Chapter 250 : Chapter 250
Chapter 250. Between Defying the Heavens and Embers (6)
The horde filling the horizon was dyeing the darkness even blacker.
CLOP, CLOP.
The Knight of Embers on horseback approached slowly, alone.
By the way, could that be called a horse? At every seam of the armor that tightly wrapped the massive body without gaps, black heat haze was blooming fiercely like a mane.
So, to summarize.......
The Knight of Embers wasn't simply a resurrected dead person, but a human-horse-as-one monster that combined a headless human body and a beast molded from steel.
CLOP, CLOP.
The resonance of the steel hooves striking the ground was chilling. It looked like a guy who had just come from roaming a battlefield called hell until a moment ago.
It's not a concept of simply being strong. It was an oppressive feeling as if an unsparing disaster itself had descended wearing armor.
"T-That is the Knight of Embers I've only heard of in words......!"
Stanley trembled. The old knight seemed to have instinctively realized. That the entity in front of him wasn't in a category an ordinary human could dare oppose.
'......This is troublesome.'
Even just one Knight of Embers is overwhelming, but that endlessly lined up Shadow Legion had already surrounded us in a semicircle. Truly an immense dragnet.
STOP.
The approaching Knight of Embers stopped. Roughly around twenty paces away.
'.......'
I stood directly in front of the bastard. A silent confrontation continued. Amidst the taut tension, Stanley's trembling and the sound of him swallowing saliva were heard particularly loudly.
I quietly opened my mouth while continuing a staring contest with the Spectral Knight's non-existent eyes.
"Once the fight begins, do not look back and run blindly along the visible path."
"......! You're saying you'll fight? A-Are you in your right mind?"
"What's with the sudden surprise? Would a guy in his right mind be here right now to begin with?"
There is no answer. So he doesn't deny it. This is strangely disappointing.
"......Well, anyway. The underground of Grimbalt Prison is a sulfur cave. There's bound to be a mining site connected to the surface somewhere."
I still had my gaze fixed on the Knight of Embers' absent head. I felt Stanley's eyes widen wide through his presence.
"H-How do you know that....... You're right. Because prisoners are often dragged off for hard labor. But this side is a closed zone adjacent to the Demonic Realm, so I've never been here."
"Then will you obediently die here? You have to try something persistently. In the end, you have nothing to lose."
I don't have the luxury to wake up the rest of the fainted guys one by one. I have no choice but to try to keep them from getting caught up in the fight as much as possible.
I controlled my breathing by pulling my chin tight inside my neck.
'......I don't particularly feel murderous intent.'
Since stopping while approaching, the guy hasn't budged an inch, like a stiff stone statue.
Of course, that absolutely doesn't mean I'll let my guard down.
SHING.
'......!'
As if reading my inner thoughts, it raises its massive lance in a flash as if it had been waiting.
I assumed a starting stance and shouted.
"Sir Stanley! Now is the time!"
It was the moment I was about to kick off the ground.
"Both of you, calm down!"
I flinched and stopped the foot I had stepped forward with. I didn't hear anything wrong. It was definitely a young woman's voice.
STEP!
I turned my head at the presence heard right next to me. The very first thing that entered my eyes was a pure white monastic habit that stood out uniquely in this dull darkness.
'What is this woman?'
She must have run from somewhere, as she was out of breath. Her cheeks were flushed red due to her short breathing, and her shoulders heaved precariously.
What drew my attention more than anything else was her hand. She was tightly holding onto an old lantern flickering with a bluish-white flame like a lifeline.
"W-What are you?"
"I also wish to ask. However, it would be best for us to postpone each other's questions for a moment."
She raised the lantern high while staring at the Knight of Embers. In an instant, the bluish-white flame trapped inside the lantern's iron grate flickered fiercely in response.
"Lost fragment of the night. Your grave is not here."
I urgently looked alternately at the woman and the Knight of Embers. Surprisingly, the Knight of Embers didn't budge at all.
"Do not covet the breath of the living, and return to the silence of the earth."
"......."
"This lantern will become the sole mercy and final signpost for you......!"
Soon, the bluish-white ki wave that burst out from the lantern spread out in a fan shape and pushed away the darkness.
FLASH—!
Stanley fell flat on his rear from the sudden gust of wind. I also flinched.
What was more surprising was what came next.
Sssshhhh—
A bizarre phenomenon occurred in the place swept by the bluish-white light. It wasn't an explosion or destruction. The Shadow Legion that had tightly packed the horizon melted blurrily like dawn fog touching hot heat, before soon becoming black smoke and scattering into the air.
The Knight of Embers was no exception either. The chilling demonic armor enveloping the bastard and its form gradually faded like ash dust scattering.
"Ha......!"
An exclamation involuntarily flowed out of my mouth.
There wasn't a single scream, let alone resistance. It was just peaceful, as if quietly returning to the place they were originally supposed to be before the overwhelming power of purification.
Ssst.
The black remnants flickering in midair until the very end wavered and then flicked out.
Soon, only the hollow sound of wind remained in that place.
THUD!
The woman collapsed in place. It seemed her legs had given out. Honestly, I was also barely holding on.
"Just what exactly happened, right now? Did they all annihilate?"
"It is not annihilation. They merely retreated for a moment."
I was at a loss for words. I absentmindedly made eye contact with Stanley, who was sitting on the ground with his mouth hanging open.
Both of us were in a completely entranced state.
......Still, I have to do what needs to be done.
"Thank you. I owe you a great debt. Honestly, I didn't have the confidence to handle it."
I bowed my head while sheathing the Heavenly Demon.
Only then was I able to properly check the woman's face. The youthful face revealed in the subtle light of the lantern completely didn't suit this dull Demonic Realm.
"Are you a knight?"
"Well, something similar. And you? Are you a mage?"
"I am..."
At that time, urgent shouts from behind cut off the woman's words.
"Saintess!"
My head whipped around. Two men wearing the same white monastic habit as the woman were hurriedly running over.
'......Wait.'
My eyes narrowed. There was something that belatedly entered my eyes.
A golden sun emblem clearly embroidered on their chests.
'That's definitely......'
I turned my head back toward the woman to confirm.
Before I knew it, she had gotten up from her spot and was checking the condition of the prisoners sprawled out nearby.
Then, our eyes met.
"Nebria. I am Nebria, affiliated with Solari."
The Saintess of Solari whom Bolero had talked about until his mouth wore out.
To think I would meet her like this.
***
"Solari has been continuing rescue activities in the sulfur caves here since a very long time ago. I, too, am merely doing what must naturally be done in accordance with the noble will of the preceding priests."
Nebria, meaning, the Saintess of Solari whom I had wanted to meet so much, spoke in a calm tone as if it was no big deal.
She added while helping the sturdy priests who arrived subsequently load the fainted prisoners onto stretchers.
"Rather, I am the one who is surprised. Because this is the first time meeting an outsider who is not an inmate of Grimbalt here."
She casually threw a gaze at me. It was a look that seemed to say, tell me your story now.
I let out a sigh first. Where exactly should I begin speaking?
"My name is Bihen Benkou. The eldest son of the Benkou family."
For a moment, the hands of the strong men who were moving busily stopped in unison at the exact same time as if they had promised.
I, who was about to speak right after, suddenly had no choice but to keep my mouth firmly shut at the strange atmosphere.
A silence like the calm before a storm flowed for a moment.......
Soon, everyone's gazes poured onto me at the same time.
"R-Right now—"
"What did you say? Bihen Benkou?"
"Could it be...... Sir Sword Saint Bihen Benkou?!"
The excited voices gradually grew louder. The priests abandoned the work they were doing and all flocked around me. Their eyes all burned intensely like fanatics.
"That person who bestowed blessings upon the entire Kingdom together with Priest Bolero!"
"The standard-bearer of the holy crusade!"
"To meet the hero who awakened the foolish nobles and spread the grace of Elzerus here!"
"Oh, Elzerus! Is this a revelation!"
Cold sweat ran down my spine. I felt like hiding if there was a mouse hole. If it were simple flattery, I would have somehow endured it moderately. But as someone who used Solari for political calculations and profit, I didn't have the knack to endure their highly pure praise.
"Are you truly, Sir Bihen Benkou?"
Nebria also widened her eyes and asked back. She looked like she couldn't believe it.
Wait. Come to think of it, didn't that Bolero bastard chatter like a habit? That their Saintess has a miraculous foresight that pierces through the future.
'......Was it nonsense.'
I might not know much, but shouldn't there have been a revelation regarding roughly when a precious guest worthy of foaming at the mouth and praising to this extent could be met for it to make sense?
'Tsk. This drains my energy for nothing.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Well, forget it. Because that's not what's important.
—Good. If it is you, Brother, I suppose I can tell you now. The supreme task akin to the lifelong aspiration of our Solari.
Bolero's words came to mind.
'Seven Sins.'
The source of the seven evils rooted in the Kingdom, as named by Solari.
In other words, the Kingdom-style naming of the Eight Demons.
—Planting good will that opposes the Seven Sins everywhere and drawing those bastards in is the best method. This is precisely why we are desperately trying to establish branches in each region.
And as a result of that, he said they 'sealed' Greed.
When I tilted my head at the word seal—
—Because we could not completely annihilate it.
—I suppose that could happen too. So, is that sealed bastard called Greed at the main branch of Solari?
—The Saintess harbors it.
—So you're saying the Saintess took charge of and is guarding the Greed sealed at the main branch?
—No.
Bolero pointed at his own chest with his finger.
—She sealed it inside her body.
—......?
—Since it was before I joined the order, I do not even know the exact details well. The Saintess also keeps her mouth shut, so there is no other way to ask.
The memories of that day that were hovering in my head scattered like smoke.
In that empty spot remained Nebria's face looking up at me with eyes that still couldn't believe it.
'.......'
I hardened my expression stiffly and stared intently at her.
Although it was an unexpected place and an unexpected meeting, looking only at the result, the utmost heavenly luck had followed me.
'Then, now......'
Where should I begin speaking?
"Ah, I'm sorry. You must be very flustered, right? I was also surprised and ended up."
Nebria apologized with an awkward smile. I didn't even have time to say it was fine.
"I think it would be best to move locations for now. Our hideout is nearby. It's a place called Shadow Village."
Nebria immediately added.
"Priest Bolero happens to be here as well."
I swallowed a hollow laugh. Was pushing me into the pit of the abyss truly Elzerus's revelation? Indeed, one never knows what will happen on a person's path ahead.
Anyway, there was no reason to refuse. Reorganization was urgent for now, and more than anything, there was a need to revise my plans before returning to the Imperial Capital.
"Let's go."
The movement was swift. The priests familiarly transported the prisoners, and the limping Stanley also diligently followed behind them.
The hideout wasn't very far away.
When we stepped inside a cave cleverly hidden in a crevice of the massive rock wall, an unbelievable sight unfolded. Old tents and lights huddled closely together inside the sheer cliff could be seen.
'It's truly a miraculous haven.'
It was around the time we almost reached the entrance.
While staring at the back of Nebria, who was walking slightly ahead or behind me, I eventually couldn't hold back and opened my mouth. Honestly, enduring up to here was a feat.
"I heard about you from Bolero."
Her footsteps minutely broke rhythm.
"......Did that talkative priest happen to praise me?"
"Of course. Regarding the Seven Sins, too."
For a moment, I had the illusion that the air hovering around Nebria suddenly stopped with a snap.
Nebria stopped her footsteps first, and I also stood still and stared at her back.
Before I knew it, the murmurs of the priests and prisoners walking ahead grew distant.
'I feel like I touched a reverse scale I shouldn't have touched.'
However, since I already drew my sword, I drove in the wedge without stopping.
"I heard that 'Greed' is sealed inside your body."
A wind blowing from somewhere rustled the hem of her white monastic habit.
"......Yes."
Nebria, who slowly turned her head, looked up at me. The gentle smile of the Saintess was nowhere to be found.
Only eyes like an abyss of unfathomable depth were piercing through me.
Suddenly, just as the thought crossed my mind that the color of those eyes resembled the bluish-white of the lantern she was holding.
"I heard they call that a Phantom Demon in the Empire, right?"
The corners of her mouth curled up languidly. It was a truly greedy smile.