episode_0018

“Hilde, why did you hold my hand? You’ve been doing well so far. Why did you do this? We had a promise. You knew it would end up like this.”

There was no shadow.

The disappearing scythe on the ground hinted at what had happened.

“Hilde.”

“…Lian?”

Conscious and recognizable – thankfully seemed unharmed.

Though the room was in disarray.

“Are the spirits chasing you? From the forest?”

“…You don’t think I summoned them?”

“After summoning them, did you really have to command them?”

No visible wounds in the torchlight.

Just nervously avoiding eye contact.

“…Is it the price of that power?”

It struck a nerve.

When the right words are spoken, whether affirmed or denied, people stand firm.

“…Do you know why I warned you not to face the spirits?”

“Because you’re holy?”

“Because you see them.”

Moonlight filtered through the clouds illuminated their faces.

Even sparkling tears.

“Those filled with resentment seek someone to release their burdens. I gained strength to survive in that forest… I had no choice but to witness.”

“So they’re chasing you because of that?”

“At first, they brought me unreasonable requests. If I refused, this is how they acted. They screamed that they wanted me to suffer as much as they did… ”

People outside were all lying unconscious, but like the fallen knight, frothing at the mouth.

Unable to harm Hilde wielding the scythe directly, did they attack the church?

“In the end, the problem lies with the spirits.”

“…No, I can just leave.”

They tried to rise unsteadily.

Then gently guided back to sit on the bed.

“Why blame yourself? It’s not your fault, Hilde.”

“What the spirits want is my suffering. If others get swept up… that’s also my fault, isn’t it?”

“Do you think that’s true?”

Blame falls on the wrong person while the guilty one goes free.

It made no sense.

“Don’t try too hard, Lian. I’m a witch from the Mirumi Forest.”

“A witch who has never harmed anyone with her powers?”

“But the spirits were drawn to that power, Lian!”

A muttered sound.

The vanished light.

In the darkness, only purple remained, flickering.

“You’re kind, I know that. Too kind even. Showing kindness to someone like me. But -”

“Insects are attracted to fire.”

To Hilde, consumed by self-blame, Lian recounted a tale.

From the cathedral, a question posed as an assignment.

“If someone carrying a torch in the dark night to move forward, and insects fly into it and burn to death… is it the fault of the one carrying the torch? Or the fault of the fire?”

“What are you talking about? I -”

“If someone wearing flashy jewelry goes out and encounters a thief, whose fault is it? The thief? Or the person carrying the jewelry?”

The message was simple.

And Hilde seemed to understand it too.

“Reality is different, Lian.”

“Carelessness knowing there might be a thief. Selfishness carrying fire for oneself despite knowing lives could be harmed… My younger sister called those sins. That’s why everyone needs to reflect on their actions.”

Was Lena rewarded with a high score for that response?

Being a great student who could introspect.

“My perspective differs. Misfortune may collide with others, so one can carry it… flashy ornaments may be heirlooms, or to look beautiful in the eyes of a loved one.”

Lena endlessly grooming her hair in the room, always maintaining cleanliness, and always trying to get closer to me.

Showing a calm reaction to others might be considered a ‘sin,’ but understanding it because there’s intent.

“Why did Hilde use that power? Was it to harm people? Did she follow me hoping for others’ misfortune? Or was it because she wanted help…?”

The strength to rise was no longer felt.

The tears that had stopped began to flow again along the path of those who had gone ahead.

“I promised to protect Hilde, didn’t I?”

Like accepting Lena at the orphanage.

Like standing up to the headmaster while hiding in the back.

“I believe there is a reason behind the two swords I received.”

“…I -”

“Lena called you a hero. A hero who becomes the shield of all.”

Now, she clasped the hand that wouldn’t leave.

And, she swore before the sword.

“In that ‘all,’ Hilde is also included.”

***

“Thank you, Knight Lian.”

“I apologize for causing trouble, Father.”

Four people lay in the sickbed.

She briefly prayed for their recovery.

“I still don’t know if this is the right way. Daring to put salt and unreadable characters on the church. This is heresy…”

“Father. Believe, as it is for saving people.”

There was a lot of anxiety in the long sigh.

But demons lurking in the forest.

Yet why didn’t the cathedral notice?

“After six disappearances, a witch comes, now doing such things. O Lord…”

“Were there no such incidents before?”

“People from outside or a couple of herbalists disappearing was common. There were many stories of having severe nightmares, seeing something in the forest… But this is the first time people are directly affected.”

So, was Hilde preventing it all this time?

Instilling fear in people, cutting down demons—seeing those who entered the forest safely off, it seems appropriate.

“In fact, seeing the witch in person is also a first this time. They said she was an ominous woman.”

Watching Hilde carrying a jar with salt, drawing white lines on the floor and window frames, the eyes observing her were not approving.

It will surely take time to understand.

“Ugh…!”

Hilde, who was gently opening the door, staggered back.

Thus, she immediately reached out her left hand to support herself.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. You couldn’t see it just now?”

“It’s a feeling, well. I’ve been struggling all day.”

The hand that went in and out of the pocket had rough ground herb powder on it.

Her hesitant eyes swallowed it.

“Could I help?”

“I’ll check outside the church for a bit. I need to see if any demons following me have moved elsewhere.”

“I’ll come with you -”

“No, no. They’re just minor spirits, they can’t come far from the forest. Today is just…”

Was this the price of her strength?

Running away to the cabin every day from pursuing demons, spending restless nights, suffering—was that it?

“…If so, I’d like to make sure the barrier is properly set.”

“I’ll do that.”

Pieces of brown leaves pulled out of the pocket once again.

After shaking her body vigorously, a face that had started to smile slightly appeared.

“Is it that hard?”

“I feel like smoking would be better.”

“Smoking? What are you talking about?”

An anxious gaze was directed at her.

The face full of wrinkles was filled with rough emotions rather than gentleness.

The eyes and mouth, which had many curves like in a picture of the windy sea, had hardened firmly.

“Knight Lian, you won’t stray onto the path of heresy, will you?”

“No, sir. This is an herb. It helps you see evil spirits.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“You probably haven’t… Herbalists avoid it because they think it’s poisonous.”

The sound of swallowing saliva came from right below.

The hand that had briefly gripped my sleeve seemed to gain courage, let go, and clenched into a fist.

“Have you ever heard of the ‘Fulgore Leaf’?”

“Yes, I have. It has quite a reputation.”

“A bad feeling only comes if you eat it, excluding seeing evil spirits.”

“It induces hallucinations and auditory illusions, and in severe cases, can even kill people!”

“It’s not hallucinations or auditory illusions, sir. They are evil spirits lingering in that place. Perhaps people die because they draw the attention of the evil spirits.”

“Do you expect me to believe the words of a witch?!”

As the voice grew louder, Mr. Hilde’s body shrank back.

Taking a step forward, he placed his hand on his chest.

“If so, why not believe me, sir?”

“You’re not saying you’ve tasted that poisonous herb, are you?”

“This is my third time eating it… Besides seeing and cutting down evil spirits, nothing else has happened.”

“Oh…!”

Recoiling two steps, no, three steps, the priest did not look pleased at all.

As if unwilling to say more, his eyes shifted from Mr. Hilde to me.

“It would be best not to act against the teachings, Sir Lyon. Even if His Highness trusts you, displaying such behavior may lead to negative consequences! Associating with a witch, what is this -”

“I swear by God, she is innocent, sir! Otherwise, I would have already lost my life in that forest!”

“The witch might be using you, Sir Lyon!”

Finally, he gritted his teeth after the accusation.

Even after witnessing the act of directly cutting down evil spirits, to react like that…

“….”

Looking at Mr. Hilde, a bitter smile was sent my way.

Shaking his head as if he had experienced such things countless times, he turned away, making my heart ache even more, like when I applied herbs to Lena’s wounds.

“…I’ll take my leave now, sir. I will definitely confess this incident to the cathedral, Sir Lyon. It is both a celebration and a regrettable event to inform His Highness about the good and bad deeds together!”

He didn’t bother looking back.

Instead, he opened the church door and cleared the way for Mr. Hilde to proceed.

“Are you okay, Lyon? Even if things turn out like this, you -”

“Even if doing the right thing seems wrong, the truth remains unchanged.”

The holy sword I received from God still faintly illuminated by my side.

So was Mr. Hilde.

“…Um, by any chance -”

“Yes.”

Coming outside, the moonlight once again illuminated Mr. Hilde.

His slightly reddened face seemed to show how unjust he felt.

Perhaps words wouldn’t come out due to emotions blocking them.

“Why go this far… Is it because of me?”

“I would have done this for anyone. It’s the right thing to do.”

The black fingertips twitched for a moment, then clasped each other, hiding their faces.

Only an awkward smile remained above them.

“Okay… Okay. I understand.”