Chapter 392: Clark(1)
Chapter 392: Clark(1)
The investigation of the underground temple was currently almost an exclusive monopoly of the Minerva Empire.
Lina had informed me that other nations were preoccupied with their own problems, and there was a risk that the secret—specifically, the fact that the summoning ritual had succeeded—might leak.
Since this was a truth that had to be concealed as much as possible for now, they were receiving only minimal support from the Minerva Empire and Savior.
Only a tiny handful of people knew the secret; within the Minerva Empire, it was just the Imperial Family and me.
The same went for Savior. Unlike the Minerva Empire, they had dispatched only a small number of personnel, so almost no one there knew either.
Even those who did know were well aware of the gravity of the situation and wouldn't run their mouths recklessly.
Above all, Lina had mentioned she intended to gather the leaders of each faction to hold a meeting regarding this matter, so an official announcement would likely be made soon.
"Lord Luminous told you to go?"
"Yes."
From my perspective, Kate's departure was somewhat puzzling. If Luminous had ordered it, there was no helping it, but I wondered if something had happened.
"What did Lord Luminous say?"
"He told me to attend to a VIP there."
"A VIP? Did he really use the word 'VIP'?"
"Yes."
My eyes widened. For Luminous himself to refer to someone as a VIP meant they were incredibly important.
Just what was happening at the temple that required Kate to go and fetch them personally? I was a bit curious.
Since I could also take the opportunity to recover the remains of my grandfather, Clark, who should be resting in the temple, going along didn't seem like a bad idea.
"If I were to go with you..."
"No."
I asked tentatively, but the answer came back like a sharp blade. For the record, that response didn't come from Kate, but from Adelia beside her.
After hearing my suggestion, Adelia looked at me as if she were staring at a thoughtless child. Her gaze was filled with an iron will that said 'absolutely not.'
Then again, the distance from the dormitory to the underground temple was far, and since only a tiny investigation team had been dispatched, there were almost no high-level personnel available.
In other words, it meant using a carriage, and the probability of being ambushed while traveling that far in one would skyrocket.
I had a gut feeling that no amount of persuasion would work, so I reluctantly nodded.
"Alright. Then, Lady Kate. May I ask one favor?"
"What is it?"
"If, by any chance, in the temple..."
I slowly explained based on what I had seen in my dream. First and foremost was Clark.
Whether Clark's remains were truly in the underground temple as they were in the dream, and if so, whether they could be recovered, and so on.
I had already mentioned this to my father beforehand, but his reaction had been one of surprise and skepticism.
And understandably so, as he said he had never heard a single word about such a thing.
The reason he had trained my father so harshly was simply so he wouldn't go off and die somewhere.
Since even I wasn't entirely certain, I was asking Kate as a precaution.
"...Your grandfather is resting in the temple, Lord Isaac?"
As soon as Kate heard my story, her eyes went wide with astonishment. It had been a long time since I'd seen her look so surprised.
But as I mentioned, I wasn't sure. For all I knew, it could have just been a 'dog dream' born of my imagination.
Even if it was just a random dream, it didn't matter since it provided more juicy material for my writing, but this was strictly for confirmation.
I didn't know yet why Clark hadn't told my father the truth, or how he had discovered the existence of the underground temple, but I would find out soon enough.
When I had performed the sorcery, he had even left a message saying he would come here directly. I had no idea what form he would take, but we had Ariel.
Since she could see souls, she would give us a signal first if Clark arrived.
"It's not certain. I only saw it in a dream. So, I'd like you to check while you're there."
"I see. Perhaps it is a revelation granted by the gods."
"A revelation..."
If I had to guess, it was highly likely the situation from when I first crossed over to this world.
The summoning itself was a success, but an entirely unexpected soul had crossed over, and he must have watched the situation unfold in that state.
I wasn't sure if I should call that a revelation, but it didn't matter much as long as I could find out Clark's whereabouts.
"Perhaps it is. Anyway, is it possible? Instead of just bringing the remains back blindly, please confirm it a few times and let me know. There might be unnecessary conflict otherwise."
"Of course. But to think your grandfather also slew demon worshippers... Does that mean Lord Hawk also..."
Kate trailed off, her voice suggestive. She was likely asking if my father also had extensive experience subjugating demon worshippers.
It seemed she thought that hunting demon worshippers was a mission unique to our family, passed down from our ancestors.
To be honest, it was a natural conclusion to draw. After all, I had contributed significantly to crushing demon worshippers myself.
At this, I shook my head, flatly denying her assumption.
"No. My father said he never heard anything about it. If my grandfather really is resting there, then the mission must have ended with him."
"It seems there is a rather complicated story behind it."
"I'd like to investigate it myself, but the situation doesn't allow for it. For now, we just need to confirm if my grandfather is truly there."
According to the contents of the dream, Clark had abandoned his mission as a hero of his own volition. No one knew if it was because of the crushing pressure or a sense of helplessness.
Furthermore, for whatever reason, my father had never been directly harmed by demon worshippers.
Even though his red hair would make him stand out anywhere. This wasn't just limited to my father; it applied to our entire household.
Though he suffered mentally and physically from the fierce battles against the barbarians in the border region, he ultimately gained brilliant honor.
Within that, there was no 'mission' inherited from the previous generation, a stark contrast to Clark, who had closed his eyes in loneliness.
"I understand. What will you do if his presence is confirmed? I wonder if you will reveal his deeds to everyone."
"First, I'll write a similar story in a book. I don't know if my grandfather really did those things, but there are many unsung heroes in the world."
And while I'm at it, I can add some probability to Xenon's heroic deeds. I could frame it as a will that continues even after death.
However, it would only be a motif; I didn't plan to include his story entirely, but rather adapt it to some extent.
"An unsung hero... I am sure it will turn out exactly as you wish, Lord Isaac."
At my words, Kate smiled radiantly, then quietly closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross. A sense of reverence was felt just from that simple gesture.
I gave a bitter smile, roughly guessing what she was thinking.
No matter what I said, Kate would find all sorts of meaning in it, so there was no point in trying to explain.
"Does the communication orb reach that far?"
"No. The entrance to the underground temple is deep within the mountains, so most communications won't reach."
"Is teleportation not an option?"
"Since this isn't an official visit, permission won't be granted. We will likely have to use messenger pigeons."
"Messenger pigeons?"
I looked puzzled at the mention of messenger pigeons. As everyone knows, messenger pigeons are a means of communication created by utilizing the homing instinct of pigeons.
However, they require significant time and expense, and even catching the birds is a chore. If they were used anywhere, it was usually just the military.
Even then, in this day and age, the military uses teleportation for important matters. Since teleportation is overwhelmingly superior in speed, security, and effective range, pigeons were bound to disappear.
Because of that, they weren't used much nowadays unless it was for something special. That was why I was confused.
"Yes. Just in case, the Order has trained messenger pigeons. They were trained for worst-case scenarios, but even teleportation is difficult at the underground temple."
"I see. Who receives the letters?"
"Normally, I would be the one to receive them, but since I won't be here starting today, the Order will deliver them. I'd like to send them directly to your dormitory, but demon worshippers might exploit that."
Thorough, indeed. I nodded after hearing Kate's explanation.
I hadn't even thought of messenger pigeons, but they might prove useful later, even if not right now.
"Can I see one? It's my first time seeing a messenger pigeon."
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
Kate said that and stepped away for a moment. Since the pigeon was in her room, it wouldn't take long.
And before long, she returned. She held a pigeon whose pure white feathers glowed softly on her hand.
Unlike its pure white body, its eyes shone golden, giving it an appearance that looked like it belonged in a legend.
"Wow. It's beautiful. Is this really a pigeon?"
"Yes. It is a pigeon that has grown up bathed in the Order's divine power."
"Coo, coo."
Flap—
As soon as Kate finished speaking, the pigeon flapped its wings vigorously. I flinched at the messenger pigeon's sudden, impulsive movement.
However, the pigeon merely landed softly on my shoulder and did nothing more.
No. As if acting cute, it pecked my cheek a few times with its beak and then began to rub its face against mine.
"Coo, coo, coo!"
"Uh..."
"Coo, coo! Coo!"
Could this be because of the Pure Blessing I received from Hirt? It was highly likely; the way it was acting so affectionately despite seeing me for the first time made it certain.
The Pure Blessing was practically a divine authority, making one beloved by plants and animals. Except, of course, for those classified as monsters.
I looked at the messenger pigeon rubbing its face against me and gently stroked its head with my finger. At that, the pigeon moved even closer and cooed cutely.
"Coo!"
"It's cute. Does it have a name?"
"..."
Even though I asked while stroking its head, Kate didn't answer. She just stared blankly at the messenger pigeon with a strange look in her eyes.
Her expression was also unusual; her lips were pressed into a straight line, a blank face devoid of emotion.
Kate rarely made such an expression, and just as I was starting to feel a chill, she muttered in a small voice.
"......I'm jealous."
"Um... Lady Kate?"
"I want to do that soon, too..."
Just how much suppressed desire did she have to be jealous of an animal?
*
Around the same time, at the underground temple where a commotion had broken out.
[...Listen. I haven't harmed you. Even though I look like this, my reason is perfectly intact. I am not the Father of All Things, but a being permitted by Lord Hirt. Understand?]
"Urgh...!"
[Well, I can still understand you. But what can I do? My son wants to bury my remains. This is the only way.]
The temple had currently entered a state of lull. The personnel dispatched to the investigation team were elite and truly strong.
It was just that Clark was stronger. A man who, in life, had not only slaughtered the highest-ranking executives of the demon worshippers but had even interfered with the summoning ritual.
Technically, he possessed power equal to or greater than an Elf Warlord, so it was only natural that the investigation team was helplessly suppressed.
[Hey. You tired?]
Clark asked, poking the knight beneath him. The knight he was using (?) as a chair was currently in a humiliating 'face-down, propped-up' position.
The knight trembled but didn't offer a single word in response. Only the sound of him grinding his teeth could be heard occasionally.
Clark clicked his tongue at the knight's will, unsure whether to call it grit or stubbornness.
[Knights are the same no matter how much time passes. Just pointlessly stubborn.]
"That confidence... won't last long...!"
[Yeah, yeah. Believe what you want, it doesn't matter to me.]
Currently, the members of the investigation team, all suppressed by Clark, were lying unconscious nearby. To an outsider, it would look like a scene of a massacre.
However, because he had knocked them out one by one through overwhelming power, not a single person was dead.
The knight he was currently using as a chair had caught Clark's eye because he was the one who had held out until the very end.
In many ways, it could be called bad luck, but the knight had decided this was better and was holding out until the end.
As long as he held out, the comrade who had escaped outside would bring reinforcements. He gritted his teeth with the mindset of enduring until then.
"Urgh... Hngh..."
[Stop exaggerating. I'm just bones now, so I should be light.]
It's not an exaggeration. You're so damn heavy I feel like I'm going to die. That was the knight's inner thought.
He was indeed a body of nothing but bones, but even those bones boasted an enormous weight. Furthermore, besides the bones, he was still wearing the armor he had worn in life.
Clark, completely unaware of that fact, simply thought the knight was a weakling and enjoyed his leisure.
He wanted to just walk right out, but given the situation, he couldn't move recklessly.
If he went out for no reason, he'd be easily mistaken for a monster, and in the worst case, the Empire might even lead an army against him.
So for now, he had no choice but to wait until someone he could talk to arrived.
Rummage, rummage.
Out of habit, Clark rummaged through his pants pocket. However, there was nothing in the already frayed and worn-out pocket.
At that, he clicked his tongue and looked down at the knight pinned beneath him.
[Hey. Do you happen to... No, never mind.]
Soon after, Clark shook his head. Then, he looked around.
[Hey. You there.]
"..."
[I know you're awake, so answer me.]
"Y-Yes!"
When Clark asked in a voice full of threat, a man among the people jerked his head up.
He was one of the archaeologists who had been analyzing and researching Clark's remains before the incident occurred.
Normally, he would have intended to pretend to be unconscious until the situation ended, but for some reason, Clark had noticed long ago that he had regained consciousness.
At this, Clark looked at the archaeologist and asked in a serious voice.
[Do you happen to have a smoke?]
"A... smoke?"
[Yeah. Tobacco.]
While the archaeologist stood dazed at the sudden request for a smoke, Clark spoke in a voice filled with deep regret.
[I was disappointed because I didn't have a smoke even before I died.]
"..."
[Ah. Should I ask my grandson to put it in the book? Having me take a cool, deep drag of a smoke right before I die. Man. How cool would that be!]
This is one seriously twisted skeleton. The archaeologist couldn't help but think so.