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Episode 79
Into the dungeon (2)
Boom, boom―.
A quiet silence flowed.
The mercenaries seated in the tavern were all staring at Ermin with blank expressions.
[her…….]
Of course, it wasn’t just the mercenaries who were astonished.
I, too, was unable to keep my mouth shut after witnessing Ermin’s antics.
[… … That guy is a real psychopath.]
I don’t understand why religious people are all like that.
A saint, an archbishop, the head of the Inquisition, and so on… Looking back over tens of thousands of years of memories, all the authors related to religion had a screw loose.
And Ermin was no exception.
He cut off his own hand to prove his healing powers.
Plague.
How on earth can someone come up with such a crazy idea?
“Oh, thank you.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
At that moment, Ermin received his left hand from another mercenary.
A guy who puts his hand over the cut surface as if he were wearing a glove.
Iron Fist─.
A holy light began to surround his cut surface, accompanied by the sound of sloshing blood.
Woof, woof―!
At the same time, an unrealistic sight unfolded.
Blood vessels, nerves, bones, etc. Body parts that were once severed slowly found their mates under the guidance of divine power.
The ability to accelerate natural healing by borrowing the power of the gods.
A supernatural ability that only priests who serve the Lord can display.
Heal.
The mercenaries who witnessed that divine power were left speechless, their mouths wide open.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Saaaaaaaa―.
Did about 30 seconds pass like that?
The sacred light that had brightly illuminated the tavern gradually faded.
I looked at Ermin’s left wrist.
His hands were fine.
As if it had never been cut in the first place.
“Hmm… … .”
Knock, knock―.
Ermin smiled calmly and turned his wrist from side to side.
After confirming that there were no particular problems, he smiled with satisfaction and muttered to himself.
“Fortunately, my wrist still works fine.”
“her!”
The hairy captain let out a hollow laugh.
Did you like Ermin’s cheeky attitude?
The corners of his lips, which had been stiff, began to twitch little by little.
“Ahh, hahahahaha!”
Soon a hearty laugh burst out of his mouth.
The other mercenaries also followed him and began to burst out in laughter that they had been holding back.
“Poohahaha! This isn’t a gentleman, this is a real man!”
“Hahahaha!”
The tavern suddenly became a sea of laughter.
Naturally, the mercenaries’ public opinion toward Ermin became positive.
A short period of time, less than 30 seconds.
In the meantime, healing amputated parts was a truly special ability even among priests.
Although his personality was somewhat like that of a traitor, it would be a loss for the mercenary group not to hire a priest with such outstanding abilities.
After quickly completing his calculations, the hairy captain shook Ermin’s hand with a rough hand.
“Let me introduce myself formally. My name is Copson. I am the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries.”
“I am Ermin. As I said before, I am a priest who follows the will of the Lord.”
The captain smiled faintly.
“Yes, Ermin. I feel reassured that you’ve joined us in this campaign, hahaha!”
He burst into a cool laugh and continued talking while patting Ermin on the back.
“Our mercenary group is also very skilled, so we will definitely be able to successfully conquer this dungeon without any problems.”
“Yes, well… … .”
Hearing those words, Ermin nodded with a soft smile.
“… … When the captain says so, I have high expectations for the skills of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Corps.”
Swish―.
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At that very moment.
Ermin’s eyes lingered on Riley for a very brief moment.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Why is that?
Although the corners of Ermin’s mouth were smiling, his gaze towards Riley was infinitely cold.
* * *
Mercenaries make a lot of money.
Since it was a job that involved risking one’s life, it was only natural that the pay would be high.
A job where you stand at a crossroads of life and death every day.
A job that pays a lot of money in return.
That’s why mercenaries live ignorantly, enjoying each day.
Because their one and only life could end tomorrow.
“Whoa!”
“Ugh, ugh… … .”
A midwinter dawn with a lonely wind blowing.
The mercenaries who had drunk too much at a drinking party before going on a campaign were vomiting in front of the tavern.
A pungent smell wafted through the reeds that swayed slowly in the wind.
“Ah, sir… …! I told you not to vomit here… …!”
The waitress ran out in a hurry and scolded the mercenaries.
The mercenaries who were still in their right minds could only laugh at their comrades who had lost their minds.
“Hey, Raoul!”
Suddenly, the hairy captain’s shout is heard from far away.
“… … ?”
Riley, who was continuing to do laundry by the stream, turned her gaze toward the direction where the voice had come from.
The hairy captain, who was heading to the barracks with the noisy mercenaries, was waving at Riley.
“Work moderately and then go to bed! Don’t overwork yourself!”
“… … .”
The mercenaries were tired, so they went straight into the barracks and went to sleep.
As even those who had been wandering around drunk found their places, the surroundings became quiet in an instant.
Silence fell.
The only sounds that can be heard are the occasional sound of water trickling down the stream and the crickets chirping in the grass.
“Phew… … .”
First off─.
Riley sighed softly, put down the laundry, and looked up at the sky.
I saw countless stars.
A cluster of stars twinkling brightly like embroidery across the night sky.
It was such a beautiful sight that even I, who have lived for tens of thousands of years, could not help but be amazed.
But why is that?
Riley’s expression as she looked at this was frozen hard.
[Why is your expression so rotten?]
‘Because I hate stars.’
You hate stars?
It was an unusual answer, as expected from Riley.
Who else would turn down such a beautiful sight?
‘… …I have a trauma about stars.’
[ah.]
But when I heard her short answer, something suddenly came to mind.
[Could it be because of the “Great Magic Circle” we saw during the last final selection test?]
“… … .”
Riley was silent for a moment after hearing my question, then slowly nodded her head.
but.
If you think about it, the “Great Magic Circle” that Jan Irantes showed us also took the form of a group of stars.
Despite his beautiful appearance, Yann Lantes’ ugly desires were hidden behind the magic.
Yeah, well.
Seeing such a sight makes me wonder if I would develop a trauma about stars.
“… … ?”
Sabak─.
It was then that I felt an unfamiliar presence behind me.
Riley quickly turned her head to look behind her.
A young man with a familiar face was looking down at Riley with a faint smile.
“Mr. Ermin… … ?”
“Nice to meet you, Raoul.”
Ermin, who had greeted me kindly, looked at the laundry lying by the stream and continued speaking.
“Can I help you? I used to be in charge of laundry at the monastery.”
“… … It’s already over.”
“Oh my, you were late. I wish I had come a little earlier.”
Ermin plopped down next to us.
Rustle―.
A guy who rummages through his pockets.
Cigars, cutters, and even a portable torch lighter – items that would not be at all suitable for a priest were taken out of his pockets.
Even though no one asked, he opened his mouth with a faint smile.
“I suffer from insomnia if I don’t smoke a cigar before going to bed.”
“… … .”
Knock, knock!
A fire at the end of a cigar.
As white smoke rose, a pungent scent began to spread into the air.
“Is this your first time seeing a priest smoking a cigar?”
“You drink well, don’t you?”
“Ahaha… … .”
Ermin smiled bashfully with a stinging expression.
Priests are those who follow the will of God.
It is a profession that requires one not to be distracted by anything other than faith. Therefore, priests voluntarily abstain from alcohol, cigarettes, and other forms of entertainment such as gambling.
Depending on the sect, there were even some places that prohibited this as a rule.
But Ermine was different.
The guy enjoys drinking in taverns, gambles with mercenaries for fun, and now he even smokes.
And he felt no guilt about these facts.
Ermin continued speaking in a confident voice.
“I am a human being before I become a priest. And humans are faithful to their own desires. That is the characteristic of humans that the Lord has given them.”
“… … .”
“I just live according to the human characteristics that the Lord has given me. I don’t try to suppress those instincts for no reason.”
Ermin added, smiling quietly.
“Isn’t that the true image of a priest who follows the Lord’s will?”
“… … .”
[… … .]
After hearing that, Riley answered after a long silence.
“Your interpretation of faith is unique.”
“Do you understand me?”
“Yes, well… … .”
Nod─.
Ermin let out a small laugh as Riley nodded.
“If only the priests of the monastery were as understanding as Raoul. Then I wouldn’t have to hide the fact that I smoke cigars from them.”
“… … .”
“You don’t have to worry about the smell of cigarettes lingering before you go to bed.”
Swoop.
Phew―.
Pure white smoke flowed out of his mouth.
“Well, it’s not like I’m particularly dissatisfied with my life right now.”
“… … .”
“Originally, everyone lives their lives hiding a secret or two like me. Isn’t that right?”
Ermin raised his head.
“for example…….”
His pupils were glowing red.
“Just like Raul is hiding the fact that he is a wizard from others.”
Stop.
As soon as his cold voice was heard, a cold silence flowed from around them.
“… … .”
[… … .]
silence.
A terrible silence fell.
Not even the sound of the water trickling down the stream or the quiet chirping of insects could be heard.
Swoop.
Phew―.
Only the faint sound of Ermin exhaling cigar smoke echoes.
* * *
Divinity and magic are opposing forces.
It was thanks to this that Ermin, a priest of the Inquisition, was able to identify the magician at a glance.
Because the divine power flowing through his body showed a strong rejection reaction from the magical power flowing through the boy’s body.
‘… … It’s a “blessing” that only I have.’
A “blessing” received directly from God.
This was a special ability that only high-ranking priests could use.
Among them, Ermin had the blessing of Mage-detector.
A rare ability to detect hidden magical powers in other people’s bodies using one’s own divine powers.
It could be said to be a truly useful blessing for the Inquisitors who had to arrest the forces of demons and evil.
Look.
Even now, haven’t you been able to figure out the true identity of the magician who pretends to be an innocent porter by using “blessing” like this?
‘By the way… … .’
Ermin looked at the wizard sitting next to him.
The boy was just staring blankly.
As if he were truly possessed by something.
Sigh―.
Ermin, who confirmed the appearance, looked at the cigar he was holding and smiled with satisfaction.
‘The newly imported cigars are certainly effective.’
What he was smoking was not an ordinary cigar made from tobacco leaves.
An item containing psychoactive herbs that are only found in the Moura Archipelago in the southern part of the empire.
An item that causes the mind of the person who smells the cigarette to become hazy.
This cigar was a confessional used primarily by the Inquisition when interrogating evil forces.
‘It was all a lie to lure that wizard, that he suffered from insomnia without cigars, and that he smoked cigars every night without telling the other priests.’
Ermine stared at Raoul with a sullen look.
Recently, magical abnormalities have been occurring throughout the Grotesque territory.
The Great Temple even discovered that the cause of the strange phenomenon was occurring in a specific dungeon.
That was also the reason why Ermin joined the Blood Wolf Mercenaries.
In order to follow the mercenary group into the dungeon and continue the detailed investigation into the cause of the magical abnormality.
‘But… … .’
Coincidentally, at that very moment, a suspicious wizard was trying to interfere with the raid.
He did so while claiming to be a porter. He even hid his identity.
‘… … I have my doubts.’
According to information I heard at the drinking party today, it’s only been a week since that boy joined the mercenary group.
There were more than one or two suspicious points.
There were too many suspicious aspects to dismiss it as a simple coincidence.
point.
His intuition, which had been honed over his entire life as a priest of the Inquisitor, was speaking.
Clearly, that boy named Raoul is someone related to this magical phenomenon.
‘okay…….’
Ermin had an intuition that bordered on precognition.
He used this intuition and blessing to arrest numerous evil forces.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was all thanks to this ability that he was appointed as a Paladin , a warrior priest of the Great Temple, at a young age of not even 30 .
So now it was time to turn his intuition into confidence.
By hearing the truth from that boy through confession.
“Raoul.”
“……yes.”
“Why did you hide the fact that you are a wizard and join the Blood Wolf Mercenaries?”
Ermin glared at the boy with sharp eyes and whispered to himself.
‘Speak.’
You are the mastermind behind the magical abnormality that is occurring throughout the Grotesque Realm.
‘Say… … .’
And what is your purpose in causing this magical anomaly?
‘… … Come on, speak.’
Right then.
The boy’s mouth opened slowly.
“That’s actually… … .”
Could it be because I was intoxicated by the scent of the confession?
The boy continued speaking in a hazy voice.
“Out of breath.”
“yes?”
“… … I did it because I wanted to play a game that made me breathe hard.”
“… … ?”
but.
The answer that came out of the boy’s mouth was completely different from what he had expected.
‘… … Out of breath?’
Ermin looked puzzled.
What on earth does that mean?
“I wanted to play hero.”
“… … ?”
Before Ermin could ask anything, the boy started spouting off words like crazy.
“I wanted to hide my strength like a loner, but then at a dramatic moment, I wanted to reveal my true abilities and save the other mercenaries. I also wanted to feel catharsis while doing so.”
“… … .”
“Is that okay? I told you the truth.”
A boy’s confession that swept through like a storm.
Ermin couldn’t help but look dumbfounded after hearing that.
‘No, really?’
Is that why you hid your power by calling yourself a porter?
Just because you want to play hero?
‘It’s definitely not a lie… … .’
Because of the effect of the confession system, you won’t be able to lie.
Ermin asked the question again to confirm the truth.
“Then, does that mean that Raul has nothing to do with the magical anomaly occurring in the Grotes territory?”
“Magic anomaly? What is that? I don’t know anything about it.”
“… … .”
Ermin’s expression became even more confused.
‘What the heck… … .’
But he probably had no idea.
The boy in front of him, no… the girl… had been developing a tolerance to psychotropic drugs and confession agents in the thieves’ guild for decades.
