Chapter 33. Cursed Scripture (1)
Shaferia was dizzy with confusion. It was because of the unfamiliar emotions she felt toward Yohan.
An inexplicable sense of affection kept welling up.
She was being drawn to him like a magnet.
Was she saying she was developing feelings for a boy around ten years old? Impossible. A young lady who would have her coming-of-age ceremony in a few years would never be interested in a child who hadn’t even hit puberty.
Shaferia was not that twisted.
These feelings were undoubtedly a mistake.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and spoke.
“……I’ve shown disgrace. I apologize.”
Yohan let out a small laugh and joked.
“When you told me not to come closer, I wondered if I had turned into dung.”
Shaferia frantically waved her hands.
“N-no! I was just…….”
“I was joking. Joking. You were so stiff, I wanted to tease you a bit. But your reaction is quite amusing.”
“Amusing, you say, that’s quite mean.”
Her voice was barely audible.
He wanted to tease her more, but Yohan decided to restrain himself.
There was a far more important topic to address.
He spoke.
“Haha, I went too far with the joke. Shall we get back to the main topic now? You mentioned you had a request earlier.”
What exactly did Shaferia want? Yohan couldn’t guess at all.
Shaferia calmed herself and spoke.
“I know it’s presumptuous, but I have a request. I would like to stay at the lord’s castle for a few weeks, and I would be grateful if you would allow it.”
Had she been chased out of the Order after losing her power? Even so, for her to come to Miyatro Territory, where she had no ties, and seek refuge.
The Shaferia Yohan knew was not someone so brazen.
Hiding his puzzlement, he spoke.
“It’s not a difficult request, but I would like to hear the reason. It feels like just yesterday you left with the pilgrimage group, yet you returned alone with such a request, so I’m a bit surprised.”
Shaferia let out a deep sigh.
“The truth is, something terrible happened to that pilgrimage group.”
“Terrible, you say?”
“It’s no secret, and it will soon be known to the world, so I will tell you.”
She explained the details of the attack to Yohan.
Except for the matter concerning the knight ‘Rail.’
Yohan put on a troubled expression as he spoke.
“Not only a Watcher but even an Apostle appeared. If everything you say is true, doesn’t this mean the prophecy of the Cursed Scripture has begun?”
The Cursed Scripture was the demons’ bible. It was also known as the Apocalypse of the End.
According to its prophecy, the reappearance of an Apostle marked the beginning of the end.
Shaferia spoke with a devastated expression.
“I don’t believe in something like the prophecy of the Cursed Scripture, but it is clear that this incident is a precursor to a disaster that will soon come.”
It had been the same 500 years ago. The world fell into great chaos, starting with the appearance of the Apostles.
If it had not been for the Seven Holy Heroes and the Great Saint Marziel, the world would have perished long ago.
Unfortunately, there were no such people now.
Yohan spoke.
“To prevent that disaster, we must first figure out the Apostle’s goal.”
“It’s still unclear. Even the holy relics remained untouched, so the Order’s investigation team is struggling.”
Yohan slowly nodded. He remained silent for a while, as if deep in thought, before speaking.
“I understand the situation well, but something is missing. What is your true reason for wishing to stay here?”
“As I said, during the battle with the Apostle, I lost my holy power. My status as a Holy Knight has been revoked, and for now, I must live as a cleric and go on a pilgrimage to the holy sites.”
There was a superstition that if one visited all the holy sites, their lost holy power would return.
It was nonsense.
There was no way to regain holy power.
Shaferia added.
“The nearest holy site from here is sleeping within the Abyss.”
She turned her head toward the door where Baron Grian had disappeared.
“If the Watcher of the Abyss permits it, I would like to visit the holy site.”
In short, Shaferia was saying she wanted to stay at the lord’s castle and then leave for the holy site in the Abyss when it opened at the full moon.
Yohan felt uneasy.
She was likely one of the few survivors of the attack. At a time when she should be dragged around giving testimony everywhere, she wanted to live quietly as a cleric? It was an unnatural move.
Yohan tapped the armrest of his chair with his index finger. He silently stared at Shaferia.
She showed signs of discomfort under his gaze, lowering her eyes or clearing her throat.
Amid the silence, Yohan spoke.
“Very well. I will prepare a room for you. Also, I will open the Abyss for you at the full moon.”
“R-really? But regarding the Abyss, the Watcher of the Abyss must……”
“I will speak to my father about it. Don’t worry.”
Shaferia felt a strange sense of incongruity. At some point, she had started treating Yohan like the lord.
Despite the baron’s presence, a boy around ten years old was the decision-maker. It should have felt unnatural, yet everyone accepted it as if it were obvious.
Even Shaferia.
‘An extraordinary boy.’
She felt she needed to be more cautious with him.
She spoke.
“Thank you for your kindness. May the Great Saint’s blessing be upon you.”
“It is a noble’s duty to aid a messenger of God. Please make yourself at home.”
Yohan stood up.
“I will assign a servant to you, so please have them guide you to your room. Rest well today.”
After a few more formal exchanges, they ended the meeting.
Yohan immediately called for Gaf and Ilea.
He felt there was something he had missed.
***
Gaf and Ilea were sitting side by side across from Yohan.
Ilea exchanged relaxed glances with Yohan, but Gaf kept staring at the floor.
Yohan let out a small laugh.
“How long are you going to keep avoiding my gaze?”
Lately, Gaf had never looked Yohan directly in the eyes. He always looked at the distant mountains or lowered his gaze.
It was because of the Great Saint’s Eye.
Ilea spoke with a gentle smile.
“Father, you know the secret of the eye. Powers like that, which affect the mind, weaken when the target is aware of them. Of course, it’s not perfect immunity, but it’s better than most people. You can’t keep avoiding the young master forever, so you should practice looking him in the eye. In the end, it’s a battle of mental strength, and you’re well-versed in that field, aren’t you?”
Persuaded by his daughter, Gaf slowly lifted his head. The moment his eyes met Yohan’s, he lowered his head again.
“Damn it. This feels disgusting.”
“You really have no filter, do you?”
“I’m not even a person.”
Ilea sighed softly as she looked at the two. She immediately changed the subject.
“Why did that woman come here, by the way?”
Yohan briefly explained what he had discussed with Shaferia.
A look of suspicion crossed Ilea’s face.
“They haven’t even uncovered the circumstances of the attack, yet they’re letting the most important witness wander off? That’s odd.”
Ilea was expressing the same doubt Yohan had.
Yohan nodded.
“We need to look into this. Gaf, this is your specialty, isn’t it?”
A mercenary would have experienced all sorts of dirty work.
He would be familiar with tracking and gathering information.
“What do you want?”
“Watch Shaferia’s every move and report everything to me.”
“So this is the price for sparing that girl’s life. You should have just killed her back then.”
“Is that what you really wanted?”
Gaf just scowled without answering.
Yohan let out a small laugh and spoke.
“Now, get moving. It’s time to work.”
Gaf was reluctant, but he had no choice but to carry out Yohan’s orders. Whether he liked it or not, they were in the same boat.
He immediately left the room.
Once they were alone, Ilea spoke.
“The Order’s investigation team must be swarming the South.”
“As expected. After all, it was the appearance of an Apostle.”
“The appearance of an Apostle marks the beginning of the end. The world will link this incident to the prophecy of the Cursed Scripture.”
“That’s what I wanted. Humanity needs to prepare for the end.”
In the original, they had reacted far too late. 500 years of peace had dulled humanity.
Yohan had given them a wake-up call.
By intentionally making the Apostle appear.
Ilea gave a subtle smile.
“In the end, the Miyatro family will gain power.”
She was right. With the downfall of the demons, the Miyatro family had declined, but if the fear of evil resurfaced, the Watcher of the Abyss would regain its former authority.
Yohan nodded.
“You’re sharp. Exactly right.”
“Thank you for the compliment. But is that your only motive, Yohan?”
“What do you mean?”
“I just wondered. Did you really take such risks to awaken humanity’s vigilance merely to strengthen the Miyatro family?”
Yohan had caused a major incident in the South, drawing the world’s attention.
For a half-demon like Yohan, it was a huge risk.
If he only wanted to survive, he should have avoided such actions.
Unless he had another reason.
“What are you trying to say?”
Ilea smiled playfully.
“For example, maybe you’re actually a villain acting for humanity’s sake.”
Yohan’s expression twisted.
“Why would a demon like me do that?”
“Technically, you’re a half-demon. Neither demon nor human.”
Talking with Ilea often made things uncomfortable for Yohan.
He wanted to end the conversation here.
As he was about to change the subject, Ilea spoke.
“But it doesn’t matter. I’m neither human nor demon either. We actually have a lot in common, don’t we?”
Yohan stood up, trying to avoid the conversation.
“The sun will set soon. I should return underground.”
“I’ve already prepared it.”
“Prepared what?”
“Something that can only be done at night.”
Yohan’s brow furrowed.
“What are you talking about?”
“You promised me.”
“What promise……”
“To research your identity.”
Yohan let out a dumbfounded laugh.
“Don’t tell me you’re having weird thoughts.”
Ilea was chuckling as if she found it amusing.
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll cancel the promise.”
“Hey, you can’t do that.”
“I told you last time, didn’t I? I can stop the research at any time if I want.”
Ilea made a gesture as if zipping her lips shut.
“Keep doing that.”
The two left the room together.
As they approached the underground, excitement sparkled in Ilea’s eyes.
Yohan grew tense little by little. Entrusting his body to a witch was frightening for anyone.
‘Should I stop now?’
No. Yohan was also curious about his own true nature, and this was a process he would have to go through eventually.
Better to get it over with sooner.
He braced himself.
“Don’t be too nervous.”
Before he realized it, they had arrived underground.
“I won’t hurt you.”
At the same time, small flames began to light one by one in the dark study.
The surroundings brightened.
Yohan couldn’t help but be startled.
“Ilea, you……”
She gave him a bright smile.
“It’s going to be a very long night, young master.”