The Wandering Priest in Dark Fantasy

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]

Chapter 52: The Missing Children (2)

“Who are you?”

A hunched old woman asked with a wary look, clutching a club in her hand.

Hamel stepped forward and presented his credentials.

“I am a priest of the Order.”

“……A priest? What brings a priest to a place like this……?”

The old woman reached out a trembling hand towards Hamel's credentials.

Hamel placed them in her hand, and the old woman finally nodded her head in understanding.

“This symbol…… It is indeed the Order's insignia. Come in.”

The old woman finally relaxed her guard and opened the door wide.

“Thank you.”

Hamel said, brushing off the snow from his clothes as he stepped inside.

The warm air inside, unlike the cold outside, filled his lungs and warmed his body.

“Follow me. I will lead you to the drawing-room.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

The old woman slowly led the way, and Hamel and his companions followed cautiously, ready to draw their weapons at any moment.

“…….”

Hamel exchanged glances with the others.

They all sensed something strange without a word being spoken.

A luxurious mansion appearing suddenly in the middle of the mountains was certainly out of place.

While they should be wary, they needed to follow the old woman's lead and assess the situation for now.

Their goal was to rescue the man's family.

“Warm yourselves first.”

The drawing-room the old woman led them to was even cozier and warmer.

A fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the air was filled with the scent of burning wood.

Once everyone was seated, the old woman finally asked with a puzzled look,

“So, what brings a priest to this place?”

“…….”

Hamel gazed at the old woman for a moment before speaking.

“We are looking for someone.”

“……Someone?”

The old woman's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression suggesting she was hiding something.

Hamel kept a close eye on her as he continued,

“Yes, a man on the outskirts of the forest asked us for help. He said his wife and children entered the forest and haven't returned. Have you seen them by any chance?”

At Hamel's question, the old woman averted her gaze and let out a low groan.

But eventually, she seemed to give up and sighed, asking warily.

“And what if I have?”

“Then we must take them back with us.”

“Even if they don't want to?”

“……?”

Hamel tilted his head in confusion.

The old woman pressed on,

“What if the wife and children ran away from the man to escape him?”

“…….”

When Hamel couldn't answer the unexpected question, the old woman sighed and said,

“I have seen them. I am protecting them. The husband, the woodcutter, becomes a beast when he drinks and beats his family. The wife, unable to bear it any longer, brought her children to me.”

“……Who are you?”

“I am the caretaker of Lord Lonely Ridge's villa. His Lordship and his wife come here every summer.”

Hamel was bewildered by this unexpected story.

Thinking back, there were indeed strange aspects to the man's story.

For instance, why didn't the man go into the forest to search for his family himself?

Noticing their unease, the old woman sighed and explained,

“This mansion is under a perception-altering spell. Without my permission, even the woodcutter cannot find this place. Though a priest like you somehow managed to break through……”

“Ah.”

Hamel nodded in understanding.

That explained why the man had asked him for help.

“I need to see them.”

“Very well. Have something to eat while you wait.”

The old woman gestured towards the wine, bread, and fruit on the table and slowly left the room.

“Whew.”

Hamel let out a breath as the tension eased slightly.

Though things weren't going as planned, it wasn't a bad situation.

Just then, someone's stomach growled.

Hamel turned to his companions, but they all shook their heads.

“It wasn't me.”

“What are you looking at? It wasn't me either.”

"It wasn't me either. Ono, was it really not you?"

"You little brat... even if it wasn't me?"

"..."

No one said anything.

Hamel nodded as if he understood.

Come to think of it, he was hungry. It had been a while since he missed his mealtime.

"Those who want to eat, please do. But don't touch what's on the table."

"Alright."

The group nodded and each rummaged through their pockets to take out something to eat.

It was still difficult to completely trust the old woman.

They each took out and chewed on dried meat, biscuits, and other dry provisions.

Just then, Ono tossed something to Hamel.

It was a fruit called a winter plum.

"What's this for?"

"I picked it from the front."

"When did you... sigh, Thanks."

"Suit yourself."

Ono shrugged and offered some to Daniel and Lena as well.

The two, tired of their dry provisions, accepted the fruit while glancing at Hamel.

'....It's not stealing, is it?'

After all, there were plums among the fruits laid out on the table. Hamel swallowed a sigh and nodded.

The two bit into the plums.

The ripe plums, juicy at first glance, burst with sweet juice as soon as they were bitten.

Even Hamel, who was watching, found himself swallowing unconsciously.

'I guess they were tired of the dry food.'

Hamel closed his eyes tightly and shoved the dried meat into his mouth. The jerky felt especially tough today, like chewing on tree bark.

After chewing and swallowing the meat for a while, Hamel slowly opened his eyes.

An unbelievable sight unfolded before him.

"......!"

All three people who had been eating just moments ago had collapsed.

He quickly checked Lena's pulse, who was closest to him. Her breathing was even, and her heart was beating steadily.

She was asleep.

'We've been had.'

Hamel drew his sword and jumped to his feet.

Was there poison in the fruit?

'But how did they know and prepare in advance....'

Hamel's thoughts were cut short. He felt his body tilting before his head hit the floor.

"......?"

What was going on? He hadn't even touched the fruit.

As Hamel's mind grew hazy, the crackling sound of firewood reached his ears.

'...Ah.'

It had been happening since they entered the room. Something in the air had done this to him.

Now that he thought about it, there was a faint scent in the air.

Perhaps that was the reason why he felt strangely drowsy and relaxed.

Hamel gritted his teeth and tried to get up.

As he managed to raise his upper body, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Oh my, there's still one wriggling around. Is it the religious zealot? Or the pathetic knight?"

The old woman muttered in disgust and approached him.

Then...

Thwack!

With a dizzying blow to the back of his neck,

Hamel collapsed to the floor.

As his consciousness faded, he heard a faint voice mocking him.

"Whatever you are, you crawled in here on your own. How foolish. Tsk tsk."

That was Hamel's last memory.

***

"... Ugh."

Hamel opened his eyes with a throbbing headache.

His surroundings were dark, but not so much that he couldn't make out shapes.

The first thing he saw were iron bars.

And handcuffs on his wrists, shackles on his ankles.

'Handcuffs?'

Hamel, momentarily dazed from sleep, abruptly opened his eyes.

'Am I still alive?'

He was surprised to find himself alive and quickly examined his surroundings.

Inside the iron bars, Hamel and his companions were all tied up together.

The others were still asleep, seemingly unconscious.

Hamel gritted his teeth and strained to break free from the handcuffs.

Crack!

Blood trickled from his wrists where the cuffs were fastened, but it was no use.

He couldn't muster any strength.

His stomach churned.

The mana within his body was also running wild.

'Poison?'

Hamel frowned.

If the sleepiness and lack of strength were due to poisoning, it would explain everything.

With his sword taken away, there was nothing he could do.

"...I made a mistake."

It was at that moment, as Hamel muttered to himself, that he heard a voice.

"Hey... are you awake?"

A boy's voice came from beyond the wall.

The trembling voice was cautious and filled with fear.

Hamel answered in a calm voice.

"Yes, I just woke up."

"Ah!"

The boy seemed surprised that Hamel answered.

Then, he suddenly continued in a brighter tone.

"I saw the witch drag you down here earlier. I'm glad you're alright."

The fact that the boy witnessed him and his companions being imprisoned here meant he was captured earlier.

Hamel easily deduced the boy's identity.

"It's you, isn't it? The woodcutter's son."

"Huh? How did you know?"

The boy asked in surprise.

Hamel quickly replied,

"Your father asked us to come. Where are your mother and sibling?"

"My dad did?"

The boy's joy was short-lived, and he suddenly sobbed.

"My sister... the witch took her. And my mom..."

He couldn't continue speaking for a while.

Only after sniffling a few times did the boy stammer,

"M-my mom is here beside me... but she's turned into a tree."

"...A tree?"

"Yes... At first, sprouts grew from her head, then her skin gradually turned into bark... Now she doesn't move at all."

Hamel was silent after hearing the shocking story.

As if remembering something, the boy wiped his tears and added urgently,

"N-never eat what the witch gives you! Mom changed after eating it."

Food.

Hamel suddenly lifted his head as if he had remembered something.

He quickly checked his companions again.

"......"

As expected.

Small sprouts were growing on their heads.

Hamel finally realized what he was facing.

He had read about it in a book once.

A blood-drinking flower that parasitizes the human body and expands its influence.

The high ranking demon, Carnosa Vinea.

However, there was something puzzling.

Why didn't he sense any demonic energy from the plums his companions ate, or from this mansion?

How could the old woman conceal her true identity?

Nevertheless, identifying the enemy was a significant step forward.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I know who we're dealing with."

"Huh? Oh, yes."

The boy seemed flustered, as if he didn't expect to be thanked.

A brief silence fell between them.

After a moment of contemplation, Hamel hesitantly asked,

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Me...?"

The boy replied with an awkward laugh.

"I'm still okay."

"'Still'?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, the boy spoke with a trembling voice.

"The witch said she'll feed the fruit to my sister if I don't eat it today."

The boy took a deep breath.

Then, he murmured as if he had made up his mind.

"I have to eat it now. I waited to warn you when you woke up."

The clattering of dishes could be heard from beyond the wall.

Hamel urgently stopped him.

"Wait a moment."

"...Yes?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I have a way."

The boy was silent for a long time at Hamel's words.

Then, a trembling voice reached him.

A faint hope glimmered in the tearful voice.

"R-really...?"

"It certainly won't be easy, but it's worth a try."

Hamel hesitated for a moment, but then affirmed with certainty.

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]