CHAPTER 95…………………………………………….
“Anyway, this is good. If we keep going like this, we’ll reach the desert soon.”
“That might be difficult.”
Giovanni shook his head, his gaze fixed on the horses.
They were panting heavily, trotting unsteadily. Droplets of saliva fell from their mouths; they were barely able to continue.
“The horses are exhausted.”
“…We’ll have to let them rest.”
Without hesitation, Kichev took out a water pouch and wet the horses’ mouths. The animals drank eagerly, tongues lapping at the water, and regained a bit of their strength.
Kichev loosened the reins and tapped their flanks.
Clop, clop.
The horses began to move forward slowly.
“There’s plenty of food around here. For them, this will actually be better.”
Unlike the desert, the kingdom had wide plains.
Once Kichev confirmed the horses had passed the village fence, he shrugged awkwardly.
“From here on, we’ll have no choice but to go on foot.”
The entrance was empty, with a dilapidated fence and no one guarding it.
The village, which they guessed might have been abandoned, was surprisingly large, with many buildings.
“This is a strange place. It’s big, but the atmosphere is so gloomy.”
Kichev, huddled against a wall, whispered as he watched the few villagers. Then he loosened his turban, hiding his face.
Giovanni scanned the surroundings with his gaze.
“Things don’t look good here.”
“Seems like a village for outcasts.”
“A village for outcasts?”
I nodded.
“I’ve only heard about it. People exiled from the capital live here.”
The kingdom’s wealth was concentrated in the capital.
Amtein or these outcast villages were safe havens for those outside the capital’s reach.
A house with a wide-open entrance caught my eye. It looked like a thief had ransacked it.
I muttered at a broken bowl in the corner.
“Without the kingdom’s protection, it’s easy to be plundered.”
“Ah.”
Kichev let out a breath, glancing at me cautiously.
“That’s right. This place has been repeatedly raided by desert raiders.”
“Where are those people going?”
Giovanni pointed down a narrow alley. A line of villagers carrying empty bowls was walking along. I tilted my head.
“I’m not sure. I’ve never visited this place myself.”
“Looks like they’re going to get food!”
Jenny offered a reasonable guess.
“Maybe someone’s helping them. Perhaps even a priest on a pilgrimage?”
“It’s possible. Helping the needy is part of a pilgrimage’s purpose.”
I nodded, and Jenny beamed with delight.
“Are you feeling okay now?”
“Yes! I felt like I might die while riding, but I quickly recovered.”
“That’s good.”
Giovanni lightly nodded while patting her head.
A priest, huh. Yes, this is the priest’s energy.
At some point, I had gained the ability to sense the water power of priests.
I couldn’t explain it in words, but it felt familiar and comforting.
Like being enveloped by a lush forest.
If Tyrein were here, I could ask…
He hadn’t appeared since Giovanni and I left, probably unable to.
“I wish we could find a priest here.”
Giovanni shook his head.
“The kingdom’s soldiers could appear at any moment.”
Swallowing my disappointment, I quickened my pace.
As we crossed the main road of the village, Giovanni suddenly grabbed me.
In an instant, my back hit a wall in a narrow alley.
Blinking in confusion, I said,
“What’s happening all of a sudden?”
“Shh.”
He pressed a finger to his lips, and I closed mine in response. He whispered quietly:
“Be quiet.”
I nodded and cautiously looked around.
Kichev, who had dragged Jenny into the alley as well, peeked around the corner carefully.
“Anyone suspicious come by?”
“If you see an outsider, report it immediately.”
Jenny’s ears perked up. It was the voice of a kingdom soldier.
How far have they come?
Giovanni and Kichev exchanged glances.
Giovanni silently pointed further into the alley.
Kichev nodded, lifted Jenny, and covered her open mouth with his hand as they disappeared down the alley.
“Excuse us.”
Giovanni grabbed my hand firmly.
At least he warns me.
I moved quickly into the alley with Jenny, who had been carried like a bundle of goods.
The alley twisted sharply, lined with old, chaotic buildings.
The kingdom’s soldiers would have difficulty spotting us, but we also struggled to find our way.
Moreover, Kichev was terrible with directions.
“I’m sorry.”
He bowed, looking embarrassed, at the dead-end alley.
“Let’s go this way.”
As Giovanni led me silently in another direction, his expression suddenly changed. He pressed me against the wall.
“They’ve definitely entered the village. Someone’s hiding here.”
His gruff voice made my shoulders stiffen.
“Wasn’t the witch problem already resolved? Why are we being told to capture her again?”
“Something seems off. Don’t ask why—just do it.”
“The barbarian with us is irritating. If we fight head-on, we’ll suffer heavy losses.”
“I told you before: if you spot a barbarian, don’t fight—send a signal first. We have the numbers, no need for reckless action.”
“Of course. My life is valuable too.”
The voice came from a place neither near nor far.
Although the alley had many forks, at this distance, we could be discovered at any moment.
Kichev pressed his ear to the ground and whispered,
“There are about five. Not impossible to handle.”
“If even a tiny sound leaks, they’ll all come running.”
Giovanni said casually. For a moment I thought it was his usual calm tone, but my mouth went dry with tension.
His gaze. Giovanni’s black eyes were sharp as a predator’s, unlike usual.
All my attention focused on his arm around my shoulder.
The arm, easily twice the strength of a normal person, could crush someone like me just by pressing down.
He plans to kill the soldiers.
My heart pounded wildly.
“When they get close, we’ll deal with them.”
Giovanni nodded faintly. His calm tone made it feel as if facing five soldiers would be effortless.
But the real danger wasn’t the approaching soldiers.
As Giovanni said, if even one sent a signal, the entire village force would realize our presence.
We’d have to neutralize them all at once—impossible against trained soldiers.
After that, no more conversation.
The rustle of movement and footsteps indicated the search had begun.
“Wait, something’s suspicious here.”
Hearing voices closer than before, we held our breath.
Jenny’s face turned bright red from tension. She seemed to be holding her breath completely.
The aura of imminent battle filled the alley.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps grew closer. Kichev drew daggers from his sleeve, crude but sharply pointed, and waited for the soldiers.
Tap, tap.
The sounds neared. If we peeked out, we’d likely run into them immediately.
Then—
Clatterrr!
The loud sound of metal falling rang out.
“Who’s there?!”
Kingdom soldiers stopped mid-step, shouting. Judging by the sound, they had drawn their swords.
“Ah, sorry! My hand slipped.”
“A priest?”
“Yes. Are you kingdom soldiers?”
An older voice spoke.
I narrowed my eyes.
A priest?
Across the wall, a kingdom soldier stood.
We could be discovered at any moment, so Jenny and Kichev listened intently to the conversation beyond the wall.
“Isn’t this High Priest Urenas?”
The soldier’s voice became extremely respectful.
“You know me?”
“When I was young, I listened to your prayers at the temple every holiday. But why are you here?”
“I’m on a pilgrimage.”
“I see… Even at your age, you don’t stay comfortably at the temple.”
“If there’s a place that needs help, even an old man must go.”
“You’ve never changed, High Priest. You should think of your health now.”
“I’ve rested too much at the temple this year; my joints creak. Moving like this is good for my health. But why are you here in this remote place, soldiers?”
“We were ordered to pursue a criminal, and it brought us here. It’s an honor to see you here, High Priest. Where are you going? We’ll accompany you.”
“No, no. I mustn’t trouble busy people. These are my attendant priests. They’ve stayed here a few days and can assist you.”
“Well, I suppose I’ll be the one receiving help. I cannot refuse since it’s important work.”
The soldier smiled awkwardly, asked the attendants a few questions, and left.
Tap, tap.
The footsteps faded. Were they really leaving? I listened outside, then made eye contact with Giovanni.
His black eyes flickered. I shrugged. Unexpected, but fortunate.
“The soldiers went that way; we can take this path.”
“Phew,” Kichev whispered. As he was about to step, Giovanni said:
“There’s still one person left.”
“What?”
Kichev stopped and raised his daggers toward the alley entrance, reacting in lightning speed.
But the approaching blade faltered when an elderly man with a lined face appeared.
“There are still soldiers over there.”
“High Priest?”
Jenny clamped her mouth shut. She had gasped in surprise, as had I.
The one who remained was High Priest Urenas.
He smiled gently.
“We meet again, Your Highness.”
“Did he know we were here?”
Urenas said nothing.
But the situation was clear: as a kingdom priest, he knew we were here yet let the soldiers pass, even directing them elsewhere.
Despite our suspicious and wary glances, he showed no displeasure.
Instead, he pointed the way opposite to where the soldiers had gone.
