Chapter 471
Chapter 471
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 471
Chapter Title: Last Parade (2)
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Splash. Splash.
Splat—
Whooo.
“Ha, Priestess Haila! The towels... I’ve wrung them all out....”
The girl, Nairi, timidly set down the basket full of laundry next to the priestess.
Three years ago, the bright, seven-year-old girl Nairi had lost her father while fleeing a curse, which made her words few and far between. Over the past three years, her mother and sibling had fallen one after another, leaving wounds so deep in her heart that she could barely speak at all.
“Thank you. Just leave it there, alright?”
“...Is there, anything else I can do...?”
“It’s fine. People are coming to their senses and helping out little by little, so we don’t need the children’s hands anymore.”
“B-but! Still! There must be something.... something I can do....”
Only ten years old now. Her hands red and swollen from the cave’s icy well water, the girl rubbed her chilled fingers as she asked if there was more she could do.
‘She must be happy just to have something she can do.’
Priestess Haila was glad for the girl’s change, yet pitied her all the same.
“Hm, then how about going outside and picking some pretty flowers?”
“Th-there are no useful herbs left nearby, and Mage Gora said going far is dangerous....”
“Not for medicine—just pretty flowers. It’d be nice to bring the scent of spring to those who’ve forgotten it, lying there breathing for nearly three years.”
“Ah.... Yes, yes! I-I’ll do it!”
At those words, the girl beamed and ran to her mother’s bedside among the rows of cots, where she lay weakly. Telling her mother, who was slowly regaining strength, that she’d go pick flowers, the girl’s face bloomed with a delicate smile like spring blossoms.
“The beds are almost all empty now.”
“Ratura. The goddess is watching over us.”
“Indeed. Even if not the goddess, it’s clear Priestess Haila tended them without sleep.”
“I am but the fingertips of mercy. Leaving me here to care for the sick—is that not the goddess’s mercy?”
“Heh heh, well. Hearing it that way, it does seem so.”
The mage, returning with arms full of the scent of grass from outside, watched with moved eyes as the ward, once filled only with groans, now brimmed with the sounds of the living.
People who had breathed like corpses now opened their eyes and spoke.
With limbs withered to skin and bone, muscles melted away, they struggled to rise, speaking in cracked, twisted voices.
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“Ugh.... My wife... who came with me... where is she...?”
“My... my daughter... she got out with me...”
“M-Mommy! Mommyyyy!”
“Nairi...! Oh, my baby...!”
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“...Perhaps the goddess truly did intervene.”
“She must have. Surely she did.”
The sight of those who had rasped for breath over three years suddenly regaining their wits in a single day, like a miracle, was enough to stir religious awe even in the eyes of an atheistic mage.
The curse was lifted.
The long night had ended, and dawn had finally arrived.
“So, what of your outing?”
“I grabbed several south winds and asked, but they all said much the same. A huge uproar in the capital. Winds have no eyes or ears, so I can’t know exactly what happened, but the curse lifting means...”
“The emperor is finally dead.”
At the mention of the emperor’s death, Priestess Haila and Mage Gora thought of the same person.
‘I have business in the imperial city.’
Coincidentally, just days ago, a lone knight had passed through here toward the capital.
Not part of any order, just one knight, clad not in shining full plate but sturdy legs and a ragged cloak instead of a warhorse, bearing not a refined sword but a strange one laden with broken magitech parts.
“Did Sir Hyde safely accomplish his task?”
“Likely. He seemed nothing if not capable. Didn’t the salvagers he introduced say as much? No one who couldn’t even save his own neck.”
“Is that so....”
Haila prayed for him a moment. Mercy, please extend your hand to the lonely departed Sir Hyde.
Boom—
At that instant, as if answering her prayer, the moment she lowered her clasped hands, a thunderous roar echoed through the cave.
“What’s happening?”
“Something huge collided with the cave. Don’t tell me it’s a mute that escaped the capital!”
“The children are outside!”
“Of all times...!”
Priestess and mage gripped their holy symbol and staff, dashing toward the cave mouth.
The heavy stone door creaked open agonizingly slow, and there they met a panting little girl.
“Hah, hah, P-Priestess! Mage!”
“Nairi! You’re safe!”
“M-Monster, a bright red monster!”
The two, rushing to shield the girl, froze.
Because,
“Uh, um.... The monster... l-left a ton of gifts.”
Nairi’s arms were so full of fresh spring flowers that they couldn’t even hug her.
“Child. What do you mean? A monster left gifts?”
“Y-Yeah, the ground suddenly shook and a shadow fell, and when I looked, a huge, terrifying monster was looking down at me....”
“And?!”
“Y-Yeah, I asked what it wanted, and I said I was picking flowers for Mom, and suddenly my arms were full of flowers like this, and the m-monster vanished!”
“...Just like that? Left a bunch of flowers and gone?”
“Ugh, a-actually, it asked about you two, Priestess and Mage! And about the new s-sailors who arrived recently! S-Sorry! I was so scared I told it everything! Waaah!”
“The monster asked about us too....”
“Priestess Haila, I’ll scout the cave surroundings. It might still be nearby.”
As Mage Gora stepped out with a grim face, Priestess Haila examined the worried girl.
No injuries, no parasites or curses clinging.
“Did the monster touch you or anything?”
“Y-Yeah, my head....”
“Your head?!”
“It kinda petted my head, and said in a scary voice ‘You’ve been through a lot’ or something....”
“...Was it really a monster?”
“Y-Yes! Taller than the cave door, skin red like hardened blood, sharp teeth and claws! A scary tail too!”
“A mute, then.”
It matched no race she knew—definitely a mute.
But that description felt familiar, like something she’d read....
“Hm?”
Suddenly, Priestess Haila spotted something glinting amid the bouquet in the girl’s arms.
“This.... A church holy symbol?”
A mercy church holy symbol crusted with blood scabs, and beneath it, a rolled sheet of paper.
[Thanks to you, I made it back safely, Priestess.]
The paper, used on the back as stationery, was the capital map she’d given a certain knight days ago.
“Sir Hyde!”
[The holy symbol belonged to a holy knight who guarded the capital’s temple these past three years.]
[Too much offered to the goddess to just bury under rubble. Please give him a church funeral. I’d be grateful.]
[His body is at the temple with the other mercy brothers.]
“He lived...!”
The short note brought news of him—and of the brothers she’d anxiously awaited for three years.
[The weather’s nice. Time to come out now.]
Along with word that the curse on this land was gone.
“Bwahahahaha! What a madman, hahat, hahahahaha!”
As she immersed in emotion, roaring laughter from the direction Mage Gora had gone echoed into the cave, and the mage approached clutching his belly.
“Priestess Haila, come here! Quick!”
“Someone there?”
“Just come! I’ve got something to show you!”
“Wait, I have something to show you too...!”
In that moment, Priestess Haila forgot her words.
Outside their hidden refuge, covering one side of the rocky hill: enormous graffiti.
[The place Knight Hyde stayed one night before beheading the cursed emperor.]
[+This inscription carved with the imperial sword Lionel, symbol of the Baltin Empire.]
“Pfft!”
“I knew that guy would cause a scene! Not just alive—he’s thriving, carving mountains with a sword!”
“Why... why that...?”
“How should I know? Said he had business in the capital—didn’t think thief! Uhaha, bwahahaha! Killing the cursed emperor and stealing the empire’s sword! Bwahahahaha!”
The mage shook his head in disbelief, laughing nonstop like his lungs were full of wind.
Children returning from other tasks rushed over from afar, shouting “The monster brought a spear stake!” and carrying several iron poles radiating holy aura toward her.
“The monster....”
The knight who ended three years of curse in days.
No knowing what happened in the capital, but plunging into its heart, he’d undergone no ordinary change.
“May mercy’s hand reach you too.”
Amid laughter and vitality.
Haila, feeling the world alive again after so long, prayed for the unseen knight who’d departed.
****
Isena
Tarimus
Eggwil
“Eggwil. Hand me the number three tightening rod. This won’t lock.”
“Gru. None left.”
“Why not! Tarimus carved them!”
“Wooden tools don’t last. Broke.”
“Damn saltwater-soaked wine! Nothing works right!”
Clang!
Isena hurled the bent metal chunk and slumped onto the sandy beach.
She’d spent the whole day on the broken engine, to no avail.
“How many people at Priestess Haila’s cave?”
“65 including us.”
“65....”
Test subject beastkin Isena recalled the priestess and mage who’d found them on the coast days ago.
They cared for the homeless. With food and a safe hideout, they asked to stay and help—salvation for those taking turns guarding the wrecked ship on catnaps.
There, only priestess, mage, and kids were hale; the salvagers learned of the empire: mad emperor, three-year curse, capital turned hell.
“...Can’t sacrifice power to burn it all and float the ship.”
After overnight talks, they decided.
Staying meant slow death; head farther from capital.
Mage said southeast imperial territory had gatherings; go there.
Thus, days grunting over the half-sunk Whale. Patients couldn’t trek, land prowled by mutes.
Just two days, calm coastal route; repair just enough to sail. Skilled troll, beastkin, elf sailors could manage—but magitech engine was trouble.
“Gruu. Can’t conjure missing parts. Especially fingernail-sized precision ones.”
“Why not! Captain Rock fixed a sea-warehouse-speared, exploding engine!”
“That was captain. We just glanced.”
“Argh!”
Frustrated, Isena nearly kicked the engine but sprawled on the rail instead. One wrong touch now, irreparable.
“...What glory am I chasing, saving 60 strangers I don’t know.”
“Uru. They asked us.”
“...Shit.”
Isena turned away, feeling Eggwil’s reproving gaze. Truth: cut passengers, solved. Strip power parts, link propulsion—their scant magitech knowledge sufficed.
But whenever she thought to tell the priestess, one thing surfaced.
=========
‘Sir Hyde said if he came this way, you’d be here.’
‘Sir... Hyde? Hyde?’
‘Uruuu! You saw Hyde! Wh-where? Follow you to meet?’
‘C-Calm down. He’s long gone. Just said we’d meet capable folks in trouble here. Is there an elf Tarimus? Expert in alchemy and herbology?’
‘Me. I’m Tarimus.’
=========
“Damn it....”
Even now, thinking of him soured her mood.
Her precious kin died unjustly at sea; without him, it wouldn’t have happened.
But still.
Thinking of Hyde, who’d left alone, left a corner of her chest uneasy.
Especially after learning his destination: the capital, now hell.
Grrr....
She bolted up!
“Let’s try again. The magitech engine manual dried in the sun, right?”
“Gruk. Ink smeared in saltwater.”
“Better than these tin cans.”
So, helping this unlucky bunch he’d dumped repaid her grudge.
Finish this, hate him carefree.
“Huff, huff, huff!”
As Isena and Eggwil steeled themselves, flipping the warped book, beastkin ears caught elf gasps.
“Tarim? What’s wrong!”
“H-Here! Hereee!”
Crash!
“Damn mage! Said this area safe!”
Voice thick with tension and shock; they raced toward Tarimus.
Meeting him charging from coastal hill behind, even urgency couldn’t stop questions.
“Uh....”
“Gr uu....”
“....”
“What’s that?”
Tarimus, thought mute-attacked, was fine.
Or rather, struggling hard.
Hauling a sack his body size.
“D-Don’t know. Picking herbs on hill, gale hit, this heavy sack flew onto me....”
“Saw who threw? Person?”
“No. Saw reddish blur maybe.... But look inside first!”
Clank!
Tarimus dropped the sack, face flushed—not fear, excitement.
“What’s got you so worked up. Sky dropping gold sack or—”
Rrrumble! Thunk! Clang! Jingling!
“...It did?”
Empire gold coins poured from the sack, golden candelabras gleaming despite dust, gemmed staffs, necklaces, paintings screaming value, lighting the dim coastal woods.
.
.
.
.
“My kin sleeping in the sea, my god.”
“Uru. Tarimus. What’d you do.”
Eggwil and Isena’s suspicion reasonable.
“N-Not me! Really fell from sky!”
“This ring’s gem bears great noble crest. If sleep powder hit noble carriage, return now....”
“I said no! I don’t know how—"
“Kyaa! Shut up both!”
Isena snatched a large gold bar from the shiny pile.
Unlike dusty warehouse sweeps, this hand-polished one bore sharp-engraved text.
“Uru, writing.”
“What’s it say?”
“Wait! Too bright.”
Blowing on cold gold, rubbing with soft-furred inner arm.
...Sniff sniff.
Faint scent on gold hardened Isena’s face.
“...Tarim.”
“Hm?”
“Which way’d that red shadow go?”
“Coastal opposite side maybe—”
Thud thud thud!
Isena bolted without hearing end, toward direction; Eggwil picked dropped gold bar, read inscription.
“...Whale—”
[The Whale shares profits equally among all crew.]
[Sorry. Dragged you into my mess.]
“....”
“....”
“Hyde!”
“Hyde!”
Tarimus and Eggwil flung gold bars, sprinting like Isena.
Beastkin speed put her far ahead; Eggwil, Tarimus saw her stopped, cursing empty air.
“Y-You coward! Runaway! Murderer! Filth!”
“Isena! Hey, calm down!”
“Let go! That bastard Hyde...!”
“Met him? Hyde! Here! Hydeee—!”
Tarimus restrained thrashing Isena; Eggwil picked up fallen piece at her feet.
Furniture carving, like sack treasures.
“...He tried to apologize! Tried! I’m the failure! You couldn’t move warlords or horrors! Sea accident anywhere, I just needed outlet for family death rage! But, but!”
[Enough.]
“...Flew and hit my head.”
“Before I begged, he... forgave me already....”
Fresh-sawdust letters on fragment.
“That bastard does that, who do I beg now? Huh? Whale crew family, he sees us kin, I chased him out... what now?!”
Thud.
Truth, Isena knew.
Only after dumping rage on him and he left, realized not burning at him.
Some things unknowable, unfixable. Kin loss grief, injustice—too hot inside, poured on nearest heads.
“Gone. Couldn’t apologize face-to-face, just gone....”
“...But alive. Said going capital.”
“Yes. Alive, we’ll meet again someday.”
Tarimus patted sobbing, slumped Isena.
‘...Not human form.’
Elf eyes sharp as beastkin, mute.
Fleeting glimpse: huge monster—Hyde?
‘Circumstances forced it.’
‘Stay well, Hyde.’
To spare Isena grief, Tarimus kept Hyde’s change secret. If he couldn’t face them changed, she’d blame herself more.
Just pray their sea-faring crewman safe on land’s storms.
****