Chapter 103. Childhood Friend – Ancestral Rites
“Lena! What’s going on? How did you get here?”
Leo, who was skinning the newly hunted game in front of the mountain shelter fire, stood up abruptly.
It was early evening, but darkness fell quickly in the mountains, and the scent of damp leaves began to fill the air.
Lena wiped the sweat streaming down her face and muttered. But her probing eyes were full of kindness.
“Hey! How come you haven’t come back to the village for over a month?”
“I told you before. I wanted to learn hunting quickly…”
“That’s true. Oh, it’s tough.”
Lena plopped down on the wooden steps leading to the shelter.
“Why did you come here risking danger? How did you get here?”
“It’s not dangerous at all. I followed the slightly beaten path you left, that’s why. Oh, I’m dying. Leo, give me some water. I didn’t know it was this far.”
Leo handed her a water flask and sat down next to her.
Great.
Seeing Lena made him happy, and for no reason, a smile spread across his face.
“What’s the matter? But can you come here like this? What a… oh…”
He suddenly realized it was the weekend.
On weekdays, Lena went out to find food, and on weekends, she would go to church to study. But ever since she started picking mushrooms and confessing, she occasionally hadn’t been to church.
It was a period where the dream of becoming a priest was starting to bend under the pressure of poverty.
“It’s the weekend today. I came to see you. I have something to say…”
So Lena had come this far to pour out her grievances about giving up her dream. Taking the risk-free path to the shelter, she wanted to ask if he would stay by her side if she gave up her dream.
“Where’s your dad? We’ve come this far, we should say hello.”
“He’s inside now. Should we go say hi?”
Leo entered the shelter with Lena. Her father must have heard Lena’s voice because he came out of the room.
“Hello, I’m here. Can I impose for just a day?”
“……”
The extremely taciturn father just nodded silently and went back into the room. Lena murmured a quiet “Thank you,” but the door just closed.
“Let’s go. He allowed it. You haven’t eaten, have you?”
Lena followed Leo back outside.
Leo’s father had been behaving like this for more than a day or two. He had cut off all contact with the villagers since Leo’s mother passed away two years ago. He didn’t participate in village events and didn’t even go to church.
Because Leo’s mother was…
“Here, eat.”
“Wow, looks delicious! But is it okay to eat meat like this?”
Leo handed Lena a skewer grilled over the fire, but Lena hesitated to eat as the dripping grease seemed wasteful.
This much meat could last for days…
“Haha. Lena, my dad and I are hunters. This is our mountain shelter. Don’t worry, just eat. If we don’t make jerky out of it, we can’t survive, so don’t worry.”
Leo felt the primitive joy of handing meat to a cherished companion.
Lena slowly savored the meat and as a few skewers lay on the ground, she began to confide.
“I’m thinking of quitting studying to become a priest.”
“……”
“I can’t go to the metropolitan church, and there are educational expenses… They say they provide food, shelter, and clothing, but I must also need some living expenses.”
Lena poked the fire with a stick nonchalantly, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
Seemingly indifferent, she was pretending that giving up her dream was not a difficult decision.
Leo, lost in thoughts, watched the meat in his hand burning black.
Lena didn’t even know that she would go to Rutetia for the “Priest” event next month. How disappointed would she be?
“I don’t want to leave my parents alone and go. But I also want to occasionally get meat to eat like this from you…”
Lena’s face blushed deeply as she turned her head. Thinking her words were too blatant, she didn’t meet Leo’s eyes.
Leo was at a loss, fiddling with the stick absently. Hearing her confession, he felt his ears grow hot.
Lena.
How nice it would be to live happily in the village with her. Forget about the clear goals and friends…
Silence ensued.
After hesitating for a while, Lena lowered her head shyly and asked.
“Would you like me to go to become a priest? Or would you rather I didn’t go?”
It was a question he had heard twice. And he had given vague and indecisive answers.
‘…Get a grip.’
Lena had a dream, and he had something to do.
Leo firmly took hold of his heart and said resolutely. But his lips were trembling uncontrollably.
“I, I hope you don’t give up your dream.”
As Lena’s eyes welled up with tears, Leo took out part of his “initial funds” from his pocket and said.
“Take this. It’s the money I’ve saved. I haven’t saved up enough yet, but if we save a bit more, let’s go to Rutetia together. I will definitely take you to the metropolitan church.”
“…”
“I, I also want to be with you. But I would be happier if you become a priest. So, for my sake…”
“Leo!”
Lena pulled him in tightly. Her eyes, on the verge of crying, approached him. She sniffled, moved by just a few coins.
“Thank you. Really. I didn’t even know you felt this way…”
As if her expression was crumbling, Lena handed back the money she was given to Leo’s chest.
“It’s okay with the money. You don’t have to give it. I was stupid. The Master said it doesn’t matter if I go late or early, but I forgot about that. I’ll work hard.”
Lena’s protruding lips trembled with emotion, and Leo’s chest swelled with emotion.
Her hand did not touch the forefront.
Lena didn’t care about whether I had an opinion on quitting being a priest or not.
If I don’t want her to go, she’d say “Why~?” teasingly, sparking a signal in their relationship. If I wanted her to go, she’d say, “I’ll work hard.”, boosting her determination.
She was prepared to receive comfort. Regardless of the direction, if it was Leo’s words, she was ready to open her heart and accept without reservation.
Leo trembled at her open affection. The annoying remnants receded and disappeared.
This is enough. Truly, I am satisfied with this. Lena is my good friend…
Leo patted his friend’s small back.
Later, when Lena regained her composure, she brightened up and continued eating the remaining meat. “Leo. Ah~ Try some.” She offered meat to his mouth and chatted cheerfully.
The bonfire was warm and comforting.
* * *
Lena stayed at the mountain lodge for a day and returned to the village. Leo accompanied her and returned to the mountain lodge, then headed back to the village a month later.
To bid her farewell.
Ophelia, the priestess, inevitably arrived in the village of Demos on Colin’s quiet carriage. She asked Lena if she would go to the Temple Church with the recommendation of Reverend Leslie and the village priest, and Lena gladly accepted.
The next day, as Lena boarded the carriage, she shouted, “Leo! I’ll be strong! I’ll become a priest and come back!”
Previously, she would have cried and hugged him tightly, but not this time.
We are friends.
Childhood friends who have been together for a long time.
Eventually, as the carriage departed, the villagers sang a blessing song under the direction of Reverend Leslie. Dozens of people sang in harmony to light the way for Lena.
“Behold, dear son and daughter of the Lord!”
Overjoyed, Reverend Leslie leaped around and raised his voice. Lena thought she was undoubtedly a child loved by God.
“Grant us our trials.”
Lena’s parents also teared up as they sang. They tried to give all their money, but their lovely daughter did not take it in the end. She didn’t take the money from her poor parents because she had received money reluctantly from Leo.
“Make persevering to become your pride,”
Meanwhile, Leo couldn’t take his eyes off the departing carriage.
Now Lena will be happy. She’ll live happily as a priest…
“We will prove our lives.”
The carriage became a distant dot and disappeared.
As the villagers’ blessing song singing toward the end echoed, spreading higher, even to the disappearing carriage far away.
“O Lord! Watch over us. Watch your sons and daughters grow!”
In this way, Lena left.
Hans, who was in a corner of the village, kicked a pebble.
* * *
Leo headed back to the mountain lodge.
I’m done here now. Lena left, and finally, I could be alone and do anything.
Walking down the forest path, he thought of the other Leos’ situations.
The engagement scenario hadn’t even started yet. A engagement scenario that starts around the turn of the year will head towards the catastrophe of divorce.
The scenario with the Beggar Siblings, which started around the same time as the childhood friends’ scenario, would follow the actions Leo took last time.
Of course, that scenario was also headed for a tragic end. He will meet Oriax.
“Should I interfere with other scenarios? Or should I find the way ahead? Or…”
There were so many things to try.
First, he wanted to see what would happen when he met the other Leos.
It was clear that they would follow the actions ‘I’ took, but he was curious about what ‘mental state’ they would be in.
Second, he also wanted to interfere with other scenarios and make a significant change to the ending.
Even if changing the past scenario may not alter the rewards received, he wanted to prevent their tragedies. It had already happened before, but it would happen in the future as well.
In addition to all this, he also wanted to visit Nevis, the capital of the Kingdom of Orun.
Except for the scenario with the Beggar siblings, there was really no way to clear the other two scenarios other than becoming king. So it might be good to see if there is the possibility of rebellion in this Kingdom of Orun.
There could be opportunities to mobilize barbarians, and as there will likely be political rifts due to the trash princes, this kingdom, the Kingdom of Orun, seemed to be a suitable place.
Leo thought, ‘Can I do all of these at once?’ and pondered on the optimal route.
It seemed best to first visit the beggar siblings. By now, the siblings would have killed Gilbert Forte and arrived at ‘Taamun Village’. They would be hiding there until the end of winter with the help of Cassia.
‘But there’s not much to gain from meeting them… Can’t catch Prince Eric anyway. Adding another person like me won’t solve the problem.’
While there might be an attempt to assassinate Prince Eric de Yeriel using a different approach, the risk was too high.
Moreover, the ‘footprint of Oriax’ was imprinted on his palm. Even though a completely different scenario had unfolded…
This meant Oriax had shown hostility towards Minseo, not Leo. Otherwise, there was no reason for the footprint to be on Leo, a completely different person in the town of Demos.
Oriax had clearly looked at me with eyes filled with rotten blood.
Feeling chills, Leo concluded that it was impossible to go to the Conrad Kingdom.
They had to resolve this hostile mark somehow. At least before the next scenario involving the beggar siblings…
‘Should I bring the siblings to the Orun Kingdom? It’s unlikely to return to Orville since they have probably killed Gilbert Forte… But wait, all they have is a certificate to transfer to the Conrad Kingdom, right?’
His head was spinning.
In an uncertain situation, considering the circumstances they were in, changing the future involved many complications.
Above all, Cassia.
If they changed the siblings’ future, what would happen to Cassia?
Although the curse quest had already been resolved…
Arriving at the mountain lodge, Leo felt a throbbing headache. His father was preparing dinner in front of the lodge.
Approaching silently, Le approached, and his father glanced at him and grilled a few more pieces of meat.
Sitting in front of the hearth, Leo pondered.
‘I need to look into Barbatos, but I’m not sure if I can ask about this.’
Leo, with no memories of the past, had to be cautious. If he had been a young man serving Barbatos, asking about him would be strange in itself.
What should he do… As he contemplated, his father suddenly spoke up.
“What do you think of Lord Barbatos?”
…Oh!
Leo recalled an overlapping scene.
When he had sent Lena off to the Holy Church for the first time, his father had asked him the same thing while drinking snake oil.
And I had replied that I couldn’t like him… all because of that damn tattoo.
Back then, Leo had been determined to send Lena away. But he hesitated and tried to follow her, asking a priest from the Holy Church of Ophelia to take him.
However, this plan was thwarted by the opposition of the paladin who escorted her, ‘Colin Path’.
Pointing to Barbatos’s tattoo on Leo’s arm, he said that raising a believer in the ‘Corrupt Deity’ as a paladin went against the teachings.
So back then, he couldn’t like Barbatos. Because he couldn’t follow Lena because of this tattoo.
After that, I took a job from my father to sell jerky in the big village, ended up killing Hans, and ran away.
Leo fell silent for a moment, then said,
“If you’re a hunter, you should properly serve your god.”
He said it differently from before.
Based on the information from the ‘History of Asin’, he gave an answer that would not raise suspicion and observed his father’s reaction.
His father didn’t say anything.
After finishing the meal in silence, he suddenly stood up, gestured for Leo to follow, and went inside the lodge.
As Leo followed, his father prepared something in haste and spoke with a tone devoid of courtesy.
“I’m leaving now. It’s a bit early, but you’ve grown enough. So…”
Bones of various animals were strewn on the ground. He took out candles generously, lit the fire, and placed his dearly preserved wife’s hand mirror on the table.
A crudely set up altar.
It was a sacrificial bed indicating the presence of a new follower of Barbatos here.
