Chapter 251 (1/2)
Death Mage 251 – People, Gods and a De pass by one another
As March began, it was already spring according to the calendar, but the Alcrem Duchy, like the Sauron Duchy, was on the northern side of the Orbaudom The duchy was separated froe, but perhaps because a part of that Mountain Range had become covered in Devil's Nests, snow fell in the duchy even at this time of year
But Alcreiven day, and today was no exception
In a private rooathered in a
“I can't believe it,” one of them said, over the chatter of the drunkards on the other side of the wall “The threat of the De, but the city is the same as always”
“Don't speak so carelessly, Carlos I know the other custo a lot of noise, but what if so, blonde fellow
“Don't worry, Hendriksen You probably don't know this, but this private rooic Items that let sound in from the outside, but don't let any sound escape from the inside We can hear the drunkards out there, but we could sing loudly in here or plot a conspiracy to destroy the authorities of the nation, and nobody outside this rooh “Do you want to sing a song to test the walls out?”
“I'll pass Do you intend to defile Lady Ediria's ears?” said Hendriksen
“I don't thinkvoice on another occasion Let's move on to the problee with shoulder-length, chestnut-brown hair
“Yeah Well then, getting right into it… I received a Divine Message this ,” said Carlos
“Again? Your God seeot one as well,” said Hendriksen
“It's too strange to say that it's a coincidence I got one too,” said Ediria
Carlos, Hendriksen and Ediria were adventurers working in Alcrem All of them were hero candidates, and each of them had received a divine protection from a different God
Carlos had received his divine protection from Rubicante, the God of Heat Hazes, who had once been a subordinate God of Zantark
Hendriksen had received his from Elk, the Goddess of the Holy Spear, a subordinate God of Alda who had been hand-picked by Bellwood
Ediria had received hers fros, a subordinate God of Nineroad
The three of them each had a divine protection, but they were not cole party of adventurers It was by coincidence that they had gathered here
They were coainst one another, but there was no hostility between theer to stand against the De that the Gods warned them of, they were allies
However, it was difficult to say that their personalities ether very well They could be allies in battle, but not friends But nevertheless, they were e information
“All three of us got a Divine Message at ales tell you to stay away from this place for a while, and to pray to so?” Carlos asked the other two
Hendriksen and Ediria nodded
“I received a Divine Message telling me to take my companions and head to 'a certain place,' spread the name of a God that I've never heard before, and pray to him But don't tell anyone about it,” said Hendriksen “I really haven't ever heard of this God, so I a about this 'a certain place'”
“Mine was similar to that,” said Ediria
In truth, there were others in Alcrem who had received divine protections from the Gods as well However, all of them had taken their companions and left Alcrem between the end of the previous year and early this year
That was around the time when Carlos, Hendriksen and Ediria had received their Divine Messages as well
However, the three of thees They all had different reasons for that – such as not being able to simply abandon co too proud to flee after having received the divine protection of a God
A month had passed, and then two, and then finally a third, when even the Gods could wait no longer and had sent a second Divine Message to them
“I see Leaving aside the matter of this God called Rodcorte, my party has decided to flee as well After carefully considering the contents of the Divine Message, we figured that the threat of the De in on us, not the city,” said Carlos
“As for Rodcorte, I've figured out that he's really a God I prayed to that nae told me to, and I received his divine protection Of course, I still don't knohat he's the God of, though And… he toldto listen this time,” said Ediria
Hendriksen nodded in agreeic retreat as well… As unfortunate as it is, thismay be the last of its kind”
Carlos, Hendriksen and Ediria were individuals who had received divine protections fro, it was their role to fight and protect the unsuspecting people That hy they had made excuses to themselves to remain in Alcrem
However, there was no sign whatsoever of this 'threat of the Dee had reportedly occurred at the city of Morksi, but it had already been dealt with
That was certainly dangerous for the city, but far fro'
However, the Gods had sent a second Divine Message It see, but they had figured out that it was likely only a threat towards individuals who had received the Gods' divine protections Thus, the three of them had decided to flee this time
“Coroup of four in the ru a stir at the Adventurers' Guild these days? They look suspicious, they stand out, and I heard that they've caused some troubles with several other adventurer parties,” said Ediria
“Yeah, that group of four who only registered a few days ago but are unusually strong and look really suspicious… No, I suppose it's three suspicious people with one other person If I recall, the leader is a guy called Arthur, right?” said Carlos
The ru swordsman named Arthur, a beautiful yet sharp-eyed priestess nae nairl who seeed around by the other three
They were apparently from the countryside, and they had caused ruistered at the Adventurers' Guild, they had gotten into a quarrel with another party, and caused a stir by hunting several high-Rank monsters that no rookies would be able to hunt
“None of that roup of suspicious-looking country buistered at the Adventurers' Guild, and a girl being dragged around with them That's all”
“You're right Even their quarrel with other adventurers were apparently guys ere essentially thugs picking fights with thereed
The group seemed suspicious, but they hadn't co particularly suspicious And although they seee, they were far fro
“Yes I don't think they're the De, either But I was thinking that maybe they have divine protections of the Gods like us,” said Ediria
“Divine protections, huh… I suppose there is that possibility…” Hendriksen murmured
Those who received the divine protections of Gods did not really knohat the requirements to receive divine protections were, and Hendriksen was no exception There were certainly more devout, more capable worshi+ppers of the Gods than him So why had he received Elk's divine protection instead of the
The Gods see their divine protections, but… in the end, they were beyond the understanding of mortals
Even though Arthur was a person from the countryside with a soe for him to have the divine protection of a God
But Carlos disagreed “I don't think that's very likely,” he said “They ca us, to get out of here If they've received Divine Messages as well, then that would make them quite the problem children”
“That's… true,” said Hendriksen with a nod
“Either e'll never run into the the city to? I've heard that there is a new foro and have a look”
“What a coincidence I' to Morksi as well I heard ru to have a look and take a nice stroll around while I' the very first food cart where Gobu-gobu originated!” said Carlos
“… You have strange tastes as always You're not starving, and yet you want to go and eat Goblin meat,” said Hendriksen
Rubicante and Hirshees so that they would run away fro, “No! That's not e meant!” But these screams did not reach Ediria or Carlos
Having returned froeon that had been renaround,' Vandalieu and his co what they found to the Guild, and Kanako, Simon and the others completed the process of their prooal was to depart for Alcrem
“It's kind of touching,” said Kest, the wolf-type Beast-kin rookie guard
He was the one doing the paperwork at the gate for Vandalieu and his companions' departure
Every guard and knight who had fought in the battle at the front gate had undergone a Job change, so it was considered that everyone had contributed equally Thus, no particular individual had been greatly promoted as a result of the battle
But Kest was an exception – the title of 'rookie' had been reuard It was a sed were the fact that his wages had increased a little, and he was no longer looked down upon by the others in his coe
A newfound confidence was visible in him, even as he checked identification documents and filled out forms for Vandalieu and his companions
“It's about ten days' journey for a one-way trip to Alcreuess Be careful, I know there aren't any bandits around this city these days, but… I guess you'd be fine even if there were,” said Kest
“Well, it's always best to be careful…” said Vandalieu, averting his gaze
The first time he had met Kest, he had told him the false story that he had been the only survivor of a bandit attack
“Kest, you're right that they'd be fine even if there were bandits, but… I think the bandits would be running fro no notice of Vandalieu's strange behavior
From a bandit's perspective, Darcia, Vandalieu, Juliana, Natania and Siroup of woe's coachman
However, the carriage was jet black with spikes attached in various places, and if one looked closely, they would see that the two horses pulling it were monsters
And to top it off, there was Fang, who gave a short bark in agreeuard He was visibly enorhtmare for bandits
Bandits eable about h to attack a er than a horse
The rat sisters squeaked loudly to remind everyone of their presence
“Yes, yes, I know they can count on you as well,” Kest reassured them
Still, Fang was the one with the most ieable about monsters, appearance and size were the most important factors
“Well, we're planning to leave the highway partway through our journey and take a side road, so I don't think we'll be encountering any bandits,” said Vandalieu
“A side road? Why in the world would you do that? Leaving the highway between here and the Alcrem Duchy won't erous,” the senior guard warned him
The highas kept uards patrolled to keep it sohways, which es or cities on the way to replenish food supplies or rest, and there were no guard patrols Travelers taking these roads would need to sleep out in the open while being alert against bandits and monsters
They were roads that one wouldn't take unless they were transporting drugs or stolen goods
“I wanted to gathermonsters that can't be found around here,” said Vandalieu
“I see, that uard said
Adventurers and tamers would souard seemed convinced
“Well then, we'll get going,” said Vandalieu
“Alright Safe travels,” said Kest