25 – mask

man. female. snood.

Unlike modern people, who only have a little bit of a silly delusion after hearing the three words mentioned above.

For those who live in an age where the culture of buying and selling humans exists implicitly, the act of tying a rope around a person’s neck carries a profound sense of weight that cannot be taken lightly, depending on the situation.

The sad narrative of a lover sent to the battlefield being captured as a prisoner of the enemy country and unfortunately turned into a slave is a stereotypical tragedy that third-class novelists can never let go of, and is the most suitable seasoning for adding umami to a drama. .

so that.

”This is a kidnapping!”

It was not unreasonable that Dauna, who was the best reader in the group and well-versed in the various cultures of the islands, suddenly let out a fuss when she saw her old colleague being dragged away with a rope around her neck in horror.

”Recently, I’ve heard that high-ranking priests and nuns in the Vatican secretly take in sex slaves to relieve sexual desire! He must have been forcibly conscripted after being caught with some kind of weakness, unable to overcome the torch of higher officials!”

The logic that is full of leaps and bounds that I spewed out with my head full of heat.

but.

An absurd guess. The only person who could argue against Dauna’s sentimental theory, nothing more and nothing less, was Apis, who, unfortunately, was at odds with her on the spot.

”It hasn’t even been concluded yet! Moreover, she is not a virgin of the right age, and there is no crazy woman in the world who will spend money even if she is older than her marriageable age! Just calm down! Think about it and tell me!”

”Calm? How can I calm down! You don’t even know if your colleague was taken as a slave! apis! I knew very well that you were a heartless elf with no blood or tears! I hope it was like this! What a disappointment!”

”What is this bastard!? Do you think everything that comes out of your mouth is just words!?”

Apis, who was trying hard to remain calm on the outside, was in fact embarrassed.

I was well aware that the view that the doctrine that priests must observe chastity before marriage is an old-fashioned evil custom stemming from an anachronistic idea has recently been popular among the Humans.

Rumors that a young priest named Lovell Wright announced his marriage with as many as 17 fiancés became the decisive blow, and it was not surprising that the priests were chaste, an old myth that was now dismissed as an old saying by the standards of the Humans. because there was a bar.

She, too, could not be said to be completely free from the mortal struggle with ominous suspicions rising endlessly, like water filling a boat with holes.

Even so, Apis had to maintain even that semblance of composure, which was only a rough assortment compared to usual.

”Warrior! What do you think!”

”De, asshole! what are you doing! If you talk to the hero now!”

”Let go! apis! The hero’s opinion on the current situation…”

Clink!

Right then. At the bloody scene unfolding in front of her eyes, Dauna couldn’t finish her words.

”Whoa… Whoa…”

When standing on the battlefield, except when regularly grooming weapons, the figure of a hero who seems to be controlling his inner turbulent emotions with his breath while dignifiedly holding his beloved sword, which he rarely even puts in his hand. .

A volcano with the momentum to spew lava right now. It was as if he was watching the evil dragon on the verge of regurgitating prominences everywhere that would melt and destroy everything.

Even the act of inhaling and exhaling had to be careful.

”Yo····. Warrior····.”

”Warrior····. Calm down. Put down that knife first…”

To the extent that the misfortune that the crystal ball, which would be a useful clue in tracking the priest’s whereabouts, had been shattered by her spirit became an afterthought, the bloody life that the hero exhaled every moment boasted an unprecedented concentration.

Even Apis and Dauna, who have shared the joys and sorrows for many years and endured all sorts of hardships and adversity together, have never seen a warrior who shows his emotions so clearly.

No, it would be more appropriate to say that I could not even imagine it.

A good man of imagination who always spreads good energy around with a bright smile, and combed out only the feelings that the Creator gave him. He never hated anyone, and he was a kind-hearted person who never hated anyone.

Because this was the hero’s nature, which resulted from the experiences they had seen, heard, and felt.

”Hut! I’m sorry!”

As if he couldn’t believe that he had inadvertently pulled out the sword, the hero hurriedly put the sword into the scabbard and chewed out a fuss of apology.

From their hesitant behavior and familiar tone of voice, they reconfirmed that the existence in front of them was the hero they knew.

‘Now, I must have misunderstood?’

It was a monumental moment in which the intentions of Apis and Dauna coincided exactly without any error.

◈◈◈

”That mask. Can you take it off?”

I didn’t see it wrong.

Obsessed with an eerie sense of deja vu, Apis gulped and regained consciousness, and Dauna, who inadvertently embraced that body with one arm, seemed no different.

”Smell. It smelled like a bride. Although, the impression was slightly different from the smell I used to know, and the strong perfume smell that mixed in the middle of the day made me lose my way. That the priest was with you, nun, even for a moment. I don’t know anything else, but I can confirm that one thing.”

It was a strong, calm tone.

It was a way of speaking that denied the warrior’s own theory that a warrior should always be a person who reassures the people around him with a bright and cheerful face.

No one on the spot could excuse the hero’s absurd behavior.

”Hey. Warrior. calm down····.”

However, at that moment, Apis grabbed the hero’s shoulder.

Originally, Apis had thought of sending the hero alone to the Chuno Station to bring back a missing party member.

Then, she said that all the party members had to work together to find him as soon as possible, and the reason why she completely revised the original plan was to prepare for this moment.

Ever since the day when all of my colleagues witnessed a party member who was thought to be missing, being dragged by a nun on a leash.

The hero’s behavior seemed unusual.

Of course, that wouldn’t be the case, but it was Apis’ judgment that there should be at least one more contingency plan to restrain her if the hero were about to make a wrong decision.

And it could be seen that such an eye was quite accurate.

apis. Downa. big team.

Other than the fact that these three work together to fight against each other with all their might.

Because there was no realistic way to stop the current hero, at least within this system.

”Fine! apis! No need to worry! I’m extremely cold right now!”

”That’s right…”

He was a warrior who responded to Apis’ concerns with a gentle smile. Apis couldn’t easily shake off the disturbing feeling that something was missing from that smile.

”We are currently treating our former colleagues as objects! I’m looking for some unscrupulous person!”

The more the warrior spoke loudly, the more the perceived temperature in the room gradually lowered for some reason.

As a result, the nun’s behavior, sitting across from the hero, gradually stiffened like a frosted glass window.

shaking fists. A gaze that points downward. rapid breathing.

That series of actions seemed to see the pitiful face of a criminal being sentenced.

”That person is about a hand taller than me! sky blue hair! He looks like he’s in his early 20’s! She is said to be a very cold-looking nun!”

”····”

throbbing.

The nun’s heartbeat, resounding like a bad performance in the bloody silence of the room, grew louder and louder.

”I’m not particularly suspicious of you, Sister! Suspicion of others without accurate evidence is bad! but! Right now, Sister’s body smells like my old colleague! What a doubt! I want you to prove your innocence by taking off that mask!”

”Yes… That’s right…”

”ah! By the way, this is a warning, not a request!”

Seen from a distance, the warrior who gave an ultimatum with a flawless smile in response to the nun’s difficult answer with trembling lips might have looked quite peaceful.

To those who were at a distance where they could immediately feel the spirit of the hero, it was strange that they did not know that she was struggling to suppress the unknown urge that was boiling inside her heart.

”good····. If that’s the case, there’s nothing special… If I can prove my innocence by showing my insignificant bare face…”

”Thanks for your cooperation!”

click.

So let the nun slowly bring her trembling hand toward her face.

Apis and Dauna cast a puzzled look at the nun.

‘what? Are you really naked? I thought I’d pull it off a little more, beg and beg for forgiveness. Was it in desperation? Or was he really innocent?’

‘Even when I look at it, I don’t think the hero’s point is wrong. To stand up like that even while being frightened by the hero’s spirit. I’m suspicious of something.’

Right after the nun stuttered and removed all the masks that were covering her expression.

”Are you satisfied with this?”

The gazes that naturally concentrated on the nun’s face distorted into big and small surprises, and the air around them instantly froze.

From behind the mask, the unscrupulous montage of the culprit they were looking for was nowhere to be found.

No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say that there was not a single intact part that could confirm the impression of a person on the upper part of the nun’s face.

Even at a glance, the upper part of the nun’s face, which was stained with severe burn marks, was the part where the shape could be recognized at least.

It was only bright-colored eyes that were staring openly and scolding the multitude of places in front of them.