Episode 42
“I trust you slept well… though you look far too tired to say that.”
Alex, who had brewed morning tea, looked at Sallet—her hood drawn low—with a puzzled expression. The skin beneath her eyes was dark, and her eyes were bloodshot. She had stayed in Loki’s room since dawn yet had been unable to fall asleep.
In contrast, Loki, who was leisurely drinking his tea, showed no signs of fatigue. Even now, he was simply reading an herbal manual with interest. At the sight, Alex felt a peculiar sensation.
“Forgive me, but you seem to have a great interest in herbs… Might you be a healer or an herbalist?”
Alex was feeling curious about Loki. He had recognized at a glance that Loki was a Nodeuin. They wore the pelts of their prey as masks; while some wore those of wolves and bears, it was the first time he had seen a crow mask. Alex had become captivated by the thought that Loki might be a healer because the crow mask bore a striking resemblance to the beak masks used by healers and herbalists these days.
Loki closed the book and looked at Alex. To be honest, the only reason he was interested in herbs was out of curiosity about what effects might arise if he used herbs to create the compound skill he possessed—a skill capable of producing potions.
“I’ve simply developed a slight interest.”
“Ah, I see.”
At Loki’s words, Alex made a disappointed expression and shook his head.
“That is a shame. If you were an herbalist, we could have talked about the plague that has been breaking out recently.”
“…You speak of the Worm Plague.”
At Loki’s words, Alex sat across from him and nodded. He clasped his hands and looked at Loki with a serious expression.
“Yes, I have been taking an interest in it of late.”
*Though in truth, it has been for quite a long time.*
That last thought was something Alex did not speak aloud. It was Loki who became interested at Alex’s words. He was curious about this unique “disease.”
“For a priest to take an interest in such a disease?”
Alex looked surprised.
“Why would it not be? We worship and follow Lord Azellan, and it is our duty to eliminate that which harms people. We mediate conflicts and drive out evil. Plagues fall within that purview as well. That is why priests study and research healing a great deal. Thus, priests are also healers.”
*Is that how this world works?*
Just as in the old medieval ages, it seemed that on this continent as well, holy men such as priests practiced healing. Alex was one of them.
“And these days, I am researching the Worm Plague.”
“Research?”
At Loki’s question, Alex flinched as if caught in something, then smiled bitterly.
*Ah, I’ve ended up talking about things I shouldn’t just because someone is listening. Well, it should be fine. It is common enough for a priest to research the Worm Plague.*
But it might cause trouble. So Alex thought up an excuse and spoke.
“Yes, it is… because the plague might spread to a small village near the monastery. I am searching for a solution in order to cure them.”
At Alex’s words, Loki crossed his arms and tapped his arm with his finger.
“I’ve heard that there is also something called holy water?”
Loki remembered the holy water given to him by a wizard named Paul whom he had met not long ago.
“Ordinary holy water is out of the question. Only the holy water produced by the archbishops in the capital of the Holy Order is effective, so we must seek other methods.”
“…I see.”
At the mention of the Holy Order, Loki furrowed his brow. He had heard that most of the priests existing on the continent could be said to be believers belonging to the Holy Order. In that case, the priest before him belonged to the faith of Azellan.
*If he belongs to the Holy Order, he might know what I am looking for.*
Loki looked at Alex. Gauging the atmosphere as if observing his face, he opened his mouth.
“There is something I wish to ask.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“…Do you know of the Angel of Death?”
“…….”
Alex’s eyes widened as if he knew exactly what Loki was talking about. At that reaction, strength entered Loki’s hand. The Holy Order had been hunting the “Angel of Death.” If so, he ought to know something about the Angel of Death. Depending on Alex’s reaction, Loki would make his choice. At worst, he would have to eliminate him. And those “traces” would have to be erased without a trace as well. That included the man named Yuan from the general store he had met not long ago, as well as the nearby “village.” If what the guards in the Frozen Land had said was true, it was best to clean up thoroughly. Leaving behind traces needlessly might turn one into a target of the Holy Order.
*It is cruel, but it cannot be helped.*
Loki had lived in the Frozen Land for three years without conflict. He had never threatened or harmed anyone, and because he had spent his days in peace, his personality had gradually become docile and was returning to his former self. Even so, the nature of the Avatar within him was Loki the Demon God, who delighted in “destruction” and “play.” Destroying a small village was nothing at all.
Alex maintained his silence for a moment before opening his mouth.
“The Angel of Death….”
“…….”
“…Still exists?”
At the unexpected question, Loki’s energy drained away.
“I see. So it still… exists. I have been almost completely cut off from the outside world as of late, so I did not know, but for the Angel of Death to still exist… Though it is certainly something to be curious about. There were rumors that the Angel of Death caused plagues. Ah, though of course, there were also stories that it drove them away.”
“…You know of it?”
About her…?
Alex shook his head.
“I do not know much either. What I heard was from approximately fifty years ago, that is, when Hanes was destroyed.”
At the mention of Hanes, Sallet flinched in surprise. For her, talk of her hometown was inevitably sensitive. But no one was paying attention to her.
“Beyond the fact that the Angel of Death appeared at that time, I do not… but the Angel of Death is likely a baseless rumor born from the plague that spread back then. So countless healers and herbalists wandered in search of the Angel of Death to find a ray of hope… but I have yet to hear any testimony from someone who actually saw it.”
The strength gradually left Loki’s hand. From what the other said, he seemed to have neither heard nor seen anything of it since fifty years ago. Moreover, he seemed to think that the reason Loki was searching for the Angel of Death was simply out of curiosity about the plague known as the Worm Plague.
“I see.”
“If you are searching for the Angel of Death, it will be a wasted effort. It is said that back then, it took the form of a beautiful woman… but in truth, it is likely nothing more than a phantom. The Angel of Death probably refers to the Worm Plague itself, and the tales of it curing the disease are likely rumors born from someone’s hopeful delusions.”
At Alex’s words, Loki reached inside his mask and pressed firmly against his temples.
*A dead end.*
He had thought a priest would know something… but it seemed not. Then there was no longer any business for him here.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
At those words, Alex’s heart dropped.
“…Already?”
His voice contained a sense of emptiness. He had finally found someone to talk to…!
“To think you would leave so soon! Please stay a little longer. At the very least, just one day, no, two days, no, even three days… How about a week or a month?”
“It keeps increasing, does it not?”
“…I apologize. Living alone in such a remote place, I tend to act this way at times.”
Alex let out a sigh. He was living a solitary, lonely life in the monastery. At times, he had gone so long without speaking that he nearly forgot how to talk, and at times, he had nearly suffered a mental fracture. Thanks to Yuan, who visited once every two weeks, he was barely holding on.
“Th-then, at least a meal….”
“…I apologize. I am quite busy.”
Rather, those words made Loki want to leave the monastery even faster. Thinking that this would not do, Alex impulsively grabbed his hand.
“Y-you said you were interested in the Worm Plague! I will show you what I have researched right this moment….”
Alex trailed off and closed his mouth. He had lost his senses, swept away by terrible loneliness.
“…Your research?”
When Loki showed a hint of interest, Alex’s pupils shook.
*…Will it be alright? Can I show him?*
His mind was telling him no, but the words coming out of his mouth were entirely different.
“Yes, I will show you. What I have researched…!”
Having blurted that out, Alex closed his eyes as if in despair. There was no turning back now. So….
*…It’s fine. I just need to show him the research materials. As long as I don’t take him there, he won’t see it.*
Having convinced himself so, Alex nodded weakly.
“Follow me. I shall show you… the state of my research.”
***
The place Alex guided them to was a small log cabin in the cemetery behind the monastery. Though crude, the hand-built house contained bowls for medicinal ingredients, herbs, numerous books, a work table, and red plants displayed behind glass.
“…Are you sure you will not wear one?”
Alex offered Loki a beak mask. Although the Worm Plague did not spread through the air, it was a precaution just in case. When Loki indicated his refusal, Alex looked at Sallet.
“…Will the young lady not wear one as well?”
Sallet froze on the spot as she looked at the beak mask Alex held out. It resembled the face of the ghost she had seen the night before. Only then did she realize she had been mistaken; her face reddened as if her pride was wounded. Then she shook her head vigorously from side to side as if to say no.
“Is that so? There is spare holy water and nothing dangerous, but… it still feels a bit off.”
Loki ignored those words and looked around. No matter how he looked, there was nothing but brewed medicine and plants displayed in glass. However, what was strange about the plants was that despite there being no soil in the pots, they stood rigidly stretched toward the sky as if supporting themselves. What connection could these have to the Worm Plague?
Loki examined the plants closely. Wooden roots spilled over the pots, coiled in a spiral shape, and stretched out sharply like awls. They closely resembled flower buds before blooming. As Loki observed the red plant, Alex walked up beside him with a bitter expression. Alex pricked his index finger with an awl. His skin tore and a small drop of blood flowed out. He let one drop fall onto the glass.
In that instant…
*Tang!*
“…….”
The plant’s bud-like protrusion burst open. But rather than a flower blooming, it shot upward at tremendous speed like a spear, shrieking to break the glass. It shook its body and rattled the glass as if trying to drink the blood, but the glass was firmly fixed and blocked it. While Loki watched in astonishment, Alex wiped the blood drop off the glass with a cloth. Only then did the plant return to its original state. Loki was surprised by the movement, far too fast for something called a plant.
“This is…?”
“The Worm Plague.”
“……?”
“That is precisely this plant.”
At Alex’s words, Loki froze.