Ch.485Reunited Companions

The journey with Ceylon was more pleasant than I expected. And fast too.

I thought it would take some time traveling on horseback over the snowy path, but…

– Swoosh!

A golden barrier spread across the snowy field, pushing away thick piles of snow like a plow as it advanced.

It was the barrier of holy light that Ceylon had confidently manifested.

The displaced snow piled up like hills on both sides of the path, revealing the dark brown earth beneath as the white blanket was cleared away.

So the miracle of barriers can be used like this too. How fascinating. Snow removal powered by a goddess’s strength.

I inwardly marveled as I looked at Ceylon’s back riding ahead of me.

Each time our warhorses’ hooves struck what had become ordinary dirt ground, the semicircular barrier extended forward, matching the speed of the horses.

It was truly a sight like the charge of a golden bulldozer.

—-

After traveling like that all day, when the sun set, we would find a suitable place to set up a simple tent and rest.

While Ceylon assembled the tent and soothed the tired horses, I gathered dry wood to make a campfire.

I was plenty warm just with Rurik’s fur, but Ceylon, who didn’t have the benefit of werebeast fur, seemed to need some warmth.

“Would stew be acceptable for dinner?”

Ceylon approached the fire and took out a pot about the size of a human head from his bag, setting it up over the campfire.

“You know how to cook?”

“I wouldn’t call it cooking. Working as a Judge often requires camping alone, so I’ve made this a few times in such situations.”

“Is that so? Go ahead, then.”

Ceylon nodded, filled the pot with snow to melt, then added preserved food and salt from Arad into the boiling water.

…He’s definitely doing this rather casually.

I sat on a tree stump that I had smashed apart except for the base, watching him while puffing mint smoke into the air.

Until shortly after, when Ceylon handed me the completed stew.

“Here you are.”

“Thanks.”

The taste of Ceylon’s stew was… honestly, just ordinary.

Compared to Hush’s cooking, it was rough and coarse.

As he said, it was closer to a hodgepodge porridge meant to warm the body and fill the stomach rather than actual cooking.

Still, it was much better than chewing on dried meat.

—-

“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask you something…”

After finishing the meal, I stretched my limbs and spoke to Ceylon, who was taking out his sleeping bag.

“When I return to the Empire, you’ll have to follow me. Are you really okay with that?”

Following me to the Empire meant giving up all the reputation and standing he had built up.

Those who knew the truth would still respect Ceylon, but publicly, he would be treated like a fool bewitched by a woman.

He would also have to give up his position as a Judge.

It was a question meant to ask if he had any regrets or disappointments about ending up in such a situation because of a single stigmata.

“Protecting one who has received the stigmata is no different from a paladin’s calling, so His Excellency will gladly permit it.”

Ceylon didn’t seem to understand the intent of my question.

Did I ask too implicitly?

“No, that’s not the issue… I mean, I was asking about your feelings. Following me means you won’t be able to work as a Judge anymore. And you’ll face some criticism too.”

“From my perspective, it seems like I’ll be doing more of that work, not less…”

Ceylon replied with a slight smile.

…Come to think of it, that’s probably true.

While he would have to give up his position as a Judge, he would likely deal with more monsters, mages, and villains.

“I understand what you meant. Thank you for your consideration, but please don’t worry about that. I’m actually grateful for this undeserved honor.”

“Is that so?”

I turned my head slightly, puffing heavily on my cigarette, feeling a twinge of conscience.

It was somewhat embarrassing that I, who didn’t even believe in Astraea, was using her stigmata to exploit such a devout person.

“…Then that’s good.”

A sigh mixed with smoke dissolved among the stars.

—-

Four days later, we finally arrived in Nasiriya.

We looked a bit disheveled from not having bathed properly, but otherwise fine.

Nasiriya hadn’t changed at all since I left. Not one bit.

…It was strange.

To be honest, I had expected Nasiriya to be quite chaotic.

Given that news of the Church of Grimnir’s annihilation had reached the holy city, it was obvious that the Church of Ceres would come looking to reclaim Nasiriya.

Maybe they were delayed because of the snow, but even so, this seemed too quiet… Well, I could ask Lacy about it later.

—-

Lacy’s lodging was an inn located in the center of the city.

She had rented the entire building for our group to stay in.

It was a waste of money, but there wasn’t really anywhere else suitable to stay.

The Church of Grimnir was destroyed, and staying at the Church of Ceres felt uncomfortable.

Of course, that was before I left Nasiriya… but they probably hadn’t moved elsewhere.

There was no reason to.

After arriving at the inn, Ceylon and I tied our warhorses at the entrance, then I flung open the wooden door and went inside.

I was mentally organizing what to tell Lacy.

“Who’s coming at this hour… Huh? Whaa?”

Millia, who was having dinner with Demian on the first floor, widened her eyes in shock when she saw me.

Her green hair was as endearing as ever, and I smiled, casually waving my right hand.

“Am I interrupting a cozy meal for you two?”

“Haschal?! You’re finally back…!”

Millia jumped up with a delighted expression and approached me.

Demian, who had been sitting beside her, just waved his hand and continued chewing on his bread.

I didn’t see the others. Were they upstairs? Anyway.

“Yes, as you can see, I’ve returned without a scratch.”

I grinned, spreading my arms to show my uninjured state.

I did get slightly injured during the duel, but all minor wounds had been healed, so technically I was unscathed.

“That’s good… Wait, that’s not the issue right now. What on earth did you do to…”

Millia, who was about to question me urgently, froze with her mouth open when she saw Ceylon entering behind me.

Yes, it’s understandable that she’s surprised.

Someone who left to stop the Church of Astraea had returned with an Astraea Judge.

I patted Millia’s frozen shoulders and extended my palm toward Ceylon.

Like someone introducing a new friend to an old one.

“This is Ceylon Kabnaksas. Millia, you’ve met him before, right? The Astraea Judge who visited last time—”

As I was about to explain about Ceylon, he placed his hand on my outstretched palm, looking at it with a puzzled expression.

Huh…?

I stopped mid-sentence and turned my head sharply to look at Ceylon.

With a look that said, ‘What are you doing…? Why are you suddenly holding my hand?’

However, Ceylon, meeting my eyes, just tilted his head questioningly, as if wondering if that wasn’t what I meant by extending my hand.

…No, that’s not why I held out my hand. What are you, a dog?

I sighed and turned back to Millia to continue my explanation…

“I-i-it was true…?!”

Only to stop again, startled by Millia’s expression.

She had turned red, like when she looked at Demian, and was pointing at our overlapped hands while looking back and forth between Ceylon and me.

“That rumor was true? Oh my goodness, Haschal…!”

…She seems to be making a completely absurd misunderstanding.

No, come to think of it, it’s not a misunderstanding. I did tell him to announce it that way.

I just didn’t expect that story to reach here.

“…Rumors travel fast. We only announced that we were… ‘lovers’ about ten days ago. Seems it’s already reached here.”

“L-l-lovers?! What are you talking about…?!”

Millia jumped in surprise, her shoulders twitching.

Wait, she hadn’t heard that rumor? Then what on earth had she heard?

“Oh my, oh my, oh my…!”

Well, I’ll ask about that later. First, I need to explain the truth.

I was planning to tell everyone when the whole group was together, but I didn’t expect Millia to be this shocked.

I should calm her down first.

Otherwise, she looks like she might run all the way up to the second floor.

“Millia, calm down for a moment. I’ll explain everything. About being lovers, what that means is—”

I tried to calmly explain the situation with Ceylon to Millia.

I would have done so if not for the voice that followed.

“…Sister?”

A low, dark echo like in a cave.

At the girl’s voice coming from the staircase, I instinctively turned my head.

“Ah, Lena. Sister’s back. It took a bit longer than expected, but I’m not hurt…”

Lena was just coming down to the first floor, holding onto the banister at the landing, but her peach-colored cheeks had turned deathly pale, as if she were ill.

What’s wrong? Did she catch a cold?

With the miracle of healing available, she shouldn’t get sick easily.

“…What’s wrong with your face? Did something happen while I was gone? Are you sick?”

I frowned with concern as I addressed Lena.

The fact that I needed to explain about Ceylon to Millia had long been erased from my mind the moment I saw Lena’s complexion.

“Sister… with a man…”

Lena didn’t even answer my question, just stared at Ceylon and me with a vacant expression… before staggering and collapsing with a thud.

“Lena!”

I shook off Ceylon’s hand that was still resting on my palm and rushed urgently toward Lena.

—-

Fortunately, Lena wasn’t sick; she had simply collapsed because her legs gave out.

Apparently, the sight of me holding Ceylon’s hand was that shocking to her.

Only after explaining to Millia and Lena that Ceylon and I were absolutely not that kind of relationship, and that rumors about us being lovers or me trading my body for military support were all false, was I finally able to calm them down.

Whether convinced by my desperate explanation, Millia nodded with a sigh of relief.

“Um… I don’t really understand why, but you’re saying it’s not true? That’s a relief. Lacy was worried. She was saying we should leave for Arad immediately.”

The reason… explaining that would require bringing up the stigmata.

…I’ll tell them after meeting with Lacy.

“Of course Sister Haschal wouldn’t do such a thing! I believed in you from the beginning!”

Lena, having recovered her complexion, smiled brightly and clung to my side.

“Yes, yes. As if I would do something like that.”

I chuckled while stroking Lena’s head.

Believed, my foot.

You were collapsed with weak knees just moments ago. How shocked were you?

“Still, cutting it off would be…”

Lena muttered in a low voice.

Hmm… let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.

It seems she’s become a bit aggressive from staying with Lacy.

Wanting to cut off Ceylon’s hand just for holding mine.

Well, I can comfort her about it later.

After sending Millia back to Demian and coaxing Lena to let go, I climbed the stairs with Ceylon.

I needed to inform Lacy of my arrival, who would be waiting on the second floor.

…Will it be okay?

After seeing Lena and Millia’s intense reactions, I felt strangely uneasy.

Yes, it’ll be fine. Unlike these two, Lacy has a calm and composed personality.

She might have been worried because of the rumors, but once we meet and I explain, it should be resolved somehow.