The concept of four seasons is common in any region, but it was different in the South.
In this land, where winter is nonexistent and vibrant greenery sways all year round, the word “winter” simply doesn’t exist.
Unlike the Central or Northern regions, the landscape of the South, which maintains the essence of summer, could be described as almost magical.
“I guess this place is also part of the Central continent, yet the breeze is so warm.”
“It’s because this place is overflowing with magic. Isn’t this where the Dead Dragon once fell?”
To be precise, it’s a sealing, but the fact that a ‘Dragon’ lies asleep here carries great significance on its own.
Even if that existence was fierce and evil, it still holds a vitality that cannot be compared to anything else.
Such an existence is sleeping beneath us.
The overflowing vitality is embedded in the land, and what we face is the meaning of the South itself.
“In truth, I don’t know much about the Dead Dragon. It’s somewhat of a taboo word for me.”
Having checked if there were other Paladins nearby, Adrian replied quietly.
The reason that the Moon Church, which worships the Moon God, shuns the Dead Dragon is simple.
They tried to take away the Moon they serve, so would they really like such a dragon?
The reason for improperly managing the relics of this South was the same.
They are hesitant simply because it is related to the Dead Dragon.
In some ways, the Moon Church’s loathing for the Dead Dragon might even surpass that of the Imperial Family.
However, this current Imperial Family is more dangerous than the Moon Church.
It’s due to the Crown Prince’s intention to actively utilize the Dead Dragon, but really, as the one who came to give him the relics, I probably don’t have much to say about that.
“The Temple of the Moon is the largest temple in the South. In some ways, it could be seen as the precursor to the Cathedral in Aden, right?”
“It used to be the capital of the Empire, so seeing it that way would probably be correct.”
“I feel like I’ve been here before. It seems familiar.”
Perhaps that’s because her origin lies with the Moon. This Temple of the Moon is known to house a sleeping relic,
and like the Moon Tower, it’s one of the places closest to the Moon.
Comparing it to the Moon Tower, there probably isn’t a huge difference.
As the clattering sound came to a halt,
Adrian glanced at me, realizing we had arrived.
For about a week, I had to stay alone with Adrian.
It would take quite a while for the other Paladins to arrive,
and Berod and the other priests were very busy trying to establish their base around here.
Adrian is a Saint, and I’m a rather idle Noble recognized by the Paladins for my skills.
Given that I also hold the position of a friend of the Saint, it means we are the only ones who can afford to be idle in this situation.
“…So you two were sitting together.”
“Yes, I asked him to sit beside me.”
Berod’s brow wrinkled grotesquely when he opened the carriage door,
but upon hearing Adrian’s words, he could only groan in silence.
For Adrian, it might not be a big deal, but what must Berod be feeling looking at that?
While I felt sorry for understanding his feelings, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of delight at the thought of what I had endured.
With Adrian saying this, he wouldn’t have much to reply to.
His expression was one of betrayal in many ways, and while I helped Adrian hold his hand as he stepped down, I made sure not to forget to gauge Berod’s reaction.
Since it was a matter of affection, I didn’t forget to keep an eye on Berod while helping Adrian hold my hand as we came down.
Let’s not forget that we also need to gain the support of the Paladins.
If possible, it would be better to get the help of the entire Order later on.
The decision to head north and south was based on their support, intending to take Yuria head-on, but that plan was likely not going to go as I envisioned.
Yuria’s rampage was far exceeding our expectations.
Where would the woman, consumed by her own madness, direct her blade?
Even if she’s family, stopping Yuria in her current state would be impossible.
I initiated the guidance, but I had been keeping a close watch on her rather wild movements.
The roles of Renold and Arwen were crucial.
If they couldn’t fulfill their roles, I might lose the most important legitimacy when I claimed the position of Head of the Family.
The support of the Order became even more important after I became the Head of the Family.
Especially after killing the Crown Prince. Isn’t what comes after even more important than killing the Crown Prince itself?
As Berod disappeared while driving the carriage again, Adrian, who had subtly grabbed my arm, quickened her pace.
Perhaps she had high expectations for this surroundings, as she smiled softly and nodded her head with a cheerful voice, unlike usual.
“Shall we go for now? We still have plenty of time.”
Even though we reached the south, I thought it would be okay to give ourselves about a day’s grace.
After this night passes, I’d have to busily spend my time from then on.
#
The Temple of the Moon. In a way, it’s a name that can easily feel at odds with the religious atmosphere of the Moon Church.
A temple usually gives off an ancient vibe, as is often the case.
Although it was indeed an ancient temple, its interior was even more splendid than a cathedral.
“Wow…”
That splendor was not something that could be seen with the eyes.
For those who could read energy, they would instantly realize the divine power filling the interior, and Adrian’s shoulders quivered slightly.
Lost in ecstasy, she let out a gasp and carefully removed her hand from my arm, reaching out towards the surroundings.
When Adrian moved, a radiant aura followed each of her movements.
It was a completely different sight compared to other Paladins or Priests; the magic of the moon resided within the temple.
While there might be some differences compared to divine power, the essence was akin to the power directly granted by God.
Perhaps that’s why the light, moving as if obeying Adrian’s commands, followed her fingers slowly and gradually settled upon me.
The warm energy touched my heart, easing my chronically troubled insides for a moment.
It seemed more of a mental healing rather than any physical change.
“This is…”
“I don’t know. It’s my first time experiencing this, so how should I put it? It’s like it’s showing that divine power can be handled in this way.”
“It’s a kind of awakening, then.”
Just like gaining enlightenment while handling a sword or magic, the Saint must also have her own levels of attainment.
It was said that the Saint who existed in ancient times turned day into night with her own strength, so if she were to advance further, I might be able to witness such a scene with my own eyes.
“Could you hold on to me for a moment? I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”
“Could you catch me? I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”
As I caught the staggering body of Adrian, he managed to smile brightly, despite sweating from the effort. He seemed pleased with the achievement.
When I asked if he was okay, Adrian nodded and got back on his feet.
“I didn’t expect to feel this way as soon as we arrived at the temple. Somehow, it feels good!”
“That’s because you’re a saintess. You might gain a lot from the South.”
“That would be great, but I hope I can help others more than I gain something for myself. It would be nice if we could save someone again this time.”
“The best scenario would be if there is no one to save.”
The troublesome issue in the South was people being sacrificed, just like the children we saw last time. The purpose of the order to head South was to manage and protect such people.
Helping them wasn’t something just Adrian and I could do alone. It would take the active support of paladins and priests to achieve any significant results.
Fortunately, it seemed that the scene Adrian showed earlier had quite an impact, as the priests organizing the area all had a sense of mission on their faces.
We could always explore the temple later. Even if I wanted to help those who were cleaning, Adrian would likely feel burdened if he helped.
I lightly grabbed Adrian’s arm and whispered softly.
“It might be better to visit the temple later. I won’t stop you if you want to help, though.”
“…Hehe. Going out does seem better, right?”
After a moment of contemplation, Adrian glanced at me and beamed with a shy smile. It was a smile fitting for her.
It seemed that rather than helping, it would be nice just to enjoy the outing after a long time.
Since I felt the same way, we quickly stepped out of the temple.
“So, where to now? I don’t know anything around here.”
“It’s not like I know nothing. I’ve kept an eye on what’s around the Temple of the Moon, so I have some idea.”
Not every place in the South was dangerous. While there’s a strong perception of remote areas and rough terrain, the area around the Temple of the Moon was certainly under the Empire’s control.
If it weren’t, it would have been destroyed long ago by non-human races.
For that reason, this area wasn’t much different from the capital. The non-human races lived among others, making it a typical city as seen in the Empire.
There were cityscapes, and you could even say it was a city where immigrants and humans mingled.
As we walked along a small forest path, Adrian let out a soft gasp at the sight before us.
There was something palpable that could be felt without seeing it—this tingling sensation that was sensed through ears and skin.
Among the forest spirits was a non-human race thriving with overflowing life.
“I think there are elves here!”
With their pointed ears providing far better hearing than humans, Adrian whispered, knowing this fact well. To me, who could see the surroundings, it wasn’t all that surprising.
Even just the non-human races in this area accounted for dozens. Not only elves but also nymphs, orcs, goblins, and centaurs existed here.
Not only were there nymphs, orcs, goblins, and centaurs, but many others existed as well.
“This is the kind of place. Unlike the center or the north, you could say it’s quite a free city.”
They are known to be simply savage non-human races, but among them, there were those who sought harmony with humans.
This nearby area was where non-human races resided, who had accepted the end of the dead dragon era and embraced human governance.
After hearing my words, Adrian clung even tighter to my arm and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.
“I’m not sure how to explain this, but… it’s rougher and more… violent than I expected.”
“It’s probably different from the capital.”
“You could say it’s nature itself. It’s much purer, I should say I feel like a nothing here.”
Her outfit was so unique that some people were occasionally whistling upon seeing Adrian clinging closely to my arm.
It certainly wouldn’t look like an ordinary relationship.
If there’s a woman completely attached to a man’s arm, most would think they are lovers.
Adrian seemed to have caught onto that somewhat as her cheeks flushed, yet she still didn’t let go of me.
She looked a bit anxious.
It wasn’t like she was worried I would disappear again, but more due to the non-human races surrounding us.
The inner self of non-human races was clearly different from that of humans, and for Adrian, it truly felt like a glimpse into a new world.
“Sh-should we walk a little more slowly?”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine now. I was a bit taken aback earlier, but I’ve got a complete grasp of it now.”
The divine power that surrounded her suddenly flared up then began to dissipate on its own.
With a more relaxed expression, her grip on my arm loosened a bit.
“I’m sorry for holding on so tightly.”
“Don’t worry about it. It wouldn’t have been a problem even if you kept holding on.”
“…Seriously, don’t say such things.”
I laughed for a moment at Adrian, who lightly punched my chest out of jest.
As I slightly turned my head, it abruptly stopped.
A chilling energy ran down my spine.
So much so that I momentarily forgot the warmth I felt from Adrian,
All my senses sharpened, and my gaze was solely directed toward a woman I spotted.
She was wearing a robe.
Seemingly unaware of my presence, she continued to move forward alongside some massive beings.
I couldn’t see her face, but my eyes narrowed as I caught a glimpse of the earrings she wore.
Those earrings were familiar. Among those I knew, only one woman in this world would wear them.
“Robert?”
“Wait a moment. Can you wait just a moment?”
Ignoring the voice that anxiously called my name, I focused on the woman mingling into the crowd.
I couldn’t pursue her. Adrian was beside me, and chasing after her while bringing her along might pose a danger.
Yet, thoughts of the woman I just saw couldn’t be erased.
I came knowing she was here. I was prepared for it, imagining the end in my mind.
Even so, I didn’t expect to encounter her so soon.
As I quietly muttered the name Teresa, my expression gradually turned cold.
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