Chapter 14 – 14 – Shadow of the City
“That day, I was the only believer who survived and escaped from the spears of Mithra’s paladins.”
Sister Monica confessed. When I was young, my fellow believers were slaughtered at the hands of the Mithraic cult.
Hearing the shocking story, Eshen bared his fangs and widened his eyes.
The sister, wrapped in a blanket, said while sipping the hot chocolate Eshen and I got from the sailors.
“Of course, the Mithra believer we saw probably doesn’t know anything about it. It is said that the sun never sets in the Mithraic cult’s chapel.”
This means that the power of the denomination is very large. So much so that there is always at least one chapel somewhere on earth where morning comes.
I’ve said it all, as the expression ‘My God, Mitra’ is widely used. In such a large church, even if there is only one crazy person out of a hundred, the number of people is enormous.
It is not a day or two that tight-knit fanatics visit and harass small religious sects.
“Do you know why I keep the name of the One I serve a secret, Eshen?”
“I told our party members that I wouldn’t reveal it because I don’t have a very proud faith.”
Eshen sipped his drink to cool off.
“But there isn’t a single person in our party who believes those words. All I can think about is how strange it would be for someone as good as your sister to follow the faith.”
Among the drinks that Eshen extorted from the sailors, Eshen’s share was a strong-smelling ale.
Even though the mission was two days later, they did not stop him. This is because Tigris, which have a huge body metabolism, do not get drunk easily even with strong alcohol.
However, when the sister chuckled at the faint smell of alcohol, Eshen closed the lid of the ale glass as if embarrassed.
“But sometimes, there are people who believe that different sects are wrong. Mithra fanatics are famous for their evil behavior. They point their swords at innocent people.”
“… They are innocent people… The God I worship is by no means all good. But it is also true that their response was excessive. The people who took me in as an orphan died without even being able to make a single excuse. “
Sadness and loneliness were reflected on the sister’s face.
If you think about it, it was like that from the beginning. Unless he was busy taking care of his children, he would always look into the distance and make that kind of expression.
At that time, I just wasn’t mature enough to see the pain my sister buried.
“Out of the dozens of believers in that burning chapel, why did God save only me from this predicament? I’ve been thinking about it, but I still can’t figure it out.”
Sister Monica smiled sadly.
“I couldn’t give up my faith in the person who saved me. But I also realized that it would be better not to dare say who I worship.”
This means that Mithra’s sun emblem remained a trauma.
I learned why a person with such great healing powers was hiding like a reclusive scholar in the countryside of my hometown.
First a fanatic, then a monster. Why did the world take away the home of such a good person twice?
We consoled her until she fell asleep, and we followed her to sleep.
The few days leading up to arrival were spent hanging out in the cabin with the party members as much as possible. Don’t be conscious of Mithra’s paladins on the same ship.
Those kids were really noisy. His armor was clinking, and he was laughing loudly while boasting about his demon-slaying adventures. They told us to keep our mouths shut.
“Im here!”
My stomach rumbled and I stopped. I quickly packed my bags.
My resolve, which had been somewhat loose, became very firm. I won’t, even if possible, let those damn bastards keep Eshen from getting promoted.
The achievements of this monster hunting will definitely be recognized by our party.
———-
The evening fog in Vyserk was almost indistinguishable from rain. Dense moisture that sticks to your wet outerwear just by walking.
The cold that threatens to rip out your bones and the clothes that bind your body like vines. After a visitor who is tired from walking loses his or her mind, the light from the street lamp flickers like a deceptive light beyond the fog, shaking even the remaining courage.
If the weather in the middle of the city was like this, it seemed like there would be no solution even if a monster came out and bitten someone.
Well, I guess they showed up aiming for a place like this.
As hundreds of party members gathered at the port, city hall officials came out to greet us. I heard they left a large building empty for the hero party.
At the entrance of the building, a woman who looked to be in her 30s shouted leisurely with sleepy eyes.
“I am Lilita, the mayor of this city. Welcome to Visserk, warrior legions.”
“It’s a party, not a legion, Mr. Mayor.”
“Look at my mind. I have a lot to worry about these days, so I made a mistake. Now that the solvers have arrived, I believe that the fear that has been hanging over our city will soon end.”
I understand, so please let me in.
I trembled and glared at the mayor dissatisfied. The road was slippery and the wind was bitterly cold.
The mayor didn’t even say a few words, but it made me wonder if he was deliberately wasting time to make me catch a cold.
As the mayor’s flattering speech seemed to get longer and longer, Eshen immediately shouted out bitterly.
“Is it taking you long, Mayor? I’d like to hear it from inside if possible.”
The eyes of our party combatants sparkled with respect. It’s not just that Eshen doesn’t move in this weather and is wearing short sleeves.
“It’s Eshen, after all. As good as he is at breaking down a conversation, he’s also good at cutting out unpleasant sounds.”
“Say what you say, Eka Cola.”
The female party members whispered to me. My eyesight became dark. What kind of colleague is Eshen to them?
“What kind of disrespect is this? Show respect to the person who represents this city!”
However, in times like these, someone dismissed Eshen’s reassuring remarks as rude.
Eshen smiled and turned his head as if he were dumbfounded.
The paladin in question who challenged us a few days ago was glaring sharply at our A-rank combatant.
“Are you going to approach your mission with the attitude that all you have to do is deal with the devil? Do you lowly members of this race have no respect for their leaders?”
This is absurd. Is that kid’s helmet waterproof? Rainwater must be pouring in.
I whispered to Eshen to calm down. Among the party, there is one supervisor from the Hero Party Alliance.
The overseer, with his goat-like beard shaking, was looking at Eshen’s back with a somewhat expectant gaze. It seemed like he was secretly hoping that Eshen would win the argument and everyone would be able to enjoy the fire.
But at the same time, if you win, it should only be haggling. You cannot win by breaking the snout. If we start fighting among ourselves before the mission even begins, our special promotions may be hindered.
After whispering and explaining all of his thoughts as briefly as possible, Eshen nodded roughly and spoke to the Paladin.
“What’s my attitude, you religious people?”
I don’t think he took my words very seriously.
“Is the cold such a big deal? An unknown demon is stalking the darkness and kidnapping people. Thousands of innocent residents here are trembling in fear! Isn’t this cold nothing compared to that? Buried in the request form “Have you not seen the people’s tears?”
“That request got all wet so I can’t see it again. What difference will it make if I listen to it from inside? Can’t everyone get out of the way of the warm fire?”
Paladins were gathered near the entrance. If they don’t get out of the way, it becomes a little difficult for the rest to get in.
Isn’t this a fearful and naive act of fear for the residents, and a useless joke? Soon, everyone from the other party glared at the twenty paladins.
It seems that these born bastards were proud of that fact. The female paladin in question shouted loudly.
“Guardians of Mithras, does the cold make you uncomfortable?”
“No!”
“Can the cold stop our justice?”
“No!”
The paladins shout loudly. So that everyone can hear it on the street.
It was a show of strength. He’s showing off his strength to other party members.
So that’s it. ‘We are a real, disciplined party organized and trained by the church. You are a group of thugs who came together out of greed for fame. I’ll show you the difference’.
Will we be satisfied if we look at them with reverence and uphold them?
Or are they aiming for the effect of putting residents at ease with their majestic cries as saviors?
But whatever the intention, in this worst weather, there was only one person with a happy expression on his face as he watched the paladins wasting their stamina.
The mayor is the only one standing at the entrance, basking in the air from the fireplace.
I don’t know how much training the Paladins received to withstand the cold. It’s none of my business.
But it is clear that they are poisonous bastards. The overly emotional paladins began to sing hymns out of excitement.
I endured enough. I quietly whispered to the party members. Now what am I going to do?
The party members widened their eyes and quietly spread the word to the people next to them. Soon, all members from various parties heard the message.
I carefully took the silver marten out of my arms.
Our all-female party members were at a loss as the furball rubbed her sleepy eyes with her arms covered in her winter coat.
“Wow. The dog is cute. Really.”
“Shh. Shh. I can hear those metal bastards.”
“So you like him quietly. What is his name?”
Not only do paladins not listen, but it is also difficult to give orders if they are whispering next to you.
I asked everyone to be quiet and gave clear instructions to Dambi.
It’s natural that he doesn’t like the soles of his feet on the wet, cold floor, but when we give him a sugar cube, the marten accepts the deal as if he can’t help it.
Not long after the marten runs away, a loud scream rings out from afar.
The moment the paladins raised their heads in shock, the thick smell of blood spread deep into the fog.
I shouted, pointing in the direction the wind was blowing.
“It’s over there!”
Paladins filled with a sense of duty ran towards it, shouting.
The other party members quickly got out of the way, pretending they couldn’t win. And not a single person went after those religious idiots.
Religious metal rags run past us, scolding us as if we were cowards.
As they disappeared around the corner of the alley, Monica next to me finally let out the breath she had been holding.
Our party members looked pitiful. Damn trauma. If possible, you should not leave your sister in a place where those children can be seen.
“You held up well, sister.”
“Thank you, Tan… No, Lan. I’m confused again.”
While I was patting Sister Monica on the back, Eshen went up to the entrance of the building and faced the mayor.
“Can we come in?”
“Uh, you guys, don’t chase me-“
“Those sturdy friends who can’t handle the cold will take care of it. Weren’t you smiling earlier as if you were trustworthy? We think so too.”
Eshen put one hand in his pocket and casually draped his arm around his mayor’s shoulder. Like a delinquent academy student who is good at borrowing money from his juniors and not paying them back.
As the reliable Eshen took the mayor, the last obstacle in his way, and went inside, the other party members cheered and followed him through the open entrance.
I stayed until the end and listened to the other side of the alley.
It’s very noisy. Amidst the thick fog and the smell of my blood, the sound of frustration as I chased an invisible enemy.
“Protect the residents! Those with the [Heresy Questioner] Aptitude should keep their eyes wide open and look around!”
“I can’t see anywhere because of the fog!”
“Listen! If you hear the screaming again, report it immediately!”
It’s a futile effort. The person screaming is probably no longer there. The marten, having completed its mission, jumped out of the fog and jumped into my arms.
If one sense is disturbed, the other senses are likely to be confused as well. In the cold, when eyes, nose, and skin all cannot function properly, the cries of small animals often become indistinguishable from the screams of children.
Now, the only thing they can find in that alley is probably the empty bottle of scent enhancer with my blood drops in it.
I passed another sugar cube to the marten who worked hard in the cold weather, and I narrowed my eyes and grinned.
“Protect your leaky brains, you tin cans.”
