#016. The Grotto of Forbidden Men (1)
Sophia, having lost consciousness, did not wake no matter how much she was shaken.
Her condition was simply a faint.
Virgil entrusted her to the soldiers who had rushed up, then immediately left the lord's castle.
'I must hurry.'
Within the Blood Cult, the position of warlock was equivalent to that of a noble.
If the cult learned that such a man had died, they would immediately dispatch an executor.
To deliver their doctrine, the 'Blessing of Blood.'
Thus, he had to leave Javelin as quickly as possible before encountering them.
It was still too much to face the Blood Cult head-on.
Arriving at the inn, he saw Hanna sitting at a wooden table.
She was drinking beer alone. Her expression was exceedingly forlorn, as if she had suffered some misfortune.
Then, spotting Virgil entering the inn, she sprang up from her seat.
"V-Virgil-nim? Weren't you going to meet the lord?"
"I was."
"Then why so soon...."
"There was an ambush."
"An ambush? You said the business here was finished...."
"It turned out that way. Anyway, pack your things quickly. We're leaving now."
"Ah! Yes, sir!"
Hanna ran up to her floor and came back down in no time.
Her luggage was nothing but the single bag Virgil had entrusted to her.
It was very meager.
"If you've got everything, let's go."
"Um, Virgil-nim."
"What."
"What about the helmet?"
"Ah."
To him, who was about to head up to the room, Hanna handed over the helmet she had hidden behind her back.
"Here."
"Thanks."
"What about that great big sword?"
"I lost it."
"Ah...."
At Virgil's dry reply, Hanna slowly nodded and thought,
'Could it be that this man is the type who takes a lot of looking after?'
***
The title of Savior was convenient.
To the extent that people would hand over horses that had barely survived the chaos without any conditions.
The problem was that it was hard to find a sturdy horse that could bear the weight of two people at once.
Of the three warhorses remaining in the lord's castle, one had perished fighting alongside Virgil, and the other two had not survived the ghoul attack.
The last hope was the old horses used for trade.
Because they were pack horses, they barely endured the weight of two people despite their age.
If he hadn't lost the greatsword, he would have faced the absurd situation of having to abandon it just to ride the horse.
"You should learn how to ride a horse soon."
"I don't think I need to. I like how things are now."
She said, hugging Virgil's waist tightly.
"Did I ever tell you about the horse that died alongside me?"
"...No, and I don't want to hear it...."
"Alright."
After that, Virgil spurred the horse quickly, and only stopped reluctantly some time after leaving the city.
"Someone, please help me!"
A woman of unknown identity appeared before the two.
A slender beauty with blue eyes.
She was wearing a black robe, but it didn't fit her body at all.
It was short and tight, revealing every outline of her body.
"Woah, woah."
As Virgil halted the horse, the woman raised both hands wide.
"Sir! Please help me! My family is being attacked by wolves!"
"......."
Virgil did not answer, merely staring blankly, while Hanna behind him made a fuss.
"Oh my, what do we do! Virgil-nim! Let's go save them quickly!"
"Aah! Beautiful young lady, I am truly grateful."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I am fine. Your heart is as beautiful as your face."
"Ah, no...."
Virgil looked back and forth between the two women conversing and furrowed his brows deeply.
At the same time, he once again questioned whether bringing Hanna along had truly been the right choice.
"Virgil-nim! Hurry!"
"Hanna."
"Yes?"
"Get down."
"Huh? Ah! Yes! I need to get down so you can get down, Virgil-nim."
The moment Hanna scrambled off the horse, Virgil spurred it forward immediately.
Hanna watched his retreating figure with an expression of disbelief, and the unknown woman also stared as if bewildered.
"V-Virgil-nim!"
The unknown woman approached the flustered Hanna and whispered something in her ear.
Hanna's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the woman.
"How...."
"Hurry."
Leaving the woman whose expression had changed, Hanna reached her hand toward the horse's rump.
She moved her lips quickly and finally chanted aloud.
"Ācer quiēs!"
Thin smoke flew from her hand and enveloped the horse.
It was possible because the speed wasn't fast.
Shortly after, the horse's legs gave out and it began to sink down.
Virgil, who was riding atop it, jumped off easily as if he had expected it.
"You're making this troublesome."
At his hostile tone, Hanna flinched and stepped back.
Tears welled up in her large eyes.
"I-I just did what this lady told me to...."
"Not you."
"Huh?"
Virgil flicked his hand sideways toward Hanna.
"Huh?"
"Move."
"...Huh?"
"I said move aside."
"Ah!"
As Hanna moved aside, the unknown woman came into Virgil's view.
She was smiling with a meaningful expression.
"Keke, did you already know? The more I see you, the more fascinating you are. Half-breed."
"State your business."
At his rigid response, the unknown woman waved her hand in the air.
Then, a long wooden staff appeared above her hand.
The woman approached Hanna, who was bewildered, and greeted her first.
"Child, did you put the Goddess's Tear I gave you to good use?"
"Huh? Ah... it can't be!"
"Keke, yes. You finally recognize me."
"You were definitely a grandmother...."
"Thanks to him, I recovered my magic power."
"V-Virgil-nim! It's her! She's the one who gave me the Goddess's Tear and caused the ghouls to appear!"
"I know."
"Huh?"
"Child, didn't I tell you when I gave you that potion? I do not know its exact effects either. So use it carefully and cautiously."
"B-but! You should have at least told me that Crohm was the Goddess of Death!"
"Hmm? How did you know that the god who bestowed that upon me was Lady Crohm?"
"That's...."
Unable to speak of the status window, Hanna bit her lip tightly.
"If you don't wish to speak of it, so be it. What importance does it hold?"
The witch of the forest withdrew her gaze from Hanna and looked at Virgil.
"Thanks to the Makum's stomach you brought, I have recovered most of my magic power. Youth truly is wonderful."
Makum devoured humans or monsters that trespassed into its territory, so much magic power had accumulated in its stomach.
To the witch who desperately needed mana recovery, it was a perfect panacea.
"How in the world did you know about the Makum?"
'You told me in the game.'
He couldn't bring himself to say this aloud.
"That is none of your concern. Simply state your business."
At his continued urging, the Forest Witch looked at him with a face of exasperation.
Virgil's brow was narrower than before.
He outwardly revealed that he was extremely annoyed and irritated.
At that sight, the witch clicked her tongue and struck her staff against the ground.
Vrrm—
A circular hole formed beside her, and from it, a leather-wrapped pillar began to rise.
It was slightly thicker than a typical spear shaft.
When it had risen to about the length of a child's leg, an enormous lump of iron could be seen attached to it.
"Might you need this?"
This time, interest seeped into Virgil's eyes as well.
Because it was his greatsword, which he had thought lost.
"Now then, are you inclined to make a deal with me?"
"Mm."
Virgil pondered for a moment, then gestured for her to speak.
The witch began to speak without delay.
"It has already been several years since I settled in this forest. I have lived without much trouble all this time, but not long ago, seeds of misfortune began to be sown in the surroundings. The creatures I tended to were infected one by one by something, and even the medicinal herbs withered and died...."
"So what do you want from me?"
"Did you not claim with your own mouth to be a demon hunter? This is precisely your area of expertise. So clean out the den of contaminated wolves in this forest. This way."
The witch gestured for him to follow, while Virgil stood stock-still.
"Hurry and follow. There is not much time."
"I refuse."
"...Do you not need the sword? Besides this, I shall compensate you plenty."
"I do not need it. That sword was nothing special anyway."
"Very well, then tell me what else you desire."
"Nothing."
"Y-you... was it not thanks to my item that you saved Javelin?"
"If we're going to argue like that, it is thanks to me that you have regained your youthful appearance."
At his repeated refusals, the witch's face gradually turned ferocious.
At the same time, black arrows made of mana formed around her.
In contrast, Virgil stood with his arms crossed, not even defending himself.
Hanna, standing nearby, turned pale at that threatening aura and stamped her feet anxiously.
What do I do!
But as time passed, the witch did not attack.
She merely kept moving her lips.
"You...."
"Go on, do what you were going to do."
"Yes... you certainly didn't fear me last time either... Could it be you knew about me from the start?"
"I did."
"How... in the world...."
"I happen to have quite a lot of interest in witches."
"Lies! What in the world are you! What demon's blood runs in your veins that you are so arrogant!"
"Well, I wonder about that myself."
"......."
"I shall take my leave now."
As Virgil mounted the horse, Hanna cautiously reached out her hand.
He seemed to contemplate for a moment, then let out a short sigh and pulled her up.
He immediately spurred the horse to depart without hesitation.
"Um... Virgil-nim, may I ask just one question?"
"Speak."
"Why was that witch like that just now?"
"Because of the contaminated creatures roaming her territory. They must have ruined the medicinal herbs and food supplies she needed."
"She looked incredibly strong, though. Couldn't she just catch them herself..."
"She was exiled from witch society and placed under a taboo against killing. If she tried to kill a living creature, her heart would probably melt."
"Ah...."
She clearly did not understand.
"Anyway, there's no need to worry about it."
Even if he helped, she wouldn't offer satisfactory compensation, and as long as she wasn't hostile, they wouldn't cross paths again.
"Then what about a weapon?"
"I'll acquire one. There are many better than that."
"Ah...."
And so the two left the witch behind and made for their destination.
"But Virgil-nim."
"What."
"Where did you say we were going?"
"Bernère, the Grotto of Forbidden Men."
"What kind of place is it?"
"It's where witches live. We're going there to obtain what we need and leave...."
Virgil pulled the reins and stopped the horse.
"Why?"
"Yes... that is also a way."
Virgil turned the reins and headed back to the Forest Witch.
She was on her way back to her dwelling, shoulders slumped.
Though her body had grown young again, perhaps out of old habit, she walked with her staff pressed against the ground.
"Why have you returned?"
She spoke without turning around.
"This time, I have come to propose a deal."
"...Speak."
She turned her head and glared at Virgil.
"Then I shall get straight to the point. Accept this girl as a member of Bernère."
"...What?"
"You heard me."
"Do you know what that means?"
Her face was a mixture of bewilderment and annoyance.
"I am asking you to make her a proper witch."
"Absolutely impossible. Right now, Bernère is under serious pressure from Yuktap. In the city of knights, Roun, a large-scale witch hunt is even underway. Accept an outsider at a time like this? That's absurd."
"You know there is a way."
"......."
"The status of a direct disciple of the Māter or the Senate."
"How do you..."
"Did I not tell you? I am very interested in witches."
"You try to deceive me until the very end... Indeed, I am an exile anyway. I cannot grant what you wish. Do you not know that?"
She turned away as if unwilling to hear more, and from behind her, Virgil spoke.
"I shall have you reinstated to the Senate, so please take this girl as your disciple for a time."
"...What?"
Her eyes, slowly turning back, were filled with nothing but rage.
Virgil took it in stride and opened his mouth again.
"Ekirna, Witch of the Serpent's Death, will you accept the deal?"
"You bastard!"
As Ekirna struck the ground with her staff, her body began to grow larger and larger.
Soon, she transformed into a gigantic serpent, just as she had appeared when they first met.
—How do you know my name?!
"Is that what matters now?"
Ekirna parted her jaws wide, threatening but not attacking.
Because of the taboo placed upon her heart.
However, Hanna, despite knowing this, hurriedly fled behind a tree.
"Uwah!"
She tripped over a tree root.
—.......
"......."
Ekirna and Virgil fell silent.
Hanna got up again and ran hard to hide behind the tree.
The two decided to simply ignore Hanna.
—Speak. How do you know my name?
Virgil was silent for a moment, then belatedly opened his mouth.
"I heard it from Sophia."
—.......
It was a lie, of course.
But because she had memories of meeting Sophia several times, Ekirna could not jump to conclusions.
Though she had no memory of ever telling her name or childhood name.
"Is that what matters now? I am telling you that I will restore your place in Bernère. You know better than anyone what that means."
—.......
About to retort, she suddenly remembered why she had sought out this man.
The savior of Javelin.
The man who had purified the curse of the Blood Cult.
Their curse had been quite powerful.
Of course, if she had stepped up herself, she could have offered plenty of help, but there had been no need to make an enemy of the Blood Cult, so she had ignored it.
Yet this man had accomplished it single-handedly.
That was why she had come to him directly today to request his help with her own problem.
In short, a man whose abilities she acknowledged was now offering to solve her fundamental problem.
—...Very well, even if I humor you and believe your words. How in the world do you intend to have me reinstated?
"That is something I shall discuss with the Māter."
—...The Grotto of Forbidden Men is not so lenient. If the Māter does not accept your proposal, you and that girl will die. Even if you somehow survive, you will spend your life being hunted by witches.
"I am aware of all that."
—And yet you intend to meet her?
"Is there any reason I cannot? Truthfully, you were a bonus. I was planning to ask that this girl be accepted as the Māter's disciple."
He showed not the slightest hint of hesitation.
Ekirna was dumbfounded.
'Hah... what an audacious fellow.'
Thinking about it, this proposal held no losses for her.
And if it were to succeed?
...Best not get my hopes up.
Ekirna's body returned to human form.
"Very well, I accept your proposal. I shall take that child as my disciple."
"Wise decision."
"However, this is only if I am restored as an Elder of Bernère."
"Of course."
Ekirna extended her hand first, and Virgil grasped it.
Then, a small mark was engraved beneath the thumbnails of both.
An oath sworn upon each other's hearts.
Should this promise be broken, that person's heart would melt away.
'I shall make not only the Māter but all the Elders my allies.'
'If this man fails, I can simply wash my hands of it.'
Two people harboring different thoughts.
Hanna crept up awkwardly to their side.
Leaves were tangled in her hair, and her lips were slightly swollen from chanting the spell so hard.
Hanna grabbed Virgil's armor lightly and asked.
"Um... do I just need to stay still?"
"Yes."
"But why a witch... I want to be a mage...."
"Let's go."
Virgil mounted the horse.
To him, Ekirna spoke.
"Tsk, tsk, half-breed. You didn't mean to ride all the way to Bernère, did you?"
"Indeed I did."
"Do you know how far it is?"
"I know. About a week."
Hanna was aghast at his words.
"Keke, and the entrance?"
"I roughly heard it through rumors."
"...You are like a well-honed blade, yet at times quite dull. Did you forget I was an Elder of the witches?"
"Ah."
Virgil got off the horse and stood beside Ekirna.
When Hanna tilted her head, he sighed and extended his hand.
"Why?"
"Teleportation."
"Ah!"
Her eyes grew wide at the word she had always admired, and she stood beside Virgil.
"By the way, child, if you wish to be a mage, learn magic. Why choose this arduous path of witchcraft? Keke."
"Huh...? Aren't they the same?"
She still did not know the exact difference between witchcraft and magic.
Nor how terrible the relationship between mages and witches was.
"Keke, you are an interesting child as well. Come close. Let us go to the Grotto of Forbidden Men."
Ekirna pulled out an old scroll from her bosom.
Its appearance was slightly different from the teleportation scroll Virgil had used to escape the tutorial.
As Ekirna unfurled the scroll and muttered incomprehensible words, a reddish light enveloped the three.
Soon, the scroll burned, and the three human figures vanished in an instant.