Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bearer (2)
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"Miss Dwen...?"
Rishir was taken aback by the sight of Dwen as she opened the door.
She was bowing her head.
It was an utterly unfamiliar look for the stern woman who had stared straight ahead with perfect composure even when offering her arm to a zealot.
Without thinking, Rishir glanced down at the floor.
Did something drop?
"Please forgive me."
Dwen's voice came then.
"I know full well that after all that's happened, it should have been me visiting you first to express my gratitude."
But.
Dwen continued before Rishir could even respond.
"I failed to do so. For that, I beg your forgiveness."
"Ah. Sure. It's fine. These things happen. You must have had your own circumstances."
It was a conversation that perfectly captured Dwen's personality.
But the mystery remained unsolved.
Why was she still keeping her head bowed?
"..."
Then.
Dwen finally raised her head.
So slowly it almost felt cautious.
The moment her face met Rishir's—
"..."
She bowed it again without a word.
"...?"
As Rishir tried to make sense of the gesture.
"This is perplexing. It's never happened before."
"What do you mean?"
"To be direct. Rishir. You're on my mind."
"Pardon?"
"It seems to stem from yesterday's ritual. Because of that unavoidable physical contact, I'm overly aware of you."
"Uh..."
Rishir was confused.
Should he focus on the content of her words?
Or on the stern, composed tone that clashed so wildly with what she was saying?
"That's why I've been avoiding meeting you as much as possible. I didn't trust myself to hold a rational conversation until this passes."
"I... see. In that case, I'm sorry for putting you in this spot...? My visit must have been awkward."
"It's complicated. There's definitely embarrassment as you say, but also regret for inconveniencing you, and on top of that, joy at your kind visit."
"Ah, hearing that puts my mind at ease."
"..."
Dwen raised her head once more.
Her expression was as stern and dignified as ever.
Even the way she averted her eyes and bowed again.
"It's still impossible. My apologies, Rishir. Normal conversation isn't feasible right now."
"Ah, yes. I understand."
"Thank you for understanding. Was that all?"
"I... wanted to check on your left hand and, if it was okay, ask for another spar."
"Understood. I'll do my best to accommodate your request soon."
"Thank you...?"
Dwen lifted her head one last time to meet Rishir's gaze.
A nod.
She nodded deeply, then bowed again.
Ah. Yeah, no good.
That seemed to be the message.
"I'm reaching my limit. I'll take my leave."
"Ah. Yes. Of course."
A declaration of limits delivered with worldly composure and gravity.
And so their conversation ended.
"Rishir, how'd it go? How's Master?"
Jane asked on the way back.
Rishir answered.
"...She doesn't seem not okay?"
"?"
"By the way. How long do you plan to stay at the mansion, Rishir? The longer, the better for us..."
That evening.
The topic came up during dinner with the hero's party again.
Rishir replied immediately.
"For now, I want to settle things with those zealots first. When the heck are they showing up?"
Truth be told.
Rishir had planned to head back to Goose Mansion that very day.
After dealing with the zealots scheduled to visit.
But they never showed, even by evening.
"Yeah. Keeping us on edge till the end. Feels guilty. And grateful."
"Come on, no need for that. Between us."
What are we, exactly?
Felix almost blurted it out.
He fully respected and trusted the man, but it was one-sided.
And understandably so.
Ever since meeting Rishir, all they'd done was cause him trouble and receive his help.
Doesn't he find us annoying?
That vague thought, that worry.
And yet here was Rishir saying it first.
"...!"
Just as感动 rippled through.
Jane and Felix's eyes suddenly widened.
"R-Rishir...?"
"N-No way...?"
"?"
"Stealing our master—"
"?"
"Or turning our master into a woman...?"
"...?"
The two disciples began eyeing Rishir warily.
He was baffled.
Afterward.
Rishir stayed at the hero's mansion, repeating the same routine.
Morning: Train with the heroes.
Visit Dwen to check her condition.
"My apologies. Still not feasible."
Wait for the zealots.
"No sign today either."
And so, four days passed. That evening's events.
"Huh?"
Rishir, preparing for evening training.
He checked the two Pain Cores handed by Jane and Felix.
They were nearly full.
One completely filled, the other with just a speck of space left.
"..."
Rishir felt an inexplicable itch and couldn't hold back.
Drip.
A slight nosebleed. Barely overload level.
With that, both Pain Cores were full.
"Ahh, refreshing. Ahh, thrilling. That's bearing it for you."
Rishir smiled in satisfaction, blood trickling from his nose.
The moment he set down the Pain Cores—
"Hm?"
Rishir. His gaze turned to a corner of the room.
-Ah, aaah...
Someone writhed in agony there.
Pus-yellow gore oozed from bandage-covered eyes.
The gaping mouth emitting moans was toothless.
Skeletal arms clutched its own throat, legs twisted like a spiral.
"...What the hell is that."
Rishir instantly pegged the grotesque thing as an evil spirit.
He extended a hand, channeling purification.
"Whoa?"
The evil spirit was unscathed.
It looked the part, yet utterly unaffected by holy power.
Rishir grabbed the holy sword as plan B.
-Hm? Huh!? This presence—Rishir!? What's going on! Why are you wielding me...!
"Expect holy damage bonus."
-Whatever it is, leave it to me!!!
Rishir gripped the holy sword, bracing for the evil spirit's assault.
But it just stood there, staring silently.
Grrrk. Grrk grrrk.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
A vocal-cord-scraping sound poured endlessly from its maw.
Soon, it took form.
I shall bear it.
I shall bear it.
-I shall bear it...
"Jallak?"
-Bear... it...? Ugh...! Such potent mental interference—be careful, Rishir!
Jallak cried urgently.
"Ah. So it's trying to mess with our minds?"
-...Yes!
"Tch. What a nasty piece of work. Jallak. What now? Strike first? Holy bonus ready?"
-Whatever it is, I'm ready! Leave it to me!!!
A nod.
Rishir gripped the holy sword tight and advanced on the 'evil spirit'.
"This... really filled up in that one moment?"
Shock spread across the scarred man's face.
In his hand, a fully charged high-grade Pain Core.
The gentle-faced woman, Hela, spoke beside him.
"No doubt. The existence our true ones have desperately sought has finally appeared before us."
"..."
The man stared intently at the filled core.
Its crimson glow seemed to reflect in his eyes.
Soon.
He looked to Hela.
She continued in an excited tone.
"The Bearer... his apostle."
"""Ooooh...!!!"
Exclamations erupted from all sides.
Numerous knights and their squires.
And the hero's companions couldn't hold back pure awe at the scene before them.
Knight of Roera's hero party.
Rotna let out a chuckle.
"My god... for real? That arrogant being who scoffs at lowly humans...?"
She stared at a single wolf.
A wolf with a lush mane flowing like wind galloping freely across plains.
It approached Hero Roera and bowed its head.
As if asking to be petted.
"Ah... so beautiful..."
Beastkin girl Hamun murmured in rapture at the wolf's form.
It was the identity of the gale that had blocked their path moments ago—
A mid-grade wind spirit in wolf form.
"..."
Hero Roera.
She cautiously stroked its head.
In that instant, the wolf shook off her hand and howled skyward.
Awoooo!!!
The cry resonated grandly like a song of winds.
A non-spirit user hero had subdued a mid-grade spirit.
Witnessing the feat up close, they boldly claimed.
Among all heroes, only she could achieve this.
-Ah, aaah...
Moans leaked from the evil spirit's gaping maw.
This moan differed sharply from before.
Dangaleon.
Result of following the spirit interpreter's advice.
"Dangaleon, what'd it say?"
-This arrogant, petty thing has finally submitted!!!
"Ah, really?"
Rishir.
He lowered the holy sword gripped like a club.
He had succeeded in subduing the nameless evil spirit.
A madman and sage in life who chose to bear countless others' pains—
In death, a saint's spirit commanding myriad followers, attaining higher rank.