novelraw Chapter 58 : Archbishop (4)
Chapter 58 : Archbishop (4)
Chapter 58: Archbishop (4)
The magic power, as virulent as poison, raged like madness. It thrashed like a wounded beast.
The curse the Witch of the Sword left behind tormented Nike horribly. He fought like hell to overcome it. He tried to press the curse down and control it with magic so he would not lose, but the harder he tried, the stronger the curse became.
It was a dangerous curse that swallowed its host’s magic and made it the fuel.
“Graaah!”
Right about when Nike was about to lose his temper and force his demonic eyes open, light filled the ward.
“Young man. Endure. Please trust me and wait.”
With her gaze fixed on Nike and a faint smile on her lips, Elena approached with the poise of a saint.
She walked with lofty grace through a pit of hellfire, and made one think of an angel’s descent.
“Kgh…!”
Nike dropped to his knees on the spot and sank down. He could hardly breathe, his hand at his throat.
If he opened his demonic eyes now, he could suppress the curse for a moment. That would not be a fundamental solution, and the wounds and the curse’s toxins would only deepen.
The moment he saw Elena, Nike understood. That woman was the one who could resolve his curse.
So Nike chose to endure.
Listening to others and asking for help was a basic virtue of a social animal.
Nike was no longer a dangerous beast living on the hill behind Sinain Village.
“Good… that is it.”
Elena bore through the curse and reached Nike.
Bang! Bang!
The venomous energy slammed into the barrier of sacred arts. When cracks formed, she overlaid them with another prayer.
Even the prayers of priests under the direct authority of the Hall of the City God were not enough to subdue the venom.
‘There is no time.’
Judging that even an archbishop could not hold out long, Elena immediately placed her hand on Nike’s head.
Blaze!
The venom flared like fire. While the layered magic arrays bought time, she had to block the curse.
Elena closed her eyes and felt into Nike’s depths.
“Huh?”
She snapped her eyes open at once. A chill raced down her spine and she jerked her hand from his head.
‘What on earth did I just see…?’
Even she, an archbishop, had never encountered such pure malice. An abyss whose depth could not be measured.
Something so dangerous that simply facing it felt like it would murder her consciousness was crouched inside Nike’s head.
Her first thought was that it was far too dangerous.
‘Should I kill him?’
Could such a curse even be undone?
No, it was difficult.
Elena felt sure that even if a saintess or the pope came in person, it would be impossible.
The easiest way was to kill the host who had been cursed.
‘Morgana would know that. The very act of begging help from the Hall of the City God she hated so much meant this child is precious to her.’
Elena looked at Nike, writhing in pain. At a glance he was an ordinary boy. Yet a little thought made her skin crawl.
‘He’s still completely intact even with such a curse placed on him. It makes no sense.’
Even a saint struck by this curse would have gone mad on the spot and become a slave to the demonic. She would not even have been able to remain conscious enough to suffer.
Just what was this boy…
Elena finished her calculations.
Her resolve settled.
She would save the boy.
This boy of unknown origin clearly had value beyond what one would expect.
Elena closed and opened her eyes. For an instant, they shone like gold.
—!
Wind rose inside the ward. The priests startled and opened their eyes.
“Your Excellency!”
“No…!”
It was the miracle said to appear when a high priest of archbishop rank manifested a wonder.
A halo appeared above Elena’s head.
A single point of golden light pricked the air, and the venom could no longer come close. It retreated.
The light grew more intense. The venom writhed like a worm sprinkled with salt.
Elena set her hand again upon Nike’s head and cried out.
“O inauspicious Color from beyond the world. Face the sun—!”
Light exploded.
* * *
“Yes. Please inform the Vatican that my return will be delayed. I will combine the journey back with a pilgrimage and ascetic practice.”
“I will deliver that. Your Excellency.”
“Thank you. Go safely.”
When Nike awoke from a long sleep, a gentle woman’s voice murmured at his side.
Grunting, he lifted his upper body and looked over. A woman with beautiful golden hair dangled over the pillow lay in the other bed, as haggard as he was.
“Ugh…”
A twinge tightened around Nike’s heart and he clutched his chest. Then the memories came flooding back.
He had been cursed, the curse had suddenly rampaged and nearly killed him, and someone had helped him.
He remembered that the someone was the woman right beside him.
Once the pain in his chest settled, Nike raised his head. The woman had rolled to face him.
There was no color in her. She was so pale one might have mistaken her for a corpse.
“…You picking a fight!”
When Nike grumbled, the woman snorted.
“Quite a first line to say to your lifesaver. Funny, though.”
He had suspected, and it seemed true. She had crushed down and calmed the curse with that miraculous golden light and sealed it. She was the one.
He should thank her. Anyone should express that feeling.
“T-Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. I only did what I should.”
“…Then I don’t thank you.”
“You are Nike, yes? Come here for a moment.”
Elena beckoned. After a brief hesitation, Nike got out of bed.
“Huh!? I can move!”
“Ahaha... Of course. I suppressed your curse. Not completely resolved, but still.”
“Ooh!”
Nike swung his arms and legs around. The inscribed cursed spots itched a little, but compared to before it was nothing.
“It is a powerful curse. If you are badly injured or exposed to magic, it will rampage again. Be careful.”
“Got it! Thanks! Lifesaver!”
“What an amusing person you are.”
Elena smiled in satisfaction. She decided she had done well to save him.
‘It is certain. Morgana had a reason to keep him alive.’
His human charm alone already intrigued her. Elena smiled and motioned for Nike to sit. He obediently sat at her side on the bed’s edge. The distance between them was very close.
In the ward, Elena’s outfit was surprisingly free for someone of archbishop rank. The comfortable dress with a deep neckline made one forget her station.
“Closer.”
Elena tugged Nike’s arm.
“Hah?”
When Nike frowned, Elena smiled kindly.
“I am checking your condition. Do not tense up.”
She set her hand to his brow as he leaned in. Nike waited blank-faced for her to remove it.
“No fever. The curse is definitely asleep. Thank goodness.”
“Hmm~?”
“But you must be careful. I do not know what it is, but it is a very strong and malicious curse. What did you go through I wonder?”
Elena’s tone was soft. The nurturing charm of an older woman flowed out of her. She had a calmness befitting someone from the Hall of the City God, a warmth one never saw among the rough people of the Orders.
Nike answered.
“You don’t need to know!”
“Ahaha. I understand. A memory you do not want to speak of I see.”
Elena put him at ease. Seeing he seemed uncomfortable, she sent him back to his own bed.
Nike still was not fully clear-headed. A slight headache lingered, and he lay staring blankly up at the ceiling.
“I am hungry…”
He spoke whatever came to mind. Normally Rowen would have come by with food by now. Or Lou Gehrig or Hestia would have stopped in.
“Rowen… left. What about my comrades? I should go find them!”
Nike sprang up again.
“Are you hungry?”
“Hah? Of course.”
“Eat with me then. Is no one outside?”
Elena called for someone. A priest on standby opened the door at once and bowed.
“You called, Your Excellency.”
“A meal please.”
“Understood.”
“Hah?”
Before long, food arrived. A feast so lavish it made Nike’s eyes go wide was carried into the room.
The smell of well-roasted meat and fruit stabbed at his senses.
Slurp. Nike drooled.
“Eat, Nike.”
“C-Can I really?”
“Of course. If it is not enough, say so.”
Nike looked at Elena a moment, then took up the food. It tasted incredible. He had never eaten fare of such quality even within the Order.
“Oh! Delicious! A new world! Did you cook this yourself?!”
“I am glad it suits your taste.”
Before he knew it, Elena had come to his side and was cutting fruit. When Nike tore at meat, she slipped fruit into his mouth.
Nike, oblivious, ate well.
Before they knew it, the wall between them had come down.
They had grown very close.
Anyone might have mistaken them for lovers.
“I am done. I should head out now! I have something to report to the Captain!”
Having filled his belly and recovered, Nike moved to climb out of bed. But Elena sat him back down.
“I have already told Morgana everything.”
“…Hah?”
“For the time being, I will keep you under protective observation myself.”
Nike’s brows drew tight. He gave an awkward cough.
“Protective observation? I don’t need it!”
“You do. Your curse is… very dangerous after all.”
Elena’s fingertips glided over his shoulder. The tracing hand that followed the lines of the curse gave him a strange feeling.
“I decided to watch over you for at least a week. It is for your sake, Nike.”
“I hate it.”
“Enduring is a monk’s virtue too.”
Nike’s eyes wavered for a moment.
‘A monk’s virtue?’
It kind of sounded cool.
“Nike is an excellent witch hunter. I heard you are the future of the Order of the Silver Blades. Even in the Hall of the City God we have heard of your feats. Everyone is pleased.”
“Ooh…”
Nike sank back and let the tension leave his body. There was a compulsion in Elena’s words that made one focus.
Nike liked Elena’s gentle, distinctive way of speaking. With words that were hers alone, she charmed the faithful.
“Will you tell me your exploits, Nike? I cannot move much myself after holding back your curse.”
“Hah? I see… you must be bored.”
“Yes, that is right. I am bored.”
Elena tilted her head and smiled. She might have seemed older, yet she was still a woman of about twenty. A fresh girlishness showed through.
Nike rolled his eyes around, then nodded.
She had already reported to Morgana. He could see Lou Gehrig and Hestia later.
Right now, he felt that pleasing his lifesaver was the proper thing to do as a human being.
—H-He is my comrade. Could we see him for a moment?
—...I will just check if he is alright.
—No. There was an order to let no one in. How did you even get up here?
It was noisy outside.
There was an argument beyond the door.
It did not sound like something that would be resolved easily.
Elena listened for a moment. The thought that someone was interrupting her time with Nike displeased her.
She had even extracted a promise from Morgana not to approach for a few days. Who had come all the way here?
“Let them in.”
Keeping her feelings down, Elena called out. The argument ceased and the door opened a crack.
“They are new hunters of the Order. They said they came to see a boy named Nike… I am sorry, Your Excellency. I will send them away at once.”
“No.”
Elena smiled and shook her head.
“Let them in. It is all right.”
“…”
The priest bit his lip, looking ill at ease.
“Understood. You two. The archbishop is inside. Do not dare to raise your heads and meet her eyes. Keep a reverent posture.”
“Y-Yes…!”
“…Hmph.”
The door opened slowly.
Nike watched the doorway.
“Oh.”
There stood Lou Gehrig with food in his hands, and Hestia with a stunned face.
“Nike…?”
“You came!”