Chapter 187: The Little Prince (6)
Chapter 187: The Little Prince (6)
The middle-aged woman climbed the observatory.
She ascended toward the highest point of the faded city.
No one present understood why Frey was racing toward the top. Did she intend to fulfill her duty as a Star Priestess now, of all times? Did she plan to sing the Song of Stars beneath the night sky? But what meaning could that possibly have? The Song of Stars was merely a ceremony to soothe the residents of Antoine, a performance like the finale of a festival. It held no miracles.
“…….”
Yet, for some reason, the residents of Antoine felt a surge of emotion. A woman who had lost her dazzling youth and beauty was running toward the stars. No—beneath the pitch-black night, she did not look like she was running toward a star; she looked as if she had become one herself. A beacon for the lost, pointing the way forward.
“……Ah.”
Only then did the residents of Antoine realize what Frey was trying to do. She wasn't climbing the observatory for the Song of Stars out of simple madness. She was speaking to those born and raised in the City of Stars.
I will become your star.
Do not wander.
“Even in the darkest night, there are stars.”
Do not fear the immediate darkness.
We have the stars.
“The stars… do not disappear….”
Several residents watched Frey with shimmering eyes. The elders remembered that Frey had once been the most brilliant and greatest Star Priestess. And in the Star Order, where no rank higher than Priestess existed, being the greatest Star Priestess meant being the one closest to the stars.
In other words, the being closest to their God.
“……We must protect her.”
Though their most cherished values, beliefs, and doctrines differed, all Orders had one thing in common. Two rights existed for the being closest to the Order’s God.
“Protect Priestess Frey!”
The right to commune with the God they served.
And.
“Protect the Primeval Observatory!”
The right to be appointed as a Great Warrior.
“……W-Why are these heretics suddenly acting up?!”
Inquisitor Abel displayed his bewilderment as he watched the residents of Antoine suddenly erupt. Frowning, Abel soon realized why the residents were rioting and why that middle-aged woman was trying to reach the top of the Primeval Observatory. It didn't take much thought to figure out. After all, Abel was also a religious man belonging to an Order.
“……Guests from the East.”
“What is it?”
“Capture that woman climbing the observatory, quickly!” Abel shouted urgently.
But.
“I refuse.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
The Conquest Army of the Great Land. They were not the type of people to listen to others so easily.
“Why would a warrior of the great plains move to catch a single old hag? I refuse.”
“This is—! This is a matter of great importance!”
Despite Abel’s shout, the warrior of the plains didn't even blink.
“Assign such trivial tasks to the trivial things over there. Those things clad in ridiculous iron armor—it would be perfect for them to crawl up there.”
“T-The Crusaders must hold back the swarming sinners! Besides, you people… didn't you make a promise with our Order? To protect us and assist the activities of the Crusade….”
“Assistance is only for when an enemy you cannot handle appears, or when a situation arises that cannot be salvaged. Can you not even handle one old hag? Just imagining myself stepping onto those rotten wooden planks is horrifying.”
“What….”
“This is not a legitimate request, you hothouse flower. If I were to climb that building and capture an old woman, I wouldn't be fulfilling a duty; I would merely be running an errand for you. And a warrior of the great plains has no intention of becoming an errand boy for a hothouse flower. Do you understand?”
Inquisitor Abel could not press him further. There was no guarantee that the man before him wouldn't kill him if he kept pushing. No, it was beyond a lack of guarantee. If Abel demanded he capture Frey again, the man would undoubtedly kill him.
Damn it, a warrior from a barbaric land.
Yes, the Great Land was that kind of place from the start.
It was written on the man’s face. He wanted to swing his blade and kill a weakling like Abel right this instant. If it weren't for his lord’s orders, he would have turned everyone here into corpses the moment he arrived, leaving not a single soul alive.
Feeling the thick killing intent, Abel was forced to shut his mouth. The warrior of the plains snorted at the sight of Abel trembling and biting his lip.
“If you’re in such a hurry, go yourself.”
“……Pardon?”
“If those foolish iron-clad things can't go, you can go, can't you? Or is your only talent messing with people’s minds? Are you the kind of man who doesn't know how to move his own body?”
Abel remained silent for a moment. Then, instead of saying more, he turned and began to run toward the observatory. The warrior of the plains snorted once more as he watched Abel climb.
“What a dull land. Truly a dull land.”
The warrior of the plains turned his head to look forward.
Foolish things clad in iron armor, and scrawny things that looked like they had never fought a day in their lives. The two groups were entangled, pushing and pulling against each other. To the warrior of the plains, their fight looked more trivial than the coming-of-age ceremonies held by the boys of the Great Land. If it weren't for Khan’s orders, he would never have come to such a pathetic place. Never.
“I won't even have to draw my sword here.”
Hmph. The warrior of the plains returned the sword he had partially drawn to his waist. He thought he wouldn't have to unsheathe it once during his stay. However, he would soon change his mind.
“……Hmm?”
A young man suddenly burst out from among the tangled crowd. Someone whose aura was fundamentally different from the hothouse flowers of the Southern Continent. The moment their eyes met, the warrior of the plains felt the thick scent of blood.
“This fellow….”
He was of the same breed as himself.
*
“Stop, heretic!”
Inquisitor Abel shouted at the top of his lungs as he climbed the old observatory. But no matter how much he yelled, Priestess Frey did not stop.
Damn it.
Abel pushed his anxiety aside and ran until he was out of breath. Throughout long history, it was very rare for a Great Warrior to be born from the Star Order. Even when a Star Great Warrior was born, there were no records of them ever being active. Some Orders even suggested that ‘a Star Great Warrior might be nothing more than a being who performs a slightly more beautiful dance,’ so lacking were their achievements.
That opinion might have been correct.
The Star Order had faced many hardships throughout its long history, but it had never retaliated against others. It was an Order that spoke of forgiveness and reconciliation, even embracing those who had killed their own priests. But now, Abel could not allow even the smallest variable.
I must succeed in this task.
The Order said this was important. They said Antoine must be turned into a City of the Cross. They said that only by succeeding in erecting the Cross could they restore the wavering discipline of the Crusader Order. As a servant of the Cross, Inquisitor Abel could not fail this momentous mission. Never.
The Papal See had even attached the barbarians from the East as reinforcements for Abel. Though it was a very small support compared to the scale of the army the Great Land had sent to the Southern Continent, even just five of those warriors of the plains could easily lay waste to several peaceful Southern Continent cities. A warrior of the plains was like a wolf appearing before a flock of sheep.
“I said, STOP!”
Abel used his Authority.
The Chains of Punishment—the miracle of the Cross that binds sinners. However, Abel’s Authority did not activate. The divine power gathered, then suddenly scattered and vanished.
“What the—?”
While Abel was momentarily dazed, starlight poured down intensely. For that moment, the surroundings became as bright as day, as if it were noon rather than night. Abel realized that the reason his Authority had just failed was because the ‘Goddess of Stars’ had intervened.
A Sacred Land… The top of this observatory is a Star Holy Land.
It was common for the activation of Authority to fail in the Sacred Land of another God. However, previously, no matter how much Authority was used on the observatory, it had never been interfered with. Why was the Goddess of Stars protecting her servant now? Why did she remain a bystander while countless Star Priests cried out and died miserably, only to intervene now?
I don't know. But it’s not good.
The fact that the Goddess of Stars was actively protecting Priestess Frey meant that this woman was more special than other Star Priests. And one must never let a special being do what they intend to do. Never.
“……Whew!”
Abel stopped trying to use his Authority. Instead, he pulled out the whip he used when interrogating heretics from his robe and began to climb the observatory again. Priestess Frey’s climbing speed was slow. Up here, Priestess Frey was just a middle-aged woman, and Abel was a healthy adult male. If both ran, it was certain that Priestess Frey would be caught soon. Holding his whip, Abel ran vigorously. The distance was gradually closing….
*
「She intends to use her right.」
“Her right?”
「The right to appoint a Great Warrior.」
Liam said as he watched Frey climb the observatory.
“……Are you saying Priestess Frey will become the Star Great Warrior?”
「No, it’s a bit different from that. That is…」
“Why do you stop mid-sentence?”
「I thought it would be better for you to see it for yourself rather than hearing it from me.」
A bit different. What did that mean?
“Hmm. If Priestess Frey becomes the Star Great Warrior herself, I can understand why you told me not to step forward. But then, did I have no reason to come here? It would have been easier if I had wandered more in the desert and arrived late. I wouldn't have been threatened by the Crusaders.”
「That is not true.」
“Pardon?”
「If you had arrived even a day later, you would have gained nothing.」
Gained nothing?
「Young descendant, you will soon know.」
“…….”
「The reason why the Sword called for you.」
Listening to Liam’s cryptic story, I looked at the residents of Antoine entangled with the Crusaders. Now that this chaos had erupted, just watching from the back was not a good idea. Priestess Frey was still climbing the observatory, and Inquisitor Abel was chasing her. And Priestess Frey was being caught. Someone had to help her. It seemed she needed to reach the top of the observatory to do ‘something’ she intended.
It seems I’m the only one who can play that role right now.
The residents of Antoine were steadily pushing back the Crusaders. Squeezing through them wouldn't be difficult. Even if my strength was gone, my sharp senses remained. But the problem was the reinforcements behind the Crusaders.
What should I do about that?
The Conquest Army of the Great Land. The warrior of the plains, radiating thick killing intent. A guy who looked to be at least a 「Sword Runner」. With my current self, I couldn't win even if I died and came back to life.
And it’s not even just one.
Only one was visible right now, but the Inquisitor had referred to them as ‘Guests from the East.’ There would be a few more warriors of the plains. There was a high probability that all of them were 「Sword Runners」. I would be sliced to pieces by sword strikes as fast as light without even knowing how I died.
“…….”
While I was contemplating, I saw the girl in priestess robes still tied to the cross beyond the crowd. The girl was watching the scene with a sad face. Her face was stained with an emotion all too familiar to me. Helplessness.
“Whew.”
The helplessness of being unable to do anything. The terrible frustration of having to watch while something precious is destroyed. The sadness as if the world were collapsing, the unfairness that could not be explained. The emotions I had felt in the past were clearly visible on the girl’s face.
That was an emotion I could never turn away from.
“Master.”
「What is it?」
“Can my current self break through that crowd and fight and win against that warrior who looks to be at least a Sword Runner?”
「It would be difficult.」
The answer was that it would be difficult. Hearing that, I opened my mouth.
“So you’re saying it’s not impossible.”
「You understood well.」
I gripped the Sword.
「This will likely be the final ordeal of the Golden Star.」
It was a sword smaller and lighter than the ones I usually held. But to me now, it was so very heavy.
“Please help me, Master.”
「It will be truly grueling.」
“……I can do it.”
No matter how heavy it was, there are moments when one must pick up the Sword.
「I was waiting for that answer, young descendant.」
Hearing my words, Liam smiled truly brightly.
「Arhan Caravan.」
“Yes.”
「Until now, I have taught you various types of Steel. Forging, Refinement, Demon Ore… the swords passed down in Caravan.」
“…….”
「However, those swords I taught you were not the ones I favored.」
“Then…?”
「They were swords torn and shaved down from the original Steel so that my descendants could wield them.」
Liam’s eyes sparkled with a brilliance I had never seen before.
「Young descendant, the Last Caravan. Do you remember what I promised you?」
“…….”
「That the First Caravan would pass down the true Caravan’s Sword to you. Now seems most appropriate.」
“…….”
「To have lost the things you grasped with such difficulty, and to meet an enemy that seems absolutely impossible to defeat at the moment you’ve fallen to rock bottom… It is a very satisfying situation. For my Steel was originally made to cut what cannot be cut, to win against those who cannot be defeated, and to kill those who cannot be killed.」
His playful demeanor vanished. The lightness he wore like a mask was stripped away. The hidden sharpness was revealed.
「Pick up the Sword, young descendant. In this moment, you take one step closer to transcendence.」
The friend-like master was no longer before me. Instead, the first Swordmaster and the most powerful Swordmaster—the first Caravan and the most powerful Caravan—stood there.
「Remember the name of this sword clearly.」
“…….”
「This was also another name the world called me by.」
Only Liam Caravan stood there.
「The Maverick.」