Chapter 426 – The Knight and the Shaman

000

After leaving the Dark Dragon Company, outside the main gate, Cleon asks Demis a question.

“I heard that shrine maidens live in. Growing peaches… Is it a pretty big place?”

What naturally comes to mind is the Great Hall in the capital.

Cleon had never seen a temple as big as that one, but no matter how much it was, there was no atmosphere like a garden was being cultivated in it, so it is expected that it will have a building style different from that of the kingdom , just like the building of the upper house.

“Yes. Even in the capital of this eastern country, it’s a large enough place to compete for first or second place.”

Demis nods his head, then raises his arm and points far away – index finger to one side.

If you follow it, Cleon’s gaze is directed to a huge ‘tree’ that cannot be ignored – as if it could reach the sky.

A gigantic body and a stem extending from it.

Also, there were several layers of circles floating around the tree, and looking at it slowly rotating, the tree did not look ordinary at first glance.

“The temple of Asteris is over there.”

“…Certainly, it’s not the world tree.”

“The World Tree…? No, that’s a tree called the ‘Divine Tree’. Legend has it that it was the first tree to sprout in this world a long time ago.”

Certainly, if that was the world tree, I should feel some kind of determination.

No independent will was felt from the sacred tree Demis pointed at.

Besides, the world tree had the power to overwrite the surrounding environment with its own world, so it would not be possible to build human villages or cities.

So- that could be considered safe.

“The group that guards and serves the sacred tree is Asteris’ priestess and priestess. The sacred tree creates a barrier to protect Asteris, and prevents beings with evil will from the outside from entering. .”

As Demis said, there is a barrier in Asteris that plays a role similar to that of the royal road.

If you say instead, what would you say, but there are no huge walls like the royal road, and the boundaries of Asteris are blurred in a natural way.

Walking along the street corner, I came inside Asteris before I knew it. It is to the extent that it is thought.

When the two young men walked down the street after the story, unlike the streets of the kingdom overflowing with ‘humans’, the streets of the East were crowded with many races.

Indeed, beastmen were like that, and even the second sub-species, such as ‘goblins’ and ‘orcs’, which are clearly treated as monsters in the kingdom, are roaming the streets without any problems.

Cleon, who had been active as an adventurer in the royal capital for a long time, felt something tickle his fingertips.

“Are you okay? They…”

“Ah. It’s okay. Since ancient times, Eastern countries have tended to focus on exchanges and enlightenment with sub-species. My father, too, is a person who inherited strong blood from the giants.”

“Come to think of it, I see.”

The overwhelming physique that surpasses the robustness of the beautiful flamer is a strong expression of the characteristics of the giants, as he said before.

Having an appearance that is far from an ordinary human shouldn’t be a reason to discriminate against people.

In order to eliminate resistance to the fact that a country’s royal family is inheriting such blood, a policy to accept sub-species or beast-men would also have been necessary.

Especially, in the past, that tendency must have been stronger.

Houses and shops were arranged without division on the street outside the periphery of the store, and the in-between functioned as roads.

It was also different from the royal road, which was neatly arranged and divided into sections.

And passers-by with weapons seen everywhere on the street.

If you pass right next to it, you will see several warriors wearing single-edged swords similar to those used by Ruba.

However, since they were all wearing their own costumes, they did not appear to be Asteris’ guards or regular soldiers.

However, from what I’ve heard before, there is no such thing as an ‘adventurer’s guild’ in this country.

No, I heard that there is no such thing as an adventurer in the first place.

Then why do they wear weapons, and for what?

Perhaps noticing Cleon’s gaze, Demis spoke with a smile on his lips.

“In this country, it’s not unusual for civilians to carry weapons, sir.”

“A civilian?”

In the kingdom, it is not permitted to carry weapons by persons who are not affiliated with a guild or a national institution.

A person who is armed must have a means of proving his/her identity so that it is not treated as illegal.

If you go all the way down to the countryside, Elessia, the number of people who keep those laws is a little less, but-

In any case, it was one of the laws that were followed quite reliably in the capital.

“As you know, there is almost no magic in this country. Only priestesses and priestesses deal with sorcery and sorcery. Except for me and my sister who attend the academy, and travelers who have traveled to other countries. Most don’t recognize its existence as magical power.”

“I see. Come to think of it, I heard that people in the East learn how to convert their physical strength and magic power. That goes well with the studies of the Department of Sex, so I ended up going there…”

At Cleon’s words, Demis nodded.

“Yes. Stamina – in other words, vitality is something that exists in all things. Unlike magic that only a few beings can wield, all humans are alive and breathing. Training that vitality is a natural thing in this Eastern country. It will become something.”

“…I see. That method is called ‘Martial Arts’.”

Cleon nodded as if he understood his words her a little.

No matter what martial art or weapon you use, the basis for everything is your stamina.

Train your body and expand your ‘vessel of vitality’.

Demis called this ‘inner air’.

No matter how peaceful this country is with sub-species, there must have been monsters that could not communicate with each other, and there would have been obstacles that could not be overcome with pure human power alone.

To solve that, humans needed ‘magical power’ or equivalent power.

Moreover, in this country where it is common to process life force to create magic, training in martial arts is not simply learning self-defense.

It was to challenge one’s own possibilities and limitations.

Just as a wizard explores magic as a discipline rather than a combat skill.

In this country, expanding one’s potential through martial arts is considered a virtue.

“In this country, even scholars learn swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship. All to expand their possibilities.”

“…I see. It’s a place that Talchek would like.”

Cleon quietly recalls something about his own mentor, then shakes his head.

“But. Wouldn’t it cause a problem with the public order? …Among the people who have built up their strength by training in martial arts, there must be some who want to test that power.”

“That’s fine. Just like kingdoms, our country has a regular army to keep the peace… And there are others who choose to ‘test their strength’.”

“…A way to test your strength?”

It was then.

Udangtang! When I heard a loud voice, a table popped out from the tavern next to the road Cleon and Demis were walking on.

The expression “The dining table protruded” Might have been a bit odd, but it was just the way it was.

As it was, it flew in front of Cleon and Demis, crashed into the wall of the store on the other side, and was smashed.

“…”

When Cleon or Demis sees it, they look shocked for a moment, then turn their heads and look around the tavern.

A giant (bald) one head taller than Cleon was walking out in a fit of rage.

“How dare you ignore me!? You rotten bitch!”

Briskly, he throws off his jacket and pulls out two barbed clubs that were tied around his waist.

“…You’re an orc with white skin.”

When Cleon muttered that, Demis burst out laughing with a phu-ha.

And when Cleon tried to step forward to stop him, Demis would stop him.

“You’ll understand what I just said.”

At Demis’ words, Cleon paused for a moment, and the next moment-

“Ah-ah-. What are you doing, you spilled all the alcohol, you damn bastard…”

A woman wearing a black cape with her hat pulled over slowly walks out.

With the sword tucked into her waistband, her faltering gait her made it clear that she was drunk without even looking closely.

“…Keuk.”

Seeing her go so far as to burp, Demis also hardened her face as if it was a bit unexpected.

Regardless of Demis’ gaze, the man swung his club at the same time.

For a moment, Cleon’s eyes saw the sudden creation of mana in his body her, and refined power flowing from his arm her through his weapon her.

‘Did that just convert magic power from life force?’

Unlike the rugged appearance and ignorant-looking weapon, it must mean that he is training properly.

But, the next moment, the woman’s body spins and jumps into the air.

Just like that, with light steps, she stood on top of the man’s club.

“What is it, such a crude attack is ‘invincible twins’? Seriously, invincible must be crying and leaving. Did you ask me to wait on you for the night with something like that… ?”

The woman yawned loudly, but she was so still that there was no sign of her jumping anywhere on her body her.

The hat on her head her did not shake, and her robe her sat neatly down without a single wrinkle.

Seeing her as if she were standing on calm water, voices of ‘Oh-oh!’ Came out from the surroundings.

“No, wait, at some point, the onlookers…!”

Cleon is perplexed by the group of passers-by from the East that surrounds him before he knows it.

“Watching a fight like this is one of the cultures of the Eastern countries.”

“…Is it the same in every country that watching a fight is fun…”

“Yes. Especially, the fight between the ‘thief’.”

The man pulls her arm her to retrieve his gun her, but for some reason, unlike her light-looking body her, she is puzzled by her own weapon, which does not budge.

“Well… Seeing that kind of thing, I can’t expect much at night either…”

“This, this bitch…!”

And in the end, if you let go of her hand her from her weapon her and try to run at the woman with her bare hands her-

The woman stood there with her iron fan in her hand at some point.

“A rude fellow.”

Then, she folded the iron fan and threw it away. She pats the man lunging at her on the forehead.

Then- the magic power gathered at the tip of her fan in an instant floated the shape of a sphere-

Phut! It explodes with a sound like popping a balloon.

Then the man bled from his forehead her, knocking her unconscious and falling backwards in shock.

Once again, when the voices of ‘Ohh-!’ Rise from her surroundings, along with her applause her, her yeopjeons fly towards her.

She smiled, hehe, and picked up the flying coins, and left with the wind.

“…Something, like a street performance.”

“Similarly. She is She is, a knight. In our country … She is a being who uses her strength her for justice.”

“As I said earlier, ‘Choose how to use power’ means this. …There are those who use power for desire, and those who use it for justice. Is it because of that that security is maintained?”

At Cleon’s words, Demis nodded her head.

“That’s right. We grow up and live in a city where this kind of ‘good and evil’ heroic play unfolds every day. Of course, I also dreamed of becoming a knight when I was young. Oh, and of course my sister too .”

Demis said that and looked at Cleon.

“…When you see someone who doesn’t look at the eyes of others for the sake of their own justice. It’s unavoidable to admire them.”

Cleon looked straight into Demis’s eyes for a moment, then answered with a sigh.

“…Overrated.”

“Humility is also a virtue of a knight.”

At Demis’s words, Cleon feels like she wants to object.

The reason why he is here is because he lacks strength and is unable to properly protect his precious ones.

He said that he did not deserve the respect or admiration of others.

But- I’m sure Demis, a kind young man, would work hard to comfort such a Cleon.

It was also to make myself miserable.

“Now that the road has been cleared, let’s head back to the temple.”

“…All right.”

First of all, this story ends here.

001

After that, arrive at the temple without incident and show the token you received from Quartz to the gatekeeper at the entrance.

He nodded and passed Cleon behind him.

The inside of the temple was filled with much clearer and cleaner air than the outside, and it was possible to reach the front of the barrier spread out around the ‘huge door’ painted red.

‘The barrier of perception distortion… It seems that the inside is not visible from the outside.’

Cleon notices the identity of the barrier and waits for a while at Demis’s words that he cannot go beyond the door and that a shrine maiden will appear if he waits here-

A figure appeared beyond the red door, where nothing could be seen.

A shrine maiden costume with red stripes and white tones, symbolizing innocence.

And, purple hair down to her waist.

A ‘fox’ mask was worn on her face.

She was only about below Cleon’s breasts, so she seemed quite young.

Seeing her mask like that, Cleon couldn’t help but be started.

‘…I know it’s not, but when I see a mask like that, it reminds me of the Exiled Church.’

It was common for her exiled cults to hide their true identity by wearing an ‘animal mask’similar to the one she wore.

“…Are you the one who brought Mr. Quartz’s proof?”

When Cleon is silent for a while, she speaks first from the shrine maiden’s side.

Her voice sounded a bit muffled by the mask, but as expected, she is a fairly young voice.

“Ah. That’s right. Here.”

When Cleon says so and hands over her token her, the girl accepts it and nods her head for a moment before handing the pink pouch she was holding to Cleon.

“I’ve definitely received it. A pouch containing the Cheondo bell.”

When Cleon accepts it, the shrine maiden looks at Cleon for a while.

Through the hole in the mask, it was as if he was looking at something strange.

“…Why is that?”

“…No. It’s quite rare for a stranger to come all the way here. …But, somehow, I sensed something similar to us…”

When Cleon asked such a question, she suddenly regained her senses and shook her head in response.

She must have been aware that she was talking strangely herself, and the further she went back, the quieter her voice was hers.

“…From me?”

“Yes. By any chance, among the people you usually get close to, is there a ‘shaman’?”

To the young priestess’s question, Cleon shut her mouth for a moment.

Come to think of it – Quon originally said that in the village where she lived, she lived as a ‘shaman’ rather than a ‘priest’.

After she came to Elesia, she went to the temple to practice her healing arts her, so naturally she became close to the Holy Order of Protection.

After that, she received the oracle of the holy sword, and she was fully recognized as a saint – in other words, a priest.

Besides, thinking about such a thing, a tree that naturally grew tall enough to cover the sky while standing tall inside the barrier—

I feel the connection in ‘Divine Tree’ as well.

Apparently, there is a similar ‘sacred tree’ in the village of Quon – no, to be precise, a ‘tree of life’ that can bear the fruit of life.

She had said that protecting it was the fate of the Miko clan, including her ancestors.

If you come this far, it is a strange story not to recall the connection between Quon and the shrine maiden of this city.

“…Ah. One. A girl named ‘Quon’…”

“Quon…? Does that person say his name her is Quon?”

Cleon nods her head.

Certainly, the name Quon was also a name that felt a little peculiar even on this continent.

Did she say that the shaman’s name used the language of one of the ancient languages ​​for generations?

I remember earlier, Quon was a bit embarrassed to say, ‘Cleon and her own name differ by only one letter in her ancient language’as she tried to write both her and her Cleon’s names of in the ancient language. .

“By the way, are you…?”

“Uh, ah. Me, nagi… Ah…”

The young shrine maiden, named She-Nagi, answered her Cleon’s question at a loss, then covered her own mouth with her hand.

“…Uh, young shrine maidens are forbidden from telling them their ‘name as a shrine maiden’ until they can do their part. So… Please, please forget about this.”

“That, yes…”

Cleon nodded at her request her, then another woman’s voice came from beyond her door her.

“How long are you going to keep the barrier open? Come back quickly if you hand over the ingredients!”

“Yes Yes!”

Perhaps, she is the figure to be her boss her.

“…Then, please take a look. And… To that ‘Quon’, if you have time, would you like to come to the shrine?”

After bowing her head like that, she often jumps away and disappears beyond the ‘red door’.

“There are also quite young shrine maidens.”

When Cleon muttered that, Demis nodded her head and spoke to Cleon.

“This is an extension of what I was talking about earlier–even in this country, people with innate magical powers are born. Had they been born and educated in another country, they would have become ‘wizards’.”

At Demis’s words her, Cleon nodded her head.

“However, magic does not exist in this country, and great magical power is thought to be ‘power from God’, so that talent is used for the sake of the gods. If you are judged to have this, you should enter the temple as a child and receive training as a shrine maiden.”

“…Indeed.”

However, if you do that, a natural question arises.

The existence of a magician who can be both a scholar and the center of a powerful military force is a great benefit to the country.

That’s why wizards are valued in many countries, including the kingdom, and no effort is spared to nurture talented people.

However, in this country, there is no such thing – I even got the feeling that magic itself was at risk.

Cleon was about to ask Demis about it, but he soon swallowed the question into himself.

It was natural that each country had a different culture, and the Kingdom and the East would have as many internal affairs as the differences in lifestyle.

Digging into those things one by one and comparing the differences was not very adult behavior.

Rather than that, the priority now was to hurry back to the inn and deliver the ingredients for the medicine to cure Amelia to Quartz.

Now that they have obtained the cheondo sect they were aiming for, they think that all they have to do is pray for Amelia to recover safely, and leave the shrine grounds, just before returning to the path they had taken to visit the shrine.

“Hey, brother over there.”

Cleon flinched at the harsh voice coming from behind him, stopped his feet, and closed his eyes.

“I just came out of the shrine. What I’m holding in my hand… Is it the Cheondo Bell?”

“…But.”

When he answered that without turning around, Demis also glanced at Cleon and let go of his fingers.

“If you quietly pass it over here, I’ll spare your life.”

And, as another person appeared, a voice different from the person I was talking about a while ago was heard.

Cleon sighed and was silent for a moment before answering.

“Refuse.”

“Then I’ll have to see you sick here!”

While saying that, Cleon, feeling signs of an attack towards them, naturally reaches for his waist her, but realizes that Galatea and Caliburn have not yet recovered, so they have come unarmed.

‘Chit…’

If you click your tongue inside and immediately switch to taijutsu and try to rotate your body—

“Now! Sister!”

“Ha ha! Good job! Take it, stupid outsider!”

A rustling sound was heard, and then someone fell from above, swinging a large iron club at his head.

With her mask on her face her, Cleon glances up at her as she robs her in broad daylight—

In the next moment, Demis’ body moves like a flexible wave, and he blocks the attacks of the two men who were directed at Cleon and himself with one hand.

Then, Cleon uses the power to turn his body, kicks his legs into the air, and kicks the club that was trying to attack him.

Cooong! When a blow imbued with magical energy collides with a club with a heavy impact,

“Keep!”

With a clatter, the woman who had fallen from the sky lost her balance at the blow and tumbled to the ground.

“Who, sister!?”

“Hey, this guy!”

If Demis looked at the slender and fat men who seemed to be astonished subordinates, as if they were pathetic.

Cleon looks down at the rolled woman for a moment.

“Big…”

She somehow manages to stand up, supporting her body her with her club her.

Because what was visible under the loose mask was a girl who looked like Laila.

Her pale green hair of her was tied back in a rather unusual way, and her three strands of hair rose upwards around her dumplings of her.

She looked somewhat young, but she also looked like a first-class outlaw with her sharp eyes.

However, what surprised Cleon more than his youthful appearance was—

“…Horn?”

‘Two pairs of horns’ sprouted near her forehead.

Horns about 15 cm long, like red horns, grew as if rising towards the sky.

“… Horns… Are you a demon…”

Demis glanced back at the girl and sharpened her eyes, and the girl picked up the mask that had fallen to the ground, and she hurriedly covered her mouth.

“This, this guy… Must have seen my bare face…”

“No, if it’s such a thin fabric, you can see it even if you’re standing…”

At Cleon’s words her, the girl blinks her eyes, then blushes.

“Sir, it’s noisy! You guys, this ‘Aisha’-sama will beat you up!”

“Be prepared, stupid stranger!”

“Chickens!”

A low-quality sale flying toward Cleon.

Her party her, Cleon, sighed heavily with her mouth shut.

“…Demis. Can I leave the two of you?”

“Of course. Originally, I couldn’t have the guest, the instructor, fight, so I tried to deal with them all… But now, time is of the essence.”

Demis also pushed back their weapons that were blocking them and bounced them off, taking their stance again.

“It will take less than a minute.”