That One Word
Alex's muttering stopped at those words.
Dew formed at the corners of his dry eyes. It trickled down his cheek. Endlessly, it flowed and flowed.
"No! It's possible. With magic... a plague like this...!"
"It's impossible. They're already dead. These children."
"......!!"
Alex shook his head side to side, unwilling to believe it. Then he looked at the children inside the prison.
Priest! Priest! The children's voices still seemed to echo in his ears.
But that hallucination was drowned out by the monstrous roars of the children who had become monsters now. Not the children's whispers. The monsters' cheers.
The fact he didn't want to believe became reality with that one phrase. Alex collapsed to the floor, his strength gone. Covering his face with trembling hands, he cried out.
"It's possible...! I believed it was... possible. If I could save these children, we could go back to how it was before. Back to that happy time. If only we could return to that, I knew I could do anything! I was ready to sell my soul to the devil if that's what it took. But...!"
"I don't know what you're feeling."
"......"
"I don't know why you're so obsessed. But..."
Loki raised his sword.
"Free these children who can't rest in peace because of your obsession."
Alex shut his mouth.
He looked at the children who had become monsters. Yes, he knew. What he was doing now only made things harder for them.
"But we can't. We can't forget the children. I've run nonstop until now. And yet! Here...!"
"I'm not telling you to forget."
"......"
"But don't obsess."
Loki entered the prison. He sliced through the charging wights disguised as children, one by one. The bound wights died. Alex watched the scene with trembling eyes. There were no cute children left. Only hideous monsters.
"...Think of the children and live the rest of your life for them."
He killed all the wights. Loki poured purification potion over the pile of wight corpses.
"That's the path they want."
The green liquid from the vial poured out, touching the corpses, which turned to ash and vanished.
"Otherwise, only emptiness remains."
Emptiness. That one word struck Alex deeply. Years of effort, and the results gone in an instant. The life he'd clung to with forced hope crumbled.
Yet, even as guilt filled him, a sense of relief loosened the knot in his heart. It's a good thing, that thought crept in, and Alex could only shake his head.
Serving the Constellation required training the mind and spirit. But Alex was reminded anew how selfish and cunning the human heart could be.
A short time passed.
"......"
Loki let out a small sigh as he watched Alex stare blankly into space from a corner of the monastery's reception room. He'd acted on his own. He could have been more cautious, but seeing the children turned into wights had stirred a strange anger, making him move on emotion.
"Do you resent me?"
When Loki approached and asked, Alex looked at him with a dazed expression. After a few seconds, as if the words finally sank in, he replied weakly.
"To be honest, I do resent you."
"Resent me if you must."
"...I'm sorry. I hate myself for saying this even though I know you played the villain for this old man's sake. It's rare for someone to act that way knowing they'll be hated."
"No."
Loki remained calm despite Alex's blunt words. Seeing that eased the resentment a little.
"You're kind. Thank you for indulging this old man's whining."
"......"
Loki fell silent at Alex's words.
Alex ran his hands through his hair.
"Please. Just give me a little time alone."
"...Very well."
Loki wasn't one for comfort, so he left the room.
The next morning.
They were ready to leave, but there wasn't much to prepare. Most items were in inventory, and Salat had little to pack.
He considered saying goodbye to Alex before departing, but the priest hadn't left his room since yesterday. The shock must have been immense.
...It's none of my business anymore.
As Loki prepared to leave the monastery.
"Wait! Please wait a moment!"
Alex burst through the monastery door, panting. His eyes were red from crying, his face marred by exhaustion. But he looked strangely relieved as he held out a large pouch.
"T-take this."
"......?"
"Peppers. Freshly picked. I don't know if they'll taste as good as others, but they're much better than the ones you had before!"
Salat's mouth twitched at the word "peppers."
Loki took the pouch. Alex then offered a small pouch to Salat.
"Miss. This..."
"......?"
Salat sniffed it. A bitter scent stung her nose.
Herbs? The kind I mix.
"Your leg seems injured. Take it."
Salat glanced at her leg in surprise. Her knee-high boots hid it well, and without close inspection, her limp wouldn't be noticeable. Yet Alex had spotted it, meaning he'd observed her closely.
"Impressive compounding skill. I learned something."
Alex spoke to Loki, not Salat. He hadn't seen her make it and assumed Loki the herbalist from the purification potion.
"No. She made it."
Loki ruffled Salat's hair, earning a displeased look. Her pride was hurt.
"Ah, i-is that so?"
Alex said it but clearly didn't believe it.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, crying all night cleared my chest!"
But the slight tremor in his voice betrayed lingering pain.
"What will you do now?"
"Clean up."
All of it, Alex muttered.
Alex looked at Loki and pulled a small token from his bosom. Carved from wood, it bore the [Wood] symbol of the Azelan Constellation, with Alex's name beside it.
Azelan Constellation Token
[Wood] Symbol Engraved
"This is...?"
"You're a Nord, right? Most beast-masked ones are. And you seem new to the continent... This signifies conversion."
"Conversion?"
At Loki's puzzled tone, Alex clarified quickly.
"Take it. Normally there's scripture recitation and holy water, but that's formality—we can skip it. I'm a priest of the Azelan Constellation, but I won't force faith. One of His words is 'Respect all beings.' I know Nords have their own Constellations. I can't disrespect that. With this token, you'll avoid friction with clergy."
"......"
It was exactly what Loki needed as Loki.
"Thank you."
"Yes... Forgive this old man's... disgrace."
Alex bowed to Loki and Salat.
"And... travel safely. May the Azelan Constellation's blessing be with you..."
Alex stared at the spot where Loki and Salat had vanished, a lingering regret in his eyes.
"Monk~!"
Alex opened the door at the voice from outside. There stood a donkey and cart, with peddler Yuan atop it and his pregnant wife beside him. She was strikingly beautiful, her belly bulging.
"Yuan! What brings you here?"
Alex asked in surprise, and Yuan scratched his sticky hair.
"What happened to those travelers?"
"They left."
"Oh... Too bad."
"Why?"
Alex couldn't help but wonder why Yuan seemed disappointed.
"Truth is, we're thinking of traveling too."
"Traveling?"
Sudden news. And with a pregnant wife? Too dangerous!
"Grand term, but just to the nearest city ahead. Same direction, so we thought to go together."
"But... isn't it risky?"
Times were bad. Civil war raged. Outside villages and cities meant monsters. The backwater hadn't seen signs yet, but influence was creeping in.
"It'll be fine. Need to restock anyway, and show my wife the city."
Yuan frequented the city for over a decade without issue. Worst was bandits two days ago, but unlikely again.
"Other merchants going too, with mercenary guards. Safe."
"...I see. How long?"
"About a month."
"Alright, be careful... Oh!"
Alex pulled a letter from his bosom and handed it to Yuan.
"Deliver this on the way? I'll pay."
"Huh? To the Holy Church's grand cathedral? Yes, got it."
Yuan nodded and took the letter.
"Safe travels."
"Of course."
Even Yuan left. Alex wore a bitter expression. He donned his beak mask and leather gloves again. Descending underground, he sorted everything he'd done.
Everyone's leaving. Yuan will return... but still sad. Maybe I should leave this monastery and return to the Church?
He wasn't keen, but not entirely against it. The Azelan Church uniquely split into the Holy Emperor's 'Black Forces' and Pope's 'White Forces,' both serving the Constellation.
...Visit the Pope? He could save more people.
As Alex emerged from the lab with his belongings and lantern.
"......!"
People were there. Not one or two. Two men, one woman. All in chain mail, surcoats bearing a black [Wood] emblem on the chest.
Strangers in the Worm Pest lab hut. One familiar face: From 50 years ago, a subordinate of the 'Black Judges' vanguard that toppled the Hanes Empire. Now in his early-mid 70s. He sat casually, feet on the table, slowly reading a book with interest.
"...Impressive, Alex."
"...Yuma."
Alex called his name. Yuma folded the book slightly, observing Alex. Backpack on, beak mask—his eyes widened in surprise.
"...A former holy knight researching like this? Astonishing. Without specialized knowledge, no less."
"......"
Alex glanced at the two standing mid-30s men and woman. Rigid stances, glaring, hands on sword hilts.
Alex removed his beak mask and smiled kindly.
"What brings you here, Yuma? Long time no see!"
Bright and smiling as possible, but wary of the pair.
Yuma smiled broadly, closing the book and handing it to a subordinate, muttering softly.
"...Gather it all."
At his words, the subordinates moved. Collecting books and Worm Pest samples from Alex's lab.
"Ha, haha! What are you doing? It'll be hard to clean!"
"Clean... Don't worry. We'll handle cleaning easily."
Yuma snapped his fingers. A subordinate lit candles and tossed them onto the pile. Flames roared, spreading to the hut, but no one cared.
Alex clenched his fists, barely holding back rage.
"...Pointless. Only Church clergy can research Worm Pest, and only with the Holy Emperor's permission."
"Can't continental healers and herbalists study it?"
"Continental law changed long ago."
"From the Holy Emperor?"
"Yes, from His Majesty."
Yuma emphasized "Majesty."
"Hah, need a powerless old man?"
"No need. Just want to know."
Alex asked puzzled.
"Know? About Worm Pest?"
"No. The Church has more info. What we want is..."
Yuma crossed his arms, looking down arrogantly at Alex.
"The whereabouts of the Hanes Empire's lost princess."