Chapter 47: The Radiance of Elune

After crossing the border, I set my sights on the capital city of this nation, Obrein.

It was a necessary stop on the way to Greenfall and a chance to experience the unique culture of a country where every citizen shared the same faith.

The thought of what kind of culture had developed here filled me with anticipation.

As I walked along the path, people began to gather around me.

It didn’t seem like anyone had a specific intention, but it appeared that we all shared the same destination, naturally forming a group.

Even those ahead of us merged into the crowd without hesitation. Perhaps this was an unspoken custom among adventurers.

At that moment, a woman approached me.

She, like me, was on horseback, dressed in a pristine white clerical robe adorned with a large crescent moon embroidery.

“Greetings, Adventurer. May I offer a small prayer for you?”

Her voice was soft and comforting, effortlessly easing any sense of wariness.

Her polite tone only added to the feeling of ease. Tilting my head curiously, I asked her back.

“A prayer? For me, all of a sudden?”

“It is the teaching of Elune, the Moon God. We offer a small blessing to everyone entering our country.”

“Can I decline?”

“Of course. It’s entirely voluntary.”

I glanced around at her response.

As she had mentioned, other clergy members were standing beside adventurers, reciting prayers without any complaints from the recipients.

Judging by how natural it all seemed, this must have been a long-standing tradition.

It appeared to be a distinct part of this country’s culture.

“Then, please go ahead.”

The woman smiled warmly at my reply and clasped her hands together, beginning her prayer.

“Elune, who brightens the darkness with your gentle light, please guide the footsteps of this adventurer…”

When the serene prayer ended, the woman opened one eye slightly and asked me, “Did a small light appear around you?”

I shook my head. A small light? Nothing of the sort had occurred during the prayer.

The woman nodded gently, her serene smile unchanging.

“I see. Thank you for letting me know.”

“Is the prayer finished now?”

“Yes, your prayer is complete. Elune will guide you safely to Obrein.”

With those words, she stepped back carefully, heading toward another adventurer to offer her prayer.

With so many clergy members around, the adventurers’ mood naturally became calm and composed.

Once we fully left the border region and came to a major crossroads, I spurred Nightmare into a run.

Nightmare was capable of sprinting at high speeds for over ten hours a day.

Having grown accustomed to this pace, I could no longer tolerate the slow pace of traveling with others.

Through expansive plains, forests, and then mountains, Nightmare raced forward like a gust of wind, following my lead.

After traveling tirelessly for ten days with minimal rest, I finally arrived at Obrein, the capital city of this nation.

As I reached the city, I heard a gentle hymn drifting out from beyond the castle walls.

It seemed I had arrived during a religious ceremony.

The melody was so pleasant that even some adventurers hummed along unconsciously.

Guiding Nightmare, I approached the city gates.

There, guards controlling entry to the city stood vigilant. Their armor, too, bore the symbol of Elune, the Moon God.

“Purpose of your visit?”

“Just sightseeing.”

“Do you have any prior experience as an adventurer elsewhere?”

“Yes.”

At my response, the guard nodded and pulled out a small note from his pocket.

“If you’re thinking of working as an adventurer here, take this to the Adventurer’s Guild.

The kingdom is currently forming a monster extermination squad, so you might find it a decent way to earn some money.”

When I nodded and accepted the note, my entry was promptly approved.

Inside the city, I let the soft hymn guide my steps.

It led me to a spacious square where, as expected, a grand event was taking place.

The square was filled with a massive crowd, seemingly composed of the city’s clergy, all singing in unison.

At the forefront, an elderly priest stood on a small platform, holding an enormous book and scattering a gentle, luminous light.

What caught my eye, however, were the boys and girls standing in orderly rows right below the platform. Each of them carried a sword.

What kind of event was this?

Curious, I approached a resident who was watching the event nearby.

“Excuse me.”

“Hm?”

The man turned to look down at me in response to my call.

He was wearing a small necklace with a symbol of Elune, the Moon God, hanging from it.

“What’s this event about?”

“Ah, you’re an adventurer, right? Just arrived today?”

“Yes.”

“Today marks the start of the Swordsmanship Tournament.”

“Swordsmanship Tournament?”

“Do you see those kids standing over there?”

“Yes.”

“They’re the participants.”

I nodded at his explanation.

Lucky timing.

If I hadn’t hurried here, I would have missed the spectacle of this tournament.

Stroking Nightmare’s mane, I settled in to watch the event.

After the hymn concluded, the elderly priest began a prayer.

It was far more intricate and lengthy than the simple prayer the female priestess had recited at the border.

How much time had passed? I wasn’t sure.

When the lengthy prayer finally concluded, the priests who had filled the vast square began to disperse en masse.

Taking their place, guards appeared and started moving barriers, seemingly preparing the area for the swordsmanship tournament.

A small ring was created in the solemn atmosphere, and two boys stepped into it, facing each other as they drew their swords.

Before crossing blades, they recited a short prayer, but the distance and their quiet voices made it impossible to catch the words.

When the prayer ended, the duel began.

I watched, mouth slightly agape.

The stance one of the boys took to prepare for a downward strike and the subsequent fluid motions—they were eerily familiar.

Their swords shimmered faintly with moonlight, which burst into fragments as they clashed.

“Ah…”

“They’re quite skilled this year,” murmured someone in the crowd.

The voices around me faded as I furrowed my brows, focusing intently on the boys’ movements.

I wanted to step closer to study their techniques in detail, but the guards controlling the crowd made that impossible.

Clang!

The first match ended, and a victor was declared.

Regardless of the result, the two boys exchanged smiles and shook hands before stepping out of the ring.

I stood there, lost in thought.

The swordsmanship they had displayed was all too familiar to me.

How could I forget the very first sword techniques I’d learned in this world? Even if my repertoire only included two proper moves, I couldn’t mistake them.

Who would have thought I’d uncover a connection to the gatekeeper uncle’s origins here?

Turning to the man watching beside me, I asked, “Excuse me, sir.”

“Hm? Me? I’m not that old, you know.”

“How does one learn that style of swordsmanship?”

“Interested, huh? Sorry, but not just anyone can learn it.”

“Then who can?”

“That’s the swordsmanship of the Holy Knights who serve Elune, the Moon God. It’s called Elune’s Radiance.

Those kids will become Holy Knights one day. If you want to learn it, you’d have to—”

I tuned out the rest of his explanation.

More boys were stepping into the ring, and I focused my gaze, determined to commit every move to memory.

“Hey, young lady, are you even listening to me?”

“Don’t bother me; I’m concentrating.”

“Well, I never…”

The moonlight spilling from their swords was mesmerizing.

It transformed into thin crescent arcs at times, while at others, it painted broad strokes resembling a full moon rising.

As more participants entered the ring and demonstrated their skills, my thoughts grew increasingly tangled.

The techniques were similar across all the boys and girls, yet subtle differences stood out in their execution—the balance of power, speed, and the timing of their strikes.

Everything varied.