TNZKMA 136

１３６

 

We started checking the rooms from the first floor. Wow, this place is huge, and so luxurious—I couldn’t help but be amazed at every room. Compared to this, even the Daryss family mansion seems like an ordinary house.

By the time we reached the third floor, my feet were starting to hurt a bit. Walking too much inside a single mansion—that’s something, isn’t it? As we peeked into the rooms on the third floor and turned the corner in the hallway, there were paintings hung on the walls. On the side facing the courtyard, there were windows, but on the opposite wall, a line of paintings stretched across with no doors. On the first and second floors, this spot had doors leading to rooms.

[Who are these people in the paintings?]

[Probably the previous High Priests.]

[Oh, that makes sense. This is the Priests Guild, after all.]

The windows beyond this point faced north, so no direct sunlight came in. That’s probably why the paintings were on this wall. I started looking at the faces of the High Priests one by one.

Hmm, they’re all kind of old men, or more like grandpas. I wonder if Olphynn will look like a grandpa by the time he becomes High Priest. Does it take that long?

As I examined them, I stopped in front of one of the portraits. Looking at the previous High Priest, something felt off.

[This High Priest is the only one dressed in black.]

[Indeed.]

Saine also stopped to look at the painting. The portraits of the High Priests were all big, about the same height as me. Some were seated in chairs, while others stood, holding staves or rods as tall as they were. Every High Priest was depicted in full-body portraits, all wearing light-colored garments signifying their status as the top-ranking priest.

But the High Priest I stopped in front of was different—dressed entirely in black. His clothes were all black, and even his hair and eyes were black.

[Why is this one dressed in black?]

[Who knows.]

Saine’s hair and eyes were also black, but the color was different from this High Priest’s. Saine’s black was like pitch darkness—there wasn’t a single speck of light or any other color.

But this High Priest’s black was closer to my own color. In other words, it was the kind of black hair and eyes that a Japanese person would have. There was a hint of brown mixed in, or maybe a touch of red. Anyway, it wasn’t pure black. But his clothes were pure black.

There was a small plaque under the painting. It wasn’t wooden but made of metal. The name of the High Priest, I assume, and some numbers were engraved on it. The numbers, divided by a horizontal line, seemed to indicate the years of his service. Since the difference between the numbers was small, I figured it showed the years he was High Priest.

When I checked the name of the High Priest in black, it said “Daryss.”

[Oh, he’s from the Daryss family, the one with the Black Crest. Maybe that’s why he’s dressed in black.]

Just as I said that, satisfied with my conclusion, I heard Olphynn’s voice from the end of the hallway.

[No, that’s not the reason.]

[Oh, Olphynn! Are you done already?]

[Yeah, this is fine. We couldn’t take everything, so I’ve only chosen the books that seemed important.]

Olphynn held three books in his hand. Considering they were books belonging to a High Priest, I imagined they would be much thicker, but the ones Olphynn chose were thin. Still, they looked incredibly old.

[This guy’s from the Daryss family, right?]

[Indeed. He’s the only High Priest our Daryss family has ever produced, and a peculiar one at that.]

I glanced up again at the figure in the painting. He looked nothing like Olphynn. Not just the color of his hair and eyes, but his entire facial structure was different. While Olphynn had the dazzling features of a prince, this man looked pretty ordinary.

[The Daryss family only uses black for the crest in ceremonial purposes. There’s no need to insist on black for clothing. In fact, the High Priest is supposed to wear platinum-white robes. However, this man, eccentric as he was, began wearing black the day after he was informed of the High Priest’s regulations.]

[He wore black on purpose, just because he wasn’t supposed to wear it?]

Is it like those top students who rebel by breaking school uniform rules, just to provoke their teachers? Actually, that might be better than being overly serious and ending up with pierced ears and a nose like a rebellious Tokyo kid.

[But he was talented enough to become High Priest, right?]

[Well, yes. Nowadays, it’s less about talent and more about lineage and political maneuvering, but back then, those who had real power became High Priest. Having offensive magical ability was far more important than just ritual skills, like it is now.]

I looked at the numbers written on the plaque beneath the painting. Since I didn’t know what year it was currently, I tilted my head and asked Saine.

[How long ago did this guy live?]

[About a thousand years ago.]

A thousand years, huh? Subtracting the two numbers, it seemed the High Priest in black only served for seven years. I glanced at the two portraits next to his—both of those High Priests had terms of 30 to 50 years. Seven years seemed awfully short.

[Why was this guy only High Priest for seven years?]

He didn’t look old. Actually, compared to the other old men around him, he looked significantly younger. He seemed to be in his thirties.

[He ran away.]

[Ran away?]

Olphynn spat the words out bitterly.

[That’s right. One day, he just disappeared.]

[Couldn’t he have been kidnapped or attacked?]

[No. To this day, no one has been able to wield attack magic stronger than his. There’s no one capable of kidnapping someone like that, be they human or monster. At the time, there were 27 priestly houses—more than three times the current eight. With so many priests, conflicts were constantly arising. This man fled to escape the endless demands for mediation…]

Olphynn glared at the portrait of his distant ancestor as if he were scorning him.

[From this man onward, political skill became the primary qualification for becoming High Priest, rather than the precise control and use of magic. And because of this man, no one from the Daryss family has ever been chosen as High Priest again. In a way, he is a stain—both on the Priest Guild and on the Daryss family.]

After spitting those words out, Olphynn started walking back in the direction we had come from. With a nudge from Saine, I followed after him. As we passed by the portraits, I glanced one more time at the High Priest in black.

A High Priest, stronger than anyone, who disregarded the rules. Among the elderly High Priests in their white robes, this one stood out, young, clad in black, smiling mischievously. While all the other old men had stern expressions, his face looked almost amused. I couldn’t help but grin back at him.

We grabbed a bite to eat and began heading toward the eastern district. The pace was slower than on the way in. I wasn’t out of breath this time and was able to keep up comfortably.

Since walking was easier, I also had the chance to take in more of the surroundings. The town was usually quiet, and unless you were near the marketplace, it wasn’t common to see people out on the streets. Most of the locals were hard-working, so you wouldn’t find many staying home during the day.

But now, it felt different. It was like I could tell that, although it looked the same, something was wrong. There was no trace of people’s presence. Normally, you’d sense the life behind the walls of houses, but now it was as if that had vanished entirely.

It reminded me of dreams I used to have. Back in the other world, when I was still a kid. I grew up in a bustling housing complex, always full of noise and activity. But in my dreams, I’d be playing with a bunch of friends, only to suddenly realize that everyone had disappeared. I’d chase after a ball that had rolled away, and when I finally picked it up and turned around, no one was there.

In the dream, it wasn’t just my friends who disappeared; everyone in the housing complex vanished too. I used to hear voices drifting in through the open windows, but in the dream, everything would go silent—so quiet it made my ears ache. I’d realize I was all alone, and the fear would overwhelm me, and I’d start crying.

Whenever I had that dream, I would wet the bed. My mom would scold me harshly for it. She’d yell at me for dirtying the bedding, and one time she even stripped me naked and threw me out on the balcony. She threatened to cut my privates with scissors.

Maybe that’s why. I’m still scared of empty towns. That’s why, when I first arrived here, I was afraid to walk through the town.

Even though I know everyone’s evacuated outside the town and it’s normal for no one to be here, I can’t help but shiver a little when I realize it. I trembled, and Saine’s large hand gently rubbed my back. His pitch-black eyes looked at me, filled with concern, as if asking what was wrong.

Encouraged by his gaze, I smiled and said I was fine, and we kept walking.