Chapter 64: North (4)

“The northern mountain range…”

It feels like I should remember something, but I can’t quite recall it clearly.

It’s not like I know every detail of the original story.

Even if I’ve read it multiple times, I only focused on the interesting parts.

A one or two-line description like this doesn’t ring any bells.

“I probably skipped over anything that didn’t seem important.”

Given that Vanice brought us here, it seems related to the religious order, but that’s as far as I can guess.

“But I can’t just go and ask them.”

We barely even have normal conversations, so if I suddenly asked them to explain, they’d probably just scold me for being rude.

“…Why is it taking so long, though?”

“Right. I thought they said it would be quick.”

Vanice told us to wait, saying it would only take a moment, but it’s already been over two hours.

By now, they should have been done and out.

Just in case, I slowly approached the cave entrance.

“Didn’t they tell us to wait?”

“I’m just taking a look.”

The cave, located beneath the cliff, was quite sturdy.

It didn’t seem like it was naturally formed…

It felt more like someone had deliberately created it.

‘Should I go in a little?’

It’s a place managed by the religious order.

I was going to just kill time outside since I didn’t know what might be inside, but it’s too quiet.

No voices, no footsteps could be heard from inside the cave.

Complete silence.

So I thought maybe it was just a long cave.

If I go in a bit, I might hear something.

Then I could just turn back and act like nothing happened.

As I passed the entrance and the sunlight gradually faded,

“…Senior.”

“Yeah, I know.”

The smell of blood began to waft in.

Fresh and sticky, as if it had just been spilled.

‘It’s not the blood of a demon.’

It was unmistakably human blood.

Feeling a chill, I started running through the cave.

“Wait, wait…”

Ignoring Ian, who tried to grab me from behind, I sprinted forward.

The smell of blood grew stronger.

‘Why? Who would do this…’

No one had entered the cave. We were waiting outside.

So there are only two possibilities.

Either someone who had entered earlier attacked them.

Or something inside the cave targeted them.

.

.

.

.

.

As I went deeper, traces of battle became evident.

Occasionally, I saw the bodies of what appeared to be priests, and the cave walls were shattered in places.

‘I don’t see Vanice.’

The bodies were all priests and paladins.

She wasn’t among them.

That means there’s still a chance she’s alive.

‘Damn, I should have insisted on going in.’

I thought nothing would happen.

No matter how rude they were, they weren’t weak.

At least, they were more reliable than me and Ian.

About 20 minutes after entering the cave, I was abruptly stopped by a massive wall.

“…This.”

It wasn’t an ordinary stone wall.

A sturdy stone door with intricate carvings.

Whether it was magically treated or something else, my sword couldn’t cut through it.

Even when I channeled mana into it.

“It looks quite old.”

It was well-maintained, though.

No dust or moss had gathered on it.

But the faded carvings hinted at its age.

“Pant… pant… Can you at least talk while running?”

“Ah, sorry. It was urgent.”

Ian, catching his breath behind me, looked at the stone door and after a moment,

“It’s ancient script.”

“What? It’s not just carvings?”

He blurted out something unexpected while looking at the carvings.

“Just like how we have Imperial, Kingdom, and Nirih languages now, there were multiple ancient languages too.”

“True. The Empire is vast, so their language is like a common tongue.”

“There were many languages in ancient times. This is one of them.”

“Can you read it?”

“Some parts are faded, but roughly summarizing…”

Ian explained the carvings to me as he deciphered them.

“…So, you’re saying this is a temple?”

“Not the kind the religious order worships, though.”

“Huh…”

The content was shocking.

In the past, the continent had many gods, and there were those who served them.

“You don’t know which god it is?”

“No. I can only read the ancient script. I don’t have knowledge about religions.”

At this point, I felt lucky to have brought Ian.

‘If I had brought Isabel… it would have been a disaster.’

She would have just smashed everything.

It was hopeful news that Ian had more knowledge than I expected.

‘I didn’t know much about Ian’s past since it wasn’t covered. Maybe I’ll ask him directly later.’

Of course, I’ll take it slow so as not to overwhelm him.

“How do we open this?”

“I don’t know.”

“What? You said you could read it.”

“See that corner over there?”

Ian pointed to the bottom right of the stone door.

There were traces of deliberate damage.

“…So, the instructions were there.”

It was good that I trusted my instincts and entered the cave.

Something clearly had happened.

But to find out exactly what, I needed to go further inside.

This way, there was no progress.

“Let’s wait here.”

There was no other option.

The original story didn’t mention such a place.

If there had been a living priest, I would have shaken them to find a way, but outside the stone door, only Ian and I were alive.

‘Please be safe.’

I can’t lose Vanice here.

Without her, challenging the Demon God would be impossible.

A healer is indispensable in any party.

Especially one with the divine power and abilities worthy of being called a saint.

Biting my nails, I paced in front of the stone door for hours.

The faint light from outside had long since disappeared.

The sun must have set.

Because of that, a cold chill wrapped around me, but thankfully, I had brought winter gear.

As I fiddled with the crystal orb, wondering if I should call for reinforcements,

“Let’s go back if nothing happens—”

Creaaaak!

Boooom!

The massive stone door began to creak open.

“…It’s opening?”

Slowly, the gap widened,

and when it finally opened completely,

“You’re safe. That’s a relief.”

It was Vanice who appeared.

“…That’s what we should be saying.”

Vanice, who looked fragile, was holding a massive mace, one and a half times her size.

Her clothes were caked with dried blood, and her hair was a mess.

If it weren’t for her amethyst eyes, I might have screamed, thinking she was a ghost.

“Senior, step back.”

“Huh? No, why—”

“Anyone can see she’s the one who killed the priests.”

Ian, who had drawn his sword and pointed it at Vanice as soon as she appeared.

Given the circumstances, it was the right thing to do, but I knew Vanice wasn’t that kind of person, so it was awkward.

“Ahem, Ian? Lower your sword. It’s not what you think.”

“Are you serious? She mercilessly killed people! And that appearance is more like a witch than a saint!”

“…Well, you’re not wrong.”

Vanice was in a tough spot too.

She would explain if there was a reason, but with such hostility, she couldn’t say much.

‘Given the circumstances, it does look like Vanice killed them.’

Though I don’t know the reason.

“Hey, you, take a nap.”

“Huh? What do you—”

Thud!

I struck the back of his neck as he was wary of Vanice.

“How… could you…”

He looked at me with resentment, but it couldn’t be helped.

We needed to sort this out first.

As I caught Ian and laid him down gently,

I looked at Vanice and said,

“Um, Saintess. First, put something on.”

“Ah…”

Her appearance was far from intact.

Her clothes were torn to shreds,

her lips were split, and her body was covered in scars.

“…Thank you.”

She wrapped herself in my robe and slumped against the wall.

“Surprising.”

“What is?”

“Well… you must have a lot of questions, but you’re not asking.”

“That’s because it won’t change anything.”

“…..”

Vanice just smiled faintly at my answer, not saying anything more about the situation.

‘I’m dying of curiosity, but we need to clean up first.’

We need to deal with the bodies.

Even though this place is far from demon territory, the smell of blood could attract them.

‘How did it come to this…’