Chapter 99 – Cartia (5)

“Noah? What’s with that expression?” Rubia asked.

“Huh? N-No…?”

“Are you not enjoying the walk?”

“N-No! It’s… fun.”

Rubia chuckled softly and pulled me along by the hand.

“Why? Do you feel weird because you said something earlier but didn’t follow through? Like you’re left feeling empty or disappointed?”

“W-What are you saying?! Th-That’s not it at all, okay?!”

Despite Rubia’s playful words, we were enjoying a perfectly wholesome walk.

I didn’t feel empty or disappointed.

It was just… I had been so tense earlier, and now that tension had completely dissipated. That’s all. Definitely.

“Hmm, really? Then let’s just keep walking. Hehe.”

Rubia lightly patted my head before continuing to walk ahead.

“By the way, I was going to tell you earlier, but the timing wasn’t right…”

“W-What is it…?”

“You’re curious why the people of Cartia praise me instead of Erden, right?”

“Oh… yes!”

I was curious.

Even though Rubia had saved the people afflicted by the plague, normally they’d praise Erden.

But the residents of Cartia didn’t. They called out Rubia’s name instead.

And… well, I also wanted to know about Rubia’s past—the parts I didn’t know.

Everyone else seemed to know, so not knowing felt… well, it bothered me a little.

“Hmm, how should I put this delicately…” Rubia mused.

She tapped her lips a few times before taking a small breath and beginning to speak.

“When the plague started spreading, Erden’s priests came to Cartia. But instead of curing it, they ended up getting infected themselves. Some of them even died.”

Rubia’s steps gradually slowed.

“And as time passed… by the second month, the Empire made a decision.”

“A decision…?”

“The extermination of Cartia’s residents.”

“Gasp!”

Wait… was this her way of being delicate?

“The plague wasn’t highly contagious. In fact, it was less so than most others.”

“Huh…? Then why, why…?”

Rubia’s slowing steps finally came to a halt.

“Because they all died too quickly. Before they could even spread the disease, they were already dead. That’s why the contagion rate was low, just like with the plague that struck this city.”

“O-Oh…”

The conversation had turned heavier than expected, and I unconsciously squeezed Rubia’s hand tighter.

I wanted to ask how exactly the plague killed its victims.

But since Rubia wasn’t describing the symptoms, maybe it was better not to know…?

Yeah… if I hear about it, I’ll probably have nightmares tonight…

“Anyway, since the Empire couldn’t distinguish between the infected and the healthy, they eventually resorted to the extreme measure of massacring the residents,” Rubia continued.

“B-But… everyone’s alive.”

“Yes. Because I came to Cartia when I heard the news.”

“You did…? Alone…?”

Rubia nodded, swallowing a bitter smile as she continued.

“The Empire’s knights surrounded the temple, and the priests tried to keep me locked up, but I managed to escape. Hehe… it was pretty thrilling back then.”

“T-Thrilling…?”

“Well… let’s skip that part. After escaping, I stole a horse and food and made my way to Cartia. I couldn’t bathe for three days, and it was so gross…”

Rubbing her arms as if recalling the discomfort, Rubia shivered slightly before resuming her walk.

“I didn’t even stop to clean up before I started curing the infected. But it turned out to be simpler than I’d expected. Even though the high priests had deemed it incurable, I managed it right away.”

“Was it because you’re a priestess?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. At the time, I thought so. But now… who knows?”

Rubia’s expression grew complicated as she trailed off, but then she turned to me with a confident smile.

“Anyway, it wasn’t Erden or the Empire—it was me who saved this city. Not Priestess Rubia, just Rubia. I saved this city.”

“W-Wow…!”

So that’s why.

If the Empire and Erden both gave up, but Rubia came and saved everyone alone, it’s only natural the entire city would revere her as a hero…

Just like in Ursphere… where they… ugh.

“I did use the power of a priestess, but the important thing is that I wanted to do it, right? Hehe.”

“Y-Yeah, I guess so…”

“That’s why, when Sirin asked for me, I didn’t hesitate to come. I thought, if something went wrong, this city might believe in me and help me again.”

Rubia’s proud smile faded into a self-deprecating one.

“But I was wrong. If they can’t even trust you, the person right next to me, how can I hope for their help in a real crisis?”

Through our clasped hands, I could feel Rubia’s trembling.

“Uh… Rubia… um… why don’t we sit down for a bit?”

“Huh?”

“Just… squat down like this.”

Rubia tilted her head, puzzled, but eventually squatted down as I insisted.

I awkwardly smiled and leaned in to hug her tightly.

Normally, my face would press against Rubia’s chest when I hugged her, so it never felt like I was the one doing the hugging.

But this time, it felt like I was the one embracing her.

Not as soft as Rubia, of course… but… well, isn’t the act of hugging what matters?

“Huh…?”

Rubia tilted her head up to look at me.

Snickering, I let go of my greatsword and wrapped my arms around her head.

“It’s okay… even if the world doesn’t believe in you, I do.”

I have unwavering faith in Rubia.

If Rubia seriously told me the Earth was flat… I… well, I’d believe her.

At least, I’d try to believe her.

Even if she did something wrong, or committed a crime.

I’d still believe in Rubia.

“S-So… don’t feel too down, okay?”

And just like Rubia always did for me, I stroked her head as I continued.

“As I said earlier… even if the whole world tries to kill you, I’ll protect you.”

“Noah…”

I couldn’t see her expression, but I could feel her emotions clearly from the breaths against my chest.

“Y-You trust me, right…?”

I felt like my heart was about to burst.

I could hear my heartbeat myself, so how loud must it sound to Rubia, with her head right against it…?

Not much padding either… ugh… this is embarrassing.

“Sigh… Noah.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Do you know why not just anyone can enter Cartia proper?”

“N-No…?”

“I’ll tell you now.”

Rubia took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

“Earlier, you said it couldn’t be done outside.”

“Uh… yeah…”

“Then that means it can be done inside, doesn’t it?”

“…Wait, what?”

How does that… follow?

“Let’s go.”

“W-Where?”

“Inside.”

“What about the walk…?”

“We can do that afterward.”

Rubia grabbed my wrist and pulled.

“W-Wait—”

“Don’t pretend you don’t want to. If you really didn’t, you could easily break free.”

“W-What…! I-It’s not like that! I-I was just worried you might get hurt…”

“You’re following me pretty well despite your protests.”

“Ugh…”

Clack-clack-

Squish-squish-

Clack-squish-

Rustle-

“S-So, uh… where exactly are we going…?”

“Inside.”

“B-But this isn’t the way out…”

“There are plenty of houses around here,” Rubia said, gesturing all around.

“Th-Those are someone else’s houses, though.”

“No one lives in them.”

“What if there are bugs or something—”

“They’re all pest-controlled. It’s a sanctuary; of course, they’d keep it clean.”

“P-Pest-controlled…?”

“They even clean it thoroughly every two days. It’s spotless.”

“Yikes…”

If a spear and a shield fought, the shield would definitely win.

That’s certain…

Ugh… If only I had a greatsword, I could’ve won this argument…

Rubia skillfully deflected all my verbal attacks as she marched ahead toward the most secluded house.

Rustle-

As we walked for a while, a chilly breeze suddenly brushed past me.

“Eek… R-Rubia… what if ghosts appear?”

Pause.

“G-Ghosts?”

Rubia stopped in her tracks and slowly turned her head toward me.

“Y-Yes… Places like this are always haunted, aren’t they…?”

Rustle-rustle-

“T-There’s no way that’s true. Haha, ghosts, really… And besides, Noah, I’m a priestess. Is it okay for a priestess to be afraid of ghosts?”

“Wow… Rubia isn’t afraid of ghosts…”

“O-Of course not. Not at all. I’m a priestess.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll trust Rubia, then.”

Clack-clack-

“Hmm… but would ghosts be scared of Rubia’s divine power?”

Squish-squish-

“W-Who knows?”

Hmm… but then, would ghosts show up on my senses?

Or would they not, since they’re not alive…?

Rustle-rustle-rustle-rustle-

“Huh…?”

Rubia stopped abruptly, her body trembling.

“N-No… N-Noah, how about we just g-go back home?”

“Huh…? I’m fine with that, but, Rubia… why are you shaking like this? Are you cold…?”

That can’t be it…

Rubia can warm herself with her divine power.

Rustle-rustle-crunch-creak-

“N-No… uh… my sugar level dropped… H-Haha…”

Creak-crunch-

Her palms were sweaty, too…

Could she be sick?

“Rubia… are you okay?”

“Hic… N-Noah…”

Clack-clack-

“Yes…? Rubia, are you crying? Are you hurt? W-What do I do?”

Squish-squish-squish-

“I-It’s n-not that… Noah, do you hear that—”

Crunch-

“Hear what…?”

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“KYAAAAAAH!!!”

“AAAAAHHHH!!!”

Startled by Rubia’s scream, I instinctively pulled her into a hug and swung my greatsword.

At that moment—

[Aaack!]

A foolish scream echoed through the air.