Chapter 5 – Priest Aaron

After having a bath in warm water for the first time in a long time, Ed participated in the dinner he was invited to while dressed in comfortable clothes that were prepared for him.

Like any aristocrat, the table was long. So, each person could eat what was placed in front of them. Baron Beryl sat on the other side while a woman who resembled Elise sat next to her together with Elise.

She was grinning as her eyes met Ed. I think she came back to her senses a little bit.

In the back, there was a knight standing who stared at him earlier, and his eyes were still staring at him as if he was dissatisfied with something.

Silver candlesticks were placed in front of the table with the candles on top of it. The sun was not completely set yet, so the candles were subtly brightening the surroundings with red light coming into the window.

While the maid and the servants were preparing the meal, Baron Beryl spoke with a smile.

“Excuse me about that earlier. I didn’t expect you to be Ed, who’s the famous demon hunter.”

As the devil he was looking for disappeared where he passed, Ed was earning his name little by little even if he didn’t want to.

Devils are those that can’t be dealt with easily as opponents. So, just by hunting such a thing alone proved himself to be powerless.

“Are you following the footsteps left by the three heroes 16 years ago?”

Ed smiled softly at the words.

The Age of the devils 1 is a game that came out 15 years ago. It’s been a year more since I’ve been into this world which makes it a total of 16 years being here. The time of the game was flowing at the same speed as the time of reality.

Freedom Knight Pendragon

Helena, the mystic.

Druid Dread.

The three were true demon butchers who killed even the greatest devils one by one. Those who hunted demons in pursuit of their prestige appeared, but most of them were false reputations.

There are sometimes people who have hunted the real devil, but there is no one who’d dare to make a living out of it.

Only those who have a stand against the devil can see the true strength of the devil.

So even if a demon killer is sometimes seen, there was no one else who earned the name as a demon hunter after the three heroes.

“I’m just killing those who do harm.”

It’s a long way from following the three heroes. Although I have leveled up quite a bit for a year, I’m no match for them.

I was thinking of meeting them and getting help whenever I had the chance. But it wasn’t easy to find their whereabouts.

It was only heard that freedom knight Pendragon was staying in the royal road. But the whereabouts of the mystic Helena and Druid Dread remained unknown.

During the conversation, Ed could see the freshly baked warm bread and soup in front of him. Usually, it was hard to get such food even if you had money because you usually stayed at inns and restaurants.

“Let’s have a chat while we eat.”

Ed tore the bread and dipped it in the soup as if he had waited. When he ate the bread that became moist with the savoriness of the soup, he smiled naturally.

“It is delicious.”

“I’m glad it fits your taste.”

After eating the bread, the salad came out, and after eating all of that, lamb steak came out. I also liked the well-roasted lamb steak that didn’t smell at all.

I was able to finish a satisfying meal with the aroma of wine I drank with.

When the cake and tea were served for dessert after all the meals, Baron Beryl spoke while wiping her lips with a handkerchief.

“I have been able to come to this place because I have repaid my resentment and my grace by tenfold.”

When he beckoned, the servant approached and put a small wooden box on top of the table. Ed looked at the wooden box and gave Baron Beryl a look.

“That’s all I can prepare right now. If you stay for a few days, I’ll be able to satisfyingly take good care of you.”

Ed opened the wooden box at the end of those words. There were about fifty gold coins in it. Ed had never seen so many gold coins in this world before.

Ed closed the wooden box and spoke politely.

“That’s too much. However, I would like to have my weapons maintained for hunting here, so please allow me to stay for a few days.”

Baron Beryl smiled at the words.

“If it’s the things you need in hunting demons, of course, I’ll help you. Don’t mind that, and it’s fine to stay for days and months. I’ll help you if you tell the server what you want, so don’t hesitate.”

“Thank you so much.”

If I refuse more from here, a problem could occur. Besides, there was no need to refuse to as they are going to give me all the things I needed.

Ed, who was sitting by the window where the morning sun sank and was looking down at the village, turned his head to the knock.

“Can I come in?”

“Wait a minute.”

When he opened the door and came out, Elise was standing with the maid. Elise spoke while lifting her brimmed hat as Ed stepped out with his leather coat on.

“Would you like to have breakfast with me in the garden?”

“Sure.”

As Elise took the lead and walked one step behind her, Ed was able to follow her to the garden behind the mansion. It was a garden full of tulips. The waves of yellow flowers caught his eye.

And in the middle of the garden were tables and chairs. The maid went ahead and dusted the chair off and also laid the table.

As Elise sat down, Ed also sat across from her. He opened the basket that the maid had brought, took out the sandwich, and also put the orange juice down.

When he saw Elise picking up the sandwich and chewing it in her mouth, Ed also picked his sandwich up and put it in his mouth. The crispy lettuce and the salty ham were combined.

I’ve only stayed for a day, and I felt as if the meals at this house would remain memorable in the future. That’s how good it tasted.

Elise opened her mouth as he was focusing on his meal, considering it was a break after a year.

“I heard from my father that there’s a song in honor of you. I heard you were enough to be praised as a hero.”

“I’m not a hero.”

Killing the devil was only for himself. He was raising his level up by hunting demons because he thought it was the only way to go back by seeing the ending of the Age of devils 2.

Ed asked while putting the remaining sandwich in his hand into his mouth.

“But why are you so polite all of a sudden?”

Elise blushed slightly and replied.

“Because you are a savior but also a hero.”

Ed took a sip of the orange juice and asked.

“What about Lord Badel?”

Elise’s expressions got quickly stiffened at the question. Suddenly depressed, she put her sandwich down and put her hands on her knees while straightening her back as she replied.

“We decided to bury him in the cemetery this afternoon.”

Elise’s eyes were fixed on Ed.

“Will you come with me?”

Ed nodded with a look of anticipation.

It was only a short meeting I had with Badel, but I said I’d do so because my participation in his funeral would seem to be a great comfort for Elise. Come to think of it; I felt like this breakfast was made for this talk.

No wonder she was letting me up by saying I was a hero and so on.

The cemetery was on the north side of the castle.

The grave keeper had already dug up the ground, and Ed, who was looking at the people carrying the coffin there, was able to come out in advance and see a man talking to Baron Beryl. He was so handsome to the point of getting misunderstood as a woman.

A man with a white collar on his gray clothes stood out with a T-shaped pattern drawn inside a circle on the chest.

He is a priest of the Astron Church, the god of the sky. But he was very young for a priest. I’ve seen some priests, but they were at least in their forties. It was hard to believe that the priest I saw now looked only in his early twenties.

When the coffin was being buried in the place that was already dug up, the priest stepped forward. He lifted the sign of Astron that was around his neck. Ed was amazed to see the sign lifted toward the sky shining blue.

There are lots of Astron priests, but only a few of them are able to show sacred power.

I could see why he got into the priesthood even though he was so young.

“The grace of Astron, who looks down from heaven has descended to guide lord Badel Kreutz, and therefore, his life was honorable and loyal. ”

The priest slowly closed his eyes and nodded as the blue light came down on the coffin.

As the coffin went down to where the grave keeper had dug, chrysanthemums were laid on top one by one, starting with Baron Beryl. Ed also took a chrysanthemum and put it down on his coffin, and stepped back.

Soon, the grave keeper covered the soil he had dug. Those who were looking at the burial mound gathered in front of the tomb and emptied their glasses. It was something Ed couldn’t do to remember him by emptying his glass in front of a grave of the dead.

After seeing Elise also gathered at the place laughing and making noises, he turned around and walked. He then felt someone approaching him quickly from behind.

Ed slowed down and looked back. There stood the priest of the heavenly god, Astron.

“I’m Aaron, the priest of Astron.”

“This is Ed.”

“I heard from the baron, and as far as I know, the church is also watching you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, since it’s a noble thing to punish so many demons on the continent.”

Seeing him smile with his eyes, he could have been misunderstood as a woman if it wasn’t for the priest’s uniform.

“If you have time, I’d like to treat you some tea.”

There was no harm in knowing a priest that’s able to deal with sacred power. He also said that he was not only being watched by the Aklan but also the Astron.

Either way, they are the places that are related to the main quest.

“Then I owe you one.”

“Follow me.”

Aaron smiled broadly and took the lead. Not far from the cemetery, he was able to arrive at the church with the Astron’s sign on the roof. He gave the tea to him himself as he followed Aron inside.

Ed looked around while drinking tea. If he is a true priest dealing with sacred power at this age, he has the talent to become a high-ranking priest in the church.

But why does he live so frugally in such a place like this?

“I’ve been told you’ve even caught Kelpy this time.”

Ed nodded silently. Aaron looked at such Ed as he took a sip of tea and smiled.

“The death of Lord Badel is a pity, but with the death of another demon, the world is a little safer. Thank you so much.”

Ed looked at such Aaron and slowly put down his teacup. Even though he was painting it like this, he seemed hesitant about something. Maybe it’s because he’s never had a conversation like this before.

Ed laughed and spoke.

“I guess you have something to say.”

“Yes?”

The confused look on his face was so cute.

“You can speak comfortably.”

Aron bit his lip and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. Actually, the city of Hampton has an iron mine, but two miners just died in it a few days ago. Those who came back alive said they saw the devil there.”

Oh, that’s why you painted it like this.

“If there is a demon in the mine, isn’t it the lord’s job to go there?”

“I’ve reported it, and Baron Beryl said she’d send knight Tomio and his men over there. If it wasn’t for Lord Badel’s funeral, they would have left.”

Aaron continued hesitantly.

“But since you’ve experienced facing with the devils, you’ll know well that even if it’s the lord’s knights and soldiers, they won’t be able to catch them without facing damage.”

Ed agonized for a moment over those words. A fight in the narrow space was quite a disadvantage for him as an archer. Still, he couldn’t back down after hearing that there’s a demon.

Aaron spoke while holding on to Ed’s hand as he wondered what to do.

“Will you come with me to hunt down the devil?” I thought he would just ask me for a favor, but is he asking me to come with him?

A priest who deals with sacred power is going to join together?

Ed held Aaron’s hand with a bright smile.

” If it is Priest Aaron’s noble will, then I will help. even if it’s the slightest bit.”

Let’s get on the priest bus!