NOVEL NEXT Brick bread that’s as hard as a rock and can’t even absorb water,
and cheap jerky slathered with some kind of sauce.
Water in a canteen that tastes bland and smells a bit funky.
This is what adventurers usually munch on when they’re out on a quest.
But hey, at least this is a mid-tier meal.
If it gets any worse, you’re just eating to fill your belly with stuff you can’t even describe.
By comparison, the meal they received now was definitely different.
“Hey, look at this, the supply’s pretty good for a bounty party.”
Yona licked her lips at the steaming bowl of soup in a small dish.
And not just that; there was at least some soft bread that looked like it would go down easily.
It’s really luck to be eating like this on an expedition.
“Hey, move over a bit.”
Alex butted in, playfully nudging the butt of a bronze-ranked adventurer with his foot.
“What are you doing? Just sit in any empty spot.”
The bronze-ranked adventurer, who was just about to start eating, hurriedly grabbed his bowl and made space.
In that gap, Yona shot a glare at Alex, who wedged himself in.
“This was the spot I had my eyes on.”
“Oh come on, that’s just hilarious. There’s empty spots everywhere!”
With that, Yona wiggled her butt to make a little room.
“Aah, this is nice! Making money and eating good food, life is good!”
“Wow, you sound pretty old. No wonder you’re losing your hair.”
“It’s because of my stress!”
“Yeah, right.”
With a snort, Yona slurped down the warm soup.
As the hot soup made its way down her throat, her body warmed up instantly.
“So, we’re going in tomorrow night, right?”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard.”
The bounty group had mobilized right after forming.
Anyway, they wouldn’t be able to enter until just after sunset, so she didn’t get why they were waiting until late to leave.
“Well, we’re getting paid, so it’s fine.”
True, money is good.
After all, they needed cash to find a way back by visiting the famous mage in the capital.
Thinking about the hefty silver coins she’d have after this job got Yona feeling all cheery.
“So who’s that over there?”
Across from Yona, on the other side of the campfire, a brown-haired guy was sitting cross-legged, enjoying his meal.
“That’s Ludvik, they say. A gold-ranked spearman.”
“Yeah, I know that.”
Tsk.
Alex clicked his tongue lightly, feeling a bit annoyed.
“Oh, our bald friend. Are you jealous of him being gold-ranked while you’re still bronze?”
“Shut it, you’re also bronze!”
“With a copper rank, huh?”
“Hey, don’t kid around. A healer at the same level is like a warrior at a silver rank.”
“Who says that?”
As the two squabbled, they sensed someone approaching.
Just as Yona, who had been about to smack Alex on the back of his head, turned around, it wasn’t just the firelight that illuminated the scene—
“…Well, look who it is, our precious Priest has come to this humble place. What brings you here?”
The already-red-haired Priest’s face wrinkled at Yona’s teasing.
The Priest, with her bright red hair tied in two pigtails, looked quite youthful.
One might think, why is a child like her in a place like this?
“Yona, follow me. And—”
Vigrind stepped forward again, standing before Rude.
Rude, who had just finished his meal and was slurping the last bit of soup, looked up at Vigrind over the bowl.
“You come too.”
“And who are you?”
“You’ll know if you come. Don’t talk back.”
Rude chuckled.
Then he stacked his bowl neatly, grasped it in hand, and stood up.
“Alright then. Where do I go?”
Vigrind silently raised her hand to point at the Cathedral carriage.
While the adventurers rode in the cargo carriage with the worst ride quality, they comfortably rode in the Cathedral carriage.
“Got it. I’ll be there soon.”
With that response, Rude headed off to return his dishes.
After watching Rude’s back for a moment, Vigrind turned to look down at Yona.
Her eyes were obscured by the shadows of the firelight, but Yona thought to herself.
Of course, she’s probably annoyed.
How unpleasant it must be for a noble Priest to come to a place full of adventurers.
“…Fine, I’ll go too.”
As Yona stood up, Alex got up with her.
Because Yona was going.
Where Yona goes, Alex follows.
That’s how Alex’s mindset worked.
Just as Alex was about to stand up, he suddenly froze at Vigrind’s icy voice.
“What do you think you’re trying to follow? Stay there and have your meal. It might be your last supper.”
“You little brat.”
Before Alex could say anything, Yona snapped and got angry.
With her fists clenched, Yona looked ready to charge at Vigrind, but Vigrind stood her ground as if to say, “What did I say wrong?”
“Rolling around with the commoners has made you quite foul-mouthed, Yona. Sister Aege would be truly distressed to hear this.”
“Shut it, you brat. Just hurry up and apologize to the bald head.”
The adventurers surrounding them silently watched, keeping their mouths shut as they looked at Yona and Vigrind.
If it were a fight between adventurers, it would be an entertaining spectacle, and they’d probably take bets on it, but now wasn’t the time to challenge someone like that.
A Priest of the Cathedral, especially Vigrind, was not someone to gamble with.
Priest, are you seriously betting on Vigrind?
You must have at least three lives to pull that off.
“Hey, don’t. We’re adventurers; we could kick the bucket anytime. It’s not like I’m wrong. Hurry up and go. If Priest Vigrind called personally, it must be urgent.”
Alex awkwardly tugged at Yona’s wrist.
Otherwise, Yona was ready to bolt towards Vigrind like a charging bull.
“Let go, you idiot! Aren’t you even a little mad? Do you have any guts?”
“My guts come and go based on the time and place, so I’m fine. Hurry up.”
Yona bit her lip, watching Alex.
She was angry.
Only I can torment Alex.
After crossing the line of life and death for three years, I’m the only one who can read him with just a glance.
That damn Priestess isn’t someone who can just toy with him at will.
“…Lead the way, Vigrind.”
With a huff, Vigrind began to walk in silence.
Yona followed behind her.
After a few steps, she turned around and looked at Alex.
“Yeah, take care.”
Alex waved at her.
*
“Teacher.”
“Oh, Yona, is that you? Have you eaten?”
Inside the carriage, adorned with several fist-sized glowstones and heating stones, it was surprisingly bright and cozy even without a campfire.
With a warm smile, Sister Aege welcomed Yona as she entered the carriage.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Come in and sit down.”
Yona stepped inside, and Rude followed right after.
Despite the carriage’s considerable height due to Rude’s towering stature, it felt cramped as soon as he entered.
“I’m Ludvik. You can call me Rude.”
“Sure, Mr. Ludvik. I’m Aege.”
“…And I’m Vigrind.”
Vigrind was rather cautious in her demeanor towards Rude, unlike how she treated Yona in the corner.
It’s not like her to act that way; maybe he really is a hero after all.
Suddenly, that thought popped into Yona’s head.
With the sudden appearance of demons and a guy claiming to be a hero, something feels off, but she couldn’t quite figure out how it related to her being there.
“Now, the reason I called you both, Mr. Ludvik and Yona…”
Sister Aege served them steaming cups of tea that seemingly appeared from nowhere.
Yet, she jumped right into the main topic, looking quite urgent.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Ludvik received a divine oracle declaring him a hero, so I wanted to confirm.”
“Since you have received a prophecy about being a hero, I had to confirm it.”
“Oh, I thought so. Isn’t it possible? I could be a scam artist after all.”
At Aege’s words, Rude replied with his usual refreshing smile.
Is there an even more ludicrous story than that he became a hero after receiving a revelation while working as an adventurer in Marlen?
“I don’t intend to cast doubt.”
Aege smiled softly.
Even when saying the same words, she gave off a warm and caring feeling, so different from Priest Vigrind.
Yona really liked that about Aege.
“Well then, I suppose it’s better to show you. Here, take a look.”
With that, Rude started unbuttoning his shirt.
Unbuttoning a few buttons didn’t take long, and he dramatically took off his open shirt.
“What, what are you doing?!”
With a sharp scream, Vigrind turned his head away.
From what little could be seen through the tightly closed eyes, it seemed like he had indeed seen something he preferred not to.
But Yona watched Rude’s bare upper body without a care.
On the spot where a heart would be, a large golden harp was engraved.
And around the harp were several unknown letters etched into the skin.
Those letters sparkled as if each was embroidered in gold.
‘…Golden letters…?’
Suddenly, Yona thought of the dark letters wrapped around her right arm.
There were overwhelmingly more letters on Yona than on Rude, but while Rude’s were golden and divine, Yona’s letters were ominously black.
Aege gently caressed Yona’s hand.
“Yes, I’ve confirmed it. It’s indeed a mark of the Divine God. However, it’s still difficult to acknowledge you as a hero based solely on this.”
At Aege’s words, Vigrind also hesitantly lowered his hands from his eyes and peered at the stigmata on Rude’s torso.
He let out a small “hoh,” in admiration.
“Well, it’s not like we can just blindly trust this, right?”
Nodding in agreement with Aege’s words, Rude’s somewhat serious demeanor made Aege trust him even more.
“As you know, ever since the previous hero, Siu, eliminated the False Demon King, it’s been hundreds of years… and in that time, no hero has ever appeared. And no Demon King has emerged either. Even now, there are no signs of a Demon King’s revival. But now a hero has appeared… This is a mystery, indeed.”
“Yes, I understand. But I heard there’s a demon in the Catacomb; if I take that thing down, doesn’t that prove whether I’m a hero or not?”
“Well… it may not prove it, but it could increase your credibility.”
“You’re quite demanding.”
“The weight of the title ‘Hero’ is that heavy.”
Aege smiled, and Rude laughed as well.
Yona could not bring herself to laugh.