episode_0139

000

The boy rescued from the Dragon’s Valley was moved with Lesia and Luteus to Elesia, a frontier town for adventurers, where he came to live in a small, albeit old, house.

Though the boy had barely escaped his hometown, which felt like a prison, the sight of the burning village and the screams of the people still echoed in his head when he closed his eyes, making it hard for him to fall asleep properly. He spent his daily life covering himself with a blanket and trembling, making it hard to even lead a normal life.

Slowly, slowly. Feeling the well of his spirit drying up, he spent one day. And another day, in the darkness.

He was saved. By the hero Lesia, who appeared wrapped in golden starlight.

However, the fact that only he was saved came to the boy, who was only 10 years old, as a reality that was too difficult to bear.

Refusing to eat or drink, and merely remaining awake because he couldn’t sleep, Cleon was visited in turn by Lesia, Luteus, and their companions, worried about him.

“This kid’s no good.”

The man’s rough voice didn’t even consider lifting the boy’s blanket as he clicked his tongue and turned away.

“You’re safe now, so there’s no need to hide in a place like that.”

The intellectual woman’s voice tried to reassure Cleon by telling him the truth.

“Uh-huh…. Wouldn’t you feel a little better if you flew in the sky?”

The cheerful girl’s voice tried to erase the boy’s anxiety in her own way, but she was stopped.

“I understand your painful feelings. The place I lived was also burned down by the Imperial Army, and I was the only one who survived.”

The gentle voice understood his situation and told of a similar experience.

All that kindness was like torture to the boy.

He doesn’t deserve such kindness. All he could do was hide in a tower where people’s eyes didn’t reach and hold his breath.

Even though it was a life without family or friends, his entire clan and village disappeared overnight.

Clearly, that was his destiny too. He will pay the price for escaping such a destiny.

Only such unfounded guilt weighed heavily on him.

The last one to approach him was a woman with a compassionate voice.

“I heard the story from Lesia. From the village of the Black Magic Clan…. The only boy who could be saved.”

She spoke quietly but clearly. She savored each word as she spoke.

“Surely, it must be painful. It must be sad. And, it must be unsettling. Why did I survive? Why was I the only one who survived? You must be constantly asking yourself.”

She stroked the boy covered in blankets, from above.

The touch was like a mother’s touch that the boy couldn’t even remember.

A gentle touch that washed away all anxiety.

Unlike the three people who spread hope by fighting, spreading knowledge, and wielding the Holy Sword, she was the one who thought of people, cared for people, and shed words, touches, and tears for them.

A little angel of miracles. After the war, Esca temporarily separated from the group and traveled around the continent, helping innocent people caught in the flames of war, growing even further as a priest and as a human being.

That growth certainly demonstrated its ability, making the heart of the boy who had been driven mentally a little lighter.

“But. Surviving is never a bad thing. Thanks to your survival, the Black Magic Clan has not ended. And your existence is a great hope and salvation for Lesia and Luteus, who headed there. Thank you for surviving.”

Little by little, the boy’s trembling body stopped. Esca, feeling it with the touch of her hand, carefully removes the blanket covering the boy.

There, a pale-skinned, handsome boy with disheveled black hair and dark eyes with shadows under them was raising his face.

“… Is there really any meaning in me surviving…?”

The boy asked the nun in front of him.

The nun smiled gently, nodded, and took the boy’s hand.

“Of course there is. Because there is no such thing as something meaningless in this world. What Lesia did will change the world into a slightly more hopeful place. And of course, your world too.”

Next, placing her hand on Cleon’s head –

“If it’s okay. Please become Lesia’s strength. I’m sure. You’ll be able to.”

That was the first meeting between the saintess Esca, later called the Holy Mother, and Cleon.

001

“After that, Cleon started living with our group. He also started learning swordsmanship from Mr. Talcheck in order to gain strength to help Lesia.”

“…I was in your debt back then. Ms. Esca.”

When Cleon quietly lowered his head, Esca chuckled and raised her hand to her face.

Cleon, who had become a man in his twenties, looked older than Esca no matter how you looked at it, but the atmosphere felt from Esca was a cozy adult atmosphere that was unimaginable from her teenage appearance.

Quon listened to Esca’s story with interest and reacted in various ways, then carefully opened her mouth as she looked at her.

“So, you only use honorifics for Esca.”

“Talcheck is, as you know, a muscle gorilla… Luteus didn’t feel like an adult even though there was an age difference…. I had to help Sophia with her daily life instead. Esca was the only trustworthy adult in my daily life.”

“Then, what about Lesia…?”

“Lesia is…”

“Lesia too… I guess it’s the same as Luteus. Her appearance as a hero was of course wonderful, but she was also someone who usually helped the villagers and played well with the children.”

Cleon recalled Lesia with a bitter smile. Esca also seemed to be recalling her appearance, as she wore a bitter smile like Cleon, but then continued jokingly.

“In other words. Luteus and Lesia are like older sisters. I’m like a mom. Sophia is like a younger sister. Is that it?”

“All four of them are older than me…. Wait, what about Talcheck?”

“Maybe the neighbor next door….”

It sounded like the hellish master was snorting with a `hmph`.

Esca, Cleon, and Quon’s laughter quietly echoed in that place.

But at the same time, Quon began to wonder. Why did Cleon, who had such a harmonious time, become alone again?

Was it okay to ask them about it in this place?

“Judging from that expression, you seem curious about what happened after that? Ms. Quon.”

Esca looked at Quon’s face for a moment, then asked that question. Quon, who received that question, was so surprised that she trembled, but soon made an awkward expression and answered.

“Ah… well… yes. Does it show on my face that much?”

“Yes. Well, it’s a natural question. If any of them had stayed with Cleon. Cleon could have had a slightly brighter childhood…”

Esca took a deep breath, as if recalling the past, and continued.

“It’s a shameful story. With Lesia’s disappearance, our group lost its center. Lesia was a precious person to all of us. And what connected us was our bond with her.”

002

“…We decided to look for Lesia in our own ways. So, it looks like we’ll have to leave Elesia.”

Sophia said, looking at Cleon, who was sitting in front of them.

Cleon was sitting in front of Talcheck, Sophia, and Esca, listening quietly to the story with his head bowed.

Lute was exposed by a snitch, and her identity was revealed to the high-ranking officials of the kingdom, and she was once arrested.

Originally, it would have been reasonable to be expelled from the human world, but she signed a contract to protect Elesia, a part of the kingdom’s territory, and it was decided that she would take over as the guild master after Lesia.

However, the condition was to distance himself from Cleon, who was from the same Black Magic Clan as the Sword Emperor.

Twenty years have passed since the end of the war, but the humans of the kingdom still seemed to feel the possibility of the nightmare of the empire’s revival.

“… So?”

Cleon looked at Sophia, who was telling the story, with slightly cold eyes. Immediately after Lesia disappeared, Cleon was reflecting on his powerlessness.

“… So. One of us is going to take you with us.”

Sophia said, matching her eye level with Cleon.

“You’re also our family. We can’t leave you here.”

“Hmm. Well, I’m worried about leaving you behind. Even if you’re a lousy disciple.”

When Talcheck said that, Cleon quietly looked at the three of them.

“Well. It goes without saying, but if you go with me, you’ll be traveling around here and there. Especially around the ancient ruins scattered here and there. I think the trip itself will be fun. Because I’ll be exploring places full of knowledge I don’t even know. If I teach you, your magic skills will improve too.”

Sophia said, showing a map with the locations of the ruins to be explored.

“Well. If you don’t like camping, going with me is also an option. I can keep an eye on your swordsmanship, and above all, it’s an information agency. You might be able to get information about that guy. If things go wrong, it might not be bad for you to get a decent knighthood from the kingdom by getting a job there when you grow up.”

Talcheck seriously considered Cleon’s future and made a proposal like never before.

“I… I’m going back to the Order because of a pilgrimage. As Cleon knows, the current Pope is a wonderful person, and he doesn’t discriminate against races or statuses such as the Black Magic Clan or Sword Masters. …I want to be with Cleon, only if Cleon is okay with it. If we part ways like this, I don’t know how long it will take until we meet again.”

Esca said with a sad face, placing her hand on her chest.

If Cleon followed someone at this time, his future would have changed greatly.

It was possible to become a disciple of the sage and uncover the secrets of the world.

It was also possible to become a knight who protects the kingdom by becoming a disciple of the Sword Saint.

He could have become a holy warrior who protects humanity from demons by becoming a disciple of the saintess.

But. Cleon shook his head. It was a great pain for the boy to part with them as well, but he could not continue to live relying on them forever.

Once their protection disappeared, he had already resigned himself to the fact that his situation would worsen in this city, where discrimination against the Empire still remained.

He may not be able to endure the loneliness of being alone again.

Perhaps the day will come when he regrets that it would have been better to follow them.

“I’m going to stay in this city that Lesia tried to protect and chase after Lesia. Someday, if I find this clue, I might leave this city… and Luteus is here too.”

“…Cleon, that’s definitely a wonderful mindset, but Luteus can’t stay with Cleon until she quits being the guild master. Besides, you’re still a child, so you need an adult’s protection-”

Sophia said that, but Talcheck put his hand on Sophia’s shoulder.

She quietly looked into Talcheck’s eyes and closed her mouth-

“…Hmph. Brat. You’ve got the eyes of a man who’s made up his mind.”

He said that and turned his body.

“Give up on this idiot. He won’t move no matter who comes.”

“Talcheck… but.”

“Don’t dismiss a man’s resolve so easily. He’s…. Decided to stay here no matter what happens from now on. Alone.”

With those words, Talcheck left the room. From his back, I could feel Cleon’s expectations, and at the same time, a little regret.

Esca grabbed Cleon’s hand with a sad face, then quietly nodded and said that she respected his choice before leaving the room.

“I don’t want to~!! I want to go with Cleon! I can’t even do laundry without Cleon~!!”

Only Sophia rolled around on the floor and whined, but Cleon had to sigh and calm Sophia down in reverse.

This is all Esca knows.

What comes after this was to be told by Cleon himself.

A few days later, they scattered to find Lesia in their own ways, as they had said.

Cleon, who had lost his guardian, had people who were wary of the Black Magic Clan as he had expected.

He decided to become an adventurer in order to make a living and to find even the slightest clue about Lesia while remaining alone in Elesia.

Eventually, he completed the swordsmanship he had learned from Talcheck in his own form through bone-shattering training.

He started adventuring as a solo adventurer at the age of 16.

After that, it’s a story that Quon also knows.

A year later, a boy and a girl approached him.

After parting with Esca and the others, even if he occasionally ran into Lute in the guild, she was unable to talk to him as intimately as before due to her position.

Cleon, who had been alone for a long time, was able to feel the bonds with people once again on his journey with them.

Perhaps, he thought that he, too, would have comrades like Lesia’s hero party, like family.

`Cleon. You’re out.`

Until that day.

003

“Albein…”

Quon clenched her fist for a moment and looked at Cleon. She still had lingering guilt about Cleon. Cleon usually treats her without any problems, so she almost forgets about it sometimes. The pen nib of their true story may have started moving from that time.

“…I heard the story. The hero of the Holy Sword went on a rampage and threatened Cleon. By the time the story came up to my side, it was all over.”

“It’s not a good story. Besides, it’s already over.”

Cleon shook his head as if he didn’t care, then took Quon’s hand. Then, he changed his expression to a serious face and said to Esca.

“Ms. Esca. I’m still looking for Lesia.”

“Me too…. Even if I mobilize the power of the Order, it’s still difficult to find her traces. Surely, we’ll be able to find Lesia.”

Cleon nodded at Esca’s words.

“…Your Holiness. It’s almost time.”

At that time, the armored woman who had been standing motionless behind Esca approached Esca and spoke in a small voice.

“…That’s right. Why does a pleasant time go by so quickly?”

Esca made a truly troubled face and chuckled, then stood up from her seat with a bitter smile.

“Then, Cleon. Come and have tea sometimes.”

“I don’t think they’d let me in even if I said I came to have tea with the Pope.”

Esca covered her mouth and laughed at Cleon’s answer, then as she was about to turn her body.

“U-um, Ms. Esca!”

Quon called out to Esca in a trembling voice.

In her hand was the rosary, a sacred artifact that had just been completed.

“Oh my, are you perhaps giving that to me?”

“Yes, yes… Surely, it might be a meager charm for Ms. Esca…. I hope you’ll accept it.”

Esca shook her head and took Quon’s hand.

“…That’s not true. Ms. Quon is a priest and a saintess. And, she’s Cleon’s comrade. Surely, this sacred artifact will protect me. Thank you. Ms. Quon.”

“…I, did something terrible to Cleon. I committed a terrible…. thing that I wouldn’t normally be forgiven for.”

Quon revealed her heart to Esca in a trembling voice, as if confessing. Esca quietly looks at Quon with a gentle face.

“But. Cleon, forgave me for that… and allowed me to be by his side. …I will definitely stay by Cleon’s side and protect him. So, please rest assured!”

“Yes. I’ll trust you. Ms. Quon.”

Esca nodded and received the rosary Quon handed her in her hand.

“Oh my. That’s a unique knot.”

“Ah, that’s… that’s what you’d call a tradition from my hometown…”

As the rosary, tied with a knot shaped like a butterfly’s wing, passed through Esca’s wrist, a subtle light of divine magic appeared and spread out a small blessing, enveloping her body.

“That’s a gentle magic.”

After leaving those words, Esca turned her body as it was and headed for the entrance of the chapel with a leisurely pace.

The armored woman, who had been quietly following behind her, turned her head and met Cleon’s eyes.

The gaze felt from between the plate helmet that covered her face seemed to glare at Cleon somewhere.

But soon, as if nothing was wrong, she followed Esca and left the chapel.

“…I’m glad I came with you today. Cleon.”

“Yeah. To think I’d meet Ms. Esca.”

Cleon quietly held the hand that still had the warmth of Esca’s touch, and pictured in his mind the day when he would welcome Lesia with her.

Surely, such a day would come.

Cleon did not doubt it.

004

The Pope’s office. The largest room in the innermost part of the Astera Grand Cathedral. Through the barrier, all sounds passing through the outside and inside only come in from the outside to the inside in a one-way direction.

As soon as Esca entered the room, she closed the door and sighed deeply.

“Berastol.”

“Yes. Your Holiness.”

When Esca called the name of her escort, she approached Esca.

Then-

A whoosh! sound was heard, and a fist imbued with divine power was thrust into Berastol’s solid plate armor in the abdomen.

A Quazshuk! sound, an impossible sound, rang out, and the plate armor was crushed as a powerful shock exploded in her stomach.

“Keuk…!”

She, who could not properly control her body due to the sudden shock, rolled across the floor.

As she fell to the ground and the helmet she was wearing on her head came off, strands of pink hair fell down, revealing her hidden beautiful face.

Esca looks down at Berastol, who is struggling in pain from what she has done and drooling from her mouth, and sighs once again.

“You were glaring at Cleon at the end…. Why? Is it discrimination against the Black Magic Clan? Or…. Jealousy?”

“I’m, I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Your Holiness…♡”

No. What she was feeling was not just pain. Somewhere, she must have been feeling sexual excitement.

She had received a powerful blow that made it difficult for her to breathe, and she was looking up at Esca with a flushed face.

“Ugh… this is troublesome. An animal who doesn’t know her place… for Cleon… how dare you…!”

Just as Esca was about to grab Berastol by the collar and lift her up, she saw the rosary hanging and swinging on her wrist.

Esca’s eyes, looking at it, were so cold that you wouldn’t think she was the same person as when she was with Cleon until just now.

“…Tsk…”

Clicking her tongue, Esca forcefully ripped it off.

The beads of the rosary fell to the ground, and she casually threw the part she was holding into the trash can.

“There are too many bugs that are just sticking to Cleon… bugs that don’t even know their place…. That child is Lesia’s and my child… I have no intention of handing him over to anyone….”

While muttering, Esca stomped on Berastol’s back. Her face was shadowed, her eyes were wide open, and her pupils were black and turbid.

“Lesia… where are you? Please come back soon… I’m working so hard to create a world that Lesia will like…. Hehehe…!”

“Ah♡ Yes, Your H, Holiness… I’m sorry♡”

Esca was stomping on Berastol like that, but suddenly stopped her foot’s movement.

“Investigate everything about that bug called Quon. From her origin to her history, and if necessary, even her family relationships.”

“Yes, yes, I understand…♡ According to the headquarters… th, therefore. A little more…ah♡ Heugeueueueuk♡”

The Pope’s office is designed so that sounds never leak out from the inside to the outside.

And, how dare. Who would knock on that door?

No one imagined that such a thing was happening in the office.