“So…”
Keldric slowly replayed the words of the woman before him—the demon.
“Jacober was a homosexual?”
“Indeed. He committed the vile sin of Sodomy, the depths of that sweet sin are beyond words.”
Keldric’s brow furrowed deeply. Sodomy in this era referred to homosexual intercourse, specifically the lust for men.
Seeing Keldric’s less-than-enthusiastic reaction, the demon in the form of a human woman blinked slowly.
Her bright yellow eyes were fixed on the mace, an unnervingly bizarre gaze at first glance.
“What are you looking at?”
“…Looking at what?”
However, if the other party was Keldric, it didn’t evoke any particular emotion.
The demon rolled her eyes and looked away. Keldric took a deep breath and scratched his chin.
In this era, homosexuality was a sin. Especially for a man to lust after another man.
If one lusted after men, they would engage in anal intercourse, which was akin to committing two sins: lust and greed.
Sexual intercourse, in principle, was a sacred act performed only to create life between a man and a woman.
To engage in it solely for the sake of satisfying lust, and through impure body parts at that, would make anyone frown.
Surprisingly, some regions were lenient towards such acts of sodomy, but the empire Keldric stood upon was not one of them.
Even more so was the northern part of the empire where Keldric was born and raised.
Although Keldric had never seen it himself, his two older brothers had excitedly told him the rumor of a northern man who had committed homosexuality being beaten to death by the villagers.
“That decrepit apostate committed a sin. Because he couldn’t resist the whispers that tempted him to corruption.”
To add insult to injury, according to the demon, Jacober seemed to have committed homosexual sodomy due to the temptation of another demon.
Keldric wondered if the wolf demon before him should be saying such things, but seeing her speak as if it were someone else’s problem, it seemed that demons didn’t necessarily help each other out.
“It’s no wonder that the apostate convulses at the urine of a virgin. Having fallen into corruption and committed sodomy, he is naturally unable to be with a woman.”
“What about becoming an idiot?”
“Ah ha ha! That too is a simple matter. Why would the apostate have fallen to the temptation of a demon for no reason?”
The demon, laughing heartily in the form of a woman, then raised a straight finger.
The finger approached slowly and seductively, like a snake climbing a tree, and then gently scratched Keldric’s chest on his breastplate with her fingernail.
“We don’t just like mere souls. These dull bodies that can roam all over this land are also very attractive.”
“You can possess people?”
“Isn’t that obvious? Since this land was transformed, I have ridden the people I have prospered and come all the way here.”
“….”
“Anyway, what that old apostate offered is simple.”
What he feared most.
In exchange for giving him the opportunity to experience it, Jacober received a promise from the demon.
Keldric had no way of knowing what that was.
The only way was for Jacober himself to open his mouth, but just as a thief wouldn’t call himself a thief, the possibility of Jacober confessing his sin was slim.
“Why should I tell you that?”
When Keldric tried to ask the demon, her reaction was less than enthusiastic.
Feeling that some education was needed, he brandished his mace, but the demon, momentarily terrified, stubbornly refused to answer.
He sensed that no answer would come no matter how much he beat her. Keldric decided not to do anything that would beat the demon and lose this fragile relationship of trust.
‘Is there some kind of restriction?’
It was a matter between the demon and the fallen apostate. Keldric was neither.
No, perhaps discussing and receiving help from a demon was already a betrayal of the church… But since Keldric didn’t think so, the demon didn’t interfere much either.
“However, the experience he feared most has been fulfilled. Having been stained by the bodily fluids of a virgin, which he could never approach for the rest of his life, it must have touched a sensitive spot.”
“So, becoming an idiot is the experience he feared most.”
“Indeed, I don’t dislike wise and brave warriors.”
Keldric thought silently.
Jacober, who had fallen to the temptation of a demon and committed homosexual sins. He understood why he convulsed at the urine of a virgin and became half an idiot.
He had paid the demon with the experience he feared most, so it was because he had broken the promise not to come into contact with women in the future.
Therefore, the demon had taken what was rightfully his, and Jacober had paid the price.
“The brand disappearing, is that also because the demon you mentioned branded it?”
The demon did not answer Keldric’s question.
She merely raised the corners of her lips in a smile. But that seductive smile alone
gave Keldric many answers.
“I understand.”
Keldric decided to remember the flame-patterned brand and the demon for future reference.
Whatever the outcome, it was too naive to simply dismiss the cause of that absurd explosion as a passing commotion.
The explosion was, at least so far, the only attack that Keldric felt was a genuine threat.
Keldric was not a fool who would leave his only weakness unattended.
Those who worship demons or apostates would surely oppose Keldric, who would side with the church.
Therefore, it would be wise to learn more about the explosion.
It wasn’t as if the explosion could be stopped with the urine of a virgin.
Alyssa’s urine worked because Jacober had actually committed sodomy.
Whether it would work on others who were branded, such as Zamash, was unknown.
Keldric’s consciousness gradually began to fade. This, too, was a sign that he was about to wake up from his dream as always.
“Just one last question.”
“Any more answers will require a price. Warrior, what will you give me?”
“The next time we meet, I won’t hit you with my mace.”
“….”
The demon in the form of a woman breathed a small flame from her mouth. Keldric, unconcerned, asked.
“Why did they implant the Erosion Larva in Lord Ortwin?”
The demon silently raised the corners of her lips. The demon’s raised eyes stared at Keldric’s unwavering azure eyes for a long time.
“…Indeed, I don’t dislike courageous warriors.”
In the end, she waved her hand as if she couldn’t win and opened her mouth.
“You will naturally find out soon.”
“Soon, as in…”
“Young but brave warrior. If you continue on your current path, you will surely meet the one who incited that apostate.”
The demon’s words echoed in Keldric’s mind.
As his vision blurred, Keldric felt a cold hand gently caressing his face.
“And remember.”
When that time comes, you must defy fate.
Absolutely.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
As soon as Keldric opened his eyes, he tidied himself up neatly and headed to Alyssa’s room.
“Alyssa.”
The door was tightly closed. But judging from the presence felt inside, Alyssa was already awake.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
The presence stopped abruptly. Keldric waited silently.
After pacing around for a while, the door finally opened.
“…Lord Keldric.”
Alyssa, looking slightly disheveled, greeted Keldric. Her dark expression made Keldric feel guilty.
Following Alyssa’s guidance, Keldric carefully entered the room and sat on the prepared chair, remaining silent for a while.
Alyssa, sitting opposite him, was the same. An awkward silence filled the room.
“Haa…”
Eventually, Alyssa was the one who spoke first. Keldric flinched without realizing it.
“Lord Keldric. About what happened back then…”
“I was sorry.”
He immediately apologized. He was sincerely sorry, and thanks to that, Keldric felt no hesitation.
Alyssa, staring at Keldric, reluctantly opened her mouth.
“…No. It’s alright. I recognized that it was necessary.”
“…”
“As a mage, I shouldn’t be swayed by personal feelings when it comes to efficient work.””
The corners of Alyssa’s lips lifted slightly. Seeing that gentle smile, Keldric felt even more guilty.
“There will be no more being swayed by personal emotions. I apologize for everything so far.”
“No, I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
“Lord Keldric. A man and a knight should not lower their heads so easily.”
A beautiful hand carefully grasped Keldric’s large, pot-lid-like hand.
At that silky touch, Keldric blanked out for a moment without realizing it.
“It’s alright now.”
It wasn’t the first time he had held a woman’s hand, but was it always like this?
“B-But….. still, I wish you would have told me in advance before asking me to do something like that…”
The white hand grasping Keldric’s hand gradually turned red. Alyssa’s face was the same.
Perhaps Keldric was no different.
“I’ll try.”
Keldric tried to ignore the slight heat he felt in his ears.
Despite his efforts, the warmth conveyed through his hand lingered for a long time, tormenting Keldric.
He was clumsy in this area, even if he was good at fighting.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
“Oh…”
Keldric admired the sight of about forty soldiers lined up in the inner courtyard.
The sense of satisfaction that their roughly unified uniforms brought was indescribable.
Moreover, just from the way they were holding their weapons, the soldiers were definitely elite.
Not the serfs conscripted by Count Bogenberg, but real soldiers who made training and bandit suppression their profession.
Well-trained, they would wield spears, shoot arrows, and swing swords more professionally. Being skilled in killing was a bonus.
Keldric approached them. The well-trained soldiers paid their respects to Keldric in their own way.
“Honorable Lord Keldric of the Bellaf Family. It is an honor to serve you.”
“Hmm.”
Forty elite soldiers. At this point, it was truly reassuring and nothing was lacking.
However, Count Bogenberg’s support did not end there.
“Another knight is coming?”
“Yes. Count Bogenberg has made an additional sacred contract.”
Keldric nodded silently. Certainly, it would not be easy to command forty soldiers alone.
All Keldric was good at was smashing things he considered enemies.
If nothing else, commanding soldiers and strategic tactics required practical experience.
He didn’t know who the knight who would be joining him was, but as long as he wasn’t a complete mess, Keldric would be happy to travel with him.
“Oh! Lord Keldric, isn’t it!”
However, the voice coming from behind Keldric was very familiar.
“You were still in the city? I heard you went to Spitzenberg!”
“Lord Henri?”
Lord Henri of the Candeillon Family. He was still in Bogenberg.
Keldric looked at him with disbelief. Surely, Lord Henri couldn’t be the knight who would be joining Keldric…
“I also made a contract with Count Bogenberg! I thought the road to Yaben would be a bit lonely, but if Lord Keldric is with me, I’ll feel reassured!”
“…Ah, is that so.”
Keldric had no intention of blaming this persistent fate.
He didn’t doubt Lord Henri’s combat prowess or leadership skills.
“By the way, Lord Keldric. I found a very good brothel while you were away…”
“….”
However, even before setting out, a sense of fatigue already seemed to wash over him.