Chapter 133
Thud, thud!
A rain of arrows fell from the sky.
The thick spears held by the mounted knights threatened them.
It had been a week since the Voitra Forest burned down.
The Imperial army was still targeting them.
To be precise, the Pilgrim in Pure White.
Callias.
Swish! Clang!
Callias deflected the flying arrows with his sword and pulled the reins.
Clack, clack!
Arrows lodged into the spot where he stood, and the knights' spears, not missing the opening, aimed for him.
Hwaaak!!
He threw a spear with bulging muscles.
The spear that left the knight's hand shot like an arrow, aiming for Callias's chest.
The timing was appropriate, and the strength and skill embedded in the javelin were also decent.
The moment it left his hand, the knight thought:
His spear would pierce the bastard's chest.
"Uraachaa!"
However, the world was not so easy.
Didn't the short pilgrim suddenly leap up and swing a massive hammer, deflecting the knight's spear in an instant!
"What!"
That was not all.
Thud! Stab, stab!
"Keok!"
"Keuk!"
Arrows shot by a pilgrim drawing multiple bowstrings at seemingly random places pierced the hearts of the soldiers and knights with perfect accuracy.
Among them, some suddenly caught fire.
A demonic beast that ambushed from the rear wreathed itself in lightning and slashed the soldiers.
The lizard holding a spear at the front played around as if fleeing, then suddenly attacked, piercing their skulls one by one.
"Re, retre...! Keok!"
The moment he was about to give the order to retreat.
The Pilgrim in Pure White, who had easily leaped over the soldiers, swung his sword.
As soon as the sword sprang from its scabbard.
Swek.
A sword light illuminated in a straight line, and then the knight's head rolled off.
Spurt!
The blood spurting like a fountain dried up in an instant, and the flesh turned into a mummy.
"U, uaaah!"
Once again, the Imperial army retreated.
Fifty soldiers and eight knights had come, but they couldn't even stand a chance against the four pilgrims and one demonic beast.
Click.
The Pilgrim in Pure White put his sword back into the scabbard. Callias whistled.
Then, as if it had been waiting, his horse approached and carried Callias on its back.
"Is it okay for a pilgrim to ride a horse?"
The lizard tapping the ground with its tail.
It was the chieftain of the Dragonborn tribe, Philomathur.
He had left the Dragonborn tribe and joined Callias's group.
Originally, he didn't have much affection for his tribe and followed them, saying he liked traveling.
No one knew that a large part of that decision was due to Callias.
"Just because you embark on a pilgrimage doesn't mean you have to walk on foot. Ultimately, the meaning of a pilgrimage is also to find oneself."
"Lord Lactus never said that. Aldu, isn't your god a bit weird?"
When he served as the chieftain, he had quite a bit of dignity, but having thrown away the heavy burden, he didn't have any of that anymore.
Phil the tail-cutter.
Like his somewhat frivolous nickname, his usual way of speaking was extremely light.
"Phil, don't blaspheme other gods. The Sons of the Tundra will bash your skull with their hammers."
Aldu spoke sometimes strictly, but kindly, as if looking at the arrogance of a youth. It seemed as if he treated Phil like a son.
"Lord Albeto did not say anything specifically regarding the pilgrimage."
The elf Serena didn't have much change in her expression as usual.
However, when she briefly glanced at Callias, her expression became colorful.
"Was the God of Swords Valters?"
"That's right."
"The God of Swords is a generous one."
Callias, who smirked at Phil's unnecessary remark, replied.
"If he were to say many things just about riding a horse, he would be narrow-minded."
"Ik!"
Leaving Phil to sulk, Callias looked at the village that came into view and asked.
"Raikiman. Is that right?"
"The location is right. Looking at this paulownia tree marker, it is Raikiman."
"You said it was a rural village."
"It was a rural village thirty years ago... but it's quite prosperous now!"
Raikiman.
It was originally just a small village where travelers stayed for a while.
It was to the point where they said their main income was the small purses of travelers, but that changed as time passed.
'It's a moderately sized village.'
It was an ambiguous impression, but the village itself wasn't particularly outstanding either.
There were moderately large buildings, and it looked like a village mainly developed with farming; the only slightly peculiar thing was that one building with a slightly different architectural style was in the center.
It was only after walking for a while that Callias realized that building was the Smile of the Rose.
'Do they make a living out of a brothel.'
It wasn't particularly surprising.
Given the historical background, it wasn't a strange thing either.
Everyone has different ways of living.
"Then make sure to relieve yourself sufficiently. We'll find separate lodging."
"I have something to deliver, so book a room for me too."
"Callis? No need to be falsely modest. Is it something to be ashamed of for a grown man to hold a woman in his arms?"
Seeing Phil nudging his shoulder, Serena grabbed his neck.
"Keck!"
"Don't be rude. Phil."
"O-okay! I got it!"
"I will be waiting."
"Alright."
Si-eun is quite a unique setting.
It isn't even expressed as a quest.
This lies in the specificity of Si-eun.
What constitutes Si-eun is the grudge of the dead.
To resolve the hardened grudge, one must fulfill the corresponding resentment.
It could be light, or it could be extremely heavy.
The one who receives Si-eun resolves the resentment by fulfilling it on their behalf, and receives a fitting reward.
'That is Si-eun.'
However, indirectly experiencing the abstractly rising memories and resolving the target's resentment is quite difficult.
Thus, even though Callias had obtained several Si-euns, he had failed many times.
There were things that absolutely couldn't be resolved, and many where it was hard to even figure out what they were saying.
And this Si-eun was similar.
'I don't know if just delivering it is enough, or if there's something else.'
Judging from his past experiences.
It seemed like it wanted a little more.
He saw a woman and a place, but Callias thought that what the guy wanted wouldn't be just that.
The emotion felt from him.
Was not that simple.
"Are you a customer?"
"Even pilgrims need to relieve their lower halves, it seems. Haha!"
They were the guards protecting the brothel.
Ignoring the trivial joke, he asked.
"Where is Veronica."
"Veronica? My, mister. Did you come after hearing the rumors? Looking for the top harlot of the Smile of the Rose... but what a shame. That woman is resting today."
"She's off duty."
Callias sighed.
It was an obstacle right from the start.
"Why are you looking for Veronica?"
"Hey, kid. Don't interrupt."
A girl who came out from among the guards asked with her arms crossed boldly.
"What about me instead of Veronica? I'm going to be the greatest rose someday."
The bold words of the girl made Callias frown.
"I have something to deliver to Veronica."
"No, no, that won't work. There's been more than one guy who said that and then tried to force himself on her. Even if she's a harlot, we can't just let anyone do as they please. Besides, Veronica is the top flower of Raikiman. Refused."
"That's right, mister. There are plenty of other flowers, so stop it and go pluck another..."
The moment he tried to push his shoulder.
Callias grabbed the guy's wrist and threw him down in an instant.
Thud!
"Huh?"
The guard, who didn't understand what had happened even though he was thrown down and his wrist was twisted, immediately scowled.
"I spoke nicely, you bastard...!"
Being at close range, he drew the sword at his waist and aimed for Callias's shoulder.
They were guys holding spears in their hands and swords at their waists.
Callias effortlessly caught the guy's sword between his fingers.
"W-what!"
While they were freaking out at the sight of Callias catching the sword swung down with both hands with his fingers, he completely shattered the guard's wrist.
Thud.
He looked down at the guard who fell flat in surprise and asked.
"Where is Veronica."
"F-follow me! I'll guide you!"
Among the guards who couldn't open their mouths like mutes who ate honey.
The aforementioned girl shouted.
"Guide me."
"Yeah!"
* * *
Knock, knock.
"Veronica! It's me, Chris! A guest is here! Open the door!!"
The girl's name was Chris.
The somewhat shabby house outside the brothel was Veronica's house, but no matter how many times they knocked, there was no sound of anyone inside.
"Veronica! Philip is here!"
When the girl said something nonsensical.
Finally, a sound came from inside the house.
Creak.
It was a woman with light brown hair flowing like a waterfall.
She had a cigarette in one hand, and as soon as she saw the girl and Callias, she immediately lit it and motioned for them to come in.
"...I'm off duty today. Chris. Why did you bring him?"
"He seems like a guest for Veronica. Trust me! He didn't come for business."
The girl who introduced herself as Chris soon went out of the house.
She was a sharp kid.
Callias looked at her and immediately pulled a sword from his embrace, handing it over.
It was a somewhat short mid-length sword.
Just a sword with no particular impressive feelings.
"It's Philip."
The sword's name was Philip.
It was the name of the dead who possessed the Si-eun.
"Ha, that son of a bitch again. How much?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Didn't that bastard go into debt under my name again? Damn bastard. Let's at least hear how much. How much is it?"
The woman, who scowled as if annoyed, made one doubt if she was really a harlot.
'A harlot who pays off debts on his behalf.'
It was fascinating.
"I asked how much?"
"This is Philip."
"?"
Both Veronica and Chris looked at the sword.
They tilted their heads as if they didn't quite understand, but soon their expressions changed.
So Callias spoke once more.
"It's Philip."
"He's dead?"
"He's dead."
"......."
Veronica was silent for a while.
Then she brushed her hair back and said.
"Any other words?"
"There were none."
"I see. Yeah, I got it. You can go."
I thought they might be lovers, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Since there wasn't a single change in her expression.
'Why did Philip think of this woman when he died. Was she an easy mark.'
He thought giving it to her would complete the Si-eun, but as expected, it wasn't.
It seemed like a little investigation would be necessary.
"What, you came out quickly? Didn't you do it?"
The obscene gesture of the brat.
Callias frowned.
"I didn't."
"Then why did you come?"
"Do you know Philip."
Chris had talked about Philip to wake Veronica up.
"Philip? That idiot Philip?"
"Was he an idiot."
"He was an idiot. He was the guy who went around saying he'd take the flower of Raikiman as his bride."
"Were they lovers?"
"Lovers my foot, who dates a flower? Maybe he caught some weird feelings passing by."
It felt like there was something he was missing.
'I came all the way here.'
Callias looked down at the mid-length sword in his hand. The reward for Si-eun couldn't be known in advance, so he didn't know what reward it would give.
Still, for a resentment of this level, it was worth looking forward to. It was also awkward to just throw it away and look for another Si-eun.
It seemed he would have to look around Raikiman for clues about Philip.
"But I did hear something like that."
"What is it?"
"They said Philip tried to buy Veronica. But how could a penniless farmer buy the top flower? He couldn't."
Farmer.
Why would a farmer become an Imperial soldier.
Chris solved his question.
"And then... he suddenly became an Imperial soldier, I wonder how he suddenly became an Imperial soldier? Did he have some connections? Probably not."
Chris's questioning words made Callias's eyes darken.
A smell started to rise.
* * *
"Philip is dead."
Veronica, wearing a thin cardigan, said to the man sitting in the office.
The man's name was Lupad.
He was the manager in charge of the Smile of the Rose.
Wearing glasses on one eye and calculating the ledger, he answered without even looking at Veronica once.
"It finally came to that. That's a shame. Guess you won't be happy either."
"If you hadn't said such strange things, he wouldn't have died such a pointless death."
Only then did Lupad close the ledger and look at Veronica.
"I only made a suggestion. The Empire happened to need soldiers, and I just introduced a perfect job. I have no complaints to hear from you."
"Bullshit. You just didn't want the signboard of the Smile of the Rose to be taken by some weird farmer."
"Me? Why would I bother with such a farmer?"
"Right after Philip left, all the rice paddies and fields were torn up. We all know that was your doing."
"Got any proof?"
"I saw it."
Lupad scoffed.
He leaned back deeply into his chair and said.
"So what. Philip is dead anyway? Yeah, there was a rumor that there was a treasure on Philip's land. Philip's field always had a good harvest, even when other places had bad ones. So there was a rumor that a treasure was hidden in the fields, and I just dug it up once."
"So, what came out?"
"A small box did come out."
"What was it?"
"A ring."
"A ring?"
Rattle.
Clack.
"He probably intended to propose to you with it. I was going to throw it away, but I thought if by any chance he came back alive, I'd give it to him as a congratulatory gift, but since he's already dead, I can't give it to him. Take it."
Veronica's eyes shook as she pitifully stroked the ring box.
"Philip was an idiot."
"Was he. Well, the very thought of marrying a harlot was stupid."
"But he wasn't trash. He wasn't a son of a bitch like you."
Swish!
She drew a sword from beneath her cardigan and rushed at Lupad.
The moment the sword was about to strike his skull.
Clang!
Lupad barely blocked the sword.
"Crazy bitch!"
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Thud!!
"Keuk!"
"Why is this fucking bitch throwing a fit at me."
Lupad headbutted Veronica's forehead and kicked her away, then swept his hair back as if he had let out ten years of pent-up frustration.
Veronica, who dropped her sword and fell, shouted as if vomiting her grievances.
"If it weren't for you, Philip wouldn't have had to die!!"
"Why are you throwing a fit at me when the dumb bastard volunteered just to live with a harlot? This is why uneducated bitches are like this."
"Shut up, you son of a bitch!"
Smack!! Crack!
But what returned was violence.
Veronica, being stepped on by Lupad, groaned in pain.
"Know your place, you bitch."
Swipe.
"Aagh!"
Lupad, who then grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up, whispered in her ear.
"You just need to receive customers and hand over the money diligently. Huh? Did you hold onto the small hope that Philip bastard would save you from this filthy sewer? The idiot is you, Veronica. Hearing of your fame, the Viscount is visiting in person, so just think about serving him grandly like you always have."
Drop.
"I'll let this one slide. Hey! Clean this bitch up quickly."
Lupad, who straightened his tie, called the guards.
"......?"
But even after a long time, the guards did not appear.