Chapter 929. Gen (8)
'Adventure, my ass.'
“Is it... really okay to do this?” I asked.
“Yes...” Gen answered.
“Is it really... okay to live this way?” I questioned.
“Yes, it’ll be fine,” Gen replied.
“I’m scared, Mr. Gen. I don’t know if this is even forgivable and if Goddess Benigoa will really allow this... More importantly, is it really okay to abandon the continent... at a time like this?” I asked, sounding hesitant.
"You've sacrificed too many things, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. Your existence is the reason the current continent still exists, and it’s because of you that the Sacred Democratic Country managed to take that one step forward.
"You don’t need to think about other people all the time. I want you to enjoy the things that will help you find your true self,” Gen explained.
'He’s talking so smoothly. You unprepared fool... It would have been great if you had made your plan just as smooth as your talking...'
“But...”
“Would you like some more?” Gen asked.
“I-I’m okay,” I declined.
'Go ahead and stuff your face in that pig porridge.'
It had been exactly six hours since I was kidnapped by this criminal.
“Where exactly are we?” I asked.
“We’re in the Demonic Forest of Laios,” Gen answered.
“Ah! So we’re in Laios?” I replied.
“That’s right.”
“I've visited Laios a few times before... but it’s my first time here,” I told him.
We slept outdoors inside the Demonic Forest of Laios, and this was our first morning together. Gen served me porridge that I would never eat if I had the chance.
Perhaps it was because of the crude bed last night, but my back was hurting. I knew I'd experience some hardships, but the treatment I was receiving was worse than I expected.
Obviously, there was no way this dumb fool had planned things out properly. I understood that he didn’t have time to pack some necessities, as getting out of the Vatican was already a difficult task, but this was worse than I thought.
‘How much does he have?’
He had at least a thousand gold coins, right?
I suddenly missed Rafael's cozy mobile home when I saw the shabby and crude temporary. It was a good thing he was serving me meat for all three of our meals.
When I was first captured, he even served me a Mirror Salmon as a side dish, but I didn’t eat it because... my pride hadn't allowed me to eat it.
However, I really couldn’t eat this thing. I really hope we were not going to eat this every meal. And what if we had to stay in a single place for an extended period of time? I was worried that we'd keep on sleeping like this. Shouldn’t he make a bed, at the very least?
“Is the food not to your liking?” Gen asked.
“Of course not. You cooked this yourself. I just... have many things on my mind...” I answered.
“...”
“It looks like we’ll have to walk to the nearby small town, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” Gen informed.
“What?”
'What did this idiot just say?'
“There could be a party after us. Flying... will be dangerous for many reasons,” Gen said.
“I-I see,” I stuttered.
‘I think I know why he told me to eat more.’
I frowned, and Gen became cautious after seeing my expression. However, he felt better when I smiled brightly the next second. He seemed to be thinking that I was still struggling about whether my true self was Saint of Light or Lee Ki-Young.
“I see. So we’re really... on an adventure... now...” I mumbled.
“That’s right,” Gen said.
“I should eat more to get more energetic, then,” I said.
I shook my clenched fists and forced that pig porridge down my throat again.
Gen smiled warmly and started cleaning up the temporary camp. He seemed to have handled many missions by himself, as he looked like he had long gotten used to setting up camp.
Was he looking forward to our future travels? His warm smile left an impression on me.
‘Haa... damn it. I’m annoyed.’
'I haven't washed up yet, and Laios was such a dirty place. How can I walk there when I'm so dirty? And I really don’t want to eat this porridge, either.
'Is wiping your face with a wet wipe even considered washing up?
'My feet, back, and knees were in pain. Adventure, my ass...'
“Our plan is to go to a nearby town and resupply before heading for the Republic,” Gen said.
“The Republic? Why...” I asked.
“I heard there’s a pretty famous city there. Adventurers normally gather there, and we should be able to obtain new identities there. I also brought some gold coins with me,” Gen replied.
“How much...” I asked.
“Sixty pieces,” Gen answered.
‘Ha... shit...’
'He’s really ignorant of the world. Do you really think that’s enough?'
“A new identity... So I can truly become the person I've always wanted to be,” I said.
“That’s right. We'll go ahead and register with an adventure guild, and then we can finally go on dungeon raids or accept commissions from all over the continent. We can go out to sea... or go to all the cities and interesting places you want to visit.
"It's going to be kind of difficult, but they're all going to be memorable experiences,” Gen explained.
“Wow...” I mumbled.
“You must be excited just thinking about it, right?” Gen asked.
'I’m so excited that I want to kill you. When can I wash up? Actually, are you sure we can stock up at the nearest town from herey? Have you not considered the fact that there might be a ton of people there that might recognize me?'
Moreover, I also believed that it was starting.
If my assumption was right, we wouldn't even make it to the nearest city.
'Anyway, we’re in Laios, so can’t you just take this blanket away from me?'
“It’s a beautiful sight. Don’t you agree?” Gen asked.
“...”
The criminal was staring at the sky, and he wanted me to empathize with him, but I wasn’t looking at him.
‘Soon...’
Through my telescope, I saw a few priests knocking on the door to my room in the Vatican. Obviously, there was no sound inside the room. The priests looked confused, but they started knocking again.
Their confusion was understandable, as this had never happened before.
I was always following the rules. I had never made the priests wait for a long time, and I'd always greet them with a neat look.
One of the priests called out to me, but they received no answers.
After talking to the holy knights who were guarding the door, they knocked again, but they still received no answer. With that, one of the priests ran away somewhere. After a while, Father Jernihan arrived.
- Father Lee Ki-Young.
Huh?
- It’s me, Father Jernihan.
'Hurry up and come in.'
- Father Lee Ki-Young! It’s Father Jernihan.
Father Jernihan looked anxious.
- I’m coming in.
Boom!
A holy knight destroyed the door.
- Ah... ahhh...
They were instantly stupefied upon entering the room.
The room was in a mess, as I had gathered my things in a hurry, and there were traces of a break-in, so I was sure they'd find it difficult to deduce just what exactly had transpired.
The holy knights standing guard at the door looked like they had stopped breathing; their eyes went as wide as saucers. Clearly, they had never expected to see such a sight. Eventually, they snapped back to their senses and hurriedly searched the room.
There were traces of someone leaving through the window, a fierce argument, and resistance. Father Jernihan swept his gaze across the room that looked like a scene of a crime.
‘There’s a reason why I ripped that document.’
I felt kind of bad because Father Jernihan's hands were trembling as he was slowly putting the pieces of paper together. However, the look of despair on his face convinced me that I had done a great job at setting the bait.
- Father Jernihan...
- S-Something...
- This letter was found in Father Lee Ki-Young’s drawer. I believe he had left it for you...
It was a letter with all sorts of details written on it.
It mentioned that Templar Gen was suspicious and that Father Yohan could be after me.
The letter also said that if I ended up disappearing, my disappearance could be a part of their plan to protect Goddess Benigoa. I also strongly suggested that they could be the mastermind behind the recent incident.
They were truths I had to keep hidden deep within myself, as I couldn’t tell anyone else about them. They were heartbreaking truths that I had to endure myself for the peace of the Order of the Benigoa.
- Yohan... Father Yohan... Father Yohan!!! That bastard! Those bastards!!!
- ...
- Summon the Heretic Inquisitors right now! Holy Knights... Holy Knights! Deliver this document to Father Basel right now and request reinforcements!
A certain someone's beard was trembling violently.
- Ahh... What... What should we do about this... O Benigoa... O Benigoa...
The evidence was right in front of him, so he responded quickly.
He had no reason to hesitate as well.
- Father Yohan!
- What are you all doing?! He’s praying right now! If you have business with him...
- Quiet! You beasts! I know everything that you guys have done!
- We’re in a holy temple! How dare you sheathe your weapon! You’re standing before Goddess Benigoa, Father Jernihan!
- Goddess Benigoa will punish all of you, you dirty fools! The wrath of the goddess will fall on you! What are you all doing?! I want the Heretic Inquisitors to drag those dirty fools out right now! Sister Helena! I want the Holy Knights to look for Father Lee Ki-Young right now! Hurry! We’re running out of time!
- Ahhh!
- What are you all doing right now?! How dare you sheathe your sword! We—
- Silence, you heretics! How can you call yourselves followers of the Goddess Benigoa when you’re trying to harm her son?! Drag Father Yohan out of here! No mercy to those who resist!
- Ahhhhhh! Goddess Benigoa! Goddess Benigoa!!!
- How dare you say her name with that dirty mouth of yours! You’re maggots who deserve to be in hell!
- Help... help...!
- Don’t show mercy to those heretics!
The temple immediately became chaotic. Troops arrived, and priests covered in blood were being dragged away. Everyone was still trying to figure out what was going on amidst the nonstop screaming.
The troops who reached Father Yohan’s study knocked on the door using holy magic.
- Templar... Simon! Mr. Simon!
‘I’m sure he had already cut ties with him. He needs to ensure his survival, too. He’s probably stuck in a dungeon or in hiding somewhere.’
- Let go of me! D-Do you know who you’re touching right now?
- Silence! You dirty heretic! Where’s Father Lee Ki-Young?
- W-What... are you talking about...
- I know you tried to harm him.
- What are you talking about?! Father Jernihan! I really... really don’t know anything.
- What? Stop talking without thinking!
- I said I don’t know anything! Father Jernihan! There’s something... strange about this...
- What?
- I don’t know anything! Someone's behind this! Someone—
- Destroy that heretic's hand!
- Ahhhhhh! Simon! Templar! Simon! Ahhhh! I really don’t know anything!
It was music to my ears.
Meanwhile, the guy next to me mumbled once again with his gaze fixed on the sky.
He was smiling and was reading my expression like he was demanding an answer from me.
“Isn’t it a really beautiful sight?” Gen asked.
Obviously, I had to answer.
“Yes, it really is.”
- The Templars... I’m sure it’s the Templars.
“It’s just as beautiful as our future adventures, Mr. Gen,” I added.
- Templar Simon... Wait, where’s Templar Gen?
He was right here with me.