novelraw Chapter 63 : Eden, the Garden (2)
Chapter 63 : Eden, the Garden (2)
Chapter 63: Eden, the Garden (2)
The tension rose to its peak. Nike bared his fangs, realizing that something was wrong.
‘There is no one I can trust!’
At that moment, the person who came to his mind was Morgana. She had told him not to trust anyone. In fact, everyone he met gave him the same advice, not to trust anyone.
In the competition of trust, the one who had triumphed was Morgana. The witch who had seemed the least reliable had turned out to be the most dependable ally of all.
Elena looked at Nike, who was gritting his teeth. As always, she was smiling. It was a smile whose meaning he could not guess.
“Hmm~ it seems a divine revelation has come.”
Elena touched her temple playfully. She released her clasped hands from prayer, stood up slowly, and walked toward Nike.
“The wisdom of Monrosol speaks in my mind. It says, ‘Strike down Nike, who should not exist.’”
“Who is Monrosol! Stop hiding like a coward and show yourself!”
Nike shouted, and the praying faithful began to glance nervously at each other.
“Shh.”
Elena brought a slender finger to her lips.
“Yes? Oh, just a moment… mm, I see. Nike? Monrosol’s revelation is not over yet.”
“…?”
Nike frowned. Hestia only then realized that Elena was teasing him and relaxed slightly.
‘…She really is insane.’
Hestia clenched her teeth. Even in front of a High Priest, it was hard to keep her expression neutral.
“Haha—!”
As Nike pressed for an answer, Elena covered her mouth and laughed. She was like a mischievous older woman toying with a younger boy. To other women’s eyes, she was little more than a disgrace who did not act her age.
“Monrosol has said that Nike is the chosen one. He is the Sword of Destiny, and thus has been granted the power to stand against evil.”
“Hm… oh? Is that so?”
Nike accepted it quickly. He did not fully understand, but it sounded good. Being called chosen had an impressive ring to it.
If Elena had truly intended to capture him, she would have already ordered people to attack him. From start to finish, she had simply been playing with him.
“Yes. You are chosen. The one who will save this world. The Sword of Destiny. The bloodline of the shepherd. The descendant of Monrosol, the last of humankind who will be reborn after the Great Flood and play in the golden fields of paradise… Adam.”
“Hah? That man is my ancestor?”
“Not your literal bloodline.”
Elena went on spouting incomprehensible words. Even Hestia did not know what she was talking about. Of course, it was because these were verses written in prophecies that only cardinals were permitted to read.
Neither Nike nor Hestia could tell whether she was joking or serious. In truth, they had just heard the highest-level secrets of the Empire, though they did not understand the weight of it.
“….”
“Elena. This is hard.”
“Easy women are boring, Nike. You should remember that from now on.”
“Hassle.”
Nike dug at his ear and turned his head. Elena looked briefly at Hestia, then spoke again.
“Nike. By doctrine, you should either be executed immediately or locked away in an underground prison.”
“No!”
“Yes, that won’t happen. Because you must surely be the Sword of Destiny spoken of in prophecy.”
Hestia furrowed her brow, listening to words that were difficult to understand. Elena smirked, mocking Hestia’s ignorance.
She approached Nike and, with languid and suggestive gestures, traced his forehead, nose, and lips.
“Nike… the reason you can bear magical power in a male body… it is all part of God’s plan.”
“Ah…?”
Nike only wore a dazed expression. He could not understand her words, nor did he intend to.
“That is why I will follow you. Make me yours. Let me walk your path.”
Elena kissed Nike’s cheek. It was loud enough to make an unmistakable smooching sound.
Hestia’s eyes widened. It had happened so quickly she had no time to react.
“Hah? What was that?”
“I was marking you. To show you are mine.”
“I belong to myself!”
“That is not untrue.”
Elena replied with a smile, glancing toward Hestia. It was a victor’s grin, showing she had claimed him.
Neither Morgana, nor Rowen, nor the little upstart Hestia.
She had beaten them all and openly staked her claim.
Hestia’s lip curled in disbelief. Even the camaraderie she had begun to feel, or the respect for a capable woman, all of it evaporated in an instant. This insane Archbishop had wanted only to make Nike hers from the very beginning. She had dragged him to the Holy See and declared it with threats.
‘...A devil-like woman.’
Hestia stifled the urge to twist Elena’s neck. She knew that if she acted or reported to Morgana right now, Nike would be killed or imprisoned. Every word Elena had spoken to Nike had been a warning to her.
‘Disgusting…’
Her thoughts and tactics were exactly like those of a witch. Perhaps extremes really did resemble each other. The Archbishop of the Hall of the City God and the witches who served evil were no different. All of them were repulsive and sickening.
Hestia clamped her mouth shut, enduring the urge, and Elena finally smiled.
“Nike. From this moment on, you will transfer to the Hall of the City God. On the surface, you will be my knight.”
“Hah? Did you talk with the boss?”
Nike tilted his head. Changing his affiliation sounded like a breach of contract. Nike took his contracts very seriously.
“Boss? Who do you mean?”
“Vigo. Ah, and we need Morgana’s permission too!”
“Oh… how amusing. Both of them have already agreed. All that is needed now is your consent.”
“I see. All right.”
Nike answered without much thought. Moving to a larger, more powerful group meant he could reach the wealth and glory he dreamed of more quickly. There was no reason to refuse.
He only wanted to leave the Holy Land for now. It felt uncomfortable not being able to use magic there.
Only Hestia realized the seriousness of what had just happened.
‘I have to tell someone… somehow.’
* * *
“Oh! What kind of meat is this!”
“Hehehe… Nike, that is lamb you can only eat near the Holy Land. It is said the first shepherd created the recipe.”
Nike chomped noisily at the lamb. The unique seasoning was unlike anything he had tasted before.
“You escorted me safely to the Holy Land, so this is your reward. Eat as much as you like.”
“Got it! Elena is a good person!”
Elena smiled sweetly and offered food to Hestia as well.
“Hestia, you should eat too.”
“…Thank you.”
Hestia chewed the lamb slowly. The taste was exquisite, a flavor she had never experienced before. It was good enough that one might make a pilgrimage just to try it.
Yet her mind was too troubled by Nike’s situation to truly enjoy it.
‘Should I send a crow? No… she will notice. Then she might do something to Nike immediately.’
It was hopeless. The Silver Blades had been robbed in broad daylight without realizing it.
She looked at Nike with a bitter heart.
‘…Nike, what are you thinking?’
Nike might seem like a fool, but he was not truly foolish. He always saw through to the truth, often with startling insight. The Nike she knew could not be without thoughts now.
‘Or does he truly want this? Does he want to go to the Hall of the City God? …Is he fine leaving me behind?’
She could not tell. His thoughts were an endless mystery. Her heartache only grew worse.
For now, she could only trust him and watch.
“Now, eat while you listen.”
While Nike was devouring the food, Elena spoke again. Her smile was still there, but this time it looked cruel.
“The request I made is still outstanding, yes? It is time for real work, hunters.”
“Hah? You trickster! You tricked me, didn’t you!”
“Nike… why would I trick you? I fed you and am giving you a proper job. You are now my personal retainer.”
Nike rested his chin in his hand.
Then he nodded quickly.
“Now that you say it, you are right. What is the job!”
He accepted it so quickly that Elena was the one taken aback.
“…The job is, of course, witch hunting. The cruel witch of the Hebra territory. The church calls her the Witch of Motherhood.”
“The Witch of Motherhood?”
Nike frowned, while Hestia’s expression stiffened in discomfort.
‘…Mother.’
Hope and fear struck her at once. The reunion she had long wished for now loomed ahead, and her heart trembled. Already tangled in Nike’s situation, she now faced an even more painful problem.
“Yes. A vile woman who runs what is essentially a breeding farm. She kidnaps girls, locks them up, and raises them. She mistakes that for motherhood.”
Elena sneered as she spoke, full of scorn for the witch.
“…”
Hestia’s face froze as old memories resurfaced. Nike said nothing, listening to Elena while watching Hestia’s expression carefully.
“She is not far from here. It has recently become a pressing issue near the holy city of Eden. The witch’s range is too close to the Holy Land.”
It was unnatural. Witches should not even approach Eden. Its power should prevent them from wielding their strength properly.
“Perhaps Eden’s influence has weakened.”
“Aha. Then that is good news!”
Nike nodded enthusiastically with a strange remark.
The fact that a witch was operating nearby might actually be a sign of danger, a warning that the Holy Land was in trouble. It was a matter that had to be dealt with immediately.
“…Good news? What are you talking about?”
“Did I stutter?”
“...In any case, Nike and Hestia, you will come with me to Hebra.”
“Oh! Got it!”
“…Understood.”
* * *
Nike left the Holy Land. Once his magic returned, his mood lifted instantly. Thanks to that, he followed Elena without complaint.
Walking down the road, they came across a passing wagon.
“Travelers, where are you going? Shall I give you a ride?”
The driver greeted them cheerfully. Even Nike felt immediate warmth toward him.
“Oh, we are headed to Jibria.”
Elena answered, and the driver’s face lit up.
“Ah! That is perfect. My child and I are heading to Jibria as well. Please, climb in. I will take you there.”
He grinned kindly. In times like these, such hospitality was rare, and that made it suspicious.
Elena exchanged a glance with Hestia. She was against it. Elena also agreed and was about to refuse when a child’s voice rang out.
“Big sister, big brothers! Get in!”
The curtain at the back of the wagon lifted, and a cute girl peeked out. Beside her, a shy, handsome boy poked his head out as well.
“Hahaha! These are my children. They are so friendly. Come, do not hesitate.”
The children’s innocent faces were disarming. No child with such expressions could possibly harbor evil intent.
Their pure smiles alone swayed the Archbishop and the witch hunter.
“Oh! It is spacious!”
“Heehee, the big brother is handsome!”
“You have good eyes!”
Nike was already inside the wagon, beckoning to Hestia and Elena. At this point, refusing was impossible.
“…Nike.”
Hestia rubbed her forehead. Elena, however, found it refreshing. She was enjoying the experience of traveling incognito.
This was nothing like a golden carriage surrounded by knights and priests. It smelled of manure and hay.
“Mmm~ I like this smell. It feels right.”
“Haha! You must be someone important, but you are down-to-earth. And you, pretty lady, will you not climb in? We are leaving.”
At the driver’s joking words, Hestia sighed deeply and stepped into the wagon.