episode_0057

“What the hell?! Someone was living here?! In Provelitu?!” I was extremely flustered by the sudden appearance of the nun. The elves had clearly said that everyone who entered Provelitu had died… How could someone be living in Provelitu?!

“This isn’t Provelitu. You’ve already left Provelitu.”

“What…?”

“This is the very edge of Provelitu. Beyond it lies another dense forest. This is an ordinary forest connected to Provelitu. But that’s not what’s important. Leave here immediately. This is a cemetery where you are not permitted to enter.”

The nun picked up a broom next to the iron gate and threatened us again. Then Aria started spinning her staff and slowly approached the nun, her face furious.

“I don’t care about any of that. How dare you ambush Zeke-nim… I won’t forgive you… I’ll make sure you understand that your life won’t be enough to pay for this…”

“That’s also not my concern. I merely issued a warning because there were intruders here. I had no intention of harming that man to begin with. Leave this place at once. And do not reveal its location to outsiders…”

“You said it’s not your concern?! Then I’ll make sure to teach you exactly what your atrocious actions mean!!”

Aria flared up in anger and rushed at the nun with her staff. The nun, in turn, grabbed her broom and charged at Aria. Why aren’t they talking it out? Why do those two always resort to action first?!

“Only severe punishment awaits you!!”

“At that slow speed?”

Just as Aria was about to strike the nun with her staff, something incredible happened. The nun bent at the waist, then dashed even faster, dodging Aria’s staff. She then struck Aria’s side with the handle of her broom and continued to run forward.

“She dodged Aria’s staff…?”

“Ugh… How dare you humiliate me in front of Zeke-nim… I’ll never forgive you…!!”

“Do you think you’re strong?”

“What…? What are you saying…?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Do you consider yourself strong?”

“Of course…! Otherwise, I’d just be a burden to Zeke-nim!!”

“When did I ever say that?!”

Who said I needed a strong person?! Aria’s words made me a little choked up. Even if you weren’t strong, I would’ve still accompanied you, so why say things that might cause misunderstandings for others…? As I let out a big sigh, the nun said to Aria:

“But you’re not strong enough.”

“….?! What… What did you just say…!!”

“Think about it yourself. Did you solve everything alone while accompanying that man?”

“Well, of cour—”

Aria was about to answer yes to the nun’s question. But Aria suddenly remembered something, couldn’t answer, and began to grind her teeth. Ah, I see… she remembered the World Tree incident. Aria couldn’t solve everything by herself then… And during the Cecilia incident, Rascal-ssi helped us.

“Aria…”

“Furthermore, you’ve probably caused trouble for that man as well.”

*… That’s… uncanny… She got everything right…*

“So what do you want me to do about it!! This is one thing… but your ambush on Zeke-nim is entirely different, isn’t it!! To humiliate me in front of Zeke-nim… I can’t take it anymore!! O Omniscient and Omnipotent One in heaven… your follower who seeks to borrow your strength, please lend me your power… With your power, I shall punish this sinner!!”

Aria prayed furiously, her staff beginning to glow brightly. Is… is she serious?! I was greatly flustered as Aria strengthened herself through prayer. At that moment, I saw the nun suddenly throw her staff.

“… Where do you think you are, trying to use such power? There are poor souls resting in eternal slumber here. If you have no intention of retreating even by using such power… then I, too, have no choice but to use my strength… So that they may rest peacefully without any worries…!!”

Suddenly, the nun spread her hand, and from it… a… a glaive suddenly appeared… Wh-what?! It’s a summoning ability!! I was horrified to see the glaive suddenly summoned. Th-that nun isn’t ordinary…!!

“This is your final warning. Leave this place. Otherwise… I’ll have no choice but to cut you down.”

“Zeke-nim wishes to investigate this place…! For that purpose… and to punish you for threatening Zeke-nim… I will kill you with this staff…!”

“… I’ve heard your opinion. Then…!!”

“Th-this damn it!! Tr… Trahan!!”

Just as Aria and the nun were about to clash, I hastily pulled out Trahan and unleashed demonic energy from it. I then enveloped both the nun and Aria with the demonic energy I’d unleashed. As I suddenly bound them with demonic energy, Aria—

“Ah… Ahhh…! This feeling!! It’s Zeke-nim’s longed-for and missed energy…!! Even though only a day has passed, it feels like it’s been so long since I felt this…!! My heart, which was surging with anger just moments ago, is now filled with love again…!”

“… Please, I beg you, don’t say things like that while swaying your hips…”

“Hehehehe… But this ecstasy I feel the moment Zeke-nim’s energy touches my body…!! I’ve missed it so much…!! Huhu… And since Zeke-nim has bound me like this, I have a thought… now all of my…”

“Stop it, you’re not!!”

“Th-this energy…? Why is a human using demonic energy…?”

“!!”

I was greatly flustered when the nun realized that the energy binding her was identical to demonic energy. But then again… she’s a nun. She knows a lot about demons… Ah! She must know about them in the wrong way, right?!

“You… What is your identity?”

“Ah… N-no, that, that, that… that was that that that… that… I mean… um…”

How should I explain this? If I say there was a demon who survived the ancient Celestial War, and I learned its energy through its memories… I feel like she’ll just cut me in half with that glaive… What should I do? She’ll definitely call it blasphemy and…

“Don’t rack your brains, just tell me…? You… that sword?”

“Oh… Yes? You mean Trahan?”

“That’s a weapon bestowed upon high-ranking elves. I knew right away because the handle is made of Edan. But… how do you possess an elven greatsword that discriminates against humans? And this demonic energy…”

“Uh… I’ll explain everything. So, can you let us into Grovel? We won’t do any grave robbing. An elf named Prosh told me it would be good to come here.”

“… Prosh… Alright. I’ll trust you. I’d like to apologize for my rude behavior earlier, attacking you suddenly.”

“It’s fine. Well… it’s not like I haven’t experienced things like that before. Hahaha…”

Although it was a warning, Tess had threatened me, and the elves had ambushed Aria and me while we were eating… I was starting to get used to these situations now. As I said it was fine and released the energy, the nun dispelled the glaive she had summoned and spoke to me.

“My name is Merzel. I am the caretaker of Grovel. I was diligently on guard against potential grave robbers.”

“Ah… Yes. I’m Zeke. An explorer. And this is…”

“Hehehehe… Eheehehe…”

“…?”

“Sigh…”

I was about to introduce Aria, but seeing her still wrapped up in the lingering sensation, hugging herself with both arms and swaying her hips, I immediately stiffened my expression. Even Merzel, who had maintained a cold, unreadable expression, looked slightly flustered upon seeing Aria, her expression twisting a little.

“This… this is Aria… and she’s known as the Black Saintess outside…”

“Before that… is she always like that?”

“Yes… By the way, have you met Prosh-ssi?”

“Yes. Prosh discovered this place by chance during a patrol some time ago. He was the first living being to find it. How did you come here?”

“Huh? There was a path, you know? Wasn’t it a path Merzel-ssi made?”

“A path? Would you mind waiting here for a moment?”

“Ah, yes.”

Upon hearing my words, Merzel quickly ran back the way we came. I then poked Aria with my finger to call her.

“Stop it now… How long are you going to keep doing that?”

“Hehehe… The flow of energy can also be said to be the touch of the user. That’s why I’m so happy…! Ah! Zeke-nim will know…”

“I didn’t know that.”

“…”

“Were you that happy?”

“Yes. I was truly delighted…!”

Aria’s answer made me consider not using that ability again. I sighed and stroked her head. At that moment, Merzel returned and spoke to me.

“I checked, and there was nothing like that. There were no traces of trampled grass or anything… How did you and the Saintess get here?”

“What? There wasn’t? That can’t be…”

“Hmm… Ah… Could it be…”

Merzel fell into thought, then snapped her fingers as if something had occurred to her and mumbled. She then turned her head back to me and said:

“Let’s put that aside for now. I have a house inside, so I’ll guide you there.”

“What? Are we really allowed to enter? Did Prosh-ssi do you a favor or something?”

“It’s not because of Prosh. That greatsword you possess. It must mean you’re trustworthy enough for the elves to give it to you. And…”

“And?”

“…Nothing. Follow me.”

Merzel suddenly made a bitter expression, then abruptly changed the subject and began to unlock the iron gate. Why did she suddenly evade the question? My doubts about her actions arose, but seeing the graves that appeared as the lock opened and we stepped inside, all my doubts vanished. Because it was *that* terrifying…

“…Wow… How many graves are there…? Looks like over a hundred…”

“There are 457.”

“…Huh?!”

“I’ve permitted you to enter, but please maintain silence. You’ll only disturb the eternal slumber of the deceased.”

“Ah… Yes…”

Indeed… there are courtesies to observe even in a cemetery. Hearing Merzel’s warning, I scratched my head, feeling a little flustered. Then, feeling an intense gaze behind me, I slowly turned my head back and saw that Aria was angry because Merzel had warned me.

*…!! Oh no…!*

The moment Aria was about to get angry, I took her hand. Instantly, Aria’s angry expression transformed into one overflowing with a radiant smile. Isn’t her emotional change too fast, Aria…?

“Zeke-nim…!”

“Sigh… Anyway, there are so many graves, Merzel. Whose are all these…?”

“Shhh. Be quiet for a moment. Don’t you hear something?”

“Huh? Hear what…?”

When Merzel suddenly looked around, saying she heard a sound, I also listened intently. Then I heard something falling rapidly, even in my ears. What on earth is that sound…?

“Stay here quietly. I’ll go check.”

“What? Merzel?!”

Merzel suddenly ran towards the main gate, and I, still holding Aria’s hand, followed her. Could it be that some other living being besides us has discovered this place? But…

“What?! She’s so fast!!”

Merzel was so fast that she vanished from my sight in the blink of an eye. No wonder… she was so fast that Aria hastily pushed me. Gritting my teeth, I ran and saw Merzel at the entrance of Grovel, holding up her broom and warning a woman.

“This is a place where no one may enter. Leave this place immediately.”

“What…? No, I just happened to come here, there’s no need to threaten me like this!”

“As the caretaker of this place, I have a responsibility to protect it. Go back at once.”

“Alright, alright… Sigh… To be threatened like this all of a sudden, it puts me in a bad mood…”

“Huh…? Cecilia?”

“Oh?”

Realizing that the woman Merzel was driving away had long purple hair and was wearing black clothes, I immediately recognized her as Cecilia. But strangely, Cecilia’s body didn’t have wings, a tail, or horns.

“Huh? Your horns and tail…”

“Z-Z-Z-Z… Z-Z-Z-Zeke?! Y-y-y-y-you… you’re… you’re alive?!”

“…? Yeah. I’m alive, right here… Why are you suddenly stammering?”

“Ah… N-no, that… that, that, that… that…? She shrieked in fright?!”

Cecilia stammered when she saw me, then suddenly shrieked in fright. At that sight, I realized why Cecilia was startled. I could tell without even looking that Aria had an incredibly angry expression.

“You… You said you’d entrust everything to me… but you’ve returned to Zeke-nim…?”

“Ah… No, this isn’t right! I didn’t come here, you guys just appeared!”

“We arrived early. So doesn’t that mean you came here?”

“That’s not right!! How could I have expected you to be here?! I expected you to still be in Provelitu!! From the air, this looked like the very end of Provelitu, which is why I came, so this puts me in a bind!!”

“Whether you’re in a bind or not is none of my concern. Now… since you’ve broken your promise… shouldn’t you receive a fitting judgment?”

“Aaaahhh!”

As Aria slowly approached her, staff in hand, Cecilia’s face crumpled, and she began to inch backward. Seeing this, Merzel leaned her broom against the iron gate and asked me.

“Do you know her?”

“Yes. That’s Cecilia… a human I met before. Cecilia! What brings you here?”

“Huh? Ju… no, I just happened to come. But what is this place? It looks like a cemetery?”

“It is a cemetery. There’s a lot I want to tell you about… Merzel, can she come in too?”

“Wh-wh-what?! M-me talking…?!”

“Zeke-nim!! You can’t do that!!”

“What’s wrong with it? Merzel, is it okay?”

“…Don’t make loud noises until we reach the house. Follow me.”

With a sigh, Merzel re-entered Grovel and spoke. I motioned to Cecilia and Aria, then followed Merzel. As Cecilia followed me, she stammered.

“Uh… ex-excuse me…”

“You… I’ll see you later… just the two of us…”

“A terrified shriek!! C-come on, Zeke!!”

When Aria scared her, Cecilia’s face crumpled again, and she started to run. I let out a hollow laugh at the sight and said to Merzel.

“Thank you, Merzel.”

“It’s nothing. But why did you come here?”

“Ah… Well… when I told Prosh-ssi that I’d met an otherworldly being, he told me to come here. He saw something here, didn’t he?”

“…Did you just say ‘otherworldly being’?”

“Ah… yes.”

“…If Prosh told you about this place, it must mean you’re more than worthy to receive that greatsword.”

“…? Sister-nim. By any chance… about otherworldly beings…”

“An otherworldly being is currently recuperating in our house.”

“…What?”

As such a bewildering piece of news reached my ears, I followed Merzel in stunned silence. An otherworldly being… is here? So Prosh-ssi knew about otherworldly beings all along? As various questions muddled my mind, a slightly rundown house exuding a dark atmosphere came into view.

“Come in. He’ll be resting in the very last room down the hall. Do you wish to speak with him?”

“Yes. I have some questions.”

“Then please speak with him. I’ll prepare some warm tea in the meantime.”

“Ah… yes.”

As Merzel headed to the kitchen, I subconsciously swallowed as I looked at the closed door at the very end of the hallway, which was in my line of sight. All the things I’d been curious about… were in there? And… someone who could prove the otherworld? But…

“Cecilia, why are you in that form?”

“Ah… I thought it would be better to travel in human form. It’s a disguise.”

“Zeke-nim… Even if something jumps out of that room, I will protect Zeke-nim…”

“…Right, well… that’s reassuring. Alright, opening it?”

We slowly walked to the door at the very end of the hallway. Upon reaching the door, I grabbed the doorknob with trembling hands and slowly began to open it. Then, a gentle male voice came from inside the dark room.

“There’s no need to be nervous. I am also human, just like you.”

“…!!”

“Welcome. My name is Estur. I overheard what you told Merzel in the hallway… You have questions?”