Bravado
Bravado
After a satisfying night's sleep, we got up early, packed our gear, and slowly finished preparing to head to Ogwen.
During that time, a minor commotion arose because we hadn't properly inspected the reward we received yesterday—the horses we'd been given as compensation. Not just me, but everyone in the party had just assumed whatever came would be adequate, and it was only today that we checked the horses' condition. The result was deeply astonishing.
"Whoa, this is unexpectedly spectacular."
Every single horse we'd received, matching our headcount, was a high-grade steed. Apparently, they'd even been formally transferred to us with pedigree papers included.
"But somehow they feel a bit less imposing than the ones Eldmia and Asilie were riding."
"Compare like with like. That one horse alone was worth about six of these."
"Ah..."
The horses Sir Ekaf gave us were simply exceptionally fine mounts—these were plenty good enough. The kind a commoner could go their whole life without ever even touching. Honestly, since the compensation and damages that Englem and the Adventurers' Guild had to pay were no small sum, I'd assumed they'd cut corners on something like this, but it turned out to be a pleasant miscalculation.
"Huh, I'll have to sell this at the right opportunity. If it dies on me for nothing, I won't be able to sleep at night."
"You said it. I never figured I'd ride a horse like this in my life..."
"I'm just going to ride around on mine."
While Gaendal and Mr. Gin shared the same reaction, Yekaterina's eyes sparkled as she revealed her unusually ambitious plan. She already tended to find most horses unsatisfactory because of her monstrously heavy war hammer, but the horse we received this time was a warhorse by birth, so she seemed deeply pleased with it.
"Man, it's a shame we can't sell the byproducts from that demon. If we could've sold them together, we would've gotten top price."
"Can't be helped. They're also proof that we completed the request."
Watching them appraise the other spoils, I'd been momentarily tempted—I was dying to just sell them and submit only the proof documents to the Holy Light Cross Order. But we'd already profited handsomely in many ways, so instead of getting greedier, I decided to choose trust.
"Money is an infinite resource, but time is finite. And the thing that's even harder to buy with that time is trust, so it's a wise choice. The Holy Light Cross Order will hold you in high regard for this as well."
Was it because it came from Seneran, the one among us with the most assets? Every bit of her advice about money felt like it sank straight into my bones. Of course, I already felt like I'd done more than enough just by saving the saintess, but I didn't think she was wrong.
Anyway, after chatting in a briefly elated mood and finishing our maintenance, we turned our backs on Englem without any lingering attachment and set out on the road.
"Feels like it's gotten colder in just those few days."
As if a proper winter was about to begin, the weather had started growing colder by the day and now looked ready to dump snow at any moment. Hearing my mutter, Asilie nodded and spoke.
"If we don't hurry, we might get caught in the snow in the mountains."
In preparation for this journey, our clothes had gotten thicker, and the horses were systematically loaded with winter gear purchased in Englem. But even so, the devil's dandruff falling from the sky was hard to ignore. And I don't mean that as a joke—there were countless times when it fell as if trying to bury you alive.
In my past life, when I was in the military, there were times I'd wake before dawn and shovel snow that came up to my ankles, only for it to fall again during lunch at the exact same level as what had piled up in the morning, leaving me utterly dejected. Here, that level was just ordinary, so that said it all. There was a reason they restricted requests and prevented adventurers from leaving the region when winter came.
"Personally, I'd like it to come down nice and heavy, but the people of Itisel don't really like snow, you see."
As I frowned over snow dangerous enough to threaten our lives, Yekaterina came up beside me and struck up a conversation.
"Isn't it harder to like it when it comes down with murderous intent?"
"Hahaha! Funny joke, Eldmia! Is it a similar feeling to drowning in a drizzle?"
What? A drizzle? I looked at Yekaterina with a puzzled expression, but she seemed to be speaking seriously, not as a joke. Since we were riding along fairly hard, I couldn't ask Rellie, who had no spare attention, for an explanation. As I stood there at a loss, Asilie explained.
"It's because the kind of snow that would be called a blizzard in Itisel pours down constantly in Ravil. The snow falls so much there that you genuinely wonder how people can live."
Whoa... so Yekaterina felt nothing from this snowfall here except maybe a bit of homesickness? It was a staggering difference in perception, but at the same time, it was reassuring. At the very least, if she'd lived in a place where it snowed that heavily, she'd know all sorts of ways to cope with a blizzard.
"Since it's a place where it snows that much, you must know a lot of coping methods, right?"
"Well? Is there really something you'd call a coping method? You build a shelter and endure, or just endure!"
Damn, Yekaterina had a tendency to walk the tightrope between civilization and barbarism. Was it because her baseline physical ability was so superior?
Fortunately, contrary to that uneasy start, the snow held off all the way until we passed through the forest, crossed the mountain, watched the river gradually freeze, and finally reached the outskirts of Ogwen. Still entertaining silly thoughts like, 'I guess the universe does look out for you in ways like this if you've lived decently,' my companions and I headed for the Holy Light Cross Order. We couldn't help marveling at the temple, which looked completely different from the last time we'd seen it.
"This is... a lot more intense...?"
Anyone could have mistaken it for the Holy Light Cross Order's headquarters rather than the Ogwen branch. The temple grounds, which until now hadn't even had a proper stone wall, were now fitted with a palisade that looked disgustingly sturdy. The cozy lawn where children used to run around now had what looked like tactical barracks erected on it.
But more than anything, what seized our attention was the sight of two 'genuine' holy knights standing guard at the entrance.
"Crazy fuck, what the hell. I've never seen real holy knights in my entire life."
As I quietly raised my opinion of Sen for saying exactly what I'd been thinking, I found myself admiring the holy knights' armor. That was armor? It was so massive you could've told me it was power armor made of solid iron and I'd have believed it. Even their maces and shields were enormous, every bit as imposing as Yekaterina's war hammer.
A wall of defensive gear that looked absolutely impossible to move in normally without applying some kind of magical means slowly shifted, and then one of them addressed us.
"This is the Ogwen branch of the Holy Light Cross Order. Do you have business here?"
I'd expected a deep male voice to emerge, but surprisingly, it was a woman. That was how completely the armor lacked any visible bodily contours. Since I was still the party's spokesman for the time being, I dismounted first and spoke to the holy knight.
"I am called Eldmia Ega. I have come to report the completion of the demon subjugation request received from Temple Head Hiseyena."
Contrary to their stiff, rigid tone, they hadn't shown any threatening attitude, so I figured we wouldn't get turned away at the door at least. But the holy knights suddenly hooked their weapons onto something like a catch on their shoulder armor, raised their visors as well, and spoke in a manner entirely different from before.
"Ah! So you are the one who not only safely escorted the saintess but also set out to vanquish evil without a moment's hesitation! The diocesan bishop told us about you! It's truly a relief that you've returned safely after completing a task that even holy warriors could not easily accomplish!"
"Ah... yes..."
"To leave such noble footprints even without converting to the Order—truly, you are an example to all. Oh my, you must be tired, please forgive our rudeness. Please, come inside! The diocesan bishop's face had been clouded with worry as it seemed you were delayed beyond expectations!"
The holy knights, moved to emotion on their own, shook hands on their own, and showed us consideration on their own, opened the way with bright smiles. We accepted their goodwill as composedly as possible and headed toward the temple. Only after we'd left behind the holy knights' excessive kindness—they even offered to briefly take and tend to our horses—and stepped into the chapel did Rellie shake her head and slowly break the silence.
"In all my life, I never thought I'd receive such extreme hospitality from holy knights."
"Eldmia, life with you leaves no room for boredom. Heh heh heh."
"Right? I wish I could live a little more boringly."
"To fulfill such a wish, wouldn't you first have to live ordinarily?"
As if taking my words as a joke, Priest Ashel burst out laughing as he strode over and clapped my shoulder with his enormous hand.
"I'm glad you're safe. So, the diocesan bishop's request was resolved well?"
"Yes. I went and took the demon bastard's head."
I'd literally cut his throat. At that expression, containing not a shred of exaggeration, Priest Ashel was overjoyed.
"But what's this about a diocesan bishop? You seem to be speaking of Temple Head Hiseyena—has she been promoted?"
"'Promoted,' you say. What a truly secular expression... but it's not wrong. The diocesan bishop will speak to you separately about that matter. We will escort your companions so they may recover from their journey, so you go and see the diocesan bishop. You remember the way to the reception room, yes?"
Something... I had a feeling.
Ahead of me lay trouble.