Chapter 485

The journey with Seilon was more pleasant than I had expected. It was also fast.

I thought it would take some time to ride through the snow-covered paths, but…

– Whoosh!

A golden barrier spread across the snowy field, pushing aside the thick piles of snow like a plow.

It was the “Barrier of Divine Light” that Seilon confidently manifested. The snow pushed to the sides piled up like hills, and the earth, stripped of its white blanket, revealed its dark brown flesh.

So, this is how the miracle of the barrier can be used. Amazing. Using the goddess’s power for snow removal.

I marveled inwardly as I watched Seilon’s back running ahead of me.

Every time the warhorse’s hooves kicked off the now ordinary dirt path, the semicircular barrier extended forward, matching the horse’s speed. It was truly a sight to behold, like a golden bulldozer racing ahead.

—

We traveled like that all day, and when the sun set, we found a suitable spot to set up a makeshift tent and rest.

While Seilon assembled the tent and comforted the tired horse, I gathered dry wood and built a campfire. I was warm enough with Ryurik’s hide, but Seilon, who didn’t have the benefit of beastman hide, seemed to need some warmth.

“How about stew for dinner?”

Seilon approached the fire, pulling out a pot the size of a human head from his bag and setting it over the campfire.

“You can cook too?”

“Not really. As a Judge, I often have to camp alone, so I’ve boiled a few things here and there.”

“Really? Go ahead, then.”

Seilon nodded, filled the pot with snow to melt, and then added preserved food and salt from Arad to the boiling water.

…It was definitely a rough job.

I sat on a tree stump, puffing on a cigarette, watching him. After a while, Seilon handed me the finished stew.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

The taste of the stew Seilon gave me… honestly, it was just average.

Compared to Hersh’s cooking, it was rough and unrefined. As he said, it was more like a pot of gruel to warm the body and fill the stomach than actual cooking.

Still, it was much better than chewing on dried meat.

—

“By the way, I forgot to ask you something…”

After finishing the meal, I stretched my limbs like a cat and spoke to Seilon, who was taking out a sleeping bag.

“If I return to the Empire, you’ll have to come with me, right? Are you really okay with that?”

Following me to the Empire meant giving up all the reputation and status he had built up.

Those who knew the truth would still respect Seilon, but to the outside world, he would be seen as a fool who lost his mind over a woman. He would also have to resign from his position as a Judge.

My question was whether he would regret or feel any loss over being in such a situation just because of a Holy Mark.

“Protecting someone who has been granted a Holy Mark is no different from a paladin’s calling, so His Excellency will surely grant permission.”

Seilon, however, didn’t seem to understand the intent behind my question. Did I phrase it too vaguely?

“No, it’s not about that… I mean, I was asking about your feelings. If you follow me, you won’t be able to work as a Judge anymore. You’ll also get some flak.”

“From what I see, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be that bad…”

Seilon chuckled and gave that response.

…Come to think of it, that might be true. While he would have to resign from his position as a Judge, dealing with monsters, demons, and evil people would likely increase.

“I understand what you mean. Thank you for your concern, but you don’t need to worry about that. I’m actually grateful for the honor.”

“Really?”

I turned my head slightly, feeling a pang of guilt in my chest, and puffed on my cigarette. It was a bit embarrassing to use someone as devout as Seilon, who believed in Astraea, when I didn’t even believe in her.

“…Well, that’s good.”

A sigh mixed with smoke melted into the starlight.

—

Four days later, we finally arrived in Nasiriya. Though we were a bit scruffy from not being able to wash properly.

Nasiriya was no different from when I left. Nothing had changed.

…It was strange.

Honestly, I expected Nasiriya to be in quite a turmoil. With the news of the Grimnir Church’s destruction reaching the Holy City, it was obvious that the Keres Church would come demanding Nasiriya back.

Maybe our arrival was delayed because of the snow, but even so, this seems too late… I don’t know. I’ll just ask Lacey.

—

Lacey’s residence was an inn building located in the city center. She had rented the entire inn and was staying there with her companions.

It was a waste of money, but there was no other suitable place to stay. The Grimnir Cathedral was destroyed, and staying at the Keres Cathedral felt too uncomfortable.

Of course, that was before I left Nasiriya… but she probably didn’t move. There was no reason to, right?

When we arrived at the inn, Seilon and I tied our horses at the entrance and pushed open the wooden door to enter. I was organizing the stories I needed to tell Lacey in my head.

“Who’s here at this hour… huh? Huh?!”

Milia, who was having a meal with Damien on the first floor, widened her eyes in shock when she saw me. Her familiar green hair made me chuckle, and I waved my right hand lightly.

“Were you two having a cozy meal? Did I interrupt?”

“Ha-shal-leur?! You’re finally back…!”

Milia jumped up, her face lighting up as she approached me. Damien, sitting next to her, just twitched his hand and continued chewing the bread in his mouth.

The rest of the group wasn’t visible. Maybe they’re upstairs? Anyway.

“Yeah, as you can see, I’m back without a single injury.”

I spread my arms and grinned, showing off my unscathed body. I did get a little hurt during the duel, but I healed all the minor injuries, so technically, I was unharmed.

“Really? That’s a relief… No, that’s not the issue right now! What on earth did you do…?”

Milia, who seemed about to interrogate me, stopped mid-sentence when she saw Seilon following me in.

Yeah, it’s understandable to be shocked. The person who left to oppose the Astraea Church returned with Astraea’s Judge.

I patted Milia’s stiff shoulder and gestured toward Seilon, like introducing a new friend to an old one.

“This is Seilon Kabnakas. You’ve met him before, right? The Judge from Astraea who visited last time—”

Just as I was about to explain Seilon, he tilted his head and placed his hand on my outstretched palm.

Huh?

I stopped mid-sentence and turned my head sharply to look at Seilon. My eyes conveyed, ‘What are you doing…? Why are you holding my hand all of a sudden?’

But Seilon, meeting my gaze, just tilted his head in confusion, as if asking, ‘Wasn’t that what you wanted?’

…No, I didn’t offer my hand for that. What, do I look like a dog?

I sighed and turned back to Milia to continue explaining…

“R-really…?! It’s true?!”

But I stopped when I saw Milia’s expression. Her face was flushed red, and she was pointing at our joined hands, alternating her gaze between me and Seilon.

“That rumor was true? Oh my god, Ha-shal-leur…!”

…She seems to be under some ridiculous misunderstanding.

Wait, actually, it’s not a misunderstanding. I did tell them to announce it like that. I just didn’t expect the news to spread this far.

“…The rumors spread fast. We only announced that we were… ‘lovers’ ten days ago. It’s already reached here.”

“L-l-lovers?! What are you talking about…?!”

Milia jumped in shock, her shoulders twitching. What, she hadn’t heard that rumor? Then what exactly did she hear…?

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…!”

Well, I’ll ask her later. First, I need to explain the truth. I was planning to tell everyone when the group was all together, but I didn’t expect Milia to be this shocked.

I need to calm her down first. Otherwise, she might just run up to the second floor.

“Milia, calm down for a moment. I’ll explain everything. About the ‘lovers’ thing—”

I tried to explain the situation with Seilon to Milia in a calm tone. I would have succeeded if not for the voice that followed.

“…Sister?”

A low, dark echo, like a cave’s resonance. The voice of a girl coming from the staircase made me turn my head involuntarily.

“Ah, Rana. I’m back. It took a while, but I’m not hurt…”

Rana was halfway down the stairs, holding onto the railing, her peach-colored cheeks pale as if she were sick.

What’s wrong, did she catch a cold? With the Healing Miracle, she shouldn’t be sick easily.

“…What’s wrong with your face? Did something happen while I was gone? Are you sick?”

I frowned with worry and spoke to Rana. The need to explain Seilon to Milia was long forgotten the moment I saw Rana’s complexion.

“Sister… with a man…”

Rana didn’t even answer my question, just stared at me and Seilon with a dazed expression… then staggered and collapsed.

“Rana!”

I shook off Seilon’s hand, which was still on my palm, and rushed toward Rana.

—

Fortunately, Rana wasn’t sick; she had just lost strength in her legs and collapsed. Apparently, seeing me holding Seilon’s hand was that shocking.

I managed to calm Milia and Rana by explaining that Seilon and I were absolutely not in that kind of relationship, and that all the rumors about us being lovers or me using my body to rally an army were completely false.

My desperate explanation seemed to work, as Milia let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

“Ah… I don’t really understand the reason, but as long as it’s not true, that’s good. Lacey was worried. She was about to head to Arad immediately.”

The reason… I’d have to explain about the Holy Mark to get into that.

…I’ll tell her after meeting Lacey.

“I knew Sister wouldn’t do something like that! I believed in you from the start!”

Rana, her complexion restored, smiled brightly and clung to my side.

“Yeah, yeah. I wouldn’t do something like that, right?”

I patted Rana’s head and forced a laugh.

Yeah, right.

You just collapsed from shock a moment ago. How shocked were you?

“Still, cutting it off would be…”

Rana muttered softly.

Hmm… let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.

Living with Lacey seems to have made her a bit extreme. Wanting to cut off Seilon’s hand just for holding mine.

Well, I’ll calm her down slowly later.

After sending Milia back to Damien, I detached Rana from my side and went upstairs with Seilon. I needed to inform Lacey, who was waiting on the second floor, of my arrival.

…Will it be okay?

After seeing Milia and Rana’s intense reactions, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

Yeah, it’ll be fine. Lacey is calm and composed, unlike them. She might have been worried because of the rumors, but once I explain, it’ll be resolved.