156: What I saw and heard

"You'd think they'd be happy," Vanka grumbled, stepping around a long puddle of water in the middle of the street. "Why aren't they happy?"

Schlecht walked beside her, contentedly and silently, keeping pace.

From time to time, he would mutter to himself, make the gesture of Mother Earth, or suddenly call out Mother Earth's name.

It all seemed casual, yet it appeared to make him very happy.

Vanka walked beside him for a while before noticing the astonishing amount of blood on his clothes; in some places, it looked as if he had been soaked in blood.

The two walked into the center square of Mist Town, arriving at the Mayor's house.

The house looked much more dilapidated than when they first arrived, most of the decorations had been removed, and a crude flagpole stood on it.

Men clustered around the empty front doorway, leaning against the stones, drinking from their wine skins.

As Vanka approached, they all stepped back.

After the battle, everyone in Mist Town knew her, knew whose maid she was, and with whom she had fought.

Mayor Ismark was with them, seemingly waiting for her arrival.

Unlike the others, he had even taken the time to shave and change into new clothes.

The deathly pallor had faded from his skin, and he even looked less haggard than before, though this might just be an illusion caused by the light.

"I was wondering when you would show up," he said to Vanka.

"What's wrong?"

Vanka asked, casting a cautious glance at the others while trying to ignore Schlecht, who was still muttering.

"It's about restoring order," he said, "but it would be even better if Lord Arthur could help out."

At the mention of Arthur, Schlecht began to pray and offer praises.

His voice sounded like a pug thrown into a Wolf Pack, albeit a blood-soaked pug.

"Is he not here?" Vanka asked.

"The last I saw him was on the battlefield outside of town.

"He was with the healers."

"He should be resting, shouldn't he?"

She said, a sudden unease stirring in her heart.

She worried that Arthur was still out there.

Since his rebirth, Arthur was like a machine that never tired.

"Rest," Ismark smiled at her. "Yes, I dare say he deserves to rest."

He stopped smiling, straightened up from the wall, and walked in front of her.

Though he wasn't tall, he could still look down at her.

"All of Mist Town thanks you, girl," he said sincerely. "The townspeople aren't perfect, and we have our own problems.

"But they know when to rest and when to stop.

"But—but Lord Arthur, alas, I mean him and his fanatics."

Vanka turned and followed the Mayor's gaze.

In the distance across the square, some fanatics were gathered.

Most of those who were still conscious were mumbling something.

Some stood silently, their bodies twitching incessantly.

A woman had torn her clothes from her waist and was busy tying a crude stick to her shoulder.

A man knelt in the mud, praying and prostrating himself repeatedly.

"They seem to know no rest," Ismark said. "They can barely communicate normally, focused only on killing,

praying, or flagellating themselves.

"I don't know what Lord Arthur did to them, but he seems to have led them into a delusional dream.

"The worst part is, they don't seem able to wake up.

"I'm worried Lord Arthur is trapped just like them."

Schlecht glared angrily at Ismark, clenching his scrawny fists.

Vanka gently stroked his shoulder.

Like Ismark, she kept her distance from these fanatics.

But she knew that before Arthur came, they were no better off, simply hiding in the slums, ignored by the townspeople.

"What do you dislike the most, Mayor?" she asked. "Is it that they no longer obey your commands, or their very existence?"

Ismark gave her a confused look.

"I told you, we are very grateful to you," the Mayor explained. "I just want to know what to do with them, and who will help them return to normal.

"Lord Arthur is the only one they will listen to.

"If you could ask him to speak with me for a moment, it would be very helpful."

At the mention of Arthur, Vanka's heart stirred again.

Just like that night, when he handed her his longsword, intending to go to his death alone.

"He is not my priest alone," she replied, puffing out her chest.

In the past, she would never have dared to speak to someone of high status like that.

But now it was different; after experiencing a life-or-death battle, she realized that these high-status people were no different from herself.

"He is not my lord alone either.

"I don't know where he is; if you want to talk to him, you should go find him yourself."

"That's the problem," Ismark said with a wry smile. "He's at the church, at the ruins of the church, ever since he finished clearing out the Undead yesterday.

"No one is allowed to disturb him, except those he permits.

"I was thinking, perhaps he would want to see you."

Vanka shrugged and asked, "Why would you think that?"

"You—" Ismark replied, "You are his personal maid, you should be the closest person to him."

"Then you are mistaken," Vanka said. "He is not like those nobles who treat their personal maids as bed partners.

"Since he issued the directive, there must be a reason for it.

"Be patient, Mayor."

A soldier next to Ismark couldn't help but ask, "Do you just trust and obey him unconditionally?

"Even if he doesn't say anything?"

Ismark glared at the soldier, signaling him to shut up.

Vanka didn't want to explain too much, only saying, "I will help you inquire about what Lord Arthur plans to do with these fanatics."

With that, she continued walking towards the church.

Schlecht followed behind her, loyal like a dog.

This made her can't help but ask, "Why are you following me?"

The preacher laughed, reaching out and pointing to the longsword at Vanka's waist.

"The divine messenger entrusted the holy relic to you, I am protecting it."

Only then did the girl understand; she looked down at the sword.

However, to her surprise, these fanatics could actually communicate.

A day earlier, they could only fight, pray, and obey simple commands, saying nothing else.

The girl no longer paid attention to her shadow; she now urgently wanted to know what her Lord was planning.

This time, she hoped she could be a part of it too.