25 – Pilgrimage Road (3)
Impeccable posture. Neat attire to match. Lian instantly understood why they were called knights.
Of course, that didn’t mean they looked like ordinary people.
Despite her delicate appearance, the woman in front of him was the monster that had nearly killed Lian with a giant bellows.
“It seems that there are many brothers and sisters today who are hoping for salvation.”
Aliana smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry. Those who were hoping for your brother’s rescue are alive and well over there.”
“……”
“My arm is gradually hurting. Would you mind helping me up?”
Lian chuckled dryly as he grabbed Aliana’s hand. Pain surged through his entire body, from bones to organs. Lian twisted his brow and managed to rise, barely.
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“…Damn, Muller.”
Lian spat out a curse, looking at Muller approaching. If he had been a bit slower, it would have been Lian facing death.
Not that he blamed Muller. He knew there were countless mercenaries on the pilgrimage route, and Muller had done his best.
He just needed someone to vent his frustration on.
Muller, aware of this, grinned and supported Lian.
“You seem more intact than expected.”
“I’ve always been tough.”
“Not just me, but Chen and Miller will take care of you generously. It seems our lives are worth more than a mere ten million cel.”
If you’re going to take care of it yourself. Lian nodded slowly.
Aliana, quietly observing, spoke up.
“It’s heartwarming to see brothers strengthening their bonds…but aren’t you settling the score?”
“…Settling the score?”
Clang!
Aliana laughed brightly as she thrust the greatsword into the ground. Despite not seeming to exert much force, the ground split like tofu.
“Since you’ve received the grace of salvation, naturally, you must pay the price.”
Only now did Muller realize that things were taking an unexpected turn.
“…How much do I have to pay?”
Instead of an immediate answer, Aliana slowly looked around. Lian’s gaze followed hers.
Not far from the sanctuary lay the scattered remains of the people. Their faces were filled with terror, as if reflecting the urgency of the situation.
“Normally, 100 million cells would be enough… But since we couldn’t save others while rescuing our brothers, shouldn’t you pay more as a result?”
Aliana said this, clasping her hands together in prayer.
“At this very moment, countless brothers are writhing in agony. The longer the decision is delayed, the greater the price you will have to pay.”
“… What if we don’t have that kind of money?”
“Then somehow, you must find a way to make it, don’t you think?”
Aliana said with a wide smile.
“If you’re having a hard time, I can help. Among the followers of Ahtax, there are those who can convert the bodies of our brothers into money.”
In short, it meant sacrificing organs.
“….”
The statement that she wasn’t normal was cancelled.
This woman was simply insane.
Lian understood in an instant why Miller had insulted them as religious fanatics. And why they had hesitated until the very end to flee towards the pilgrimage route.
Lian sighed and removed Miller’s arm that was supporting her.
Then, she took a step forward towards Aliana and raised her head.
“I heard that you can pay with your abilities instead of money.”
“That’s correct, brother. But-“
“I believe you won’t say you didn’t see it.”
Lian firmly cut off Aliana’s words.
“If you didn’t see it, then you would have used this time to create another source of funding.”
“…….”
Lian gestured with his eyes towards somewhere on the horizon. Riding the hot wind, someone’s scream echoed.
Originally, there was no need to go far beyond the horizon.
No one lived nearby, except for Lian and his companions.
The implication was clear.
Aliana was directing her gaze only at Lian from the beginning.
Lian’s talent was outstanding to the extent that Aliana couldn’t muster strength in the face of danger.
“Ahahahaha.”
Aliana bent at the waist and locked eyes with Lian. Clear curves were drawn in her blue pupils. Rich blonde hair brushed Lian’s cheek in the wind.
“The more I see, the more I like it. Brother.”
“…It’s uncomfortable, could you clear your face a bit?”
“Even in the face of death, you weren’t afraid. Where did you learn such courage?”
Completely out of line. Lian frowned and took a step back. Aliana, in turn, took a step forward.
“Brother’s attack was impressive. There was no hesitation in your movements, and your endurance in enduring pain was excellent.”
“I don’t have the ability to cut a large beast into dozens of pieces.”
“Even humble!”
Words were not getting through. Lian sighed, tilting his head. His mind was filled with the thought of wanting to rest.
His left arm was broken, and his insides were a mess. It was only because he was Lian that he was enduring this; if it were an average person, they would have fainted long ago from the remaining wounds.
“Excuse me, but can we reach a conclusion quickly?”
Pointing to his left arm, which was now akin to a mop, Lian spoke.
“As you can see, my body is like this.”
“Hmm.”
Allyana approached slowly and grabbed Lian’s chin. A touch so gentle it was hard to believe it came from an investigator using a greatsword.
With her lips still slightly parted, Allyana whispered into his ear.
‘Today, you owe me.’
And then she stepped back.
“Now that you’ve paid the price, you may leave. The brothers of La Place.”
In the next moment, Allyana’s figure disappeared. As if it had never existed in that spot from the beginning.
A brief silence.
Chen, who had been watching the direction of the sanctuary, spoke up.
“…Are you scared?”
“Perhaps.”
Muller exhaled a shallow breath and lit his cigarette. It felt like the stiffness in his body was finally loosening.
‘…I almost blew it.’
He was well aware that in this profession, a momentary mistake could lead to irreparable loss. However, today’s events were unprecedented.
‘Surely, being a disciple of Harang is not something anyone can do.’
He knew she was talented, but he didn’t expect her to smoothly send back Atrax’s Holy Knight.
‘I thought she would at least give a fifty-percent discount.’
Muller lowered his gaze, concealing his surprised feelings. Lian raised his head, staring directly at him.
“Is there a problem?”
“…… No.”
Rian tasted the tobacco Mueller was lighting up, curious about the taste of the world’s cigarettes.
“…… I should quit this time.”
Even so, smoking at this age seemed a bit inappropriate.
Mueller, who had crushed the cigarette underfoot, spoke.
“Let’s get going.”
“Damn. It’s finally over. Can we just go and settle the accounts?”
Mueller, who was scanning Rian with a quick glance, tilted his head.
“First, the hospital.”
“It’s okay.”
It wasn’t an empty assurance. Rian slowly looked down at his left arm. The swelling was rapidly subsiding enough to be noticeable.
‘Is he using magic for healing?’
Even if that was the case, it was a healing ability that couldn’t be believed for an ordinary human.
If he went to the hospital in this state, they might not only strip him of personal information but also sell him off to the lab for experiments.
“Is it because of your constitution?”
“…… Yes?”
“Knights are said to have a different magical circuit from ordinary people since birth. That’s why they endure pain, and their physical regenerative abilities are superior to others in a different league.”
Mueller said with a reassuring face.
“It’s a hospital favored by our mercenary group. Security for guests is certain, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”
“…… Thank you.”
“Jara. When you arrive, don’t wake me.”
Upon Muller’s words, Lian smirked. That must be Muller’s unique way of expressing gratitude.
Lian closed his eyes while leaning against the backrest.
Simultaneously, a sentence flashed through his mind.
[Today, you’ve incurred a debt to me.]
Regardless of the outcome, the fact remains that he owes something to Aliana. Someday, the moment will come when he has to fulfill Aliana’s demands using this debt as leverage.
A religious group obsessively attached to talents…
“I’ll have to look into it later.”
What is Axtus doing exactly, and what kind of group are the paladins?
It’s been almost two weeks since he arrived in this world, and he should know such basic knowledge.
And…
“What is the Laplace Mercenary Corps planning exactly?”
Now that he’s officially a member, he will soon hear the whole story from them.
The reason why a powerful mercenary group, strong enough to make a name for itself inside and outside the city, is situated in such a remote place.
“…I hope it’s nothing too dangerous.”
Lian closed his eyes while having such thoughts.
*****