Ch. 212 Lucille (3)
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 212 – Lucille (3)
Lucille had always imagined.
The world beyond the window.
What lies beyond there?
Where do the drifting clouds go?
What about the flying birds? The blowing wind?
The sun sets below the horizon—do people live underground too?
Lucille took Yoo-seong’s hand and stepped outside the window.
The girl, who had the ability but not the courage, took her first steps into the world guided by the boy.
The two embarked on a journey together.
It wasn’t an easy journey.
Rather, it was a thorny path filled with hardships.
They tracked and hunted monsters hidden across the world.
They purified the lands corrupted by the monsters and cleansed the remains of the monsters.
In the process, Lucille visited many countries and places.
Can you believe it? There are lands made entirely of sand. The sunlight is scorching, and the air is incredibly dry. There are also places made of salt instead of sand.
On the other hand, there are places filled with nothing but water. Endless water stretching as far as the eye can see. It rushes in and out with a loud crash!
Ice? Can you believe there are lands made entirely of ice instead of sand or water? Blizzards rage all day, and my nose really stung from the cold. At night, the auroras shimmered. It was like a curtain of light.
There are grasslands, majestic forests, cascading waterfalls, and mountains bubbling with lava. Amazingly, people live in all these places. Incredible. Truly incredible.
They traveled the world. They wandered through all kinds of places. The two relied on each other and ventured not only to places touched by humans but also to untouched lands.
Finding the monsters was difficult but doable. Yoo-seong’s instincts pointed the way, and Lucille’s blessings guided them to their destination.
The seasons changed. Winter turned to spring, spring to summer, summer to autumn, and then the winter when they first met returned.
Even Lucille, who knew nothing of the world, gained experience.
At least now she knew there was no world underground.
She also learned that the sun doesn’t disappear below the earth.
She realized that humans aren’t as evil as she thought.
Not everyone approached her with ill intentions.
She learned that some people genuinely thanked her for her blessings.
She also realized that humans are more evil than she imagined.
Some, even after receiving help, wanted more and repaid kindness with malice.
There were those who deceived her, used her, and even tried to force themselves on her.
She learned that good and evil coexist in humans.
Everyone has both good and bad sides.
Evil people can become good under certain circumstances.
Good people can be turned evil by reality.
Lucille learned that the world is more beautiful than she had imagined.
She also learned that the world is more cruel than she had imagined.
She learned much, experienced much, and came to understand many things.
The girl who once vaguely longed for and feared the world was no more.
Only the blessed saintess, Lucille.
The saintess who embarked on a harsh pilgrimage to save the world.
◆
“Finally, I’ve found you.”
After several seasons had passed.
Two years after they began their journey.
A man with fiery red hair stood in their way.
Dressed in shabby yet dignified clothing, he removed his white robe and spoke.
“Are you the saintess?”
During their journey, they occasionally encountered other supernaturals.
The saints blessed by the Four Seasons were few in number, but they often took on requests from nobles of nations or regions to hunt monsters.
With a shared goal of hunting monsters, they sometimes crossed paths. Most were no match for Yoo-seong or Lucille.
Not that they were lacking.
They had the strength to defeat monsters without much trouble.
But compared to Yoo-seong and Lucille, they seemed lacking.
“And you’re the heretic who seduced the saintess with your wicked tongue?”
But this man was different.
The air trembled with the aura he exuded.
His overwhelming energy made her skin tingle.
“I’ll reveal my name.”
A superhuman who was in no way inferior to Yoo-seong.
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and spoke in a dry voice.
“My name is Michael.”
Swoosh.
The blade was drawn from its sheath.
A sharp gleam pointed at Yoo-seong.
Yoo-seong, who had been watching, narrowed his eyes.
He uncrossed his arms and cracked his wrists.
“I’ve come to make you pay for your sins and guide the saintess back to where she belongs.”
…Ah, I remember now.
A memory I had vaguely heard about.
Lucille knew the name Michael.
‘The strongest saint.’
Awakened supernaturals are called ‘those close to god’.
Supernatural abilities are blessings from the gods, and the higher one’s level, the closer they are to the primordial.
Michael. He was one close to god.
The one ‘closest’ to god under the heavens.
“You’re here to defeat me and take Lucille away?”
“That’s right.”
“You? Defeat me? Can you even do that?”
Facing the strongest supernatural, Yoo-seong smirked.
No further words were exchanged.
They likely both deemed it unnecessary.
Lucille tried to intervene but sighed and stepped back.
Once Yoo-seong was fired up like this, no one could stop him.
And, truthfully, she didn’t want to stop him.
She was a little angry at Michael, who had suddenly appeared, insulted Yoo-seong, and declared he would take her away.
Lucille watched the two superhumans’ standoff with a blank expression.
Waving her hand slightly, she cheered Yoo-seong on.
◆
“I believe you. You’re a hero, aren’t you?”
And just like that, the fight ended anticlimactically.
After exchanging a few blows with Yoo-seong, Michael tilted his head in confusion.
Someone with such pure, untainted sword energy couldn’t possibly be evil.
If he were truly a wicked person, his sword energy would have shown traces of it.
But such upright sword energy…
Is he really an evil person?
Puzzled, Michael asked why Yoo-seong had kidnapped the saintess, and Yoo-seong’s face twisted in disbelief.
Kidnap? Who? Me? Lucille? Why? His incredulous reaction made Michael realize there had been a misunderstanding.
Michael was a devout believer in the gods of the Four Seasons.
But he wasn’t affiliated with the church.
He believed in the gods, not humans.
Michael knew the church wasn’t entirely pure.
Still, it was the church that served the gods of the Four Seasons.
While he was disillusioned with the church’s corruption, he still held a sliver of trust in them.
That’s why he believed their words and set out to find the saintess.
A wicked man had deceived and kidnapped the saintess blessed by the Four Seasons.
They wanted to bring her back, but the man’s strength was too great to handle.
Upon hearing this news, Michael had set out on behalf of the church to find Saintess Lucille.
“Hmm, I see.”
After hearing Yoo-seong and Lucille’s story, Michael nodded as if he understood.
“Hunting monsters and purifying corrupted lands. It’s the right thing to do. Truly righteous. The Four Seasons, who watch over all people, have blessed us, so it’s only right that we use that blessing to bring peace to this troubled world.”
“I don’t believe in the Four Seasons. I’m doing this because I believe it’s right, not because of their blessings.”
“Is that so? Hmm, I suppose that’s possible. Faith is a personal choice. It should never be forced.”
Michael seemed to take a liking to Yoo-seong, laughing heartily and clapping him on the back.
Each time, Yoo-seong winced and hunched his shoulders.
“I’ll help too.”
“Huh? You too?”
“You as well?”
“Hunting monsters is something I’ve always done. In the end, what I’ll be doing won’t change.”
“Is that so?”
“What do you think?”
“…I don’t see any reason to object.”
“If you’re okay with it, I won’t object either.”
Though, deep down, I’d rather not.
Lucille muttered to herself.
It felt like an uninvited guest had joined their journey, which had been just the two of them.
But as the ‘saintess’, not just ‘Lucille’, she was pleased with Michael’s addition.
In terms of strength, Yoo-seong and she were enough.
But with only two hands, they could only do so much.
With Michael’s help, they could accomplish even more.
“Alright, since our saintess has given her approval, I’ll count on you from now on.”
“Hmm.”
They shook hands.
And so, the journey of two became a journey of three.
◆
Michael’s addition was a great help.
Strength comparable to Yoo-seong’s and unwavering character.
Experience accumulated over a long life.
And, most importantly, financial support.
“Phew, we’re saved. I was running out of money.”
Yoo-seong sighed in relief as he spoke.
Money is essential for survival.
Even if you do nothing but breathe, you need money.
Especially when traveling aimlessly across the world, money is always in short supply.
Until now, they had managed by receiving small rewards from people they helped along the way or by taking on requests from nobles and merchants.
Occasionally, people approached them offering regular support, but they always refused. It was obvious what they wanted, and it wasn’t even amusing. Getting into debt would only cause trouble later.
Just as their funds were running low, Michael’s arrival came at the perfect time.
“To accomplish great things, you must first fill your stomach.”
On top of that, he was a good cook.
He seemed to handle ingredients carelessly, but the results were always better than expected.
“Here, eat and drink. This wine is the blood of the Four Seasons, and this bread is their flesh.”
“So this is what the Four Seasons taste like…”
Lucille glanced at Yoo-seong, who was devouring the meal with a look of awe.
During their journey, she had learned various skills.
Of course, she could cook to some extent… but maybe she should learn more professionally?
Lucille pondered seriously.
Regardless of her thoughts, the journey continued. They tracked and hunted monsters. They purified lands corrupted by otherworldly logic. Even with an additional member, their tasks remained the same.
Yoo-seong pointed the way.
Lucille identified the specific locations.
Michael gathered information about the area.
The intelligence of the monsters varied. Some were less intelligent than beasts, while others were on par with humans.
The former usually rampaged mindlessly and were the first to be exterminated. The latter showed tenacious vitality. They stayed in remote areas untouched by humans, gradually corrupting the land.
At first, it was difficult to track monsters that intelligently hid their traces.
Yoo-seong’s intuitive instincts and Lucille’s blessings lost precision over long distances.
But as the journey continued, their abilities grew day by day.
By the time Michael joined, distance was no longer an issue.
Even putting Yoo-seong aside, Lucille’s abilities had improved dramatically.
“I’ve seen it.”
What she couldn’t do while confined in the church, she could now do naturally.
She could see what was unseen and sense what was imperceptible.
“In the near future, the fifth rift will open.”
The seasons changed, and summer arrived.
On a day when the sun’s rays were scorching.
Lucille woke up with a serious expression.
It was a prophetic dream of the blessed saintess.
“The interval has shortened again.”
“Hmm, it’s been 14 years.”
“At this rate, the next rift will open in less than 10 years.”
It wasn’t good news.
Just as they were nearing the end of exterminating the monsters, another rift was about to open.
The only silver lining was that this time, they had the saintess’s prophecy.
If they could prepare in advance at the location where the rift would open, they could drastically reduce the damage.
“We still have time. The rift won’t open for another six months.”
“But it’s better to act early. Things are going to get busy.”
They needed to inform people and evacuate them in advance.
They had to quell the chaos and help refugees who would lose their homes in an instant.
Even with six months left, time flies. It was better to start preparing while they still had time.
The group hurried to their destination.
The location the saintess prophesied was truly unexpected.
“The World Tree?”
The origin of the spiritual veins.
A sacred tree said to have grown from a seed planted by the gods of the Four Seasons long ago.
The spiritual energy flowing from the roots of the World Tree formed the spiritual veins.
The fifth rift would open right above the World Tree.
The World Tree was managed by the church. It was a tree nurtured by the Four Seasons themselves. It could be called the holy land of the church.
Getting involved with the church again was uncomfortable, but Lucille didn’t show it.
Several years had already passed. She couldn’t remain trapped in the past forever.
With confident steps, she headed toward the World Tree. A colossal tree that seemed to pierce the sky and touch the clouds.
A mystical tree of life that seemed to purify the soul just by looking at it awaited them.
“Oh, you’re here? I’ve been waiting.”
And it wasn’t just the World Tree waiting for them.
A girl with deep blue hair waved casually.
Leaning against the World Tree, she smiled gently with crimson eyes.
“The hero, the saintess, and the saint.”
“Who are you?”
“Ah, introductions are necessary, I suppose.”
The girl answered Yoo-seong’s question.
“Iris. I’m Iris. Nice to meet you.”
“No, not you.”
Yoo-seong’s expression twisted openly.
He pointed at the girl, clearly showing hostility.
“The one inside you.”
“…”
“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you’re wearing a human disguise?”
Iris shrugged.
She scratched the back of her head awkwardly, not expecting to be recognized so quickly.
With an awkward expression, she trailed off, then suddenly smirked.
“As expected of the ‘Chosen One’. I thought I hid well, but you saw right through me.”
The atmosphere shifted.
Lucille narrowed her eyes at the sense of dissonance.
Nothing had changed, yet something felt different.
Even though it was the same face, it felt like looking at a completely different person.
“Let me reintroduce myself.”
The girl half-opened her crimson eyes and smiled slyly.
“I am a visitor from a distant world.”
The 7th-ranked devil god, Amon.
Author Note
A/N (Author’s note):
Lucille’s backstory is where many of the story’s plot holes are resolved.It seems that this mini-arc will be a bit longer than I expected.
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
If you still don’t know, during this time, strong supernaturals or just supernaturals in general are called saints, not to be confused with the saintess, who is only one.
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