Ch. 22: The Corrupt Priest's Escape
Escape.
Escape.
Dozens of men, their wrists simply bound together, trudged behind the blue-haired woman. They should have reached Kelton long ago, having left Guis, but she was still on the road.
It all started with a chance encounter. While traveling from Guis to Kelton, she ran into some of the notorious Snow Bear Bandits. That encounter left her mildly inconvenienced; the eighty-three Snow Bear Bandits, however, were utterly destroyed.
A man at the rear, eyeing the blue-haired woman, hardened his resolve. No matter how strong that woman was, she was still human, and considering the distance, he was sure he could escape if he ran with all his might. She wouldn't abandon dozens of loosely-bound prisoners just to chase one man. Surely, the rest would all escape if she did.
The man acted quickly. He'd already worked free of the loose wrist bindings. He held his breath, taking a few steps back, but the woman didn't notice. He tried to fall further behind.
Thwack.
"Aaargh!"
A dagger flew and pierced the man's thigh. The other prisoners watched the fallen man with pity. They were about to speak, but when the blue-haired woman turned and walked back towards them, they all fell silent.
"Aaaargh!"
She calmly yanked the dagger from his thigh. Blood spurted out, staining the white snow red.
The woman examined the wound with her blue eyes and said briefly.
"Looks like you can't walk anymore."
"Plea, please spare m..."
His head rolled to the ground before he could finish begging. The woman wiped the blood from the dagger and sword, then closed her eyes and prayed.
"Holy Flame, burn away this man's sins."
Blue flames bloomed on the snowfield and engulfed the dead man's body. Leaving the charred remains behind, she spoke.
"Walk."
The prisoners squeezed their eyes shut and marched on.
During the night, the woman had invaded their hideout. She'd silently incapacitated their comrades, tied up those who could walk, and ordered them to follow. Those who couldn't walk, she killed and burned.
The priestess of the Blue Flame calmly returned to the front of the line and continued on.
After half a day's walk, as dusk fell, she finally reached Kelton.
"Halt!"
The guards were baffled by the sight of a single woman leading dozens of bound men, but they did their duty.
"Wh-who are you?"
The woman smiled brightly and lifted her black robe to reveal her priestly robes. The soldier sighed in relief and said.
"Ah, a priestess of the Holy Flame. And who are these men, and why are they bound?"
The Blue Flame priestess glanced back and prodded the first man in line with her scabbard. The man quickly shouted louder than anyone else.
"W-we are the Snow Bear Bandits!"
At that energetic answer, she gave a satisfied smile and said to the soldier.
"So they say."
The Snow Bear Bandits were the ones with a bounty on their leader's head. The soldier studied the man who'd answered so eagerly and realized it was the bandit leader himself, 'Snow Bear Bilk'."
It was hard to believe this was the man known for his bear-like ferocity.
"Excuse me..."
The soldier startled and snapped back to attention at the woman's soft voice.
"Ah, yes. Are you turning these bandits over to us?"
The woman slowly nodded her head.
"Yes, they're a bit much for me to handle."
It was far more than 'a bit,' but the soldier held his tongue.
"Priestess, I must inform you of something."
"Yes?"
"There's a bounty on the leader, but Lord Kelton, who offered it, has passed away. It might take a day or so to get the reward money."
The woman blinked her large eyes and asked the soldier back.
"Lord Kelton is dead?"
"Yes. Worshippers of the Evil God rampaged, and all of Kelton's citizens, including the Lord, were killed."
The woman's face hardened at the terrible news.
"What happened to those Evil God's worshippers?"
The soldier replied in a slightly excited voice.
"Priest Marnak, the Adversary of the Evil God, killed them all, along with the monsters they created! He was wounded in the battle and unconscious for ten days, but he woke up just this morning!"
Marnak, the Adversary of the Evil God? The name was familiar... She remembered the demon slayer of Guis, the one who'd captured a demon with a single sword, was also named Marnak.
"Do you know where the Adversary of the Evil God is staying?"
The soldier replied with a bright smile.
"Certainly! Priest Marnak is meeting with other priests right now!"
***
"Hahaha! All hail Marnak, Adversary of the Evil God!"
A mountain of a man, a priest of the Restoration Church, raised his glass, and dozens of other priests echoed his toast.
"All hail the Adversary of the Evil God!"
"Hail!"
The Restoration priest, with a mug the size of his head, downed the entire contents in one go.
Bang!
The Restoration Church priest slammed his empty glass down roughly and shouted loudly.
"Another! Hahaha!"
I watched them, sipping my own drink. Still no taste.
It started as a meeting to share information about the cultists I'd killed. But once my story was told, the Restoration priests broke out the food and drink, and it turned into a party.
Honestly, I think they just used my 'heroism' as an excuse to get drunk.
"Hail to the Evil God's Adversary Marnak!!!"
'Kill!!!'
Mother was thrilled by the praise. Every toast, she'd gleefully shout, 'Marnak, Adversary of the Evil God!'
I squeezed Mother's twitching hand and sighed.
"Haa."
These priests were friendly enough now, not knowing who I really was. If they knew I was a corrupt priest, they'd cut me down without a second thought.
I wanted to avoid priests as much as possible. The less I saw them, the less likely I'd be exposed.
I'd tried to get out of this meeting, but as the only witness to the cultists, I had to be here.
"Are you alright? Maybe the party is too much after ten days unconscious."
I gave Carmen a grateful smile. He'd given me the perfect out. Bless him.
"Actually, I am feeling a bit under the weather."
Carmen looked at the noisy priests and whispered to me in a small voice.
"Just slip away quietly. I'll cover for you if anyone asks."
I nodded my thanks and slipped away. A man was waiting for me in Carmen's tent as I returned, the night air cool on my skin.
The demon chuckled and said.
"A priest of the Evil God, celebrated by other priests... I have to share this."
I pulled up a chair and slumped down. Dealing with the priests made me unconsciously tense, so I was very tired.
"And a demon, wandering freely among priests, is hardly less ironic."
"Hahaha! Is that so? Well, I suppose you could think of it that way."
"But why are you here yourself?"
None of the other lords, except for the demon lord, had come to Kelton in person. There was no reason for them to come in the first place.
The demon replied with a bright smile.
"I heard of Priest Marnak's magnificent victory over the cultists and came to hear the tale! I know you've told it before, but indulge me, won't you?"
There was no reason not to. I glanced at the demon's face and replied.
"It's not much of a story, really..."
Unlike the embellished version I'd given the priests, I told him the truth. He reveled in the story, his face a shifting mask of emotions.
"Such a thrilling tale! Hahaha! If I weren't trapped in this form, I'd follow you everywhere! What a pity!"
"Likewise."
The demon, who had been chuckling for a while, slowly opened his mouth.
"Since you've entertained me so well, I must return the favor. I have a story for you, Priest Marnak."
A story to tell?
"What is it?"
The demon looked around and whispered to me in a small voice.
"A Blue Flame priestess of the Holy Flame Church, a woman with striking blue hair, is searching for you. She has a rather poor drawing."
The moment I heard that story, goosebumps ran down my spine. Damn it.
"Did she... did she seem to know I was alive?"
I stuttered slightly, too flustered. The demon shook his head at my question.
"She wasn't certain, but she wasn't giving up the search, either. I rushed here to keep you two apart."
I asked very, very carefully.
"Is she... is she in Kelton?"
"She set out this way, but she hasn't arrived. Perhaps some misfortune befell her?"
Absolutely not. If she was coming to Kelton, my choice was only one.
Leave Kelton with Carmen tonight.
I decided to ask the demon for a favor. A favor... to help me slip away tonight.
"Would it be alright if I asked you for a favor?"
The demon said with a bright smile.
"Perfect timing. I was getting bored. I'll help."
So, that night, with the demon's aid, I fled Kelton with a very drunk Carmen.
Staying in Kelton was madness if there was even the slightest chance of meeting her.
Because, the strongest human I knew was that four-and-a-half-fingered woman.
***
The Blue Flame priestess, arriving late to the revelry, took a drink and turned to the Restoration priest beside her.
"Excuse me, where is the Evil God's Adversary Priest Marnak?"
The huge Restoration priest shifted his bulk and boomed,
"All hail Marnak!"
Realizing she'd missed the Adversary of the Evil God for tonight, she decided to stay until morning. She had to collect the bounty, anyway, and perhaps she could see him then.
Of course, Marnak had already left Kelton.
***
Two weeks had passed since our flight from Kelton. We'd passed through two cities, never staying more than a day. Thankfully, Carmen had agreed to my frantic pace with good humor.
He was truly a good client and travel companion.
We continued west, searching for Carmen's mother. Ahead, we saw a carriage approaching, surrounded by a dozen or so guards.
Carmen narrowed his eyes and looked at the carriage, then spoke to me.
"Marnak, that looks like the Irmel crest."
After two weeks on the road, Carmen had asked to drop the formalities, and I'd agreed. We were close enough in age.
"Irmel? As in, the Great Lord Irmel of the South?"
I stuck with honorifics, though, out of habit. We'd grown used to the mix of formal and informal speech.
"Yeah, that white camellia is the Irmel crest."
Irmel was one of only four Great Lord families in the Northern Kingdom.
"Should we greet them if they approach?"
"Nah. No lord's banner. Probably just some branch family member or a kid. Let's just keep moving."
We decided to pass by quietly.
As we passed by the carriage, something caught my sharp senses.
"Mmph mmph!"
A muffled sound, as if someone's mouth was bound.
I quickly lowered my voice and asked Carmen.
"The Irmels are loaded, right?"
"Filthy rich... Why?"
I made up my mind.
"I think someone's tied up in that carriage. Probably whoever owns it."
Carmen's face hardened. I knew what he'd do.
"Can you help?"
"Of course."
Carmen nodded his head with a determined look and shouted loudly.
"I want to meet the person inside the carriage!"
No answer. Instead, the guards drew their swords. So much for peaceful.
If so, then it was time for action, not words. I lunged, drawing the Butcher and flicking it on. It roared to life.
Wheeeeeeeeng!
The Butcher met a sword, shattering the steel blade and ripping through the swordsman's neck.
"Aaargh!"
An arrow shot from behind me, piercing the eye of a man charging at me. I yanked the Butcher free and swung, cleaving the man in two.
I wiped the blood from my face and grinned.
"Eight left now.”
