novelraw Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28
“What time did you say we depart, Doctor?”
Draksan asked as he slipped on his leather armor. A hatchet hung from each side of his belt. He was clearly preparing for combat.
“Eight o’clock. About… twenty minutes left.”
I answered while putting on my coat and packing my medicines and scalpels.
I carefully took a flask filled with a potion out of the drawer. I made sure it would not crack or spill its contents. I had to. This was a potion that required particular caution.
‘Longevity Herb potion.’
The Longevity Herb that Director Justin had given me before—also known as mandrake.
After several weeks of research, I had finally succeeded in processing it. Into a medicinal form with an extremely high purity.
I did not know exactly what would happen if someone drank it.
I could only speculate that it would have an effect somewhat similar to Call of Dawn, the stimulant.
‘Similar, perhaps—but on an entirely different level from Call of Dawn.’
There was no guarantee that even I would remain unharmed after consuming the undiluted Longevity Herb potion.
I did not know what side effects might occur.
However, the greater the risk, the more certain the effect would likely be.
‘Use only in a truly critical situation.’
After reminding myself of that precaution, I carefully tucked the Longevity Herb potion into the inner pocket of my coat.
“Let us go.”
“It has been a while since I have taken on a mission like this… I wonder if I will manage.”
“You will do well. Before that, let us hope nothing happens.”
“Ha ha! That is true enough.”
Draksan chuckled heartily as he touched the hatchets at his waist.
‘He must be pleased to receive a real mission for once.’
Draksan had been born of a warrior race. After dealing with nothing but troublesome clients at the counseling office, he seemed excited to be heading out on an escort mission.
Once we gathered everything we needed, we left the counseling office and walked toward the church where the Sun Church priests would be waiting.
I lifted my head and looked at the sky.
‘It feels like I have not looked at the sky in a long time.’
Ever since expanding the office, the workload had increased.
I often ate and slept at the office.
Recently, Erisa had been visiting the Mage Tower more frequently for her research, which meant I had to handle all the compounding and counseling alone, leaving me even busier.
There were many days when I did not even have time to look out the window, let alone go outside.
Perhaps that was why the sky, when I looked up at it now, seemed strangely clear.
“It feels nice to leave the office once in a while.”
“It truly does! Dealing with clients constantly can be exhausting. It is becoming harder to suppress my anger…”
“…You are joking, I hope?”
“Ha ha ha, of course I am joking. I have no problem holding back my temper.”
As I watched Draksan laugh, I fell into thought.
If he entered combat too frequently without managing his anger, his Intermittent Explosive Disorder could worsen.
The reason his condition had not improved easily before was precisely because he had ignored my advice and kept accepting Monster extermination requests.
But the opposite was also true.
Suppressing anger too much could aggravate Intermittent Explosive Disorder as well.
‘Simply enduring troublesome clients at the office might also worsen his symptoms.’
He had said it jokingly, but perhaps he was under considerable stress from handling security at the counseling office.
“Today we are heading out for an escort mission, but next time, let us go out for a vacation or a trip. With Miss Lena Caligus as well.”
“I would like that very much. Ah, since you mentioned it… Lena’s condition, perhaps…?”
Draksan’s daughter, Lena Caligus, had been receiving treatment at our office.
She had developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after witnessing her mother’s death before her eyes—what people commonly call PTSD.
I smiled reassuringly at Draksan, who asked with concern.
“She still experiences some aftereffects, such as dissociative amnesia and difficulty regulating her emotions, but she is steadily improving.”
“Slowly, but surely.”
“Not even slowly. It is both fast and certain.”
I was not exaggerating.
Perhaps because she had inherited Draksan’s strong mental and physical resilience, Lena Caligus was recovering rapidly.
At first, she could barely face or speak to anyone.
Now, she was able to hold long conversations without difficulty.
“…That is truly a relief. Thank you. I say this every time, but…”
“I am the one who should be grateful. You are always the one dealing with the troublesome clients.”
By then, we had reached our destination—the Sun Church at the northwestern gate of the royal capital of Lumentea.
“You have arrived, Doctor Kain. Once again, thank you for accepting such an unreasonable request…”
“Not at all. I volunteered.”
“And our gratitude as well to Draksan for accompanying us…”
Priest Jakov greeted me first.
The other gathered priests glanced at Draksan and me.
In the distance, I spotted Cassis surrounded by priests as though receiving cheers.
There was no time for leisurely greetings, so we merely exchanged nods.
Cassis lowered her head slightly and offered me a gentle smile.
“It seems everyone has gathered. First, I would like to express our gratitude to all our brothers and sisters who have joined this Consolation Pilgrimage.”
Not long after, Priest Jakov began addressing the crowd.
“The destination of this Consolation Pilgrimage is the Eastern Sun Church, which narrowly avoided major casualties in the recent fire. It was saved thanks to the heroism of a young boy named Yurion Lumaine.”
The priests nodded at his words.
“This pilgrimage will both pray for the swift restoration of the church damaged by the fire and commend the young hero, Yurion Lumaine, who saved lives. It will also serve as his Holy Knight appointment ceremony.”
The fire at the Eastern Sun Church had been severe, but there were no casualties.
All thanks to Yurion Lumaine.
The Sun Church had decided to recognize his merit by appointing him as a Holy Knight.
This Consolation Pilgrimage would include that appointment ceremony.
“Let us depart.”
***
RATTLE, RATTLE.
The carriage shook every time it passed over a bump. To be honest, the ride was not comfortable.
‘They said they would use a carriage instead of a Magitech Vehicle for symbolic and ceremonial reasons.’
As a religious organization, the Sun Church valued symbolism and justification. Thus, despite the inconvenience, they insisted on using carriages instead of Magitech Vehicles.
“Who is that?”
“I hear he is a doctor. The one treating Prophet Cassis, something about mental health.”
“The Prophet’s prophetic ability has been malfunctioning. It is time to seek outside help. They say he was the one who distinguished himself in the kidnapping of the Police Chief.”
“Well, if a terrorist attack were to occur during the pilgrimage, we would have no way to stop it.”
“Still, he is not even a priest—nor even a believer of the Sun Church. How can someone like that join a pilgrimage…?”
“It was Assistant Priest Jakov’s decision, but it is difficult to understand. He is a doctor, after all—entrusted with an escort mission?”
“Above all, matters of the Sun Church should be handled within the Sun Church. Lately, there seems to be too much outside interference.”
I could hear whispers directed at me.
They were not speaking loudly for me to hear. They were whispering among themselves. But if I sharpened my senses and listened closely, I could hear them.
I glanced at Draksan. Since I possessed a unique constitution, I was the only one able to hear them.
Draksan appeared unaware.
‘I understand their wariness.’
The Sun Church was fundamentally a closed organization.
It was natural for them to feel uncomfortable about outsiders like us.
Priests of the Oracle Faction, including Jakov, were relatively open-minded and did not mind our presence. But the Doctrine Faction priests likely found us deeply displeasing.
“We have arrived. Let us disembark.”
We reached the Eastern Sun Church quickly.
Preparations for both the Consolation Pilgrimage and the appointment ceremony had already been completed.
The priests moved in orderly fashion as they prepared. Since this was primarily a service to console those affected by the fire, it did not need to be grand. Minimal preparation was sufficient.
“Let us begin the service of consolation. For the church that faithfully and fervently served Lumenai, now reduced to ashes by the fire…”
Once the minimal arrangements were complete, the service began immediately.
I did not focus on the worship itself.
I was not a believer of the Sun Church.
Instead, I prepared for the possibility of an attack or terrorist incident.
I sharpened my senses and occasionally sniffed the air, searching for the scent of hostility, hatred, or killing intent.
“How is it, Doctor?”
While I remained on guard, Priest Jakov approached cautiously.
I drew in a deep breath.
“For now, there are no signs of danger. At least not nearby…”
All I could smell was a faint trace of ash and the deep scent of grass.
There was no trace of hostility or killing intent.
Jakov seemed slightly relieved and turned to Draksan.
“And what of you, Draksan?”
“I sense no particular threat. No suspicious individuals either.”
“I see…”
Only then did Jakov exhale in relief.
“Perhaps I was worrying too much. It is more peaceful than I expected…”
“The appointment ceremony has not even begun yet. We must remain cautious until the end.”
“I would appreciate that.”
***
“Next, we will hold the appointment ceremony for the young hero who saved lives in the fire—Yurion Lumaine—who shall be formally appointed as a Holy Knight of the Sun Church.”
The service concluded without incident.
The ceremony began.
The atmosphere did not differ much from the service.
‘There are many priests. And Holy Knights stationed throughout.’
Since this event included Yurion Lumaine’s appointment, armed Holy Knights were present.
Just as the Prophet of the Sun Church delivered true prophecies, Holy Knights were not mere swordsmen.
They cloaked themselves in an intangible force called divine power to enhance their bodies as they fought.
With beings nearly superhuman stationed here, even heretics would hesitate to attempt an attack.
“We might not have anything to do.”
I said that, and Draksan nodded quietly.
“That would be for the best.”
Though he said so, he looked slightly disappointed.
I continued to smell the air. Still no trace of hostility.
I allowed myself a moment of lowered tension and looked toward the platform.
Cassis and Yurion Lumaine stood side by side.
I directed my heightened senses toward them.
Focusing, I could hear their conversation.
“It has been a while, Yurion.”
“Yes, Cassis… Prophet.”
“Why call me Prophet when it is just us? Call me noona, like before.”
“…Yes, noona.”
“The little boy has grown so much. You have even become a hero.”
“I only saved a few people. I am no hero.”
“Even if you save just one person, you are a hero to them.”
It was not an important conversation.
It merely suggested that the two had known each other for a long time.
I recalled the hypothesis I had formed before coming here.
‘The hypothesis that Cassis lost her prophetic ability, and Yurion became the new Prophet.’
It was plausible in many ways, but without proof, I could not be certain.
One thing, however, became clear.
‘Yurion Lumaine is fond of Cassis.’
Cassis seemed to hold him in affection as well. But hers remained within the bounds of goodwill.
In contrast, Yurion’s gaze toward Cassis carried admiration and shyness.
It was unmistakably the gaze of someone in love.
I was not the only one to notice.
The priests began whispering.
“Is the Yurion who is to be appointed a Holy Knight acquainted with the Prophet?”
“They grew up together in an orphanage under the Sun Church. They say the Prophet practically raised him on her back.”
“To grow under the Prophet’s care and become a hero! How admirable. It is the grace of Lumenai.”
Amid the pleased murmurs, the ceremony began.
“Yurion Lumaine, I bestow upon you the sword of the Sun Church. Swear that you shall wield this blade solely for the Sun Church.”
The current Prophet, Cassis, presented the sword with the prescribed words.
“I swear.”
Yurion made the Sacred Sign, drawing a circle over his left chest, as a vow to use the blade only for the Sun Church.
“With this, the appointment ceremony concludes. From this day forth, Yurion Lumaine is formally a Holy Knight and shall use his strength solely for the Sun Church…”
Once the simple procedure ended, Yurion became a Holy Knight.
The moment he stepped down from the platform, the crowd stirred.
It was not because the ceremony had been modest or overly simple.
‘It is dark.’
Strangely dark. Though it was midday, it felt like evening—or even midnight.
“What is this? Why is the sun already—?”
Everyone looked up in confusion. Their faces turned pale.
Mine did as well.
“What is this, a tree— a tree!”
A priest shouted.
The situation was exactly as he cried.
A tree was growing. It grew at an unbelievable speed, rising to cover the sky.
Before long, it had grown large enough to block out all sunlight. It was enormous and dense.
Beyond majestic—it was grotesque.
Among the thick branches, eyes filled with killing intent glinted.
I inhaled sharply.
Through the heavy scent of grass, I finally caught it—the smell of hostility and murderous intent.
BWOOOOOO—!
A horn sounded from somewhere.
At that signal, figures who had been perched upon the branches began dropping down one after another.
“Idra! It is the Idra Church!”
I immediately reached for the Longevity Herb potion to drink it—Then I stopped.
I had to.
“Do not move.”
Holding my breath, I looked up at the platform.
“…If you move, I will kill your Prophet.”
An Idra Church cultist was holding a blade to Cassis’s throat.