Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 172
“We weren’t fighting. Just a bit of sparring.”
But Guy had almost fallen off his horse. Irene narrowed her eyes at him.
“If you ask Guy, he’ll say the same thing.”
“Fine, then.”
As they traveled, whenever there was spare time, the group gathered for discussions, brainstorming how to deal with the remaining heretics.
“By the way, there’s a dangerous cliff in this region. A river flows at the base of the steep cliff, and though the water’s deep, there are rocks scattered about, making it perilous even if you fall into the river.”
“Could the heretics be trying to lure us there deliberately?”
“It’s possible.”
Various ideas were exchanged as they drew nearer to their destination. Finally, they reached a small village situated just beneath their goal.
The village, home to only a few hundred people, looked on with confused expressions at the sudden influx of visitors. However, once Burt, Guy, and Grein promised them ample compensation, a part of the village was offered to them for lodging.
“They haven’t reached this far yet, it seems,” Grein observed.
Allen replied,
“The rumored village is deeper inside. If it weren’t for the priest on pilgrimage, we might not have known about this for some time. It’s a coincidence upon coincidence.”
“A coincidence, is it?”
It all seemed a bit too convenient. Grein’s face showed a trace of unease.
“We’re considering the possibility of a trap as well.”
“As expected of Sir Allen. You’re someone we can trust.”
“I’m simply doing what needs to be done.”
Allen answered as he gazed up at the mountain. The rugged terrain suggested that the path ahead wouldn’t be easy.
“For now, we’ve come a long way, so rest should be our first priority.”
The village chief offered to provide food, but Allen declined. He didn’t want to risk eating unfamiliar food and getting sick, which could make them a laughingstock. Instead, he and the other holy knights ate the dried provisions they had brought along.
They used the village’s well for water, but before drinking it, a priest purified it with divine power. Attacks through poisoned food or water were common throughout history.
“We would never do such a thing!”
The village chief, alarmed by the display, hurriedly protested.
“It’s alright. We trust you, but this is simply standard procedure. We ask for your understanding,”
Allen reassured the chief, explaining the reasons behind their actions.
They spent the night in the village, and the next morning, preparations for the expedition began.
“Saintess, please remain in the village.”
“If I stay, someone will need to stay behind to protect me. Won’t that be more of a burden?”
“It’s far better than the risk of you getting hurt.”
“We’re dealing with heretics. Their god might even join them in battle. Will you still leave me behind?”
“Yes.”
Irene tried various ways to convince Allen, but he remained firm. It seemed they had never intended for her to participate directly. She was angry at this, but there was nothing she could do.
Everyone else agreed with Allen’s decision.
“I told you, I’ll be fine.”
Irene was thoroughly frustrated. No matter how hard she tried to calm herself while sitting in front of the house, her emotions only grew more turbulent.
“They’re only worried about you, Saintess.”
“I know, I know that.”
But she couldn’t understand why she felt so anxious. This time, she had a strong conviction that she *had* to go with them, though she couldn’t easily put it into words.
Irene let out a soft sigh. As she gazed into the distance, she noticed a small shadow moving. What could that be? Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a child.
The scruffy child had dark hair and was limping.
‘What?’
In the central regions, attitudes toward such things were changing, but it took time for that to reach the outskirts. Especially in far-flung villages like this one, where news traveled slowly.
Before she knew it, Irene stood up and began walking toward the child.
“Saintess?”
Lani called out from behind her, but Irene raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. She had guards, so she figured it would be safe enough to approach the child.
“There’s a child over there,”
Irene whispered as she moved cautiously. The child, staring intently at her, didn’t run away.
“Hello?”
Irene knelt down, making sure to meet the child’s gaze as she greeted them, her voice as gentle as she could manage. Still, no response came from the child.
‘Maybe they’re nervous.’
Well, it’s natural to be cautious around strangers.
“I’m Irene. What’s your name?”
“I… I’m Al.”
Al answered in a small, shaky voice, stuttering and trembling frequently. Something about the child seemed off, as if they weren’t in a normal state.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? I can help you—I’m a priestess.”
Irene chose not to reveal she was the Saintess just yet.
“Y-You’re the u-unlucky symbol.”
“Even so, you haven’t heard the news from the central regions, have you? That whole idea of an unlucky symbol is going to disappear. Before the goddess, we are all equals.”
“E-Everyone?”
Al smiled faintly at her words.
“B-but, where’s the S-Saintess?”
“You know the Saintess is here?”
Al nodded.
