MTM 50

Whoosh

“Haa… we arrived safely.”

After Leon’s teleportation spell carried them out of the sanctuary, the cathedral stood right in front of them.

He didn’t know how much time had passed. The fierce wind had died down, and thin rain was falling quietly. The drops weren’t large, but they were enough to put out the flames. Only a few dying embers flickered weakly across the city.

“It’s raining!”

Harto jumped out of Zed’s arms in delight. The rain ran down his body, washing the stains away and making him clean again.

“…A, a monster!”

Then something happened. A scream rang out from somewhere, and murmurs spread. When they turned, holy knights and priests who had taken shelter in the safe zone were cautiously watching them.

“Ah….”

Harto instinctively hid behind Zed, but it was already too late. Eyes full of fear and hostility turned toward him.

“Z-Zed… what do we do. I didn’t know anyone was here….”

“It’s not your fault.”

Zed spoke and spread his cloak over Harto’s body. His hands moved gently, shielding him from the rain.

“Your Holiness!”

Through the murmuring crowd, a grand carriage arrived. The high priest stepped out, his fat belly sticking out and his face twisted in rage. He pointed toward Harto, who was hiding under Zed’s cloak.

“That creature is the cause of this disaster! It defiled the holy ground and angered God!”

His cheeks were puffed out with malice, and he looked more like a greedy fool than a noble priest.

“Seize it before it escapes!”

Thud!

Just then, a stone flew from somewhere and hit the high priest on the face.

“Y-Your Holiness!”

The holy knights hurried to protect him, but the stone was sharp, and blood ran down his swollen cheek. The priest beside him trembled.

“W-who dares to throw stones!”

“Here!”

Thud!

With the cheerful voice of a child, another stone flew and hit the priest on the head. The priest collapsed without even a scream.

“Who are you!? Show yourself!”

“You’re the ones hiding! Why are you bullying someone innocent!”

A boy appeared on top of the hill and shouted boldly. Behind him, citizens began to appear one by one. Some carried pickaxes, some carried sacks full of stones, and others held torches.

“You kept watching us day and night, but when there was a fire, you all ran away?!”

“Let’s see if you can run this time!”

“Catch them! Take their weapons!”

“Waaahhh!”

The holy knights flinched as citizens consumed by rage, charged.. The priests, too, had already turned their backs and were fleeing without even trying to fight. The citizens would not let them go. Children with faces darkened by ash chased them down.

Among the holy knights, few were from Belnock. They had forgotten their duty and ignored the suffering of the people. The high priest and the priests had been rotten from the beginning. Now the punishment they deserved was finally striking them.

“Zed.”

Amid the chaos, Walter called to him.

“The way out is that way. Follow that path through the grove, and you’ll reach the main gate quickly.”

He pointed toward the small path hidden in the brush beside the cathedral, a shortcut known only to locals.

“…….”

Zed turned his head toward Walter. Their eyes met. Nothing more was said. Walter answered with silence.

At that moment, Zed understood. Their roles as captain and vice-captain of the Night Rage had ended. The comrade he had once met again at their hideout, the one who had greeted him with laughter, might now just as easily become an enemy.

It was bitter, but he had no choice but to accept it. Zed closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.

“Walter, I have a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Give Leon the same choice you gave me. And tell him the truth.”

There was no farewell. Just as he had once joined the mercenary group without warning, Zed spoke those words and walked away with Harto.

‘Ah, so that’s what it is….’

Harto, sticking to Zed’s back, looked back at Walter and Leon. He realized that Zed had decided to leave the Night Rage mercenary group. After living and fighting together for three years, it couldn’t have been an easy decision.

‘Three years….’

Three years since Ares Carseon’s disappearance, and three years with Zed Shaden as the vice-captain of the Night Rage.

Harto thought of both men, who seemed to share nothing in common, and felt a strange confusion. It must have been because of the conversation he’d had with Leon back in the sanctuary.

‘The power that surrounded Zed seemed to be holy power.’

‘Holy power…?’

‘Yes. But I’ve never seen energy that strong before. It must be true holy power, right? Hm… isn’t that strange? I heard that there are very few beings in this world who can wield real holy power….’

Just as Leon said, those who could wield holy power were extremely rare.

‘Except for Ares Carseon….’

Harto whispered the name without realizing it. He shut his mouth quickly, but Leon was already staring at him with wide eyes.

‘I thought the same thing!’

‘Th-the same thing?’

‘I wondered if Zed might be Ares Carseon, the one who went missing three years ago.’

‘……!’

Harto’s heart started to pound loudly. Was it fear? Anxiety? Whatever it was, it made his body tense more than ever.

‘…Well, that can’t be. Why would a prince who lacks nothing become a mercenary? Hm, it’s just a silly thought, so you can forget it.’

Leon sounded awkward as he turned back to drawing the magic circle.

‘…….’

But Harto couldn’t dismiss it so easily.

‘Zed….’

Harto hung onto Zed’s shoulder and looked up at his side profile as he thought.

‘Could Zed be Ares Carseon…?’

The words rose to his throat, but he couldn’t say them aloud. He was afraid that if he did, Zed might actually answer yes.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

When they came out of the forest path, the city gate was in sight. There was no need for caution because no guards stood watch. Instead, people had set up tents under the walls and huddled together.

Everyone looked exhausted from the chaos of the night before, and no one paid attention to the oddly dressed pair. But Harto hid behind Zed’s back, just in case.

The drizzle was getting lighter.

“…Hey, friend!”

A cheerful voice called out from somewhere. When they turned, Allen was approaching, leading a white horse.

“Allen…!”

Harto almost jumped down in joy, but Zed caught him by the arm.

“Harto, climb onto my shoulder.”

“Ah… okay.”

That had been close. Harto climbed up as Zed told him and clung to his solid shoulder. Meanwhile, Allen came up to them.

“Phew, I’m glad you’re safe.”

Allen smiled with relief, but his clothes were a mess. Dark stains of blood spread across the fabric. The rain had soaked him, but the red marks hadn’t completely washed away.

Zed’s eyes stayed fixed on the blood. Allen coughed and lowered his voice.

“Hm, well… I handled things. This horse lost its owner, so I took it.”

“Not as loot?”

“Well, you could call it that.”

The red-haired apprentice and his group had planned to set fire to the cathedral and then escape on horseback. Allen had killed them while chasing them, released the rest of the horses, and taken only the white one that looked valuable.

“Anyway, Zed. Weren’t you going to meet the mercenary group? Walter said something…hm? And where’s the pretty one you were traveling with?”

“Here.”

Harto peeked out from under Zed’s cloak.

“Whoa! What the hell is that?!”

Allen shouted when he saw the black slime suddenly appear. The white horse was startled too and neighed loudly while stepping back.

“I’m Harto!”

“What? That mold-looking thing…?”

Allen frowned, looking disgusted by Harto’s monster form.

“M-mold….”

The joy Harto had felt vanished in an instant. He slumped, lost all strength, and hid completely inside the cloak.

“Now you’ve made Harto hate you.”

Zed clicked his tongue toward Allen, but he looked satisfied.