Crossing the Border
Today, they would cross the border.
That single fact had robbed Simon of a proper night's sleep.
He woke early and packed his things with a heart split evenly between worry and anticipation. The journey might stretch long, so he stowed every last necessity into his subspace — supplies, spare clothes, even rations.
An hour before departure, Richard came up to Simon's room and offered a whole catalogue of genuinely useful advice.
What to do if the inquisitors caught him. Which priests in the Holy Federation were friendly to the Dark Alliance and which were not. What never to do under any circumstances. How to cross back over the border alone if something went wrong. And on and on.
It was advice that dripped with experience and hard-won knowledge — so detailed, in fact, that Simon found himself wondering how his father could possibly know all this.
"And lastly."
Richard's expression turned grave.
"This is about what happens if Lethe betrays you and hands you over to Efnel."
Simon spread his palms open without a moment's hesitation.
"I think I can do without hearing that one, Father."
"...I, too, trust Lethe — she risked her life to come here for Anna's sake. But no one can say how the world will turn, can they?"
Simon lowered his hand and showed a faint smile.
"I've decided to trust Lethe one hundred percent. If I listen to what you're telling me now, that doubt might seep out of me without my even realizing it — in how I act around her, in how I speak to her. The best thing I can do for my own safety right now is show her one consistent face. Nothing else."
"......"
What followed on Richard's face made Simon start in surprise.
It was an expression he almost never got to see. Richard was grinning so wide it looked like his mouth might split open, teeth bared.
"You are my masterpiece, Simon."
Richard said it as he pulled Simon into a tight embrace. His father's arms felt awkward after so long, but the feeling wasn't an unpleasant one.
"Come home safe. That is all I ask."
"I will, Father."
Simon came down the stairs and reached the living room. By the front door, leaning against the wall and stamping her feet in impatience, stood Lethe.
"Why are you so late! We have to leave right now if we're going to make the carriage."
"Sorry. Shall we head out?"
"You made us wait, so I'll take a minute of my own."
Lethe darted into the bedroom where Anna lay sleeping. She had spent the whole night asleep at Anna's side, and yet apparently she wanted to see her one last time.
Reverence and quiet resolve mingled on her face as she looked down at Anna.
"No matter what happens, I will save you, Teacher."
She pressed a light kiss to Anna's forehead, fixed the woman's image in her eyes one final time, then turned on her heel and walked out.
"I'll say goodbye to her too."
"Honestly."
While Simon went to pay his respects to Anna, Lethe stepped outside. Richard was already in the yard — when had he come down?
"You've done us a truly great service, Lethe."
"I don't do favors for necromancers."
She replied coldly and walked past him.
It was still early dawn, and the world around them lay dark. She pressed the tip of her shoe against the ground and thumped it a couple of times, then drew in a deep breath.
"Remember this well, necromancer. If anything happens to Teacher Anna, the first person to appear before you will be me."
Despite the barbed words, Richard smiled gently.
"Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, Lethe."
"......"
Lethe spun around sharply, white hair whipping behind her, and strode away. Simon, just stepping out of the house, bowed his head to Richard in farewell and followed after her.
"Hurry up. We're thirty minutes behind, so we'll need to pick up the pace."
"Let's go."
The two of them raised Jet-Black and Holy Power respectively and ascended the mountain range at dazzling speed. The deepening indigo of the dawn sky was beautiful, and the morning wind was crisp and refreshing.
So we're finally going. To the Holy Federation.
It struck Simon as a vacation that not a single one of Kizen's students would ever get to experience.
Having crossed Leshill's treacherous mountain range, Simon and Lethe boarded a carriage Richard had reserved in advance and headed for Hove, the neighboring territory.
The two sat facing each other inside the carriage. Lethe spread a soundproofing barrier to keep their voices from leaking out, then began drilling Simon at a relentless tempo.
"The greeting when you meet believers?"
Simon pressed his palms together and bowed his head slightly.
"Laus. May the Goddess's blessing be with you."
"The greeting for a High Priest of bishop rank."
"Gratula mi kibilis. Glory to the great Goddess."
"The tenth of the 19 Tribulations."
"The Tribulation of Abstinence — going without food, without drink, and without sleep."
Lethe's eyes went round as Simon answered one question after another without a single stumble.
"Were you always interested in Holy Federation culture?"
"I became interested exactly two weeks ago."
For Simon, who walked around with the etiquette of four kingdoms split up and memorized cold, this much was easy.
The Holy Federation was a single nation ruled by the Pope, and its ceremonial law was almost entirely uniform — a blessing, from a studying standpoint. Growing up watching Anna's every gesture had made some of it second nature, too.
Several hours in the carriage slipped past. Just as the feeling was starting to drain out of his backside, the jarring forest road gave way to smooth, paved carriage track.
Before long, the driver's voice rang out.
"Welcome to Hove Territory!"
They had finally arrived. Unlike Leshill, Hove was a city of considerable size.
Simon paid the driver and stepped outside. The moment his feet touched solid ground, his motion sickness began to fade and his spirits lifted considerably.
"No time to rest. Move."
Lethe had used this same Hove route when she first entered Leshill, so there was not an ounce of hesitation in her stride.
The two pulled their outer robes down hard over their heads and marched briskly through the dark back alleys on the city's outskirts.
Now and then a gang punk in the back alleys would pick a fight with Lethe and promptly get launched five meters skyward by a single kick, headfirst into a building's roof — but it was nothing worth mentioning.
"Here we are."
Their destination was a decrepit old tavern sitting at the very end of the alley — a place whose very existence seemed suspect.
Once inside, Lethe steered Simon to an empty table and sat him down.
They were zoning out for a few minutes, catching their breath, when a robed man who had entered the tavern dropped into the seat beside them.
"The wolf's confession is—"
the man said quietly.
"—for the foolish lamb."
Lethe answered. The man nodded.
"I've been expecting you. This way, please."
This was the very broker who had smuggled Lethe in.
Following him out through the back door, they found an overgrown garden untouched by human hands and utterly untended. Vines had run riot over the walls and pillars, smothering everything in green chaos.
"Before we depart, let's settle the remaining balance."
The broker turned and held out his hand. The sound of money changing palms.
Lethe was rummaging through her clothes when Simon, faster than she was, drew out a single coin and flicked it over.
"We'll pay with this."
As the broker caught the coin, Lethe spoke up, unimpressed.
"What's this, then? Why are you paying?"
"Father gave it to me. He said we should cover our own travel expenses."
The broker, apparently familiar with situations like this, took out a jeweler's loupe and examined the coin closely. His hood shadowed his face, so his expression was hidden — but his hands were trembling visibly.
"Such a treasure — I hardly know what to say...!"
"Of course, if you happen to be an ignoramus who can't recognize what this is worth—"
Simon continued with a sly grin.
"—Father did say to just pay in cash instead. So which will it be?"
"...It is unquestionably genuine. This will cover the fee."
The broker hastily tucked the coin into his breast pocket, as if afraid Simon might change his mind.
"It's a moldy old coin. What's all the fuss about?"
Lethe asked.
"Currency minted by the old empire. Worthless as actual money, but apparently it drives the nobility insane with desire. A luxury item."
"Ahh."
The broker rubbed his hands together briskly. Maybe it was just her imagination, but he seemed a shade more deferential than before.
"Let me confirm once more — which identity will the disguise be under?"
"This one."
Lethe gestured at Simon. The broker drew a forged identity document from his coat and handed it over.
Apprentice Priest
Ska Seraphino
So from now on, my name is Ska Seraphino.
As Simon etched his new name into his mind, the broker supplied the explanation at his elbow.
"One month ago, this man died suddenly in the mountains during a pilgrimage, killed in a monster attack. His body was never recovered, so I expect the papers will hold up without trouble for another six months or so."
"Understood."
The two followed him into a rundown, abandoned building. A teleportation circle had been drawn across the floor.
"I shall see you on the other side."
The broker stepped into his subspace first. Simon and Lethe followed onto the magic circle.
Wooooom!
Nothing like Kizen's comfortable teleportation circles. Perhaps because a hired freelancer had drawn it, the ride was absolute garbage. His body spun round and round, his stomach flipping over and over.
Simon staggered as he opened his eyes in a brand-new place.
This is—!
A blazing sun beat down from overhead, and a vast desert stretched to the horizon. High above, two vultures wheeled through the sky, shrieking their ugly cries.
"Ugh."
Lethe materialized behind him, clutching her forehead and swaying on her feet.
"Welcome to the Haley Desert, in the Neutral Zone."
the broker said. Simon straightened his wind-mussed hair and looked around again.
So this is the Neutral Zone — the kind of place you only reach on Red Requests!
The Neutral Zone, unfolding around the Haley Desert at the dead center of the continent, was a region where sharpened interests from every side tangled together. Because both priests and necromancers could enter it freely, it was also a place where conflict never ceased.
The broker explained.
"The direct route from the Dark Alliance into the Holy Federation is completely sealed. However, the route from the Neutral Zone into the Holy Federation remains open — for the transport of essential goods only. From here, we will move hidden within a merchant caravan bound for the Federation. Any questions?"
The two shook their heads.
"Then let's get inside."
The broker flipped open the lid of a wooden crate loaded onto a cargo wagon ahead of them. A magic circle was inscribed on the floor of the box — and it looked painfully cramped.
Both their expressions hardened.
"We're crossing the border in this?"
"Yes. The journey will take about four hours."
Only now did Simon fully grasp the situation.
So this is what smuggling really is.
Teleportation was blocked, and no person could simply enter a subspace. This old-fashioned method was the best option there was.
"Ugh, come on. When I crossed over into the Dark Alliance, they just dressed me up as a merchant and sent me through."
Lethe grumbled.
"The situation has changed considerably since then. Border security has been tripled, and merchants are being scrutinized far more closely. High command has even dispatched inspectors, so bribing the checkpoint officers doesn't work anymore either."
"...Haaah."
Lethe tapped her brow with her fingertips a few times, then lifted her head and looked at Simon.
"You get in first. I'll take a different box—"
"My sincere apologies, honored client."
The broker rubbed his palms together.
"Both of you must enter the same box."
"WHAAAT?!"
Lethe shrieked in outrage. Then she marched straight over and seized the broker by the collar.
"You little—! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
As she raised her arm, the broker's feet lifted clean off the ground.
"Ghhk! P-please, don't do this!"
"You're screwing me over right now, aren't you? You want me to crawl into that cramped hole with that guy?"
"Th-there's no other way! Even arranging a single empty crate on the cargo manifest took enormous effort! If you'd prefer a more comfortable route, you'll have to wait roughly three months."
"...Ngh!"
Even with Richard along, a three-month delay would put Anna in danger. Lethe bit her lip hard, and a moment later she flung the broker to the ground.
"That's enough, Lethe. It's only four hours."
Simon, having accepted the situation far faster, even went so far as to climb into the box and sit down in it himself.
"Oh, you know what? It's actually cozier than it looks."
Simon rapped lightly on the crate's walls and put a positive spin on it.
Lethe covered her face with her palm and heaved a sigh deep enough to sink the earth beneath her.
...O Goddess, why must this trial fall upon me?