fight between humans. If it’s humans, then they’re corrupted," Ian said, moving up beside Lucia. He felt the waves of chaos spreading from beyond the fog.

"I’ll go on ahead. You guys follow slowly," said Ian.

He looked at Thesaya and Lucia, then finally met Mukapa’s eyes and added, "Make sure they don’t do anything foolish."

"Understood."

As Mukapa nodded, Ian shook the reins lightly. Moro burst forward almost at the same moment.

"Don’t get too excited. If you reveal your true form, it’ll be a pain," Ian said, tapping the creature’s neck with his finger. Moro snorted in reply, though its pace didn’t slow in the slightest.

While raising one corner of his lip, Ian turned his gaze beyond the billowing fog.

"—Hold the line!"

"Don’t fall back! If you run, we’ll all die!"

Faint shouts, screams, and an unpleasant shriek were now cutting through the sound of the wind. The waves of chaos were also becoming clearer.

Right. I have been traveling too comfortably for a while.

Ian stood up in his stirrups and grasped the hilt of the greatsword sticking out behind his right shoulder.