Chapter 121: Priests of the God of Lies and Deception (6)

“What the hell are you talking about?” Hayes yelled at the top of her lungs. A saint was someone widely acknowledged for their wisdom and virtue—an enlightened figure who had, in some sense, transcended mundane desires. Across all the world’s faiths, very few individuals were ever hailed as saints. They were revered by countless believers, their status often nearing that of legends. And Naflas had just called Ketal such a saint. “He’s nothing like that!” Hayes protested. If anything, Ketal was one of the least enlightened people she knew. He was someone who embraced his own desires without shame or apology. Hearing Naflas describe him as a saint made her head spin. Naflas only chuckled. “Those are the words of someone blinded by her own bias. You mentioned you completed requests alongside Ketal as comrades, yes? Maybe you were so close that you failed to see his true greatness.” “That’s ridiculous!” Hayes replied, her voice trembling with exasperation. Truth be told, she had expected Naflas might end up thinking well of Ketal and accept him—Ketal rarely caused tangible trouble, after all. However, this was beyond her imagination. She couldn’t help but wonder if Ketal had done something to mesmerize Naflas. When Hayes glanced at him in shock and asked questions, Naflas merely grinned and brushed her off, as if she had no idea what she was talking about. The next day, Hayes showed up to see Ketal with bags under her eyes, looking thoroughly drained. She had spent half the night trying to convince Naflas that Ketal was not some exalted being and that there had to be a misunderstanding. Yet, Naflas wouldn’t listen. In fact, he treated Hayes’s vehement denials with suspicion, as though she were the strange one. Left with no voice, she had withdrawn in defeat. So when she met Ketal, her face was drawn and pale. “Hayes, are you okay?” Ketal asked, concerned. “You look like you haven’t slept.” “I didn’t, really,” Hayes admitted, lowering her gaze. “It’s... just everything that’s been going on.” Ketal nodded sympathetically. “Given the circumstances, that’s understandable. He assumed she was merely anxious about the holy land. Hayes stared at him as though he were some unknowable creature. What in the world did you do to Naflas...? she thought. She even wondered if Ketal possessed some secret ability to brainwash people without their noticing. Hayes gulped nervously, her thoughts tangled in a new misunderstanding. Regardless of anyone’s private doubts, their church had agreed to accept Ketal’s help, and Naflas formally bowed to him. “I give you my thanks for offering your assistance,” the Elder said. Ketal responded with a modest smile. At last, I will get to see a true holy land, Ketal thought, feeling a surge of excitement. He forced himself to hide it, speaking in an even tone. “So, do we leave now?” It’s urgent,” Naflas replied, “but not so urgent that we must depart this instant. We’re planning to remain in the capital a little while longer, to see if anyone else might help us and to gather supplies for the journey. Even your impressive strength may not be enough once we’re inside the stronghold of evil.” Naflas explained that the invaders included two Transcendent dark mages, along with a host of Advanced warriors and uncountable monsters. Even if Ketal surpassed ordinary Transcendents, he alone might be hard-pressed to protect the entire holy land. “I see,” Ketal said, tilting his head. “In that case, I’m curious about one thing—how has your holy land managed to hold out until now? I’ve heard that a single Transcendent can destroy an entire estate, so I can’t imagine how you’ve withstood the attacks of two.” “It’s thanks to our own Transcendent,” Naflas answered. “We have a holy knight whose divine power stands at the peak, and our saintess is also there to aid him. As long as those two remain, the siege won’t succeed so easily.” “Oh?” Ketal’s eyes glimmered with interest. “Then when do you intend to leave?” “Probably in about two days. It will take that long to prepare.” Ketal gave a firm nod. “Understood. I have friends here I should speak to as well. Let’s meet again in two days.” “Agreed,” Naflas said with a look of satisfaction. “Ketal,” Hayes murmured, her tone noticeably subdued. “I’ll see you then.” She offered him a weak nod, and they went their separate ways. *** The first person Ketal sought out was Milayna. Her eyes widened in surprise at his announcement. “You’re... leaving?” she asked him. “Yes,” he said plainly. “I see,” Milayna stammered. She hadn’t anticipated Ketal would ever leave so suddenly. But after only a few moments, she composed herself. After all, he was a barbarian from the White Snowfield—he belonged to no one land. Being nomadic or transient suited him, and she recognized that with a tinge of resignation. “May I ask what leads to your departure?” she ventured. Ketal offered a brief explanation, enough to cover the basics. Her expression turned incredulous. “You’re helping the Church of Kalosia?” “Yes. Did you know about this?” Ketal asked her. “I recall they came to me for assistance. May I ask why you’re helping them?” Milayna asked, trying to make sense of this abrupt development. “During my earlier work as a mercenary, I met a priestess of Kalosia—Hayes. She’s here now, and she is seeking help. That’s why I’m going.” “If I’m not mistaken, that was fairly recent,” Milayna said, struggling to piece it together. “You only worked two or three requests with her, right?” “That’s correct,” Ketal confirmed. “That’s all...?” she asked him, sounding both curious and wary. You’re going to risk your life for someone you hardly know? “That’s all,” Ketal repeated, as if he couldn’t fathom why it needed more explanation. Milayna exhaled, setting aside her confusion. “If that’s your decision, then I won’t stand in your way,” she said, swaying her head as though to clear her thoughts. “So... you’re really leaving.” “That seems to be the case,” Ketal said. “What about you? Any plans?” She managed a small, steady smile. “Nothing special. I will keep doing what I’ve always done—working to expand the influence of the Akasha family. We may be in a turbulent time, but we have enough resources to weather this crisis. If I succeed, this could even become a chance for the family to grow. Opportunities can arise from adversity.” The notion that they might never meet again flickered through her mind, but she promptly shook the thought away. Standing, she offered him a formal bow befitting the head of a noble trading family. “I, Milayna Akasha, as the head of the Akasha family, wish to give my sincere thanks to you, Ketal, barbarian of the White Snowfield. You have protected our land and shown me great kindness. I consider you not just my benefactor, but my friend.” She paused, lifting her gaze to his. “Should you ever be in danger or in need of my assistance, I promise that I will do all I can to help you.” Ketal smiled warmly. “Thank you. I also count you as a friend. If you ever need my help, do not hesitate to ask.” Milayna’s blue eyes glinted with warmth as she returned his smile. *** The next person Ketal sought out was King Barbosa. When Ketal arrived at the royal palace, the guards gasped and raised their spears, but fortunately, it took little time to secure an audience. Barbosa listened to Ketal’s story, his eyebrows twitching. “You’re saying you intend to help the Church of Kalosia?” “That’s right.” Ketal confirmed, nodding once. “I heard they requested your assistance. Since you couldn’t help, I’ve decided to do so in your stead. I just wanted you to know.” Barbosa drew in a deep breath and tried to keep his composure, though it was obvious he felt a surge of disbelief. A barbarian helping a church—especially Kalosia’s church—was essentially unheard of. Barbarians typically rejected gods outright and tended to despise priests. And Kalosia was the God of Lies and Deception, a being whose nature barbarians often scorned. Yet, here Ketal was set on clashing with the powers of evil for that very faith. “I have to ask—why?” Barbosa said at last, narrowing his gaze. “They’re my friends,” Ketal replied simply. “That’s it?” Barbosa pressed, waiting for some deeper motive. “What else do I need?” Ketal sounded genuinely puzzled. A brief silence followed as Barbosa stared at him, wondering what manner of person this was. Is this how all barbarians from the White Snowfield are...? Barbosa wondered. He quickly reined in his thoughts. “Well, if you’ve chosen to help, that’s fine by me. We’d have liked to aid them ourselves, but we just can’t spare the resources. Your intervention is something of a relief.” “Good. Then there’s no problem,” Ketal said. Barbosa nodded in agreement. Even if there were complications, he wouldn’t have tried to stop Ketal. The Tower Master had already warned him against attempting to control the barbarian, and even if he’d had no such advice, there was no practical way to bind someone who could defeat a Swordmaster with ease. By all accounts, Ketal’s power was far beyond what the kingdom could contain. “So, it seems you’ll be leaving the Denian Kingdom,” Barbosa said. “That’s right.” Ketal paused, then added, “I should thank you once more for how kindly you treated an outsider like me. I’m grateful.” Barbosa showed a trace of a smile. “In the end, it benefited us, so no thanks needed. If anything, we owe you a debt.” He gave a subtle nod to one of the attendants behind him, who quietly left the room. When the attendant returned, he carried a chest laden with gold and silver. “You helped us,” Barbosa said, gesturing at the glittering reward. “Without you, the capital might have fallen. We don’t have the means to reward you properly, given the kingdom’s current state, but I hope this suffices.” Ketal’s eyes shone. Even at a glance, it was a hefty sum. “I won’t turn it down, thank you.” Shortly afterward, Ketal departed. Once he was gone, the attendant bowed respectfully to the king. “Your Majesty,” he asked, voice tinged with concern. “Are you certain this is wise? Such a gift will place further strain on the royal treasury.” Barbosa sighed. “Perhaps, but he’s worth it. At least we’ve built a positive relationship with someone of his caliber.” Indeed, the kingdom’s finances were already exhausted, so Barbosa had made this decision against the counsel of many nobles and officials. Still, he felt it was necessary. It was clear that Ketal’s power and potential influence could far outweigh any gold or jewels the kingdom parted with. “We’re lucky it ended on good terms,” Barbosa said, allowing himself a quiet moment of relief. A powerful barbarian from the White Snowfield roaming the world could become a formidable ally or a terrifying opponent, depending on how they were treated. At least for now, Barbosa believed they had done enough to remain on Ketal’s good side. He folded his hands and thought, So, he sets off into the world again. Off to Kalosia’s holy land, and then wherever he pleases... May no dire consequences befall him. Barbosa couldn’t fully shake off a faint unease as he murmured, “I hope no further trouble arises.” *** At last, Ketal’s final visit was to Arkemis. He went to inform her that he would soon depart the Denian Kingdom. When she heard the news, her reaction was more dramatic than anyone else’s had been. “W-wait, what?! Huh? You’re leaving?” Arkemis’s eyes grew round as she stared at him like a startled rabbit. “Why all of a sudden? Did I... do something wrong?” She stammered the words so frantically that she seemed on the verge of panic.