“Hey, Sariel… don’t you think something’s a little off with Reki and Ursula?”
The day after the Valentine’s Festival had concluded, on the 15th of the Month of Ice Crystals. That night, I broached a concern with Sariel that was somewhat similar to one I’d had before.
“I don’t have confirmation, but it’s likely that your playing with Reki last night during the Valentine’s Festival is the cause.”
“I figured as much.”
I did feel a bit guilty for having played only with Reki while leaving the collapsed Ursula aside, but I never expected it would have such an impact.
“I want to believe it’s just my imagination, but…”
Today, there was something unsettling about the two of them.
First, I woke up in the morning to find that Reki had gotten up before me; I was the only one in the bed. After I completed my usual morning routine and headed to the dining hall, I found Reki and Ursula preparing breakfast as usual, but they were strangely quiet.
Usually, they would be engaged in friendly chatter while cooking, but it seemed they were only exchanging the bare minimum of conversation.
At the time, I thought maybe they were just tired, and didn’t dwell on it too much. Reki had been playing a lot during the festival last night, and Ursula had been down for the count from alcohol.
However, it became clear that Ursula was fine when it came to the training session for primal magic control that was scheduled after the holiday. She wasn’t sluggish at all; in fact, it was as if she had a surplus of energy from having taken a day off, and she was subjected to fierce attacks.
But the next oddity I observed was after returning in the evening. Normally, the two of them would be chattering away during dinner, but today, it was eerily silent.
Thinking back, this was the quietest dinner I’d ever had since living in this church. Sariel would be silent unless spoken to, and I couldn’t keep throwing out cheerful topics indefinitely.
In fact, at tonight’s dinner, I finally told them the date I planned to leave the village. There was no way it could turn into a fun atmosphere.
Both Reki and Ursula knew I would be leaving soon, so it wasn’t that surprising, but they listened with somewhat somber expressions, as if accepting that the time for parting had finally come.
However, it’s clear that the unusual behavior of the two was entirely separate from the topic of our impending farewell.
“I guess I’ll have to brace myself and talk to them tomorrow.”
Although I had no intention of giving a grand lecture, I had no choice but to apologize for treating Reki as special.
After all, I only have five days left to stay. I don’t want to leave when the two are in a strange state of discord.
“Damn it, this isn’t going well at all.”
Yet, time passed idly.
On the 16th of the Month of Ice Crystals, I decided to call Reki and Ursula to talk.
“Ursula, I feel bad for only taking Reki out to play on festival day. If you feel unfair about it, I’ll make it up to you—”
“No, I don’t mind that. I just fell asleep on my own.”
“I-I see…”
“Priest Chloe, you’re worrying too much! Reki and I don’t feel anything about it, okay?”
Once both of them said that with smiles, I was left with no further argument.
I wasn’t convinced. It was a reality right in front of me that Reki and Ursula no longer looked like the close friends they once were. There was a certain distance between them, as if they had just begun room-sharing with perfect strangers. I couldn’t accept that they were okay with this.
“Damn it, what in the world went wrong…”
On the 17th of the Month of Ice Crystals, I had a mock battle with Reki.
When I asked about Ursula,
“Hmm? There’s nothing in particular with her.”
She simply replied with a relaxed face. There was no sign of panic in Reki whatsoever.
Yet, for some reason, she appeared much more grown-up than when she was having fun during the festival.
“Could it be that I’ve made some terrible mistake…?”
On the 18th of the Month of Ice Crystals, I had training with Ursula.
When I brought up Reki,
“There’s nothing. Just the usual.”
With an utterly cool face, she declared that. Even if she were hiding something, I felt a steel will that she wouldn’t give in.
“What am I supposed to do now… am I just going to stay here and do nothing?”
Before I realized it, it was the 19th of the Month of Ice Crystals. My day of departure was already upon me the next day.
“Should we postpone the departure?”
“…No, I can’t do that.”
It was easy to nod at Sariel’s suggestion.
However, if I accepted that, I would never be able to return.
I had made my resolution. Therefore, I wouldn’t get the order of my priorities wrong. I would return to Spada—the most certain and quickest way.
That was the plan: to remain hidden in the 202nd Development Village until the snow melted and thoroughly prepare before crossing the mountains. There would be no changes in plans. It was unthinkable.
Lily, Fiona, they were waiting for my return. My comrades in Spada, whom I could finally protect, were waiting for me. I must return, without fail.
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll leave the village.”
“Understood.”
That night, I couldn’t sleep well at all. I couldn’t bear my own inadequacy in being unable to resolve the quiet conflict between Reki and Ursula.
But no matter how much I worried, the sun would rise again. On the 20th of the Month of Ice Crystals, the morning of departure arrived.
“—Thank you for everything, Village Chief Randolph.”
“No, thank you. In the end, Priest Chloe, you ended up saving the village three times. We should be the ones thanking you.”
The farewell took place in front of the church. Despite the early hour, Village Chief Randolph and many villagers came to see me off. The population density was comparable to that of the Valentine’s Festival.
The weather was perfect for departure. The temperature was beginning to show signs of spring as usual, and on the well-lit street, bits of dirt were becoming visible.
“This is a small token of our appreciation and a reward as per our initial agreement. Please accept it.”
What was offered was a leather pouch that felt surprisingly heavy. Upon opening it, there were quite a few Sinclair silver coins packed inside.
I had already understood the currency system of the Sinclair Republic through my life as a priest. So, just a glance was enough to realize it was a substantial amount.
Additionally, given the silver content, I knew it was currency of sufficient value to be accepted in Spada and Pandora.
“Is this really okay…? So much…”
“In light of your service, it barely scratches the surface.”
Randolph said this with a warm smile. But I was somewhat aware of the village’s financial situation. Given that, this was an exorbitant reward. Although winter was mostly behind us, it wasn’t a sum that could be casually given away.
“I can’t accept such a large sum.”
Though it was a development village made possible by the Crusaders’ conquest, I had developed quite a fondness for it. It was a change I couldn’t have imagined when I first arrived.
“We cannot allow that. This is our sincerity and a mark of closure. Priest Chloe, you have truly earned this reward with your splendid achievements.”
Once he said that, I had no choice but to accept… but I had my pride.
I didn’t necessarily need the money that urgently.
“Then, I’ll purchase ‘Coloring Eyes’ and ‘Rainbow Hairpin’ with this money.”
“No, I intended to give those to you from the start—”
“Both are expensive magical tools. I’m not sure if this amount is enough, but please, let it slide as a gesture for my contributions.”
I firmly returned the pouch of coins to Randolph.
“Heh, if the priestess is going that far, isn’t that okay, right?”
With a grin, Ryan chimed in from the side.
“Ryan, you…”
“Yeah, Ryan’s right. That works just fine.”
After being pressed that much, Randolph finally accepted, or rather, relented, and took the coins.
“Priest Chloe, thank you so much for everything you did for the village until the very end.”
Exchanging a firm handshake with Randolph, I felt a somewhat deep emotion. Our first meeting certainly hadn’t left a good impression, to say the least.
“Well, you’re really leaving now, huh.”
“Yeah, Ryan, you’ve been a help to me too.”
“Don’t sweat it; a man just watches silently as he sees off a friend.”
“I see… you’re right.”
So, I too exchanged a firm handshake with Ryan.
Initially, I thought of him as a rough guy who came at me strong, but to have grown this close and have such a heartfelt farewell… I truly don’t understand how meeting people can turn out this way.
“Everyone, take care.”
After that, I exchanged brief farewells with the village people, centered around the self-defense corps members.
“Priestess, please come back!”
“We’ll become strong enough to take you on next time!”
“One last time, let me hold Yuri!”
For the most part, everyone seemed to be wishing me well as I set off.
Looking back, I realized that I hadn’t had a single confession or life counseling session as a priest, but perhaps because I fulfilled my role as a bodyguard to protect the village, the villagers didn’t seem to have a bad impression of me.
In the end, I did well, considering my standards.
However, that didn’t mean I could leave the village feeling satisfied and carefree.
“Reki, Ursula…”
In the end, I was leaving irresponsibly without resolving the biggest problem: their discord.
“Make sure you both get along.”
Reki and Ursula nodded obediently.
I felt a deep sense of self-loathing for only being able to say something so cliché. Even at this point, I couldn’t grasp the clear cause, let alone a solution.
“Priest Chloe… are you really going?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, Reki.”
With tears welling up in her large red eyes, Reki clung to me without hiding her sorrow. This might be the last time I get to stroke her dog-eared hair like this.
“Hey, Priest Chloe, I want to ask you one last thing.”
Ursula, maintaining her usual expressionlessness, asked out of the blue, looking down slightly as if casting a dark shadow.
“Do you like us?”
“Yeah, I love you both.”
Needless to say, but sometimes, these things need to be said aloud to be understood.
“I’m really glad I met you two. Thank you for everything, Reki, Ursula.”
With that, I pulled Ursula in for a hug too, holding them both close. I felt their small hands wrap around my back, returning the embrace strongly.
“Then, Priest Chloe, just one more thing, please tell us.”
Inside my chest, Ursula spoke.
“Which do you like more, Reki or me?”
As if following up, Reki chimed in.
“Wait…!”
I couldn’t respond immediately to that question.
“What are you talking about? You can’t compare which one of you I like better.”
Which one I like, who my favorite is. Those are considerations for romantic feelings, and in terms of affection, they make no sense.
Which parent do I like more, which sibling, or friend—it’s not about recognizing a clear difference in degree.
To me, Reki and Ursula are like younger sisters. I have no intention of favoring one over the other, and I shouldn’t.
“Ah, I thought Priest Chloe would say that.”
“But that’s not good enough!”
I felt the strength of their embrace tighten unexpectedly. It was as if they were holding on more desperately, more fervently, with a kind of urgency that suggested letting go would mean death.
“Please, Priest Chloe.”
“Even if it’s a lie—”
Tell us which of us you love more.
It was a plea that seemed to convey a burning intensity, yet an icy indifference.
Suddenly, I didn’t understand them at all. Why were they asking such a question? Why cling to such a meaningless answer?
It felt just like two girls who couldn’t help but fall for the same man—
“Reki, Ursula… no way…”
At that moment, I finally realized. Or rather, I was made to realize.
Under normal circumstances, I would have simply scoffed, “Don’t get cocky.” Yet, seeing how intensely serious and desperate they were, I couldn’t think otherwise.
The intention behind their question about who I liked.
The sudden distance in their relationship.
The answer was disturbingly simple.
“You both… love me—”
My question, aimed directly at the heart of the matter, was abruptly interrupted.
“Whoa! What’s that?!”
“Hey, hey, are you okay? You look terrible!”
The gathered villagers began to stir in panic.
Though I felt it wasn’t the time to worry about such things, I found my gaze drawn toward what seemed to be the cause of the commotion.
“What? Crusader cavalry…?”
Riding down the main street of the village was a single cavalry soldier. It was likely the messenger I had seen passing through a few times a month.
However, something was clearly off.
The horse was trudging along as if it were exhausted, and more than anything, the soldier riding it was battered and bruised. He was missing his helmet, and his shiny silver armor was muddied and filthy.
To put it bluntly, it looked as if someone had attacked him and he barely escaped with his life.
This was foreshadowing a crisis. I moved away from Reki and Ursula to follow Randolph and Ryan, who were quickly responding, heading toward the cavalry soldier.
“Sir Knight, what happened?!”
The first to speak was, of course, Randolph, the village chief.
The cavalryman had a familiar face. The middle-aged man with a thin build and a beard was indeed one I had seen when they first came searching for Mashuram. I had also seen him pass through the village several times as a messenger, and I knew he had informal conversations with Randolph.
“Ha… ha… I-I’m sorry, but… water… could you get me some water…?”
The cavalryman suddenly collapsed from his horse, helplessly gasping for breath as if he were about to perish in the desert.
While waiting for one of the villagers to fetch a bucket of cold water per Randolph’s orders, the cavalryman could do nothing more than calm his breath, his condition not permitting him to explain what was happening.
“Please, take your time and drink slowly.”
“Th-Thanks…”
As the villagers held their breaths in anticipation, the cavalryman, even without a cup, drank from the bucket without complaint. His voracious thirst clearly illustrated just how parched he had been suffering.
“Ha… ha… Village Chief Randolph, please, listen closely…”
After drinking nearly two liters from the bucket in a flash, the cavalryman finally managed to compose himself enough to begin explaining.
“You must leave this village immediately… before the fog… quickly.”
“Fog? What do you mean, what happened?!”
“The 201st Development Village… has vanished… truly, it has disappeared without a trace.”
“W-What nonsense?!”
That shout echoed the disbelief of the villagers, as well as my own hidden feelings.
If it were a monster or a thief doing the attacking, it would be understandable. But according to this man, an entire village had completely disappeared. It was hard to believe such a situation.
However, it was certainly true that this cavalryman had come from the eastern direction, opposite Spada. There was no doubt he had set out from the neighboring 201st Development Village. And it was also apparent that he had been attacked by something.
Thus, as he had fled to this point, he had witnessed the horrifying scene of a “village disappearing.”
“Whatever the case, you must run… it’ll be too late once the fog arrives… they’ll come while hidden in the fog… cough! Cough!!”
“Sir Knight! Are you alright?!”
“Water… more water… my throat feels like it’s burning…”
As he squeezed out those words, the cavalryman clutched his throat, beginning to writhe in agony.
“Sir Knight! Stay strong!”
As if he didn’t even hear Randolph’s voice, the man threw himself onto the road, unable to endure the excruciating pain. His suffering seemed so abnormal that no one could intervene.
“Ah… ugh…”
As he gasped for breath, seconds later, he looked as if he were about to violently vomit when suddenly—
“Uwaaaaaahhhh!”
A tentacle burst forth from the man’s mouth.
No, that’s not right. Though its long, wriggling motion resembled a snake, it was something entirely different.
That was what is typically referred to as a tentacle. More accurately described—
“An octopus!?”
A writhing tentacle, covered in what looked like suction cups lined up tightly. It could only be called an octopus.
However, this tentacle was not the usual red or white I was accustomed to seeing as a Japanese person, but instead a disturbingly vivid emerald green. Its pale green body was slick with slime, sending droplets flying with every swing.
“Ugh, a—”
The man, sprouting an octopus tentacle from his mouth, suddenly went into a strong convulsion. Simultaneously, the tentacle began flailing more violently as it emerged from the man’s mouth as if escaping from its dwelling.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!”
“Wha—?! What is this monster?!”
“Hiiiii! It’s a devilfish!”
The screams from the villagers were quite appropriately described as utter chaos.
The green octopus that had appeared was roughly fifty centimeters long, which wasn’t particularly large, considering it had been hiding inside a person.
Looking at it, it didn’t resemble an octopus enough. The definitive difference was that it had only four tentacles. Octopuses always have eight tentacles, something even elementary school students in Japan know. So it was likely that this creature belonged to a completely different species.
With snake-like eyes glinting, it bore a revoltingly shaped mouth lined with rounded fangs. Although the details differed, its overall silhouette was indeed reminiscent of an octopus.
“Magic bullets.”
I was concerned, but there wasn’t time to observe slowly.
Towards the green octopus that seemed ready to spring at a nearby villager, I immediately unleashed an attack.
Letting out a high-pitched insect-like cry, the pseudo-fully steel-coated bullet slammed into its body, knocking it away like it had been hit hard.
“…It’s still alive. Is it resistant to impact?”
I was certain I had blown its head off, but even two meters away from where it landed, I could see its tentacles still writhing energetically.
If that’s the case, let’s try this.
“Fire Bullet.”
I simplified the shelling technique to merely generate fire. I tossed it lightly, and upon impact, black flames erupted.
Even though it shouldn’t have had a head anymore, the creature writhed around for a while in the flames, letting out a distressed sound before finally stopping all movement.
“…Did I get it?”
“Yeah. Fire seems effective.”
Ryan, usually tough, was sweating nervously as he asked.
“Hey, what the hell was that…?”
“At the very least, it’s obvious that the neighboring 201st Development Village was attacked by this octopus monster. Just as the knight said, we should prepare to escape quickly—”
Just as I was saying that, I suddenly felt something strange in my left eye.
No, I should say it reacted.
A red light suddenly appeared, seemingly shining from far away in the east.
“I see now, that’s what it is…”
It felt quite nostalgic, but I would never forget the meaning of this red shine in the eye of God.
“The Gluttony Octopus.”
The fifth trial bestowed by the Demon King was now about to begin.
Chapter 25 concludes here.
Some of you may have hinted at it in the comments, but the fifth trial has arrived.
Please look forward to the next chapter.