Ch.7676. Gazing (1)

Once the evidence was secured and the main culprit caught, the remaining tasks proceeded smoothly. The palace quickly dispatched knights to arrest the evil god worshippers, and all related criminals and sponsors were rounded up and sent to the kingdom’s deepest prison. The cult leader was captured by inquisitors and escorted to the Holy Nation.

“Well, we’ll need to visit the Holy Nation later and squeeze out as much information as possible,” Bishop Andre said calmly, as if talking about wringing water from a rag. I didn’t particularly want to know how the bishop extracted information from people.

“You needn’t worry about the evil god worshippers, Hero. Just focus on your main duties.”

Bishop Andre offered this with an unsettling smile. It wasn’t his usual benevolent religious smile, but rather the expression of a warrior who had acquired a new weapon.

“Leave the tracking and elimination of evil god worshippers to us. They’ll be off guard, having not yet experienced the full might of the Blue Orthodox Church.”

As he spoke, Bishop Andre pulled out a dagger and waved it. While my impression of the bishop had changed significantly, my thought that he was a ruthless person remained unchanged.

Later, I met with the Barktins magistrate again.

“I’m relieved that matters are being resolved well,” the magistrate said with a sigh of relief. Watching the apocalypse worshippers expand their influence must have felt like slowly being strangled.

“You’ve worked hard as well, Hero.”

The magistrate offered sincere thanks. Despite everything, he was someone who hadn’t abandoned this ruined region and continued to hold onto it. He couldn’t possibly be an irresponsible or incompetent person.

“It was painful watching the residents gradually change. At some point, some even began to look at my visits with disdain.”

The magistrate shook his head as he spoke.

“Thankfully, the Holy Nation has helped us. The Saint must be busy now, so please convey my gratitude on my behalf. Tell her thank you for helping our village.”

“Of course I will.”

I shook hands with the magistrate and headed back to the church. The air felt different. Since the night before yesterday, the moon had begun to rise in the sky again. Fires were lit throughout the village, and the night regained its lost warmth.

In just three days, Isis had treated all the villagers. Even those who had been implanted with traces of calamity, Isis could easily heal with her magic. Those who had lost body parts, or those at death’s door with festering wounds—Isis’s magic power healed them all.

“…Thank you.”

People healed by Isis looked down at their restored bodies with dazed expressions. Some wept with joy, while others pinched their faces in disbelief. Even among those who had acted as if they wanted the world to end tomorrow, some were gradually accepting reality.

“I have no choice. Now that my body is healed, I should help with the reconstruction work.”

“It’s not like the sea is only in one place.”

Of course, not everyone accepted it. Some refused treatment, and others took their own lives. Isis shed tears before them. Seeing her like that, some people changed their minds.

Gradually, the wounds began to disappear. They healed into scars, but they no longer bled. Better to have scars than to have wounds that fester and rot.

“I see.”

Meanwhile, I moved only between the church room and the backyard during the ongoing cleanup. I either engaged in aimless conversations about the Holy Sword and swordsmanship or swung my sword with an empty mind.

“Everything’s going very smoothly so far. Fortunately.”

Now I was sitting in the bedroom talking with Isis. The weather had quickly turned cool just days after summer ended. Steam rose from the cup placed on the table. I looked at Isis with a faint smile. Though she seemed a bit tired, I could sense signs of growth in her expression.

“What will you do when this is over?”

Isis sipped from her teacup.

“I think I’ll continue searching for victims. Maybe I’ll also travel to erase traces of apocalypse worship. I’ll need to discuss it with the bishop.”

Isis gave me a broad smile.

“Still, I’ll make sure to keep in touch. Perhaps there will come a time when I need your help, Ilroy.”

“…Sure.”

That’s a relief, I thought as I likewise picked up my tea and took small sips.

“Aryen said he would go with Bishop Andre.”

Once the residents showed signs of recovery and the village began to get organized, Aryen disappeared suddenly with some inquisitors.

“Yes. The bishop said he liked his skills and that he would be a great help in tracking down evil god worshippers.”

I nodded. That guy would be following his own thoughts too.

“What are you planning to do now, Ilroy?”

Isis looked at me and asked. I leaned back in my chair, fingering the hilt of the Holy Sword. Fog. Formless terror. Though there wouldn’t be destructive rampages like those of the Kraken or giants, I remembered it as the most difficult calamity to deal with.

“I need to go back and prepare.”

“Prepare?”

I shrugged my shoulders ambiguously. This calamity required more thorough preparation than any other.

Because in the original story, the fifth calamity—the fog—was what annihilated the hero’s party, including Ilroy.

==

Something was off about Ilroy. That’s what Marianne thought.

Recently, he had been spacing out frequently. When Daphne or George called him, he wouldn’t hear them, staring off somewhere until they approached and tapped him. Then he would raise his eyebrows as if he hadn’t heard and turn his head. After exchanging a few words, he would turn back and sit down again.

“Is something wrong?”

When Daphne, who always watched Ilroy, asked this, Ilroy would shake his head with a bitter smile. His expression was quite different from when Marianne first met him. Back then, he sometimes appeared lacking and naive, but now, the Ilroy sitting there had a deep expression. Deep, deep, like a stone slowly sinking to the bottom of the sea.

“Just thinking about when my sword will be finished.”

George turned his head toward Ilroy with raised eyebrows, looking interested.

“What, it’s still not done?”

“I’ll have to check with the workshop, but since I haven’t heard anything, it seems like they still need time. I want to see the finished product soon too.”

Ilroy pretended to be dissatisfied and flopped his face onto the desk. Some untidy documents fluttered with his movement. Ilroy’s eyes followed a rolling seal.

“I guess it’s about time you started craving good equipment. You probably haven’t felt dissatisfied because the Holy Sword is such a good weapon, but actually, when it comes to equipment, the more the better, and the better the better.”

George folded his arms and nodded.

“When we have time later, we should go look at other equipment, even if not swords. I’ve been feeling the need to fix up my armor lately too.”

“…It’s the first time I’ve seen you talk with your eyes bulging like that, you know.”

Ilroy wrinkled his nose as if disgusted, but his mouth was smiling. Marianne still couldn’t understand why Ilroy showed signs of dislike while not hiding his smile.

“Well, I said you could go on vacation after returning to the capital, so why are you all still sitting around in my office? Daphne, what about that puppy you’re raising?”

“The landlady is taking care of it. She declared she’d borrow it for the whole day today.”

Ilroy chuckled, and Daphne smiled watching him laugh.

“Come see the puppy during your vacation. You said you like animals.”

“I’ll make time for that.”

Watching this conversation, Marianne tilted her head with slight discomfort. But soon she regained her composure and returned to her usual self. Ilroy turned his eyes to George.

“What about your knight order?”

“I got scolded for visiting too often. They say when one old-timer increases, the young knights don’t like it.”

“Right. Better to sit around in my office than bother those eccentric knights.”

George and Daphne lingered a while longer in Ilroy’s office before finally getting up. Ilroy waved his hands while keeping his face buried on the desk, and the two shook their heads and left the office.

“Where has the party leader’s dignity gone?”

Ilroy muttered as he raised his head. There seemed to be documents requiring approval. Ilroy carefully examined the party’s budget proposal and picked up a pen to scribble something.

“Marianne, don’t you have any vacation plans?”

When Ilroy asked, Marianne blinked and shook her head.

“No. I probably… won’t be going to the Holy Nation.”

Ilroy raised his eyebrows as if surprised.

“Really? Doesn’t Bishop Andre say anything?”

“No… It’s fine.”

Marianne recalled the conversation she had with the bishop before leaving Barktins.

‘Marianne.’

‘Yes, Bishop.’

Bishop Andre looked at Marianne. His brow furrowed as he gazed at her, then returned to normal. The bishop folded his arms, inhaled, and then exhaled briefly.

‘Even if the hero’s party activities end, do not return as an inquisitor.’

Marianne, uncharacteristically surprised, widened her eyes. The bishop was looking at her with sharp eyes.

‘You can no longer be an inquisitor. You must have vaguely realized this yourself.’

‘Then what will I…’

‘I won’t reclaim the holy spear until all missions are completed. It’s being used well. After the mission ends, you will remain as a priest or a knight in the holy knight order.’

Marianne couldn’t understand. Unable to remain an inquisitor? In confusion and with an indescribable feeling, Marianne placed her hand on her chest and looked at Bishop Andre.

‘The hero accomplishes such diverse things. You will soon understand too.’

Bishop Andre’s voice as he told Marianne this wasn’t cold. Leaving the bewildered Marianne behind, Bishop Andre departed. Marianne sat in the church chair, watching the bishop’s back as he disappeared through the exit at the end of the nave. A very subtle feeling of both discomfort and relief—Marianne didn’t realize why she felt relieved.

And now, Marianne sat in her chair like a silver fox that had lost its prey, watching Ilroy.

Scribble, scribble.

Having finished checking the budget proposal, Ilroy took out a new sheet of paper and was scribbling something. He would exhale with a “hmm,” furrowing his brow, and sometimes shaking his head.

“…Ah, Marianne.”

Ilroy looked up at Marianne. Marianne observed him intently. She had nothing to do except attend church regularly.

“What is it?”

Marianne shook her head, indicating it was nothing. Ilroy frowned slightly as if finding it strange, then lowered his head back to the paper and began writing something. Watching him intently, Marianne made a decision.

Setting herself aside, she needed to find out why Ilroy was acting strange.

To do that, she would need to observe Ilroy all day.