“What were you going to do if you collapsed like last time!?”
“Did I?”
“It’s only been a month!”
“A month ago? Uh…”
I certainly didn’t say that I had only arrived here six days ago, and instead, I tried to recall the memories of that time.
“Let’s see.”
The incident where he recently collapsed from a seizure. He had tried to sneak out to watch the knightly parade, but far from seeing the parade, he couldn’t even make it past the open main gate before collapsing. Since it was a recent memory, I could recall it without much trouble.
However, that was then, and this is now.
“I really am all better!”
I said, showing off the biceps I didn’t even have in front of her. I was someone who had even considered traveling abroad while living a terminal life. Even if there was a curse, the symptoms were nothing more than seizures and high fevers. Such things could not break my will. Furthermore, the curse was now gone.
“I look fine, right?”
Perhaps it was a mistake to show off such flimsy biceps, as Nue did not wipe the suspicious look from her face.
“No, you still can’t! Abbot Shadly is scheduled to visit tonight. Just stay still until then!”
Despite my words to let me go, Nue’s attitude remained adamant. Was it because of the memories of her heart sinking dozens of times while nursing Dien? She also seemed to have trauma regarding his seizures.
“Abbot Shadly is a very famous person in the Duchy of Bronin. I’m sure he’ll be able to examine your illness well, Master.”
Many priests had been invited to the Portran household to break the curse. Abbot Shadly was one of them.
“I suppose.”
It was a curse he had suffered from for over five years, so how could she believe it was cured overnight? Delaying it by a day wouldn’t make the European-style streets disappear. Unless I unluckily dropped dead tonight, it was a landscape I would be seeing for the rest of my life. Moreover, seeing her sincerely worrying about me made my stubbornness about traveling this other world slowly wear away.
After the commotion settled down.
I changed the subject to ease the awkward atmosphere.
“Is Abbot Shadly’s holy power really that impressive?”
“Of course! He’s one of the top ten in the kingdom!”
“Hasn’t the person who is number one in the kingdom already visited?”
At my thoughtless remark, Nue’s expression darkened, and in an instant, her eyes welled up with tears. Dien, startled by her sudden emotional outburst, hurried to grab her shoulders.
“Nue, it’s a joke. A joke! I’m really okay.”
“I’m sorry, Master Dien… I’m just so worried… Please don’t give up, Master Dien. There must be a way.”
“No, I’m sorry. I won’t go out today. Don’t cry…”
I patted Nue’s back as she was about to burst into tears. Damn it. Even in this place, the first one to cry wins. I immediately gave up on going out because of her chicken-egg-sized tears. As I was comforting her, a strange emotion suddenly washed over me.
’16-year-old Dien is better off than 40-year-old Kwon Jun-hee.’
Who would have shed tears in front of the funeral portrait at Kwon Jun-hee’s funeral in his past life? Thinking about it, no particular person came to mind. Yet, for 16-year-old Dien, there was a maid who shed tears out of worry for him. Because of this, even if Nue screamed and shouted at me, I didn’t feel bad.
“Abbot Shadly will be different!”
She only sniffled and didn’t answer. It must be because what I said was an undeniable fact.
The year he was struck by the devil’s curse, the Bishop of the kingdom had already visited the Baron’s estate. Though he was the Bishop, the priest with the most powerful holy power in the kingdom, he shook his head after examining Dien.
At the time, he said that the condition for breaking a curse was based on the premise that the priest’s holy power must be stronger than the curse itself. In the case of Molek III, who belongs to the ten Great Demons, he stated that one would need to be at least a Cardinal to escape his gaze.
These words were no different from a death sentence for Dien at the time. A Cardinal of the Orthodox Church. There was no way a clergyman of a Cardinal’s rank would read a letter from a Baron’s family in the remote Kingdom of Delos, and even if they did, there was even less reason for them to visit this place. They had already sent a letter to the Papacy to recruit a Cardinal, but even now, six years later, there has been no response.
It was only natural.
“I’ll endure it today since Nue is worried. Instead, if there are any books on holy power, could you bring them to my room?”
“I understand, Master.”
It seemed I should learn more about this other world through writing, at least.
***
Time passed like that.
In the evening, Abbot Shadly, who had arrived at the Portran estate, was examining Dien’s body.
“Hmm… I do not know the reason… but it seems clear that Master Dien’s curse has vanished.”
“Is that really true!?”
“It is, Baron.”
A bright light had been emitting from his hands for an hour, and beads of sweat were forming on his furrowed brow. Dien couldn’t take his eyes off Shadly’s hands for a moment, witnessing this super-scientific situation for the first time.
“Ha… how could such a thing happen… Thank you, Abbot.”
“How can this be!!!”
Exclamations of joy flowed from the mouths of Oren and the servants who were standing by Dien with their hands clasped.
“Give your thanks to Lord Pantera in the heavens. I have done nothing.”
“No. Just the fact that you came all this way means the Portran family owes you a great debt.”
“It is no debt at all. I truly did nothing.”
Shadly, who had withdrawn his holy power, waved his hand repeatedly. Dien’s gaze was still fixed on the hand that had just been emitting holy power.
“However, there is something strange, Baron Oren.”
“Something strange…?”
“That is…”
At his trailing response, worry once again clouded Baron Oren’s face. The servants also fidgeted nervously.
“Please, tell us. Abbot.”
“The Breath of Pantera resides within Master Dien’s body.”
But the words that came out of his mouth were unexpected.
“Eh? The Breath of Pantera?”
“I mean holy power.”
“Did you say holy power?”
“I did.”
At Shadly’s words, Oren’s expression stiffened.
“That can’t be!”
Holy power was something that manifested only after receiving ordination and receiving Pantera’s revelation through faithful training and meditation. It was absurd that Dien, who hadn’t even been baptized yet, possessed holy power. Furthermore, holy power manifested through signs and incantations like the Sign of the Cross; it wasn’t something one could hold within the body like mana.
“I am also confused. That is why it took so long.”
Shadly made an awkward gesture and wiped away the beads of sweat. While everyone was confused, Dien, who found Shadly’s behavior frustrating, frowned.
‘Sigh… what a frustrating man…’
If he knew the curse was broken, he should have said so sooner. Since he had been shooting light for an hour, I thought something had gone wrong. But to keep the atmosphere heavy for an hour just because of holy power, which isn’t even a bad symptom.
“It seems Master Dien’s curse was self-healed by Master Dien’s own holy power…”
“Hahaha, your jokes are excessive, Abbot! This was the curse of Molek III… For this child to have such holy power…”
Shadly, who lacked confidence in his own words, and Oren, who doubted those words, locked eyes. Holy power was called the exclusive authority of priests. If Dien, who had to carry on the Portran lineage, became a priest, the family line would be severed. So, for Oren, it was an issue as serious as the curse.
“It is a first for me as well. For a lamb to possess His Breath… and to this extent…”
Silence followed. While each was racking their brains over their own concerns, Shadly spoke up.
“Baron Oren. Just in case, may I inform the Orthodox Papacy of this fact and visit again when word comes back?”
“Oh! Of course, Abbot!”
An Abbot is one who focuses on doctrine and serves God without political bias. Among such Abbots, Shadly was rumored to be closely connected with the figures of the Papacy. Being close to the Central Diocese meant having great influence within the parish. Oren welcomed his visit if only to maintain a personal acquaintance.
“Then I shall see you soon, Baron.”
“Yes, Abbot. I have prepared a carriage outside.”
Shadly, who had been lost in deep thought for a while, glanced at Dien once and rose from his seat.
***
“Now I can finally go outside.”
Whatever they chatted about, all Dien needed was the permission to go out that Oren had granted. He had heard the talk about holy power and whatnot, but he simply had no interest in it. Since he had already received a confirmed diagnosis of being cured, he would now be able to live a free life.
“Dien. Let us thank Lord Pantera.”
“Yes, Father.”
Although Oren felt uneasy deep down, the fact that Dien’s curse was gone was a great joy for the family. The father and son smiled, each with different thoughts.
“But Dien… did anything happen over the last few days?”
“No. Well… nothing happened.”
There was something weighing on his conscience, but he had made up his mind to live a new life in Dien’s body. Besides, even if he told the truth, there was no way they would believe him. It was a place where they would likely perform an exorcism, saying his words were just delusions caused by a demon.
“By any chance, do you know anything about what Abbot Shadly said?”
“Do you mean the part about holy power?”
“Yes.”
“I know nothing about it.”
“I see… I suppose so… Very well. If you feel any discomfort in your body, tell me. You have… suffered much all this time.”
A lot of emotion could be felt in his last words. It was certainly the day a bright flower bloomed in the Portran household, which had been darkened by Dien’s curse. Suppressing his joyful heart, Oren stroked Dien’s head and stood up. For a brief moment, I saw his eyes redden.
However, I had something to obtain before he left.
“Wait a moment, Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Since the curse is broken, could you please grant me permission to go out?”
“Hmm… Still, for now…”
“I am already sixteen years old. It is the age when children of noble families usually begin their heir lessons or enter the academy. A young master of the Portran family, a family of prestigious administrators, cannot remain shut in his room forever, can he?”
“That’s true… Your age… has already…”
It was an expected scenario. I had prepared numerous excuses in case he refused. Thus, Dien’s eyes began to spark with a strong desire for the right to go out.
“Please allow me to build my knowledge as an administrative noble before it is too late. I heard that His Majesty the King led the Royal Guard at the age of fifteen. I am now at an age where I must learn and achieve something as well.”
It was an undeniable fact that Dien’s learning was slower than that of other noble children. Oren must have worried about this as well.
“Please allow me to fulfill my duty without bringing shame to the Portran name.”
As Dien brought up the family name, Oren’s expression began to change little by little.
“Father! How can I face the Portran ancestors who laid the foundation of the Kingdom of Delos—”
“Hmm… fine, I understand.”
After pondering for a long time, the answer Dien wanted flowed from Oren’s mouth, and Dien tightly clenched his fists hidden under the blanket.
“In exchange, you must always be accompanied by a servant when you go out. There must be no more sneaking out like last time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
‘Yes!’
With Oren’s final words, Dien flashed a grin at Nue, who was standing behind him. And then.
“Get ready to head out.”
Dien’s face, as he sent a message to Nue through mouth shapes and hand gestures, was brighter than ever before.