#098

“Ah, it’s really summer. I’m dying of heat.”

Ulli spoke five hours after they had left the territory. It was the first day of the new month, and the party had left the territory early in the morning, avoiding people’s eyes.

They had exchanged farewells with the Duke and Moet the previous day, receiving provisions and supplies. He had mentioned the superstition that one only sees someone again if they don’t say goodbye, and said he wouldn’t see them off.

It was the Elves who saw off the party that departed quietly. They had wanted to express their gratitude to Lasano, but couldn’t bring themselves to go to the temple, so they seemed to have waited for today. Anan handed out handmade grass dolls to the party. They were small, star-shaped white dolls.

Arne loved them, saying they reminded him of the children of the Exion Territory, while Lasano and Ulli seemed awkward. Only Kiyen silently accepted them.

“It will only get hotter as we go south, are you alright?”

“I don’t know. Arne, you don’t look alright either?”

Arne, drenched in sweat, smiled with a tired face.

By noon, the sun blazed as if intending to burn everything. The chirping of insects echoed from all directions, and the sharp scent of grass pricked their nostrils. Cullen gazed at the downhill path stretching out under the sunlight that dried his skin.

Summer was the most difficult season for Cullen.

The heat brought back many memories. The scorching heat that covered his skin on the day Gale died, the ashes piled over the bodies of his dead family, the dizzying sights that stung his eyes…….

Every moment of his life had been pain, but places with heat were even more so. Gale, knowing his feelings, avoided commissions in the south whenever possible, and after losing his mercenary band, Cullen himself avoided the south.

But this summer was different. While discomfort still lurked around his chest, it wasn’t unbearable like before. Of course, it was still a little difficult…….

“You don’t seem to be in good condition.”

At Kiyen’s voice from beside him, Cullen turned his gaze. Kiyen, who had been following slowly behind, was now by his side.

“Lord Kiyen.”

“Are you hot?”

He thought Kiyen, who was naturally quiet, wouldn’t find it unusual, but Kiyen seemed to have noticed something. Wondering if he had been watching him, Cullen’s mood instantly improved. Every time he saw Kiyen, a small smile he could no longer hide would appear.

“It’s a little hot.”

“It’s alright to rest. Humans are sensitive to the weather, so it might be good to change your clothes.”

Kiyen’s skin was fair and white, with no trace of sweat. His calm blue eyes even made him feel cool, and his smile deepened.

“My, it’s so sickeningly sweet I can’t stand it.”

Lasano, who was coming from the very back, shouted from afar. Before he could even wonder why he was so quiet today, he started talking again as soon as the journey began.

“The summer before my eyes is burning, yet you make my heart feel as cold as winter!”

“I haven’t done anything.”

Cullen said, his smile not fading. Lasano then pointed a finger at Cullen.

“Aren’t you smiling right now!”

“That’s true.”

Kiyen agreed on a strange point. As Cullen looked at him with a puzzled expression, Kiyen said,

“You smile quite often in front of people lately.”

Is that so? Cullen lightly touched the corner of his mouth. His expressions had certainly become more varied. It wasn’t what he wanted, but things he couldn’t control increased when he was involved with Kiyen, so this was no longer surprising.

“Is that so? I apologize.”

Since he wasn’t someone who smiled often, it might look unpleasant. Thinking so, he hid his smile, and Lasano clicked his tongue.

“Lord Kiyen, perhaps because you are a Dragon, you have absolutely no tact.”

“You were better off lying down.”

Arne, who had become overly protective of Lasano since his injury, heard Kiyen’s words and, flustered, urged his horse towards them.

“Lord Kiyen, you shouldn’t say things like that……! Lasano will be hurt!”

“Do you want to die too?”

Arne, who had mustered courage for a moment, turned his horse back at Kiyen’s words.

“I believe you two will get along well……”

“Is that the result of bravely rushing forward?”

Ulli scoffed at Arne. Leading the way, she shaded her eyes with her hand and shouted, pointing into the distance.

“Let’s rest at that village!”

Looking closely in the direction her finger pointed, she saw a place lined with fences. Unlike the north, it was rare to find such small villages in the southwest, where people living outside the castle walls were hard to find.

So, it wouldn’t be bad to quench their thirst there for a moment and rest in the shade.

“I hope there’s a place to buy clothes.”

“Exactly. Arne, you should take off that Common Priest’s robe too. Just looking at it is hot.”

Arne, who seemed to like the Common Priest’s robe he received from the temple, had been wearing only that outfit for the past few days. He replied hesitantly.

“But how can a priest expose so much skin?”

“Before you became a priest, you must have worn clothes like that.”

“It was too long ago……”

The party entered the village, saying so. Brushing past white-painted wooden fences, they entered a small forest. After passing a path trodden by people, they heard the sound of water. A small, split stream ran along both sides of the path.

“I didn’t know there was a forest here.”

Lasano said, looking around.

Due to Kwanu, the roads within the Duke’s territory were heavily damaged, so they had taken paths used by knights rather than those used by travelers. Was that why they found it? Hidden beyond the vast walls of the Duke’s territory, it was a place Cullen had never seen even in passing.

“It looks old. It’s a style I could see even in my time,”

Kiyen, whose voice had softened after entering the forest, said, pointing to the houses that were gradually appearing.

“Then, will we be able to find any clues related to Akesis?”

Arne, who had been sticking close to the party since arriving in the unfamiliar place, asked. Kiyen replied dryly to his question. Whether it was his imagination or not, his attitude seemed slightly different from when he answered Cullen.

“We’ll have to go and see.”

The party entered the village lined with stone walls. Strangely, however, there were no people. Only the sound of cicadas echoed loudly, and no one was seen walking around. It was the time when people would be farming or working, yet there was no one.

“Is this also a strange village or something?”

Arne asked cautiously, reminded of what had happened in his territory. Ulli also looked suspicious.

“There aren’t even any children playing. It’s a bit strange.”

Just then. Cullen felt a gaze watching them through a window. When he quickly turned his head, his eyes met those of a child peeking through a slightly opened window. The child was looking at Cullen with a curious face, but the window was quickly slammed shut, as if pulled by a parent.

“It seems they are inside the house.”

Cullen dismounted. He walked to the house where he had just seen the child and knocked on the door. Despite the heavy thuds, there was no answer from the house.

“Hmm, it seems disaster follows wherever Lord Cullen goes.”

Lasano’s words made a part of Cullen feel uneasy. Frowning, he knocked on the door again. A gasp was heard from inside. Ulli also dismounted and stood beside him. With Ulli also standing guard, someone shouted from elsewhere.

“You took Ruena, so there’s no need for you anymore! Please leave. There’s nothing for you to take in this village!”

Turning around, a young man stood holding a club. He brandished the club towards the party, his courage overcoming his fear. Parents, who appeared to be his guardians, stood behind him, trying to stop him anxiously.

“Haman, stop it! I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. My child is still young. We’ll take him inside, so……”

Whether they mistook them for someone else or not, the villagers were afraid of them. Cullen approached to ask what was wrong, but the young man only became more wary.

“Excuse me, what’s going on?”

This time, Ulli stepped forward. As she approached, having removed her robe that always covered her face, the young man faltered. Looking down at Ulli with wide eyes, he had a confused expression.

“……Huh? A woman?”

“I’m a woman, so what?”

At Ulli’s sharp retort, the young man’s mother pulled him back.

“There were women among those people, Haman! Apologize quickly and go inside. ……I’m so sorry, please just spare our lives.”

Pushing Haman aside, the mother stepped forward. Her husband also blocked the way of the young man named Haman. Ulli, who suddenly found herself pressuring them, was bewildered as villagers began to emerge one by one. They cautiously opened their doors and surrounded the party, as if to protect their families.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding.”

Just then, Lasano stepped forward. With his usual sly smile, he moved in front of Ulli and Cullen.

“We are an inspection party from the Ruffellon Duke’s Territory. These are mercenaries escorting me, the High Priest.”

While Ulli looked bewildered, the people believed Lasano’s words without question.

“Ah, Ruena said all High Priests have red eyes! It’s true!”

The child who had peeked at Cullen shouted, pointing at Lasano, and their belief turned into certainty. Lasano, who had instantly transformed into a savior, was swarmed by people.

“High Priest, thank you. You’ve come to save us.”

“Please, save Lord Ruena!”

Who is this Ruena that everyone is acting like this for?

Cullen stepped forward to ask, but the villagers flinched back as if frightened. Arne did the same. Sensing they were somehow afraid of the tall figures, Ulli stepped forward.

“Who on earth is Ruena!”

Lasano echoed her words.

“Who is Lord Ruena that you are acting like this?”

Then, the villagers began to explain in unison.

“She is a Common Priest who stayed in our village for a long time. Recently, suspicious people broke in and took Ruena away.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard the name. Can you describe her appearance?”

Just then, Arne made a sound from behind, “Uh……?” and cautiously said,

“Could it be…… someone with white hair and unmoving eyes?”

All eyes turned to Arne at his words. Facing the villagers’ suspicious gazes, Arne awkwardly smiled and moved closer to Cullen. However, meeting Kiyen’s equally suspicious eyes, Arne scratched his head and opened his mouth.

“Now that I think about it, I think someone called my teacher Ruena…… It was so long ago that I had forgotten, but I think that was her name.”

With those words, he smiled brightly.