IRER 35

Chapter 35. The Bungler’s Prophecy

Latua stood tall with his broad shoulders squared and planted himself firmly in front of them.

Then, after glancing over Aidan and Brody, he suddenly grabbed the white-haired man’s head and shoved it downward.

Under that forceful grip, the white-haired man bowed his head deeply, as if in a respectful greeting.

Latua also bowed and said,

“Thank you.”

“…Pardon?”

He had approached with such an intimidating presence, and now he was suddenly expressing thanks—Brody blinked in confusion.

“I’m guessing this guy caused some kind of trouble, right? Ah, or should I have said, ‘I’m sorry’ instead?”

At Latua’s words, the white-haired man widened his eyes as if caught off guard, then chuckled awkwardly, rolling his eyes.

Despite being manhandled so roughly, he didn’t seem the least bit offended.

“But Adonia, what on earth happened?”

Latua rubbed his stomach as he asked. It seemed he was worried the commotion had something to do with the Lupé tribe member.

But it was Adonia who responded with concern,

“Still hurting?”

“I’m dying. Of all places to get food poisoning—on a ship without a doctor? But what about you? What happened?”

Adonia grinned and answered in a bright, sing-song voice, even adding a nasal tone.

“I~ lost my bracelet!”

“W-what?”

It happened in an instant. As soon as he heard that, Latua grabbed the white-haired man by the collar and yanked him close.

The man dangled in the air, suspended by Latua’s tall frame.

“You lost your ID tag? Are you insane? Then you can’t disembark! We’ll have to turn back! Are you telling me we have to sail two nights and three days in reverse like this? Damn it…”

“Hehe.”

Latua growled, but then, as if drained of energy, released the man and rubbed his stomach again. He grimaced briefly, then quickly disappeared back into the ship’s interior.

Most likely rushing to the bathroom.

Watching this whirlwind scene, Brody and Aidan stood dumbfounded, like they’d just been hit by lightning.

Neither of them looked anything like a priest.

“I’m sorry. That must’ve been a lot. But he’s not a bad person,” Adonia said.

Brody awkwardly smiled and shrugged, while Aidan squinted and looked up at the sky.

“A seagull took your ID tag? You mean that one?”

At Aidan’s gesture, Brody and Adonia looked up. There were a few seagulls perched atop the tall mast, but they had no idea which one he was pointing at.

“You can see that far…?”

Brody asked, eyes wide.

“Hm. I can see a shiny silver bit in that one’s beak.”

“Ah…?”

Adonia let out a long sigh.

At least it hadn’t fallen into the sea—but whether it was the sea or a seagull, to Adonia, it was equally disastrous.

“You just want it retrieved, right?”

“Sorry?”

Maybe it was guilt from having discriminated against him as a Lupé tribe member.

Aidan asked a crew member and borrowed a bow and arrow.

Adonia went pale. “Y-you’re going to s-shoot the seagull?”

“Just the bracelet.”

He nocked the arrow and took aim.

A moment later, Aidan released the bowstring without hesitation.

“Kreee!”

The startled seagull took off from the mast.

The arrow curved through the air and embedded itself into the railing at the stern.

Adonia scampered after it, his white robe flapping dramatically as he returned.

‘Ah! His hood might fall off!’ Brody thought nervously as she watched him run.

But Adonia, mouth agape with excitement, didn’t seem to care.

In one hand, he held the arrow. In the other—a shiny piece of metal.

“Sir knight! Seriously! You’re like someone out of legend! How is that even possible? I mean—the arrow just went wham! Right into this ant-sized chain!”

“Don’t make a scene. I don’t want attention.”

“Ah, yes, of course! Sorry! But wow, seriously, wow!”

Aidan was taken aback. Normally, when he spoke in that stern tone, most people would fall silent and shy away.

But this hamster-like priest kept chattering no matter how much he scowled.

Amused, Brody watched the two and then rummaged through her pocket.

She handed Adonia a thick salve and some herbal pills.

“This ointment is for you, and the pills are for your friend. Three times a day should help.”

“You’re giving these to me? Wow!”

Adonia beamed as he accepted the medicine. Despite the discrimination he faced for being Lupé, he seemed oddly cheerful and free of shadows.

“I can’t accept a gift without returning the favor. Madam, are you unwell?”

At his question, Brody glanced at Aidan and replied,

“No, I was sick for a bit, but I’ve mostly recovered. Just feel weak after being bedridden…”

“Ah, I see. Then… may I try healing you with holy power? Only if it doesn’t make you uncomfortable, of course.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes! If it were something congenital, you’d need a high priest. But for recovery, I think I’m good enough.”

Aidan stood slightly behind Brody, watching silently.

Could she accept? If not, Aidan would probably stop him.

Brody decided to go ahead.

“Then, please do.”

“Ah, okay.”

Though he had offered, Adonia seemed slightly surprised that she accepted.

People sometimes treated him kindly out of pity for his background, but few were willing to receive his healing or prayers.

But to Brody—who came from another world—he was just a priest with a pretty face, nothing more.

Adonia smiled brightly and brought over a short stool for her to sit on. Then, holding her hands, he began to chant.

Soft white light billowed from Adonia and flowed through their joined hands, wrapping around Brody’s body.

It felt like her whole body was being gently coated in warm air from a hair dryer.

Her heavy body felt lighter and lighter.

She stared at the faint glow around her, amazed—until Adonia, still holding her hands, spoke.

“Huh, Madam, you…”

He tilted his head, confused, and sniffed the air like an animal.

Brody, taken aback by him blatantly sniffing her, pulled back in alarm.

“What’s he doing?”

Aidan had already been irritated by the way Adonia touched Brody’s hands—though he technically hadn’t done anything improper. But this? He scowled and moved to shove him away.

“It’s just… Madam smells like trees. And…”

Twitch. Brody flinched. “Smells like trees”? Did he somehow sense her ability? That would be bad.

Just as she was puzzling over it, the light around Adonia began to shift in color.

From white to blue.

「Madam carries the aura of a curse.」

The strange voice came from Adonia’s mouth, but it didn’t feel like it was his.

And what it said was shocking.

‘A curse? Is he talking about the potion Jax gave me?’

She wanted to ask—but her lips wouldn’t move.

All she could do was sit quietly and listen as the voice echoed like a grand organ.

‘What… is this?’

Brody shivered at the unfamiliar sensation. But Adonia, with half-lidded eyes, continued in a dazed voice.

「To the north… far, far north you will go.」

「Ahh… something awaits you, Madam.」

「It is… old… achingly sad…」

A blurry image appeared before her eyes. Two sapphire-blue eyes, like flickering flames, stared at her.

A pang of pain gripped her chest.

‘Hhk.’

「Cold. So cold. It’s freezing… too much…」

Around her was a blinding, icy blue light. Brody began to shiver from the sudden chill.

Her hands trembled in Adonia’s grip—but whose were shaking, she couldn’t tell.

The cold overwhelmed her like a crashing wave. Even the inside of her mouth and lungs felt frozen, like they were turning to shards of ice.

「Such frigid energy… it will freeze your entire body.」

‘No. Please. Stop… stop it…’

Brody’s breath came in short gasps. She wanted it to end, but even her vision had darkened as if her eyes were frozen shut.

From the darkness, the voice returned.

「But… but Madam will…」

“Enough nonsense!”

“Wah!”

Suddenly, everything lit up.

The rough wooden floor came back into view.

“Gasp.”

Brody collapsed, gasping for breath. Her hands weakly supported her on the floor as she wheezed like someone suffocating.

‘What… was that…?’

As her eyes fluttered and she clutched her chest, she looked up—and saw Latua, now shirtless, holding Adonia by the collar.

Beside him, Aidan’s sword was pressed dangerously close to Adonia’s throat.

Aidan’s face was so fearsome, he looked like he might actually kill him.

Latua was sweating. A moment later and things could’ve gone terribly wrong.

But instead of showing panic, he shook Adonia roughly and cursed.

“You little wannabe! Who do you think you’re messing with?! If Master knew, he’d rip out every last hair on your head!”

He threw Adonia aside, then bowed to Brody and Aidan.

“I apologize. Prophecies aren’t allowed at the apprentice level. This idiot still can’t control it. He’s untrained, and nothing he says ever makes sense anyway.”

“Exactly! Nonsense! Don’t listen to it!”

Adonia stood up and rubbed his butt, boldly saying not to take his own words seriously—and even laughed.

‘Unbelievable!’

Their sheer energy left Brody and Aidan at a loss.

“Prophecy?”

So that was supposed to be a prophecy? Brody frowned, recalling what he’d said. Aidan growled as he helped her sit up.

“Prophecy? Only sanctioned high priests are allowed to do that.”

At his righteous comment, Latua smacked the back of Adonia’s head and shouted,

“What are you laughing about? Apologize right now!”

Adonia bowed and apologized.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”

Latua added more politely,

“He’s got excellent healing powers but is absolutely hopeless at prophecy. If Master saw that, he’d be horrified. And with his background… well, if someone wanted to cause trouble, he could be expelled from the clergy. Please, I beg your understanding.”

Knowing they’d treated Adonia kindly despite knowing he was Lupé, Latua appealed to their goodwill.

Adonia chimed in,

“He’s right! My words are worth less than the barnacles stuck to this ship!”

“You—just shut it!”

Brody, more bothered by Latua’s rough handling of Adonia than by the prophecy, waved a hand.

If no one stopped him, Latua might toss Adonia overboard.

“It’s fine. No one’s dying. That’s enough apologizing.”

Adonia peeked up at her and grinned brightly.

But Aidan, though he sheathed his sword, was still glaring at him. Meeting that icy gaze, Adonia scratched his head and gave a sheepish chuckle.

‘Is he… laughing?’

Most people would be peeing themselves from fear in front of the Icewall Duke—but this priest was either fearless or simply clueless.

“By the way, Adonia. Do you remember what you said to me?”

“What part?”

“You said I was cursed.”

“I did? I don’t really remember my prophecies well…”

“…I see.”

Brody sighed in disappointment. She’d hoped he might be able to undo whatever spell Jax had used. But no—of course it couldn’t be that easy.