Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Shadows of the Great Mountain Range (2)
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If one defined a ferocious beast as an animal that posed a threat to humans, then fiends were the most terrifying form of such beasts.
Even the lowliest fiend was beyond what an ordinary person could hunt without proper equipment, and above all, fiends utterly despised humans.
Humans felt the same way instinctively, overcome with disgust at the sight of them, as if beholding something filthy.
That was why fiend byproducts went completely unused.
At least their hides or scales seemed sturdy enough to be useful, but even touching byproducts from their corpses was so repulsive that they had zero commercial value.
That was why neither Galen nor Lilia had truly enjoyed riding wyverns as if they were playthings.
They had simply endured the disgust for a few hours because the speed of travel was so appealing.
Even those who could toy with wyverns like pets felt that way—what must it have been like for ordinary folk treated as toys by wyverns?
Flying, fast, tough, strong, and repulsive. They were monsters incarnate of pure terror.
In short, they never landed wyverns directly in the city. Returning home in glory that way would become a lifelong tale of notoriety.
Of course, they had landed in an appropriate spot and walked the rest of the way. They had even meticulously disposed of the wyvern corpse to avoid rumors of one descending to the foot of the mountains causing panic among the residents.
Having spent the day crossing the mountains, they hadn't walked far, but by the time they reached Abaca's walls, night had already fallen.
The fortunate part was that it wasn't late enough for the gates to be closed.
The unfortunate part was how unnaturally few people were trying to pass through them.
"...Why is the city's atmosphere like this?"
Lilia's face, which had been brimming with vitality when she dismounted the wyvern, darkened as if mirroring the shift in time.
Though most of his time here had been spent in the frontier zone, Galen had stayed in Abaca for over ten days as well, and he felt the same unease.
"Even if the sun has set, there are too few travelers. It might make sense in winter due to the cold, but this is early summer."
"Right? And considering the date... this shouldn't be a time for such dead quiet."
"The date?"
Daimus asked. Though he oversaw the east due to a shortage of archbishops, his home base was the northeast. With Roald acting as proxy there, it was secondhand information for him. The word "date" didn't immediately trigger associations.
"Do you know that Abaca and the frontier zone are connected only by scheduled convoys?"
"I do."
"The scheduled convoys run every half-month. Specifically, the ones departing from Abaca are on the 15th and last day of each month, with a generous five-day schedule. And when the convoy sent from here reaches the first village over there, another departs from that village."
The route linking Abaca and the frontier zone was little more than a forced path carved through the mountains—hardly a proper road.
It was a measure taken so that large groups of hundreds departing simultaneously from both sides wouldn't meet midway and cause headaches.
"Today is the 27th of early summer month, so the convoy from the first village should have arrived the day before yesterday."
"Most who return from the frontier are mercenaries finishing quests or merchants wrapping up trade runs. It's only been two days—it's odd for things to be this quiet already."
Galen naturally followed up Lilia's words. Daimus's eyes narrowed slightly.
"There's logic to that. Hundreds returning from the wilds with coin in hand should be splurging wildly upon reentering civilization."
"I hope it's nothing serious."
"Let's hurry and see."
Lilia tried to put on a mature expression, but worry seeped into her steps. Her pace was nearly a jog.
There was hardly anyone to wait for, so no delays. Priests were practically always granted free passage in any city anyway.
"Oh! Priestess Lilia?!"
"It's Bishop now, idiot. Didn't you hear?"
"Ah, sorry! Bishop!"
"It's fine. Long time no see."
The gate guards recognized Lilia and greeted her warmly.
Even before meeting Galen, she had been one of Abaca's top celebrities. An ultra-genius priestess with overwhelming looks was impossible to ignore.
Lilia exchanged light greetings while observing their expressions briefly, then passed through the gate.
The guards' faces weren't exactly bright either, suggesting they knew the city's situation, but there was someone who could give more detailed answers without needing to ask them.
"Um, excuse me..."
"A carriage?"
"Y-Yes! Yes!"
"Please guide us."
As usual near a city's gates, there was a spot where coachmen waited. Like a modern taxi stand. Cities of any real size took too long to traverse on foot.
There weren't many carriages at night, but some remained. The most diligent coachman struck gold.
The carriage headed toward Abaca's church.
"It's grown tremendously, truly."
Daimus murmured as he took in the night scenery through the window.
"Have you been here before?"
"Over ten years ago... no, twenty? It's so long ago it's fuzzy. Back then, it felt like a wild, oversized village. Seeing it flourish into a proper city like this brings back memories."
"I see. I first saw it in this state, so I lack the insight to spot differences..."
"There are some buildings I don't remember."
Lilia, who had been peering out the opposite window, leaned back and spoke.
"Nearly two years have passed, so the city must have developed some. The atmosphere isn't as dead as I feared."
"At least it's not a prolonged issue."
"If it were, I'd have heard by now. Though I was away for a couple months for the ordination."
"With the southwest incidents, I was worried."
"As if there'd be more of those fiends."
Having seen villages reduced to ash by an orc mage, Lilia had immediately thought of plague upon seeing the quiet city.
Fortunately, that didn't seem to be it. The city's mood wasn't outright ominous—just a bit subdued.
If it were a non-convoy period, she might have brushed it off. But with one due, it was strange.
"We're here."
"Thank you."
After paying the coachman, the four entered the church.
Unless there was an emergency patient, lay services didn't run into the night. The church, with only priests and monks remaining, was quite serene.
"This way."
Lilia led. As the largest church in the east, the grounds were vast, but having lived here since infancy, she could navigate blindfolded.
They arrived at the dormitory building on the church grounds.
Some priests commuted from outside, but Maira resided within the church.
Yet no light leaked from her window.
"Huh? She shouldn't be asleep already..."
Lilia tilted her head and knocked cautiously.
No response. The door was locked.
"She's not here."
Galen said after closing and opening his eyes. His Water Flow Manipulation and Spiral Eddy senses detected no presence beyond the walls.
"Working late? No, the office was dark too..."
"She might be out on a brief errand."
"Maybe related to the city's mood."
Lilia pondered briefly, then headed to another dorm.
This time, the occupant was inside.
"Who is it?"
The woman who opened the door's eyes widened.
"Sister Lilia?"
"Sister Jenny!"
Forgetting her worries momentarily, Lilia beamed and hugged her. Jenny, startled but hugging back, soon lit up with joy.
"When did you get here?"
"Just now!"
"You should've sent word."
"We were on the way? We were faster!"
"Still the same, Sister. How have you been?"
"Great!"
Daimus watched the cheerful reunion somewhat sidelined, then nudged Galen's arm. Galen leaned in and whispered.
"Like an older sister who raised her since childhood."
"Ah."
Daimus understood immediately. He didn't remember the name, but he knew Lilia had a priestess she treated like family.
Only then did Jenny notice the shadows behind Lilia. Lilia snapped back to reality and turned.
"Right, not the time."
"Long time no see, Lady Jenny."
"Ah, Brother Galen. Sorry, I was a bit out of it..."
"No issue. But this gentleman is more important."
"Haha, how could I intrude on family? Daimus here. This is my aide, Larry."
"Dai—"
Jenny's mind spun like a mage's as she nearly echoed the name. In that instant, a portrait face struck her like lightning.
"A-Archbishop, Your Grace?!"
Shocked by her own words, Jenny nearly fainted for real. Lilia caught her and infused holy power.
Forced calm, Jenny bent at a right angle from the waist.
"F-Forgive my ignorance!"
"You recognized me well enough. If anything, I'm sorry for startling you."
"N-No, not at all! My fault entirely. P-Please, inside... No, it's too shabby..."
"How could I barge into another's home late at night? Might we speak out here? Standing in the hall is rude to others."
"Of course!"
Thanks to Daimus's casual demeanor, Jenny regained her wits and led them outside.
There was a quiet spot like a small garden in front of the dorm.
Telling a already-panicked Jenny that the archbishop had descended from the heavens might render conversation impossible.
With that in mind, Daimus cut to the chase.
"The city seemed subdued on the way in, so I sought Bishop Maira, but she's away. Do you know where?"
"That's..."
"Some circumstance you can't discuss?"
"N-No. It's just... the two issues are connected..."
Color returned to Jenny's tense, pale face—not from joy, but concern deepening her pallor.
"Some city-wide problem arose, keeping Bishop Maira away. Is that it?"
"Yes. Exactly."
"What sort of problem?"
"Actually... the scheduled convoy that should have arrived the evening before last still hasn't."
"What?"
Lilia gasped. Galen and Daimus's faces hardened.
The city's quiet suddenly made perfect sense. It should have bustled with the convoy's arrival, but without it, there were simply no revelers.
"How often has this happened?"
"As far as I know... never. Raids happen rarely, but nothing like total silence..."
"Then Bishop Maira? Surely not?"
"She waited for contact until this afternoon, then said she had no choice but to check herself... and left a few hours ago with a small group."
"Damn."
Daimus let out a groan.
How could Maira not know the danger of heading into the unknown?
But she was Abaca's sole Gold-rank powerhouse. No other Golds nearby to borrow from. There used to be one in the next city, but he allied with a demon and died.
No alternatives. Knowing the risk, she deemed personally confirming the least-damage option. Sending Silver or Bronze under her—a bishop—would just rack up casualties.
"If only we'd arrived a few hours earlier..."
"Let's count ourselves lucky."
Lilia turned and said.
"I'll go after her."