Chapter 97: "Response"

Chapter 97: "Response"

Holy knights were running around in a hurry.

I, Jos, an apprentice knight, was waiting for my colleague Sarisa and my master, Christella, to return.

This is the headquarters of the Gnostic Order of Sacred Knights, located on top of Mount Muslim Spirit in Medream territory.

Just when I thought peace had returned after the incident that disturbed the town a short while ago, it happened.

I don't know the details, but I heard that there was a big incident.

Because of that, the place became quite noisy.

Sarisa seemed to be asking around about it, but she seemed to be done with that and is now sitting next to me.

"Hey Sarisa, what's going on?"

I had nothing in particular to do, so I decided to ask Sarisa.

Sarisa took out her notebook with a complicated expression on her face and started to open it up.

"You know Oldia, don't you?"

Of course! It's where our alma mater is, how could I forget!

And it was at Oldia that I first met Sarisa!

I nodded in understanding.

"I heard there was some kind of problem there. I can't really say for sure, but the reports are that there was a big attack by Darzain..."

DARZAIN! That evil group, the worst of the worst!

That shady group that kidnaps people and uses them for shady rituals and summons shady demons with shady magic!

I will not allow them to attack the place of our memories!

My sword...my sword...well...anyway, I'm going to defeat them.

"I'm sure we'll know more after some time, but from what I've heard, the town has been destroyed, it's on fire, and a swarm of demons has sprung up from underground...I don't know if it's true or false..."

As Sarisa was speaking, Master Cristela came out from the back.

Cristela-sama walks toward us with a stern look on her face.

"I'm sorry to keep you both waiting. Now, let's go."

With that, she started walking outside. We followed her.

"Um... Christella-sama..."

"Please wait a moment. I will tell you the details in my office."

Sarisa tried to ask a question in a reserved manner, but was interrupted.

Is this something you can't talk about here?

After walking in silence for a while, we arrived at Cristela's room.

Once we entered the room, we were asked to sit down and we took our seats.

"Do you two have heard what happened to Oldia?"

"Yes, we have. It is only in the stage of rumors..."

Sarisa replied, looking unsure.

Without changing her expression, Cristela continued.

"I have been given a mission. The mission is to lead the Holy Knights to investigate Oldia. Currently, that city is covered by a black cloud, and we have no idea what's going on inside."

"A black cloud..."

Sarissa is wondering about the black cloud?

"The black clouds are very similar to the ones that appear during the large-scale rituals performed by the groups that deal with demons, such as Darzain and Tuke. Perhaps, the town has turned into a demon world where demons roam around. It's called an investigation, but it's definitely going to be a battle."

I gulped at the serious tone of Christella's voice.

"So, I want you two to stay here..."

"I'm coming with you!"

I interrupted unintentionally and raised my voice.

Christella looked at me with a surprised look on her face.

"I'm an apprentice knight, but I'm a holy knight too! I want to fight for everyone, I won't lose to anyone!"

"No, you can't. With your current abilities, you're just going to die."

I was unable to say anything back to her and turned my head down.

Sarisa said, "Am I thinking too much?" Sarisa takes out a piece of fruit from her baggage.

"Let's cut the small talk short and have some food. We've been moving around a lot and haven't had a chance to eat, have we?"

I accept the fruit.

It's a red fruit called pumila...it's redder than anything I've ever seen.

And it's kind of heavy.

"I bought it at a new store that opened around here recently, and I hear it's quite popular."

I see.

I bite into the red fruit.

"Hm!?"

It's so sweet. Sweeter than any fruit I've ever eaten.

What? What is this? It's so delicious.

"What? What's wrong?"

Sarisa was surprised by my reaction and looked at me worriedly, but I ignored her and held out the pumila.

Sarisa, perhaps sensing what I was thinking, opened her mouth and bit into it.

She chews and her eyes widen.

"Wow. It's so sweet. What? Is this what pumila tastes like?"

"Where did you get this?"

Sarisa pushed the luggage she was carrying to me and took out a notebook from her pocket and started to roll it up.

"Let's see? The distributor is Patrick's Trading Company. I've never heard of them, so they must be new merchants."

She looks at her notebook as she says this.

She has a habit of writing things down in her notebook whenever she is curious about something.

This time, too, she must have been curious about the new store, so she asked around briefly.

"The supplier of the goods is... Oratorium? In the countryside?"

Oratorium...that doesn't sound familiar. I don't remember hearing of Oratorium.

"Sarisa. Where is Oratorium?"

Sarisa's expression hardens.

"Josee, what is the name of this territory?"

"Medream Territory."

What is the obvious question? Of course I know that!

"Then what is the name of the neighboring territory to the northwest of here?"

Northwest? Let's see, ...... what is it? I've never been there, so I don't know.

She looked at me, at a loss for an answer....

"... it's Oratorium Territory."

...she told me the answer.

Oh, so it was right next to us.

"It's true that the main source of income there was vegetables and fruits...but I'm sure it wasn't enough to produce such high quality products... I wonder what happened there?"

Sarisa tilts her head.

"Has Sarisa ever been to Oratorium?"

Yes, I have. I went to the church in Oratorium once, a long time ago. I had a quick look at it, and my impression was that it could be maintained, but not developed."

"I see."

It was quite frank.

Sarisa looked at the notebook for a while, then exhaled lightly, closed it and put it back in her pocket.

"Let's go back. I have to finish my report."

"Wait-"

Sarisa quickens her pace.

I finished the rest of the pumila and ran after her.