Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

56 – Memorial Service

“Mercenary, are you really not going to ask?”

“Yes.”

Priest Rien was really tough.

To the extent that I think it’s like playing tug with words.

Isn’t he asking four times to say if he really won’t ask?

The very first one.

Once while picking a lock.

One time before opening the door and going inside.

While whispering in the aisle in front of the head priest’s room, one last time. Like this.

Still, I think the priest is right, seeing as he quietly passed by without saying anything in the chapel, but I don’t know.

Because I’m still trying to ask again.

“G-house mercenary, really-“

“Excuse me.”

I went to her door to avoid her sneaking up on her.

Beans, beans.

The thin wood resonated loudly with the slightest tapping.

I knew what to say about ignoring myself, but nothing came from behind my back.

An old, sullen voice from inside the room asked what was going on, and I sold the count’s name.

After that, it was almost a breeze.

***

A man stood between the earth and the sky.

As the incense burner swayed, there was a crackling sound and the sound of chains colliding.

A small amount of smoke rose from the incense burner held by Priest Rien.

A small thread phone was created between the sky and the ground.

After confirming that the connection was complete, the transmission of the priests began, and the scent of incense was carried on the memorial service and spread throughout the military camp.

The scent is so pungent that all the people in the territory who heard the story about it brought tears to their eyes.

Soldiers from the territory who came to the place where the corpse was enchanted by the incense smoke were reunited with their chilled neighbors or family.

Soon, a voice added to the thin white smoke rising to the sky.

The contents of those voices, which were mixed with tears or not yet, were all different, but the meaning was the same.

Those who have already passed away for a long time can finally say goodbye.

The smoke that flew into the sky, carrying the soul, disappeared, and the incense burner disappeared.

The priests stole their beads, and the Count finished a brief congratulations.

But people still couldn’t get out of that sadness.

Kung.

Everybody woke up from the nightmare when they heard the magistrate placing the register on the table that the soldiers had hastily put there.

“If you see anyone you know among the corpses, please tell me right away.”

It is time to move away from the surreal scene and tell a realistic story.

I may have to add a word of luck to this, but half of the bodies have been identified.

It was thanks to the many bodies that were not crushed.

After the construction was completed and their identities were identified, the burial places were divided according to the distance.

“If it’s close, I’ll bury it in the soil of my hometown. If it’s far, I’ll bury it outside the military camp.”

And the people in front of them were still buried in the traditional burial idea of ‘wanting to be buried in their hometown’.

Wagons were commandeered from the nearby area, and soldiers from the territory volunteered themselves as coachmen.

The time set by the Earl of Berrington was until this evening.

He didn’t have an idiot who would say he couldn’t come in that time.

So, as soon as the military gates opened, the wagons that spread out in all directions were fast, but at the same time very cautious.

Thanks to their will to carry even a single drop of blood intact, the soldiers all returned before evening fell.

After returning from a short farewell, everyone’s faces were as pale as those of corpses.

But there was more the living could do for the dead, and the Count was well aware of that.

“The memorial service is over. Prepare for battle.”

The count’s words reached the ears of the depressed soldiers.

It was only then that they were able to find out why they didn’t want to go to war and do what they had to do.

That was the difference between corpses and soldiers.

After cleaning the bloody cart with water, the soldiers returned to their barracks with nothing but the sound of grinding something in their mouths.

In that place, only their footprints remained heavy.

Soon, only the sound of sharpening spear blades could be heard from all over the camp.

It was an ordinary scene on the day before the battle.

***

The air outside was brutal.

So after watching the series of memorial ceremonies, I was stuck in the tent.

As I was rolling the bottle around, someone came inside.

“The military camp is quiet. People’s eyes have also changed.”

He was the leader of the prianian squad.

“I have no choice but to do that.”

The tent was cramped. So he stepped aside and accepted her words.

“Thanks to the Count’s benevolence, everyone had time to pay tribute.”

The count was quite clever.

Because I set the standard of ‘far away’ as long as I can return by tonight.

Among the soldiers who knew the road well, there was no idiot to say that it was “Far” Even if it was a long distance.

Those who have gone far will thank Earl Berrington for allowing them to see their hometown, albeit tantalizingly, even if they are pressed for time.

Anyone who has gone to a nearby place will grow hatred for the other side’s territory, Count Terrien, while helping with the funeral.

There is no one who can’t turn a blind eye to a situation where people from the same neighborhood or their own families were slaughtered.

At least, there won’t be any solo battles appearing in the battle tomorrow.

“By the way, Mr. G-House.”

“Yes, Captain Prianian.”

Prianian’s squad leader pointed to my side and asked.

“Why isn’t the priest next to you going to stay in your tent?”

“Because we still have to fortify after the Battle of the Territory is over!”

Priest Rien, who was sitting next to him and reading the scriptures, answered that.

Priyanian Squad Leader’s eyes turned to her, but Priest Rien smiled unconcerned.

After the consecration, unlike her other priests, she chose to remain in the camp. I’m pretty sure she needs me.

Then they followed us towards the mercenaries.

-This is the mercenary’s tent, right?

And then, like a ghost, after finding my tent and entering it, it looks like this.

“And I don’t know anyone here other than the G-House mercenary!”

“Aha.”

The squad leader’s voice grew colder.

“Is that why the priest entered my squadmate’s tent without permission?”

“Since you weren’t kicked out, I don’t think it’s unauthorized, right? And I am Elisir Lien, Captain of the Prianian Squad!”

Hearing her words, the squad leader looked at her and said.

“…Just call me Prianian. I’m not the priest’s squad leader.”

“Then just Mr. Prianian!”

“Yes, just Priest Rien.”

The inside of the tent started to make noise.

“Wouldn’t G-House be like that if there were two men and women in the same tent?”

“I don’t think the only mercenary from G-House is left in the tent when I leave! Isn’t Mr. Priyanian also a woman?”

After hearing that, the squad leader continued talking nonchalantly.

“I am Mr. G-House’s squad leader. Just Priest Rien.”

“I’m a priest, is there something wrong, just Mr. Prianian?”

I couldn’t understand the meaning of the words, so I opened my mouth and started directing traffic.

Because there is nothing good about having a loud voice in a military camp where everyone is shutting up and sharpening knives.

“Now, wouldn’t it be fine if both the leader of the Priyanian squad and the priest Lien were both here?”

Then the squad leader’s eyes narrowed a bit.

“Why did you put just on my name?”

I immediately spilled the words.

“Since the squad leader attached it, so did I. Discrimination is bad.”

This time I looked at the priest on the other side.

“And just Priest Rien.”

“Tell me, G-house mercenary!”

Priest Rien was looking at me with a smile on his face.

At the sight of a fluttering tail fluttering behind my back, I had to swallow the question I wanted to ask earlier.

‘Isn’t that a dog by any chance?’

“What is your real reason for staying here?”

“What do you mean?”

Priest Rien still smiled and asked.

“Even if it is true that you found out that I am a mercenary, I think that finding and entering my tent right away is a different story.”

Golden eyes sparkled.

“If it was left for the purpose of consecration for those who die in battle tomorrow, you may stay in the lodging that Earl Berrington gave you.”

“Did you not like my presence?”

I shook my head at those words.

“If you dare to follow me all the way here and see me in the tent, I must be on business.”

That’s enough to even understand my tent.

I paused for a moment and then asked a summary of the key points.

“What do you want from me?”

After listening to her, she opened her mouth.

“If you eat that apple, I’ll let you know, G-House mercenary!”

“An apple?”

“‘The one you’re holding in your hand’!”

I lowered my head.

I still had that red apple in my hand.

It was a desirable apple.

When handing over letters.

When getting on the wagon.

Even when consecration.

When entering the tent.

And even at this moment.

The apple was still in my hand.

As if the sun is always floating in the sky.

“Eat an apple, G-House mercenary.”

Suddenly, Priest Rien spoke softly.

Just as she was about to throw her apple at the sight that somehow made her feel repulsed, she continued her words.

“I swear to the sun god, there will be no damage to the G-House mercenary.”

After saying that, Priest Rien’s eyes were still shining golden.

“If you eat an apple, I’ll tell you why.”

The prianian squad leader looked at me strangely.

“G-House, isn’t it something to eat?”

“Priest Rien.”

“Yes.”

I asked Priest Rien again instead of answering her.

“You said you would tell me if you ate an apple?”

She nodded her head.

“Good.”

I immediately put the apple to my mouth.

Because of the reluctance that kept creeping up, I felt like I would really throw it out if I stayed like this a little longer.

The prianian squad leader reached out to me.

“G-House, hold on!”

Crunchy.

I immediately chewed the apple.

As soon as I felt a little bit of resistance at the tip of my teeth, I felt the sweet juice.

“How does it taste?”

Priest Rien asked.

“I like it.”

The priest is serving some fruit.

“…Do you really eat that?”

The prianian squad leader asked strangely.

I told you why.

“Isn’t it in the name of the sun god?”

Originally, it was said that losing faith meant death.

And she was a priest, and she knew for herself how heavy the name of God was.

To put it a little more bluntly, Priest Rien can be seen as betting her mother in a religious sense.

That’s why I was willing to eat.

I don’t know what she’s putting her faith into, but there must be a reason for that.

“I have no faith, but at least I am well aware that the weight of the name is not to be discussed. So I ate.”

Upon hearing my answer, Priest Lien’s eyes widened slightly as if moved, and her red lips parted.

And the words that came out of her mouth were a little different than I expected.

“Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong-.”

I stopped talking.

Suddenly, I felt something cold inside.

“My stomach is cold.”

“As expected.”

Priest Rien nodded her head.

There was something cold in my stomach that I had felt before in the mountains.

At the same time, the moment the apple touched something as it went into my stomach, I immediately bent down.

“Keep it off!!!”

“Mr. G-House?”

In the mad pain where warmth and cold coexist, I remembered only one thing.

f*ck, are you being punished for being an emchanger?