episode_0013

It feels like I haven’t slept properly at all.

While my worries pile up, I wonder if the window is properly sealed after all, huh.

“Well, what can I say? I knew it was vile the moment I grasped the Holy Sword.”

I wiped the blade that continued to emit light in the corner of the room with a cloth.

A mysterious sword that doesn’t get damaged no matter how strongly you swing it, becoming heavier as you pour in strength.

It seemed to growl at something unseen, capable of emitting holy flames without a prayer and once even striking lightning.

Just like it did to the monster.

“So scattering salt in all directions was for this reason….”

As the thought crossed my mind that the rattling might not be just a simple breeze, a shiver ran down my spine.

Was it what was chasing me, or was it surrounding the entire forest?

Feeling like I would get locked inside my thoughts, I took out a dagger and whetstone from my pack.

Then, I blocked my ears with the sound of the grinding stone.

Until the pale blue light was devoured by the white sun.

“Ah.”

Finally, as the darkness vanished and the light illuminated the cabin, the wind disappeared as if it were a lie.

The chill that made my body tremble and the unusually dense shadows also vanished.

Were they really spirits?

Even so, it was already too late to fall asleep, so I laid down the sword and began my morning prayers.

Hoping to meet Lena safely again.

And hoping she wouldn’t worry too much about me.

…It was strange that every time I prayed, the opposite seemed to happen, but it was an odd occurrence.

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Did you sleep well?”

Nodding my head, stretching, and lightly dusting myself off, Hilde showed a content smile.

Her smile was much brighter than yesterday.

“I don’t know how to thank you. It’s the first time I’ve slept so comfortably.”

“They say your mind calms down when your surroundings are organized.”

“Yeah… Well, thanks to you helping me sort things out, I won’t be wandering aimlessly.”

If given permission, I could have categorized things more systematically, but it seemed better not to touch these complex potions and papers filled with information.

After all, they weren’t mine to begin with.

“It seems like it’s okay to leave the forest soon. It’s about time, and the spirits weaken when the sun is up.”

“So then, us coming in at night was…”

“It was a really bad choice. Everyone says so. The herbalist, the people from the nearby village… They all came in claiming they lost or found something one by one. Like they were possessed, no, they were.”

Even the knight who seemed unusually stern, oh, that’s not right.

Was it because he didn’t want to make the Holy Water, or was it because he simply wanted to go in and out quickly as it got dark?

“Well, before that… let’s have a smoke.”

A sigh, and the stick from yesterday picked up.

A few herbs tied together from the drawer, along with a thin piece of paper, were swiftly rolled into a cylinder.

And then the end headed straight for the fireplace –

“Oh, the fire’s out. It suddenly feels cold.”

“Was there not enough firewood?”

“…Right, usually I wake up around dawn to add more – but today I overslept.”

Scratching my head and feeling lost, even poking through the ashes with the stick, I couldn’t find anything in the now whitened remains.

“Do we really have to light it?”

“It works faster that way. You can chew on it, but it takes longer… and makes your stomach queasy.”

“I can wait.”

It seemed better to swallow it down rather than keep inhaling the smoke and coughing.

But, a reluctant nod.

“Your younger sister must be very worried. If you delay even a little, more people will come into the forest.”

“Oh, in that case – ”

“The number of people needing rescue will only increase. It’s better for you to go out.”

Picking up the flint on the fireplace, the delicate hand began scratching it in a crouch.

The dry firewood was lacking in warmth, but with no news from Yeong, I thought it would be better to –

“Drive away the cold and care for the tender ones with a sacred flame.”

It seemed fitting for me to attach it.

Not to conquer evil or drive it away, but the fire quietly took its place.

Then, like a young girl swiftly harvesting potatoes, she began to eat up the firewood bit by bit.

The faint white flames were quite… fitting.

“You can light a fire like this too? Convenient.”

“It’s not particularly eye-catching, is it?”

“I see it in your eyes – you’re troubled too. The evil spirits have long been entangled with me. A sacred flame won’t change anything.”

The end of the year that was about to extinguish and the smoke beginning to rise.

Her relaxed face looked different from yesterday.

“A cigarette lit with a sacred flame. Interesting.”

“I didn’t light it for that purpose.”

“Take one too. It’s better if you also look towards the exit if you want to leave.”

Taking what had been put out of her mouth, she handed me the cigarette.

The end of the smoldering stick clearly had saliva on it.

“…Were you smoking this?”

“If I smoked it raw, it would be very bitter. There are no other cigarettes.”

“You know I’m a squire… Are you saying that?”

Silence flowed instead of an answer.

Smoke rose between her still slightly parted lips.

“… Puff.”

With a charming smile, she brought the end of the cigarette back to her lips, releasing smoke gently.

The vibrant red plum, full of life, shimmered as much as her hair.

…Indeed, she was a beautiful person to be afraid of.

“I don’t mind chewing it. Will you give it to me?”

“Bleeding might be better, but if you insist.”

After unwrapping what was rolled in paper, she put it in her mouth.

As soon as the dry leaf touched her tongue, a thought quickly formed in her mind.

…Shouldn’t have done that.

“Mmm…”

“Oh right. Besides being bitter, I should have told you it’s really strong.”

Her mouth filled with saliva.

She wanted to spit it out immediately, but knowing she had to swallow it, she couldn’t.

“Here, drink this with it.”

Taking the offered cup, she gulped it down, feeling better instantly.

The pain lingering on her tingling tongue pulled, twisted, and released her face, making it hurt.

“I should have smoked it instead, ugh!”

“If the sacred knight says so, I can’t use it that way. It’ll make you feel better if you eat it.”

She picked out a container among the bottles on the shelf, containing fruits closer to black.

After placing exactly four on her hand, she handed them to me.

“Two. Do I eat them one by one?”

“Thank you… very much.”

Biting into the fruit without any juice, the texture between moist and firm was filled with sweetness.

Enough to melt the frown from moments ago.

“Tasty, right? Juneria berries. Good for hangovers – and they taste good too.”

“Have you tasted alcohol too?”

“No. But it would be a waste not to give it to drinkers, wouldn’t it?”

Watching the white ash burn away, after enjoying the sweetness, a sense of readiness emerged.

Following Hilde, who stood up from her seat.

“Alright. Let’s start getting ready to go.”

“Um, how effective are the herbs?”

Why did she just smile at the question?

It won’t appear suddenly, will it?

“You’ll slowly start seeing things you’d rather not see. Don’t be too surprised.”

“What do you mean?”

Instead of an answer, only a smile was given.

A smile with lightened eye creases.

That was enough to shut my mouth.

***

“It’s strange. It should have faded by now.”

With the forest in sight, fingers running through her hair.

Despite washing it yesterday, it continued to itch, becoming a habit.

“Should I not go in?”

“If I go in with you, there shouldn’t be anything wrong… but it might get a bit troublesome.”

“I can help.”

He unsheathed his sword.

And then, he unleashed flames upon it directly.

“That sword looks quite impressive, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. It was given to me by God.”

Eyes widened in surprise.

And gazes met.

“What?”

“It’s the Holy Sword, this.”

“…Are you joking?”

Ah, did he introduce himself earlier?

He didn’t even give a proper name? Come to think of it.

“A hero… you say?”

“My name is Lian. I’m a squire—”

“I already know that. I overheard. But… you didn’t mention being a hero.”

Rena remembered what the judge had told her.

In an unprepared state, she was just a student.

Just because a boy who knew nothing about the world held a sword didn’t mean he instantly gained qualifications.

“Just because you have the Holy Sword doesn’t mean everyone becomes a hero.”

“Even if you say that while holding it…”

With a wry smile and a brief moment of propping his chin with his finger, Hilde gazed intently into the forest.

His moving pupils clearly indicated he was pursuing something.

“Alright then. If you have the Holy Sword, maybe it’s worth a try. Worst case scenario, we’ll end it with a forced breakthrough.”

“Like what I did yesterday?”

“That was too ignorant.”

His words stung.

It felt like being punched.

“Don’t think about setting the whole forest on fire, just… trap them one by one in circles. Like how you drew the protective circle before.”

“And then should I strike?”

“Originally, you would need a complex ritual, draw a circle with gold, and be empowered by a god to send it to where it should be – but you’ve already received power from a god, right?”

The sword pointed proudly emitted its light.

As if understanding what was said.

“Then, did you also receive power from a god, Hilde?”

“…Similar. However, from the Cathedral… Well, not everyone is fond of it.”

Scattered dark energy.

A purple scythe.

Surely the monster she had killed also contained a similar energy.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure you safely leave the forest. That should be enough, right?”

“Will you come with me?”

“Someone will keep entering the forest… To stop that, at least one person is necessary.”

Words resembling those of a hero’s mindset.

Here was someone willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

“Don’t see it that way too much. Anyway, people would find it more convenient if I were here. After all, I’m a witch.”

“It doesn’t seem that way.”

With the sword in hand, looking at her kindly face, he spoke precisely.

She seemed tired from torment by spirits, bearing no threat at all.

“So, there’s no need to say such things.”

Her momentarily widened eyes settled down.

And then, she concealed the black fingertips.

“Are you really becoming a hero? You’re kind.”

“I’m not a hero yet.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Indeed, Hilde’s smile was beautiful.

Even as they entered the darkness, the vivid colors of unwavering determination lingered in Rena’s eyes for a long time.

“Let’s go then. No more hesitating.”

“Yes.”

Being called a witch while saving people… Perhaps that’s something that needs to be corrected when I get out.

***

Crackling branches crushed underfoot as they moved, avoiding damp moss.

Even though it was broad daylight, the dark forest was not a first-time experience.

But… there was no sign of any presence.

“Hey, Hilde. Does that herb actually have any effect?”

“…You probably didn’t pick it wrong. And just because you touched it, its effects won’t disappear.”

Surely, it wouldn’t lose its efficacy just because I lit it with the torch.

Yet I ingested it raw, so it should have shown some effect by now.

Given the unpleasant chill in the air, it must be present.

“Wait a moment.”

– Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump….

Somewhere, heavy footsteps were moving.

Accompanied by the sound of armor, the clinking of spurs against the ground could be heard.

“That sounds like a Paladin—”

“Shh!”

Hands clenched as if hanging on for dear life.

Directly above the body sprawled on the ground, the soft hill seen yesterday –

“Uh, ugh.”

“…Why are they here?”

A voice trembling with fear, immediately forgetting the warmth felt just moments ago.

As the violet eyes turned in a certain direction, a dark figure was walking on the ground.

Spear, sword, and… armor of an unfamiliar design.

Fluttering banners and capes, those holding torch-like objects were strolling among the trees.

The Emperor’s decree… Burn them all…

Cleanse the tainted land with blood…

Whispers unlike before.

A voice echoing like a scream.

They were soldiers.

“Lian, follow me. We might have to give up leaving the forest.”

“What?”

“Lower your voice. I don’t know what’s happening, but they are the Empire’s specters.”

Are they not pushing forward?

Upon touching the blade, the wrist was immediately seized.

The skin shivered at the slightly cold touch of the hand.

“No.”

Fingers unfolded right next to the eyes.

In the direction pointed, a figure clad in armor as massive as that of knights was walking.

Adorned with long robes and a strange weapon with a blade attached.

At first glance, the menacing figure took one’s breath away.

How dare you come here?

Imperial troops, flee…!

Screams and shouts ringing in the ears.

For some reason, the malevolent spirits either charged at each other or began to flee.

The sound of feeble phantoms brandishing their weapons at each other echoed once.

Battle cries turned into agonizing wails, swords clashed and bodies were torn apart.

All because of the giant armor seemingly leading the soldiers.

“Quietly, follow me.”

Instead of leaving the forest, there was no choice but to follow behind Hilde, turning back inward.

It was a defeat.