Episode 240 Even in a life like this (3)
The Archmage saw the Inquisitor emitting only enormous divine power and his mouth closed like a clam. The young man’s green-blue and vibrant eyes no longer have any vitality or light.
The same goes for the mouth that smiles so brightly that it sparkles. As the days passed, the person who used to have a bright smile became as stiff as if he had just left the temple.
These were all changes brought about by the absence of one person.
“Master Nari.”
However, that change did not come to just one person. There was one more person here who was greatly shaken by someone’s empty seat.
“The lord of the castle sent someone.”
The Archmage paused for a moment, looking at the Deathbringer, whose face was as thin and cold as a cold wind. Even if you take out the shadows, the eyes of the person who glanced at you for that brief moment are extremely dark. It’s probably because I have trouble sleeping every night.
His face, which was starting to lose weight and his cheeks turning gray, hid in the shadow of the hood and pretended to be fine.
“…Right. “Did you hear about the business?”
But pointing that out would only ruin the atmosphere. Just like it did several times before.
So the Archmage spoke without mentioning it. Deathbringer shook his head in denial.
“I understand. I guess I can just listen to it myself. “Is that the location?”
“yes.”
My goal was to check the safety of the Inquisitor. If there were guests, there was no reason not to go back. It’s also where she works in the first place.
Therefore, the Archmage obediently bowed his head and then turned away. Deathbringer also followed her, as if he had come here only with the intention of delivering this news. The direction was different.
“…Is Berserk there too?”
If they go that direction, they’re probably going to help reinforce the house. Although the Inquisitor is working hard, no one knows how long this wind will last.
“I don’t know.”
“…I understand. “Don’t push yourself too hard.”
However, if you ask whether their actions are correct, it is difficult to say yes at all. It is true that everyone is having a hard time and not everyone can afford it, but it is right that there is something twisted in working while denying even the minimum things that can be eaten and enjoyed.
To be honest, I would like to say that their actions are self-abuse rather than dedication, and abuse rather than service. If I don’t do that, I just won’t be able to let go of my heart.
“It seems like your influence was greater than I thought…”
Or, even if I did it in the first place, would they listen?
The Archmage thought of people who showed a stubborn reaction – such as walking away or showing intense self-reproach – when they tried to say something about this.
They will never be stopped.
Until they are able to forgive themselves.
“Arch Mage.”
“Oh, I heard you found me. “Did something happen?”
The good news is that, unlike those two, Berserk did not go to the level of self-abuse. Well, if you look at it these days, they’re in pretty bad shape.
Even in the case of Berserk, rather than being shocked by the departure of the Demon Knight itself, it seemed like there was something else at stake.
In other words, it is impossible to even guess the reason for the silence. Without knowing the cause, it was natural to not be able to find a solution.
“That’s…”
How can everyone suffer from a problem without an answer?
The Archmage recalled the situation of his companions on one side of his mind and listened to the messenger’s words on the other side.
It wasn’t a very difficult task. Probably, except that the party’s situation itself is a difficult problem.
“Is this the role of an envoy?…”
Meanwhile, the request of the castle lord delivered by the messenger was truly arduous. Let’s put aside for now the fact that Sangun has to barely communicate with Daesalrim’s few characters that he wrote down with difficulty. Because that won’t be the thing that will bother her the most.
Instead, the Archmage looked at the place where the Sangun was. The wind and rain, which could not be felt thanks to the golden curtain, would reveal the greatness of nature the moment it escaped this curtain.
“I understand. “Tell them that you will do so.”
It’s a bit daunting to think about going through that kind of weather to get to the castle where the mountains are, but considering the number of lives at stake, I can’t help but go.
She accepted Seongju’s request.
“Would it be better to go right away?”
“You didn’t say anything else, but I would appreciate it if you did.”
“I understand. Then go right away.”
“I’ll bring the escort here.”
“Thank you.”
There is a high possibility that there will be about ten minutes left to bring the escort here. So the Archmage estimated the time to prepare and opened the entrance to a nearby tent.
The person who had been working with his hands with shackles on his feet slightly raised his head.
Even though he is suspected of heresy, it is impossible to make fun of a man called the Great Sage in this awkward situation. This is Cheongsanho, who lent his strength while being detained.
For reference, this was also where the Archmage worked. Watcher… It was a bit grandiose, and having two Great Sages attached would increase efficiency, so it was an inevitable decision.
Risk of internal pain? Unfortunately, the current situation is not at a level where that can be considered.
“They say that if a favor continues, it becomes a right. That’s exactly the case.”
“Were you all listening?”
“I think this was the fault of the person who made a fuss right in front of the tent.”
That’s also true. The Archmage shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s true that it’s shameless, but it can’t be helped.”
When the topic returned, Cheongsanho stopped pointing.
“okay. It’s true that it can’t be helped. I couldn’t help it. “There was nothing he could do about this world.”
His eyes are filled with regret for something.
“Right. Enough of this story. “It will only leave a bitter taste in your mouth.”
The Archmage narrowed his brows somewhat at the look in his eyes and the somewhat subtle choice of words. Her hand takes out the tool that Cheongsanho handed over before he was arrested.
Sweet. A tool that absorbs sound within the range swallowed up the voices inside the tent. Now the temple guard standing right in front of the tent will not be able to hear their conversation.
It was a possible trick because no wizard had reported the existence of this tool to the temple.
“Better than that. “Are you talking about a demon knight?”
The Archmage was also keeping quiet about this. Here, the only one who could talk about the devil knight’s choice was Cheongsanho.
Well, it was Cheongsanho who remained silent about the demon knight after he left.
“well.”
“Can’t you even say something to your friend?”
Rather, is it ‘he couldn’t help it’?
The Archmage thought twice about the clues Cheongsanho gave after a long time. It didn’t feel that shocking.
Cancer She was the one who thought that the demon knight did not leave this place for no reason. It was all the more so because Cheongsanho, not anyone else, cooperated with his escape—even though he denied it, honestly, it couldn’t be true that it was a mistake, right?
“I believe in demon knights. “I also trust your choice.”
That’s because, as the temple says, if the devil was truly involved in the devil knight’s escape – such as the devil knight being eaten by the devil or being tricked by the devil – then surely Cheongsanho wouldn’t have noticed? Is there any way that you could just let go of something you noticed like this time?
I believe that the Devil Knight’s escape was achieved solely through his will. Therefore, I am willing to respect that choice. Because he is a person you can trust.
“But apart from trust, I just want to know. “Why he had to do that.”
However, the desire to trust the other person and the desire to know the other person can coexist. You can believe without knowing, but understanding the other person is only possible if you know the other person.
Also, the Archmage is a person who wants to understand the Demon Knight. I was a person who wanted to grab at least the last piece of this because I had missed so many opportunities to do so. It was just that kind of feeling.
“Are you still going to remain silent like this?”
“….”
But if even that is not allowed.
“…I understand.”
We will have no choice but to humbly accept it.
Because it was ultimately her fault that she missed it.
“…If the sacrifice of one innocent person can make everyone comfortable, is that sacrifice right?”
“…?”
“Is it really wise to preserve only the foolish and foolish things by sacrificing the most common but most precious things?”
However, the person who had been silent for a long time gave a long hint for the first time and told the reason why he had no choice but to cooperate with the demon knight. At least that’s how the Archmage saw it.
“…is it a moral issue?”
I knew that Cheongsanho was a person with a lot of lingering emotions who pretended not to be. However, I didn’t think I was the type of person to throw away a gamble just because I felt sorry for one person…
“This is not a moral issue. “It’s about qualifications.”
“…?”
However, before the Archmage could stop thinking, Cheongsanho shook his head.
“He decided not to put up with it and I decided to respect his choice. Because I had no right to stop him. “That is all.”
It was a word with an ambiguous edge. He decided not to put up with it? Demon knight?
…He who treated himself like a demon and secretly wished for nothing but death?
“Tell me a little more. What has he decided not to tolerate? What did you know that made you decide to use means you would never choose? “What is he…”
Shaggy’s ears heard the sound of iron-clad footsteps. It’s probably a soldier coming to escort her. There is no more time.
“I can’t speak.”
“Ceral coral.”
“He didn’t allow it.”
There was no more time.
“We’ll talk again later.”
The Archmage turned off the sound-deleting tool and promised the following. Of course, both she and Cheongsanho knew that this was just luck and there would be no next time.
She quickly packed her clothes.
“When you have time, go see my grandson. “I need to know how you are doing.”
As he put on his gown and was about to open the tent, Cheongsanho blurted out. The Archmage’s eyes narrowed.
“…haven’t you heard the news?”
“Because I can’t get out of here. “He doesn’t have the right to come in here either.”
Could this be a hint?
The Archmage worked hard in his head, but spoke positively out of his mouth.
“I understand. “I’ll look for it on my way back.”
Through the opened tent, the soldiers who would protect her could be seen.
* * *
Even if you want to help people with inventions, technology is half meaningless without materials and tools.
Therefore, Meister, an inventor, scientist, engineer, and architect, did the only thing he could do now.
“What are you doing?”
“Find people.”
It was something else.
“Still looking?”
“yes.”
Surprisingly, it wasn’t a special waste of talent. After all, once you designate a refugee camp zone or drain route, it’s not something you’ll have to wait a long time for, right? He is not the only talented person who can plan it.
The same goes for a wizard and inventor. As mentioned before, he had no materials, tools, or time, so there was nothing he could do in particular. At best, all they could do was make water purifiers using pumps stolen from the city and install stoves here and there to reduce the risk of fire.
Even the battery cannot be used due to the ambiguity of having to drop it to charge it and the fact that there is no magic item that connects the battery to operate it. There’s no time to improve it.
At this point, is there anything else to do besides regular labor?
So Meister rolled his eyes over his mouth and fingers itching to smoke. As additional reinforcements arrived and some of the tents were relocated to prepare for flooding in the low-lying areas, the tent village became chaotic and came into view. Unfortunately, the person I wanted was nowhere to be seen. Even though I had been looking for it every day since the demon knight escaped.
Is it accidental or intentional? It’s really hard to find.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m an adventurer who volunteered a few days ago.”
But you can’t give up. A meister was a person who, when he wanted to know something, he had to research it until he was convinced.
“adventurer? why?”
“I have something to say to that person.”
In addition, although others may not know, the Meister himself knows that he received something from the Demon Knight before he disappeared.
Also, the fact that the devil knight, who seemed to have no intention of protesting despite his persuasion, and the man who seemed ready to accept execution, ran away on the day he received it.
Isn’t it too plausible to be a coincidence?
“Isn’t that the problem with the charges against you?”
“It’s not speculation, but it’s unpleasant. If that were the reason, would I be looking for you out loud? “I’m looking for you because I asked for a shitty amount of requests.”
“Ah…”
But if that was really the cause of the demon knight’s change of heart, what was written that could have led to this result?
In the Meister’s opinion, the Demon Knight did not have the temperament to change his mind easily.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to go through the guild?”
“Look at how the guild works. “It would be faster if I just found it myself and questioned it rather than having them do the work.”
“That’s true too.”
That’s exactly what I’m looking for now. I feel relieved only when I know what caused that strong man to escape.
There is no law that requires an adventurer to reveal the delivered item, but even if he did know, he might not tell him by citing a confidentiality clause. Still, if you try, you won’t have any regrets.
“If that’s the case, I’m glad… but be careful. If the temple finds out, it may be misunderstood again. “You haven’t even been cleared of all charges yet.”
However, the other person discouraged such action. It was because I knew that Meister was suspected of heresy – to the point where I wasn’t even allowed to visit my grandfather.
Of course, Meister just snorted at that advice.
“What’s the big deal? Do you think I will be the victim of a far-fetched development full of claims and opinions without evidence or verification?”
It is true that I met him the night the demon knight escaped. I don’t know about the temple, but there have been times when I encouraged people to protest against the demon knight or secretly delivered items to him.
But isn’t it excessively foolish to accuse him of heresy just for that reason? If he was truly a heretic—he would never be a heretic—he would not have committed such a suspicious act.
“Um ah. Now that I think about it, it might be better to be careful. “It would be troublesome to argue with the hairdressers.”
“No, that’s what I meant…”
There are items borrowed just in case, but they are not perfect. After thinking about it some more, I realized that it doesn’t seem like the opponents would accept my point-by-point rebuttal. Because those temple bastards are idiots who think that faith is the reason for everything.
So if he talks to those things, his time will be wasted and he will feel like his brain is polluted by talking to idiots.
“I’ll be careful.”
“Okay…”
Meister decided to accept the other person’s advice for his own reasons. The other person looked a little tired, but didn’t say anything more. I feel like good things are good things.
“…! found!”
“oh.”
Then, for a moment, the meister finally discovered the adventurer from back then. Gray ponytails and an ordinary face. It was certain.
“Hey adventure—!”
However, before the meister could call the adventurer, someone caught him first. A hood with a pressed hood and green ears sticking out between it. I didn’t know his name, but he was the guy I almost ended up with.
“Why is that guy…”
Why is the green ear looking for that adventurer? Why are we holding each other’s arms?
Meister searched his mind for a moment to see if there were any clues. Meanwhile, his legs steadily headed in that direction. I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t want to lose the person I found.
“You were here.”
“…What is it, a temple? Why again?”
However, it seemed like there were quite a few people who had business with that adventurer—and judging by what they talked to the green ears, that might be their purpose.
Before the Meister could properly tell the adventurer that he had some business to attend to, a heretic inquisitor with gray hair whom he had never seen before joined in.
Suddenly, four people who only knew each other’s faces collectively stood in one place.