108

A long night passed; morning finally dawned.

Eleora ultimately decided to turn a blind eye to many of Hamel’s secrets.

And she departed for the order to meet Bishop Arcen.

Early morning, on the road toward the domain.

“It’s quiet,” Ono murmured softly.

As he said, the harbor visible in the distance lay still. It would take time before life and bustle returned. They hadn’t even properly mourned the victims yet.

But…….

—Flap, flap

Several carrier pigeons flew overhead, bearing a letter that announced the harbor’s problem had been resolved and the blockade lifted. It wouldn’t be long before the old energy returned.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes, we should.”

Hamel tightened the reins. Ono, who had been watching the harbor, nodded and fell into step behind him.

Then, at that moment.

“By the way… what’s that?”

“…?”

When he looked at Ono, dust was rising far along the road. It wasn’t natural. At the same time the ground trembled.

“…Could it be enemies?”

“I don’t know.”

Hamel cocked his head at Ono’s tense voice. In the distance came a few cavalry and dozens of soldiers—too few for an attack from a neighboring domain, yet too many to be mere bandits.

Hamel squinted toward the horizon for a moment.

“Ah.”

He broke the silence as if he’d realized something.

Ono quickly asked, “What is it?”

Hamel let out a small laugh and muttered, “They’re coming now that it’s all over.”

“Who are you talking about… ah.”

Only then did Ono frown, as if he, too, had recognized them.

Shortly after:

“Hamel. Are you safe!”

“Didn’t I say that a priest couldn’t possibly lose?”

Daniel and Lena rode up, dozens of soldiers forming ranks behind them.

“But the letter Benjamin sent said the opponent was super-class…”

“Whether the foe was super-class or not, the priest wins.”

“…I thought so too, but…”

Ono muttered in disbelief as he listened. “Two fanatics have come.”

Lena’s ears perked. Calmly, she asked Ono, “Do you have something to say?”

“No, nothing.”

Ono scratched his ear and turned away. Lena, as if expecting nothing better, dismounted and walked to Hamel.

“Sir Daniel. And Miss Lena.”

“Hamel. Sorry I’m late. What happened?”

“It’s over. The super-class demon Lamia has been destroyed.”

“…Impossible!”

Daniel’s eyes shone with shock beneath his helmet. Lena, for some reason, spoke with proud hauteur.

“I knew it would turn out like this. Sir Daniel, your faith is still lacking.”

“…Reflect on yourself.”

Daniel sighed and nodded.

Hamel watched them and hesitated. He wondered whether to tell them he’d almost lost. He’d explain in detail later, but too much trust in him was troublesome—honestly, a burden.

Just as he was about to speak, Lena remembered and produced a letter from her chest.

“Ah, come to think of it, we received a reply from the Magic Tower.”

The letter bore the seal of the colorless tower lord, Agnes. Hamel momentarily forgot what he was about to say and took it. It must be their reply to his earlier inquiry about the fiends’ whereabouts.

Hamel stifled his trembling and slowly broke the seal.

And….

“…!”

Reading, Hamel clenched his fist. He had found it. The Magic Tower had mobilized its intelligence network and, by combining recent sightings, deduced the fiends’ likely location.

‘It may not be certain, but there’s a high probability they’re here.’

Hamel flinched when he read the place name.

Ono, sensing the change, asked with displeasure, “Where is it?”

“Hmm…”

Hamel paused and exhaled. Was this fate, or a connection he didn’t yet know?

He spoke the location quietly. “At the end of the eastern mountain range.”

“There…”

“Yes. It’s where Solmer is located.”

The place Aileen Rengbaster, lord of Rengbaster, had asked him to accompany her to—the domain she believed might harbor followers of Marvas.

Now that they had a lead, there was no need to hesitate.

“Sir Daniel. Prepare to depart as soon as we return to the mansion.”

“Hm? Then you don’t mean…”

“Yes. We’ll depart for Rengbaster as soon as we return to the mansion.”

He wanted to leave at once, but he held back. They needed supplies, and above all…

‘I must replenish the dragon’s blood.’

Hamel checked the empty flask. If he hurried, it wouldn’t be too late.

He adjusted his grip on the reins. After a long while, it was time to set out again—toward the eastern edge, toward Solmer.

“It’s been a while here too,” Daniel murmured as they entered Rengbaster, sounding nostalgic.

Hamel tilted his head. “Didn’t you come here last winter?”

“Oh, did I?”

Come to think of it, it hadn’t been half a year. Daniel’s reaction was likely because so much had happened since then.

At the village entrance the group paused. The reason was obvious.

“The village’s condition isn’t very good,” Hamel murmured.

When he first visited last summer, the village had felt bleak. Now it looked even grimmer. Buildings were neglected, people’s faces dark. There were no women laughing while gathering mushrooms, no cheerful chopping from woodcutters. They should have dealt with Reteil—so why this decline?

It didn’t take long to find the answer.

“Welcome, Lord Hamel.”

Aileen Rengbaster, the domain’s lord, rode out personally. She wore a green cloak and leather armor—more hunter than noble—and dozens of men followed her: crossbowmen, spearmen, archers, swordsmen. They lacked military discipline and ceremony, but a sharp, heavy air surrounded them. It was the same band that had accompanied Aileen before: demon hunters.

Hamel wondered how much she’d spent. Their fees easily doubled ordinary mercenaries’. There was no way the small domain could sustain that for long.

‘It’s a mess,’ he thought, quietly grinding his teeth.

Aileen greeted him warmly. “Does your coming here mean you changed your mind?”

“Yes. If it’s all right, may I accompany you to Solmer as well?”

“…!”

Aileen was so pleased she barely noticed Hamel’s reluctant tone. Her eyes sparkled as she nodded energetically.

“It would be my honor if you would join us. It truly seems God is aiding us.”

“…Yes. That would be good.”

Hamel glanced sideways, meeting the villagers’ wary, fearful gazes from their houses. The atmosphere reminded him of Haidern a year ago—of a domain on the brink of ruin.

‘At most, six months.’

If they kept paying mercenaries much longer, the domain would collapse by next year. Many people would die in the process.

Hamel omitted much and urged, “When will you depart for Solmer?”

“We’ve just finished preparations. We can leave at once.”

“Let’s go immediately.”

Hamel decided to hurry, at least for the sake of the people. If they could avenge themselves at Solmer, Aileen wouldn’t feel compelled to throw money at demon hunters.

On the evening of the third week after leaving Rengbaster.

“Tonight we’ll camp here. Prepare, everyone.”

“Yes!”

They entered an empty ruined castle—long abandoned—and made camp.

Hamel tilted his head. “This is strange. This place is definitely…”

“The Rio domain?” a demon hunter cut in abruptly at Hamel’s mutter.

Hamel nodded. “Yes.”

“Apparently the domain was attacked around this spring. The people, and even the lord’s family in the castle, were either killed or went missing.”

“…So that happened.”

This was news Hamel hadn’t heard—likely something that occurred while he journeyed north. The hunter spat on the ground and warned, “So be careful. You never know what might jump out tonight.”

“We’ll be careful,” Hamel replied calmly. The hunter snorted and walked away.

Ono, watching, stormed up to Hamel with a crumpled expression. “I can’t stand it anymore. How long do you plan to let those bastards act so arrogantly?”

“What are you talking about?”

“…Are you blind? Or are you brainless? Which of the two is just for show?”

Ono panted as if out of breath. His reaction was easy to understand. Exorcist priests were specialists in demon hunting and took pride in their profession. Mercenaries like the demon hunters were treated as second-rate. The hunters didn’t like working with priests.

“Leave them be. It’s true we don’t look particularly strong, is it not?” Hamel refused to be drawn into their power play. He simply didn’t interfere. There was no need to crush their morale deliberately, and he was too lazy to bother. He did worry whether Aileen had proper control over her hunters.

When Hamel didn’t respond, Ono whipped his head toward Lena. “Kid. Don’t you care? Those bastards are acting like dogs.”

“Not particularly. If the priest is fine, then I’m fine too.”

“…Well, you’re no different from them. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Ono then turned to Daniel. “Will you just stand by? Aren’t they insulting your master?”

“Hm, they’re certainly crossing the line more and more.”

“Right?!” Ono brightened at the first sign of someone siding with him.

Daniel spoke loud enough for Hamel to hear. “Right now, Hamel, you’re not only an Exorcist priest but also the lord of Haidern. Them acting so uncouthly might be tolerable once or twice, but if it keeps happening, they’ll need to be put in their place.”

“….”

Hamel set down his pack and looked around. The way to silence that type of mouth was simple: show them strength.

He thought it wouldn’t take long to demonstrate it.