Chapter 28
After the dialogue with Ianpel came to an end, Aquila’s group immediately prepared to leave Portplum.
They were puzzled for only a moment when he said there was no time, because the information Ianpel brought quickly set them into motion as well.
“As you asked, there was someone who left the temple early this morning. A groom who manages the temple’s horses. He has been here for barely over a month.”
“Did he take a horse with him?”
“Yes. He took one horse without permission. When we asked the wall guards, they said they saw him heading toward Celteng.”
“So he took information with him.”
“That is likely. The Grand Temple of Portplum has not received urgent contact for quite some time. Running there would be faster.”
Aquila nodded.
The Temple of the Night, which had colluded with the Guild of Darkness, would not have been able to make emergency contact with Igrail anyway.
The Temple of the Night had withdrawn long ago, leaving only its name behind.
At this point, it was no exaggeration to say that only the Temple of the Sun, located near Portplum and doubling as an orphanage, was operating properly.
“I expelled several members of the Guild of Darkness, so he was probably a temporary liaison they dispatched.”
As he said, once the infiltrated guild members began disappearing one by one, it was highly likely that someone had come to investigate what was happening.
And then he saw it.
Aquila Reschenhardt, alive and well.
On top of that, the news that the Curse of Deadly Poison had been lifted through the power of the holy relic.
For people who treated perfect mission completion as an absolute rule, this was something that could not be allowed.
Thus, both Ianpel and Aquila believed that he had headed to Igrail to deliver information as a messenger.
With no other way to contact Igrail now, riding there directly would be the fastest option.
“Even if he rested at Celteng, he would have reached Igrail by now.”
“He will have erased every trace of evidence. By the time you arrive, it will look as though nothing ever happened.”
As he said this, Ianpel smiled strangely.
“However, if you extract a confession using the Scales of Judgment, the story changes. Did you expect it to turn out like this?”
“Well. I only suggested it because making justification myself seemed easier.”
Aquila shrugged.
If the truth were extracted using the Scales of Judgment, they could obtain decisive evidence usable in a trial.
A priest of the Sun would participate as both mediator and witness, accompanied by an absolute oath that made lying impossible.
Above all, records would remain of who used it and when.
Ianpel stared straight at Aquila’s face, then smiled gently.
“It is fortunate that the Guild member departed in such a hurry that he did not see you awaken.”
The information the guild member carried was limited to the fact that Aquila was alive and that members of the Guild of Darkness had been killed.
That meant there was little chance they would anticipate Aquila bringing the Temple Knights with him and prepare accordingly.
They would likely be erasing evidence and pondering their next move.
Even so, Aquila had no time to spare.
From Igrail, the road leading at least as far as Celteng via teleportation was a straight line.
In other words, if the Guild of Darkness member tried to flee Igrail, there was a chance they could intercept him.
For that reason as well, heading toward Celteng as quickly as possible was the top priority.
“It has become publicly known that a Guild of Darkness member infiltrated the Grand Temple of Portplum, and Martio has been implicated and imprisoned, so please understand that I cannot mobilize the entire Temple Knight Order.”
“Of course.”
“I assembled around ten people under the pretext of pursuing a deserter. I can guarantee their skill. If circumstances allowed, I would like to accompany you myself, but…….”
“That is something we will refuse, so do not even consider it.”
Aquila cut him off firmly.
He could easily imagine how troublesome it would be if Ianpel joined this journey.
Of course, it was not simply because Aquila disliked him.
Even without holding the official title of saint, Ianpel’s position was firmly established.
If someone like him moved personally, the likelihood of causing further complications was high.
Unless there was a Guild of Darkness executive in Igrail, it would be an excessive price for Ianpel to move at all.
“Haha. Hearing you say that only makes me want to go more…… Anyway, in my place, Chelsey will accompany you. She will serve as my eyes and ears.”
A group clad in armor bearing the emblem of Raspalara.
Among them was Chelsey, explaining the mission details to the Temple Knights.
After glancing at her, Aquila continued in an even tone.
“I will take it to mean that everything Priest Chelsey sees will be reported to you, so I should watch myself accordingly.”
“Oh my. Could you not jump to such arrogant conclusions? I meant that I could turn a blind eye to some things.”
Ianpel’s and Aquila’s gazes met once more.
As they silently stared at each other, the one who smiled first, as always, was Ianpel.
“Still, as a token of my regret, I will give you a gift.”
“A gift?”
Wariness entered Aquila’s eyes.
They were not close enough to exchange gifts out of goodwill.
At Ianpel’s gesture, Chelsey approached and presented a small box.
He opened it and held it out toward Aquila.
Inside lay a single silver bracelet that looked luxurious at a glance.
Between two simple, thin metal bands was a blue gemstone set as if connecting them.
Recognizing what it was, Aquila’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“It is a two-way mana communicator. Judging by your expression, you know what it is, so there is no need for further explanation.”
“Yes, well…….”
A two-way mana communicator was, simply put, no different from the mobile phones of Aquila’s original world.
Thanks to the mana stone set at its center, it was a magical tool that even ordinary people could use as long as it was charged with mana.
When this bracelet was first unveiled, it was such an unprecedented invention that it caused an uproar across the world.
Aquila narrowed his eyes.
“Is this a loan?”
“Did I not just say it was a gift?”
“I know it is expensive. You could say I have done quite a few good things for you, but even so, as compensation…….”
“It is not excessive, is it? I am investing in your future value as well.”
Ianpel pushed the box forward again, this time setting his mouth in a serious line.
“If you succeed in extracting a confession, there will be no faster way than this to summon the personnel waiting in Celteng to Igrail.”
As he said, if they could exchange information immediately, there was a high chance things would proceed more smoothly.
This was also something Aquila himself had considered.
He knew that Ianpel possessed a ‘communication bracelet.’
If Ianpel had not suggested it first, Aquila had intended to bring it up himself.
‘I was only planning to borrow it. I did not expect to receive it as a gift.’
However, once the surprise faded, an uncomfortable feeling settled in Aquila’s chest.
Because—
“It will be better than those available on the market. I received it directly from Hurbel.”
Yes, it was because of that name.
The top-tier magic tool artisan Beirets Hurbel.
The man who transferred communication, once only possible through crystal orbs, into portable magical tools.
And—
‘A gloomy fanatic who worships Ianpel.’
Just thinking about him made Aquila sigh.
When Ianpel said he needed a communication device, Hurbel poured his heart and soul into creating this bracelet.
Its performance was incomparable to anything sold on the market, and that was precisely the problem.
‘……No. This is part of a quest that will occur when I meet Hurbel. I will think about it later. A good thing is still a good thing.’
Having cleared his thoughts, Aquila accepted the box without further hesitation.
“I will use it gratefully.”
“Yes. If you fail, I instructed Chelsey to retrieve it, so do not feel too burdened.”
Ianpel added with a playful smile.
Judging by how Chelsey, who stood silently behind him, nodded, he seemed to be serious.
“……Young master! Everything is ready. You can board the carriage immediately.”
Shen approached and spoke.
They had not brought much luggage to begin with, so there was little to pack.
The only additional items were a few things Yujelia had brought from her room.
Most of the time had been spent organizing the Temple Knight contingent, briefing the mission, and preparing supplies and horses.
Even so, thanks to their busy movements, it was fortunate that it took less than an hour.
Having finished his business with Aquila, Ianpel turned his head toward the Temple Knights and called out to a man clad in polished armor.
“This is Heinen, the second captain of our proud Temple Knight Order. He will take command. He is also one of those who possesses a communicator.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
Heinen greeted them with a stiff expression.
His face was mostly hidden by his helmet, but his jawline gave a sharp impression.
Aquila nodded in return.
“Then…… I would like to continue our pleasant conversation, but let us save that for after everything is finished, when you return to the Grand Temple of Portplum.”
Aquila did not wish to make such a promise, but he knew he had to, so he agreed nonetheless.
Unable to delay any longer, Aquila immediately boarded the carriage.
From the small window, Ianpel waved his hand.
“May Raspalara’s blessing be with you.”
Only Ianpel’s quiet prayer saw them off.
In the dead of night, the carriage carrying Aquila’s group, driven by the Temple Knights, sped swiftly through the darkness.
“Lord Aquila has returned!”
The voice announcing Aquila’s return rang loudly throughout the Reschenhardt Estate.
“……Returned?! Did he come back cured of his illness?”
A maid cried out in a fluster.
The third son of House Reschenhardt had supposedly headed to the Grand Temple of Portplum for treatment after falling ill with a deadly disease.
To confirm whether Aquila was truly well, all the servants rushed outside under the pretense of welcoming him.
Through the wide-open doors, they saw the carriage bearing the seal of Reschenhardt entering the grounds.
Standing on tiptoe to look, Mary spotted unfamiliar figures among them.
Unlike Vice-Captain Cahena, who rode beside the carriage as an escort, they wore gleaming silver armor that immediately caught the eye.
And yet, they stood there as naturally as if they had been together from the start.
At first, the sunlight reflected too strongly to see clearly, but a different emblem, not that of Reschenhardt, was engraved on their chests.
‘That emblem belongs to the Temple of the Sun……?’
As the servants all cast puzzled looks, the carriage bearing the Reschenhardt seal finally came to a stop.
Those mounted on horses dismounted.
The clatter of armor rang out with particular force.
And before anyone could even open the carriage door, it suddenly flew open from the inside.
The first to step down was Shen, Aquila’s loyal attendant.
Immediately after, Yujelia, who had accompanied Aquila to the temple, emerged.
“Two priests……?”
Someone murmured in confusion.
That was because there was another person in a pure white robe riding on a horse that followed behind the carriage.
However, before attention could settle on that figure, the last person remaining inside the carriage revealed himself.
Red hair.
Its fiery hue, as though burning under the sunlight, seized everyone’s gaze at once.
“Welcome back, Young Master Aquila.”
The elderly butler, who had devoted decades of service to House Reschenhardt, bowed his head.
Gone was the figure wrapped head to toe in a robe when he left.
Now, dressed neatly, Aquila gave off an ambiguous impression somewhere between a boy and an adult.
But his face was no longer pale and deathly.
His cheeks carried a healthy color, and his black eyes gleamed as they caught the light.
After briefly surveying the assembled servants with indifference, Aquila turned his gaze to the old butler.
“I must see Lady Celsia. Take me to her, wherever she is.”