Chapter 146: An Unintended Encounter

The carriage entered the campsite that the Messengers of Grace had set up.

High Priestess Marianne and Holy Knight Larsen stared intently at that carriage.

A strangely shaped snake was drawn on the carriage’s canopy.

“Ah…… is it yours?”

I couldn’t tell exactly what kind of animal the snake drawn on the carriage was supposed to be.

Larsen, who pondered for a moment, also found it difficult to nod at Marianne’s question.

“Please wait a moment.”

“What are you planning to do?”

Larsen ran straight and stood in front of the carriage.

The man holding the reins, startled, pulled them hard as the carriage was about to turn.

“Whoa! Whoa―!”

“I’d like to ask you something.”

“You’re startling the horses! How can you just jump out like that?”

“I’m sorry. This is truly important.”

“What is it?”

“Where is this carriage coming from, by any chance?”

The man riding the carriage looked around.

He saw a woman and a man wearing priestly robes nearby.

Beside them stood several sturdy men.

A strange combination―the man sitting in the carriage tilted his head in confusion.

“I’m coming from Fanir. But why are you asking?”

“You mean Fanir Territory of the Dior Empire?”

“Unless there’s another kingdom with a Fanir Territory, yes, that one.”

“By chance, do you know anything about the Messengers of Grace said to have been active in the southeastern region of the Dior Empire?”

“W-what do you mean…….”

The moment he heard that question, the man’s gaze shifted to the side.

That was because his true identity was Fordman, who had sold numerous goods under Raion’s command.

“The emblem drawn on your carriage canopy. Someone from that region claimed to have seen people with that. So please, don’t feign ignorance.”

With those words, Larsen revealed the pure-white sword hanging at his waist.

A symbol that he belonged to the Bachenan Holy Kingdom as a Holy Knight.

Having deep knowledge of merchandise, Fordman couldn’t possibly fail to recognize it.

“A Holy Knight of Bachenan……?”

“Correct. So I trust you understand why I’m asking.”

His face already showed certainty.

The Dragonia emblem painted on Fordman’s carriage was that unfamiliar.

“I only sold goods. Nothing more.”

“Then that means you were traveling with those who impersonated the Messengers of Grace.”

“Is selling goods a crime too?”

Larsen Heights’ gaze moved across various parts of the carriage.

Aside from the unusual emblem, it was an ordinary merchant’s carriage.

And if he had been an accomplice of those impersonators, he wouldn’t be traveling separately like this.

“I’m not here to accuse you of a crime. We’re only searching for them.”

The Bachenan Holy Kingdom worshiped Zigasis, the goddess of Sun and Blessing. Impersonating priests of such a place was a grave sin.

Naturally, Fordman found it difficult to believe Larsen’s words.

“I really don’t know. As I said earlier, I only sold goods.”

“Do you not know where they headed? Or at least where they came from, or where they were from?”

He was hoping to find any trace.

At this, High Priestess Marianne, who had been standing behind, also stepped forward.

“We are not doing this to harm anyone. I can swear this in the name of Zigasis, the goddess of Sun and Blessing.”

A vow that could not be made carelessly.

Marianne and the other priests were that earnest in carrying out the Holy Pontiff’s decree.

“I truly don’t know.”

Naturally, Fordman had no intention of betraying Raion or the Canel Kingdom.

“If you need something, we can also compensate you.”

“C-compensate?”

Fordman’s eyes subtly shifted sideways.

He seemed to be recalling something.

“What kind of compensation exactly……? And nothing bad will happen to me, right?”

“Not at all. And the compensation will be handled properly through the Holy Kingdom.”

“Hm……”

“Please. We’re searching for them for a very important reason.”

“Can you tell me what that reason is?”

Fordman was somewhat curious why they were trying to find Raion and the others.

Since they didn’t seem to think he was part of the group, he subtly asked.

“It may be difficult to explain, as it concerns an important matter.”

“Mmm……”

To the group of High Priestess Marianne, tracking down the impersonators of the Messengers of Grace wasn’t extremely important.

They simply wished to offer thanks to those who had bestowed grace in their stead, following the Holy Pontiff’s order.

Of course, hidden within that mission was a far more important divine mandate.

“Could you please help us?”

“Mm……, when we split ways in Fanir, I only heard that they were heading north.”

“North―do you mean toward the Boluzan Kingdom?”

“That, I don’t know.”

Marianne looked at Larsen Heights.

He met her gaze, understanding she was asking for his opinion.

“We also have to travel north toward the Boluzan Kingdom, so that works out. But could you tell us what they looked like?”

“……Excuse me?”

“The number of people or any distinguishing traits.”

“Well…… they all had their hoods pulled down deeply.”

“So you didn’t even see their faces?”

“I only needed to sell goods, that’s all.”

Larsen truly looked regretful.

There was no point in digging further.

“Is that all the questions? If so, I’ll be heading into the castle.”

“Apparently, outsiders cannot enter the castle right now.”

He said that so Fordman wouldn’t waste time.

But Fordman wasn’t bothered.

“I can enter.”

“……What? How so?”

“I have a delivery to the Mineta Royal Castle. I also have a pass.”

Fordman took out the badge issued by the Mineta Kingdom and presented it.

The worry they briefly had immediately vanished.

“Ah! Do you perhaps have food?”

“Food?”

“Yes! We used up most of our provisions coming all the way from the last territory we visited to here. If there’s any food we can buy, we’d like to purchase it.”

At those words, Fordman’s expression changed completely.

“Hahaha! You were customers! What ingredients would you like?”

When he pulled a rope in the corner of the driver’s seat, the cloth on the right side of the carriage lifted.

Inside, various meats, vegetables, and food supplies were displayed.

“Come, come! Choose! These ingredients don’t come by every day! From Lizard to Rickbird, Tugpig, Kalpox, Pugbear, even Black Wolf! There’s no meat we don’t have, and no vegetable we don’t have!”

Just as he said, countless ingredients could be seen.

Larsen and the others were taken aback by his sudden change in attitude.

“So! What shall I give you?”

“……Something that could last long would be best.”

“In that case! Jerky made from Kalpox is the best. If you want something to eat right away, Rickbird meat is perfect!”

With those words, Fordman took out several kinds of meat to show them.

Even at a glance, they looked quite fresh.

“This amount should be enough if you match it to this price.”

“Oh-ho……. 3 gold is more than enough.”

Since the Messengers of Grace had around ten members, they needed plenty of supplies.

Fordman then took out a pouch from the back and began filling it with selected meat and vegetables.

Meanwhile, Marianne let out a relieved breath now that the food issue was resolved.

“It’s truly fortunate that we could secure provisions.”

“And we were also able to find traces of the ones who acted in place of the Messengers of Grace, so our luck is excellent.”

“Should we head toward the Boluzan Kingdom now?”

“If we go that way, we should be able to enter the Dior Empire.”

“It’s trouble that we still haven’t found any signs related to the divine oracle.”

The most important matter remained.

The oracle that descended through the Holy Pontiff.

Along with traces of the demonic race, we had to find the ‘Incarnation of Lightning’.

With nothing but the oracle to guide us, frustration only grew.

“If we follow and track the traces, something will appear. Let’s first pass through Poltaz, Ratpadon, and the Glonia Territory, which are said to have turned into deserts.”

“That seems to be the only method.”

While the two discussed, other Holy Knights received the pouch Fordman had filled.

For now, they replaced the ingredients they had been preparing for a simple dinner.

The Great Hall of the Mineta Royal Castle.

King Harlan Mineta, who had ascended the throne through the recent rebellion, looked down at those standing below the platform.

“Was the sum arranged this time accurate?”

“There were no issues. They should be fully satisfied.”

It was Charoen, head of the Black Crescent Moon’s Mineta Branch.

Charoen bowed deeply, expressing sincere gratitude.

Seeing this, Harlan Mineta smiled.

“Good. Handle the transport well. Are they leaving tomorrow?”

“Because of an important matter, it seems they will leave in a few days.”

“What matter? Something bad?”

There were few matters more important than transporting funds to the Empire.

Thus, Harlan Mineta grew curious.

“A good matter. A loyal hound once thought dead is expected to return.”

He meant the mercenary Turklan.

Harlan Mineta, unaware of the man, tilted his head.

“A hound, huh……”

“When he arrives, he will stay in Mineta for a while.”

“He worries for Mineta?”

“The situation is still unstable. And because of the recent tax collection, the people’s dissatisfaction has grown.”

“It’s nothing to concern myself with. The people exist for the kingdom, do they not?”

At those words, Charoen unintentionally smiled.

“You are now His Majesty the King. You must cherish your people.”

“They are fools who shouted that only my elder brother was the true king. They should be grateful their heads weren’t taken.”

“You’re rather merciless.”

“A king must be as cold and unyielding as steel. Only then can the people live in peace. Of course, they must pay the price for that.”

With Harlan’s rise to the throne, the Mineta Kingdom had fallen into dictatorship.

The people were oppressed day after day.

“Be careful. The princess has still not been captured, so danger remains.”

“Deborah, you mean? Hrmm…… how vexing. I entrusted the matter to you—when will it be resolved?”

Princess Deborah was the only bloodline of former King Charta Mineta.

Though Harlan Mineta fabricated legitimacy to inherit the throne, he did not win over every lord.

Even now, many sought the chance to reclaim the crown.

Concerned about their movements, Harlan Mineta had prohibited outsiders from entering the royal castle.

“When the hound returns, appoint him as the Royal Knight Commander. If you do, the lords won’t act recklessly for a while.”

“He’s that exceptional?”

“He is a Swordmaster-level mercenary. Have you heard of the ‘Blade that Splits the Earth’?”

Hearing this, Harlan Mineta’s eyes widened.

It was a title anyone would immediately recall.

“You mean that man is the Black Crescent Moon’s hound?”

“He was nearly a wasted piece. But since he’s returning now, we’re incredibly fortunate.”

“But is it acceptable to appoint such a man as the Royal Knight Commander of my Mineta Kingdom? Both the Black Crescent Moon and the Empire would covet him.”

“Think of it as borrowing him for a while. The kingdom must be secure for us to prosper.”

Charoen’s smile deepened.

Harlan Mineta also smiled in agreement.

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