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231. Childhood Friend – Hairband

[ Achievement: Monster Hunting – ‘2’, Slight mana imbues the body. ]

When Ruben returned with his companions, their master Reb was sitting on a rock catching his breath. The nine young men gulped nervously.

Trees had been shattered as if a typhoon had struck. The ground showed signs of a desperate struggle.

However, it seemed that struggle had been in vain. Oantahu, the one involved, lay face down with his knees cut off, and his broken skull let his brain matter flow out mixed with blood. Perhaps he had tried to escape in the end, as his fingernails were completely shattered.

“Cut it into appropriate pieces and move it.”

Reb said, wiping his brow. The apprentices began their work without a word.

Even after discarding the waste and selecting only the most palatable parts, they still needed a cart. Fortunately, Vann, who had taken Euta and Enen, returned with the villagers, making the task easier.

The Uena Tribe folks were very grateful. They said that without the knights, not just Enen but the entire village would have been in danger, and they threw a feast for the great heroes who hunted the monster.

Reb had an indifferent expression. “No, actually, we didn’t catch it. The Captain did it all by himself…” He sipped his drink while watching Ruben happily chatter on.

We’ve done everything here. It’s time to head to Lutetia, he thought, when Euta’s grandmother approached. She was dressed as the peculiar priestess, as always.

Was she here to express her gratitude?

Reb intended to be modest, but the grandmother silently took his hand and pulled him along. She only opened her mouth when they reached her home.

“My granddaughter was fated to die.”

Her slow step. The arm that was grabbed by the elderly woman felt inexplicably strong.

“Lady Ceres has spoken. Enen will not become a priestess… Come in. Lady Ceres is calling.”

The siblings’ home was shrouded in a warm darkness. Rarely did one have to remove their shoes to enter a home, and inside, Euta and Enen slept peacefully, with blue curtains hung from the ceiling of the small living room, causing a dizzying sight.

The grandmother fluttered her wide sleeves at a painting of a river and offered a bow. After lighting the altar, she took out a ‘hairband’ from a drawer.

Was it the hairband of her deceased daughter-in-law?

It was a keepsake from Euta’s mother that had been given to Reb long ago,

– Whoosh.

Suddenly, it was engulfed in flames. No, the more accurate expression would be that it was engulfed in water, as it shimmered in blue and faded away.

At that moment, the world froze.

Ruben’s cheerful singing from afar faded away, and the blue curtains fluttering in the night wind hardened like plaster. The only one who moved…

Was the grandmother.

Reb, frozen in place, could hardly process the breath he’d just taken while being met with the grandmother’s piercing gaze. Covered in deep wrinkles from the passage of time, she spoke with a voice that echoed.

= It’s been a while. Your name has changed again.

It didn’t seem dangerous.

Intending to release the binding with the Oblivion Blade he’d secretly palmed, Reb chose to listen instead. The grandmother, whose eyes shimmered blue, smiled brightly and continued speaking.

= I told you this would happen. But I’m glad to see you again. I’ve been living quietly as you advised. I nearly lost everything, but thank you for saving the child who would serve me. The gods indeed have a twisted sense of humor. Even if your past sins are heavy, they are this cruel…

At that point, the grandmother’s body tightened.

As if caught in a giant’s grip, she gasped for breath and urgently opened her mouth.

= I-I have a warning for you. You will soon face a crossroads. When that happens, do not contact ‘the one you love.’

Reb felt the solidified world shattering. The ruler of the river, Seares, was being drawn out from the grandmother’s body, whispering.

= Azura, may you be at peace…

“Have we met?”

The blue waves in the grandmother’s eyes returned to normal. The siblings’ snoring echoed, and the cold autumn night wind caused the curtains to flutter again.

Reb was engulfed by the question, ‘What did I just hear?’ The sound of chirping autumn bugs gave no answers.

*

Reb thought there was no more business here, but he couldn’t leave the village for a while. Lost in thought, he wasted time, and his squad looked at their leader with confusion.

“Captain, do you have any worries?”

It was Vann Bijan’s question. It was only then that Reb shook his head and stood up, brushing himself off.

“It’s nothing. Let’s head out soon…”

Leo Dexter and Lena Ainar would soon arrive in Lutetia. Before they returned to Abrival Castle, especially before Lena became pregnant, Reb needed to meet Leo in Lutetia.

Even excluding travel time, they had a decent amount of time, but Reb thought there was no harm in leaving early, so he instructed his apprentices to pack their things.

They emptied the log cabin where they had lived for a while.

After feeding the horses well, who had grown lazy, he went to bid farewell to the Uena Tribe as they prepared to leave.

“It’s nice here, but I feel sad to go. Will we ever come back again?”

“Let’s come back later. After we get married, for our honeymoon… Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“That sounds good too.”

Surprisingly, Vann Bijan agreed with Ruben’s words. Ruben grinned widely, and the other members of the squad moved along, not minding him.

However, there were guests in the village. Five white horses and a carriage adorned with the emblem of the Cross Church stood at the entrance. Reb entered, curious about the situation, and his eyes lit up with surprise.

“Uh, you got it wrong. Our grandmother goes to church.”

“G-Grandmother! Let her go!”

A Holy Knight had grabbed the siblings’ grandmother.

The siblings tried to intervene, but the Holy Knight moved forward without hesitation. The grandmother was dragged along by her hair, helpless.

“What the hell is going on?!”

Reb rushed forward, blocking the Holy Knight and drawing his sword, but the Holy Knight didn’t react. He turned to look behind him as if shifting the responsibility.

There stood an old priest in tattered clothes. Despite his wrinkled face, his hair was jet black; he had a unique aura about him. Reb felt he had seen this man somewhere before.

“This man doesn’t look like a villager… Who are you? Who are you to interfere with the church’s work?”

The old man spoke with a generous smile. However, his tone held a firmness and authority that urged retreat.

“It’s none of your business who I am. Why are you tormenting the innocent local folk?”

“You misunderstand.”

The old priest pointed a finger.

“He is to be punished for his sins. Sadly, this one serves the Evil God. Isn’t that right?”

Those who believe in gods other than the main deity are dealt with by death. — This was the policy set by the Cross Church over thirty years ago.

The Uena Tribe members averted their gazes from the old priest. As he said, the grandmother of Euta did not believe in the god of the Cross Church. Everyone was aware of that.

What kind of god she believed in was also unclear to them. The Uena tribe had converted a very long time ago, and the siblings’ grandmother was from a different tribe who had married into this one.

Still, they became one family, so the Uena Tribe didn’t report that she believed in another god. They hadn’t actively hidden it, they just accepted it as it was.

And that secret had been exposed. Of all times…

The old priest nodded. Just as the Holy Knight was about to strike the grandmother’s neck with his sword, Reb shouted.

“If you kill her, you all will die too.”

“…Are you planning to interfere with the church’s work? Those who obstruct church affairs may be punished under the decree of Grandmaster Krantsar de Frederick the First.”

“Go ahead, try to punish me.”

“…Sir Javard.”

The large Holy Knight stepped forward. Wielding a massive mace, he exclaimed, “Oh God! Remember the wicked!” as he began reciting the holy incantation to identify allies and enemies.

Could it be because they had killed thugs? A divine mark appeared above Reb and the young members of his squad.

They needed to get to Lutetia.

The situation escalated. However, Reb did not back down.

“Strike!”

The Holy Knight was strong.

Talents from all over the continent gathered for fierce competition to become knights, and only a few were selected as Holy Knight apprentices. After years of intense training, they became Holy Knights, rivaling ordinary kingdom knights, endowed also with divine powers.

As the Holy Knight priests categorized them, they were not just candidates for comparison. When discussing the strongest knights on the continent, chances were high that Holy Knights would be among them.

Reb’s apprentices, grasping their swords, charged at him, knowing he was stronger.

But they had their faith…

– Crash!

Reb struck the mace that the Holy Knight brought down. He smashed the iron lump away and leaped high to deliver a spinning kick to his face.

When discussing the continent’s strongest ‘knight,’ Swordsmasters are not included. If it’s about the strongest humans, that’s a different story.

The large Holy Knight hurriedly ducked. Trying to avoid the flying mace from below, he attempted to swing it back up, but Reb stepped on his shoulder and performed a somersault.

Just as with Oantahu, although it wouldn’t be difficult to crack his head open, Reb hit him with the flat side of his sword instead. The Holy Knight staggered and collapsed unconscious.

‘Let’s see…’

Landing gracefully, Reb surveyed the surroundings.

Two Holy Knights remained.

It would be fine to handle them alone, but he let his apprentices take a crack at it. Let’s see if ten can manage against two Holy Knights.

The squad divided into two teams of five. One led by Vann Bijan and the other by Hatu.

“Ha ha! Look over here too!” Ruben, part of Vann’s team, shouted cheerfully.

They looked too carefree for five people attacking one. Anyone who didn’t know better might be fooled. But despite his poor swordsmanship, the power behind his strikes was no joke, prompting the Holy Knight to recite the divine incantation.

The shield in the Holy Knight’s hand radiated light. Bang! Like chopping with an axe, Ruben’s sword came down hard, but the Holy Knight didn’t budge an inch. Reb clicked his tongue as he watched their exchange.

‘This much, huh? Still, with that, they could hold off about three normal knights. With two, they might even take them down.’

Evaluating his apprentices’ abilities, Reb joined the fight. Whether the shield shone or a holy something descended upon the Holy Knight’s back, Reb simply pressed down with his sword and stood before the old priest.

“I have no intention of opposing the Cross Church. Remove this mark and leave quietly.”

But… where have I seen this man before?

An old man with pitch-black hair. I definitely saw him somewhere. As Reb pored over memories of the past, he suddenly recalled where he had seen this man.

– “Then I trust you will do well, Count. I’ll also investigate on my end.”

– “You need not worry. As soon as that ‘special crop’ is found, we shall commence construction.”

The eleventh session. When he had been Leo Dexter, and staying at Count Umberto Simon’s manor. Since it was only his fourth time in this holy kingdom, it was not difficult to recall.

At that moment, the old priest spoke. His voice made Reb’s memory even clearer.

“That won’t do. You are a sinner and cannot heed the requests of such a person.”

The old man, dressed in rags, held his head high.

It was Cardinal Michael.