Mission and Calling (1)
In our world, even if you're stabbed with a sword, as long as it doesn't hit a vital spot, you recover without a hitch after some hospital treatment.
But this place is different.
Agnes's insistence on stripping me down before to check for even the tiniest scratch wasn't unfounded obsession.
It's a world where neglecting a single scrape can lead to tetanus and death.
There is healing magic, but this brown-skinned girl can't enter the cathedral in Prosek Castle.
The laceration she suffered was in a place with no medical facilities or doctors.
From the moment she took that wound, she seems to have decided it was fatal on her own.
When the hell did she even get that injury?
Chasing down fleeing goblins?
Or while she was busy grabbing loot first again?
"Fuck!! This is exactly why I didn't wanna team up with you dumbass rookies!!"
Spotting Ssu collapse, Kerry came rushing over right away.
She'd been worried about Ssu's unusual behavior too.
"Fuck, she's burning up… Water! Get some water!! Hurry!! You fuckers, don't just stand there!!"
When Kerry yanked the skewer out of Ssu's body, dark red blood gushed out. She stanched the bleeding and started wrapping a bandage around it.
I rummaged through my pack for medicine too…
No, too late.
If we'd spotted it sooner and treated it right away, maybe. But with a fever that high, we're past the stage where ointment and disinfection would cut it.
Dumbass bitch.
The curse slipped out unbidden, one I don't usually use.
She didn't know shit, so she tried to handle it all on her own like an idiot.
Truly common sense-deficient.
I don't want to waste effort on some brainless girl like this.
So I headed to Gaedo.
"Get off the horse. I'm borrowing it for a day."
I spotted a pair of mounted knights passing by on Gaedo's horse and blocked their path.
"Whoa, what the—!?
Where the hell did this lunatic pop out from!?"
Ah… I guess I got too emotional without realizing it.
Need to take a breath and chill.
"I'm Kirgil, Hero of Prosek. I'm requisitioning your mount for one day."
"What? Prosek Hero? You hear some bullshit rumor and think you can steal our— Hic!?"
No time for explanations. I flashed the Hero's crest with one hand while leveling my sword at the knight's throat with the other.
Even drawing and showing the crest felt like a waste of time, so I cut it short.
"Captain Liard's scout, Kerry! It's true, what he's saying!! Hurry!! Get out here!!"
Kerry caught on to my intent and came over carrying Ssu on her back.
The two knights exchanged glances atop their horses.
They got the picture.
"Then we'll take the girl and—"
No time for long-winded talk.
I sliced off a corner of one knight's helmet.
"Got it!! Ah… fuck! Fine, take it! Get off!!"
The knight leaped off his horse, helmet and severed lock of hair flying.
While I mounted up, Kerry and the knights secured Ssu to my back.
I wanted to say thanks, but I dug in my spurs first.
The heat radiating from Ssu's body was no joke. Her breathing was ragged too.
Luckily, the moon was bright.
Bright enough for the horse to gallop.
No penicillin in this world, so saving Ssu now meant healing magic was the only option.
Shadowkin with brown skin can't enter Kalderan cathedrals.
But the priest I met at the adventurer's guild back then might heal her.
You don't need a cathedral for healing—just someone who can do it.
That priest came looking for me once.
So I had to go myself, not send someone else.
"Ugh… Daddy…?"
The horse's jolting must've roused her a bit.
She's conscious. Still time.
Ssu had been an annoying brat from the start.
But I remember how it felt burying Kras, that irritating punk, with my own hands.
That was just the other day.
I don't want to go through that again.
"Sorry… it's 'cause of me you got hurt… I wouldn't listen…
Me too… I too… g-got… s-stabbed…."
I spurred the horse harder without thinking.
Damn it, gotta stay calm, calm.
Full sprint would just wear us out sooner.
Heart's racing, but hold it together.
"I'm not your dad, I'm Kirgil. Long way to Daddy still. Snap out of it!!"
I talked to Ssu to keep her conscious, calming my own panic at the same time.
"…I was gonna… take responsibility… did good… ri…."
"Hey! Daddy's still far. Come on!!"
I kept talking to Ssu, shaking her sometimes.
She mentioned her little brother, so I said I bet she missed him, he had a long way to grow yet, what would he do without big sis or lil' sis, scolded her like that.
Kept rambling on about something. Not to hear replies. Just to confirm she was still reacting against my back.
Don't know how long I talked or rode.
Suddenly, Prosek Castle loomed far ahead.
I spurred harder.
"Kiheheheheh… hing!"
The horse finally gave out.
At least it collapsed carefully without throwing us off—that was its last kindness.
I left the heaving, winded beast and hoisted Ssu onto my back.
"Ngh! Kuah… fa… ther…."
Sorry. Hurts, I know.
And thank god. Still conscious.
Getting…
Closer…
The gates drew near.
"Open the gate!! Kirgil, Hero of Prosek!!"
I yelled the second I spotted the guards atop the wall.
If they didn't, I'd make a damn door myself.
"What? Hero? Kirgil's the Hero!? See, told ya fuckers!!"
Familiar voice. Second squad leader from back then, I think.
"What the hell! Open up! Fuck, open it now!! Guy's carrying a wounded one!! She's fine, just open!! I got this, I'll take responsibility!! You fuck, I'm acting officer tonight!!"
Thank god. Sounds of scrambling soldiers, and the gate creaking open.
I slipped inside before it was fully ajar.
Right… Tomi. Now I remembered. Kerry's cursing sounded familiar—that guy's speech pattern.
A few soldiers chased after me.
Not to hinder, but to help.
Appreciated, but their help wouldn't fix this.
Seeing me head for the Kalderan cathedral with the brown-skinned girl on my back, the soldiers halted and muttered.
"Hey hey. Where's that guy headed? He lost it or what?"
"Oi! Snap out of it! Why the hell go there!! That place right now is…."
I'm not crazy. I'm ice cold right now.
That's why I stand before the Kalderan cathedral.
Midnight, yet the church blazed with countless candles, shining like the sun. Prayers echoed from within.
Worshipping the sun god under the moon instead of sun. Weird, but one thing's sure.
Lots of priests inside.
Two knights crossed spears to bar my way.
Unlike Prosek soldiers, their tunics bore the sun crest. Cathedral knights.
"What fool dares profane this holy ground!!"
"…Priest… haa… for this girl… healing… kugh…."
Damn, just now realizing how beat I am.
Can't talk straight from the ragged breaths.
The knights eyed Ssu on my back, then leveled spears in unison.
"You dare bring darkness to the heart of light?!"
"All units!! Alert!! Emergency!!"
These bastards….
Is healing one dying girl worth deploying dozens to block?
I stopped heaving for breath.
Gripped Ssu tight with one arm, drew sword with the other.
The cathedral knights drew blades and braced spears, glaring.
I raised my sword and…
hurled it far off.
While they gawked dumbfounded at it clattering down, I dashed between them.
Time Stop Activated
I wouldn't kill innocents to save one. Not yet….
There!
Front of the church, atop the altar. A blue-haired girl.
Not in her flashy shrine maiden getup now, but wrapped in a white robe—still, that unique hair color stood out from afar.
I let time flow again and bellowed with all my might.
"Hero Kirgil!! Here to fulfill his mission!!"
Honestly, no clue what a "mission" even means.
But someone would get it.
The girl who'd proselytized me stared puzzled.
"What is the meaning of this!! Why bring a shadowkin here!! Do you know what occasion this is!!"
An elderly priest stepped forward, shielding the others.
Gasps and murmurs rose behind him.
Knights charging from behind, swords drawing.
Damn… wrong move? Like this….
"Halt!!"
Thank god. My voice… reached.
"Saintess, get back! This man brings darkness…."
"Diocesan, I didn't start prayers in this sunless night of my own will."
"…What!? You mean a revelation!?"
"Kirgil. Man of mission. I am the sun that shines warmly upon you. Now the light…."
"Mission, destiny, whatever!!"
I'm not here for holy chit-chat.
"Fine! I accept it all!!
Just save this girl!! Please!! I beg you!!"
Only then did the saintess look at Ssu.
Slightly surprised expression.
Not you too….