novelraw Chapter 62 : Eden, the Garden (1)
Chapter 62 : Eden, the Garden (1)
Chapter 62: Eden, the Garden (1)
Nike, who had become a hero, obtained the honor of being the Archbishop’s escort. He himself did not seem to know whether that was an honor. He simply enjoyed the attention as people cheered for him, grinning and waving.
‘Attention. Is this happiness?’
The sight of Nike waving his hand as he left was very different from the beggarly figure he had shown when he first arrived in Vilnogos.
Perhaps this was the wealth and glory he had always talked about.
“…Nike. Stop waving and come quickly.”
Hestia sighed as she watched the Archbishop’s expression. Rowen, who had always kept Nike in line, seemed all the more impressive to her now.
“Ahaha. It is fine. It is not as if a monster would appear at this moment.”
The Archbishop smiled kindly.
She seemed to like every little action of Nike, saying he was adorable.
Because she showed such open fondness, Hestia’s discomfort grew heavier.
The three of them left Vilnogos. The road to the Holy Land was long, so they had to press on with their horses. Along the way, Nike would occasionally hunt beasts, and Hestia would cook them.
Hestia wondered whether it was proper to serve such food to the Archbishop, but Elena welcomed it.
“The cooking of commoners is certainly friendly, the taste. Ah! The smell is a bit disgusting though.”
“Is that a good thing!?”
“Ahaha. It is good. These are all experiences.”
“Experience. Important.”
“Nike is right.”
Throughout the journey, Hestia was bothered by Elena’s contradictory words and expressions. On the surface, she seemed kind, but she had a deep-rooted tendency to look down on others.
The Archbishop was a person with a sense of superiority ingrained in her.
‘…How did such a person become an Archbishop?’
Her words and actions were things that believers would never see. At this point, Hestia felt as if Elena were deliberately trying to give her a bad impression.
‘Is she doing that just for me to see…?’
Hestia glanced sideways at Elena. At times, Elena would leave her horse and ride along with Nike’s horse. Nike rode with his back leaning against Elena’s chest as she held the reins.
“Nike rides a horse well.”
“It is basic!”
“Ahaha. I can also ride well, you know.”
“Is that so.”
“…”
Nike did not seem to notice Elena’s flirting. Nor did he reject her. At the same time, he was not toying with her either.
As time passed, Elena alone grew more frustrated.
“…Nike.”
“Hah?”
“Do you like men?”
“Ah…?”
Nike felt annoyed whenever such questions came from Elena. He could not even figure out what she meant. Chewing on dried meat, he answered.
“I like meat.”
“What about women?”
“Female meat is tender!”
“…Is that a metaphor?”
“Hah?”
Listening quietly, Hestia shook her head.
The mindless journey finally neared its end.
As they approached the Holy Land, there were no monsters or bandits on the plains. Pilgrims often appeared, and armed city guards or crusaders patrolled to maintain order.
“From this moment, I am not the Archbishop but a common believer. Please treat me as such. Do you understand?”
The Archbishop hid her identity as she entered the Holy Land.
Her only reason was that she wanted to.
She said she wished to enjoy a freedom she could not usually have.
Because of this, Nike and Hestia, who had hoped for luxurious accommodations, were disappointed.
The Holy Land was a clean and sacred city. Even though it was not lavish, the inns along the street were mostly excellent.
After dropping their luggage at the inn, the three of them spent half a day resting and recovering from their travels.
“There are more poor people visiting the Holy Land than I expected…”
Dressed like an ordinary young girl her age, Elena leaned against the terrace of the inn, watching the people walk by. Nike was sleeping in another room, and Hestia, who was attending to Elena, answered.
“…If you have much, then you also have many things you can rely on. Those who have nothing are the ones who seek God.”
Elena widened her eyes, surprised at such a philosophical reply.
“That is very philosophical.”
“…Forgive me.”
Hestia slightly lowered her head. To speak her opinion so freely could be seen as overstepping to the Archbishop. Because of Elena’s earlier words about treating her as an ordinary believer, she had let her guard down.
“No, it was truly a good remark. Those without support may indeed have greater faith… That leaves an impression.”
“…Thank you.”
During the journey, the two women had grown somewhat closer as well. It was largely because Elena casually treated her comfortably, but Hestia was not completely cold-hearted either.
Perhaps Elena suddenly grew interested in Hestia, for she entered and sat on the sofa.
“Hestia… was it?”
“…Yes.”
“A pretty young lady like you, how did you become a witch hunter? You do not seem like you are of low birth. Your bearing is like that of a noble.”
Elena’s face was arrogant, as if to say tell me your story, for I am bored.
Hestia felt slightly offended, but she did not show it. She simply answered plainly.
“…It is nothing special. I lost my parents to a witch, and I hunt witches for revenge.”
Of course, she did not tell the real story. Only her master and Nike knew that. There was no reason to tell such a thing to a stranger.
“Revenge…”
Elena crossed her arms and smiled, tilting her head slightly.
“Is it revenge against the witch of Hebra?”
“…?”
Hestia was slightly startled and looked into Elena’s eyes. She had never said who it was, but Elena named the witch of Hebra directly.
“…No.”
“Haha. Hestia, you have no talent for acting. I could tell. I noticed it when your expression darkened at the start of the journey.”
“…It is none of your concern, is it.”
“None of my concern? Of course it is. A mere hunter dared to lie to the Archbishop.”
Elena curled her lips upward wickedly, as if she had caught her prey.
“I do not intend to torment you. I was simply curious. From your stiff expression… I can tell revenge is not really your purpose. Is it not?”
Hestia was flustered.
She had thought Elena was nothing more than an empty-headed flirt obsessed with Nike, but her insight was extraordinary.
‘…So she isn’t an Archbishop for no reason.’
Hestia kept silent. Elena did not press further. Everyone had matters they did not want to talk about.
Just as the Archbishop hid her true reason for concealing her identity in the Holy Land, Hestia had her own true reason for becoming a witch hunter.
“Shall we go to pray now?”
“…Yes. I will wake Nike.”
The women decided to keep each other’s secrets.
* * *
“Father and Mother, creators of all earth and rivers—”
At the very center of the Holy Land stood the towering ivory tower, the Obelisk of the Sun. Surrounded by triple walls, it was truly a sacred structure befitting the name of the Holy Land.
“I confess the sins I have committed.”
Elena looked up at the tower as she prayed.
Nike and Hestia glanced at each other and imitated her posture and words. They folded their hands, closed their eyes, and prayed devoutly.
“Heh— Father. Mother? I have neither?”
“Nike, please lower your voice…”
Hestia’s face went pale at Nike’s absurd prayer. It was a solemn atmosphere where even the worst criminals behaved humbly.
Here, only witches could never be forgiven.
‘This is boring…’
Nike closed his mouth with a sulky face. This was not the place to cause a scene, and there was not even the pleasant scent of food. Even Nike knew that to act foolishly here would not be forgiven. He was surprisingly perceptive of situations like this.
“Nike. Hestia.”
After finishing her prayer, Elena quietly called the two. They turned to face the Archbishop.
“Did you know?”
“Ah? I don’t.”
“…The legend of how this tower was built.”
Without hesitation, Nike shook his head. Hestia pinched his thigh lightly and answered.
“The story of… the First Shepherd, right?”
“Yes, that is right.”
Elena clasped her hands again and closed her eyes, continuing her tale.
“A long time ago, the First Shepherd who first spread the words of the Sun God struck his staff here and proclaimed it a holy land. At the place where the staff struck, the faithful piled stones. That pile became this ivory tower.”
“…”
“Lies!”
Nike shouted low. Hestia turned pale and quickly covered his mouth. Elena smiled with amusement.
“Is it a lie? I also think it is somewhat exaggerated.”
Laughing, she watched Nike, but her expression turned serious.
“Yet the power of this tower is undeniable. It is the strongest proof of the Sun God’s grace upon this land.”
“Power?”
Nike tilted his head.
“Yes. Power. No magic can be used here. It is a forbidden domain for witches. That is why it is called the Holy Land.”
“Ooh…?”
Nike showed interest.
For one who did not believe in God, this was quite an intriguing story. The question of whether God truly existed was an interesting matter.
“That is why Eden is not only the greatest religious city, but also the greatest witch prison in the Empire.”
“Hah!?”
“Ahaha. You seem like you didn’t know, Nike. Any captured witch of the fourth hierarchy or higher is imprisoned in the dungeon beneath this city.”
Hestia already knew this, having heard it from her master. Anyone who studied witch hunting or read hunter journals would have known.
Nike was neither.
“Ooh… I want to see it.”
“Nike cannot. Only Cardinals or Order Captains can enter the underground.”
“Tch.”
Nike pouted, as if disappointed at missing such an amusing sight.
“Nike, would you really like to see it?”
“Oh?”
Nike’s eyes sparkled at Elena’s words.
“I want to!”
Elena smiled brightly and replied.
“With just a word, I could let you see the dungeon. Or even let you live there.”
“…?”
“All right!”
Wait. Let him live there…? Only Hestia noticed the strangeness in Elena’s words.
“Nike. You can use magic.”
Still smiling, Elena asked. In that prayerful posture, she looked like a serene statue.
“That must mean you are a witch. Even though you are a man.”
Hestia’s heart pounded. Nike also closed his mouth. Something was wrong.
“I had wondered what the former witch of the Order of the Silver Blades was hiding… and it turned out to be quite the secret, huh?”
“…Your Excellency.”
“Shut your mouth, Hestia. I am speaking with Nike.”
Elena’s aura turned cold in an instant. She was no longer a flirt but an inquisitor passing judgment.
Nike sighed.
“That snake of a woman must have done many things to your body to conceal it… But in the Holy Land, it is useless. I had not been certain before, but now I know.”
Elena pointed at Nike’s chest, at the scar that would never fade.
“From there, I feel an ominous energy. It is the same as desecrating the sacred.”
Nike quietly clenched his fists. His magic truly was not moving. The moment she commanded his arrest, he would have no means of escape.
He had known her insides were dark, but he never thought she had brought him here just to capture him.
“I am not a bad person.”
Nike growled, and Hestia quietly tensed.
‘…Crazy bitch. I knew it. She is no different from a witch.’
Her ability to deceive was art. But the real question was this. Nike or the Hall of the City God? Which to choose? She stood at a crossroad of reason and emotion.
Elena looked back up at the obelisk and prayed.
“This is clearly an act of defiance against the authority of the Hall of the City God, an act of treason, or blasphemy…”
The Archbishop closed her eyes slowly and whispered.
“Sun God, grant me the wisdom of the First Shepherd, Monrosol.”