The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate

Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Some of the survivors who had escaped returned to the village, but even with everyone gathered, there were only twenty-nine survivors. Out of the original two hundred villagers, barely more than one in ten had survived.@@@@

The villagers buried the bodies of the dead in silence. Though they would have liked to give the fallen a better resting place, they had neither the time nor the means. Once the simple burials were done, the survivors prepared to flee. Truthfully, there was little to prepare, as the monsters had already destroyed most of the village.

"We'll be on our way now," Kirak said. He was the man who had taken charge of the refugees. He bowed respectfully to Caron and his group.

Caron handed Kirak a small stone and said, "This stone holds some of my blade's energy. As long as you have it, you should be safe from monster attacks."

He had channeled a part of his mana into the stone through Guillotine. Though it wouldn't last long, it would still protect them from the monsters for the time being.

"But do you have somewhere to go?" Caron asked.

Kirak's expression turned bittersweet before he answered, "There is a village about half a day's journey east, near the Holy Kingdom's border. I've heard that paladins and priests sometimes pass through, so... We'll head there for now."

The area was overrun with demonic monsters, making it almost as if they had already claimed these lands. At least with paladins nearby, it would be better than staying here.

Caron nodded slowly and said, "I wish you all the luck in the world."

"And you knights, are you going to stay here?" Kirak asked.

"Well, someone has to finish things," Caron replied plainly.

Kirak gazed at Caron and bowed again, then said, "I will remember this for the rest of my life. May God bless you all."

With a final word of blessing, Kirak rejoined the line of refugees. Moments later, the survivors started their solemn march out of the village, and Caron and his group watched them in silence as they disappeared from sight.

"They all seem hesitant to leave," Leo said as he looked at them.

"Since there's no choice for them but to just leave their loved ones behind..." Caron replied softly.

"If I'd been stronger... Would it have been different?" Leo muttered.

Without hesitation, Caron smacked Leo on the back and said, "Did your puberty just start now?"

Leo winced as he rubbed his back, then said, "Ugh, it hurts more than usual... Maybe because it's been a while, you jerk."

"Don't rush things. You're growing well and quickly enough as it is," Caron said, a hint of unexpected praise slipping into his voice.

Leo stared at Caron with wide eyes and asked, "Did... Did you just compliment me?"

Caron nodded and admitted, "You've earned it. I can tell you've been working hard even while I was gone. Keep it up."

"Am I still dreaming? Did you really just compliment—" Leo's sentence was cut off as he was suddenly lifted off his feet, rising into the air.

Utula, standing behind Leo, had grabbed him and lifted him with both hands, effortlessly raising him high. He boomed, "Leo Leston! The attitude you showed in sacrificing your life! That is truly the mark of a great warrior! I, Utula, salute you. You are indeed a great warrior!"

"U-Utula, thank you... but c-could you...?" Leo managed to gasp.

"We introduced ourselves to each other, so we're friends now! It is an honor to be the friend of such a brave warrior!" Utula declared.

"Help... me..." Leo wheezed.

As Utula and Leo's bond of friendship intensified, Caron turned to Leon and said, "Let's prepare to set off in half a day."

Leon narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you sure? Don't we have to hurry up?"

Caron had already explained to the others what the Gate of Chaos was, and the potential disaster it could bring if it were completed. Caron had even worked out that their target was likely the Southern Great Forest.

"That's where they'll aim," Caron continued. The Southern Great Forest wasn't just home to elves and other races. It was famous for the World Tree. Most likely, that tree was their goal. Corrupting it would be enough to taint the vast forest with dark mana.

"Given the situation, I ask that you forgive our caution," said the priest, his voice calming and soothing.

Kirak found himself bowing his head instinctively as he replied, "No need to apologize."

The priest exuded an aura of reverence that Kirak had only sensed from high-ranking Holy Kingdom officials in the past. Keeping his head lowered, Kirak continued, "We're refugees from the village of Yusla. The village was destroyed, and I'm leading the survivors to the town of Laia."

"I am deeply sorry for your loss," the priest said gently, stopping before Kirak and placing a hand on his shoulder. "May the radiant light dispel the darkness that has fallen over you."

With a brief prayer, a warm, bright light flowed from the priest's hand into Kirak's body, washing away his fatigue as if it had melted into the air. His mind felt sharper and clearer.

Kirak looked up, meeting the priest's gaze. The man had platinum hair and bright brown eyes that radiated intelligence. Truly, there was no one who embodied nobility more than this priest.

"Are you feeling any better?" the priest asked with a warm smile.

Kirak gave him a cautious nod and replied, "Yes, thank you."

"It is our duty as priests to offer a safe haven to those fleeing from the clutches of evil," the priest said. "From here to Laia, your path should be free of danger. However..."

His gaze drifted slowly to Kirak's waist, landing on the small leather pouch Kirak carried. He said gently, "There appears to be something in that pouch. May I see it?"

Though the tone was kind, Kirak felt a sudden pressure. He had a feeling that defying the request would lead to serious consequences.

The stone given to me by the knight is in the pouch, Kirak thought. It was meant to repel monsters. He wondered if there was anything wrong with it.

As Kirak hesitated and remained silent, the priest turned to a nearby paladin with a patient smile. In an instant, the paladin roughly tore the pouch away. Moments later, the pouch revealed a stone, glimmering with a dark blue light.

"...This is interesting," the priest murmured, picking up the stone with a delicate white hand. He examined it in silence, turning it over thoughtfully.

"It's not dark mana, but it holds a profane power," he finally said. "It seems someone infused this stone with a deliberate spell. Am I correct?"

Kirak kept his mouth shut, sensing the tension in the air. Speaking recklessly could bring harm to his benefactors.

However, a paladin beside him unsheathed his sword and pressured him, yelling, "Answer the priest immediately!"

But the priest raised a hand, signaling the paladin to stop.

"This man is blameless, Sir Haken. How can we be so rude to one who has lost his home?" he said with a reassuring smile. "I respect conviction. Surely, you have your reasons for staying silent. You may keep your beliefs."

The priest's mild tone put Kirak slightly at ease, but he responded hesitantly, "Thank you—"

"But as you honor your conviction, I too must uphold mine, to root out evil wherever it lurks. I hope you understand," the priest said as he placed both his hands over Kirak's head, channeling a bright white light.

"Ahh..." A groan slipped from Kirak's lips as he felt the light searing through his mind, as if scouring his thoughts. He didn't know how much time passed before he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The priest finally removed his hands, looking down at Kirak with a knowing smile. "...So that's what had happened," he murmured, studying the fallen man thoughtfully before turning to the paladin. "Assign one of the knights to watch over these refugees."

"Do we not need to clean them up?" one of the paladins asked.

"Their souls are untainted," the priest replied, recalling what he had glimpsed within Kirak's memories. The stone held the unholy energy of a sword. It was a dark blade, almost alive with malice, meant to interfere with their holy mission.

"It seems we have an intruder hoping to disrupt our crusade," Elijah, the Saint of the Holy Kingdom, said with a smile. "We'll need to move quickly."

Only those who served the Light could have the honor of dealing with evil.

"Let us proceed. For the radiant Light!" the priest said.

"Yes, Saint," the paladins responded.

The saint had no intention of yielding such glory to the profane. The fanatics once again moved forward.