Chapter 11
A Strange Request (1)
Strolling around the temple courtyard with nothing to do, the voices of patients gathered in small groups reached Kazar’s ears.
“Phew, the young master needs to recover quickly. This is a big problem.” “He’s seven years old and still hasn’t grown, remaining confined to a cradle to this day—what is there to recover from? Even the temple is only looking after him reluctantly. Everyone says it’s not like they have a particular way to cure him.” “Shh. Careful with your tongue, unless you want to get into trouble.”
Noticing Kazar’s presence, the old men hastily shut their mouths. The other patients were watching a large baby basket carried by the noblewoman’s maid.
‘Leaving me hanging right when it gets interesting. Stopping the story right here?’
Curiosity sparkled within him regarding the story behind the feudal lord and his wife.
“By the way, did you hear that story? About the guys who lifted the lady’s skirt here yesterday. The lady was furious and demanded they be executed, so their lives are hanging by a thread right now.” “Shaming a person of high status, they have no right to complain even if they die.” “Still, hanging someone just because they fell and lifted a skirt a bit is too harsh.” “Did they perhaps see something else besides her legs?” “What nonsense are you talking about, kekeke.”
Passing by the snickerers, Kazar went back inside the temple building. Tirad, who should have been holed up in the library, was surprisingly coming down the stairs. Discovering Kazar, Tirad welcomed him, saying he was just on his way to find him.
“Why?” “I became curious about something and want to check it out.” “What is it?” “Follow me.”
Ernolf pulled at Kazar’s clothes to hurry him along as they left the temple. In front of the temple was a small plaza where a market was held every day.
“Do you know what symptom healers find most difficult to treat?”
‘Diseases or deformities present from birth. Or body parts damaged beyond repair. Since healers cannot alter the structure of the body or create something out of nothing that wasn’t there to begin with. That is why the profession of a doctor exists separately.’
Since this wasn’t an answer a mine slave would give, Kazar answered silently in his head. When Kazar didn’t reply, Ernolf kindly added an explanation.
“Cases where the body is damaged beyond restoration. For example, if an arm is severed, the severed site can be stitched up or the severed arm reattached, but an arm that isn’t there cannot be created out of thin air.” “So what’s your point?” “They say the Temple of the Blue Vine here in Talisa is famous for treating patients with severed limbs without leaving them with disabilities. I became curious about their secret method.” “You could just ask the priests.”
To the question of whether there was a need to come out and see for themselves, Ernolf made a face as if asking what kind of foolish question that was.
“Either way, it’s incredible, isn’t it? Ending such an amazing sight merely by hearing an explanation? When we can see it with our own eyes?”
He couldn’t understand why they had to go out of their way to see it firsthand, but Tirad was far too excited. Traveling together, Kazar had realized that once his brother got fixated on something, nobody could stop him.
‘The insight of someone who awakened on their own is truly beyond imagination. Did he perhaps notice the secret of this place?’
There was an unavoidable circumstance behind why Kazar would massacre the residents of Talisa and burn the city down along with the temple eleven years later. It seemed he had somehow caught wind of that sign.
‘But do you really have to crouch down like that to watch?’
Kazar looked toward the corner of the market with a expression of dismay. Ernolf was crouching behind a pile of wooden barrels in the corner, with only his eyes peeking out as he carefully observed each and every pedestrian. All the while, he kept frantically fluttering his hand at Kazar to come and hide where he was, looking altogether pathetic.
“Why are you hiding?” “We’re uncovering a secret. We need to move secretly.” “So, did you discover anything?”
A tiny reply came from behind the wooden barrels. Frantically waving his hand insisting Kazar come over if he wanted to hear it, Kazar had no choice but to go over and crouch down beside him.
“Look at that porter over there. And look at the left arm of the butcher cutting meat over there too. I didn’t notice at first, but looking closely, something is unnatural.”
Seeing Ernolf notice signs of the incident even before it would happen eleven years later, Kazar secretly broke into a cold sweat.
‘His intuition is way too sharp.’
Kazar felt a slight chill at his twin brother’s brilliance. If he dropped his guard, he felt like he would be caught having regressed fifty years in time.
“That porter’s one leg, and the butcher’s left arm are excessively strong. That’s why their movements lack balance.”
The way the butcher sliced through a massive chunk of meat effortlessly as if cutting cheese looked as formidable as an Aura user.
“Look at that kid playing alone over there, unable to fit into the group. The one wearing a glove on his right hand. That kid is strange, too.”
Ernolf pointed with his chin toward the edge of the market. At that moment, the child crushed a toy with pure grip strength. The neck and arm of the carved wooden knight snapped off and fell to the ground. Throwing a tantrum, the child slammed the toy down and trampled on it.
“Eek, he’s doing that again!”
The children nearby retreated, whispering among themselves. Seeing this, a young woman selling goods at a nearby stall rushed over and grabbed the child’s forearm.
“Let go! Let go!”
The child thrashed and screamed violently. In the process, his sleeve was pulled up, exposing his forearm. The child’s mother was startled and quickly pulled the clothing back down. Though revealed for merely a split second, Ernolf saw the child’s arm clearly.
“Didn’t I tell you to play quietly? If you’re going to act like this, go home and feed the pigs!”
The child’s mother scolded him while flicking his forehead. The child felt wronged and glared at his mother resentfully.
“Hurry up and go home!”
After the child was dragged away by his mother, Ernolf emerged from behind the wooden barrels where he had been hiding and approached the other children. Having been playing cheerfully, the children were frightened by the sudden commotion.
“Hello?”
When Ernolf greeted them, the children, who had been standing still like statues, moved again.
“Huh? It’s the Mad Boar brother! You know this brother, right? He brought a wild boar as big as a water buffalo.” “That’s right! He carried a huge Mad Boar that big right up!”
The children recognized Ernolf and acted familiar. Thanks to bringing a huge wild boar monster for show, rumors that the twin brothers possessed Herculean strength had spread throughout the castle town.
“He doesn’t look very strong. Is that really true?” “Of course it’s true.”
Just as Ernolf was about to show off to get friendly with the kids, Kazar stepped up and shoved Ernolf aside.
“Augh!”
Ernolf flew helplessly like a straw doll and fell to the ground.
“The one who caught and carried that Mad Boar was me. This guy is just a ‘Weakling’.”
The children’s eyes widened to the size of fists upon seeing Kazar.
“Woah, these brothers have the exact same face!” “Really! They look identical!”
When the children shouted in unison, Ernolf sprang up and stood before them.
“Ahem, to say I look identical to Kazar—how could you say such a harsh thing so carelessly!” “Get lost.” “Augh!”
Kazar bumped Ernolf with his hip as he tried to blabber nonsense, forgetting his original intention for approaching. While Ernolf rolled around on the ground, Kazar asked the children about the kid who had been dragged away moments ago.
“That kid dragged away by his mother earlier seemed to have Herculean strength too, didn’t he?” “Ah, that kid… Gilbard is different from you, brother.” “How is he different?”
Checking his surroundings to see if anyone had warned them not to talk about that child, the kid covered his mouth with his hand and whispered softly.
“He’s a monster.”
Once one kid opened the floodgates, the children watching nearby chimed in to tattle.
“His arm looks scary.” “He wasn’t like that before, but lately he tries to bite people.” “He screams and throws rocks, too.” “They said if you get bitten, you might die!” “No, way. They said he’s going to be dragged away to the farm.” “Dragged away to the farm—what does that mean?”
Ernolf asked while dusting the dirt off his clothes. Upon hearing that, the child suddenly lost his confidence and muttered that he had just overheard adults saying it.
‘It might just be that the children made up a ghost story because Gilbard’s scar looks scary. It’s too early to judge.’
Ernolf decided not to jump to conclusions until he obtained decisive evidence.
After parting ways with the children, Ernolf walked around the estate, meticulously observing the residents and guards working on the farm.
‘Biological transplantation is a healing technique that was rarely recommended even in the 18th century where I lived due to severe side effects. Yet to achieve that level of completion back in the early medieval period…’
Ernolf marveled that the knowledge and techniques of ancient people surpassed those of the present era. Looking back, even the magic of ancient civilizations said to have existed before prehistoric times was ahead of present-day magic, so it was foolish to judge everything by modern standards.
Lost in thought as he walked, he soon arrived in front of the temple. Seeing the two, a priest came out to the door and welcomed them extravagantly.
“Oh my, you’ve arrived!” “Were you waiting for us?” “Of course I was waiting. I was just about to send someone to find you.” “For what matter were you looking for us?”
The priest led the way, saying someone was waiting for them so they should step inside first. Ernolf stopped in his tracks and asked who was waiting. Since they were entangled in business with a mercenary corps, he couldn’t follow carelessly.
“His Lordship and Lady are waiting. Please, hurry inside.”
Since the feudal lord of Talisa was waiting, they could not hesitate. Ernolf glanced at Kazar once before following behind the priest.
Led into the reception room, the feudal lord and his wife were waiting for the two of them. When Ernolf offered a polite greeting, the lord spoke first.
“I am Ernolf from Isvrho.” “I heard that you brought in a Mad Boar. Are you an Aura user?” “No, sir. The Aura user is my younger brother, and I am merely the ‘Weakling’.”
It was a small piece of petty revenge for Kazar calling him a weakling in the market.
“Pfft.”
Standing behind Ernolf, Kazar let out a soft chuckle.
“I see, so you are the rumored Aura user. What is your name?” “It’s Kazar.”
Hearing Kazar’s response, the lord and his wife were startled. Ernolf nudged Kazar’s side with his elbow. Kazar merely wore an oblivious look as if asking why he was being hit.
“My younger brother only knows how to fight and lacks manners. Please forgive him with your broad generosity, Your Lordship.” “It is fine. I was merely a little surprised because his name is the same as my son’s.” “Pardon? Is the young master’s name also Kazar?” “Indeed, my son’s name is also Kazar. I named him with the wish that he would grow up healthy and vigorous.” “Your parents must be very proud. Seeing you grown so healthy…”
The noblewoman spoke while looking Kazar up and down. Her gaze was filled with envy. Seeing that look, Ernolf realized a new fact.
