Chapter 291
After leaving the forest, Simon's group stopped by a small mountain village nearby.
It was a small lumberjack village that made its living by cutting wood and selling it in the city.
The rich scent of tree resin filled the air wherever they went, and the sound of trees falling could be heard from all around.
Fortunately, the villagers welcomed Simon's group warmly. Hearing their situation, the village chief even gladly offered them an empty house to stay in comfortably.
"Hahaha! This is a jackpot, jackpot!"
Dick, who had returned after chatting with the villagers under the pretext of gathering information, came back holding pouches of money in both hands.
Maelyn, munching on snacks on the sofa, shot him a glare.
"Hey! You caused trouble again, didn't you?"
Simon chimed in as well.
"You didn't steal that money, right?"
"...Why is my reputation always like this?"
After briefly lamenting in jest, Dick grinned and explained.
"This is a lumberjack village, right? I saw everyone struggling to chop wood with worn-out axes, so I showed them some advanced tools. A few people tried them as samples, and they sold out like crazy. It's not a scam, it's a win-win!"
Maelyn's eyebrow twitched.
"These people were kind enough to even let us use an empty house, don't tell me you ripped them off?"
"I was already planning to pay them extra for the rent when we leave."
"You con artist!"
While the two, natural enemies, were bickering, Simon turned his head away.
Seiyur was still lying in bed, suffering from aftereffects, and Kamibarez sat alone on the sofa with her knees together.
She seemed to be feeling a deep sense of guilt, both out of concern for Sasha and for failing to protect her.
Maelyn and Dick were also trying to force a cheerful atmosphere, but in truth, all members of Team 7 were weighed down by a sense of defeat.
"Don't worry too much, Kami,"
Simon said, forcing a smile.
"I'll make sure to save Sasha."
"You?"
Dick interjected suddenly, prompting Simon to quickly correct himself.
"Since Vengeance has moved, we'll probably be able to save her soon."
"Ha! You make it sound like you're the one saving her."
Just then, the communication crystal on the table began to hum.
The four of them reacted instantly, gathering around.
"Yes, this is Simon."
Simon picked up the crystal. A now familiar male voice came through.
—Ah, Student Simon! This is Agent Blark. We're sending an officer and carriage to your location, it should arrive by tomorrow at the latest!
"Thank you. More importantly, did you find out about this 'godfather' who kidnapped Sasha?"
—Yes. In fact, all members of Vengeance's combat division are currently deployed to his arrest operation.
Simon jumped to his feet.
"The entire combat division? Why is that?"
—Th-this is sensitive classified information, so it's difficult to share with outsiders…
"What the hell are you talking about! Put him on!"
Maelyn suddenly burst out, snatching the crystal from Simon.
"Agent! Why are you drawing a line now? We're Vengeance dispatch trainees, and this was our case from the start! I think we have the right to know at least this much!"
—Mm, ah, you're right. My apologies if I offended you! That was careless of me.
A faint mutter followed, "Kids these days really are scary."
—The man who calls himself Sasha's godfather is named Figaro, a priest working for the Holy Federation in the Neutral Zone. At present, Figaro and Sasha are in a place called Kelso Village.
"Kelso Village!"
Kamibarez reacted immediately.
"That's the second place we visited, Sasha's hometown!"
Maelyn nodded and pressed further.
"Why did Figaro take Sasha to Kelso?"
—We don't know the exact details. There's a powerful holiness barrier covering the entire village right now, making it impossible to approach. It seems Figaro is using Sasha to do something inside.
Hearing this, Simon suddenly got up and went outside.
"Hey, Simon! Where are you going?"
—And when the carriage arrives, please return straight to Vengeance headquarters and wait.
Maelyn made a confused face.
"What? Aren't we going to fight too?"
—Vengeance cannot allow your deployment in this matter. This was never a mission you were supposed to carry out in the first place, and it's become far too dangerous. We promised Keyzen to ensure your safety, so please wait until the situation stabilizes.
The communication ended.
Kamibarez covered her face with her palm, looking even more worried, and Maelyn let out a long sigh.
"What do we do? We can't walk to Kelso."
Dick rested his chin in his hand, letting out a thoughtful hum.
"Or we could try persuading the driver when the carriage arrives. Whatever we do, if Sasha's trapped inside a barrier, we can't just sit here."
Kamibarez also looked up at the ceiling with desperate eyes.
"Please be safe, Sasha."
Clunk.
At that moment, Simon returned to the room.
"Hey! Where did you suddenly go?"
"You don't need to know."
He answered curtly, dropping onto the sofa and crossing his legs.
Dick looked at him.
"Blark said we're supposed to stay here and then head to HQ."
"I know."
Simon waved his hand dismissively and lay down. Dick and Maelyn exchanged glances.
'Something about his mood changed.'
'Is he mad?'
* * *
Dudududududu!
Simon was riding on the back of his newly acquired divine beast, Akallion.
He braced himself with his legs to avoid falling, while his hands held open a map.
"The fastest route to Kelso Village is…"
As he focused on the map, Feer's laughter echoed in his mind.
[Khhkhkh! I didn't think you'd leave Erzebet behind! She'll sulk for days.]
"…I feel bad for Erze, but I had no choice."
There was no excuse to leave the three behind, and above all, to face that adult priest who easily subdued Kamibarez and Dick, he would have to use the power of a Legion Commander.
Naturally, he couldn't let the three know he was a Legion Commander. He had asked Erzebet to transform into him and stay with the team to protect them.
In the meantime, Simon planned to slip over to Kelso and quietly rescue Sasha himself.
[But tell me, boy.]
Feer spoke again.
[That Sasha girl… you haven't known her long, yet she's weighing so heavily on your mind?]
"…"
Simon bit his lip slightly.
"I don't know. Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel responsible."
He had engaged the Saint of Purification in Keyzen. But that had put Anna through hardship, and now Sasha was suffering after being caught up in another saint incident. Though unintentional, these were all like butterfly effects set in motion by Simon's own hands.
[Or is it because of that Kamibarez girl? You can't stand to leave her and the others in their state of defeat?]
"Yes, that's also an important reason. And on top of that…"
Simon's eyes hardened.
"That Figaro, who calls himself Sasha's godfather, really bothers me."
[Khhkhkhkh!]
Feer chuckled in amusement.
[If a fool like you has three reasons to move, that's more than enough!]
"As long as you understand."
Simon patted the running Akallion's neck.
"Faster, Akallion!"
—Uuuunng!
Once he took on a mission, he had no intention of ending it with such a bitter conclusion.
[But boy.]
"Yes?"
[Look ahead.]
Simon's eyes widened. Standing squarely in the road ahead was a girl.
"Stop, Akallion."
Akallion halted. Simon looked at the girl blocking the road and spoke.
"You don't look too well, but are you planning to fight to the end?"
Wearing the pristine uniform of Efnelle, she was none other than Lilinet, the girl who had first fought Simon.
She raised her hands lazily and said,
"I'm not here to fight you anymore. I came because I have something to tell you."
Simon tilted his head.
"What is it?"
"A message from Sister Lete."
Simon's eyes widened.
'To hear that name here!'
"The situation has gotten much bigger than you think. The Holy Federation's 'Paladins' are on the move. If you're heading for Kelso, give it up and turn back. That's what she said."
"..."
Judging from Lilinet's extremely displeased expression even as she spoke, it didn't seem like a lie.
"That's all I was told to pass on. Satisfied?"
"Then can you give Lete a message from me, too?"
Simon smiled faintly.
"You know as well as I do that, no matter what you say, it won't stop me."
Leaving only those words, Simon set Akallion into motion again.
Left as a sudden courier, Lilinet pouted her lips.
"Ah."
Simon turned back and waved his hand.
"Tell your comrades I'm sorry for taking the divine beast!"
"Huh?"
Only then did she notice Akallion, her eyes going wide.
'…Just what is that guy's deal?'
* * *
After traveling for several hours like that, Simon arrived at Sasha's hometown, Kelso.
His mouth fell open.
He could see a semi-spherical holiness barrier covering the village, tangled all over with endlessly growing vines.
It was like the entire village had been swallowed by cursed, monstrous vines.
'What in the world is going on here?'
He had to get inside quickly. Sending the tired Akallion back to the badge subspace, Simon brought out Feer this time.
[Kahahaha! Finally, I get to come out!]
The towering skeleton draped in a cloak stretched its limbs.
Simon held out his arm.
"Bone Armor, please."
[Got it!]
As Feer clasped Simon's hand, his body seemed to break apart into hundreds of fragments and attach themselves to Simon piece by piece.
Feer's cloak unfurled behind him, and the greatsword of destruction appeared in his right hand.
Before long, Feer's helmet settled over his head.
'Okay.'
Simon pressed the helmet down to cover his face like a mask, then pulled out the white robe he'd bought in the Holy Federation and draped it over himself, hood drawn low. With the greatsword slung over his shoulder, he walked toward the barrier.
Kwaaaang!
"Ah, damn it! What kind of barrier is this?"
"I told you, it's useless."
Heading toward the noise, Simon saw a group of people attempting to break the barrier.
He recognized them instantly.
Green-patterned neckties like Seiyur's, and ash-gray uniforms—
Necromancers from Vengeance.
"My son! My son's in there!"
"Mom!"
Around them, villagers were in an uproar. They seemed to be those who had been outside the village or living in the outskirts.
With the barrier suddenly cutting off the town center from the outside, they were frantic with worry for the people trapped inside.
"Please, do something!"
"No amount of pleading will help, ma'am."
With cries rising from all sides, Simon walked forward leisurely, the greatsword on his shoulder. The Vengeance members were speaking urgently among themselves.
"What about support from the other teams?"
"They say it'll take two days!"
"Damn it. Contact the Alliance and the Kingdom of Carlos, too."
"Yes!"
Simon calmly placed his hand on the monstrous vines wrapped around the barrier.
"Hey, you there! What are you doing! It's dangerous to touch that!"
A necromancer in the Vengeance uniform stopped him.
Simon turned to him and spoke.
[Who's in charge here?]
From Feer's mouth came a chilling, distorted voice, making the necromancer flinch.
"I'm in charge."
A broad-shouldered man built like a bear stepped forward.
"Vengeance's Union-certified 3rd Rank Necromancer, Blark. And you are?"
Simon's eyes gleamed beneath Feer's skull helmet. So this was the man who was supposed to be his mentor.
Simon answered simply.
[Wanderer.]
"Wanderer, huh…"
Blark didn't look convinced at all.
Of course, there were countless necromancers who wandered the land, but could a monster shrouded in this much darkness and killing intent really be just a wanderer?
It was strange his name wasn't already known, he was strong enough for that.
"Oh, Milord!"
Just then, a wrinkled old woman clutched at Simon's leg.
"My grandchild is in there! Such a little one! Please, save my grandchild!"
"My wife is in there!"
"I want to see my dad!"
The appearance of someone who looked strong set off another round of pleading.
Simon gave a slight nod, then stepped up to the barrier.
"You'd better not waste your strength."
Blark offered advice.
"We've tried everything we can, but it won't budge. This is at least the work of an archbishop-level, or even saint-level priest."
Without a word, Simon raised the greatsword of ruin over his head and inhaled slowly.
The solemn sight silenced everyone, all eyes turning to him.
'The space itself.'
The greatsword fell, trailing a white arc.
'The sensation of cutting through.'
Jjjjeeeeong!
The vines and barrier were sliced through, opening a gap.
"Ooooooh!"
"H-how did you…?"
Simon instantly kicked off the ground and slipped through the barrier.
Blark and another necromancer followed right after, but the opening lasted only an instant. The barrier sealed up again, vines covering it.
"Khk!"
Bounced back, Blark broke into a cold sweat.
"Who the hell is that guy?"
Inside the barrier, a horrific scene spread out before Simon.
The entire village was in ruins.
Collapsed buildings, streets dyed red with blood, corpses strewn everywhere, ash-like debris drifting down from the sky.
There was no sign of life, no presence at all.
Somehow, the entire village had become a space of death.
[Boy.]
Feer's voice sounded.
[There's not a single living being in this village. They're all dead.]
"..."
Simon swallowed hard and kept walking.
In the silent village, only the sound of his footsteps echoed loudly. Holding his greatsword at the ready, he walked cautiously, until he heard a sound like something being chewed.
"!"
Turning his head, he saw a moving flower gnawing on a human corpse.
And it wasn't just that, tree-like tendrils were wrapped around corpses, draining their bodily fluids.
'What the hell…'
Simon swung his greatsword, cutting down the moving flower and tendrils.
Wiping his forehead lightly, he lifted his gaze to the sky.
"…!"
At the center of the village stood an enormous tree, so gigantic it defied description.