〈 Chapter 203 〉 Schurz (2)
*
Southern Sea of the Central Sea System.
The mechanical ship sliced through the waves of the night sea, heading full speed towards the Central Sea System—Leim Kingdom’s water gate.
Creeeak, creeeak.
The helm was automatically adjusting according to the pre-set course.
Watching this, Lucy asked Luell, “Aren’t you tired?”
Since it was late at night, Allen, Gwen, and Yusera were already sleeping in the cabin.
Only Luell and Lucy were out on the deck.
“Well, not really?”
Luell, saying this, looked surprisingly happy for some reason.
“Hmm…”
She spoke while taking in the scenery of the passing night sea and the sight of her sister.
“I’m happy.”
“Luell?”
“I’m happy that I can travel with just you, sis.”
Luell’s expression while saying this was the happiest Lucy had ever seen her.
The expressions Luell had shown in the library were always dark and lonely.
Lucy had wanted to explore more for Luell’s sake, but…
“I’m sorry, Luell.”
Now she understood.
Or maybe she had known it from the beginning.
That simply going out together wouldn’t satisfy her sister.
“I’m sorry.”
That’s why she always felt sorry.
Even though she feared that saying it might belittle the great title of Water Sage that Luell had received…
She knew it.
“You must have wanted to travel too.”
Lucy’s eyes still lingered on the memory of Luell, staring longingly at the other side of the sea and talking about adventures.
But fate dictated that one of them had to become the Water Sage, and Luell eventually gave up her own adventures for Lucy.
Was it reasonable since Luell had been weak from the start?
‘Just because it was deemed reasonable… doesn’t mean I can forgive it.’
She kept her mouth shut.
Until the flow of the adult conversation naturally turned in her favor.
Yet, Luell had stepped forward first, declaring she would become the Water Sage.
At that moment, she felt irritatingly relieved.
That she didn’t have to become the Water Sage.
That she wouldn’t have to be trapped on Library Island behind the fog for the rest of her life.
For such a selfish reason.
“I’m sorry…”
Lucy could no longer look at Luell’s smiling face.
Of course, they had made up after Luell had hidden a secret from her previously, but as far as Lucy was concerned, her faults were of a different nature than Luell’s.
Luell’s faults, no matter how great, were ultimately for the sake of her sister.
On the other hand, her own faults were purely selfish, only for her own sake.
There was no way she could place them on the same plane.
Yet, at some point, Luell had approached her.
“Sis.”
Luell embraced her.
It was the opposite of how it had been when they reconciled last time.
Back then, it had been Lucy who had embraced Luell clumsily.
Still, Luell warmly forgave her.
“It’s okay. It couldn’t be helped.”
“It wasn’t unavoidable.”
“No, there was no way to travel together.”
Luell tightened her grip as if she didn’t want to lose Lucy again.
“When you said you would go on an adventure with me, I was so happy. Traveling alone… was practically impossible for me.”
“Luell…”
“Of course, it’s thanks to Allen, but still, I’m glad we’re able to go on this adventure together now.”
Even though the current situation was urgent and not very good…
Just the fact that they were adventuring together made her happy.
If it hadn’t been for Allen, they might have ended up trying to kill each other.
So, the current situation felt all the more blissful, with the cold sea breeze contrasting with their warm bodies.
“I’m happy now. What about you, sis?”
It was an obvious answer.
“I’m happy too.”
There couldn’t be more happiness than this.
“Luell, let’s adventure together forever.”
“Yeah.”
At that moment, they heard Allen’s voice from the cabin door.
“Hey… Lucy, Luell?”
He was pointing to the front of the ship.
“It looks like we’ll arrive soon.”
Land appeared ahead.
And there, the Barrier of Saint City Hailen stood.
*
It was a chilly autumn morning in Hailen.
Schurz had arrived at the meeting spot first.
‘How peaceful.’
Unlike the trembling hands of his, the morning scenery of Hailen was extraordinarily peaceful.
There were occasional disputes among the heroes, but that wasn’t enough to disrupt Hailen’s peace.
At least, unless someone decided to kill the High Priest.
Killing the High Priest.
Yes.
He intended to kill the High Priest today.
Though it didn’t quite feel real yet.
‘This peace won’t last long.’
Killing the High Priest would throw the world into chaos for a while.
But it was better than letting the High Priest slowly poison the world.
He was now planning to uproot that disease before it fully infected the land.
And, on top of that… he needed to take his revenge too.
Just then, he clenched his fist.
“Looks like Duke isn’t here yet.”
Stella appeared from somewhere.
Due to her fame, she was wearing a hooded cloak woven with magic to conceal her identity.
“Right, she’s late. I wonder if something happened?”
It was when he thought he might have to check at Duke’s lodging.
“You guys are here first?”
Duke emerged from a dark alley.
He looked unusually grim.
“Did you sleep a bit?”
Not just dark, his face showed signs of exhaustion.
“Couldn’t have. I have work to do today.”
“What? If that work is a problem…”
“Isn’t it you who hasn’t slept?”
At that question, Schurz fell silent.
He hadn’t slept well for several days either.
“Whatever. As long as it doesn’t affect the job, it’s fine.”
He scanned his two companions.
“Are you all prepared?”
“Of course.”
“Yeah.”
Then there was no reason to delay anymore.
It was better to proceed with the operation right away.
‘I don’t want Allen Pleuk getting dragged into this.’
Of course, it would take a while for him to realize they had left first and make his way here.
But he wanted to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
“Then let’s go.”
He looked at the building where the High Priest would be.
And started to move forward with his companions.
After walking for a bit, they finally arrived at the entrance of the Church Headquarters.
There, guards stood alongside a staff member to guide them.
“Sorry, but please identify yourself.”
There was no reason to reveal their identities, simply because they were trespassing.
But…
“Identify?”
He removed his hood.
“It’s Schurz.”
Following behind, both Stella and Duke removed their hoods.
The staff member, recognizing them, said, “My apologies. What is the reason for your visit…?”
Of course, they could say they had come to see the High Priest now that they revealed their identities.
But that wasn’t a very good plan.
‘The High Priest would probably understand what that meant if I told him I was here.’
Moreover, the High Priest wouldn’t engage in a fight unless victory was assured.
So, there was no way he could let that guy set the stage.
Then there was no choice left but to charge in first.
“I’ve come to kill the High Priest.”
And why did he reveal his identity, you ask?
At that moment, a clueless guard rushed at him.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, ice shot up from beneath.
And the ice quickly restrained the guard.
“Eek, eek!”
Ignoring the guard’s cries, he pressed on into the Church Headquarters.
The reason for revealing his identity?
Other than these morons, no one would dare attack them.
He was a hero too, after all.
So, he wanted to minimize damage to anyone besides the High Priest.
Specifically, to human life.
Thud!
Some level of injury was unavoidable.
Looking at the unwitting heroes rushing at him, he realized just how long it had been since he had gone incognito.
*
Bang!
With a loud explosion, the High Priest’s door blew off.
At the same time, large icicles came flying into the room.
However, those icicles ultimately did not hit the High Priest.
It was thanks to a figure in a white robe that blocked them in front of the High Priest.
“As expected.”
Schurz said as he entered the High Priest’s chamber.
“You knew I would come.”
He had somewhat expected that.
During the journey here, he hadn’t seen a single Apostle.
“They were all here.”
All the Apostles had been summoned to the High Priest’s chamber.
Yet, they showed no movement, likely because they hadn’t received any orders from the High Priest, except for blocking the icicles.
Most likely, only the basic command to protect the High Priest was given.
Click.
Schurz, who had been barehanded until now, finally drew his sword.
From this point on, ‘minimal’ killing would be required.
As bloodthirst ignited within Schurz, the High Priest asked, “What’s the meaning of this, Schurz?”
“I’ve come to kill you. You knew, didn’t you?”
“Of course. But my question to you was meant to give you a chance.”
Schurz grimaced.
“What opportunity?”
“A chance to go back and live quietly. After all, you’ve done well so far, haven’t you?”
“I did that. But…”
“You’re angry.”
At that moment, the High Priest pierced through his eyes.
“And that anger… is it revenge?”
Her words were spot on.
That’s why it was Stella, not Schurz, who answered in the silence.
“Yeah, we’ve come to avenge Beron, who lost his life at your hands.”
Yet, the High Priest tilted her head as if confused.
“Hmm? That’s your story. But he looks a bit different, doesn’t he?”
“Schurz?”
In that moment, Schurz suddenly knelt on the floor, bowing his head.
And…
He brushed the floor with his hand.
The moisture left behind.
He reformed it into the shape of a snowflake.
And the snowflakes gradually gathered, forming a shape.
“As I thought.”
That shape was…
“Freira.”
It was her form.
The snowflakes were reconstructing the scenery of that day.
And along with that, the sounds of that day started to drift in with the cold wind.
“I want to ask you. Why did you send the heroes towards the Central Sea System?”
“Didn’t Allen tell you that you would be heading to the Leim Kingdom?”
“What on earth are you thinking?”
*
