Master and Disciple (1)

“Sicarii and I were colleagues. And the closest of friends.”

Cotinus opened up about his relationship with Sicarii.

They were friends. Not just because they became priests in the same year, but because they shared an even deeper connection.

“I was a foolish royal who abandoned the imperial throne and became a burden. Sicarii was royalty from a country sacrificed to the empire’s conquest wars.”

“That’s…”

“Yes, disgracefully, we bonded over our mutual hostility toward the empire.”

That was certainly how it began.

Both Cotinus and Sicarii. They endured their difficult apprenticeship years united in their animosity toward the empire.

But there was a decisive difference between the two men.

One was a survivor of a fallen kingdom.

The other was royalty from the country that destroyed that kingdom.

Because of this, their attitudes toward the empire were different from the start.

“I once told him. I believe the empire should be divided. That’s the right path for the empire.”

“Cardinal Sicarii opposed that, I assume?”

“Yes, he thought the empire should be destroyed. That was… a justified hatred, I believe.”

“But the Cardinal Sicarii I saw showed little hostility toward the empire. He was filled only with contempt for ungrateful people and hatred for himself.”

“That’s right. Sicarii eventually shed his hatred for the empire. After all, the Pantheon Temple is located right in the middle of the empire.”

“Then did Your Holiness think he would shed it this time as well?”

If Cotinus trusted Sicarii enough to believe he would easily overcome this trial too, then he couldn’t be blamed.

Trusting others is never a sin.

“No, Sicarii couldn’t overcome it. Unlike before, the trial he faced was always with him.”

“Then why on earth did you leave him to become like this?”

“Apostle, I made myself clear.”

Cotinus poured tea into his cup with a gentle smile.

Each of his movements appeared so devout that it was almost suffocating.

“The empire should be divided. That thought remains unchanged from before. And even now.”

“Are you saying you used Cardinal Sicarii for that purpose?”

“In a sense, yes.”

I couldn’t breathe.

Cotinus had said that for the empire’s own sake, the empire should be divided.

I could vaguely understand what he meant. After all, the current empire is so massive that it can barely control its own size.

It’s like a powder keg.

So his extreme idea was to gradually remove the gunpowder inside and detonate it to minimize damage.

“Apostle, I believed in Sicarii. Though I knew he would ultimately fail to shed his hatred, I believed he would handle his transgressions admirably.”

“You thought he would bandage the wounds he inflicted himself?”

“Yes, and in that process, the empire’s progress would halt.”

“…”

If I hadn’t come, Sicarii would have continued sprinting in a direction similar to what I had suspected.

Yes, he would have ultimately failed despite his efforts.

But since Cardinal Sicarii was still a follower of the gods, he wouldn’t have become a monster in the end.

Cotinus knew this.

That’s why he believed Sicarii would clean up his failed plan himself.

Many would have suffered and been hurt in the process. But he could have somehow managed it.

During that process, the Pantheon Temple would have suffered great damage, and likewise, the empire wouldn’t have escaped unscathed.

After all, if the priests focused on internal Temple matters, they couldn’t establish a frontline.

The empire couldn’t have legally held onto priests who had been volunteering to treat soldiers.

Yes, what matters is justification.

“Justification to pull priests from the frontlines… For that, you abandoned an old friend.”

“I didn’t abandon him. I would have stood with Sicarii. I would have helped him stand again.”

“I see.”

Cowardly. It’s just self-justification.

Nevertheless, I understood.

I know what he’s arguing for. A drastic measure for the empire’s sake.

The sacrifice of the few for the many.

Preventing priests from dying from stray arrows at the frontlines while simultaneously halting the empire’s expansion.

Saving multiple people at once.

Isn’t that a grand vision?

Cotinus, perhaps due to his imperial bloodline, made such a judgment.

It’s not for me to criticize.

Practically speaking, Cotinus is the master of the Pantheon Temple, and what he says is, broadly speaking, for the sake of humanity.

But still…

“Your Holiness, I cannot agree with your methods.”

“I know.”

I can’t like this.

“It’s a judgment that those in power must make. I’m sure Your Holiness has your own thoughts, so I, who know nothing, cannot dissuade you.”

Cotinus didn’t deliberately throw the empire into chaos. Nor did he urge Sicarii to break down.

He simply watched as events that could have unfolded did so.

You can’t condemn someone for not saving others.

Bystanders can be criticized but shouldn’t be judged.

At least, since nothing happened.

So I don’t yet classify Cotinus as an enemy.

“But I still can’t agree with Your Holiness’s methods. I’m not a person of power, just a believer who wants to save people.”

“That’s right. That is correct. Apostle, you should live that way. This path is only suitable for a lowly servant like me.”

“I hope there won’t be innocent victims. Though I know that’s an unreasonable wish.”

“I will strive to engrave your advice in my bones.”

Cotinus is not a villain. Nor is he a completely virtuous person.

He was simply one person who had to lead many others.

Yes, just an ordinary person struggling with reality, only slightly more intelligent than others and needing to make bold decisions.

“Should I apologize for ruining Your Holiness’s plans?”

“How could that be? I merely watched. I have no right to criticize. If stones are thrown, I should be the one to receive them, so please don’t worry about it.”

“I enjoyed the tea.”

I tore apart one of the grand designs Cotinus had been drawing.

But Cotinus said he wouldn’t hold a grudge for that.

Now and in the future.

He has no intention of restricting any of my actions or using me.

If I throw stones, he would accept them.

But he won’t bear grudges. That’s the position Cotinus occupies.

“Next time, I’d like to enjoy tea in a better form. That’s what I think, Your Holiness.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Through this conversation, Cotinus’s position in my mind became clearer.

He is neither enemy nor ally yet. Neither black nor white.

He was just a gray bystander.

*     *      *

A few days later.

We left the headquarters as planned. Cotinus, as the Pope, could handle the aftermath.

At least, having held power for a long time with imperial blood, I think he’ll do better than me, who gets swept up in emotions.

The sacrifice of the few for the many.

Someone has to live that way.

Not everyone can enjoy happiness, so one must know how to achieve maximum benefit with minimum sacrifice.

That’s what those in power should do.

So I’ll do what I can. That’s all there is to it.

“How long will it take to reach Alfheim? I know it’s quite far.”

As I sat on the driver’s seat of the carriage that Titan was pulling, staring blankly at the sky, Claire poked her head out and asked.

It’s truly amazing that someone who once couldn’t even breathe on a shaking carriage has become so healthy.

“We’re just starting to enter autumn, so if we’re quick, we could arrive by the beginning of winter.”

“That’s not as far as I thought?”

“If we’d considered your original physical condition, we would have already timed out. We would have arrived in the middle of summer.”

The <Wind’s Tomb> is most dangerous in summer. Those bastards apparently become even more bastard-like in the summer.

It’s natural for stress to build when it’s hot and humid.

Of course, that’s not the real problem.

Whether the monsters called trials have good or bad tempers, just being near them is a disaster for humans.

“Summer would be when the most beast-like bastard becomes strongest.”

The <Mocking Slaughterer>.

Nidhogg.

It’s when that monster, who doesn’t hide his desires, rampages most violently.

On the other hand, I’ve heard that in winter, the monster we need to meet and seek cooperation from, the <Corpse Devourer> Hraesvelgr, becomes strongest.

Of course, one might ask if the matter couldn’t be settled quickly since one side becomes stronger depending on the season.

But the problem is that there are three monsters. If one side becomes stronger, it would face concentrated checks.

“Isn’t that worse then?”

“Because Hraesvelgr will be heavily checked? Do you think monsters who all want to devour the World Tree would cooperate properly?”

“Ah! So it’s a time when they’re just keeping an eye on each other? Then whether it’s summer or winter doesn’t matter much…”

“Nidhogg is a crazy bastard, so that’s not the case.”

Since he’s the strongest, he just rampages according to his mood.

That’s why the <Wind’s Tomb> is safest only in winter.

They apparently fight during spring, summer, and autumn among the four seasons.

That’s why Nina Heim is also most relaxed during winter.

The forest becomes relatively quiet unless something unexpected happens.

The elves also use that time to travel back and forth to the outside world bit by bit.

“Hmm, I see.”

Claire nods as if she understands. It’s quite sad that she doesn’t seem to know her own future.

Most trials affect people just by being there.

The area around the <Corruptor> is stained with poison, making it unapproachable, and the <One Who Halts Steps> is itself a domain.

In such a situation, the <Wind’s Tomb>? There’s a reason they’re called tombs.

Nidhogg handles hot winds, Vedrfolnir handles windless states, and Hraesvelgr handles biting winds.

To talk with Hraesvelgr, one must first break through the biting winds that constantly swirl around him.

Claire, the sturdiest among us, has kindly agreed to perform this role.

She doesn’t know it yet, but the day of realization will come soon.

So even if she acts a bit arrogant now, I plan to cut her some slack.

“Want some jerky?”

“Hah! This cheap jerky… I absolutely love it!”

Claire crouches like a rabbit, munching on the cheap jerky.

Actually, we stocked up on various things at the headquarters, so there’s no need to eat such cheap jerky. We brought much tastier and longer-lasting jerky.

But for Claire, anything she eats is a joyful experience at this stage.

She used to survive on gruel and couldn’t even digest a single piece of jerky.

This kid is now responsible for our inventory.

“Ah, Titan. It’s getting hot, want to switch with Claire?”

“What? Me? Are you asking me to pull the carriage like a beast?”

“Did you just call Titan a beast?”

Claire’s hidden thoughts were quite surprising.

“I am fine. And anyway, you’ll be rolling on the ground and vomiting during training later, so why waste your strength now?”

“Um… I’ll just pull the carriage. I think that would better preserve my delicate humanity.”

“A warrior does not speak of weakness.”

I push Claire, who keeps poking her head out and making comments, back into the carriage.

“Still, it’s unusually hot today, so don’t overdo it.”

“It’s fine. Our kingdom is hotter and more humid than this, so there’s no need to worry about heatstroke.”

“You even know about heatstroke?”

“It’s the hot epidemic that kills hundreds of orcs in our kingdom every year.”

“…”

I didn’t mean to…

If you suddenly bring up such a tragic kingdom situation, what does that make me for seemingly mocking it, you bastard?

“More importantly, there’s someone ahead. They don’t seem to be just passing by. What should we do?”

“Huh?”

Titan, who was pulling the carriage, stops.

Using his back as shade to avoid the sun, I could finally see that Titan was dripping with cold sweat.

It’s not something like heatstroke. He’s tense because of someone.

But who could it be?

There was no sense of pressure at all.

I didn’t even know someone was there until Titan mentioned it.

Yes, even at this moment, I can’t feel any pressure or presence.

“What the…”

Titan, who had always smiled confidently no matter who he faced, is now tense to the point of sweating cold sweat.

I push Claire, who was trying to poke her head out, back into the carriage and signal to Línea.

“Got it.”

A signal to prepare for any emergency. Simultaneously, I subtly position myself and check the figure hidden behind Titan’s massive back.

And the moment I confirm that presence.

I realize I’m no different from Titan.

My hands must be trembling and I must be sweating cold sweat just like him.

Only the meaning is slightly different.

“Master…?”

“Yes, it’s been a while. Ah… no, that wasn’t the name, was it? Now it’s… yes, Lost. It was Lost.”

Master Hadard nodded and slowly drew his sword.

I guarantee this was the worst possible situation to encounter on the road.