Chapter 32
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 32
Uninvited Guest (2)
Crunch. Crunch.
Footsteps breaking the silence echoed across the snowfield.
Footprints of an unfamiliar outsider were engraved on the pure white sea of snow, and it was a guest who visited after a truly long time.
"Is this the North..."
"Amazing. It's my first time seeing such a sight in my life."
"Tell me about it. Though it's a bit too cold."
The believers each admired and looked around. Snow fluttered freely from all sides, and it felt like they would lose direction if not careful.
They said snow never stops in the North all year round. It seems those words were not an exaggeration at all.
"Haha! Welcome, everyone. You worked hard coming a long way."
Arriving at the territory, the Head of the Silvernon family was out to meet them personally. At his instruction, servants started distributing heating stones and fur coats to the believers. Shivering in the cold, they bowed deeply at that warm hospitality. Since it was everyone's first time in the North, they were paying a harsh price for underestimating the snowfield.
Hariri also smiled while tightly holding the heating stone with her reddened two hands.
"To welcome us so politely despite the sudden visit, I convey my thanks in the name of the Goddess."
"Fufu. Since the land of the snowfield gets to welcome the Saintess, what greater honor could there be. It is an honor for our Duchy."
A harmonious atmosphere continued with the formalities of the two people.
The citizens of the North were honored to see the Saintess they had only heard of in person, and the believers were also somewhat excited to be in the North for the first time. However, only the gaze of the Head, Carsian, did not carry a smile.
The letter wrote that it was to comfort the warriors exhausted from the war with demons, but he didn't believe those words.
Until now, no country had ever paid attention to the North, and the Theocracy was no exception. Always maintaining formal exchanges of praying for the Goddess's blessing only through letters, they had never set foot here even once since defeating the Demon King. Why would they come visiting now.
'I must find the intention... Is it really just a tour without any ulterior motive. Or is something they want here.'
Carsian glanced at the Saintess following behind. He had heard rumors that she was cherished even in the Theocracy for having the most outstanding holy arts among all previous Saintesses. Since such a person came personally, at least it wouldn't be an ordinary matter.
He guided the consolation group into the castle with a complicated mind. Whatever the purpose was, he intended to watch them here for the time being.
"Rooms have been prepared in advance. You must be tired from coming all the way here, so please rest well today, and let's talk about the consolation schedule again the day after tomorrow."
Although it was still early day, he intentionally set a generous time.
Because their true purpose wouldn't be consoling soldiers anyway. In that case, he intended to let them do whatever they wanted and dig up their true intention.
"No, we are fine."
"Yes?"
At that time, Hariri shook her head with an unexpected answer.
She prayed reverently with two hands together.
"I heard the warriors of the North are fighting on the front lines even now. But how can only we rest in a safe place."
At those words, Carsian was slightly surprised inwardly. To think they would refuse the proposal.
"Understood. Then we will guide you."
"No. Not only was it a sudden visit, we cannot cause more trouble for the Head here. Since the Theocracy's Hero and holy knights are here too, we will go on our own."
She asked the butler and received a map of this place. And then they really left among themselves. At that appearance, everyone in the family was flustered.
Carsian immediately selected a few reliable warriors and ordered.
"You go and escort the guests. And if you see even the slightest strange point, report immediately."
"Yes. Head!"
He frowned looking at the Saintess's receding back.
'Are there really no ulterior motives.'
Or perhaps that is also part of the plan. However, even if that were the case, it didn't matter.
'Since he is there with that child, it should be fine.'
Because the most reliable person existed on this side too.
Carsian headed to the meeting room for the next battlefield, trusting him like that.
Whooooosh- A blizzard blocked the front along with the strong wind sound. The believers climbing the snowfield trembled all over their bodies from cold and fatigue. If not for the Saintess's instruction, they would have wanted to return right away.
"...I think we are almost there."
Fortunately, around the time the magic power of the heating stones distributed in the North ran out, a tent was seen. The Saintess, who was also shivering in the cold, was relieved and sighed only then.
'I should quickly just finish checking the facts and go back or something.'
But the person she wanted wasn't seen there.
Arriving at the front line campsite, let alone the War Hero, most of the warriors weren't seen either. Flustered, Hariri grabbed anyone and asked.
"Excuse me a moment. Are the people here everyone?"
"No. Everyone went out to execute an operation, but are you perhaps looking for someone?"
"Ah, that is..."
The Saintess held her words at the warrior's words. Right now, the warriors attached by the Grand Duke were also listening from behind. She glossed over it with a smile.
"No. I wanted to give consolation, but it seems there aren't many warriors."
"Ah. So that was it. Everyone will probably return around evening."
At those words, the Saintess and believers looked at the sky. Even in the fluttering blizzard, the sunlight was shining clearly, so she eventually nodded as if deciding.
"Could we perhaps know where the place they went to execute the operation is?"
"Yes? Why that..."
"Because we also want to give help, however meager."
Saying that, she introduced the Theocracy's Hero and holy knights. The warriors pondered for a moment at the Saintess's words. Certainly, each holy knight was an elite soldier, and especially an unapproachable aura was felt from that person called Hero.
With that level of combat power, it would be a great help to the warriors out right now too.
"Understood. Instead, since it could be dangerous, please follow behind us guests."
"Fufut. Thank you for your consideration."
She left the believers at the campsite and followed the warriors together with the knights.
The place the warriors went to execute the operation was a fierce battleground with demons, near the center of the snowfield.
Therefore, an even harsher blizzard and cold covered them, to the point of making even the warmth of the heating stones helpless. Above all, the residual magic power of demons left here and there pierced the nose.
"Haa. Haa..."
"Are you okay? Saintess, please just return even now."
"I-I'm fine!"
She answered while trembling her hand holding the heating stone. She didn't have the slightest thought of staying longer in such a place. She intended to quickly finish her business and return.
How much further did they go like that. Climbing the mountain facing the snow wind, the warriors slowly started looking around.
"Hmm. It should be around here."
"Everyone be careful. There might be attacks from demons."
At those words, the holy knights and the Hero surrounded and protected her. The Saintess also protected the surroundings with holy arts.
'It would be best to return without encountering demons if possible...'
At that time, something heterogeneous caught the eye in the blizzard. Under a tree in the snowfield, definitely one person was leaning and collapsed.
"...A girl?"
At first, they thought they saw wrong. Because there's no way a girl would be alone in such a dangerous place.
But others definitely saw it too. Even in this fluttering snowfield, the girl's pure white hair and face were attractive enough to catch the eye. The Saintess shouted urgently to the warriors.
"O-Over there is a girl!"
"Yes? There's no way... Ah."
At those words, the warriors discovering her scratched their heads. At that carefree appearance, Hariri shouted out of frustration.
"What are you doing! Don't tell me you aren't going because it's dangerous due to demons!?"
"No, it's not that. That situation is probably..."
The warriors couldn't get a sense of how to explain it. Eventually, disappointed at that appearance, she ran out first, and the holy knights and the Hero followed behind her.
"Please wait a moment. It's not what you think!"
The warriors stopped her urgently from behind, but she ran even faster rather.
'As expected, they are all the same.'
In the end, the North also just takes charge of this place and fights reluctantly, it was not much different from other countries on the continent. Shield of humanity or sacrifice, they were all just slick words.
Arriving under the tree, Hariri frowned seeing the girl's appearance. Shoulders slumped and the area around her eyes trembling, her condition was much more serious than seen from afar.
And the girl also tilted her head discovering Hariri.
"Wh-Who are you people?"
Perhaps terrified of the cold, a trembling voice barely leaked out between her lips. Hariri felt even more pity at that appearance and covered her with a coat.
"You don't need to speak more. Because you are safe now!"
"Uh? What does that..."
The girl blinked her two eyes, but Hariri supported her and ordered the knights.
"Please help quickly. We will take this person and go down right now."
"Yes, Saintess!"
"No. Don't, do it..."
The girl struggled, but she rather patted her saying to be relieved.
"Do not worry. We are just trying to help..."
At that moment, Hariri realized something went wrong.
For some reason, her body didn't move well.
"U-Uh?"
Looking around, other knights were the same. Everyone except the Hero staggered and started sitting down one by one.
"Kuk!?"
"Wh-Why is my body suddenly like this?"
"Don't tell me poison...?"
Only then did she and everyone else look around. It wasn't very visible obscured by the blizzard, but a foggy mist caused by a magic tool was spread around.
Hariri urgently detoxified the poison with holy arts, but she still couldn't understand.
Why is poison spread in such a place?
"So, I told you."
While everyone was bewildered by the girl's incomprehensible words, footsteps were heard from not far away.
Soon, the magic power of dozens of people was felt from the hill nearby.
"Kukukuk. That woman. It is definitely the Grand Duchess of the North."
"Yes. It's just as the scout reported. Hehe. Maybe she ran away after getting injured during the battle!"
Just what is that situation again. Demons were pointing at this girl and giggling.
"That detestable massacring bitch. Today for sure we will avenge our kin! Let's go!!"
"Waaaaaaah!!"
Demons came down the hill path and started running towards this way. The Saintess and holy knights were all flustered at that scene. Why did it suddenly become like this?
"Saintess. Hide behind me."
The Hero, who was the only one unaffected by the poison, hid her behind and drew his twin swords. Just like that, they were right before clashing with the demons.
"Now."
At that moment, along with a signal, dozens of long spears shot up from under the snow. The demons who discovered it belatedly tried to stop, but it was already too late.
Thrust! Along with the sound of piercing flesh, the demons' bodies were pierced by spears.
"Keoheok!?"
"Y-You bastards...!"
The demons lost their words at the sudden trap. Soon the ambushing warriors came out one by one, and among them, Carmil's appearance was also seen.
One of the demons frowned looking at him.
"Why do you all have those expressions. First time getting ambushed?"
"C-Crazy human bastards. Using the Grand Duchess as bait..."
There had been many ambushes until now, but this method was a first in their lives. The demons looked down at their blood scattered with the snow and died instantly just like that.
Carmil immediately shouted towards the enemies they missed.
"We must not miss those guys either. Kill them all."
"Yes!"
At his command, warriors started overrunning the remaining enemies. And the Saintess and holy knights watched that scene blankly.
Whether they did or not, Carmil approached the girl and fed her an antidote.
"You worked hard. Yuria."
"My body still tingles. Just who is it? The one who passed this operation."
"Your dad."
"...The one who came up with the operation is Brother. So carry me on your back when we go down."
"Right right."
Carmil stroked her head as if commendable and stood up from his seat. And only then turned his head towards the uninvited guests.
"So. Who are you people who almost ruined our operation?"
"Wh-What?"
"Originally, the plan was to hit from behind when those guys were poisoned. Thanks to you, my subordinates are wasting their strength unnecessarily, right?"
He said pointing at the subordinates dealing with the fleeing remnants. However, the Hero and holy knights also got angry all at once at those words.
They were also almost poisoned, and above all, they didn't like him speaking rudely to the Saintess.
"Insolent fellow! Do you know who the person here is to speak so carelessly?"
"Then do you guys know who I am?"
"Kuk. You dare play word games with me..."
"It's fine."
At that time, Hariri stopped the knights and stepped forward. To avoid such friction, the title of Saintess is needed.
Because until now, there hadn't been a single person who got angry in front of the name Saintess.
She revealed her identity to the warrior in front.
"Nice to meet you. Warrior of the North. I am called Hariri, the Saintess of the Theocracy."
"...Saintess?"
As expected, the warrior in front seemed surprised and couldn't continue speaking.
Just in time. She intended to inquire about the whereabouts of the War Hero with this momentum.
"..."
But why is it.
"E-Excuse me?"
"..."
Why is he looking at me like that...?