Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Fairbank Village
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Jade had to admit that his knowledge—mere dead letters memorized at a desk without real experience—was sorely lacking. But he had thought that inadequacy would be limited to physical challenges like navigating the desert, foraging for food, or finding water. He hadn't even considered that his geographical information might be wrong.
The village's name wasn't "Akilia," but Fairbank, just as Ruby had said.
"What era was the map I saw from? Hundreds of years old?"
Jade muttered as he gazed at the dilapidated walls.
"Who cares what the village is called?"
Ruby repeated what she had said earlier.
The old walls encircled the town. But most of them were so low that even Jade could climb over them, reduced to mere remnants of their former shape.
There was a gate, but with walls in that state, it was pointless.
Still, since there were guards posted at the walls, Ruby had concealed her tail and shackles so they wouldn't show, and hidden her horns and blue hair with her hood. But the guards didn't even glance their way as they passed.
Fairbank Village was far larger than any other desert village they had seen so far. Its central district was bigger than Genova's fish market and sported a bustling street smaller only than Pompeii's permanent bazaar.
"I have no idea where to start."
Once the confusion hit, Jade's mind went blank for a moment. They needed to buy supplies for the journey like food and water, find an inn, but he couldn't decide the order of priorities.
Saph's clothes were especially urgent. Jade wore robes borrowed from the monastery, Ruby clothes gifted by merchants, but Saph still had only her overcoat, nothing underneath.
"Need money?"
Ruby asked.
"Yeah. We don't have a single coin right now."
Jade replied.
Ruby spoke as if struck by a clever idea.
"Want me to get some?"
Jade frowned.
"Not if it means stealing."
"No problem! From what I remember, villages with this many shops always have those weird merchants who hand over piles of money to others temporarily, expecting it back double or triple. Taking theirs doesn't cause much fuss. Because those types always settle things with a few hired mercenaries instead of calling the guards when trouble hits. Just knock one out, and they leave you alone."
Jade looked down at Ruby silently, and she shrugged.
"What?"
"You're so knowledgeable it makes it hard to tell where common sense ends and nonsense begins."
"Our standards of common sense are just different."
"I suppose so."
Saph pointed to a star-cross atop the central plaza.
"There's a cathedral."
Jade wasn't thrilled to see the Kaitlic symbol.
"I'm not sure we'd get pure aid from a cathedral."
"We might not get help, but we could get a copy of the holy scriptures."
"Huh? Why the scriptures?"
Saph spoke in a tone as if asking why he would question something so obvious.
"You promised to show them to Ruby."
"Oh, right. Yeah, we should. I'm curious what Ruby would say after reading the scriptures."
Jade headed toward the cathedral. Ruby followed, asking,
"That star cross is the Kaitlic symbol, right? How'd that happen?"
Saph explained enthusiastically.
"When Saint Macdaloa was falsely accused as a witch, tied to a cross pillar, and burned at the stake, a huge star shone in the eastern sky. The people realized their mistake; the judge, the onlookers, everyone knelt and prayed. From then on, the Kaitlic symbol became the star cross."
"Hmm, that story feels familiar, like I've heard it or seen it..."
Ruby tilted her head.
Saph asked cautiously.
"It's from a thousand years ago... You didn't actually see it, did you?"
"A thousand years ago... Hmm, was I born then? Eh, who knows. I'd remember if I'd seen a burning or two."
"If you saw it, it'd be a special sight, so it'd stick in your memory."
"What makes it so special? For the star part, maybe a shooting star luckily fell right when they executed that woman."
"That woman—Saint Macdaloa!"
"Was it a man, then?"
As the two bickered, the trio arrived at the cathedral.
Jade knocked on the door handle.
"Anyone there?"
They waited a long time, but no one came out, not even a reply.
"Let me try."
Ruby stepped forward.
Jade stopped her.
"Don't break the door like at the monastery."
"That was the right thing! Don't say it like it was wrong."
Ruby knocked on the handle, mimicking Jade's tone.
"Anyone there? If not, we're coming in."
She waited about five seconds, then flung the door open.
"Then, pardon the intrusion."
Jade paused at the absurd situation, asking,
"What was that?"
"I was polite."
"Since when did you decide to be?"
"From Mount Santarimo Monastery."
"What sparked that?"
The chapel had clean chairs, polished wooden candelabras gleaming smoothly, and walls hung with the latest style paintings. It was better maintained than most cathedrals in Rom.
"I always pursue efficiency and fun in battle. It applies to daily life too. Nothing uses less effort than being polite to end situations without hassle. I forgot until the monastery jogged my memory."
Ruby's voice echoed softly off the arched ceiling.
"Hmm, if that means you won't start trouble, I'm for it, but that wasn't really politeness."
"I've wandered the whole world. Can't learn every custom. Just the basics."
"Your sense of common sense is really something. Then why fight the angels when you knew that sort of..."
"Stop!"
Jade thought Ruby was cutting him off because she hated the topic.
Ruby pointed a finger at the ceiling. A man's voice came from above.
"Welcome. The Akilia Cathedral greets you."
Looking up, they saw a man hanging from a ladder hooked to a pillar, cleaning a six-candle chandelier from the ceiling.
"Hello. I'm Father Jaden, a traveling priest from the area."
Jade reflexively gave a false name. But he didn't hide his priestly status. It drew less suspicion that way.
"Welcome. I'm Deolon, caretaker and priest of this cathedral."
He greeted the uninvited guests without a hint of fluster.
"This is Priestess Saph. This is my disciple, Ruby. I was just thinking how well-maintained the cathedral is, yet you're doing the cleaning yourself, Father?"
"It's just me here, so of course."
Father Deolon chuckled heartily, then suddenly turned serious.
"More importantly, could you stop talking for a bit?"
"Why?"
"No, no! Don't speak. Don't even reply."
The three waited silently as Deolon slowly descended the ladder.
Only after it was fully down did he wipe sweat from his brow and speak.
"Whew, talking from below makes me dizzy when descending. No, no, not the time! It's been ages since visitors—let's have some tea."
Before Jade could respond, Deolon went into the sacristy. He soon wheeled out a table laden with food and tea.
"You came out so fast, like it was prepped."
Amazed, Jade commented, and Deolon chuckled again.
"No, no! You're lucky. I prepped it to eat alone. But no water for tea—goat milk instead. Freshly milked this morning. Here, sit, sit."
Amid the bustle, Father Deolon quickly arranged seats and passed out bread and a cup of goat milk to each.
"But did you just say Akilia Cathedral?"
Jade asked.
"Yes. That's the name. Something wrong?"
Deolon countered.
Ruby sniffed the bread, then the goat milk. She took a bite and nodded.
'She's checking if the food's safe. Thorough.'
Jade continued naturally to avoid showing Deolon that scrutiny.
"I thought this was Akilia, but it said Fairbank Village when we got here."
"Ah, you're right on that."
Deolon explained immediately.
"This village was once the city-state of Akilia. That was centuries ago."
Deolon talked while eating, crumbs flying constantly. A chunk from his mouth plopped into Jade's goat milk cup.
Saph subtly moved her bread and cup away. Ruby had already finished.
"But after Kumaan's armies swept through, it declined sharply and became a frontier town under Parens Kingdom. That's when Akilia vanished, renamed Fairbank in Parens style."
"I see. My map must be too old."
"No worries. Locals take pride in Akilia descent, so many old names linger. Ask at outer shops what's good 'Akilia' food, and you might get freebies."
Deolon eyed the three alternately with a smile.
"But a priest and priestess traveling together—surprising. Where to?"
"That's..."
Jade started to say "hard to say," but Deolon waved it off.
"No, no need to answer. Let me guess!"
Deolon put a hand to his head and continued gravely.
"First, covered in red sand, so you crossed the Red Desert... That means from Lituwana Duchy or Rom Empire. No, no, don't say if I'm right or wrong yet."
He pressed on with his deductions.
"To come from Rom to here usually means through Parens Kingdom or main roads—far easier. But you took the Red Desert on purpose. Your accents too, but priests mostly from... Wait, Rom—ah, you studied in Rom's Lituwana Duchy."
Not giving Jade a chance to reply, Deolon kept going.
"From Lituwana Duchy, right? Then north along this village to Kuman Steppes' 'Gran,' east to Luna Duchy’s 'Rumania.' My bet: Rumania?"
"No. We're going to the Kuman Steppes. Not to Gran, though."
At Jade's answer, Deolon swung his arms in the air regretfully.
"Ah, darn! I thought steppes inside but prejudice said no way to such a dangerous spot—so close yet missed. But steppes..."
Deolon scanned the three, eyes settling on Saph.
Saph avoided his gaze, turning to Jade.
"The Kuman Steppes are three times bigger than the Red Desert, hardly any villages except Gran, just Kun nomads at best. People misunderstand—steppes have more than horses; plenty of beasts too. Kuman tigers, steppe pumas big enough to eat horses. Hard with a delicate woman and young boy."
Deolon looked worriedly between Saph and Ruby.
"And lately, other issues too."
"Other issues?"
Jade asked.
Deolon whispered like a scary tale to frighten children.
"Demons are appearing, they say."
Jade immediately exchanged glances with Ruby.
"Demons, you say..."
Before Jade could elaborate, Deolon cut in.
"No, no, I know. Savages like the Kun calling something demon doesn't make it one for us. Rather, their armies were the real demons once for us."
Deolon waved it off laughing.
Jade had many questions. Was the demon a real entity or just a big beast misidentified...?
But Deolon monologued to his own conclusion.
"Parens Kingdom talks of sending scouts to exterminate demons, but it'll fizzle as minor happenings. Probably just a large steppe puma. Just grandmotherly advice."
Ruby observed Deolon silently. Her wide-eyed stare made her look like a curious child, so Deolon raised a hand to pat her head. But Ruby lightly swatted it away.
Light for her, but it startled Deolon.
Jade quickly excused.
"Sorry. She had bad experiences young, fears others' touch."
"Ooh, no offense meant."
Deolon nodded knowingly, while Ruby shot Jade a displeased look.
Jade smiled to say let it go.
Deolon politely asked again.
"So, what's next on your journey?"
"Not decided yet."
"Crossing the desert safely doesn't mean steppes are nothing. Sometimes traversing demon-infested hell is safer than empty steppes."
"Yes. That's what worries me. But I'm no seasoned traveler, don't even know what to prepare. So I came to the cathedral first for help."
Deolon shot up.
"Then perfect timing. This is God's will. I'll help. Maps, provisions, water for the steppes—all prepared."
"Can't impose that much. Just some info, I'll handle the rest."
"Some info? I've seen tons enter steppes like that and die or crawl back in agony. Leave it to me. I know experts in this."
"Like Kun nomads?"
"Don't rush to judgment, brother. They're dangerous folk. Now meek sheep herding, but five, six hundred years ago, called demon vanguard heathens? Nature doesn't change."
"Then those experts...?"
"Akilia Patrols. Not residents here despite the name. Like nomads, roaming the steppes. Ex-mercs formed a private guard firm—top-notch. Traveler safety first, vouch by Archangel Gatriliel."
Jade checked Ruby's eyes again.
She stared piercingly at Deolon like a diligent student.
"Well, that's something to discuss... Truth is, I have no money at all."
Jade said.
Deolon inhaled sharply in shock.
"Ooh, bandits in the desert?"
"Yeah."
"Makes sense. Red Desert has more thieves than scorpions."
Jade's encounter wasn't that, but he let Deolon's assumption stand.
"Yeah. Broke as can be. That's why I'll handle it. Just get a steppes map."
"No, no, can't do that."
Deolon waved dismissively.
"Can't send struggling siblings from this cathedral empty-handed. How about this: Stay one night here waiting. I'll fetch the patrols."
"And the cost?"
"Locals revere me, the village's only priest. Patrols too—who else for confessions and prayers? They won't be stingy helping a Kaitlic priest."
Jade doubted mercenaries would buy that pitch, but no harm in trying, so he accepted.
"Thank you."
"Priest quarters have empty rooms—share among you three."
Deolon pointed at a window, speaking rapidly.
"Whoops! With plans set, must hurry. Patrols have no fixed home; dark falls, can't find them. Lucky, back before night. Watch the cathedral till then, Brother Jaden?"
"Of course, Brother Deolon."
Deolon donned his overcoat by the ladder and exited.
"Nice guy. Lucky break."
Jade confirmed he was gone and said.
Ruby spoke.
"Can't call it lucky."
"Huh? Why?"
"He's lying."