Chapter 178

When the heretical deity that had tried to descend upon the south sank, people who had been hiding inland began to emerge one by one.

At first, everyone was skeptical.

They said it was impossible to kill such a thing, that it could never happen.

But when testimony from children hiding in coastal villages came forward,

And people appeared who had seen light from heaven striking down into the distant sea, the situation changed rapidly.

There were three heroes who saved the south.

One was a decisive and righteous woman who threw herself into danger to save the children of the south.

Another was a true holy knight who received the deity's will, slaying the deep-sea demonic beasts that had filled the shore with his great sword.

The last was a nameless knight clad in black cloak or clothing, who pierced the heretical deity in the sea with a sword that shone like pure white.

The black knight in particular became known as the 'Savior of the South' when his history of previously saving the village of Gallo became known.

The people of the south hoped the heroes would remain in the south for a long time as their spiritual foundation.

But a few days later, news someone brought forced the three heroes to leave the south.

[In the east, an unclean mother appears, in the west, the king of serpents, in the north, cold flames, and the nation advances toward destruction.]

All the people saw the three heroes off with tears, expecting them to defeat the heretical deities and bring peace.

* * *

"Has there been any contact from the townhouse?"

"N-no! With the s-situation like this, telegrams c-can't come and go p-properly either."

Leandros uttered an unfamiliar curse.

Having barely replenished their mounts in the south, they were once again riding at full speed.

Their destination was the capital, the Hartmann ducal family townhouse.

He couldn't even clearly remember when they had last received contact.

With demonic beasts rampaging nationwide, the capital wasn't a safe zone either.

They needed to secure His Grace's safety as quickly as possible and move to a safe location.

However, the situation wasn't going as smoothly as they had hoped.

Russel, who had been riding behind, increased his speed and drew alongside Leandros.

"Senior, there are small flying-type demonic beasts positioned ahead. I estimate about five of them."

"There's no time to stop. We'll break through as is. My lady, will you be alright?"

"Of c-course!"

Under the cloak fluttering in the wind, Amelia's dagger sheath was visible. Inside were several old, small daggers.

The weapons obtained by explaining the situation to the southern people were very worn, with handles made of dirt-stained wood.

But to Amelia, they were more precious weapons than anything else.

Her confidence had increased since she could now participate in battles where she had always had to step back.

As they rode for a while as Russel had warned, the forms of the demonic beasts gradually became visible.

Like large jellyfish, the translucent creatures were swimming through the air. Their internal organs were clearly visible through their outer skin.

Several long, undulating tentacles hung below their heads, which appeared harmless at first glance, but closer observation revealed dense teeth and gaping mouths along their sides.

Each demonic beast was moving while having wrapped a person in its tentacles, and the thickest tentacle was connected to the necks or heads of people who appeared unconscious.

They were probably absorbing nutrients through there.

The tentacles constantly writhed, sucking in something. The outer skin of the demonic beasts gradually darkened as they absorbed nutrition.

One of the creatures detached its tentacle from a withered human and made a satisfied cry.

But immediately after, with the loud neighing of a horse, a great sword pierced through the demonic beast's outer skin and organs.

-Gurgle.

Russel continued riding his horse and the sword quickly withdrew.

As soon as the sword was pulled out, there was a sound like a heavy water bag bursting, and fishy liquid splattered in all directions, spreading a smell.

The demonic beasts, whose feast had been interrupted by the sudden attack, made fierce sounds and extended their empty tentacles toward the retreating Russel.

"G-get out of the way!"

A flashing dagger flew and interfered with the tentacles' path.

Following this, Amelia charged through the path Russel had opened and aimed her dagger at the tentacles connected to the people.

The sharp dagger flew through the air and embedded in a tentacle, and the liquid that had been being absorbed through the tentacle began to flow out with a thud.

It was fresh blood.

The demonic beasts whose main nutrient supply lines were damaged began dropping people one by one.

Amelia, who had been riding, sharply turned her horse's head and stopped in a sliding motion.

"Sir Leandros!"

"I understand."

Russel had cleared the path, and Amelia had secured the people's safety.

What remained was eliminating these demonic beasts.

Leandros gripped his sword, which had begun to flow with cold air, and charged among the demonic beasts.

A serene radiance smoothly cut between the undulating demonic beasts. The light drawing beautiful curves stretched long, tempting the gaze.

When Leandros arrived in front of Amelia,

Only the corpses of demonic beasts that had burst silently and collapsed people remained.

Amelia dismounted and checked the people's pulses before looking up.

"Sh-should I ask these people which d-direction they came from?"

"If they regain consciousness. We don't have time."

"A-anyway, I need to r-recover my daggers, so it would be good to w-wait until then."

"I'll help you with that, my lady. Let's recover them quickly and go."

Amelia glared at Russel, who had been bizarrely following Leandros since they left the south.

He had always been loyal to Sir Leandros's words, but now it was strangely excessive.

He acted as if his thoughts were Sir Leandros's thoughts, unconditionally and actively supporting and following any decision Leandros made.

Even now, he had clearly stepped forward to help because Leandros wanted to hurry.

Meanwhile, the person whose pulse Amelia had been checking flinched and slowly opened his eyes.

"A-are you c-conscious?"

"Where is... this..."

"D-don't worry. We d-dealt with the demonic beasts. This is in the m-mountains, a bit away from the f-four-way crossroads leading to Melern."

The person who hadn't fully regained consciousness looked back and forth between Amelia, Leandros standing behind her, and Russel busily extracting daggers from the demonic beast corpses.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he sat up and clung to Amelia.

"Ah, ahh... Please help. Please help! Brave adventurers. Our village was attacked by demonic beasts! There must be other people besides me who were taken elsewhere. Please, I beg you like this!"

"A v-village?"

"Schütten. It's a small village called Schütten! It's right near here. Please, I beg you. I'm pleading like this, so please help just once!"

Schütten.

Hearing that, Leandros asked Russel, who was recovering daggers.

"It seems like a village on the way to the capital."

"That's right, senior. If we continue straight from the south to the center as we have been doing, we'll pass through that village."

"We were supposed to resupply there. I remember there being a detour route."

"Then we'd have to go back to the four-way crossroads and take a different direction. It would take about a day or two longer than traveling the existing route."

A day or two?

That was ridiculous. In that time, demonic beasts could approach the townhouse.

Leandros was conflicted for a moment, but there were no other options.

Subduing demonic beasts rampaging in a village would take only a few hours, but they couldn't afford to spend a whole day detouring.

He nodded heavily.

"...We'll have to pass through Schütten as quickly as possible while subduing the demonic beasts."

"S-Sir Leandros."

"Don't worry. We won't stay in the village for even half a day."

"W-will it be alright?"

Amelia asked, but Leandros didn't answer.

In the end, the three people defeated the demonic beasts in Schütten, and afterward continued advancing to the capital, liberating several villages and cities from demonic beasts.

For the three of them, it was simply work for the shortest route to the capital.

But Amelia's kindness in dealing with the injured and frightened people,

Russel's faithfulness in delivering hope through doctrine to the hurt and tired,

And Leandros's force in slaying the demonic beasts that had made everyone tremble with fear felt like salvation to the people.

Additionally, unusual stories were coming from the south.

Like other regions, an existence presumed to be divine punishment had appeared from the sea in the south, but it had disappeared before coming ashore.

That three heroes had slain the divine punishment of the south and defeated the demonic beasts, bringing peace.

That they were truly salvation heroes who had appeared to bear the deity's wrath.

Rumors led to more rumors. At some point, their names began to be called throughout the nation.

As if they were the only salvation, like the names of messiahs who had suddenly appeared, like calling upon a beloved deity.

The three people, completely unaware of this fact, ran frantically and barely managed to reach the outskirts of the capital.

Just a little further and they could meet Arenheit at the townhouse. The area around the capital had relatively little damage, so if His Grace had just stayed home, he would be safe.

Or perhaps the quick-witted Arndt had already hired mercenaries to guard the mansion.

Leandros steeled his slightly relaxing heart and urged his horse even more.

But the moment the townhouse finally came into view, Leandros's heart sank.

Thin smoke was rising from the mansion.

The sturdy and beautifully built iron gate was twisted and miserably damaged, lying collapsed.

The front yard was dirtied with footprints, and even the well-tended garden trees and fountain were broken, collapsed, and cracked.

Amelia and Russel, who arrived after Leandros, were also momentarily speechless.

Leandros jumped down from his horse.

"Nabilov. Guard the vicinity."

"Senior, it's dangerous if you go in! There might be an ambush!"

Despite Russel's dissuasion, Leandros's steps didn't stop.

Lightly jumping over the fallen gate, he headed toward the mansion that showed clear signs of forced entry.

As expected, the first floor was a mess.

Carpets dirtied with soil, broken vases and withered flowers, tables overturned messily, torn sofas.

As far as Leandros knew, there was only one person in the kingdom who could cause such havoc in the ducal family's townhouse.

Going upstairs, Leandros immediately threw open the bedroom used by the Duke.

The Duke's, Arenheit's bedroom was somewhat disheveled as if someone had rummaged through it, but it was neat in stark contrast to the outside.

Judging by the intact appearance of even the bed corners and curtain edges, it meant that those who had invaded this mansion hadn't had Arenheit as their target.

Then what remained were only Arndt or Verde, but why had they targeted the Duke's attendant and personal physician?

Leandros knew that Yurik was abnormally obsessed with him.

Because of that, Yurik had also harbored ill feelings toward the former duchess who had protected Leandros.

If, in a similar context, Yurik had come to dislike Arenheit Hartmann who possessed Leandros,

Given Yurik's personality, there was a possibility he would systematically torment the surrounding people rather than Arenheit himself.

Feeling complicated, Leandros looked around the bedroom once more and discovered something strange.

The room was empty.

Everything was missing, including the red-covered book that Arenheit often carried, as well as clothing, shoes, and luxurious accessories.

It was a bit strange to say someone had snuck in and stolen them. Rather, the explanation that the room's owner had packed for a trip was more plausible.

The messy first floor and the neat bedroom.

Personal belongings missing exactly as much as travel luggage.

He thought that His Grace might have foreseen this and taken refuge in advance.

If Yurik had plotted against Arndt or Verde, and His Grace had received a revelation about this?

His Grace was one who dreamed of revelations. Then there was a high possibility he had left the mansion in advance to protect Arndt and Verde.

Then where had he gone, that was the new problem.

Assuming he was hiding to avoid Yurik, where would he have gone?

First, not the ducal residence. There wasn't adequate military force there yet, and even Yurik could easily find it.

Then to the Aisling merchant group in the east? But the Aisling merchant group didn't have great power despite their wealth.

They could hire private soldiers, but they couldn't be depended upon for long. Against Yurik, it would be like a candle in the wind.

Then what remained was.

"Did he go to the west where he has no connections?"

Leandros muttered.

It was the better choice available, but in this period, even moving carelessly was dangerous.

Even if he had hired excellent mercenaries, it was the same.

In this situation, there wasn't much Leandros could do.

Either find His Grace's party who might be heading west, even at the risk of their paths crossing,

Or arrive in the west first and sweep away all the dangerous creatures there.

...The west. What was supposed to be in the west again?

When Leandros came out of the mansion, Amelia, who had been waiting right in front of the mansion gate, approached.

"H-how is it? His Grace..."

"He's not there."

"What, what did you say?! Sir Leandros, wh-where are you going? Sir!"

"I need to go to the west."

"S-suddenly the west! Pl-please explain! Why are you l-leaving so urgently! Why do you s-suddenly need to go to the west? And so q-quickly?"

"If you need rest, please take it. I'll go around Lake Trilang. Please refer to the route when you come."

"S-so why exactly are you g-going to the west?"

Amelia hurriedly chased after him, looking up at Leandros who was getting back on his horse.

Russel also approached Amelia with a bewildered face, looking at him.

Leandros gripped the reins and said.

"...His Grace is quite afraid of snakes."

Hiya!

With the command, the horse Leandros rode kicked the ground.

Russel, watching Leandros's retreating figure, asked in an uncomprehending tone.

"His Grace is afraid of snakes, what? What did you say? What does that have to do with anything? Do you know, my lady?"

"...I d-don't know either."

Ah, really.

Amelia replied in a tired voice as she mounted her horse.

There would be demonic beasts pouring out on the road to the west too.

If they didn't catch up to Leandros now, it would be difficult for them.

Amelia suppressed the curses rolling on her tongue and shouted.

"Hiya!"

...Somehow, the more she rolled around in actual combat, the worse her temper seemed to get.