abcnovels
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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“Because you look kind and smart, become a saint!”
And so, Barun became a saint.
The second era where the divine power had vanished.
The Holy order barely continued its lineage, and it was a time when no one cared about the selection of a saint.
The daily life of a saint from a failed order was not impressive at all.
No, it was rather boring for her, to the extent that she decided to run away as a young girl.
Barun, wielding a mace for holy Heros, ran to her destination – the slums.
“If you can’t believe in God, believe in this hammer!”
Barun raised the name of the divine in a different way.
Had she not changed her mind and returned to the Islands, she would probably have had a higher reputation as a Hero than as a saint.
As everyone paid attention to Barun’s next move, she opened a “Free Clinic” in the slums.
And she successfully operated it for decades.
“You’ve never met her in person, have you?”
The Hero shook in response to the emperor’s question.
“Because she rarely appeared at banquets or official events.”
“Still, I’m sure you heard about what kind of person she is from Ted.”
“The inviolable symbol of Harlem. Isn’t it?”
“She’s more than that.”
A skilled healer could easily help someone, but they could also easily earn resentment.
Imagine thinking you’ve finally killed someone, only for them to come back alive and well.
How frustrating would that be?
That’s why, usually, Harlem healers relied on one faction and took care of only their members.
But Barun was different.
She treated everyone who came to her.
Evil or good.
Rich or poor.
There were even stories that she cleanly treated a hitman who had tried to kill her.
If an ordinary healer treated everyone without discrimination, within a month, their body might be rolling in the alleys of Harlem.
Yet, Barun survived all those threats for decades.
That was enough time for the children she had treated to become formidable figures in the underworld.
‘That’s how the ‘Great mother’ was born.’
The Hero was convinced.
With the abilities of the Monma and Barun’s cooperation, they could catch those guys’ tails before sunset.
The emperor threw something at the Hero who was smiling satisfactorily.
Thud-
“What’s this?”
The Hero reflexively caught it.
Beyond the package, he could feel the weight of a solid glass bottle and the light touch of a box.
“The finest tobacco, the finest whiskey.”
“…But she’s a saint?”
“A saint who loves cigars and whiskey. She’s favorable to the ‘Hero,’ so there’s no need to worry about cooperation. But it’s still good to give a gift.”
“Hmm. I’ll keep it for now.”
The Hero put the package into the Key of Valber.
“Anyway, I’ll go soon. There’s not much time.”
“Barun is Barun. Don’t be late tomorrow. Having a meeting alone with ‘him’ is nauseating.”
At those words, the Hero chuckled quietly.
“Whatever. I can’t let a guest I’ve called be blown away by the wind. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah…”
The emperor seemed to hesitate for a moment, then added a word.
“Don’t let your guard down. It’s a messy place in many ways.”
The Hero smiled slightly.
This time, it was a smile different from that of Ted.
“Don’t worry. I know the place well.”
* * *
There is no city as distinct in light and shadow as the crossroads of Jedo.
This was a fact known to anyone who had visited a few times.
Once you ventured a little away from the glamorous main streets and into the deep alleys.
It was like a maze in the slums that was hard to escape without a map.
The city, as chaotic as it was, had become like this due to its rapid expansion.
In the early days of the second era, Jedo was nothing more than a small village where only a few survivors from the east had settled.
However, with the settlement of a powerful group of survivors (the Hiyashin family and the former emperor’s family) who had fallen in love with its location, Jedo underwent a sudden change.
“Oh, there’s a super safe village!”
“There must be a paradise-like place in the west too!”
“I thought I would wander the wasteland helplessly and die, but thank you, gods.”
Due to the eastern takeover by the demons, people were exploring the desolate west.
People welcomed the appearance of a safe haven and naturally flocked to Jedo.
Thus, Jedo became the most prosperous city on the continent and the breeding ground for all kinds of crimes.
‘Harlem also started up at the same time.’
It was an era of unplanned population explosion for Jedo.
Most of the city’s areas, hastily created in disorder, became the residence of the poor, and under such shadow, Harlem emerged like a poisonous mushroom.
‘Previous emperors tried to clean up Harlem in various ways…’
But they failed repeatedly.
Pushing it away with the army was not possible, as the general citizens residing in Harlem were quite numerous.
On the other hand, internal manipulation was not easy due to Harlem’s characteristic of extreme rejection of outsiders.
Even though they fought and fought like wild animals among themselves, when an external enemy appeared, they moved as one to resist.
Even Euphemia poured manpower and funds into pacifying Harlem in the early days of her reign, but the results were meager, so she had to give up.
…It was such a place with a history.
The Hero, looking at the illegal structures piled up like matchboxes, turned his gaze to a boy in front of him.
“What are you looking for, alcohol? Drugs? Or maybe a woman? We have men too. They are very rough, so I don’t know if they’ll suit your taste.”
A good pitchman.
If a child of his age roamed around with a soiled sleeve, he would usually attract attention, but not in this case.
However, that didn’t apply to him.
“Nyhill.”
“Yes.”
Snap-
“Eek!”
The boy who was attempting pickpocketing was caught by Nyhill secretly and screamed.
The Hero, without even looking in that direction, slapped two cobblestones under his feet.
Two young men with clubs, emerging from the opposite alley, lost their momentum.
Thud-
Tang-
The nail-studded clubs rolled on the ground with a dull sound.
The happening that Harlem visitors often encountered was quickly over.
‘Still the same.’
The Hero looked at the wind catcher and the young man running away.
Harlem, it was a place he had spent a lot of time in.
Since his days as a replacement of the Hero started though he hadn’t visited often.
‘Come to think of it, I also met Bucks around here.’
The image of the guy caught in the act of cheating and being beaten flashed through his mind.
“Hey, there! Save me! Aaah!”
“If I help you, what’s in it for me? Huh?”
“You bastard! Where do you think you’re going!”
When he first stepped into human society, he was quite inexperienced in using Polymorph.
He had helped him, only to be beaten together…
Thanks to that, they became close and learned various things.
‘Memories… or something.’
Calling it that wouldn’t be inappropriate.
After Bucks was stabbed to death, Harlem was his home until he left after completing his revenge.
…But, thinking about the past wasn’t the only thing on his mind.
“…..”
“Ugh, are you just going to leave me behind? You bastards.”
Nyhill’s sunken eyes were fixed on the pickpocket.
More precisely, on the swollen wrist due to the beating and colorful body that looked like it had suffered violence for a long time.
Old emotions flickering in her restrained pupils.
It was only for a short moment, but it was long enough that the Hero didn’t miss it.
“Were you born in Harlem?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Seeing that she didn’t want to talk any further, the Hero averted his gaze.
Instead, he grabbed the boy by the collar.
“Well, well, what is it! Aaargh! D-damn! Let go of me!”
The struggling boy was like a caught fish.
Nyhill’s eyes widened.
“Do you intend to kill him?”
…What does she see me as?
The Hero looked at her for a moment as if in disbelief, then shook his head.
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“No.”
“Then cut his wrist…?”
“No.”
Nyhill looked puzzled.
“Then what?”
“I need him to guide us. The nearby area is confusing.”
A weak person forced into wrongdoing in a situation with no options.
The crime is trivial.
…At that simple explanation, Nyhill’s face shook greatly.
Unfortunately, her reaction this time was missed by the Hero, as his gaze was on the boy’s struggles.
The Hero let go of the boy and, with his intimidating voice, said.
“Guide us to Barun’s clinic.”
“Ugh… fuck, Fuck!!”
…The boy mumbled a few timid curses and led the way.
The Hero, looking at him with a slightly amused expression, hurried his steps.
Thud-
Following the running boy through the winding alleyways for about ten minutes.
A wide open space appeared.
In the center was an old clinic.
Unlike other buildings in Harlem, the clinic looked worn out.
One thing different was that the surroundings were exceptionally clean.
‘Just a few seconds ago, it was full of trash and filth around…’
But, only this area was as clean as the main street from earlier.
There were even various flowers placed on the wall near the entrance, as if someone had left them there.
The scenery didn’t match Harlem at all, and they stood there, stunned by the unexpected view.
At that moment.
Thud-
Dozens of men began to appear from the alley connecting to the open space.
Buk-
Men with dirty tattoos all over their bodies surrounded the Hero and Nyhill without a word.
Nyhill immediately took out her dagger and aranea and entered a defensive stance.
Though they seemed rowdy, the intimidating momentum they emitted was not from ordinary street thugs.
All the weapons in their hands were properly sharpened, genuine ones.
“Hey, guys, does the clinic look too fine to ransack?”
“If you came here with shitty intentions, turn back. Do you think there’s anyone here who can mess with us without facing any consequences?”
Thud-thud-thud-
The boy continued his whimpering.
The Hero, without any response, simply gazed at the worn-out door of the clinic.
‘…Alright, I’ve found the right place.’
The patterns on the door were familiar.
A snake wrapped around a scale in the left hand.
A woman holding a staff in the right hand.
Symbols of the ‘goddess’ that not many people remember now.
“Look at this asshole. Fuck, I’m telling you it’s not worth it.”
“Take him to the back and teach him a lesson. Don’t cause a disturbance when the Great Mother is here.”
Slowly approaching men.
Squeak-
That moment.
With a small noise, the worn-out door of the clinic opened.
The men, upon hearing the door, immediately stopped their movements.
Their composure seemed like well-practiced actions, honed through long training.
They all bowed at once towards the door.
“Have you had your meal, Great Mother?”
“Please get inside. We’ll take care of these pests quickly.”
An elderly nun in faded robes.
Standing tall, she held a long staff like a cudgel.
Her clouded eyes wandered around, then settled on the Hero’s face.
Although unrecognizable due to the disguise, she was a comrade he had spent a lot of time with.
“……”
The Hero nodded slightly.
It was the same face he saw during the Dawn Knights’ meeting.
…Although the attitude was a bit different.
“Get lost.”
“Yes?”
“Since there’s no bed for you bastards to lay on, just get lost.”
There was no one to argue.
The thugs disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
In the blink of an eye, only Nyhill, the Hero, and Barun were left in the open space.
“Tsk, bringing such ominous things into a safe place.”
Grumbling once, she soon closed her mouth and walked towards the Hero.
Step by step.
It was a gesture of courtesy.
The Hero, without saying anything, stared at Barun.
‘…The saint of the lowest.’
The moment he saw her, he seemed to understand why she had earned that nickname.
The rough language, the stern gaze.
Even the faint smell of blood and tobacco.
Even the deep wrinkles and the dark circles under her eyes.
She couldn’t hide the sanctity and holiness that permeated her entire being.
In a world without divine power, the saint seemed to have acquired her own sacredness in her own way.
That’s how Barun stopped in front of the Hero.
“……”
And with wrinkled hands, she gently placed them on his shoulders.
For a moment, the Hero was taken aback by the unexpected reaction.
Because of her petite stature, Barun, clinging to him, looked like a praying mantis on a tree.
But it wasn’t funny at all.
In her firm grip, he could feel an indescribable emotion.
“…Belated greetings, noble Hero.”
“……”
“I am relieved to see you alive and well…”
…It must be about the Great battle.
The fake closed his eyes.
And slowly nodded his head.
“Yeah, I’ve returned safely.”
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