Chapter 570
Chapter 570
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 570
Chapter Title: A Good Friend to Meet
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After several days of travel, we finally arrived at the Fog Plains.
"This fucking place."
As expected, it was shrouded in thick fog. Just like last time when we came searching for that meteorite, visibility was shot to hell. On top of that, the piled-up snow made the whole world look blindingly white.
At least it wasn't as deep as I'd feared. Small mercies.
We just sat there quietly, letting the carriage do the work.
Neigh...
Whinny, whinny.
About five minutes later, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
"Looks like we'll take a break here!"
Barkerel shouted, and people started climbing out. Come to think of it, it was about lunchtime. We grabbed our stuff and hopped off too.
"Paladin. We've reached the Fog Plains. Since none of us know the roads, we'll have to start searching from scratch. It'll take grit."
"You're right on the money."
"I plan to move slowly while mapping things out, but let's eat first. Good thing it's not as cold as I thought."
The carriage came equipped with basic cooking gear, so we pulled it all out and got lunch going right away.
With Winia around, starting a fire was no issue. Just like always, we whipped up a simple stew for some field rations.
"So this is the Fog Plains? The fog really is as thick as they say. Can't see a damn thing ahead."
Elise said as she stirred the pot.
"Can't see ahead, just like the future for those heretics."
"Hee hee, that's a good one. You always know how to crack a joke, Sir Holy Knight. Speaking of which, this stew... it kinda reminds me of you back during the Crusade."
Heretic stew.
"What the hell is she saying while we're eating?"
Winia piped up, clearly thinking the same thing.
"Ah! Sorry, slipped out."
"Well, the blackie does have a way with words."
"Heh heh heh. A man's gotta have humor. That's the most important thing."
Before digging into the stew, I unhooked the grain and water barrels from the carriage and fed the horses.
"So that's why Katt's always cracking killer jokes?"
"You got it."
Claudy ladled my portion into a small bowl.
Maybe it was the cold, but even the bland stew tasted damn good when it was hot. The warmth spreading through me made things feel a bit more bearable. Sure, my body's reinforced, and the Sasquatch fur coat keeps me toasty, but we've been out here too long.
It's tough.
"Katt. If we find one of those criminal villages again this time..."
"Wipe 'em out. Kill 'em all, loot the vaults, and it'll cover our trip here."
"Hee hee hee, so reliable."
Claudy laughed happily and patted my head. This job was either scouting or extermination from the start. If there were heretic collaborators, we'd have to erase them, obviously.
"Indeed. We must crush all such evildoers."
"...The worry is actually finding them. Well, whatever—criminal or not, I hope we at least spot a village."
With a normal village, we could just pay for lodging. If it was bandits, we'd clear 'em out and crash hard.
We've done it before, so it wouldn't be too hard.
We finished eating, brushed our teeth, and chatted with Barkerel. The plan was to map as we went and blindly search for villages.
No other options right now.
Soon we packed up at the call to move out and boarded the carriage.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And so, we traversed the Fog Plains in midwinter.
We're making maps, but who knows how useful they'll be. Visibility's crap, so progress is slow anyway.
At night, we huddled the carriages and horses together, lit a fire, took turns on watch, and slept inside. Unlike the meteorite hunt, no monster attacks at night—nice bonus.
The occasional monsters we ran into were nothing special.
This recon squad could repel even an archdemon. Regular monsters? I could squash 'em with a flick of a finger, no bullshit.
Of course, the defeated ones got butchered on the spot for stew stock. Smooth journey overall, no issues.
"Whoa, we stopping?"
Then the carriage halted.
"Not lunchtime... Did they find something?"
Winia said, and holy knights and priests piled out of the lead carriage. I jumped down too and scanned around. Sure enough—flickering lights in the distance.
A village.
"Looks like we've finally found a village, men."
First one in days since entering the Fog Plains. We zigzagged following vague paths, but we got lucky.
Wonder if it's bandits?
Even a hundred of 'em wouldn't stand a chance against me and the holy knights.
"We'll head in for now. They won't turn away folks with a righteous cause."
Barkerel ordered, and we approached on foot, leading the carriages. Soon a wooden palisade and a three-story watchtower came into view.
That was the light source.
"Halt! Who goes there?!"
Someone up top yelled, nocking an arrow. Village sentry? Barkerel stepped forward and bellowed.
"We are holy knights of the Brass Celestial Society on official duty!!! May we enter the village?!!!"
"H-Holy knights...? Hold on!"
They might be heretic collaborators, but we don't know yet. Could be good folk.
So Barkerel politely requested entry instead of barging in. If they refused, it'd be suspicious, and we'd force our way. No option to back off.
Soon people showed up and cleared the small gate.
"Come in!"
Surprisingly compliant.
No red flags?
We led the carriages inside.
...
...
...
Inside, villagers stared at us with sunken eyes—like murderers crawled straight from the pits of hell.
Pretty crowded, so probably everyone in the village.
"H-Holy knights, you say...?"
A hunter-looking guy approached.
"That's right. On duty right now. We'd like to see your village chief."
"Ah, I'll guide you."
Barkerel's Brass Celestial armor looked top-shelf compared to these ragged villagers. Folks like this bow to shiny gear alone.
That's the world.
We tossed some coins to the locals to stable the carriages. Money makes everything run smooth. No point skimping when we're crashing here a night anyway.
After stabling, we all headed to the chief's house as a group.
"You must be the chief. What's the village called?"
"Gurters Village, but... what brings holy knights here...?"
Barkerel handled the talk.
The gist: We're church holy knights. Heretics have infiltrated the Fog Plains. Need your cooperation for the investigation.
No way for simple villagers to refuse armed strangers.
When swordsmen show up and order you, you obey—that's the law here. At least holy knights ask nicely.
"Of course, cooperate and you'll get rewarded. We just need to search the village. It's to wipe out evil heretics, so we'd appreciate permission."
"Well... y-yes, go ahead. We'd have to help with something like that."
The chief was reasonable.
If he'd refused, we'd suspect him and search anyway. Like entering the village—no backing out.
"Split into teams of three and investigate the village. The chief's given permission, so be as polite as possible."
Barkerel directed smoothly, and the holy knights and priests headed out.
"Sir Holy Knight. Shall we investigate too?"
"Hold up, Elise. Claudy, Winia—can you three start with her? I'll join in a bit."
"Yeah... sure. Hurry up, blackie."
Once they left, only me, Barkerel, and the chief remained. I asked Barkerel if I could speak first; he nodded, so I opened up.
"Heh heh heh, Chief. Any lodging here?"
"No inn, but there's empty buildings fit for guests."
"Good to hear."
At least we can crash.
Honestly, no clue if they're good folk or heretic collaborators. Permitting a search suggests no guilt, but who knows.
Even if they traffic people, no captives means no evidence.
No random heretics dropping by either.
Can't interrogate or torture on suspicion alone—that's insane, the kind of shit heretics and criminals pull.
We don't do evil like that.
Those are the villains we crush to uphold justice.
No hard evidence? We move on.
Same for me and the holy knights.
Without proof, they're just residents to protect from heretics.
"Hmm, Chief."
So I asked a few simple questions.
"As I explained, heretics nearby are trafficking people. Even villages collaborating. Know anything about that? Suspicious visitors... or rumors of a village getting massacred?"
I leaned in, gripping the table.
"Th-That..."
The old chief looked spooked. Maybe introduce myself first.
"Heh heh heh, rude of me. I'm Paladin Kim Katt, direct under the saintess of the Brass Celestial Society. Investigating heretics in the Fog Plains, as I said."
"P-Paladin..."
His eyes widened at "Paladin."
To the masses, it means awe or fear. Fear means deep guilt.
"From what this paladin knows, heretics have nested here for ages. Professional trafficking scale."
"..."
"Nothing? Even a backwater like this trades with neighbors. You'd hear rumors."
Fog Plains or not, villages connect somehow. Locals probably have maps too.
So they'd know nearby news, and heretics likely visited once—prime spot for their slave ring.
A village chief would hear things.
"We do trade with other villages, but... heretics? No idea. We're small—just herbs, local goods, small farms, hunting. No ties to that."
He looked scared but claimed ignorance.
"Oh? What about rumors of a village wiped out or vanished?"
"N-No such scary tales..."
"Heh heh heh, nothing, huh."
I chuckled, eyeing him.
He's trembling.
Even here, a whole village massacre should be known. Suspicious, but maybe no tight networks between villages.
Possible.
Folks here probably don't stick tight village-to-village.
"Alright. Not accusing you or the village. Just routine—don't stress. Be cautious. Heretics and criminals everywhere nearby."
"..."
No need to mention the massacres I've done.
"Still, locals like you must have maps. Straight talk: sell us one."
"...Understood."
He nodded.
We wrapped up, got the map, and headed out. Found Claudy, Winia, and Elise quick, then investigated together.
Villagers cooperated.
Nothing suspicious.
Nothing more we could do. Paid fair price for supplies, got empty houses, and rested.
Hey, we got the map. Mission accomplished.