Chapter 650: Fatigue (1)
The small town where Oliver had been staying...
It was the central city of the continent, the first city he had visited with Archpriest Roderick. It was also the place where the Chamberlain of Aizen Kingdom had warmly welcomed them.
According to Roderick, the city barely came into existence thanks to a large loan from the Pater Church’s bank. Although, from Oliver’s perspective as a native of Landa, it was hardly different from a rural village, it was still considered an important economic hub in Aizen Kingdom.
As a result, it was able to house the Holy Knights tasked with exterminating black magicians, along with the supporting Servants and Aizen Kingdom’s royal army.
But then, Pandora suddenly burst in with news of the Pied Piper’s appearance in the city.
Leading over a hundred children down the main street, openly...
Though an action deemed impossible by conventional standards, Oliver wasn’t particularly surprised, to be honest. After all, the Pied Piper had already committed acts of incredible scale that left everyone in awe.
He had appeared right in the heart of Landa, collapsing a hotel single-handedly, summoning a vast swarm of rats that wreaked havoc throughout Landa, and even attempting to kidnap the Second Heir to the United Kingdom.
Given his previous actions, it wasn’t so strange to see the Pied Piper brazenly leading the kidnapped children into the city. Even considering the stationed Holy Knights and royal army meant to eliminate black magicians, it made sense. After all, they could simply defeat him like they had done back in Landa.
Yet, despite leaving the surrendered black magicians behind, Oliver urgently mounted the Human-faced Bird and flew to the small town due to the direction of the Pied Piper’s appearance.
Gallos’s direction...
It might have been mere apprehension, but the thought gnawed at him too strongly to ignore. After all, the location of Arkh Orphanage was on the outskirts of Gallos, near the central continent.
In other words, it was on the Pied Piper’s path. If—
“Father.”
Pandora, who was riding the Human-faced Bird alongside Oliver, called out to him.
Her hair whipped wildly as they flew high above the ground. Of course, Oliver’s hair also fluttered, revealing a sliver of white at the base of one strand—a bleached section that had grown out from where it had once been scorched.
It seemed he would have to dye it again soon.
"...What is it, Pandora?”
“From here, it might be best if we get down and proceed on foot,” Pandora suggested, her tone reflecting unease and tension.
“The city is likely in disarray right now, having just suffered an attack from the Pied Piper. If we were to arrive on a creature, who knows how the citizens would react? I understand your urgency, but descending now might be for the best.”
Despite sensing Oliver’s discomfort, Pandora held firm, her advice stemming from genuine concern.
Oliver, while unsettled by the conversation with Roderick and the abrupt news about the Pied Piper, understood this.
After a moment’s thought, he nodded.
“That would indeed be wise. Thank you for the advice.”
After expressing his gratitude to Pandora, Oliver directed the Human-faced Bird to descend vertically, attempting to land on the ground below.
“Kyahhhhh!!”
With a sharp, piercing screech, the Human-faced Bird descended onto the ground.
Oliver and Pandora dismounted, and, like his other creatures, he tucked the Human-faced Bird away into his shadow. He then began walking toward the city on foot.
His steps quickened, and rather than slowing down as he neared the city, his pace only accelerated...
As they neared, emotions like fear, helplessness, sorrow, and resentment grew stronger, signaling that something was clearly amiss.
“It's quieter than I expected.”
Pandora, upon leaving the forest and entering the city outskirts, remarked.
She was right—the city was unusually silent.
Although traces of battle and fallen soldiers were scattered here and there, it was strangely calm for a place the Pied Piper had passed through.
Sensing the peculiarity, Oliver and Pandora ventured deeper into the city, soon discovering the reason behind the silence.
“For safety reasons, all movement is temporarily restricted. Stay inside your homes!”
“This is an emergency curfew! Please remain inside your homes!”
Soldiers in groups patrolled the streets, enforcing a partial lockdown.
“Move aside! Move, damn it! My daughter...!”
A man in his early thirties tried desperately to open the door and step outside, his expression radiating an intense emotion Oliver rarely saw.
Although the reason was unclear, he was frantically attempting to go outside, while the soldiers controlling the city streets blocked him and forced him back into his home, using force if necessary.
“Please, my daughter—”
“—Shut it! Do you think you’re the only one?! Follow orders!”
Desperately pleading, the man was met with a club and a fierce shout from the soldier.
An intriguing sight—there was a degree of empathy for the man’s actions.
Nearby residents, peeking through cracks in their windows, watched the scene unfold. While some empathized with the man’s actions, others reacted in the complete opposite manner.
As the man struggled and resisted, most of the onlookers had resigned expressions, as if their acceptance was deeply ingrained, spanning generations.
Momentarily forgetting why he was there, Oliver stared in a daze at the strange scene. A squad of soldiers patrolling the city noticed him.
The soldiers, all visibly worn from battle, bore expressions reflecting intense emotions.
Each was filled with a mix of helplessness, shame, guilt, sorrow, and confusion, yet as they spotted the unknown man—Oliver—their expressions turned to anger and excitement, and they approached him.
“Who are you?!”
“Hands up!”
The soldiers, mentally strained and on edge, reacted aggressively, pointing their weapons at Oliver.
Given the urgency of his own situation, Oliver was admittedly not in a favorable mood to deal with this encounter.
As he hesitated, wondering how to respond, someone stepped forward.
“Please, wait...!”
A soft, warm voice that soothed their tension.
It was the nun who had accompanied Roderick to the Tower of Magic.
Draped in a black cleric's robe, the nun stepped between Oliver and the soldiers.
“S-sister?”
The soldiers, evidently recognizing her, paused, their agitated state subsiding.
Just her presence seemed to have this calming effect, a reaction that was both surprising and understandable.
After all, during the airship attack, the nun had swiftly calmed the fearful passengers, winning over their trust.
In the central continent, where nuns frequently worked, this response was perhaps expected.
“Do you know this person, Sister?”
The soldiers, in a tone laced with respect and humility, asked the nun.
The nun responded in kind, offering a polite explanation.
“Yes, brothers. He has come here to assist us.”
“This man... I mean, this gentleman?”
“Yes, he came to aid the Archpriest and has only now returned. Please kindly overlook his violation of the curfew.”
“A...ah, o-of course. Our apologies. It’s just, considering the situation...”
Acknowledging the nun’s words, the soldiers relaxed, their prior firmness diminishing.
After a brief exchange, the soldiers soon departed.
The nun, having sent them away, approached Oliver and bowed courteously.
“Welcome.”
“...Thank you for your assistance.”
Out of courtesy, Oliver expressed his gratitude for her help. Then, finally, he asked what was on his mind.
“Were you expecting me?”
“Yes... I had someone go to inform you. I thought there might be a need for your presence.”
The nun’s response left Oliver momentarily speechless.
In fact, he had come after receiving news from the messenger. Yet, something still felt off, though he couldn’t quite place it.
Perhaps it was the note the nun had slipped him on the airship, advising him to be cautious of Archpriest Roderick.
From the moment he received that note until now, Oliver had pondered why she would give him such advice, but he still hadn’t reached any conclusion.
Not that he could just ask her about it.
Thus, Oliver couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable unease around the nun.
As Oliver was lost in thought, the nun asked him a question.
“Could you tell me where His Grace is now?”
“Oh, he’s traveling separately. The Archpriest felt that riding on a creature wasn’t appropriate in various ways... If you don’t mind, could you explain what happened here?”
“Certainly. I’ll tell you as we go. Please follow me.”
As they walked, the nun explained.
Once he noticed Oliver’s absence, Archpriest Roderick had quickly departed from the city, leading the majority of the Holy Knights. Shortly afterward, the Pied Piper appeared in the shadows.
According to the nun, children dressed in everything from fine clothes to ragged outfits had been following closely behind the Piper.
“What happened once the Holy Knights spotted the Pied Piper?”
“The Holy Knights, stationed in the city, attempted to intercept him first, followed by the army stationed on the outskirts.”
“Attempted to?” Oliver picked up on the specific phrasing.
The nun’s tone suggested it was an attempt rather than a successful action, as if they hadn’t managed to intervene.
“Yes, the Holy Knights tried to block the Piper, and the soldiers from the city’s outskirts intended to join them. But, just before they could reach him, the sound of the pipe started to echo.”
The sound of the pipe...
Oliver remembered it well.
A strange sound, melancholy yet lively, disordered yet harmonious, almost like sorrow laid over a joyful tune.
Though he wasn’t a musician, even he had sensed the melody’s eerie nature.
“And what happened when the sound began?”
“The soldiers suddenly turned on each other and began shooting,” she said.
It was then that Oliver fully understood the strange signs of combat he had noticed around the city’s outskirts and inside its walls.
Scattered signs of gunfire and explosions, differing from the damage caused by black magic.
It was indeed the aftermath of soldiers fighting among themselves.
“A manipulation-type black magic using sound...”
Oliver murmured, realizing the nature of the spell.
Manipulation-type black magic, used for controlling shadows, corpses, or living creatures, was powerful but exceedingly difficult to cast. However, the Piper appeared capable of controlling living people with it.
Now, Oliver understood why the soldiers had been so on edge. Despite knowing they had been manipulated, they had still attacked their own comrades. Their emotional scars were bound to linger.
“Was the curfew put in place because of that?”
“If soldiers fell victim to manipulation-type black magic, civilians could also be at risk.”
Oliver pointed this out, and the nun gave a small nod.
Her answer, however, held an unexpected twist.
“It’s because the city’s children have disappeared.”
“...”
“When the pipe’s melody played, the adults lost consciousness, and when they awoke, they discovered that the children had vanished.”
“...How many?”
“There’s no way to even begin counting… But it’s no small number.”
The nun’s vague wording instantly conveyed to Oliver that a large number of children had gone missing.
No matter how small the city, it was still a city.
For such a large number of children to vanish... It was beyond comprehension.
“And the city lockdown is...”
“To prevent mass panic. If everyone were allowed to move freely in search of the children, the city would come to a standstill... Though many people are now used to such events, there are still many who can’t accept it.”
The nun mentioned that the city had become accustomed to the idea of losing children to the Pied Piper.
“You seem well-acquainted with all of this.”
“I was born here.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Seeing the suffering of those around me led me to devote myself to the faith. I thought that, through my service, I might at least lessen their pain. It’s not an easy task, though.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, no need. Zenon isn’t entirely at fault here.”
“...?”
“Is there something on your mind?”
“No, nothing,” Oliver replied quickly.
“If that’s the case, then I’m glad... We’re here.”
The nun halted in front of an old building.
“Brother Kevin is inside. The usual place is occupied by other visitors at the moment. We ask for your understanding.”
Other visitors... Oliver was mildly curious, but it didn’t matter.
At that moment, such things were insignificant.
“Thank you for showing me the way, Sister.”
The nun offered a gentle smile.
“I’m glad to be of service. Now, I’ll take my leave. May you go about your tasks in peace.”
With that, she excused herself and departed.
Oliver watched her retreating figure silently.
Pandora turned to him.
“Are you alright?”
“Oh... Yes, I’m fine.”
Although there were still several unresolved questions, Oliver kept them to himself.
There was something more pressing at the moment.
Namely, finding out from Kevin if one of the children abducted by the Piper was Rosburn.
If luck had favored them, Kevin might have caught a glimpse of Rosburn during the Holy Knights’ pursuit of the Pied Piper.
To confirm, Oliver knocked on the door, and soon a familiar feeling greeted him from within. The door opened, and a young boy appeared.
“Teacher...!”
It was Rosburn.
“Ah... Thank you, God,” Oliver whispered instinctively.