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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 5: The Road to the Territory (1)
Hamel couldn't understand.
In the Path of Exorcism, the priestly examination, the supervising priest was the beginning and the end of the test.
Therefore, deacons were usually cautious in choosing their supervising priest.
Since it was a life-threatening test, they preferred those who were either highly skilled, had a good relationship with the deacons, or were lenient with their evaluations.
But what about Hamel?
He wasn't well-regarded within the Order, nor did he have an outstanding track record.
He was obsessed with gathering information related to his mother's death, and despite his abilities, he always took on dangerous missions, constantly facing death.
He was even younger than most deacons.
Hamel's young age was a concern, both in terms of reliability and the deacons' pride.
Even deacons who couldn't take the test due to a lack of supervising priests were reluctant to be tested by Hamel, so this was the first time he had been assigned a supervisory role.
That's why he was curious.
"Why me?"
What was this young deacon thinking when he chose him?
Antonio tilted his head at Hamel's question.
With an expression that showed he didn't understand.
"Because you're Hamel-nim?"
"...I don't understand what you mean."
"You're the youngest exorcist priest in the Order! You became a priest at the age of 3, even younger than me!"
The moment he heard the answer, he felt suffocated.
Even though he had expected it, it seemed unavoidable.
"That's all I am. I'm not the genius you think I am."
His mouth felt dry as he spoke.
It was as dry as if he had a mouthful of sand.
"It would be better for you to change your supervisor now."
Just as Hamel was shaking his head and speaking,
"No! I want Hamel-nim!"
Antonio shouted loudly, clenching his fists.
Hamel flinched slightly at the unexpectedly intense reaction.
Antonio, not missing this, poured out his words.
"I entered the Order only to be recognized by Hamel-nim!"
"?"
What was he talking about?
Sensing Hamel's puzzled gaze, Antonio finally realized his slip and scratched his cheek with an 'oops' expression.
After a moment of hesitation, Antonio sighed lightly and opened his mouth.
"Actually, I'm from Dekaria Village."
"..."
Dekaria Village.
He remembered it.
It was the name of the village where Hamel had been on a mission when he was just this boy's age.
'And that place...'
It was also the place where a fierce battle had taken place, with two clerics who went on the mission with him losing their lives.
"I saw you there, Hamel-nim."
"It wouldn't have been a pretty sight."
"You were a mess. Covered in blood from the battle, with tears and snot all over your face."
He didn't remember.
Back then, he was just fighting fiercely.
Antonio continued, with a faint smile as if reminiscing.
"When Hamel-nim returned with the priests' bodies on a cart, everyone in the village despaired. They thought that all the members of the Order they had trusted were dead."
‘Was that so?’
Hamel tried to recall, but he couldn't remember.
Then, Antonio clenched his fists and met Hamel's gaze.
"But Hamel-nim didn't give up. Leaving your comrades' bodies behind, you headed back towards the demon."
"..."
Hamel couldn't take his eyes off Antonio's determined gaze.
What was contained in that gaze wasn't mere admiration, but respect.
Feeling an unknown sense of déjà vu, a scene from his memory flashed through Hamel's mind.
Dekaria Village, after he returned from slaying the demon.
There, Hamel saw him.
A young, blond boy with golden eyes, staring at him from among the people.
'That boy from back then!'
While Hamel was surprised, Antonio spoke clearly.
"What I want to be isn't a genius or the strongest exorcist priest, but you, Hamel-nim."
Hamel stood speechless for a moment.
He felt his mind clear.
The suffocation that had been weighing down his chest and the dryness that felt like chewing sand had disappeared.
"Is that so?"
Hamel turned and pulled the reins.
"Hamel-nim?"
Perhaps it wasn't the reaction he had expected.
Antonio's determined expression vanished, replaced with anxiety as he followed, calling Hamel's name.
Hamel calmly handed him one of the reins.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
"...Yes?"
Antonio looked momentarily dazed. Then, his expression bloomed into a bright smile.
"O-of course!!"
"We'll go quickly. Follow me closely."
Hamel leaped onto the horse and started to ride, unlike his words, at a slow pace.
Antonio, hurriedly mounting his horse, followed diligently despite his wobbly movements.
The wind blew along the path they were taking.
A warm breeze ruffled their hair as if blessing their journey.
***
Snort!
The horse shook its head and snorted, seemingly tired.
At the same time, Antonio's exhausted voice was heard.
"Hamel-nim... Ugh, are we almost there yet?"
Hamel stroked the horse's mane and replied.
"We're almost there."
It will be soon now.
The land bordering the south of Heidern, the Gilmore clan's Territory.
The Lengbaster territory.
It was a place they had to pass through to reach Heidern.
"This is my first time in Lengbaster. What kind of place is it?"
At Antonio's question, Hamel pondered for a moment and then replied bluntly.
"Lots of trees."
"...Yes?"
Antonio asked back in a somewhat dumbfounded voice. Perhaps it wasn't the answer he had expected.
He soon showed a disappointed expression.
But there was no other way to describe this Territory.
Lengbaster had a lush forest.
Excellent timber and high-quality mushrooms grew in this land, where forestry was the main industry.
A green canopy of leaves that provided cool shade even in summer. Clear water gurgling through the crevices of rocks.
The chirping of birds and the rhythmic sound of an axe from a lumberjack in the distance.
Hamel quite liked the scenery here.
Perhaps that was why he was feeling a little more excited than usual, so he added,
"The inn we're staying at today is famous for its mushroom skewers grilled with plenty of lard. You'll definitely like it."
"Heh. Really?"
Antonio's Adam's apple bobbed, perhaps salivating at the mere thought.
During their five-day journey, they had only stayed at an inn for two days.
For the remaining three days, they had traveled quickly, camping out.
Perhaps for pilgrims or ascetics, but...
There weren't many clerics who could keep up with the harsh schedule of exorcist priests.
Hamel felt grateful to Antonio for following him without complaint.
Two more days of travel, and they would reach Heidern.
It would be alright to get a good rest today.
Rustle!
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves snapped Hamel out of his thoughts. Something was strange.
Feeling a sense of incongruity, Hamel scanned the trees along the road.
And he soon found the source of that incongruity.
"......Antonio, what day is it today?"
"Do you mean the date? It's August 15th."
"It's still a long way until autumn."
"Yes? Of course. It'll be at least another month before autumn."
He was right.
It was the season for trees to bear luscious fruit.
But why...
"Are the leaves already withered?"
"Huh? Oh? Now that you mention it, that's strange."
Antonio tilted his head, puzzled.
"Let's hurry a bit."
"...Yes!!"
Hamel changed the mood and pulled the reins.
Antonio quickly grasped the situation and followed him.
How long had it been?
A village surrounded by a sturdy wooden fence came into view.
"Wh-who are you?"
As Hamel approached the gate on horseback, an old man called out from behind the fence.
His voice was filled with fear.
"My name is Hamel Gilmore, a priest of the Order."
"Oh my. I apologize, Priest-nim. I'll open the gate right away!"
Without further questions, the old man hurriedly unlocked the latch.
Creak!
"Welcome, Priest-nim!"
With the sound of rusty hinges, the old man greeted them with a bright smile.
***
The old man's bright expression conveyed relief and joy. As expected, something was amiss.
Hamel dismounted and entered the village, observing the surroundings.
Whatever the reason, in this village that relied on forestry for their livelihood, they should be busy cutting trees during the season when leaves fall.
Trees that haven't absorbed moisture make good lumber.
But the village was eerily quiet.
A tense and fearful atmosphere. Hamel, now accustomed to such an atmosphere, could feel it in his bones as he asked the old man,
"What's happening in the village?"
"Excuse me? Didn't you come knowingly?"
No wonder they didn't even ask about the purpose of their visit. It seemed there had been a misunderstanding.
"We don't know. We just stopped by this village on our way to Heiden territory."
"How could that be..."
Disappointment flashed across the old man's face.
Not only the old man, but the expressions of the people who were listening to their conversation also darkened.
Hamel calmly said to the old man,
"Let's hear what's going on first."
"That means..."
"We'll help depending on the situation."
The exorcist priests of the Order take an oath in the name of Ehurshica, the god of order and death.
They swear not to turn away those who suffer from evil. Hamel had never broken that oath.
At Hamel's words, hope flickered in the old man's eyes once again.
The old man prostrated himself before Hamel and Antonio.
"Thank you! You will be blessed, Priest-nim!"
"P-please, get up, sir."
Antonio was flustered by the old man's repeated gratitude.
Watching Antonio, Hamel was struck by a strange feeling. Childlike, perhaps?
Although the actual age difference might not be significant, the boy who had embarked on his first exorcism mission seemed young to Hamel.
Priests quickly become indifferent to such reactions from people.
There was a difference in social status, but as they repeated their acts of salvation, they gradually became accustomed to receiving gratitude.
However, thanks to this, Hamel was also able to recall the memory of saving people for the first time, many years ago.
Hamel, momentarily amused by Antonio's reaction, asked the old man for a detailed explanation.
The old man slowly recalled his memories.
"...As far as this old man remembers, it started with that knight."
"Knight?"
Antonio asked the old man with an intrigued expression. The old man looked anxious but didn't stop talking.
"I've never seen his face because he always wears a helmet... but ever since the lord hired him, strange things have been happening in the village."
"What do you mean by strange things?"
The old man's face hardened.
"...The people who went into the forest to cut trees were found dead."
"May the Goddess guide their souls."
Antonio made the sign of the cross, and the old man followed suit. Hamel also offered a brief silent prayer and then asked the old man,
"What was the condition of the deceased?"
"Their upper and lower bodies were cut in two, as if by a sword. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
"A sword, you say?"
Antonio muttered and flinched.
The old man hesitated for a moment and then said to Hamel,
"That knight drove all the villagers out of the forest. He's still wandering around in there."
Hamel listened to the old man and nodded silently. It was certainly suspicious.
‘Was he hiding something in the forest?’
Hamel thought for a moment and asked about the fallen leaves he had seen earlier.
"I saw the trees on my way here. They were bare. The leaves were withered like fallen leaves."
The old man sighed deeply and nodded.
"Yes, that's right. The forest has become strange too. The leaves are withering, and the trees are losing their vitality. Even the animals have disappeared."
"What is the lord doing?"
"...Nothing. The lord's mansion is also in the forest, so we don't know what he's doing. Winter is coming soon, and if this continues, all the villagers will starve to death."
Hamel looked up to check the position of the sun.
There was still time before sunset.
It would be good to check the forest while visiting the lord's mansion.
"We'll go and see."
"...Thank you, but... will the two of you be alright?"
An unconcealed anxiety washed over the old man's face. Certainly, the Order's power and influence were strong.
Even a mere priest couldn't be treated carelessly by the lord of such a small territory.
But what the old man saw were two young men, or rather, boys, who had barely reached adulthood.
It was natural for him to not find them very reliable.
"It's alright. I..."
Just as Hamel was about to reassure the old man,
Antonio cut him off, stepped forward, and said with a bright smile,
"This is the Priest of Azure Flame, the youngest genius exorcist priest in the Order!"
"The Priest of Azure Flame... I've heard of him. Could this be him?"
The old man looked at Hamel's face in disbelief. Hamel, receiving that gaze, nodded awkwardly.
It had been a while since he felt this embarrassed.
Hamel nodded, trying his best to maintain a straight face.
The old man hesitated, as if something had come to mind, and asked,
"Um... how should we... offer you compensation...?"
"Have you made any offerings?"
"Yes? Of course..."
"Then it's fine. Consider it received in advance."
Hamel nodded briefly.
"Ah! The Goddess has not abandoned us yet. Thank you, Goddess!"
The old man knelt and prayed. Leaving him behind, Hamel walked briskly towards the forest. Antonio followed Hamel with vigorous steps. Hamel said quietly to him,
"From now on, I'll introduce myself."
Antonio looked puzzled for a moment, then replied with surprise,
"Oh! Should I not reveal your title carelessly? I suppose the demons might target you..."
"...Yes, something like that."
Feeling tired of explaining the reason in detail, Hamel had to keep moving.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
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