MTM 44

“Walter!”

From the opposite side of where Walter stood, Zed and Harto were running toward him. Walter quietly covered Lidel’s body with a black cloak and withdrew his hand. The corpse that had just been in his arms disappeared completely without a trace.

Zed and Harto did not see it. The thick smoke nearby blurred their vision.

“Zed! Thank goodness. I thought I lost you.”

Walter changed his expression and greeted them with open arms.

“Walter, are you all right? I heard there was a fight over here, and…”

Zed stopped when he saw the blood pooled on the ground and the brutally killed bodies. Harto’s eyes widened, and he turned his gaze away. There had been cruel scenes in novels, but it was the first time he had seen real corpses.

‘It feels like the city turned into a nightmare overnight…’

When the flames devoured the cathedral, the three had used Leon’s teleportation spell to reach Belnok. But the city was already out of control, and in the confusion, they lost Walter and Leon. Zed and Harto had spent time searching for them.

“I’m fine. But… we lost Leon on the way.”

“Leon?”

Zed found that unexpected. He had thought Walter would have made sure Leon was safe. But he didn’t show it. Right now, gathering everyone was more important. In this chaos, sticking together was the only way to survive.

“Leon’s probably hiding somewhere safe. He knows the city inside out. More importantly… I met Allen a moment ago.”

Walter mentioned Allen with a look that showed little concern for Leon’s safety.

“Allen found the ones who set the fire and fought them. He went after the ones who ran away.”

Allen wasn’t the kind of person to go that far just for revenge. Zed could tell who those people were. He hadn’t realized earlier, but now he saw that the bodies on the ground were all holy knight apprentices.

“Maybe he had a personal grudge. Anyway, that’s not what matters now. You two should look for Leon.”

Walter rubbed his chin with one hand and spoke to Zed.

“What about you?”

“I’ll gather the scattered members first. When you find Leon, come to the candy shop. The fire hasn’t spread there yet.”

“I understand.”

Zed gave Walter a look that told him to be careful and turned to Harto.

“Harto, wait a bit. I need to grab some weapons.”

“I’ll help.”

“Then can you get some water nearby?”

“Water?”

Harto’s eyes brightened. Maybe this was a good chance to tell him that he could create water here and now. The Noglid had warned him many times never to reveal his ability to humans, but Zed was different. Zed had long since become someone precious to him.

He couldn’t extinguish a fire this huge with his power, but he could at least make enough water for drinking.

“Here. Take mine.”

While Harto was brimming with anticipation, Walter, who hadn’t yet left, pulled a leather waterskin from his belt and handed it to him.

“Ah… thank you.”

“No need.”

Harto was disappointed to lose the chance but still politely thanked him. Just as Walter was about to leave, Harto stopped him.

“Um… Captain Walter, are you all right?”

“Me? I told you, I’m fine…”

“Your hand.”

Harto pointed directly at Walter’s hand. Blood was smeared across his palm. It was the trace left from Lidel’s body.

“……”

Even in this chaos, he noticed that. Walter smiled and looked at Zed. Fortunately, Zed was busy collecting weapons and hadn’t heard the conversation.

“Sorry, but it’s not my blood.”

“Oh.”

Harto was relieved he wasn’t hurt, but he couldn’t understand why Walter had sounded sorry.

Walter turned, his black cloak sweeping the air.

“…You are a monster, don’t get in the way.”

His voice was low, almost swallowed by the wind, and he vanished into the crowd.

“…Ah.”

Harto blinked and tried to find him, but Walter had already disappeared in an instant.

“What’s wrong, Harto?”

Zed came back carrying an armful of weapons. The clattering steel he laid on the ground was mostly swords and shields used by holy knight apprentices.

“Huh? That’s…”

“You got the water already?”

“Ah, this… Captain Walter gave it to me.”

Harto handed him the waterskin with a puzzled look. Zed lifted it in his hand to gauge its weight, then passed it back.

“Keep it on your belt. You still have the dagger I gave you this morning, right?”

“Yes. Here.”

Harto slightly lifted his cloak to show the dagger tucked into his back pocket. The small blade sticking out above his hip looked cute, and Zed chuckled. Then he fastened the waterskin securely to Harto’s waist.

“Only use the dagger when you really mean to strike an enemy. If you just wave it around to threaten or defend yourself, you’ll only be mocked.”

“…Okay. I will.”

He said that, but could he really harm someone? Harto thought. Zed’s words were right, but he still didn’t have that resolve.

“And also…”

Zed looked at Harto with no trace of teasing. His face was filled with seriousness.

“It looks like the flames won’t die down even by morning. We’ll find Leon first, and after that…”

Zed stopped as if something made him hesitate.

Whoo

The later the night grew, the stronger the wind became. Zed turned his head toward the direction of the wind. At the end of his gaze, the Bellancia Cathedral was burning fiercely. The cathedral that had held noble beauty for hundreds of years now collapsed with terrifying speed, almost too easily.

If only the cathedral burned, that might be a mercy. If the wind grew stronger, not only the nearby homes but the whole city could be consumed by fire.

“Watch out! Sparks are flying!”

“This way! Pass it this way!”

Those who hadn’t evacuated carried barrels of water from the stream to stop the spreading fire. Even in the chaos, some worked together with all their strength. They knew that without each other, they couldn’t save this city.

“Zed, after we find Leon, should we help put out the fire too?”

Harto asked, giving an answer to Zed, who was still unsure. Zed turned his head toward him again. Complex emotions filling his eyes.

To join or not to join.

It was another moment of decision for Zed. He had never had an easy choice. The day he decided to leave the Regnovar Empire had been the same. It had been a desperate and painful decision, enough to make him abandon his own name.

Three years ago, the mother who had been his only breath of relief in a life constantly near death had mysteriously died, and he became alone. He had no place left to rest his heart. Assassins no longer frightened him. Instead, death had seemed like comfort, a release from his pain.

One day, when his days had been filled with distrust, hatred, anger, and grief, Zed had a dream.

A barren unknown place covered in fog. There, he found a small beating living heart in his hand. It was so small that he could crush it with a single squeeze, and it was barely alive.

[If you give all your strength to the wanderer who bears the same sorrow as you, salvation will descend upon you.]

It was a prophecy.

Since childhood, Zed had sometimes seen visions about matters of the Empire, but he had never told anyone except his mother. There was even one thing he had hidden from her. He had seen her death in advance.

‘A wanderer who shares my sorrow…?’

Did it mean someone somewhere in this world bore a fate as miserable as his own?

What he knew was that as long as he stayed in the Regnovar Empire, he would never meet that person. So Zed abandoned his true name, Ares Carseon, and left to live a completely new life alone.

But even with foresight and holy power, he couldn’t survive alone.

The old man who helped him board a ship, the poor women who shared their food, the fisherman who offered a place to sleep, the companions who traveled with him.

He met many people, and through those encounters, he realized that he was being saved himself.

Maybe that was why he couldn’t just pass by those who suffered.

“…Let’s do it. We’ll help too.”

Zed finally chose. Harto smiled brightly and picked up the largest shield among the pile. It was heavy, but it looked sturdy. Zed chose a sword that was light and fit in one hand.

“We’ll have to run. Are you all right with that?”

“Yes! I’m fine!”

When Harto cheerfully answered, Zed smiled and ran ahead. Harto followed right behind him. He hoped they would find Leon soon and rejoin the Night Rage mercenaries safely.

‘…You are a monster, don’t get in the way.’

Then he remembers Walter’s earlier words.

Why had Walter said that? Had he meant it as advice, thinking that Harto was a powerless monster who might only hold Zed back?

If that was it, Harto thought he should accept it, not ignore it. Of course, Zed was strong enough to handle anything alone, and there might be nothing he could do to help.

But if Zed ever found himself in danger…

‘I’ll protect him.’

Harto steeled himself and ran with all his strength.