episode_0008

“Judge, it’s Rom.”

The paper that was being scratched by a light knock on the door gained freedom.

The tool that had been spewing ink from the tip of my head lay momentarily on the floor, allowing me to close my eyes.

“I beg your pardon.”

It was dark outside, yet the candles were lit.

For some reason, the knight’s armor remained untended.

“Is it because of the child named Lian?”

“Rom… I heard the story, the hero performed a miracle.”

“He is not a hero yet. Just a ‘child’ chosen by the Holy Sword.”

“…How so?”

A deep sigh settled on the paper, drying the numerous scars left behind,

Breathing life into the written words.

“A hero is one who carries everything evil emits. A boy who knows nothing about the world cannot become a hero.”

“Hao-na, today’s thunderbolt…”

“It’s a miracle. Yes. I have no intention of denying that.”

A strike that split the darkness into two pieces.

The power contained in the sword struck precisely, like lightning that would not fall without heaven’s permission.

“By the side of the hero who received the Holy Sword, a girl filled with sacred power accompanies him.”

“Are they siblings?”

“No, not a drop of blood is shared. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Yet they cherished, supported, and intertwined with each other.

The boy wielded his sword for the girl,

And the girl prayed sincerely for the boy.

That became a lightning bolt that destroyed evil, striking the ground.

“…It was said that as divine miracles are seen more frequently in this land, it is evidence that evil is drawing closer.”

The bones seen above the burnt orphanage ground.

The crimson rituals held not far from the mines.

In a small village that should have been peaceful, sinister events were unfolding, and no one nearby noticed.

Only the gods listened to prayers and answered them.

“Judge, I…”

“Do not waver. You are the shield that upholds faith.”

An act of heresy where one sacrifices their human form, using countless offerings and blood to disguise their body.

A sin that dares to impersonate a monk and blaspheme against the divine.

Only evil could understand what composed the heart of those who deceived pure souls and killed amidst agony.

“Remember that it is our duty to prevent such events like today, Rom brothers. Do not be entangled in today’s events.”

“Yes. I will do so.”

Unable to rise from the unrelenting torment, Yi, filled with anguish, the chair could briefly release its obligation.

Standing up and facing each other, the two men.

“Are you envious of the children who have gained the attention of the gods?”

“T-that’s…”

Not a white flame, nor a sword falling from the sky, but a divine fire containing punishment.

The strength contained by the children in the scriptures and prayer times.

“I do not envy them. But…”

“Heroes are sacrifices. Rom brothers. To erase the filth committed by the wicked in the world.”

The knight saw strength in the boy.

But the judge saw a pitiful fate in the boy.

Despite experiencing irrationality within evil, the kindness extended to others within it was venom.

A poison that would scorch oneself, kill.

“The more one shines, the less everyone will look up to them. They will envy, be jealous, covet, try to devour. Carrying their evil every day, and then… die like that. Before embracing all the beauty of the world within their hearts.”

The price for divine power is to bestow salvation.

Punishing evil in the name of God, liberating those in pain.

Bound by people’s expectations and support, a lifetime of fighting ahead.

The glamorous names and stories were merely bandages to cover the wounds beneath.

Even the honor held within the name of a hero.

“…My thoughts were short-sighted.”

“We all have our roles, Rom brothers,”

The hand that caressed the sword received at the cathedral bore numerous scars.

Haruken recalled a pair of pure eyes mixed with fear and reverence.

“No matter what adversity comes your way, remember just that.”

“I will do so.”

The girl who naturally infused blessings into the holy sword was undoubtedly destined to become an excellent aid to the hero once refined.

And the boy… he already carried a duty.

Bearing not a drop of blood, the girl’s shield would lend weight to the sword.

“Tomorrow, we depart for the cathedral with the children. Be prepared without delay.”

“Yes.”

“Have all doubts been resolved?”

The Holy Knight walked away in deep contemplation instead of answering.

The vibrations echoing through the ground signaled a restored calm.

Before long, the echoing footsteps began to fill the room once more.

“The hero, and perhaps… the saint.”

Concerns about whether the chosen ones might be two arose, beginning to take shape on paper.

***

“Hey, look over there, big brother! It’s huge!”

Led by Lena’s pulling hand, what came into view beneath the blue sky was the towering…

“Sanctuary?”

“It’s Demetria Cathedral.”

Roofs painted blue, tall towers connected by numerous stone bridges.

Red, blue, yellow, green, white –

Even glass figures representing people in five different colors.

Colorful buildings enclosed by walls made of stone.

“Is that Northchild the Hero, big brother?”

“Where… is it true?”

“You have good eyes. The first hero, Northchild, indeed.”

A man depicted on flags hanging at the gate and engraved on a nearby pinnacle, appearing as if standing with a sword plunged into the ground.

The person who handed me a book while covering his swollen cheek with his hand.

But Lena seemed genuinely happy now.

With her head tilted towards me, she gazed at the clear sky with a smile on her face.

“Is the sword you have the same as that one?”

“It’s a sword bestowed by the gods, so probably.”

Being a hero isn’t all that great after all.

The sleeves of the clothes I wore were already starting to stretch.

“What’s this?”

“Hehehe.”

Lena tugged at the sleeve, insisting it was better this way.

At this rate, all my clothes might end up with one arm longer than the other.

“Alright, let’s keep walking.”

After a brief moment of laughter and chatter, their words halted before reaching the cathedral, still far away.

As the knights descended slowly, the ground seemed to sway up and down.

“Oh, aren’t we still quite far from arriving?”

“The cathedral is where the first martyr received his calling. A sacred land, a holy place… proper etiquette is required.”

Finally setting foot on the ground, I gently set Lena down and took her hand.

It felt like her small hand was gaining strength as she held mine tighter. Was it just my imagination?

“Shall I tell you stories about the cathedral on the way?”

“Yes! I love those stories.”

If Lena brought a book, then Lena-like it shall be.

I understand her excitement, but I wish someone had fixed my clothes.

My shoulder was almost exposed.

Walking along, we could hear stories about how a small wooden house turned into such a grand cathedral.

Why so many people wanted to enter the cathedral.

How stained glass was made and inserted, and more.

Before they knew it, they had reached the cathedral walls.

“From here on, since it’s crowded, hold onto my clothes. Don’t lose me.”

Just as Lena did to me, I gently grasped the Judge’s cloak.

Then we began to navigate through the crowd.

“Pardon me, coming through.”

The three figures easily made way through the crowd.

Some stepped back upon seeing the armor.

Some were smiling as they recognized the judge, clasping their hands together.

The gate was easily reached, making one wonder if there was any need to hold onto their clothes.

Below, five knights stood alongside a few ordinary adults in leather armor, each looking at people one by one.

Then, one of the knights raised his visor, waved his hand, and blocked the entrance.

“Judge, the Rom brothers, the Anton brothers. Welcome back. The children next to you…”

“We brought them here as witnesses to the miraculous event that occurred in the village of Yusr.”

Unlike the judge with incredibly blue eyes, who glanced at us, smiled slightly, then raised his head again.

Despite what I had come to know while spending time with them, the knights seemed surprisingly kind.

“The elders are waiting for your report. Shall I lead you?”

“No, we will go see the children immediately.”

“Understood. Please proceed.”

Who were they going to see?

Who were these “elders”?

But those questions vanished as they approached a steep incline right in front of them.

“Yikes…”

“Come on, let’s go.”

Perhaps the reason the cathedral was so high was not just because of the towers but also because it was situated on a hill.

The shadows of the knights, starting to ascend two steps at a time, looked particularly large.

***

“Judge Harken.”

“Lord Medelin, and Lord Dute.”

They rose from their seats in the crimson castle and approached the judge kneeling on the carpet.

Their graceful steps matched the gentle departure from their modest chairs, each bearing a kind face.

The wispy white hair hinted at their age.

“Did you have a good visit to the village of Yusr?”

“It was a small and peaceful village.”

“We had thought of it as a quiet place to retire once everything was over, but hearing it from you, Judge, puts our minds at ease.”

Following words that could only be found in the traces of a long life came a brief smile.

And then, silence.

“So, was the miracle reported from the Fifth Spire true?”

“Yes. The Lord bestowed the Holy Sword upon a boy named Lian.”

“…There were speculations in the letters arriving from the village church about unsavory deeds being committed nearby.”

“The demon Chrysalis had made its nest. We found evidence of it devouring newly anointed youths, feeding on blood to grow stronger.”

Though the sun had risen, shadows loomed over the faces of the elders.

The light filtering through accentuated the judge’s sword.

“Was it dealt with?”

“I have detailed accounts written down. Please.”

As the unfolded parchment lay before them, the glasses hanging around their neck settled smoothly on their noses.

How much time had passed?

“It is noted that a special power was seen in the girl Lena. What does this mean?”

“Lena prayed over the sword, and the Lord responded to Lian’s strike with a thunderbolt.”

“Is the thunderbolt… not the same as the miracle called forth by the first hero?”

Moments of countless heroes depicted on the walls.

Falling giants, dragons emerging from the earth…

Among them, the first was an image of lightning striking down upon the one who wore ears as earrings, enhancing the impact of the scene.

“I saw pure, refined divine energy within her. If I may conclude…”

“It suggests the potential for a saintly role.”

“The appearance of someone long absent from that vacant position.”

While enveloped in peace, those who remembered the spilled blood on the ground shed tears.

Receiving a divine revelation and the emergence of a leader guiding the people were undoubtedly good news, but…

Where there are shepherds, wolves are sure to appear.

“Where are the children now?”

“The monks must have taken them to their chambers.”

“Well, it would be fine to meet them before the day ends.”

The white eyes, shining like a judge’s, flashed.

Even the wrinkled eyelids couldn’t blur their sharpness.

“I will guide you.”

The door opened, and two elderly men followed behind the towering knight.

If you only looked at their faces, they might seem to have gone out for a stroll to see their grandchildren. However, the many people bowing their heads in the corridor indicated their status.

“A knight and a saint. Quite the pair, aren’t they?”

“Lena may call Lian her brother, but they are not related by blood.”

“They might be closer than you think.”

“They have faced hardships together, so perhaps.”

As the colors of their clothes became more subdued and their bows for greetings grew deeper,

the girl’s loud scream filled the corridor.

“No! I don’t want to!!”

A vehement denial.

A cry mixed with tears and determination.

Those dressed in red garments glanced at each other.

The judge raised his hand on the hilt of his sword and took a step forward.

“J-Judge? Your Highness?!”

“Make way!”

With a creak, the door opened.

Behind it was a girl being held by nuns,

and a boy being supported by a monk, looking distraught.

“What is the meaning of this commotion?”

“Your Highness?!”

A hand pulled away to bow.

And then, a body shot out like an arrow.

The boy’s body collided and sprawled on the floor.

“I’ll stay with my brother!”

“L-Lena, you shouldn’t -”

“I said no!!”

Where did that lion-like roar come from such a small body?

In a space filled with order and solemnity, a spoonful of affection was sprinkled.

“Ha, hahaha, hohoho!!!”

Along with the chuckles of the elderly.