Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 75
Is that really Gester Kuolin?
The answer to that question didn't require much thought.
Time had stripped away his boyish charm, leaving only sharp, masculine lines, but even that fell within the realm Asher had imagined.
Faded blond hair, tanned skin, deep green eyes, and rugged featuresthese were the traits he could never forget, no matter how hard he tried.
Even the lecherous smirk that crossed his face when he smiled felt like a grown-up version of the boy from their youth.
"Asher! Let's play war!"
Asher's lips twitched.
Versia caught the hint and reacted.
"...Gester? You're really him?"
Her eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling. Anyone could see the mix of surprise and longing in her expression.
Versia had a natural talent for acting. No wonder her true nature remained hidden even after years as a saintess.
Gester finally relaxed at her response, pulling her into a tight embrace with teary eyes.
Asher's eyes bulged.
But if the man inside her body wedged himself between them now, it would ruin the scene.
Asher clenched his fists and pressed his lips shut.
"Ahh! Asher! You're alive! I knew itI believed you made it! Your body was never found, after all!"
"Wait, this is all too sudden..."
"I know! I get it! Baern's not the same as you remember, right? Just... just stay like this for now. It feels like a dream."
Gester's voice grew thick with sobs as he spoke.
Versia looked down at him, head buried in her chest, with clear discomfort on her face. She glanced at Asher and mouthed:
'Your lover?'
'You think?'
Her eyes shot daggers back, and the unease on her face eased a bit.
Finally, Gester broke down sobbing. Asher sighed, and Versia patted his back.
"Should we move somewhere else first?"
"Ah, sorry. Yeah, we should. Come this way. We need to hide you for now."
Asher nodded, signaling to follow Gester.
Versia looked suspicious, but Asher wouldn't budge.
Personal ties aside, in this city, no one was more trustworthy than Gester.
They arrived at a rundown tent in Baern's slums on the outskirts.
There were signs of life inside.
Asher's eyes flickered.
He knew exactly who it washis divine power had revealed it in an instant.
Gester being alive was surprise enough.
But he hadn't expected that person to still be hanging on.
Asher's lips parted slightly.
"Ah, could the young lady wait outside for a bit? It's not about catching upit's just that the person inside can't meet just anyone."
"Oh, that's..."
There was no choice.
Asher nodded and signaled Versia with his eyes.
She looked troubled but nodded and followed Gester inside.
Asher let out a long sigh into the air.
* * *
Versia felt stress from the rapidly shifting situation.
More than anything, she hadn't heard a rational explanation for Asher's judgment, leaving her uneasy.
She could tell right away that Asher and this Gester Kuolin were old friends.
But was that reason enough to trust him?
Ten years was a long time. Long enough for rivers and mountains to changeand for a person's heart to shift a hundred times over.
Versia kept watching Gester closely.
'No weapons. No contact with anyone else on the way here.'
If worse came to worst, this body could probably slit Gester's throat and escape.
With that in mind, she entered the tent.
But the plan vanished from her head the moment she saw inside.
Versia's face twisted.
"...?"
"He's changed a lot from what you remember. Honestly, it's a miracle he's still alive."
In the center of the tent sat an old man who looked more corpse than human.
His skin was darkened. His pulse faint, his body shriveled like a mummy.
His ragged breaths were barely audible.
'A curse.'
And an extraordinarily vicious one at that.
Gester knelt beside the old man, gripping his hand tightly.
"Father, Asher's here. Baern's young lion has returned to this land."
No reply came, but Gester didn't just wallow in sorrow.
Tears streamed down his face, yet he grinned ear to ear.
His rough features softened into those of a boy in that moment.
One thing was clear: Gester hadn't approached them with ulterior motives.
If he had, he wouldn't have shown off a weakness like his dying father.
Of course, clues were still scarce.
Analyzing a situation with just a few keywords and drawing the right conclusions was always tricky.
Usually, Versia drew answers out of people in cases like this.
"...How did he end up like this?"
"How much do you remember of that day?"
"..."
"Of course, you wouldn't know much. We were kids, and the ones protecting us were in chaos."
Gester closed his eyes and tilted his head up.
His expression turned serious.
"It was a tragedy for us. Maybe for all of Baern. My father escaped that day with the Tuhi's help. He couldn't avoid the curse, but luckily, the ones who cast it thought it workedthey stopped chasing us. Probably figured he'd drop dead soon."
"..."
"Anyway, that's all in the past. I ended up like this trying to care for him one more day at a time. Taking care of your parents ain't easy."
"..."
As Versia's silence stretched, Gester chuckled to lighten the mood.
"So, how've you been? That girl outside your lover? The fated love you used to talk my ear off about?"
"Well..."
"Don't play dumb. Back in the day, whenever I said I'd take a hundred concubines, you'd always say you were waiting for that one fated love. Your big sisters adored you, and you brushed 'em all off."
Stories of young Asher were intriguing.
But this wasn't the time or place.
Versia chose her words carefullywhat to say, what to avoid.
First, she needed to get out of here.
No need to drag this out in high spirits.
"That's all in the past. Right now, I'm just one of the traitors..."
"Asher."
Gester's face hardened.
Versia sensed her slip.
But it wasn't fatal.
If anything, it might be a good thing.
"The whole world might call you that, but we know the truth. Baern's mercenaries... every warrior walking this land knows. They're just holding back."
His expression burned with passion.
What he said next made Versia's eyes widen.
"They're the true lions of Baern. So don't be so down on yourself."
A key piece of the puzzle clicked into place.
Versia barely stifled a hollow laugh.
Again.
Gester kept using the word "lion."
Born into royalty and steeped in its culture, Versia knew what that meant.
In any culture, you don't slap a title meant for a specific group or person onto just anyone.
Yet he'd called young Asher "the young lion" and the mercenaries who raised him "Baern's lions."
How could she not understand the implication?
Versia pieced together what she knew with this new hint.
'The Lion Corps is the royal sword.'
The kingdom's finest mercenaries, bound to the dynasty's fatethat was the Lion Corps.
And the current royal house had ruled for exactly ten years.
Which was when Asher had entered the church.
'...The mercenaries who raised Sir Knight were the Lion Corps.'
Her gaze shifted to Gester and the old man.
Gester had mentioned a "coup" repeatedly.
In that event, he and his father were people to be huntedfugitives who endured a curse like that while escaping.
There was only one possibility.
'The former dynasty's king and crown prince.'
Asher had called the mercenaries who raised him a rebel faction against the current dynasty.
He was right, but it left room for misunderstanding.
History is written by the victors.
So the losersthe old dynasty and its swordhad to be broken.
Every puzzle piece fit perfectly.
Versia decided she needed more details on this.
But hearing it from Gester was a last resort.
"...Sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for to me. Don't sweat it."
"I'm glad you're alive. But today..."
"Ah, the girl outside. Don't know how you met, but tell me later. How you've survived, what you're up to now. Man, I went to check out those 'new external forces' and ran into you of all people."
Gester's grin looked sly, but his heart was kind.
Versia smiled back, promised to talk more later, and left the tent.
Their eyes met.
Asher gave a wry smile, as if he knew what she'd ask.
"I didn't say anything misleading."
"Yeah, they'll probably think your personality's mellowed with time."
"More importantly, Sir Knight, don't you have something to tell me?"
"..."
Asher sealed his lips.
Then, with a sad smile, he asked:
"It'll be a long story. You okay with that?"
"I'll stay up all night if I have to. Even if you take it the wrong way."
It was meant to ease the tension.
Luckily, Asher burst out laughing"Pfft!"
"I won't take it the wrong way. Shall we walk?"
Asher started walking.
Versia followed.
They found a secluded spot, and there, Asher began.
"Let's start from my earliest memory."
And so the story unfolded.