[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 5: The Road to the Territory (1)
Hal couldn't understand.
In the Path of Exorcism, the priestly examination, the supervising priest was the beginning and the end of the test.
Therefore, deacons were usually cautious in choosing their supervising priest.
Since it was a life-threatening test, they preferred those who were either highly skilled, had a good relationship with the deacons, or were lenient with their evaluations.
But what about Hal?
He wasn't well-regarded within the Order, nor did he have an outstanding track record.
He was obsessed with gathering information related to his mother's death, and despite his abilities, he always took on dangerous missions, constantly facing death.
He was even younger than most deacons.
Hal's young age was a concern, both in terms of reliability and the deacons' pride.
Even deacons who couldn't take the test due to a lack of supervising priests were reluctant to be tested by Hal, so this was the first ti he had been assigned a supervisory role.
That's why he was curious.
"Why ?"
What was this young deacon thinking when he chose him?
Antonio tilted his head at Hal's question.
With an expression that showed he didn't understand.
"Because you're Hal-nim?"
"...I don't understand what you an."
"You're the youngest exorcist priest in the Order! You beca a priest at the age of 3, even younger than !"
The mont he heard the answer, he felt suffocated.
Even though he had expected it, it seed unavoidable.
"That's all I am. I'm not the genius you think I am."
His mouth felt dry as he spoke.
It was as dry as if he had a mouthful of sand.
"It would be better for you to change your supervisor now."
Just as Hal was shaking his head and speaking,
"No! I want Hal-nim!"
Antonio shouted loudly, clenching his fists.
Hal flinched slightly at the unexpectedly intense reaction.
Antonio, not missing this, poured out his words.
"I entered the Order only to be recognized by Hal-nim!"
"?"
What was he talking about?
Sensing Hal's puzzled gaze, Antonio finally realized his slip and scratched his cheek with an 'oops' expression.
After a mont of hesitation, Antonio sighed lightly and opened his mouth.
"Actually, I'm from Dekaria Village."
"..."
Dekaria Village.
He rembered it.
It was the na of the village where Hal had been on a mission when he was just this boy's age.
'And that place...'
It was also the place where a fierce battle had taken place, with two clerics who went on the mission with him losing their lives.
"I saw you there, Hal-nim."
"It wouldn't have been a pretty sight."
"You were a ss. Covered in blood from the battle, with tears and snot all over your face."
He didn't rember.
Back then, he was just fighting fiercely.
Antonio continued, with a faint smile as if reminiscing.
"When Hal-nim returned with the priests' bodies on a cart, everyone in the village despaired. They thought that all the mbers of the Order they had trusted were dead."
‘Was that so?’
Hal tried to recall, but he couldn't rember.
Then, Antonio clenched his fists and t Hal's gaze.
"But Hal-nim didn't give up. Leaving your comrades' bodies behind, you headed back towards the demon."
"..."
Hal couldn't take his eyes off Antonio's determined gaze.
What was contained in that gaze wasn't re admiration, but respect.
Feeling an unknown sense of déjà vu, a scene from his mory flashed through Hal's mind.
Dekaria Village, after he returned from slaying the demon.
There, Hal saw him.
A young, blond boy with golden eyes, staring at him from among the people.
'That boy from back then!'
While Hal was surprised, Antonio spoke clearly.
"What I want to be isn't a genius or the strongest exorcist priest, but you, Hal-nim."
Hal stood speechless for a mont.
He felt his mind clear.
The suffocation that had been weighing down his chest and the dryness that felt like chewing sand had disappeared.
"Is that so?"
Hal turned and pulled the reins.
"Hal-nim?"
Perhaps it wasn't the reaction he had expected.
Antonio's determined expression vanished, replaced with anxiety as he followed, calling Hal's na.
Hal calmly handed him one of the reins.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
"...Yes?"
Antonio looked montarily dazed. Then, his expression blood into a bright smile.
"O-of course!!"
"We'll go quickly. Follow closely."
Hal leaped onto the horse and started to ride, unlike his words, at a slow pace.
Antonio, hurriedly mounting his horse, followed diligently despite his wobbly movents.
The wind blew along the path they were taking.
A warm breeze ruffled their hair as if blessing their journey.
***
Snort!
The horse shook its head and snorted, seemingly tired.
At the sa ti, Antonio's exhausted voice was heard.
"Hal-nim... Ugh, are we almost there yet?"
Hal stroked the horse's mane and replied.
"We're almost there."
It will be soon now.
The land bordering the south of Heidern, the Gilmore clan's Territory.
The Lengbaster territory.
It was a place they had to pass through to reach Heidern.
"This is my first ti in Lengbaster. What kind of place is it?"
At Antonio's question, Hal pondered for a mont and then replied bluntly.
"Lots of trees."
"...Yes?"
Antonio asked back in a sowhat dumbfounded voice. Perhaps it wasn't the answer he had expected.
He soon showed a disappointed expression.
But there was no other way to describe this Territory.
Lengbaster had a lush forest.
Excellent timber and high-quality mushrooms grew in this land, where forestry was the main industry.
A green canopy of leaves that provided cool shade even in sumr. Clear water gurgling through the crevices of rocks.
The chirping of birds and the rhythmic sound of an axe from a lumberjack in the distance.
Hal quite liked the scenery here.
Perhaps that was why he was feeling a little more excited than usual, so he added,
"The inn we're staying at today is famous for its mushroom skewers grilled with plenty of lard. You'll definitely like it."
"Heh. Really?"
Antonio's Adam's apple bobbed, perhaps salivating at the re thought.
During their five-day journey, they had only stayed at an inn for two days.
For the remaining three days, they had traveled quickly, camping out.
Perhaps for pilgrims or ascetics, but...
There weren't many clerics who could keep up with the harsh schedule of exorcist priests.
Hal felt grateful to Antonio for following him without complaint.
Two more days of travel, and they would reach Heidern.
It would be alright to get a good rest today.
Rustle!
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves snapped Hal out of his thoughts. Sothing was strange.
Feeling a sense of incongruity, Hal scanned the trees along the road.
And he soon found the source of that incongruity.
"......Antonio, what day is it today?"
"Do you an the date? It's August 15th."
"It's still a long way until autumn."
"Yes? Of course. It'll be at least another month before autumn."
He was right.
It was the season for trees to bear luscious fruit.
But why...
"Are the leaves already withered?"
"Huh? Oh? Now that you ntion it, that's strange."
Antonio tilted his head, puzzled.
"Let's hurry a bit."
"...Yes!!"
Hal changed the mood and pulled the reins.
Antonio quickly grasped the situation and followed him.
How long had it been?
A village surrounded by a sturdy wooden fence ca into view.
"Wh-who are you?"
As Hal approached the gate on horseback, an old man called out from behind the fence.
His voice was filled with fear.
"My na is Hal Gilmore, a priest of the Order."
"Oh my. I apologize, Priest-nim. I'll open the gate right away!"
Without further questions, the old man hurriedly unlocked the latch.
Creak!
"Welco, Priest-nim!"
With the sound of rusty hinges, the old man greeted them with a bright smile.
***
The old man's bright expression conveyed relief and joy. As expected, sothing was amiss.
Hal dismounted and entered the village, observing the surroundings.
Whatever the reason, in this village that relied on forestry for their livelihood, they should be busy cutting trees during the season when leaves fall.
Trees that haven't absorbed moisture make good lumber.
But the village was eerily quiet.
A tense and fearful atmosphere. Hal, now accustod to such an atmosphere, could feel it in his bones as he asked the old man,
"What's happening in the village?"
"Excuse ? Didn't you co knowingly?"
No wonder they didn't even ask about the purpose of their visit. It seed there had been a misunderstanding.
"We don't know. We just stopped by this village on our way to Heiden territory."
"How could that be..."
Disappointnt flashed across the old man's face.
Not only the old man, but the expressions of the people who were listening to their conversation also darkened.
Hal calmly said to the old man,
"Let's hear what's going on first."
"That ans..."
"We'll help depending on the situation."
The exorcist priests of the Order take an oath in the na of Ehurshica, the god of order and death.
They swear not to turn away those who suffer from evil. Hal had never broken that oath.
At Hal's words, hope flickered in the old man's eyes once again.
The old man prostrated himself before Hal and Antonio.
"Thank you! You will be blessed, Priest-nim!"
"P-please, get up, sir."
Antonio was flustered by the old man's repeated gratitude.
Watching Antonio, Hal was struck by a strange feeling. Childlike, perhaps?
Although the actual age difference might not be significant, the boy who had embarked on his first exorcism mission seed young to Hal.
Priests quickly beco indifferent to such reactions from people.
There was a difference in social status, but as they repeated their acts of salvation, they gradually beca accustod to receiving gratitude.
However, thanks to this, Hal was also able to recall the mory of saving people for the first ti, many years ago.
Hal, montarily amused by Antonio's reaction, asked the old man for a detailed explanation.
The old man slowly recalled his mories.
"...As far as this old man rembers, it started with that knight."
"Knight?"
Antonio asked the old man with an intrigued expression. The old man looked anxious but didn't stop talking.
"I've never seen his face because he always wears a helt... but ever since the lord hired him, strange things have been happening in the village."
"What do you an by strange things?"
The old man's face hardened.
"...The people who went into the forest to cut trees were found dead."
"May the Goddess guide their souls."
Antonio made the sign of the cross, and the old man followed suit. Hal also offered a brief silent prayer and then asked the old man,
"What was the condition of the deceased?"
"Their upper and lower bodies were cut in two, as if by a sword. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"A sword, you say?"
Antonio muttered and flinched.
The old man hesitated for a mont and then said to Hal,
"That knight drove all the villagers out of the forest. He's still wandering around in there."
Hal listened to the old man and nodded silently. It was certainly suspicious.
‘Was he hiding sothing in the forest?’
Hal thought for a mont and asked about the fallen leaves he had seen earlier.
"I saw the trees on my way here. They were bare. The leaves were withered like fallen leaves."
The old man sighed deeply and nodded.
"Yes, that's right. The forest has beco strange too. The leaves are withering, and the trees are losing their vitality. Even the animals have disappeared."
"What is the lord doing?"
"...Nothing. The lord's mansion is also in the forest, so we don't know what he's doing. Winter is coming soon, and if this continues, all the villagers will starve to death."
Hal looked up to check the position of the sun.
There was still ti before sunset.
It would be good to check the forest while visiting the lord's mansion.
"We'll go and see."
"...Thank you, but... will the two of you be alright?"
An unconcealed anxiety washed over the old man's face. Certainly, the Order's power and influence were strong.
Even a re priest couldn't be treated carelessly by the lord of such a small territory.
But what the old man saw were two young n, or rather, boys, who had barely reached adulthood.
It was natural for him to not find them very reliable.
"It's alright. I..."
Just as Hal was about to reassure the old man,
Antonio cut him off, stepped forward, and said with a bright smile,
"This is the Priest of Azure Fla, the youngest genius exorcist priest in the Order!"
"The Priest of Azure Fla... I've heard of him. Could this be him?"
The old man looked at Hal's face in disbelief. Hal, receiving that gaze, nodded awkwardly.
It had been a while since he felt this embarrassed.
Hal nodded, trying his best to maintain a straight face.
The old man hesitated, as if sothing had co to mind, and asked,
"Um... how should we... offer you compensation...?"
"Have you made any offerings?"
"Yes? Of course..."
"Then it's fine. Consider it received in advance."
Hal nodded briefly.
"Ah! The Goddess has not abandoned us yet. Thank you, Goddess!"
The old man knelt and prayed. Leaving him behind, Hal walked briskly towards the forest. Antonio followed Hal with vigorous steps. Hal said quietly to him,
"From now on, I'll introduce myself."
Antonio looked puzzled for a mont, then replied with surprise,
"Oh! Should I not reveal your title carelessly? I suppose the demons might target you..."
"...Yes, sothing like that."
Feeling tired of explaining the reason in detail, Hal had to keep moving.
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Reviews
All reviews (0)