Necromancer Of The Black Bible (39)

Ray Blackleaf, the fourth son of the Black Leaf Merchant Guild.

He arrived at the branch in the 5th District of the Theocracy of Kallios with a heavy heart.

He was only two days behind schedule, so most of his assignments could still be fulfilled.

But the death of Captain Garson could not be overlooked.

“So you’re saying you encountered bandits at Shadowpeak? And Garson died there?”

His second brother, Damir, asked in a gentle tone.

But Ray feared him. That’s how his second brother always was.

‘He never scolds in public… but behind closed doors, he punishes severely.’

This was a gathering in front of the Guild’s key figures.

Damir would never reprimand him here. No doubt, he’d summon him tonight and scold him harshly.

This second brother was the one Ray feared most.

“Yes, Brother. Garson challenged a skilled bandit to a duel, and he died within a few exchanges.”

The atmosphere in the office grew heavy.

It was only natural—Garson had held one of the highest positions within the Guild.

He had been the Captain of the Guards, a rank that couldn’t go higher. That such a man was killed by a mere bandit was unbelievable.

Ray’s second brother, Damir, tapped the armrest of his chair with a grave expression.

Ray wanted to crawl into a hole, but he couldn’t.

The report wasn’t finished yet.

He was already branded as incompetent within the family, but he didn’t want to be dismissed as utterly useless.

After a pause, Damir spoke.

“Did you at least bring Garson’s sword?”

“…I did not.”

“I see. Very well. I’ll explain that matter to Father myself. But more importantly…”

Damir’s gaze sharpened as he continued.

“Garson is dead, yet you still made it here? The wagons and cargo seemed mostly intact as well.”

That was true.

The only missing items were a few bottles of wine and some premium meat intended for entertainment.

The rest—silk, spices, and other valuables—remained untouched.

It was a situation that defied common sense.

Ray took a deep breath and relayed the events exactly as they had happened.

How they were locked in cages awaiting death, then rescued by priests of the Theocracy the next day.

And how they all arrived here together.

Hearing this, Damir nodded slowly.

“You were lucky. Or perhaps blessed by Kallios. Without those priests, neither the cargo nor you would have returned.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Did you at least learn their names?”

“Yes. High Priest Mikel von Raiernov, and Investigator Sanchez.”

“Oh? A High Priest aided you?”

“Yes. So I gave him the family’s token of gratitude.”

At Ray’s words, Damir’s expression softened.

He nodded slowly and spoke.

“That’s the best thing you’ve ever done. If you gave the token, he may visit us one day.”

“I urged him to.”

“Well done.”

Damir let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead.

“This isn’t the worst outcome. Though we lost Garson, you gained ties with a High Priest. Father won’t punish you too severely.”

“……”

“That’s all. You may leave.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Ray left the office with relief.

Looking up, he saw the sun was already setting.

‘At last, my first trade expedition is over.’

His father, Cain Blackleaf, had declared before sending him out.

If this journey failed, he would strike Ray’s name from the family registry.

Though Garson was lost, he succeeded in delivering most of the goods to the Theocracy.

‘But… will this really be enough?’

This alone wouldn’t earn his father’s approval.

Perhaps a second trial awaited.

If such trials continued, he might die abroad someday. He couldn’t expect luck like this again.

Ray traced two concentric circles over his chest.

The sign of the Kallios faith.

Through this ordeal, he decided to embrace faith.

Meanwhile, Damir, having finished his duties, slipped out the back door of the office and approached the cargo Ray had brought in today.

‘The third bundle in the first wagon. Here it is.’

He carefully untied the rope and lifted a box.

A fine box wrapped in purple silk.

He opened it, and a rich fragrance rose as its contents were revealed.

An herb as large as a grown man’s forearm.

It was a hundred-year ginseng.

It was something Damir had specifically asked his father to transport.

‘The fragrance is strong… and this color.’

Normally, ginseng carries a pale yellow hue, but a hundred-year ginseng radiates a deep golden light.

Its fragrance is richer and gentler than most flowers.

‘This is the real thing.’

It matched every description he’d read in books.

With this, he could finally achieve his goal.

‘Erian.’

Erian was Damir’s only daughter.

She had been born nine years ago after much difficulty, so he raised her with utmost care.

But last winter, she had fallen ill with an unknown disease.

Her complexion paled without reason, and she often grew dizzy.

Recently, even standing up had become too much for her.

Even the most renowned priests in the Theocracy had been summoned, but to no avail.

Their holy power would give her strength for a short time, but within half a day, the symptoms always returned.

One priest had suggested that a hundred-year ginseng might cure her, so he begged his father to obtain it.

‘This time, I can heal her.’

Damir’s steps carried newfound strength as he held the ginseng.

He had never walked so lightly.

He hurried to the kitchen, where the priest he had arranged beforehand was waiting.

Damir bowed respectfully and presented the ginseng box.

“The item has arrived. Please verify it.”

The priest carefully opened the box and examined the ginseng.

He picked it up, inspected it from various angles, and nodded.

“It is genuine. With this, your daughter should recover.”

“I entrust this to you.”

Damir bowed again and stepped back to observe the priest.

This was something he could have delegated, but he could not.

His daughter’s life was at stake—he had to see it with his own eyes.

What if the priest tried to steal the ginseng?

What if he overcooked it and ruined the potency?

What if the cauldron cracked during the process?

Even in the virtuous Theocracy of Kallios, petty thieves existed.

Someone might steal the finished medicine.

‘I must be ready for anything.’

So Damir stood his ground.

The priest, aware of his watchful eyes, continued the process.

He stacked birch logs and lit the hearth.

The birch logs had also been specially prepared a week earlier.

To brew fine medicine, steady heat was needed, and birch was the preferred wood.

Mana stones could be used instead, but that required a mage—and mages were not welcome here.

Birch wasn’t the only thing Damir had prepared for this day.

The cauldron, the decoction pot, the cloths, even the spoons.

All procured at the highest quality, on expert advice.

The priest preparing the remedy was also one of the best in the Theocracy.

So success was certain—so it had to be.

‘She must recover.’

Damir bit his lip and watched the process intently.

The priest filled the cauldron with holy water blessed by the god Kallios and set it to boil.

After checking the heat, he added the hundred-year ginseng and other herbs suited to the girl’s illness.

After simmering for a long time, the priest lifted the lid and stirred the brew with a rod.

The blended scent of ginseng and herbs filled the air.

Though it was late and time to sleep, the fragrance only sharpened Damir’s focus.

Hours passed.

The priest filled a bowl with the medicine and approached him.

“It is finished.”

“Will this be enough?”

“If my diagnosis was correct, this will ease your daughter’s illness.”

“Then… let us go.”

Damir went with him to the annex where his daughter stayed.

His daughter was talking with someone.

He heard soft laughter and conversation.

It was his younger brother Ray, who had arrived earlier, keeping her company.

‘Good boy.’

Ray lacked business sense and was incompetent, but he was good at this—playing with children, getting along with people.

Erian especially adored him. With no friends due to her confinement, she always smiled when talking to Ray.

For that, Damir valued Ray highly.

He had even urged their father to give Ray more chances. In fact, Ray’s opportunity on this journey had been thanks to Damir’s support.

‘Once Erian recovers, she’ll make plenty of friends.’

Then she wouldn’t need Ray to keep her from being lonely.

Soon, Damir opened the annex door.

The servants bowed, and Ray stepped out.

“You’re here, Brother?”

“Yes. Why are you here instead of resting?”

“I wanted to see Erian. And I had a promise to keep.”

“I see. Then leave now—it’s time for her treatment.”

“Yes, Brother.“

Ray gave Erian a little wave and left.

Damir took a deep breath and entered her room with the priest.

His daughter looked visibly frail, yet she still smiled brightly.

“Papa!”

Damir sat on the bed and embraced his daughter, who had reached out to him.

“Erian. Today I’ve brought the medicine that will heal you.”

“Medicine? Is it too bitter?”

“Just endure it this once.”

“You said that last time, too.”

At her complaint, Damir smiled gently.

He patted her back softly and replied.

“This time it’s real. Uncle Ray brought it earlier.”

“Really? Uncle Ray? He gave me this doll earlier too.”

Erian held up a doll of wood, cotton, and thread. Judging by its clumsy craft, it was Ray’s handiwork.

Damir stroked her hair and said.

“You must get well soon. Uncle Ray went this far for you, didn’t he?”

“Mm. I’ll get better quickly. Give me the medicine.”

Erian held out her hands bravely, and Damir signaled the priest.

The priest uncovered the bowl and spooned a portion into her mouth.

“Mm… bitter.”

“Just bear with it.”

“Ugh…”

Though grimacing, Erian kept drinking spoon after spoon, trusting it would make her better.

By the time the bowl was nearly empty, she yawned.

“Ah, I’m sleepy.”

Damir looked to the priest, who explained.

“The medicine is taking effect. If she rests well, she will feel light tomorrow.”

Damir sighed in relief.

As the priest said, Erian began to nod off, and Damir laid her comfortably on the bed.

Afterward, he returned to his room.

Dreaming of seeing his daughter cured.

But the next morning…

She did not open her eyes.

The next day, and the day after that, she still did not wake.