91
Now that they knew the location indicated by the revelation, there was no reason to stay at the Marquis’s estate any longer. After a simple breakfast, the two people who had finished preparing to leave received quite a grand send-off, and Riteran was among those who had gathered.
‘Someday, if you need help, the Marquis Fides family will wholeheartedly assist you two with any request, regardless of what it is.’
Arpel recalled the last words he had left. Guilt over the assassination threat, rooting out the traitor, resolving the anomaly occurring within the territory… It must have been a conclusion resulting from quite complex intertwined reasons. It might also be because they refused his offer to dispatch knights to lend a hand.
Since specters were involved, the help of knights, who were no different from ordinary people, was of little significance. Rather than raising suspicions by entering the village with them, it was better to investigate the anomaly with a small number of people.
In that sense, the help from the Marquis Fides family was a kind of insurance. In the not-too-distant future, when the day comes to move against the Emperor, they would become stronger allies than anyone else.
“Bemos Village is a small village at the northwestern edge of the territory. If there’s anything unusual, it’s that it’s isolated from other villages, surrounded by mountains. The closed nature of the place is probably the reason why they believe in the existence of a ‘Fox God’ that protects the village.”
Along with the sound of papers being turned, a monotonous voice filled the carriage. It belonged to Owen, who had expressed his intention to move to Bemos Village together. Soon, his hand closed the documents that Riteran had handed over before they left.
As befitting a geographically isolated village, there was a limit to entering by carriage. As they began to climb the sloping mountain path on foot, someone seemed to find it quite challenging, as heavy breathing could be heard clearly from behind.
“Shall I carry you?”
“No, huff, I’m fine.”
Owen’s face, which had slightly lifted, was full of irritation. Whether that irritation was due to the muscles gathering in his calves or because of the sight of the two holding hands tightly even while climbing the mountain path, was uncertain.
Before long, the entrance to the village came into view. However, this fact didn’t come as entirely good news to the three of them.
“This is…”
Rohan’s face, who had been considering how to blend naturally into the village, stiffened completely. The feeling that something ominous was intensifying as they got closer to the village was not an illusion. No, it was surprising that they hadn’t noticed something so clearly felt until now.
An energy densely filling the air from a certain boundary line. This was clearly that of ‘specters’. It was dense enough to make even Owen, who had been panting, stop breathing and turn pale.
The conversation resumed only after they had stepped back a few paces. The silence that had been precariously maintained was finally broken after they had hidden in the undergrowth, thinking people might come and go.
“Arpel. Did you feel anything special?”
“No.”
Although Arpel was the most sensitive to the power of specters among the three, he shook his head. The concentration was just a bit thicker, but it wasn’t much different from other specter energies he had felt so far. However… there was one thing that bothered him.
“It seems like there’s something in this land.”
The source of the energy was the ground. What had risen from below had filled the village densely. Owen let out a short sigh.
“…This seems beyond our capabilities alone.”
The conclusion was quickly reached. He briefly looked at the two and continued his explanation.
“You must have heard about the abandoned lands outside the empire where people can’t live. Although it’s not as severe as those places and people can live here… this village exudes a similar energy to those places.”
The land teeming with specters.
This referred to the land outside the empire, a term for lands uninhabitable due to being tainted by specter energy. It was a cursed land where specters continuously revived due to the energy of evil gods leaking through sealed cracks.
Managing this place while firmly maintaining the defense line to prevent specters from crossing into the empire, and protecting the empire’s people from specters that had sneaked in – this was the duty of the two temples.
The contemplation was only momentary. Rohan, who had been listening silently to the explanation, spoke up.
“We will enter the village.”
“…We?”
Due to the quite resolute voice, expressing doubt came a beat late. However, Owen’s subsequent question was closer to asking about his intention rather than expressing bewilderment.
“Regardless of asking for help, we need someone to understand the internal situation. Owen, please move to a nearby village and request cooperation from the surrounding temples. Arpel and I will assess the situation in the village.”
“Hmm.”
“Approaching in a large group would only heighten their suspicions.”
It wasn’t wrong. Owen, who had narrowed his eyes as if he had much to say, gave up in the face of Rohan’s unwavering gaze. Although he had hoped they would establish a slightly safer plan before going to such a visibly dangerous place, he had no confidence in breaking that stubbornness.
‘If even Dionel can’t break it, how could I?’
A self-deprecating thought suddenly crossed his mind. If there was one being who could break it, it would be the Demon Sword in human form before his eyes, but… unfortunately, he showed no intention of stopping him.
“…I understand. There’s no other way.”
So, the answer he could give was only one from the beginning.
***
After sending Owen off, the two immediately entered Bemos Village. Although the specter energy was dense, the inside didn’t look much different from ordinary villages.
“Isn’t it strange?”
“Indeed.”
A whispering voice leaked through the deeply pulled-down robes. Arpel, who had slowly looked around once at those words, nodded and replied. He too was feeling strongly the strangeness that Rohan sensed. The seemingly peaceful village scene felt most incongruous.
From the start, this was a place where the premise of being “no different from an ordinary village” couldn’t hold. Hadn’t they said that due to an unknown phenomenon, people were falling asleep and dying without waking up? Logically thinking, the village atmosphere should have been unsettled, and people should have been trembling in fear.
However, no such signs could be found among the people in the village. It looked no more or less than a peaceful mountain village, which was quite off-putting from the perspective of those who knew about the situation occurring inside the village.
However, just as the two felt suspicious about the village scenery, there were people who found the two suspicious as they peeked around the village with their faces completely covered.
“Hey, you there.”
Arpel turned his head following the gruff voice. A man with a fierce face filled with intense wariness was glaring at them.
“What have you been poking around for?”
“Ah…”
A short sigh burst out slowly as if buying time, and the series of actions of exchanging glances under the robes happened very naturally. The man didn’t notice the exchange of glances, and immediately after, it was Rohan who moved. A gently curved corner of his mouth was revealed from under the robe.
“We heard rumors that there’s an incredibly efficacious being in this village. We came in person because we have a wish we want to pray for…”
As he continued speaking, his smile faded, and a subtly anxious air seeped into his stammering voice. His behavior, acting as if his life depended on meeting this ‘efficacious being’, was able to slightly ease the man’s wariness.
“Hmm, hum. You say you came looking for an efficacious being? Well, why come all the way to this remote place when you could pray to those so-called gods outside?”
“Gods… well. Should we really believe in gods who don’t grant even one wish we’ve prayed for all our lives? Isn’t it better to choose a god we can believe in with our own hands?”
This brazen retort, which someone blessed by the gods wouldn’t dare imagine, seemed to have completely erased even the last bit of suspicion remaining in the man. Judging by his hearty laughter, he seemed quite pleased with Rohan’s answer.
“Haha, young friend, you have quite grand ambitions…!”
The words that burst out with laughter seemed to be to himself, and he belatedly cleared his throat with a few coughs. Arpel, who had finished introducing himself with the simple explanation that they were traveling companions, stared blankly at the back of the man who was going ahead, saying he would guide them to the ‘village chief’, before turning his gaze.
‘Well done.’
He briefly clasped hands and conveyed a word of encouragement by mouthing it, unable to speak aloud. Although it was a plan they had lightly set before entering the village, Rohan had performed better than expected. As if engraving in his memory the gently smiling face he would never forget, Arpel recalled the clear wariness the man had shown earlier.
Was that wariness simply the caution shown when strangers appear in the village, or was there another reason why they ‘had to’ be wary?
Judging by how he pointedly mentioned the gods outside, he didn’t seem unaware that this village’s Fox God was treated as heretical outside. This statement itself might have been a kind of probing.
Unexpectedly, the man’s words continued for a few more sentences.
“Recently, some unfortunate events have been happening in the village… but thanks to the village chief, things are quickly stabilizing. He’s a grateful person who always firmly protects the village.”
Even though you’re outsiders, if your intentions align with ours, he’ll take care of you in many ways, so you should be able to stay comfortably in the village.
In his added voice and the warm smile that appeared on his face, there was a deep, almost blind fondness for this person called the ‘village chief’.
