Chapter 041
Someone called him by that name.
Time stopped for Ran.
His subconscious retraced memories.
Priest Cyrano, Ran's past self, was turning his back on Quersa.
He looked back, a bundle slung over his shoulder.
The monumental gate of the Quersa temple, towering as if touching the sky, was slowly closing.
The view of Quersa visible through the narrowing gap in the gate grew smaller and smaller.
At last, the gate closed and Cyrano was exiled.
??? And thus, he became Ran.
Standing at the border between Cyrano and Ran, he asked,
"Why didn't you tell me?"
His eyes grew hot. He wanted, with all his heart, to pour out the pent-up resentment.
"I too am a servant devoted to the Lord's mission, just like you, brother. I only fulfill my assigned role."
Ran tilted his head far back. He barely managed to hold back his tears. He let out a sigh. His vision turned yellow.
"It would've been better if you'd just told me from the start. Did it really have to be this way? At least when I went to find Susan, just then, even just then, you could have simply stayed by my side, right? You could have."
"My mission is to witness the final moments of my brethren. The Lord has assigned me only that."
"? By 'final moments', do you mean I'm about to die?"
The priest fell silent. But not for long.
"The Lord said: 'Those children who are weary from serving with all their hearts will come here to rest; serve them.' As foretold, though each had a different reason, brothers at death's door found their way here, and I prayed that they could go peacefully to the Lord's embrace."
Aimless wandering had brought him here. There was no particular meaning or purpose. No one would rummage through the church just to chase an inquisitor, so he thought he could at least catch a brief respite.
"It's not my time yet."
Ran spoke firmly.
He had always stood at the threshold between life and death.
There had been countless moments when a single step forward would have meant crossing over into death. Beyond the threshold, a sweet voice always beckoned.
You can rest now. No one will condemn you.
The priest, whom Ran remembered as Adolf, had only ever seen people who succumbed to that temptation, or who were truly exhausted.
He was startled.
An overwhelming vitality was wrapping around Ran.
He had only ever witnessed the opposite—the last flames of life flickering out.
At some point the priest began, almost entranced, to mutter.
"Because you always face death head-on, you cling to life more than anyone."
Perhaps rest does not necessarily mean death.
It was the first time the priest had thought such a thing since receiving his divine calling.
"Hoo."
Ran took a deep sniff.
That was how he gathered his emotions. It was no bluff when he said it's not his time to rest. If anything, his mind felt clearer.
"How long have you been here? Are there other Quersa priests besides me? I want to cooperate with them. And I have more questions—"
"Brother."
Once again, the voice pressed down heavily.
He too was a Quersa priest who had infiltrated the mainland under secret orders, just like Ran. It was a long time ago.
Though he spoke with Lord Asriel's voice, the true mission was to provide funerals for the 'Apostles of the Secret Order'—to honor the souls of priests dying alone in foreign lands.
He received information about the priests entering the mainland from Quersa in advance. That was all he knew.
The priest decided not to reveal even this much. He closed his eyes softly and shook his head.
"No matter what you ask, you won't find the answers you seek from me. I only do my duty. Besides, just as with Brother Cyrano today, this sort of situation is a first for me as well. When I am so lacking, with what face could I presume to elaborate to you? However—"
The priest placed both hands neatly below his chest.
"The Lord has arranged everything. If He has led you here, there must be a reason for it."
Even as he said this, the priest continued to observe the surging vitality emanating from Ran. His spiritual power was beginning to take form.
Ran's body faintly glowed. The radiance formed a clear gold halo.
The priest's eyes and mouth widened in surprise. Ran himself seemed unaware of what was happening to him.
The priest squeezed his eyes shut and reopened them hastily.
The light had vanished, but that didn't seem to be the reason. A flustered voice called out.
"Priest! Priest!"
It was the girl Ran had met earlier.
She came running, breathless.
"Outside, outside, there are people—"
"People?"
She glanced at Ran for reassurance.
"T-the Special Unit and the Holy Knights? That's what they said."
The priest was undisturbed. Until now, Lord Asriel's prophecies had never been wrong. For a moment, he'd been tempted by a fleeting delusion and nearly doubted God.
He recited a prayer. A strange sense of relief washed over him.
Because he could complete his task? Because it proved that God was never wrong? Or because he could convince himself what he'd seen in Ran was just an illusion?
The priest didn't have an answer. He soothed the girl and told her to wait in a side room.
When he turned back, Ran's back came into view.
It wasn't the back of a man resigned to his fate.
"Priest, the Lord does not foresee our every step."
"Even defying the natural order is fate, and the one who designs fate is the Lord alone."
"In that case, I will prove it."
Thud, thud!
The church doors shook.
Ran silently exchanged glances with the priest.
The priest stepped forward and put both hands on the door handle. He looked back.
By then, Ran had already donned his beaked mask.
It might be a last will, yet he asked an unexpected question.
"Susan doesn't know anything, right?"
The priest's puzzled face quickly softened into a gentle smile. He nodded.
Creeaak.
As the door opened, all manner of dazzling, garish lights from the darkness rushed into the church.
Holy knights in gleaming silver armor were arrayed in formation just outside the door. Torches flickered fiercely behind them.
"Priest."
One holy knight among the ranks gave the priest a formal salute.
His bow was polite, but his eyes flitted busily between Ran and the priest.
"This man is Ran, a former inquisitor of the Special Unit, currently considered a grave threat to the order. Were you aware of that?"
Ordinarily, holy knights would treat priests serving in a church as their superiors.
But that was not due to rigid hierarchy like soldiers, but simply as a courtesy to fellow clergy of the same faith.
'Seriously, a demon priest? If it were me, I'd be laying low, not sticking my neck out at a time like this.'
The holy knight shot Ran a look. Demons were easy to spot at a glance.
A long time ago, he'd returned to the faith, but hadn't advanced up the ranks, and now sat in a remote outer cathedral, a sickly old man waiting quietly for death.
It was easy to picture the sort of life he'd led. The holy knight barely stifled a snort.
"This isn't the time for silence. Priest, are you also under suspicion of heresy?"
"Enough talk. Let's just go. I'll walk out on my own."
Ran cut in abruptly. His unyielding demeanor seemed to rattle the holy knight.
"Ran?!"
An unexpected figure called out as if they knew him. Ran, inside his mask, was visibly surprised.
"Alvin. I see you're back on your feet already? Youth really is remarkable."
"I'll rip that mouth off you!"
"Alvin!"
Another holy knight barked. Alvin grit his teeth and stepped back, fists trembling.
Soon the holy knights stepped aside, and Ran slowly stepped outside.
He didn't look the least bit intimidated. The priest took in his profile with a placid gaze.
He played his part impressively well, very much in keeping with a priest of Quersa.
As Ran walked past the priest, he paused for a brief moment, then left the church without saying anything else.
Whoooo—
A sudden gust of cold wind swept across the ground. Winter was coming even to the capital.
The moment Ran stepped outside the church, nearby holy knights fell in behind him. They formed a broad cordon around Ran alone.
The holy knights at the head led the way. Occasionally Alvin shot him cutting glances over his shoulder.
Of course, Ran paid them no mind.
"Huh."
Ran let out a short sigh.
First, because he hadn't realized there was such a wide, desolate square even in Gerinhild, the capital. The other reason: there were far more of them than he'd expected.
'There are way too many.'
Thanks to the many raised torches, it was easy to make out the crowd.
Each group was made up of Holy Knights led by Gordon and Tessa, and the Special Unit.
"Reunion came sooner than I thought."
"Officer Dergagne."
"No, commander. Special Unit Commander Tessa Dergagne. If you ever served on the Special Unit, I'd appreciate you minding the rank."
Behind Tessa, members of the Special Unit in black uniforms stood stiffly.
To them, Ran had once been a comrade. They'd witnessed Mad Dog Ran's exploits up close. Now he was an enemy. Some forced themselves to swallow, nerves stretched tight.
"Didn't I warn you I was watching? You didn't notice being tailed at all, did you? Was it on purpose? Or did you really let your guard down, the infamous Mad Dog himself?"
Honestly, there was nothing to say.
He hadn't detected the tail at all.
Fatigue had built up. Any ordinary person would have collapsed long ago. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd slept soundly.
"Dog seller Zima. Where is he now?"
This time it was Gordon. The old knight wore none of his usual foxlike slyness. His characteristic laid-back air was gone.
Instead of answering, Ran glanced around. Within a twenty-pace radius, members of the Special Unit and holy knights had formed a tight circle around him.
"Shouldn't you be swearing revenge for your dead subordinates first, or something like that?"
"Don't play word games, young mercenary."
Gordon admitted frankly.
He hadn't realized it would be this hard to get the vessel from Zima. However sharp Zima was, he was a toothless tiger now; swallowing up the faltering Special Unit had been easy.
'No one can see an inch ahead in life.'
The title of Vice-Captain of the Holy Knights was not given to just anyone. The old knight had survived many trials to reach this position. Yet he still felt lacking. He repeated achievement and repentance.
'I paid no attention at all to this Mad Dog Ran.'
Gordon had three daughters. He'd meant to take Demian Hildebrandt as his son-in-law. Demian himself was aware of this. Smart Demian was virtually family to him.
'I'm sorry.'
He was glad that avenging Demian was directly tied to bringing this affair to a close. It was simple: eliminate here the right hand of Zima and the direct culprit behind Demian's death. As a bonus, they could cover up the Holy Knights' missteps.
"You may not realize it, but Mad Dog Ran is no ordinary man."
Tessa whispered quietly beside him. Gordon didn't take his eyes off Ran.
"I hear my people owe you a debt. I know about it."
"Is it necessary to risk needless loss?"
Gordon looked at Tessa as if wondering if she had a cunning plan. A confident smile spread across the young Special Unit captain's face.
'Don't tell me she's planning for everyone to attack at once.'
Ran steadied his breath. If the area had been narrower, each movement would require calculation, making things harder.
'I can handle this.'
He clenched his fist hidden beneath his cloak.
In the Special Unit camp, a figure stirred. Ran sharpened his senses.
An electric silence hung in the air as one inquisitor stepped forward.
He stopped ten paces from Ran.
Ran tilted his head.
'A reindeer mask?'
He was the inquisitor who had accompanied the expedition to Haskinderun, and was present in the village where they encountered the specter Esteban.
Shing.
The reindeer mask silently drew his sword. Ran remembered he had always been taciturn.
Step, step.
Sword drooping low, the reindeer mask slowly closed the distance.
Ran made no particular move.
Although the blade shimmered cold and blue, there was no real killing intent from the man himself.
"??."
The two masked men stood face to face.
Now they were only five steps apart.
Crunch!
Suddenly, the reindeer mask thrust his sword into the ground.
Ran watched in confusion as murmurs rose behind him.
Tessa, Gordon, all wore baffled expressions.
"What's he doing?"
Tessa demanded an answer from Jose.
It was the Black Wolf Jose, wearing his wolf mask, who had suggested to Tessa that they face Ran as an inquisitor. He was standing in for Felix.
Jose, face hidden behind the wolf mask, said nothing.
Tessa frowned at his profile, but had no time to press further. The reindeer mask's unusual behavior was not over.
From up close, Ran and the reindeer mask looked as if they were quietly talking.
"Ran."
The reindeer mask spoke in a voice just low enough for Ran alone to hear, calm and composed.
'He knows me?' Ran thought. The way he said his name, he seemed oddly familiar, like someone known a long time.
He suddenly extended his arm.
He was holding out a sword.
"Take it. You'll need it. The brethren will handle the rest."
Having just met the Quersa priest, the shock was somewhat dulled.
Half in a daze, Ran took the sword. The sheath looked hastily wrapped in low-quality leather.
"Father waits for you at the imperial road."
Without hesitation, the reindeer mask turned away and drew the sword he had planted in the ground.
He aimed the blade at the Special Unit and Holy Knights.
He spoke.
I am Corbinian of Zima's family.
Now it is time for vengeance.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn...
People introduced on the earlier chapters are now showing their purpose.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】