🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 23
“-What should we do after confirming it?”
At the Shadow’s question, the Duke fell into thought for a moment. If it truly was Yulian there, he needed to consider where she would stay, how to hand over the money without leaving a record, and so on. But the Shadow misinterpreted his serious expression and boldly spoke out of turn.
“Shall we take care of it?”
At that moment, the Shadow’s face turned to the left. The Duke struck with such force that the sturdy man staggered—there was no mercy in the blow. When the Duke’s anger flared, the Shadow immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head. The Duke’s boot crushed the top of his head.
“She has already been punished enough. How dare you speak of taking matters into your own hands?”
“I misspoke.”
“If you are a servant, just do what servants do. Do not overstep your bounds.”
The Shadow’s ear was torn under the hard boot, and a drop of blood ran down his jaw. Yet he did not resist. The Shadow was not a knight. He had no name, no honor. They existed but did not exist; in the end, they were nothing.
“Yulian—”
Of course, even if he were to die right now, there would be no father mourning him. The Duke brushed off his coat as if nothing had happened and turned away. The Shadow rose from the ground, dusted himself off, and then disappeared into the darkness. Soon, the place returned to its peaceful state as if nothing had occurred.
Yulian tossed the mage lord’s wallet into the air and caught it repeatedly, lost in thought. She recalled returning the wallet to Lucas in the carriage; his forehead had seemed to glow then as well. At the time, she had dismissed it, thinking it odd that a person’s forehead could shine, and she had just wanted to get away quickly. Now, looking back, it likely wasn’t any different from the cases of Bilrod or Sol.
The mage lord’s wallet, Bilrod’s nonsense, and Sol—
‘Did it glow because I touched it?’
No, was it really because she touched it? Would it glow if someone else touched it? Or maybe it only glows when touched by a woman. Sol was too quick to evade others approaching, so it was impossible to be certain. Why does the mark glow in the first place?
‘Could it be related to the sins we committed?’
As with any religion, the doctrines here stated that the sinful would inevitably face punishment. Whether directly or indirectly, divine retribution was the law ordained by God. By that doctrine, it was no surprise that those marked as sinners would face heavenly punishment.
Of course, Yulian had no intention of admitting she was a sinner, nor any desire to repent. She considered all of this merely as clues to unravel the situation.
“You’re up early.”
Ultimately, having not slept a wink again, Yulian went for a walk in the dawn dew around the main hall to clear her thoughts. She suddenly lifted her head—far more than usual—because the man before her was enormous in stature. As her neck cracked with a subtle pop, she recognized him even before seeing his face.
“I didn’t wake up early. I couldn’t sleep, Vicar.”
“Oh? Was your sleeping arrangement uncomfortable?”
“The bed was a little hard, yes.”
“Apologies. The budget isn’t sufficient to provide luxurious beds in the guest rooms.”
The Vicar chuckled warmly at her complaint. Even during confession, she had felt that beneath this bear-like appearance lay a cunning mind. Since her insomnia wasn’t really due to the bed and she wasn’t seeking any particular solution—merely venting—she didn’t press further.
“In truth, I’ve been unable to sleep since the prophecy was announced.”
She wanted to gain information. He claimed to know nothing beyond the prophecy, but Yulian didn’t believe that. Even if he truly knew nothing beyond the prophecy, as a Vicar blessed by God, he would view this matter differently than ordinary people.
“There are others who have experienced strange phenomena since receiving the mark. Could it be related to the prophecy?”
“Perhaps, or perhaps not.”
There it was—the typical ambiguity of clerics! Yulian expressed her disappointment plainly, and the Vicar, with his kind face, added a brief explanation.
“Our God may be gentle yet not lenient, harsh yet not cruel. What seems clear from one perspective may look different from another. Keep that in mind.”
“I understand less and less what you mean.”
“The one thing certain is that God would never present a problem beyond our capacity to solve.”
There was a strong sense of trust in the Vicar’s words. He didn’t seem overly familiar with the temple’s regulations, yet his faith appeared genuine. If his words were true, the conclusion was simple:
‘These phenomena are a punishment for sin, and also a clue.’
Yulian paused in thought. She furrowed her brows, muttering to herself incessantly, while the Vicar watched quietly from a step behind, a faint smile on his lips.
Unlike other clerics or holy knights, the Vicar wasn’t bothered by those marked as “sinners.” He believed that no one lives a life without sin, and the temple’s purpose was to help them face their mistakes and correct them.
From this perspective, Yulian’s approach—thinking carefully and seeking answers rather than despairing—was commendable. True repentance begins with confronting one’s faults directly.
“Vicar, you’re up early.”
The Vicar, who had been smiling down at Yulian with pride, froze instantly at a voice nearby. She turned to see who it was.
An austere old man, wearing his clerical robes sharply, stood there—not alone. Following behind was Paladin Grey Carbon, the one who had brought her to the hall yesterday.
“Chief Cleric Carbon, and Sir Grey. You’re up early as well. Where are you headed so early in the morning?”
“We had matters to discuss in depth as father and son.”
Father and son? Yulian was puzzled, looking at the two men who seemed to have at least a fifty-year age gap and no resemblance whatsoever, but she kept silent. It wasn’t her place to interfere. Even the Vicar looked a little uneasy observing them.
“And who is this person? It’s too early for a worshipper to be here.”
“A guest of the prophecy. Sir Grey guided them to the hall.”
“Ah, I heard your son caused some trouble.”
“Yes, well.”
Yulian didn’t bother denying it—it wasn’t exactly false. Despite Grey’s conviction to do the right thing and his utmost courtesy, the fact remained.
Moreover, the Chief Cleric, Grey’s father, did not look apologetic at all. On the contrary, his expression showed clear blame toward her. His gaze revealed the same contempt and disdain that other holy knights had shown her.
“Sir Grey has been disciplined, so there is no need to worry further. As his father, I will ensure that from now on, he presents himself as a worthy servant of God. Now, Grey.”
“I apologize for the trouble caused.”
Sir Grey lowered his head, avoiding Yulian’s gaze. Whether humbled by the punishment or angry, his kind smile and relaxed demeanor from when they first met were entirely gone.
