Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 43: Waiting for Spring (2)
Hamel asked in a disbelieving tone,
"So... you've become a priest?"
"Hehe, it's temporary, though."
Antonio replied, a little embarrassed by Hamel's question.
Nevertheless, he seemed pleased with Hamel's surprised reaction and couldn't help but chuckle.
Antonio, who had become a deacon, took the regular priest test to keep his promise to Hamel.
Possessing the divine power of a bishop, Antonio easily passed the test.
Then, he was granted a temporary priesthood and assigned to this place, Heidern, as the resident priest.
"Bishop Arsen pulled a lot of strings for me."
"I'm always indebted to him."
Hamel was abashed but honestly delighted.
The death of the parish priest had left a vacancy in the territory's temple, so this was reassuring.
Antonio nodded with a giggle.
"We can't leave Ono hanging forever. These are orders for him to return to his post."
"I see."
Exorcists were valuable assets, even within the order.
In fact, it was a great favor from the bishop to allow Ono to stay in the territory for this long.
"Finally, I can return to my post. Now I can leave this rural town."
Just as Ono, who had been listening to the conversation, stretched as if bored,
"Huh? No. You're to return to your post, but the bishop's orders are for you to be based here for the time being. It seems there's been an abnormal increase in demon appearances in this area recently."
"...?"
Ono tilted his head as if he had misheard.
After tapping his ears, Ono asked back with a forced smile,
"Sorry, I misheard. Maybe my ears have gotten old from staying in the countryside for too long. Could you say that again?"
"So, the bishop wants you to stay here for a while, Ono. He said there's been an unusual amount of demon activity around here lately."
"...?"
Ono stared blankly at Antonio's words, then froze like a statue.
Hamel left him alone and asked Antonio,
"I've felt it too, but what's the reason?"
It was rare for a demon to appear in the territory even once a year.
But what had Hamel experienced in less than a year?
A special-grade demon appeared in the Lengbaster territory, then the Heidern mansion was swarming with demons,
and even the salt mine and the harbor were plagued by demons.
Perhaps it was a natural decision to station an exorcist here.
Even that was only because Hamel had hidden various information.
If he had told the truth about Azi Dahaka and the incident at the mansion, this place would probably be swarming with paladins and priests by now.
Antonio nodded and replied,
"It seems demons are drawn to the Lengbaster territory as well, not just Heidern. The order suspects it's related to the death of the special-grade demon, but... no one knows for sure."
"I see."
Despite everything, Ono was one of the key personnel in the territory.
It was reassuring that he would stay here.
"Ah, and I have something to deliver to you, Lord Hamel."
"What is it?"
"Here you go."
Antonio held out a sealed decree.
It bore the seal of the Pope.
"...What is this?"
"Congratulations on becoming an exorcist of the order again."
Antonio smiled brightly.
The Imperial family had accepted the order's proposal.
Now, for one generation, this territory was under the jurisdiction of the order.
It was like having a powerful backer.
"That's a relief."
"Relief? Did you just say that's a relief?"
Ono, who had been frozen, finally seemed to regain his senses and started to rampage, but they were used to it by now.
"Because of you, I'm stuck in this countryside, and you say that's a relief?"
Hamel simply ignored his words.
Ono, who had been venting his anger, lost his energy at the indifferent reaction.
"...Fine. It's not your fault... This place really seems cursed. Maybe I should have an exorcism ritual performed."
Ono slumped like seaweed in the ocean and started lamenting his situation.
Hamel was now quite used to Ono's patterns.
Antonio simply watched the two with curiosity.
"You two have gotten quite close."
The two replied simultaneously.
"I think so."
"No, not at all."
Their answers were completely opposite.
***
Leaving the temple, Hamel slowly looked around.
As the sun began to set, the orange light spread across the land.
The villagers, finished with their farming work, were returning home in groups.
It was a tranquil scene.
"This is nice."
Hamel unconsciously smiled faintly and took in the scenery.
Ono stared at Hamel.
Then he suddenly asked,
"Hamel, are you... going to die soon or something?"
"?"
Hamel tilted his head with a puzzled look.
Why was he picking a fight out of the blue?
Actually, it wasn't that surprising considering it was Ono, but Hamel was curious and replied,
"No, why do you ask?"
"They say people die when they suddenly change."
"Are you saying I've changed?"
Hamel asked with a puzzled look.
Ono chuckled and replied,
"You have. You used to be like a dead man. A ghost wandering around, looking for a place to die."
"..."
Hamel understood what Ono meant and fell silent.
‘I can't forget.’
It wasn't that long ago.
It was his own story from just a while back.
Ono continued his blunt words to Hamel,
"I hated you like that. Working with you on missions was the worst."
"...I'm sorry."
There was nothing to excuse.
Ono said abruptly,
"Forget it. What I want to say is that you're different now."
"Different, how?"
"Well, now you're a bit more... human, I guess."
Hamel was surprised by Ono's words.
“Human.”
It was the first time he had ever been told that.
Of course, it also meant that he wasn't human before, but he felt good for some reason.
"That's a relief."
Ono asked back curiously,
"What changed you like that?"
"..."
Hamel thought for a moment.
He knew the answer, but it wasn't easy to put it into words.
The faces and conversations of countless people came to his mind.
After a while,
Hamel gave a refined answer.
A very short phrase considering how long he had thought about it.
"Because I have things I want to protect."
Hamel smiled brightly as he answered.
Ono's eyes widened in surprise.
Then he chuckled and nodded.
"Is that so? That's something to celebrate."
The two stood there for a long time, watching the sunset.
It was a truly rare and beautiful sunset.
***
Green sprouts were budding on the streets.
It was a clear sign that spring had arrived.
In other words, it was time to depart on their journey.
"Are you ready?"
"I'm always ready."
Daniel nodded as if it were obvious.
The red plume on his helmet, his symbol, swayed with him.
Ono, mounted on his horse, also nodded casually, looking annoyed.
He seemed tired, having watered the carrot field he was cultivating until the day of departure.
Someone was listening to their conversation with envy.
"You're leaving."
"..."
Antonio mumbled as if disappointed.
Hamel looked at him without a word.
He couldn't go with him.
Even if he had become a priest, he couldn't journey with Antonio, who was blind.
It wasn't that he didn't understand Antonio's disappointment.
They had met after a long time, only to part ways again soon.
But it couldn't be helped.
The territory could now function without Hamel.
Ironically, it was also because Antonio had arrived.
Including Antonio, the number of people Hamel could trust and entrust with the territory's affairs had increased.
Hamel no longer needed to be tied to the territory.
The territory would continue to develop.
"We'll see each other again soon."
Hamel comforted Antonio calmly.
Ono, who had been watching their conversation with a bored expression, suddenly spoke up,
"You don't know that. You're going to the Colorless Magic Tower on a mission, after all."
"..."
Ono was right.
One of the reasons for the hurried departure was the order's request.
The Colorless Magic Tower, the pride, school, and base of the Empire's mages.
They had requested support from the order.
And Bishop Arsen, the head of the eastern order, had entrusted the request to Hamel and Ono.
Because he knew that Hamel's next destination was the Colorless Magic Tower, where David had stayed.
The bishop was still a considerate person.
Unlike someone else.
"Why? I'm not wrong, am I? You know that missions can take longer than a year, right?"
"..."
"That's true, but..."
Hamel replied with a rare sigh.
Antonio, who had been listening quietly, chuckled as if amused by something.
Then he spoke with a relieved expression,
"It's alright. If we find traces of that person at the Magic Tower, we'll have to follow them anyway."
"Yes, we will."
Hamel nodded without hesitation.
Antonio smiled with satisfaction.
He wanted to be of help to Hamel, not hold him back.
"I'll be waiting. Protecting the territory so that you can return anytime, Lord Hamel."
"That's... Thank you."
Hamel stammered, surprised by Antonio's unexpected answer.
People chuckled, amused by his reaction.
Antonio, the order priest and acting lord.
Arandel, in charge of internal affairs and territory management.
Benjamin of the Heidern Trading Company.
And Dane, responsible for maintaining order and military training.
Everyone was gathered in front of the mansion.
Despite their busy schedules, they had all come together to bless Hamel's journey.
"Have a safe trip."
"Please take care of your health, my lord."
"Leave the trading company to me."
Arandel, who had softened, and Dane, who had a worried expression.
Benjamin spoke with a confident air.
All their words and expressions contained affection for Hamel.
It was a strange feeling.
It was definitely an emotion he had never felt before.
At that ticklish feeling, Hamel simply nodded slowly and opened his mouth.
"I'll be back."
That was all.
Hamel smiled faintly and urged his horse forward.
Daniel and Ono followed him on their horses in turn.
***
"Tower Master, another child from the academy has disappeared."
"...This is the third one."
The Tower Master of the Colorless Magic Tower let out a long sigh.
It was clear that something had infiltrated the academy.
"Please provide more mages from the tower. We need to strengthen security and expand the search area. Especially focusing on that forest."
"Understood."
The witch with the white hat, who had been reporting, disappeared with a flurry of snow.
The Tower Master sat alone in the room, stroking his white beard.
"This is a serious matter."
Three children had already gone missing in just a few weeks.
And yet, the mages couldn't find any clues.
This meant only one thing.
It was a being that was difficult to deal with through magic.
"I hope the order arrives soon."
Just as he was muttering to himself, the Tower Master suddenly coughed.
"Cough, cough!"
Frowning and catching his breath, the Tower Master reached for the glass of water on the table.
Then he hurriedly swallowed the tea.
"Whew, what a sudden choking fit...!"
The Tower Master suddenly clutched his chest in unbearable pain.
His throat felt like it was burning.
At the same time, finely shredded pieces of his internal organs poured out of his mouth.
'Is this... poison?'
Even with his fading consciousness, the Tower Master tried to grasp the situation.
If it was poison, then the tea he had just drunk was suspicious.
His breathing became shallow.
His body, which had felt hot as if burning, was now unbearably cold.
The Tower Master gritted his teeth, struggling to remember who could have poisoned his tea.
It was then.
Someone stood beside the collapsed Tower Master.
The witch with the white pointed hat, whom he thought had disappeared after receiving his orders.
His best disciple and vice-principal, Agnes Lowell.
'No, no.'
The Tower Master finally realized that something was wrong.
The mana wavelengths were subtly different from her usual ones.
As if noticing the Tower Master's reaction, she raised the corners of her lips in a surprised smile.
"Oh, how keen. I should give you a reward, shouldn't I?"
Muttering softly, she ran her hand over her face.
Then her face transformed to look exactly like the Tower Master's.
"Now, what do you think? It's quite a sight... Oh, how boring."
She tried to gauge the Tower Master's reaction but soon sighed deeply.
The chattering of the Tower Master's teeth stopped.
His vacant pupils were empty, no longer reflecting anything.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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