Chapter 36
Sian and the rest of the mercenaries, who had to rely on Carl’s guidance, all wore the same expression.
What on earth was he talking about?
“So you’re saying no one knows how long we’ll have to wander in this forest?” Max asked with an incredulous face, for some reason gripping his sword. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. Carl, startled, hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Well, not no one. The Dragon’s Temple side knows.”
“…You call that an answer?”
This time, it was Sian who clenched her fist tightly. Carl’s usually calm eyes shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
“No, surely they wouldn’t make us wander for too long? After all, I am the dragon’s master…”
“If the Dragon’s Temple side is opening the way, then what was the path we’ve been following all this time?”
“Well, we still had to get close enough for them to… open the way.”
Carl’s voice grew progressively quieter. In contrast, the veins on Sian’s tightly clenched fist became more pronounced with anger.
Amidst the commotion, as if it had overheard the conversation inside the tent-like cargo hold, the wagon gradually came to a stop. They heard Skull’s voice, “Whoa,” as he handled the horses.
“From here on, we can’t even bring horses, let alone the wagon. Looks like we’ll have to walk, right?”
Soon, with a rustling sound, Skull poked his head through the wagon’s canvas.
“How much further do we have to go, boss?”
Having not heard the conversation that had just taken place inside, he asked innocently. A bitter silence hung over the cargo hold.
“Why’s the atmosphere like this?”
Realizing that Carl was receiving sharp glares from everyone as if he had committed a grave sin, Skull tilted his head in confusion. Sian shot Carl a fierce look and clicked her tongue.
“Who knows. Everyone, gather your belongings and get off. We’ll tie up the horses and come back for them later.”
With responses of “Yes” and “Okay,” the mercenaries followed Sian’s instructions and gathered their belongings. Skull, still puzzled, just kept tilting his head left and right, while Carl, uncharacteristically dejected, also packed his things.
Bewildered, Skull went about his task. As he skillfully tied the horses’ reins to a large tree trunk at the point where the path became impassable for horses, the mercenaries jumped down one by one with their luggage.
“Is everyone off… Mother of God!”
“Aaaaah!”
Sian, who had jumped down first, was about to ask the mercenaries disembarking one after another when she let out a scream. The mercenaries, who were just shouldering their luggage, were startled by Sian’s scream and screeched like a flock of crows.
“What’s the… Holy hell!”
Dr. Zivago, who was about to ask what was wrong, looked at Sian and also let out a horrified yell.
Just moments ago, they were treading on lush undergrowth that covered their ankles, surrounded by nothing but trees and grass in a dense forest. But somehow, in an instant, the scenery around them had completely changed when they looked back after briefly averting their gaze.
Except for the massive tree where they had tied the horses’ reins, the surrounding trees had vanished as if they had been instantly logged. It was as if they had been bewitched by ghosts.
Beneath their feet was now verdant grass. The characteristic damp smell of the forest that had permeated the air was gone, replaced by a crisp breeze. It felt as if they had climbed to the summit of a mountain.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
The space that had been filled with nothing but forest had transformed into a spacious flat ground. About ten people stood there, wrapped from head to toe in white veils, revealing only their eyes.
The one standing at the front spoke with their hands respectfully clasped in front.
Whether it was due to the respectful tone and accent, or if they were intimidated by the majestic white temple sprawling behind them, or perhaps they were simply dumbfounded by the suddenly changed surroundings – it was hard to tell. Sian and the mercenaries were frozen, unable to open their mouths rashly.
A mystical and reverent atmosphere hung thick like fog.
“It’s been a long time, High Priestess.”
Carl’s shoulders, which had been hunched under the mercenaries’ murderous gazes just moments ago, straightened proudly.
Carl spoke with a faint smile, lowering his voice. His rather princely, solemn voice now sounded awkward to Sian and the mercenaries.
“It has been a while, Master of Idelin.”
“So you did come out to greet us.”
As the one called the High Priestess bowed, Carl returned the greeting with a satisfied expression. Then he suddenly turned his head and exclaimed to Sian and Max, clenching his fist:
“See! I told you we’d arrive soon!”
“Tch.”
Sian scratched her ear with an expression that seemed to say, “What dog is barking?”
The surprise was left to the High Priestess. She blinked in confusion, watching the Master of Idelin, who had just exchanged greetings with such dignity, suddenly lash out at the woman like a back-alley thug.
“…Master of Idelin?”
“Ah, yes.”
Realizing he was in front of the High Priestess, Carl quickly composed himself. As he returned to his princely demeanor, the High Priestess’s expression also eased.
“So this is the one led by the dragon’s fate. We are honored to receive you here.”
The High Priestess, her eyes calm once again, bowed politely towards the mercenaries.
“Oh my, oh my. It is we who are honored by such an esteemed person…”
“It’s an honor to be welcomed.”
The mercenaries were so overwhelmed by the High Priestess’s courteous greeting that they were on the verge of kneeling.
The High Priestess’s eyes smiled as she observed their reactions.
“You must be tired from your long journey. We have prepared a place where you can rest and recover from your travel fatigue. Please, follow me.”
As the High Priestess spoke elegantly and turned, the priests lined up behind her simultaneously stepped back to make way.
Two massive pillars carved with dragons soaring into the sky supported the high ceiling. There was no separate door; beyond a few steps, marble tiles gleamed smoothly.
From the front, it was impossible to gauge the full scale of the temple. Nevertheless, overwhelmed by its weighty presence, the mercenaries gaped, taking in the scene unfolding behind the priests.
Carl nudged the mercenaries with his arm, urging them forward as they hesitated to step into that solemn space. Only then did they snap out of their daze and begin to move forward one by one, albeit awkwardly.
“A guest awaits the Dragon’s Master. Please send your companions with the regular priests and come this way.”
The High Priestess drew Carl’s attention in her unwavering voice as he followed behind Sian and the mercenaries.
“A guest?”
“An envoy sent by the Master of Nathan.”
As Carl’s eyes widened at this unexpected situation, the High Priestess bowed her head and explained. Carl unconsciously furrowed his brow and looked at Sian.
Sian, who was entering the temple at the tail end of the group behind Bill, met his gaze as if she knew he would look at her.
Sian had also heard the High Priestess’s words.
An envoy from the Crown Prince… Surely the Crown Prince, also a Dragon Master, wouldn’t have sent someone to cause more provocation or conflict in this sacred space.
Moreover, the fact that he had sent someone to wait for Carl at the temple, rather than organizing a search party, was by no means a bad sign, no matter how one looked at it.
Could it be that the Crown Prince also suspected a different mastermind behind this, other than Carl?
Many thoughts swirled in her mind for a moment. Sian pressed her lips tightly together. She clearly felt Carl’s gaze on her, but she had planned to conclude all contracts after accompanying him to the Dragon’s Temple.
I don’t need to be curious anymore, nor do I need to step in.
Having quickly reached this conclusion, Sian ignored Carl’s gaze and turned her head away.
“Aren’t you going with him?”
It wasn’t Carl who stopped Sian as she was about to follow Bill again. The High Priestess was asking Sian with an unexpected look.
“Me?”
Sian blinked in bewilderment.
The High Priestess’s eyes, the only visible part of her face, crinkled in a gentle smile.
“You are precious to the Master, so I thought you might want to join him…”
“Well, well, the priestess knows everything, doesn’t she?”
“That’s right, she’s a very precious person.”
Before the High Priestess could finish speaking, the mercenaries who had gone ahead caught her words and jeered with a chorus of “Ooh!”
Have these fools gone mad…
Sian glared at her companions with sharp eyes. The commotion of mockery and jeering immediately subsided. If it’s the Crown Prince’s envoy, they’re obviously going to discuss secret matters related to political strife, so why should I go there?
Having finished her thought, Sian spoke as politely as possible while taking a step back.
“I’m sorry, but I think you’ve mistaken me. I don’t have the qualifications to…”
“No, come with me.”
At that moment, Carl firmly grasped Sian’s wrist. Sian looked at Carl with wide eyes.
“I don’t know what my brother’s person has come here for. So I’d like you to come with me.”
Carl spoke in a subdued voice, as if he were frightened. But Sian’s expression turned incredulous.
Surely he must know that if the Crown Prince had ill intentions, he would have sent pursuers rather than sending someone to the temple.
Insisting on having her participate in the meeting with the Crown Prince’s envoy meant nothing other than wanting to borrow her strength until the very end. If she learned more details about the Crown Prince’s message delivered by the envoy and Carl’s response, she would no longer be a third party.
Although she quickly realized it was Carl’s ploy to extend the contract she had postponed until reaching the Dragon’s Temple, Sian couldn’t bring herself to shake off Carl’s hand gripping her wrist.
“The people of the temple can’t help me if something happens to me. Although this is a temple, they can’t interfere in the affairs of imperial citizens.”
“But…”
“Go ahead, Lady Sian.”
