Chapter 105

“Over there.”

Idril took the gloves without a word.

He placed them on his palm and gently touched them—the gloves that had only melted on the outside crumbled like dried tree bark.

Crumbs poured down onto the table.

In Idril’s grasp remained only dust that had once been gloves.

The cheerful young man lost his smile.

He silently picked up a fork and stabbed a small piece of carrot before putting it in his mouth. Unlike how he’d been munching away earlier, he looked pitiful now.

“I said they were expensive, but truthfully I didn’t buy them with money.”

Idril spoke softly.

“A senior I respect gave them to me as a gift, saying I should use them for good work ahead. Ah, they’re such a wonderful person, you know?”

Quilbion quietly averted Idril’s gaze. This situation was getting quite uncomfortable.

“My senior gave me these gloves and said not to worry—the Mountain God will protect me. The gloves contained the mountain’s energy. Yes, the mountain. The towering, towering mountain that must always be looked up to. The solid mountain. The mountain that will never crumble……”

Idril tilted his palm. The handful of remaining dust slid smoothly onto the table. The dust piled up to form a small hill.

“Look at this. A tiny mountain.”

“I’m sorry.”

He meant it. Though his heart hadn’t stopped, Idril’s eyes looked dead.

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about. It must have reached the end of its lifespan. That’s how things are, right? When they’ve fulfilled their purpose, they break. But it’s strange. I only received these a few months ago. Ha, haha, hahaha.”

“I made a mistake. I was trying to check what kind of power was wrapped around the gloves……”

“Huh? Mr. Quil did that? How? No, why?”

Quilbion pulled out the nark containing gloomy intent again and showed it. Idril’s eyes widened.

“It wasn’t just stuck on there.”

“No. I pulled it out.”

“How can you carry around a curse? Well, there is a senior who carries curses around, but even they need special equipment to conduct rituals……”

Idril flicked away the pile of dust.

“Mr. Quil.”

“Go ahead.”

“Even if it’s a mistake, a wrong is still a wrong, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Of course, it’s true that Mr. Quil helped me, but when it comes to gains and losses… I’m not the calculating type, but still……”

“I understand. This is my fault, so I’ll compensate you if you want. If it’s money, here.”

Quilbion pulled out all the money Ruki had given him. Idril waved his hands.

“I don’t need monetary compensation. Instead, please explain exactly what that ability of yours is. And if possible, explain it to people from our organization too.”

“I was just about to say I wanted to meet Mr. Idril and others from that industry. I have questions to ask too.”

“Good, good. This could be a groundbreaking discovery. The more good people we have in our line of work, the better.”

“Good people?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not one, at least.”

“Huh? You’re not?”

“No.”

“But you dealt with the dogma.”

“That was out of personal grudge…… well, not quite that far, but because they annoyed me. Those things need to be caught and slaughtered whenever I see them so I can feel refreshed.”

“Ah, I see. Did dogmas take your family from you……”

“Well, let’s just say I have similar circumstances.”

Idril nodded vigorously.

“I understand. I understand that feeling completely. Some of the seniors are also serving out of feelings similar to Mr. Quil’s.”

“Serving? That really doesn’t suit me at all.”

“You might feel that way.”

He spoke with a gentle smile before looking at the faintly remaining powder and immediately making a tearful face.

“I really am sorry.”

Seeing that face, he couldn’t help but apologize again.

“I-I’ll ask my senior for another one. I’ll get beaten to death, but.”

“This senior seems like quite a fierce person.”

“A man among men. They’re a warrior of the mountain.”

“A warrior of the mountain?”

“That’s what we call the Tarin Tribe. It might sound a bit unfamiliar.”

“Ah, I remember now. I’ve heard of them before.”

Those who made fighting their livelihood. The martial monks who wrapped steel-like scales around their entire bodies and wielded giant spears.

Vague childhood memories surfaced. The Tarin Tribe with their thick tails swaying as they walked, their slitted eyes.

Quilbion called over an employee and ordered more alcohol. He also requested food and slipped a coin in. The skinny employee smiled brightly and said to wait.

“You seem hungry, so eat more.”

“I’ve lost my appetite……”

Idril moved his fork while trailing off. New food arrived. Idril ate silently for a while.

As his cheeks and belly swelled together, his expression brightened.

At least that’s a relief.

Quilbion casually opened the conversation.

“How did you find out about dogmas? And why did you start hunting them—why do you keep doing such dangerous work?”

Idril spoke while deeply stabbing meat with his fork.

“I was actually a monk serving Udan. Do you know about Udan by any chance?”

“No. First time hearing about them.”

“They’re actually not a famous deity. It’s a god that mountain valley people spread by word of mouth and worshiped among themselves. Our religious view is that you can find happiness by helping others.”

“That’s nice—finding happiness through good deeds.”

“Actually, there is no god called Udan—it’s just an empty shell religion created so mountain farmers could get along well. But I didn’t dislike it. I was truly happy when I helped others.”

“If believers exist, the doctrine is right, and there are practitioners, isn’t that a true religion?”

Idril stared blankly before smiling.

“You’re the first person to say that besides my senior. Ah, I’m talking about the Tarin Tribe senior who gave me the gloves.”

Quilbion nodded and opened his ears.

“I was living fairly well in a small village when one day I had a dream. There was an enormous mountain before me.”

“A mountain?”

“Yes. But it turned out not to be a mountain.”

As if recalling that time, Idril’s gaze reached the ceiling. He must be looking somewhere in the past beyond the ceiling.

“It was a giant rat.”

“A rat?”

“Yes, a rat. A rat with ruby-like eyes. Ah, rubies are……”

“I know. Red gemstones.”

“Oh, you know. Then this will be easy to understand. Imagine a giant rat with both sides studded with rubies bigger than the sun. That’s what I saw in my dream.”

“A dream about a rat.”

“I was dumbfounded. I wondered what this was. Then the rat spoke.”

Idril’s body trembled. He said that even knowing it was a dream, thinking about that time makes his body shudder.

“The entire world twisted. With just one word from the rat. The mountains that had been rising around me exploded, the sea flipped over—it was complete chaos. At first, I was terrified. Since I didn’t know it was a dream, I thought I was going to die. But then.”

Idril smiled faintly.

“When the rat opened its mouth again, the world became peaceful. My heart also found rest. The rat told me not to be afraid. The moment I heard those words, I don’t know why, but I gained courage. So I asked! Who are you?”

“What did the rat say?”

Idril chuckled before continuing.

“A rat who loves humans. Funny, right?”

“That’s a peculiar dream. Is that the end?”

“No. The end of the dream was absolutely fantastic. The rat told me to go out into the wider world and do good work. That I had the qualifications.”

Idril clapped his hands proudly.

The tipsy people around also sent applause without knowing why. Idril stood up and bowed deeply toward the people like an actor on stage.

After sitting back down, Idril drank his alcohol.

“I thought it was a revelation. I immediately told my family and left the village. To help more people!”

How should he describe this?

Ah, romance.

Even in the cracks, he’d occasionally met this type of person. Should he call them admirable or foolish?

Either way, Quilbion liked these kinds of people.

“Then I met someone dying from a terrible disease. But it wasn’t a disease. It was a curse left by a dogma. I could see that curse, and the senior who learned that fact pulled me into this world. Ah, the senior I just mentioned is a different senior. Someone who acts gruff but is actually very caring.”

“You have many good people around you.”

With flushed cheeks from intoxication, Idril answered.

“Yes! I’m a happy person. That’s why I want to share this happiness with others. People should live smiling. Because that’s good……”

Swoosh—Idril’s body leaned forward and his face smashed straight into the plate.

He lost consciousness without any warning.

Quilbion stared blankly before chuckling.

“Idril, Idril.”

He tapped his cheek while calling to him, but Idril just smacked his lips and didn’t open his eyes.

“You live life so joyfully.”

Quilbion lifted Idril with one hand. A man sitting at the next table stared wide-eyed.

He was carrying a 190cm giant out when it happened.

“Customer!”

The employee called out urgently.

“Your companion said he’d pay later when ordering. Since you paid for the food you ordered in the middle.”

The employee held up three fingers. Quilbion opened his coin purse.

“Take what’s appropriate.”

“Ah, yes.”

The employee glanced at him before pulling out three coins from the purse.

Quilbion looked at the employee and spoke.

“That’s the same type as the coin I gave you earlier.”

“That’s right.”

“The calculation’s correct, right? I still don’t know currency values well. I’m just roughly using what I received. But when I bought a small wooden cup at the market, I got a different type of coin.”

Quilbion showed the wooden cup dangling from his waist. The skinny employee’s face finally hardened.

“Being with this cheerful, kind friend doesn’t make me the same kind of person.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“Should we recalculate?”

The girl selected different coins from the purse and pulled them out. Then she tried to put back the coins she’d taken earlier.

“Keep those.”

“Huh?”

“This friend made me feel good. Helping others and sharing happiness. That’s a good sentiment, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

“You’re working hard. Next time I come, don’t try any tricks.”

“Yes, I will.”

The employee stepped back slightly and spoke.

“When you come next time, could you order more alcohol?”

“We’ll see.”

Quilbion looked at the busy employee before gently setting Idril down on the ground.

Idril sat there grinning broadly.

“If you’re awake, walk.”

“Sorry. My legs don’t have much strength.”

“Why did someone with weak alcohol tolerance drink so much?”

“I drank hard thinking Mr. Quil liked alcohol. Ugh.”

Idril raised his head and smiled cheerfully.

“Mr. Quil is a good person.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I can tell just by looking. A kind person. Yes, that’s right. A kind…… guy.”

Idril collapsed again.

“If I can become a good guy just by taking care of a drunk, that’s not bad.”

Who in the world would want to become a reviled villain?

But Quilbion knew for certain. Becoming a good person was an arduous path. And I hate arduous things.

Just look at now.

Quilbion stared directly at two men in a dark alley. Their intentions were visible. So blatant it was almost welcome.

He formed hand seals and wiggled his fingers.

“Aaaagh!”

The two men whose arms were engulfed in flames screamed and rolled on the ground.

“……Is something wrong?”

Idril opened his eyes groggily and asked.

“No. A bug was flying around, so I swatted it.”

“I see. Hm.”

Idril fell back asleep with a silly laugh.