Hero (10)
"For now, it might be best to look into his past. There must be a reason he's so insistent on being a mercenary."
Sera and Gabriel headed to the inn where Cross was staying as soon as morning broke the next day.
"It seems like you took a liking to Cross, Sir Gabriel. Unlike at first."
"Ahem, since it's Lady Luminaris's will, even if I don't like it, there must be a good reason."
Sera smiled at Gabriel, whose face was flushing red.
'He likes him, though.'
In truth, Cross and Gabriel had started off exchanging sharp, wary glances over drinks.
But as time passed, they strangely began to click.
Both were straightforward and honest, sharing a disdain for pretense and formality.
Gabriel's earnest knightly code and Cross's pragmatic mercenary philosophy actually helped them understand each other.
And so, the two made their way to the inn where Cross was lodged.
But they stopped dead in their tracks the moment they arrived.
The area in front of the inn was packed with people.
"What is it?"
Sera tilted her head and muttered.
"Lady Sera, I'll go ahead and check."
Gabriel placed a hand on his sword hilt, visibly on guard.
"No, let's go together."
Spectators clustered around the inn entrance in small groups, their murmurs carried on the wind.
"Two gold-rank mercenaries really got killed?"
"The innkeeper found the bodies at dawn... covered in blood, they say."
"Who the hell would do that? Two gold-ranks..."
"Word is, they were smashed to pieces. Like a giant hammer came down on them."
A middle-aged man shook his head with a click of his tongue.
"Scary world we live in. Even gold-ranks dying so pointlessly..."
Sera and Gabriel exchanged glances.
The same name flashed through both their minds at once.
'Cross...'
"Why stand around waiting for someone after coming all this way?"
They whipped around at the familiar voice from behind.
Cross stood there calmly, as if he'd been waiting awhile.
Gabriel had words burning at the tip of his tongue, but seeing the dense crowd, he decided they needed to move first.
Such a sensitive topic couldn't be discussed here.
The three slipped quietly through the throng and into a nearby alley.
"Explain yourself, Cross. Why did you kill those two mercenaries?"
Gabriel demanded bluntly in a low voice.
"You think I did it?"
Cross shrugged and countered.
"Having reached my level while serving Lady Luminaris, how could I miss the traces of death? That stench of blood clinging to you... it's still fresh and vivid."
Gabriel's eyes faintly glowed golden.
The paladin's unique holy power was reading the aura of death surrounding Cross.
"Besides, gold-rank mercenaries aren't pushovers. In the mercenary world, only a handful could take on two such powerhouses at once..."
Gabriel paused, staring Cross down.
"And around here, you're the only one."
From the moment he'd first met Cross, Gabriel had kept him at arm's length—instinctively sensing their skills were evenly matched.
Sensing the thick tension between them, Sera carefully spoke up.
"Sir Cross... I don't believe you killed them without reason. Could you tell us what happened?"
"Fine, I killed them. But they came for me first. In the mercenary world, trying to kill someone isn't wrong—it's just a matter of who succeeds. They failed to kill me... and I killed them. That's it."
Cross's gaze turned icy cold toward Gabriel.
"...So someone commissioned your death."
Gabriel's voice dropped to a dangerous low.
"You believe me?"
Cross asked, genuinely surprised.
A flicker of astonishment crossed his face.
"You've never lied to me so far."
"Heehee, Sir Cross is a hero, after all. We have to believe him!"
Sera beamed, though worry shadowed her smile.
Cross stared at them for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
"Unbelievable. Believing that... I wouldn't have. But honestly, it doesn't feel... bad."
A subtle emotion laced his voice.
The unfamiliar warmth of someone trusting him.
"Did you hear who commissioned it?"
At Sera's cautious question, Cross pondered briefly before answering.
"The kingdom, probably."
"Pardon?"
Sera blinked in shock.
"Hold on—you're saying the kingdom commissioned the hit on the hero we revealed yesterday? You know what that implies, and the consequences?"
Gabriel's voice turned chillingly cold.
"Yeah. They said something like it was Alberto's commission as they died."
"Could be a lie?"
"People show tells when they lie, but they didn't. Dying men have no reason to fabricate."
Cross replied firmly.
"Then... they really targeted the hero chosen by the Church."
Gabriel's aura grew even more menacing.
A powerful, oppressive holy energy emanated from him, weighing down the air itself.
'The kingdom dares... to defy the Church.'
Anger blazed in Gabriel's eyes.
As a paladin of the Luminaris Church, this was an intolerable insult.
"Lady Sera, this is a blatant challenge to the Church. We can't let it slide."
His voice was cold and resolute.
"If we ignore it here, it'll hinder gathering the other heroes—excluding Sir Cross, of course. The Church's dignity would crumble."
Sera nodded worriedly.
"You're right, Sir Gabriel. But what should we do? Against a kingdom..."
"Don't worry."
Gabriel placed a hand on his sword hilt, flashing a dangerous smile.
"A kingdom is nothing... Our paladin order alone is enough. To target a hero chosen by the gods—blasphemy."
His eyes gleamed like ice.
"We brought several magic pots made from soil and mana from warmer lands, just as Astra said... but what exactly do you plan to do with them?"
Baekseol's voice, brimming with curiosity, echoed through the room.
Her clear eyes darted between the pots and me.
I wanted to answer Baekseol, but even I wasn't entirely sure, so I replied with silence.
'First, plant the Soul Orchid... then play it by ear.'
"Astra's full of secrets."
Baekseol murmured with a small sigh.
I deliberately ignored her and carefully drew the Soul Orchid from my belt.
Its black petals emitted a faint magical glow, exuding a mystical aura.
"Oh? That's...?"
Baekseol's voice rose sharply.
Her expression hardened, eyes widening.
"You know what it is?"
I asked calmly.
As a game veteran, I knew the Soul Orchid well, but it was an ultra-rare flower that grew only in Darkteria.
Even Baekseol, a Haven captain, wouldn't know it—and that was fine.
"I think it's a Soul Orchid, which only grows in Darkteria... Did you go all the way there to get it?"
'As expected of my vessel.'
Sethwa's voice resounded in my mind.
'Let's begin. Time for us to converse is running short.'
Sethwa's tone was more urgent than usual.
'First, place the Soul Orchid in the center, and surround it with the prepared pots in a circle.'
Following her instructions, I carefully positioned the Soul Orchid in the middle and arranged the pots precisely.
'No need for Life Transfer. The Soul Orchid reacts naturally to pure black magic. But be careful—too much can wither it instead.'
Black mist-like magic rose from my fingertips.
I released it gently, like handling a child.
Baekseol watched breathlessly.
As the black magic enveloped the Soul Orchid, its central bud split open with a eerie creeeak, slowly unfurling.
Like a living thing breathing.
'Good. Now catch the falling seeds with black magic and plant exactly two in each pot. No more, no less—precisely two.'
Black pearl-like seeds began dropping from the bud, one by one.
They shimmered like dark stars.
As Sethwa taught, I caught them softly with black magic and planted them meticulously in each pot.
The moment the seeds touched soil, a faint vibration hummed as black magic seeped in.
'Well done, Astra. Now Baekseol can consume the Soul Orchid directly. Surely... she'll regain her lost emotions.'
Sethwa's voice faded gradually.
Like sinking into deep water.
'Moreover... if you periodically infuse life force and succeed in propagation... Baekseol's emotions will all... re... turn...'