novelraw Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106: Light (5)
"The leader. The man who resembled a skeleton was the demon who killed Pelatz. The one who manifested magic on you."
On the way back, Harad explained, his voice louder than the blizzard.
"Did he admit it that easily?"
"The Intelligence Bureau is well-known for being good at interrogation. I may not be good at fighting, but I'm good at wielding a knife in a finished fight."
Harad tapped the sword at his hip.
"It was to drive a wedge between the North and the Imperial Family. They tried to frame Serzila for the knight's death."
"……."
"They underestimated the North. As if Serzila would be shaken by the death of a single knight."
Ellen nodded.
She even snorted. Seria witnessed that laugh up close. Indeed, Ellen was very much a Serzila.
Seria grabbed Harad's arm. It was warm. She made eye contact with Ellen, but for some reason, her expression was bright.
"Did something pleasant happen while I was unconscious?"
"Ellen likes to fight. Serzilas are usually like that."
She feels pleasure and refreshment from fighting.
It was an emotion that was difficult for Seria to understand.
Fighting is inherently painful.
"Did you by any chance confirm the reason? It seems the demon pillar has nothing to gain by driving a wedge between the North and the Imperial Family."
"Is it important?"
"What?"
"He's a demon."
Seria tilted her head.
Harad smiled faintly.
"What meaning could a reason have for a demon."
"……."
"Even beasts consider profit and loss, but only humans consider pretexts."
He who calls a demon a person is a heretic.
Harad was asking Seria if she was a heretic.
"……I've misspoken. I'm sorry."
"It's not something to be sorry to us for. It can happen. You're probably not in your right mind yet."
Recovery does not make the pain disappear.
The mind had to endure that pain.
"If you need to, you can rest before we go. It seems you have plenty of divine power."
Although the blizzard raged, Seria's entire body was protected by divine power.
The reason she had fainted earlier was not because her divine power was depleted, but because her mind could not endure the pain.
"No. I'm already at a loss for what to do with myself just by being able to walk like this. Let's return quickly."
Seria smiled faintly.
If it weren't for Ellen, she would have died or been captured. And that group of demons would have celebrated catching a priest. It would have been a disgrace to the Church.
"Thank you, Ellen. If it weren't for Ellen, we would have missed the group of demons."
A savior of life.
Seria had said that earlier, but that was all.
She placed more significance on the fact that the demons were dead than on her own survival.
It was not a notion unique to Seria.
Although he had encountered few priests in his past life, all the priests he had encountered or heard of had placed the death of a demon higher than their own lives.
It is thanks to their great faith. That heart is also the result of learning. Is it really just learning? Harad did not know.
"Why did you do it?"
Ellen asked.
"What?"
"Why did you tell us to run away?"
"Because Harad is weak."
Ellen had to protect such a Harad.
The escape route was open, but the Liberation Tower's target was Harad. They would not have just watched him run away alone.
"There was a way for you to protect him."
Seria had known from the beginning that Ellen was stronger than her.
People who can smash a head with a punch are not common.
Even more so if that head is protected by divine power.
"It is my task to punish demons."
"Only on the continent. This is the North."
Ellen quoted Harad's words verbatim. Words that Seria had also agreed to.
"They were targeting Harad. A member of Serzila."
Ellen also had a pretext to deal with them.
Seria surely knew. But she had wanted Ellen to run away with Harad.
The reason for that would not have been just because she wanted to monopolize the demons.
"Why did you push me away?"
The holeless armor.
When that magic was deployed, Ellen had tried to take it in Harad's place.
Seria had taken it in place of such an Ellen.
"I wouldn't have been hurt."
Seria, who had been punched whenever she was bored, would have known that fact.
To be able to break something easily means that the subject is very sturdy.
Ellen had a complicated expression.
Her pride seemed to be hurt by the fact that she had been protected. That was not all. She wanted to know more about the person named Seria.
"You're right."
Seria said quietly.
The decision to send Harad away was right.
But sending Ellen as his protector was not rational.
The enemy is a demon?
If that was the reason, she should not have taken the magic in their place.
She should have put it on Ellen and hunted the demon.
But she didn't.
And at that time, Seria was not in a state of Agitation. Volunteering for the magic was purely her own choice.
"Why did I do that?"
Seria asked herself.
Her face was one of contemplation. However, that expression was brief.
"I suppose, Ellen, I think of you as a friend."
Seria smiled gently.
It was a serene smile that was out of place on the great plain.
"Ah. Harad too."
"……."
Harad did not answer.
* * *
Psina.
No, Harad, who had pretended to be Psina, had not set a time limit on his neck.
It would be so even if he failed for a long time.
If he had to pick up the quill, the words he would deliver then would be disappointment and pressure.
Then the Rebellion faction would send mages more diligently.
He didn't know how long that would last, but anyway.
It is not Seria who will deal with the mages who come then.
The reason Seria came up to the North was Pelatz. To be precise, the mage who had killed him.
The skeleton mage who had ended up killing Pelatz was dead.
Now Seria was in a position where she had to leave the North.
She did not leave immediately. She needed rest, and Ellen had allowed it.
Grand Duke Aratus, who must have grasped Ellen's intentions through his own information network, did not issue any particular orders.
"It's sad. To think that I won't be able to eat this food tomorrow."
Seria lamented in front of their last meal together.
Ellen, whose regular spot had been acknowledged, showed a slightly proud expression.
"Isn't it just meat?"
Harad ate anything well.
Ellen glared at him. Instead of a punishment, she stole and ate the meat from his plate.
"You need to eat some vegetables."
"I grew up fine without them."
Ellen said, looking down at her own body.
Certainly. To Innate Strength, a nutritional imbalance was a minor problem.
"Where are you looking?"
"Weren't you telling me to look?"
Harad was still unfamiliar with that body.
To think that that was Elaine.
"Whatever."
Ellen stole another bite of Harad's share and ordered more meat. She gave some of it to Harad.
"Why do you steal it if you're going to do this?"
"Other people's things always taste better."
Just then, Seria chuckled.
"You two get along so well."
"I know."
Ellen said nonchalantly and stole another bite.
Come to think of it, today was the first time.
In Seria's presence, Ellen had never stolen from Harad's plate.
It meant that she had become comfortable with Seria.
Or that she had become someone who didn't need to be cared about.
For Harad, either way was fine.
Ellen needed experience, and the wider the range, the better. The important thing is not to leave any regrets in that moment.
"Don't do that kind of thing from now on. It's an insult, that."
Ellen suddenly said.
She seemed to be referring to the incident where she had taken the magic in their place.
"Though I don't think we'll see each other again."
"What? But I want to see you again."
"What reason would a priest have to come to the North."
"You never know. We didn't know about this time either."
Seria was looking at Ellen with an earnest expression. She was her friend.
"If you ever have a reason to come down to the North, please meet me."
"Why."
"Because I'll miss you?"
"……We'll see."
Ellen did not give a definite answer.
"There are many delicious restaurants in Premont too?"
"……."
Ellen's face was stern.
"You're going to the Inquisition next year."
"Oh my. How did you know?"
Ellen pointed at Harad with her fork.
"Our ears are quite sharp."
"Not many people know. As expected of the Serzila Intelligence Bureau."
Seria smiled as usual.
She didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
"That's right. That is the plan. It's not confirmed yet, though. They are graciously promoting it, but I am still considering it."
"Why are you considering it? It's a promotion."
An Inquisitor is an honorable position.
It is a position where one loses many rights, but no clergy member refuses it.
Since there are no clergy members who fear martyrdom.
"It suits you too."
Seria's appearance as she cried out for demons was no different from an Inquisitor's.
"That's an undeserved compliment."
To Seria too, the word Inquisitor was a compliment.
"The reason I'm considering it is because of my inadequacy."
"It's because of Agitation."
Seria seemed to be bothered by her faith, which was lacking compared to her divine power.
"Yes. Because I can't always rely on my partner."
Seria smiled brightly and turned her gaze to Ellen.
"Would you like to convert?"
"Are you crazy?"
To escape Agitation, one's head had to be cleared.
Ellen was a very excellent partner.
"Baptism is only performed at the Sanctuary. Have you by any chance seen the Saintess? I hear she lives at the Sanctuary."
"……You really know everything."
Seria clicked her tongue.
Her face hardened for a moment before curving into a smile.
"I have not seen her. Because she is a very dazzling person."
"Because her face shines? Is it because the divine power she possesses is immense?"
Harad asked purely.
The Harad of the past life had not seen the Saintess.
That unidentified woman had died before the Otherworld had even come down south.
He doesn't know the full story, of course, nor even when she died.
Because the Church had thoroughly concealed the information of the Saintess.
That's why Harad could only guess that it was the work of the Otherworld that had infiltrated the continent.
'Or the work of the Church.'
Power struggles exist everywhere.
Just because it's the Church doesn't mean that faith or divine power is the top priority.
"Her face does not shine. But the divine power she possesses is immense, as you said."
"I see. She must be an incredible person."
"She is no different from the heart of the Laan Church."
Sun and Moon.
There are two churches, but only one Saintess.
The Saintess of the Sun God Laan was the only one.
After that, Seria did not open her mouth again.
It seemed she either didn't know about the Saintess or didn't want to talk about her.
Harad didn't ask any more either.
Who the Saintess was, why Seria was the Guillotine, how many people she had killed, they were questions that didn't matter to Harad. That was his relationship with the Church.
And so, the three of them quietly finished their meal and left the restaurant.
It was time to leave now.
Seria continuously looked around the streets. Her eyes were filled with longing. She had grown fond of this rugged North.
"Harad. Ellen."
Someone called out to them on the way to the gate.
It was Gullen.
"Aren't you busy?"
"I just came down for a moment."
The waist of Gullen who said that was empty.
Instead, a double-bladed axe that Toremot would likely possess was slung on his back.
"Puberty is finally over."
"……Our commander said we should have a meal sometime."
"I'll pay a visit."
"Please do."
Gullen turned his head.
"Is that woman the priest?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Seria, a servant of the Sun God Laan."
Seria smiled gently at Gullen.
"I'm not pleased to meet you. But I'll greet you."
Gullen was openly displeased.
Then he made eye contact with Ellen and flinched. Ellen was glaring at him.
Gullen glared at the blameless Harad.
"……I've heard the rumors."
"Rumors?"
"Yes. Let's keep a better watch."
Gullen patted Harad's shoulder hard and threw some incomprehensible words before walking towards the square.
"I apologize, our knights are a bit rough."
"It's alright. It was a refreshing reaction?"
Seria did not lose her smile.
On the contrary, it deepened as if it had been a pleasant encounter.
"The North is a truly refreshing land."
"There are many things that are not on the continent."
"That's right. Everything is different. It makes me want to color it. With the color of light."
"……."
Seria spoke like someone on the verge of a holy war.
* * *
The farewell was long.
At least, that's how Harad felt.
To Seria, it seemed short.
When she arrived at the gate, her face was filled with longing.
"May I pray that we will have the opportunity to see each other again?"
"Do as you please, that is your heart."
Seria stared at Harad.
"Are we, friends?"
At the sudden question, Harad laughed.
Seria was an exceptional priest.
"Please tell me honestly."
"I dislike you. To be precise, I dislike you all."
It was a physiological reaction that couldn't be helped as a mage.
"I thought so."
Seria smiled brightly.
"I hope that you won't dislike me someday."
Harad was honestly surprised.
Seria seemed to know how she was reflected in Harad's eyes.
"I hope so too."
"You're mischievous, as expected. And skillful."
Seria stared at Harad again.
Then she opened her mouth belatedly.
"By any chance."
"Hmm?"
"Never mind. May I have a word with Ellen for a moment?"
Harad readily stepped aside.
"Ellen."
Seria was smiling as always.
Ellen was not prepared for an answer.
Friend? Ellen herself was not sure.
However, Seria seemed to be good at reading people.
She had read the inner thoughts of the difficult-to-read Harad.
"You like Harad, don't you?"
It was a sudden question.
"No?"
Ellen blurted out reflexively.
Her voice was somewhat high. It was a squeak.
"Really? Then..."
Seria's smile deepened.
Because Ellen's gaze had become fierce.
"I'm joking. Because Harad dislikes me."
"……."
"But you know, Ellen."
Seria said as if whispering.
"Someone else might not. Harad might like her, or she might like what women dislike."
Because there are all sorts of people in the world.
Seria's voice was more like that of a friend to a younger sister than a friend.
"So, Ellen. If someone asks you next time... then instead of no, maybe might be better."
"……."
"Even if it's not an affirmation, that would be enough? Because Ellen is very beautiful."
Seria hugged Ellen tightly and then left on her long journey.
Ellen silently watched her back.
Even after Seria disappeared and Harad returned, she did not take her eyes off.
Harad asked such an Ellen casually.
"Do you think you're friends?"
"She didn't ask me."
Harad laughed lowly.
It must have meant that there was no need to ask.
Seria knew how to read emotions.
"I'm asking you."
"……Unfortunately, no."
The emotion in her voice was ambiguous.
It was difficult even for Harad to read.
"Why?"
"Then I can't play with you."
"You don't need to be conscious of me, it's your heart."
"It's not because I'm conscious of you."
Ellen turned her head.
She made eye contact with Harad.
"It's just my heart."
Is it because it's the North?
Her cheeks were slightly red.