213 – It’s Because of You. -2-

The light is out.

Even late at night.

Even early in the morning.

The inn’s light, which was always on, was out.

Should I feel uneasy?

Or should I think it’s no big deal? The emotion I felt with my calm and collected senses was anxiety rather than surprise.

There was a strange magical energy emanating from the inn. It was a powerful and eerie magical energy that couldn’t be compared to that of a single adventurer or a mage.

Now I understand.

Why the inn’s light was out.

And why the apostle was in the north, it’s finally starting to make sense.

“Dark magic…”

The ultimate goal of the heretics is to recreate the world.

By reviving the evil god and eliminating the regrets of the past and the sadness of lost memories, they aim to start anew. This is the ultimate goal of the heretics.

The weapon used by the heretics, who have a grandiose dream, is dark magic. It’s an abnormal explosive that obtains its power through emotions as a medium.

The method of supplementing black magic varies from person to person.

Some people commit murder.

Some people accumulate it through distorted justice.

Others accumulate it through envy and jealousy.

But Olaf’s condition is unknown, and one thing is certain: he didn’t come to the north for no reason. He was a being who educated believers while being trapped in a heretic’s body.

“Still, there’s hope. This is it…”

I closed my eyes quietly and unfolded my senses. And I let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha…”

I couldn’t feel it.

No one’s popularity.

No information about the people inside.

I couldn’t even gather a bit of information.

“Is it the difference in power…?”

For a moment, my heart wavered, and my mind was about to be shaken.

– Ting.

The guy I didn’t want to appear was forcing my choice.

[Q. The name that can no longer be called.]

Somewhere in the north.

A young girl who lost her mother at a young age lived there. She was lonely and weak, but she was brave.

The girl who was ridiculed by kids saying “You don’t have a mom!” would shout back, “Your dad is a cheater!” and overcome her sorrow with her father.

The girl hated the lonely and barren life in the north, but she was happy because she could be with her father.

Ice fishing with him.

Sleeping in his arms.

Gathering around the fire pit together.

The girl was happy and content.

As an adult, the girl had one dream. She wanted to succeed and make her father live comfortably.

She didn’t want to work hard anymore, and she didn’t want her father to work with an aching shoulder.

For the girl, her father was an irreplaceable existence.

No one knows.

How much she loved her father. For the girl, her father was a pillar-like existence.

If her father disappeared, the girl would be extremely sad. She would be angry enough to resent someone.

(!) Rescue Yuria’s father, James.

1. Rescue Yuria’s father, James. (0/1)

2. Survive from the apostle of charity, Olaf. (0/1)

Reward: New territory, Healing Hand Lv. 2

Failure: Yuria’s “Hatred”, Healing Hand “Destruction”, James’ “Death”

───────────

“It’s not surprising anymore.”

I let out a hollow laugh and gazed at the blue window. I was too late, and it was already too late.

I stretched my limbs and heard the heavy, throbbing sound of my heart.

“Can I win?”

– Thump. Thump.

“It’s going to be tough, right?”

But what can I do? They say I can’t fix the lady’s leg, and that a beautiful woman is crying, so what can I do? My heart weakens at the beauty’s tears, and I let out a hollow laugh, grasping Tirbing.

“Let’s go.”

Oloraf’s magic didn’t seem to be in a good state, so it seemed like we had a chance of winning. Whatever the case, I’m a vessel, and there’s no opponent I can’t beat.

I stroked the lady’s hair with a vacant expression, smiling as I drank my milk.

“Ugh… my hair’s a mess.”

“It’s okay. It’s not my hair, anyway.”

“Hehehe!”

I spoke to the lady in a calm tone.

“Lady.”

“Yes.”

“Can you wait here for a bit?”

The lady tilted her head, raising a question mark above her head.

“Why?”

“Um… I need to think of an excuse, so please wait.”

“I need to go to bed soon, or I won’t grow taller.”

“Pfft… that’s true. But it seems like the inn’s cleaning hasn’t been done, so I’ll go help.”

The lady looked at me with an expression that said, “Why are you doing the cleaning when you’re paying to stay?” and I smiled faintly, gently pulling her cheek.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Hehe… it’s cold.”

I placed the lady’s wheelchair far away from the inn and sat down, saying:

“I’ll be right back.”

I headed towards the inn. And I quietly called out someone’s name, imbuing it with magic.

“Hans.”

I needed insurance, after all.

*

The inside of the inn was dark.

It was eerily quiet, and the rough scuffle that had taken place was evident from the state of the table.

The floor, wet with a ‘plat’ sound, was sticky and had a familiar smell, making me smile wryly as I muttered:

“I guess the rumors about adventurers being reckless in their youth were true.”

Under the moonlight streaming through the window, the signs of battle were clearly visible.

There were three corpses that seemed to be of the knight class.

One corpse that seemed to be of the inquisitor class.

And the sword that had been displayed on the first floor of the inn was nowhere to be seen.

James… no, Yuri’s father must have done it.

I smiled bitterly as I followed the trail of blood, and soon I stood before a pool of blood leading to the stairs.

It continued.

The blood flowing out of one person’s body didn’t clot, instead connecting to the second floor.

I, who had been hesitating, lifted my head and stepped onto the staircase leading to the second floor. The eerie sound of creaking wood echoed in my ears.

“This is brutal.”

I slowly pulled out a Tirving, my determination unwavering. And at that moment…

-Puddudduk….

Something enormous outside the window began to cast a shadow. It was too eerie to be human, and too massive to be a beast, its presence revealed as it blocked the moonlight.

I smiled faintly and snapped my fingers.

-Tik.

Things seemed to be unfolding more easily than I had thought.

*

James clutched his abdomen, his fist clenched.

A pain that felt like it was about to burst.

His legs, which had lost all strength.

Even standing was a struggle.

James let out a dry laugh and muttered to himself.

“This isn’t funny at all…”

James gritted his teeth, recalling the events that had just transpired. He thought to himself that it wasn’t just a matter of opening the door to an old man’s kind words.

James asked, his voice trembling.

“Have you come to offer us some good words?”

“Ah, I see you’ve come as a group.”

“…”

“How many rooms do you have…”

“Please, show us mercy and provide us with a place to stay.”

“Yes?”

“A place to stay for the prophets who have nowhere to go, please.”

“So, how many…”

“Show us mercy… Please, show us mercy.”

James spat out the bitter words, his breathing labored.

“Why are you doing this…”

He let out a despairing cry, filled with resentment towards those who had used violence against him.

If they had just asked for money, he would have gladly given it to them. Why were they resorting to violence? James looked at them with trembling eyes, filled with doubt.

The rough breathing of the believers.

And he saw the old man wearing a white semaphore, his anger boiling over.

“Why are you doing this! If you want money, I’ll give it to you!”

The old man wearing the semaphore smiled benevolently and took a step closer to James.

-Tok-tok-tok.

The old man clasped his hands together and opened his mouth with a reverent attitude.

“God doesn’t desire money.”

“…What?”

“God only desires our sincere hearts. It is faith to know God’s mind and act accordingly.”

The old man, who spoke in an incomprehensible language, stroked his short, white beard and looked at James.

“Your Excellency has doubts about God’s will.”

The old man, who had a sturdy body unsuitable for a priest, gazed at James with a pitiful expression.

“Isn’t that so, Your Excellency?”

“…What are you people?”

“We are priests who believe in God, spreading the teachings and leading people to pure faith like a shepherd.”

The old man reached out and stroked James’ chin. His rough, calloused hand touched James’ skin, making it feel chilly, before disappearing.

After withdrawing his hand, the old man smiled satisfactorily and began to preach to James. He explained why they did what they did, and what James’ mistakes were. With a devout tone, he spoke calmly to James.

“Heh heh… we asked Your Excellency to show mercy.”

“So you’re saying you’ll give me money…!”

“God doesn’t ask twice. The sheep just need to listen to the shepherd’s voice and follow… It’s unacceptable for beasts to have self-awareness.”

The believers, who listened to the old man’s words, nodded silently, their mouths shut tight. James, who was alone in the strange atmosphere, didn’t know where to look, his pupils trembling.

“I came here today to pray.”

“To hear God’s voice.”

“I wanted to receive the power to survive the upcoming trials from God, so I borrowed this place. Do you understand?”

Olaf’s voice grew increasingly intense, his expression becoming eerie, like the one Ricardo and Olivia had seen in the snowfield.

“Why are you talking so much when I’m willing to grant your wish?”

Olaf finished his sermon and cut his wrist, letting blood flow onto the floor.

As the blood touched the floor, it created an unusual pattern, making a ‘chiik’ sound.

The black magic circle slowly surrounded James, drawing a perfect circle.

“Gasp…!”

James’ breath was getting tighter.

“Gasp… can’t breathe…!”

The pain, as if his heart was about to burst, overwhelmed James. His vision turned red, and his hands and feet began to tremble.

“Ahh…!”

James gasped for air, grabbing Olaf’s hand. Please, save me. He wanted to see his daughter’s face until the end, and he desperately begged Olaf.

“Save me…”

“…”

“Please, save me… I have a daughter. A family…”

Olaf’s eyes fell on the small frame on the desk.

A beautiful, innocent-looking woman.

Olaf picked up the frame, licking his lips.

“Hmm… if I were to take this woman, I might reconsider.”

“What…?”

“She seems suitable as a toy. Yes, I won’t get bored.”

“This bastard…!”

Olaf’s expression changed, and James’ anger boiled over as he rushed at Olaf.

“This son of a…!”

Suddenly, James saw something enormous in front of him.

Something enormous was gazing at itself outside the window.

It was too enormous to be called a demon, and too bizarre to be called human.

It had a shape similar to a horse.

-Doruluk.

James, overwhelmed by fear, dropped the sword in his hand. He had never seen such a monster before. It was as if all living creatures had been mixed together, creating an eerie sense of dissonance.

Only now did James realize the role of the magic circle surrounding him.

“Food…”

Just as an immense fear was about to grab James’s neck.

-Bang.

A red thunderbolt began to pour down on the enormous demon’s head.

-Kuku-kuku-kuku…

It continued relentlessly.

As James’s pain was about to reach its peak, a familiar young man’s voice echoed.

“Don’t bully someone who’s already down. How dirty.”