༺ Vargo (1) ༻
The next day.
After Vera’s full recovery, the group hastened without delay towards Locrion. They were driven by the looming threat posed by Alaysia towards the Holy Kingdom.
Although the exact timing was uncertain, the fact that her goal was in their hometown stirred anxiety within their hearts.
“Don’t worry, Maleus is surely keeping her at bay. Besides, it’s been only about two months since we left the Cradle.”
Miller tried to comfort the increasingly tense atmosphere, but even that was only a temporary measure.
There was no other reason.
It was because Vera and Renee already knew what consequences the event would bring.
‘Was the death of His Holiness caused by Alaysia…?’
There was one fact that was firmly established even in Vera’s distorted memories.
Vargo’s death.
The layers of that secret were gradually being unraveled.
‘…It’s possible. His Holiness would not fall so easily, but considering what she has done so far, he might be struggling.’
Alaysia’s ability was to interfere with one’s thoughts and awareness.
Vargo might be able to resist it with his own strength, but it was not certain how the other priests of the Holy Kingdom would fare.
A quiet unease had also settled in Aisha’s heart.
“…Master.”
Aisha felt her heart pounding.
She couldn’t help but worry that her master, Dovan, who had separated from her at the Empire and headed to the Holy Kingdom first, might be in danger.
As her mood sank, Aisha’s body hunched over. Only Jenny noticed from the side, hugging her tightly.
“We’ve arrived,” Norn said.
The group quickly got off the carriage, gazing upon the ice wall before them.
Then, a mutual suspicion arose: the wall was too silent.
“The Dragonians…”
Were gone.
It wasn’t just that they were hidden from sight. Their presence itself couldn’t be felt.
And that wasn’t all.
“I smell blood.”
“It looks like there was a fight.”
The twins grabbed their halberds.
True to their words, dark dried blood covered every inch of the snow-white ice wall.
It was evident to anyone; they had been attacked.
Despite the bewildering situation, they could all simultaneously think of someone capable of doing this.
[Nartania. It must be her doing.]
Annalise’s faint voice echoed.
There was no rebuttal.
Instead, all of them drew their weapons.
“Let’s go.”
Vera’s eyes glowed menacingly.
‘Damn…’
The situation was getting complicated.
***
Their anxiety hit the mark.
As they went deeper into the ice wall, corpses began to appear one by one.
Half-dragons, vampires, and even the corpses of direct descendants of dragons.
The scene unfolding before them was a blatant testament to the one behind this series of incidents.
Their pace quickened.
Vera, carrying Renee for faster travel, took the lead, followed closely by the rest of the group.
[Is it over already?]
At the end of the ice wall where Locrion was supposed to be stood Nartania and the five-colored dragon, Seldin.
Crash—!
Seldin, not in the human form they had previously seen but in her dragon form, collapsed with a loud noise. In front of him, Nartania chuckled, then turned her gaze.
[Oh my, we meet again.]
The eerie yet beautiful and terrifying being spoke, wearing black blood like a dress.
[What brings you here?]
Vera, who had hidden Renee behind him, replied.
“…What is happening?”
[Hm? Ah, I just came out for a walk. It’s been a while since I felt my blood boil, so I couldn’t stand staying in the palace.]
“Stop your bullshit…!”
Vera’s eyes were filled with anger towards Nartania, who dared to block their path in such an urgent situation.
Nartania laughed.
[Let’s see… What could be your reason for coming here again?]
Six pairs of arms crossed. One of her upper arms, attached near the shoulder, gently stroked her chin.
[Ah, right. Locrion can fold space. I suppose you have somewhere urgent to be?]
Her words only heightened the group’s tension.
Just as Vera was about to release his divinity in response to Nartania’s actions that seemed to be trying to obstruct them…
[Alright, let’s go.]
Nartania turned towards the end of the ice wall.
Vera’s divinity dissipated, and shocked expressions appeared on the group’s faces.
“What are you planning?”
[What do you mean, planning? I told you, did I not?]
Nartania, with her back turned to them, slowly advanced and continued.
[I will wait. Do you not understand? A promise from an immortal being bears a fitting weight. The promised period is ten years. During that time, I will not harm you.]
Vera’s hand tightened, his senses on the edge from the tension.
“…Don’t think about doing anything stupid.”
[Oh, are you afraid?]
Vera didn’t answer. He just kept an eye on the fallen Seldin, ready to draw his sword at any moment.
‘She’s alive.’
It seemed that they weren’t too late.
They had seemingly avoided the worst-case scenario. As their safety measure to protect Oben in their absence, Seldin couldn’t die like this.
Seldin, who had been gasping for air, opened her eyes.
Her multicolored eyes met Vera’s.
After briefly staring at each other, Vera turned his head towards the front and spoke.
“For now, let’s go with her.”
Though he detested the situation, Vera recognized that what mattered most lay beyond the wall. With that, he began to walk.
***
The icy sea of the glacier rose, its overwhelming presence bore down on the onlookers. Eyes that could only be met by tilting one’s neck upwards were aimed downward.
[…You have finally come.]
With a seemingly calm voice, Locrion spoke.
Nartania responded to him with all her arms hanging down.
[Oh, how you grow more hideous as time passes.]
[Why have you come? It is not your time yet.]
[More of your nonsense. Arrogant lizard, you still believe the world you know is the truth of this land.]
Nartania laughed.
The large hole in her face oozed black blood.
[You think I am ridiculous because of the tiny speck of Providence you glanced at?]
[…Do you revel in chaos?]
[I revel in the possibilities that come from imperfection.]
[Insolent creature.]
[Again with that high and mighty tone.]
The two demigods carried on with their conversation, showing no interest in the group that had joined them. However, it was mostly them belittling each other.
As the atmosphere grew tense with harsh words being exchanged, Nartania laughed and said.
[Oh, right. That is not the important matter at hand.]
As if just remembering, Nartania turned her head towards the group, and Locrion’s eyes followed suit. The next action was sudden.
[Heading south, I presume.]
Crash—
An arm emerged from the icy sea that formed Locrion’s body and drew a straight line in the air.
[I allow you to pass.]
There was no time for further words.
Before the group could react, the space expanded and swallowed them whole.
After the bizarre sensation of their existence scattering, what appeared before the group’s eyes was…
“…Elia.”
It was the Holy Kingdom, Elia.
***
At the time of their escape from Nartania–the Holy Kingdom.
In the early dawn, Vargo woke up and looked out the window. The city of pure white spread out before his eyes.
It was another morning.
Vargo took in the scenery for a while, making the wrinkles on his face more pronounced. Then, he got up.
He picked up the worn-out priest’s robe hanging on one wall and put it on.
For twenty years ever since he ascended to the throne of Holy Emperor, he never had a new robe made and stuck to his original resolution not to be tempted by wealth and status.
Once he had dressed and straightened his back, a cracking sound echoed.
“Ah, geez. My body is getting old and breaking down all over.”
The passage of time was truly cruel.
The divinity within him grew stronger with each day and his mind remained sharp, but his physical body was becoming more uncooperative.
Grumbling to himself, Vargo soon grabbed his cane and hunched over. After pressing his back with one hand, he left the room.
He walked slowly down the hallway, descended the stairs, and headed to the center of the Grand Temple. After passing through the great door, Vargo arrived before the Sanctum of Gods and repeated what had become a habit over the past decades.
He leaned his cane against a chair and knelt. Clasping his hands in front of his chest, he bowed his head.
‘Please watch over me carefully.’
The form of his prayer wasn’t one made out of true desire. Having fulfilled all his lifelong wishes, the old man simply kept a promise to himself not to forget the Lord, who had guided his life.
The silent chapel.
The same repeated sentences.
After continuing his ritualistic prayer for some time, Vargo opened his eyes when he sensed a very faint presence behind him.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Did you have a peaceful night?”
Vargo looked behind, spotting a man with long, blue hair that was loosely tied and red eyes. There stood Trevor, his face still carrying naivety.
“You rascal, what will I ever do about you? How can you come out later than this old man?”
Trevor looked embarrassed at Vargo’s reprimand.
“Haha… Don’t you know? I’m…”
“Forget it, you punk. Come on and pray.”
Hesitatingly, Trevor approached Vargo and knelt beside him. Shortly after, he sighed deeply.
“Why do you always kneel on the floor when there’s a perfectly good chair?”
“That’s why things end up like this… because young people always prioritize what will make them most comfortable first.”
Trevor flinched. Afraid of Vargo’s fist, he simply laughed and began to pray. In the middle of this, Vargo asked.
“What’s Rohan doing, still not coming?”
“Haha…”
“Is he drinking again? This punk, all the time, just wait until I…!”
Vargo sighed deeply. Every time he remembered how a devout and upright boy like Rohan became a drunkard, he got a headache. If he were to die, Vargo thought, it would be due to the stress Rohan caused him.
“…It’s fine. Alright, let’s hurry up and go outside. Did Lady Theresa go to the Academy?”
“Yes. She has to teach today, so she told us to eat without her.”
“What about Marie?”
“She went to the dining hall…”
“Why didn’t you stop her? There’s no need to upset those kids’ stomachs this early in the morning.”
“…”
Trevor shut his mouth.
Vargo may have scolded them, but he knew that he was only right in doing so.
As they were Apostles, no one else in the Holy Kingdom could handle the trouble they caused but him.
“Tch, this is why I can’t retire…”
He was getting old.
All Vargo wanted to do was take care of his flower garden and relax in his retirement, but his worries continued to grow even while he slept because all the kids had a few screws loose, and that forced him to return to work.
However, Vargo still had some faith left.
“Have you heard from that punk, Vera?”
“The last I heard was that he was heading to Oben.”
“He really traveled the entire continent.”
A hollow laugh escaped Vargo’s lips.
“If he was finished, he should’ve just come back already…”
Stinky brat.
Mannerless punk.
Vargo always called Vera that way, but he knew something else, too.
“He’s really needed here.”
Although he became a fool whenever he was with Renee, there was no one better at handling work than him.
How comfortable had he been when Vera followed him around during those three years?
As Vargo sighed heavily, missing that gloomy face, Trevor swallowed the words he had been about to say. In his head, he recalled what Theresa had told him when she returned from completing all of her obligations at the Academy.
— He’s becoming more and more of a child… I might have made a mistake.
Pressing the center of his forehead, Trevor questioned whether he should tell Vargo.
Trevor was unable to judge which decision was correct, so he remained silent.
