Chapter 174: People who returned (1)
9mP2The sound of someone praying echoed in the empty prison.CcNBnX
dRmAlthough the stone floor felt the winter cold, the man knelt reverently.qbSGtc
79mBishop Pedro chanted a prayer as he looked through a small window in the prison.usq5
O0n“…Dragulia was helping and instigating this.”incrxK
xar5fGunther, who was observing the scene outside the window, frowned at Pedro’s last response.P1Vibtk
IV6Perhaps they didn’t believe everything he said, but Monsignor Pedro was also deeply connected to the current situation.NI7
UZLr“Is there any reason for someone bound by an oath to do something like this?”KNQXyrU
75NJLoV“I believe it’s now my turn to ask a question.”LmqTi
5bmi2Pedro, who had finished praying, rose slowly.b9EVC6
oL3pA Vatican bishop who returned to Moshiam to finish an unfinished job.SX2TE
dNKvTA small ray of morning light floated behind his tall and imposing figure.3jI47on
NvN“Did you happen to tell the boy from Bayezid?”QW2t0h
o3zRbq“What do you mean?”XQdOv
RZ4“The majestic will of God. The sword of the faithful that defeats the devil.”DnWd
GBIt7V1Pedro’s eyes were sharp as he stood in front of the bars.S8I4KF
pg94fPedro and Gunther decided to exchange questions and answers instead of foolish attempts like interrogations or torture.zD2xH
oLYPedro, who had honestly answered Gunther’s question, now posed the question he had promised.F2TBzin
Kzzn9“Now, I ask if the Northern Orthodox Church taught a man named Vlad the essence of the Trinity.”aiSIEw
6iC8“…”fQZ
HbI4ZThe dark dawn from yesterday.VMkW5
ZGAKThere was a majestic divine will rising from the fog-filled city.D61s5
lKbiiWIndeed, it was a column of light so straight and tall that even Pedro, who prepared the magic, was surprised.MPZ4y
fqq“I should have shared. Is breaking away from the central headquarters and acting as if they were the owners just a whim of the nobility?”rIADMhW
U5rThat’s why Pedro has no choice but to suspect.u0mvFAR
ZtHPjBecause the sword that Vlad showed yesterday was too grand to have been achieved by the improvisation of a single knight.Nm6
57781L4The essence of unity, which cannot be achieved without learning, was clearly on the tip of the young man’s sword.LdX
kFljV3c“If you wanted to sell something, you should have sold indulgences. If you forsake the church’s essence in that way…”6g9Xwl
cGd0f“We never taught him.”tK62c
StUog6“…You never taught him?”hfPiIEk
nolgjBut his anger was misdirected.NLJgnph
HS4As Gunther said, the Northern Orthodox Church has never taught any essence to outsiders.R8MI9NM
4OX“Then, by any chance, is it Andreas?”9JBA
hbyf“Bishop Andreas is not an exorcist. It’s impossible for you to know our methods.”F1g
GIN8There was an outcome, but there was no cause.UpKsrR
q4b9jGPedro clearly witnessed the merging of worlds at the tip of Vlad’s sword, yet it is said that no one taught him.91Xg
toT3E6So, who guided the boy from Bayezid along the way?2VxrYuP
zM50xZ‘Does this make sense?’adVPUue
VOqIThe essence of the Trinity can only be used if there is an authentic source.SxyG
4JCFor the essence to stand alone, there had to be a ground that sustains all worlds.06Dc
X4BurSd‘It’s a skill that cannot be used if there’s no one to properly support it…’PwMH
lJbvjJPedro’s divinity, Nibelun’s mystery, Vlad’s Aura.OOI
LBgAnd the lowest source backing them.cK6B9h2
u3XWpPedro had no idea what kind of world lay beneath.AWWC
Q2OFqurHowever, one thing is certain: the world of Aesongi originated from someone who had much more knowledge than expected.3LG
5imjgw0Otherwise, there would be no way for the light Vlad wielded yesterday to cut down the wicked Upside-down Sky Tree.d9t4l
IQH9fY***J8EfXM
fa91VxyThe room was filled with the warmth of the fireplace, but Jean’s lips were still blue as he lay in bed.ilwaEGL
ttM7ksVlad couldn’t relax his stern expression as he listened to Jean’s increasingly shallow breathing and watched his lips turn blue.iX1
3mEeBN“About three days left?”ArE3
rxxZ“Maybe. Right now, the leader is doing everything he can to find a way.”hEG
CxCZ0It was said that children infected with the curse displayed common symptoms and died.Knd3CP
e57oODeep sleep, similar dreams, and a progressively lower body temperature.xhnIka
0s5The children, who slept fitfully when the sun rose and woke up only when it set, trembling with chills, said they couldn’t hold on for a week.iQiYk
ZGYSEooAnd today was the fourth day since Jean fell under the curse.Vdy93
OiADa62“He said please take care of him.”CvmM8D8
klJVlad felt depressed as he recalled Andreas saying he would take good care of the young deacon.qgpR
d2cdwyThen he should have somehow killed the cursed tree.PQXeo
TTSpfRUIf he had done that, Jean wouldn’t have fallen asleep again.5ewX
Kc0R6“…”RQR9K
uy5jSCEJustia looked worriedly at Vlad, who didn’t leave Jean’s side.AwYPk
vDM5JVlad clearly blamed himself for exerting himself despite needing rest.BGhnq
SPhdrc“Don’t blame yourself too much. No one could have handled it as well as Lord Vlad if they faced that situation for the first time.”hUvEoKH
Z1m24TNibelun, standing awkwardly by the door, nodded as if agreeing with Justia’s words, but Vlad, who was actually involved, just looked down at Jean with his head bowed without responding.FwzcDH
JQf“Are you busy?”Onlm
Jk70Nd2“Hey!”kEY
FqvAt that moment, Gunther’s voice suddenly echoed in the silent room.k4jvoGP
02Ld0xxThe eyes of the three were focused on his presence, which not even Nibelun, standing in the doorway, could sense.XzlnK
NkXoRxS“No.”tPBxYwa
99I“Then, can I talk to you two for a moment?”nzG
Xp6nHis well-combed but slightly tousled hair gave a hint of Gunther’s concerns.KvBIq
579However, Vlad’s bloodshot, red eyes also elicited pity, so the two, who shared the same worries, didn’t hesitate to speak of it.Qhw
Vso0x3“Let me apologize first. The reason we tried to forcibly retrieve Jean’s body was because we believed we could break the curse with our own strength.”k91Df
iQRX9kVlad and Gunther, stepping out into the hallway, exchanged wary looks.uYFkjlg
VjPZ67Though their first encounter was a bit different, now the two had to solve the same problem.ELcZNx0
aB4“I admit my shortcomings. It turned out to be bigger than I expected.”E94a41q
ZDqn“I understand.”DS4Nt
GFN“Alright. Can we say that the issue between us ends here?”1pT
4o7T“Because I have more urgent matters.”zhT1
vTtdOxfIf you were in a position like Gunther’s, there would be no need to explain the situation to Vlad, who was just a knight.NtcFr
Mm2E6However, Vlad of Soara was the one who cut down the Qliphoth tree, a symbol of the inverted sky, so this was also an act of respect towards Gunther’s way.NWf7pu
GPdd3AZ“The situation is more serious than I thought. The city will be sealed off soon. I plan to issue an evacuation order and clear out this area.”Jy7
dLUQwfh“What about Jean?”GqGNGi
rvN“That’s the problem.”rk1BtBI
WieThere was no doubt that the Qliphoth tree was the cause of the current illness not only in Moshiam but also in the Barony of Utman.xWjscf
JQHNQXThough what they were trying to protect was slightly different, Gunther and Vlad agreed that the cursed tree had to be killed.eSf4hG
9LaHf“The hole through which the tree escaped has already become a space beyond the reach of God’s will. It means you can’t physically touch it.”z8w3Hh
erDThe hole in the cemetery investigated by the Holy Knights was like a bottomless abyss.NuNrXR
tDqIt looks like an entrance, but it turns out to be a trick.Bhv8
QOHI2mbYou’ll never reach the Qliphoth tree through that hole, which is as intangible as the faint mist surrounding the city.xazO
3Pm“And so? Is there no solution, Captain?”g684
HWE“It’s not that there’s no way.”XpUbHWx
yXVNFlDWith those words, Gunther began to scrutinize Vlad closely.1MVKA8
ryfVlad was taken aback by the look in his eyes as if it were something new.3rpGWn
xGo“How old are you this year?”0n5y3d
cWwHd“Why suddenly…”2M3v0R
uBrNSOp“It’s important, so answer quickly.”idLk3d
zojThe question was mundane, but the power it granted was significant.TSMbF4P
gZKClIt was the kind of impulse that only those with confidence and alternatives could exude.YjdED
DbfMUKA“I’ll be twenty.”zGou
Rbd“Your current age.”MJKhUx
20DNKr“Twenty or two months less.”7qPb
9Dvgk“You’re still nineteen.”ZMDR3
oymxZkVlad had increased his age, as was customary in the alleys, but in front of the leader of the Northern Orthodox Church, that was out of the question.GkAJYtF
Ig7“It’s impressive.”jR9V
G31Not yet 20 years old, but already here.5zxu2Mv
zor8mSGunther made a puzzled expression as if Vlad’s young age had struck him again, but in the current situation, it seemed an appropriate age.jFH
3NFpMkP“Why do you suddenly ask my age?”xmr7
rvkv“I see an entrance that’s still open.”fgnmxS
OyWeThe Qliphoth tree, which is still devouring the young deacon and the baron, doesn’t belong to this world, so you can’t physically communicate with it, and it’s already hidden in darkness and can’t be revealed.vCAl
z7MHowever, Gunther managed to find the only way to communicate with the tree.Yra
Ms3Cz“It’s a curse only children have.”Gkd0MZ
GZyDsvGunther pointed with his chin towards the room where Jean lay.DmLg
6k4“And right at this moment, there’s a knight standing in front of me who’s between adulthood and youth.”gFzdX
VjncTlAnd this time towards Vlad.Jogp
ie3ONow, in front of Gunther, there was a knight with a strange appearance who was mature enough to be a child but still young enough to be a young man.lEernc1
iNjiJ1O“It’s possible you can reach that tree through a dream.”af5yj
Sh5aU7“…!”4rS
RVSDZAt Gunther’s words, Vlad remembered the dream he had in Moshiam.GfEnUZv
xA1The darkness was like a mother’s embrace and a distant bonfire.6OyhJOV
KyvThe dream where I escaped with the help of the voice was clearly the same dream Jean had.WUW
eiAP“And the entrance is small, so only you, who are still young, can pass through.”4KrKUGV
pBu7uIK“…I understand.”F0um
ZhxsFaced with Gunther’s gesture, a paladin standing in the hallway quickly approached and opened the box he was holding.qjK
7qMnxuInside the box was a shiny black liquid, along with a syringe that looked blunt.guCjs
Qavn“It’s a curse extracted from Jean. It’s not perfect because it’s urgent, but this will also be able to connect your world with Jean’s.”Fv2jFF
7ZftGunther’s prediction was accurate, and Vlad, confident thanks to his experience, silently nodded.9fts
V2CMJOAll the entrances were blurry, but as Gunther said, there was still one entrance that could reach the tree.W3LAAJ
1XbszH2The name of the entrance is Jean.v1LSL
yaIpRThe young deacon and the tree in Qliphoth were still connected by a thread called a dream.Ud8
FbmyIM0“I won’t force you.”GL9ms
5TvsfeThe black liquid dripping from inside the syringe is sinister.3jv8UR
Jw1uFTThe same color as the tears of a woman wandering in search of her son.q1e
Smm0gkIt would be a lie to say I didn’t shiver at the sight of that all-too-familiar color.J6Tl
B2TXalj“Let’s do it. I’ll go.”NI7y
hnmqZviBut Vlad decided not to hesitate in taking the syringe.4zqhat7
EQzrPJean, who now trembled as if standing in mud, would also need a light to lean on.BEPuwhT
KJD“Now I can finally live up to the name given to me by the bishop.”2WB
bXXeq“I understand.”P94fhK
3l3pAfter confirming Vlad’s determination, Gunther nodded.2tk8QD
pmj5jWvWell, he must have had this level of power to be able to build the reputation he has now at such a young age.zPv6
bDeL“I’ll definitely come prepared. Please wait a moment .”3pqS
Stwdg3With a gesture from Gunther, the door to the room opened again.rFFvjwZ
n7TuAThere were Justia and Nibelun, who waited for him with perplexed expressions.ryR
qQdUoAnd even the image of Jean still lying down and breathing weakly.fP4
MHyLq9“Ha…”bYu
6fo2FMWith a brief sigh, Vlad walked over to the bed where Jean lay and took the young deacon’s hand.QkPZR
ngAQiJean’s hands, clasped again, were a little colder than before.vAbI8h
4lMIt was a small hand that would probably permanently stiffen after three days.cL2xRL
won***Xsd
EnblThere was no time, a decision was made, and preparations were completed.d7b4hAX
hUUBNow there’s only executing the plan left.5rZoE
T1Md0MVlad, lying next to Jean, closed his eyes as he listened to the prayer recited by Gunther himself.12dxxTL
v3e6FD6The bed next to Vlad was already filled with the paladins and priests Gunther had selected.W0Sui
q2OUqQhUnable to open his eyes to check, but I believe Justia was probably reciting the same prayer I heard along with them.rlPiHsj
CQMCe“Tsk!”bqYQoXo
8Qd5A sudden feeling of numbness in the back of the neck.wk5p
EMuZ7With that sensation, Vlad gritted his teeth as if being sucked in.kmjWilF
Emjji0The strangely warm sensation reminded him of his mother’s embrace, but the chill running through his blood made Vlad shiver constantly.FJRrQ
2bUohM“Mmm…”otX
bDMDespite how warm it was, the terrible sensation subsided.Hv8sp
vR1NJTXWhen he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was total darkness.qmL55
5C0Jean, who was by his side, and the prayer I heard had vanished into the total darkness.I4M1
5f7jR“I came to the right place.”Dim
psjnOHThe bonfire I had seen at that moment wasn’t visible, but Vlad felt he had come to the right place and silently took a deep breath.f2J
4d3“Mmm?”CRN
6A9JwJust like back then, everything was dark, but there was one thing that was a little different.i5KEgK
O5MU1When he raised his head, he saw a light.EK2Ix
h9mm6XlIt seemed like starlight breaking through black clouds.fMf8SHR
huQrGzy-If you’re lost where you need to go, follow the light I’m sending you.GZG
FFzYqGunther didn’t leave all the burden solely on Vlad.Vdu0el1
xeaqueaFor Vlad, wandering through the world of curses, Gunther volunteered to be his guide.xAX
EHNc8oHe’s probably still quietly reciting a prayer alongside Vlad to maintain the starlight.nkk
oK3“Alright.”aTt
HWSd8wzVlad still couldn’t relax from the cold surrounding his body.RUNflF8
WQxYPbVHowever, Vlad froze again when he saw a hand protruding from the darkness.HaEz1
fpNHis[I told you to flee.]rWvBP
MXvpWI hear a familiar voice along with a protruding hand.RtFQu
sfIKbLVlad, recognizing the man’s identity by that voice, smiled a little.SN09M
FRK“What can I do? You have to pay what you owe.”0cclEh4
WvLRGvV[Anyway, knights are famous for not listening.]NSN7St
HV32mThere’s received grace and there’s a vow to fulfill.lxFcP
xyUThe voice in the darkness had no choice but to awaken Vlad, who returned to protect them.2nI
KAENOSLPerhaps this guy rolling on the ground came back for what I said.Buf1
NVxXMQ[Let’s go. I’ll guide you.]kuB15
KrGWF0v“It feels strange to touch you with my own hands.”a4xk
ElyeVlad smiles, amazed by the fact that he’s actually touching the voice he just heard.hPrl
L4GM9The voice said, looking at the young man like that, who ended up laughing to himself.gW3FhWG
4Nsludp[You stupid kid.]mgnu3
vW8iZ2The two worlds that had finally made contact embraced each other like this.cWwYc
vhAJust like when they signed the contract for the first time, the starlight in the night sky shone upon them.wwlEe
ZWFn***bcFbqO
Z9Y26WAll the worlds within this world are precious, but not all can be protected.qibmhal
HD9Yet, you are the ones who vowed to protect.HWJwt
uGuwIf you are where you should be, if you are in the right moment, do not hesitate.rddde
9uUrThat will be my second rule.Y7M
fFy3zzoDo not hesitate to fulfill your oath and become a beacon that illuminates the darkness. My knights.FcrTFpN
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