Premonition (2)
From deep within the forest, the screams continued without end, stretching on and on. The longer they went, the heavier the atmosphere among the paladins grew.
Friga frowned, clearly displeased by the oppressive mood.
"So what are we gonna do about it? You said it's a trap. Are we going in or not?"
The captain stared into the forest with heavy eyes.
"...We have to go in. Under normal circumstances, waiting for reinforcements from the Holy City would be the right call, but..."
His gaze flicked to the main axe strapped across Friga's back. She caught the look and grinned.
"With Her Ladyship here, I believe we stand a fair chance."
"I like the sound of that."
The captain's eyes shifted to Kenis. With her holy power sealed and a high likelihood of being the heretics' primary target, the ideal choice was for her to remain behind and hold the position.
Kenis seemed to understand as much. She spoke to the captain.
"Captain, I believe I would only become a burden. I shall remain here."
"You would do that for us?"
Kenis nodded quietly. The captain patted her on the shoulder.
"Good. Thank you. Just in case, I'll leave a few paladins with you. If anything happens, fire this signal flare."
"Kenis, I'll be back soon, so don't go crying because you're scared."
Kenis let out a small laugh at Friga's mischievous expression. How was she always so consistently herself?
"Yes, Your Ladyship. Please try not to cry from fear yourself."
"Oh, you little—"
Friga and Kenis bickered, unable to leave each other alone for even a moment. Meanwhile, the captain selected a handful of paladins to stay behind and guard the carriage.
"Your Ladyship, shall we? We only need you."
"Good. Let's move."
Friga hoisted her axe with fierce energy. The blue-edged blade gleamed coldly, as if reflecting her resolve.
"Stay sharp, all of you. We're walking into an enemy trap. Keep your wits about you!"
"Yes, sir!"
With the captain's brief address, the paladins began advancing slowly into the forest. One by one, they disappeared into the dark shadows of the trees, vanishing into the pitch-black gloom.
It looked for all the world like they were walking into the maw of a beast. Kenis's eyes trembled faintly.
...Please, stay safe.
She drummed her fingers restlessly, unsettled by a vague unease she couldn't shake.
"This place is damn creepy."
Friga grumbled as she pushed through the forest, which remained dim even at midday. Just as she said, the densely packed trees blocked out the sunlight, and the lightless woods radiated an eerie atmosphere.
The captain advanced with practiced ease, cutting aside leaves with his sword.
"Hey, Captain. I've been wondering about something."
"Yes, Your Ladyship?"
"What the hell do those heretic bastards get out of kissing demon ass so hard?"
"Haha. Kissing demon ass—crude, but a rather fitting description. Perfectly suited to heretics."
Friga's crude phrasing drew a few air-leaking chuckles from among the paladins.
"Who can say... Who could possibly understand the minds of those who have abandoned their humanity?"
The captain continued, still hacking through branches as he spoke.
"Still, their reasons tend to be roughly the same. Immortality. Undying flesh. Desire for forbidden knowledge... They lust after things that should never be coveted."
"Immortality? Is that even possible?"
"Of course not. Everything in this world is destined to vanish eventually. That is the natural order."
But—
"There are always those who dig into the cracks of the rules. Liches are that sort of creature."
"Those skeleton things?"
"Yes. In Your Ladyship's terms, the ones who kiss demon ass the hardest of all."
That was the last of their conversation. They couldn't continue.
Crunch—
A thin layer of frost settled over the grass cracked lightly underfoot. Frozen grass was being crushed beneath their boots.
Despite it not being winter, white breath billowed from their mouths.
Huff—
Even as they moved through the forest, a cold like that of a snowfield swept over the party.
A space cut off from the outside world filled the interior of the woods.
"What the hell is this..."
Friga rubbed her arms as goosebumps rose from the sudden chill. Snow had piled on the branches here and there.
The captain's face hardened to stone.
"...The Silver Twilight Order."
"The Silver Twilight Order? Who are those guys?"
"Madmen. They intend to summon the demon they worship onto the surface and freeze the entire world."
"Bunch of lunatics."
The captain surveyed the midwinter landscape that had descended upon the forest, unable to hide the tension on his face.
"I've clashed with them several times before... but never once have they frozen the surroundings this severely."
"...What does that mean?"
"It likely means they've managed to summon at least a portion of their demon."
"You've got to be kidding me."
A rough curse slipped from Friga's lips. A demon summoned onto the surface? Even to someone as uninformed as Friga, the situation clearly wasn't ordinary.
"If it's a demon, can we fight it with the people we have here?"
"I doubt the demon's true body has crossed over. If the main body had arrived... we wouldn't even be able to hold this conversation."
"That bad?"
"Yes. Freezing the surroundings to this degree... at most, a single finger or an eyeball. Only a very small fragment seems to have come through."
"So then—"
The captain looked at Friga. More precisely, he looked at the Dragon Hunter's Axe she carried.
With the axe that had once repelled a frost dragon, they had a chance of winning.
"Perhaps... perhaps we can do this."
"Are you certain you don't need to go yourself?"
"..."
Antonio spoke as he watched the paladins departing the Holy City. From Demonic, standing behind him, came no reply at all.
Demonic remained lost in thought, silently fingering the silver dagger at his breast. Antonio seemed not to expect an answer, continuing calmly.
"You made such a fuss when you heard Kenis had been cursed, and now you're pretending to be composed. Amusing."
Demonic made a point of ignoring the remark and changed the subject.
"Will you be all right not going yourself, Great Priest?"
A painfully obvious deflection. How long had it been since this blunt man had reacted so humanly?
Antonio chuckled and replied.
"What good would an old man like me do by going? You or Priest Ruel would be of far more use than I."
"...That's unexpected. The God Himself commanded that His apostles be aided. I assumed you would go in person."
"Every person has their own purpose. Just as I received a blessing, everyone has a place where they are meant to be of use."
Antonio stroked the three sacred characters engraved on the back of his hand. Even now, when he closed his eyes, the memories of the Holy Land remained vivid—his eyelids trembled faintly.
The God had said that when His apostle faced hardship, Antonio's wisdom would shine. When, exactly, was that moment supposed to arrive?
—Fwoosh
One of the characters on the back of his hand began to blaze with a dazzling light. As if answering Antonio's question, scenes flashed rapidly through his mind.
"Ugh!"
Fragmented moments raced past.
Kenis. A demon. Blue flames and ice.... Horns.
"Hah—!"
Antonio gasped for breath. Cold sweat poured down like rain. As the strength drained from his body and he pitched forward, Demonic caught him in an instant.
"Great Priest!"
"Huff— hah—"
Only after drawing several ragged breaths did Antonio finally calm himself. Looking at his ashen face, Demonic spoke with concern.
"Great Priest, are you all right? What was that..."
"...A revelation."
"Pardon?"
"I received a revelation. The God has granted me a vision."
Antonio looked down at the back of his hand. Of the three characters, one had vanished. The blessing bestowed by the God had shown him a danger that would soon come to pass.
"Kenis... she is in danger..."
"Great Priest, what do you mean? Kenis is in danger?!"
Demonic's hands clamped hard onto Antonio's shoulders. Rough fingers dug into the frail frame.
Antonio let out a pained groan.
"Ugh... Let go for a moment and let me speak!"
"Ah...! F-forgive me, Great Priest."
Realizing his mistake, Demonic wore a flustered expression. To have made such an error...
He bowed his head deeply—a clear apology for the discourtesy.
Fortunately, Antonio did not hold him accountable. More precisely, he had no time to.
"Never mind. We'll discuss it later. More importantly, Demonic—you must take the paladins and go to Kenis at once."
"Great Priest, what do you—"
"A demon... a demon is after Kenis's soul. Go as quickly as you can."
"That—!"
Clench—
Demonic unconsciously tightened his fist.
"Where must I go?"
"To the same place the paladins who left earlier are headed. To the main road... no, to the forest near it."
"Understood."
Demonic hurried from the spot. As he ran, Antonio called after him.
"Take Priest Ruel with you as well!"
"Understood!"
Antonio watched Demonic's rapidly shrinking figure with worried eyes.
"...I only pray it will not be as it was before."
Demonic ran like a man possessed. Even he himself had no memory of how he had made it past the city gates.
His mind was filled with only one thought: he had to go.
With every stride, the small locket brooch at his chest rattled, tightening around his throat like a chain of iron.
Even now, he could almost hear her voice in his ears. His sin. His karma.
Demonic endured it all, binding himself tighter with every step as he ran.
Praying that this time, he would not be too late.