144 episodes
Christopher said with a cheerful smile.
“Hahaha, I was just waiting for you to ask that.”
“… … ?”
“Once you see it, you will know.”
It was as if he had prepared a gift package.
But Ethan had already been through a lot of humans.
In his experience, no good thing has ever happened to Ethan for a human like Nyx or Blake to put on such an expression.
‘no way. Isn’t it?’
There was no way to guess.
But somehow, I had a foreboding feeling that it would become infinitely ominous if it actually happened.
It was really strange.
* * *
“under… … .”
Ethan saw reinforcements slowly approaching this way from across the horizon along the boulevard.
A flag flashed in his eyes.
It was none other than the flag of the fledgling Niilum Empire.
‘I guessed that the Imperial Army would come.’
Ethan was confused.
The United Kingdom was chaotic, with all the kingdoms having their own rebels.
They were not in a position to help other countries.
But one country was different.
It was a new empire that Ethan himself had wiped out the Dark Followers at once.
As long as all the knapus of Velium, the center of power, had been blown away, the Dark Followers would not be able to rebel no matter what scheme they devised.
In other words, Ethan had already cleaned it once, so there was no problem.
‘Still, I wish the reinforcements were not the Imperial Army.’
Ethan sighed.
Suddenly, the reinforcements approached right in front of Ethan.
The woman at the forefront of the reinforcements opened her mouth.
“Priest Ethan, long time no see. I hear you’ve been doing very well since you left Velium.”
Cynthia smiled and greeted her.
“It’s all the rumors. I had a good time. How have you been, my Majesty the Princess?”
“I’ve been fine too. I’m too humble anyway. Priest Ethan’s prestige was passed on to Velium, but isn’t his self-evaluation too low?”
It was definitely a compliment.
But strangely, Ethan had a chill in his spine.
It was the first time that a smile had looked so cold.
‘It must be an illusion.’
Christopher and Knicks took turns greeting Cynthia.
Meanwhile, Ethan saw the army that Cynthia had brought.
“Did Your Majesty come by direct command of this army?”
“The military commander is me.”
The answer came from somewhere other than Cynthia.
The arrogant-faced Prince Regent approached Cynthia’s side.
“It’s been a while, Priest Ethan.”
“Long time no see.”
The regent looked up and down Ethan and asked:
“Are you the one in charge sent by Earl Cozy in Central?”
“yes. Yes, but.”
“Hey, Central is not sincere in asking for help.”
The regent sneered at him with a cold face.
‘You’re still an old-fashioned old man.’
Ethan passed, as usual.
I tried to respond to each of these provocations, but there was no response.
Unfortunately, there was one person in Ethan’s party who would not stand still.
“What do you mean?”
Contrary to expectations, Ethan was puzzled by the loud voice.
This time it was Christopher’s outrage.
Nick opened his mouth as if he had missed his turn.
Christopher spoke with enthusiasm, as if he were Ethan’s attorney.
“You are so rude. Since leaving Velium, Priest Ethan has done a lot of work at Central as well. This is the biggest power Central can deliver right now!”
Then the Knicks responded as if they couldn’t lose.
“you’re right. I can assure you that I saw it in person.”
Ethan’s head was pounding.
Then, Cynthia waved her hand.
“Prince regent, be careful with your words and actions.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Cynthia straightened the reins and said.
“The chat ends here. We don’t have time, so why not go straight to Miles?”
“You are wise.”
So, the unexpected meeting came to an end.
Ethan, who was at the forefront of the ranks, suddenly looked back.
Surprisingly, the back of the head was very sore.
‘I think I forgot something… … .’
I felt awkward.
* * *
As night fell, it was time to prepare for the camp.
The soldiers were gathering three or three, making a bonfire, preparing meals, and making beds.
On the other hand, the military tent for the commander was splendid and spacious.
It was the regent’s tent.
The regent sat down and waited for a man.
Soon the tent flapped and someone came in.
“Come. Have a seat.”
The regent greeted Christopher.
Christopher apologized as soon as he entered the barracks.
“I made a big mistake earlier. It wasn’t something the military commander would show. I apologize.”
“It’s okay. From Miles’s point of view, isn’t Priest Ethan his only friend? So it’s understandable to put him down.”
Christopher then nodded without notice.
“I am glad that you are. By the way, what did you call me for?”
“I called because I had a few questions.”
“To the best of my knowledge, I will answer with all my heart. Ask anything.”
The regent frowned for a moment, fiddling with his mustache, then said.
“What kind of priest do you think Priest Ethan is?”
Unlike the daytime, Christopher opened his mouth calmly.
He knew how heavy this seat was now.
“Priest Ethan, haven’t you been very noisy since you first became a priest? From reviving the holy beasts of Nouvelle City, through Pache and Velium to Central. Even if you just follow his steps, there are many things that will come out in the history books. However, despite his young age, he is not conceited and always focuses on self-discipline. He truly deserves the position of a saint candidate.”
“Hmm, you’re talking pretty well at a glance. But I think I value Priest Ethan more highly than you do.”
“yes?”
Christopher was surprised by the regent’s words.
‘weird. Obviously today… … .’
-Ha, Central is not sincere in asking for help.
Didn’t he criticize Central that there were only three people sent by the Count?
‘But now, it’s a bit strange to say that it is highly evaluated.’
Christopher tilted his head.
The regent then coughed in vain.
“Hmmm. Don’t worry about what I did earlier because it was a mix of personal feelings.”
“Personal feelings?”
“Viv, my daughter is well… … ! No. Why would I tell you this? Anyway, I’m just being a little grumpy, so don’t think too much about it.”
“All right.”
When asked not to think deeply, Christopher nodded thoughtlessly.
“Anyway, as I highly value Priest Ethan, I am going to head straight to the source of the Miles Kingdom’s problems.”
“yes? Are you saying that you want to deal with the plague first, rather than subdue the rebels?”
Christopher was very surprised.
At present, Miles’ greatest trouble was the plague, the green death.
However, the treatment of the rebels is well documented for both the cause and the solution, but the plague was far from a cause and solution.
If I had to prioritize, I had to kill the rebels first.
“Regent, please reconsider. The situation of the plague in Miles is worse than you think. It is not something that can be finished in a few days.”
“no. Count Cozy must have felt the same way as me. So, it must have been that Priest Ethan was sent in charge.”
“yes?”
“I think the key to solving this chaos is Priest Ethan.”
The Regent asked, looking directly at Christopher.
“Where is the source of the plague?”
“that… … .”
Christopher was speechless.
* * *
“ha.”
Christopher, coming out of the regent’s tent, sighed.
Another knight waiting outside, Dylan, approached.
“Why did the regent call you?”
Dylan was a knight of the Miles Kingdom, who was Christopher’s subordinate.
When Central sent messengers to the Empire requesting troops, Dylan had been sent to explain the situation within Miles.
After that, the two had not seen each other for a long time.
“Eww.”
Christopher sighed again without answering.
“Why are you sighing ominously? no way… … .”
“okay. The regent said he would deal with the plague before the rebels.”
“yes? What nonsense is that? Why did we come all the way here?”
“I mean that.”
Now, no one knows the cause of the plague.
So if the reinforcements die while dealing with the plague, Miles will not be able to contain the rebels and will be put on the defensive.
It meant that all efforts to solicit reinforcements were in vain.
On the contrary, Dylan ran more wildly.
“You insist on killing the rebels before the plague?”
“Be quite. If you want to swear, you have to go far alone.”
“Ehh. We also want to do what we want to do from the plague. But when the other side, who had never experienced the plague, said such a thing, I was moved to tears. sorry.”
But Christopher didn’t respond to Dylan’s complaint.
He, too, had a complicated mind.
Here, Christopher’s role was the most important.
‘If I make the wrong choice here, I cannot guarantee my life or the future of Miles.’
Then I remembered what I had seen and heard in Central.
‘But if the activities that Priest Ethan performed were real, then if all those miracles were true… … .’
Soon Christopher made a decision.
“For now, I will obey the will of the regent. Heading to Dunsell.”
Dunsell was the city where the plague began, and it has long since been devastated.
Dylan, of course, objected.
“However!”
“The regent said that Count Cozy had the same thoughts as he did and sent Priest Ethan to be in charge. One is the regent who has replaced the Emperor’s vacancy, the other is the venerable magistrate in Central. You must have better judgment than me, who only wielded a sword.”
“… … .”
“And they both witnessed Priest Ethan’s performance. Don’t you know more about Priest Ethan than us who only heard about it?”
“It makes sense, but will that excuse work no matter what happens later?”
“Think about it then. Anyway, let’s start with information about Dunsell’s situation and the plague. I have to deliver it to Priest Ethan.”
“I really don’t know what will happen to me.”
The footsteps of the two towards the tattered tent were heavy.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time.
Ethan was facing Cynthia.
Cynthia’s tent was for nobles only, so it was not suitable for the campsite, and it was old-fashioned.
Moreover, the interior was wider than the regent’s tent.
Cynthia’s laughter filled the tent.
“Fenrir, long time no see!”
bruise!
“I brought a snack that you liked in case I met you. What do you think?”
Then Fenrir pricked up her ears and swung her tail wildly around Cynthia.
“… … .”
Ethan looked at Cynthia and Fenrir strangely.
It was natural.
Fenrir’s body is a giant wolf.
Not long ago, he was carrying twins in a swamp.
But this time, he said it was annoying, so he pulled his head out of Nyx’s bag and hung it up to come here comfortably.
It was truly a detestable divine beast.
Ethan clicked his tongue in disapproval.
‘Animal is a corporation that is trustworthy and loyal is the best thing.’
However, Fenrir often fell for snacks.
He wasn’t even loyal to Ethan.
So Fenrir was nothing more than an abomination to Ethan.
At Ethan’s eyes, Cynthia’s laughter subsided.
“Hmm. Hmmm!”
Cynthia sighed and sat down.
Looking at his cold face, he had never liked Fenrir.
“I called you this way to see Fenrir and say hello to Priest Ethan.”
“Didn’t you say hello during the day?”
with a bang!
Then Cynthia turned her head to look at Ethan.