Chapter 54
"Wow!" Lori's eyes lit up as she looked at the thing placed on the table.
It was a beautifully sewn cloth doll. A very exquisite doll, it always commanded a high price in this place where resources were scarce.
Carl gave her the doll: "This was a gift from your spider friend."
"Really?" Lori hugged the doll to her chest, looking at the small details on it with a happy expression.
Where is he now?
“I don’t know, he might leave. You know it’s not safe for him here, leaving is the best outcome for him.”
Carl wasn't interested in the doll, but Lori's happiness made it feel warm.
They still lived in that somewhat dilapidated room. This was because Karl had used holy magic to reinforce the house, allowing it to survive the disaster.
Although it's not perfectly preserved, as much of the wall has been damaged, it's still a place that provides shelter from the wind and rain, and such shelters are not uncommon.
Carl used his time off to repair the damage the house had suffered in the disaster.
So when he was illuminated by the flames in the room, it became warm.
Lori returned here after finishing her day's work, and Carl didn't talk to her about the doll at the church.
He was a little worried that this would cause trouble for that guy. There were too many irrelevant people in the church. These ordinary people were already struggling to survive, and they shouldn't be made to sleep uncomfortable by these trivial things.
If they knew there was a spider-like monster in the city, and that monster was dangerous, but because it had a good relationship with the priests, these guys wouldn't bother to hunt it down.
The monsters that are currently outside are roaming around, while there are also many people helping with the reconstruction.
And that monster might devour those people at any moment. No one would believe a monster wouldn't harm humans, and Karl didn't intend to explain. Let them misunderstand, as long as they don't know these creatures exist.
Lori's work was incredibly tiring; she hadn't rested all day. Karl hadn't rested either, but as a priest, such physical exertion wasn't a problem for him. However, the magic within Lori's body had vanished, to ensure it had no connection to demons and to prevent the priests from noticing her difference.
So she really was just a child. Even after a long day, she didn't look tired at all.
Her joy was understandable, because Karl had promised her that the trouble was over. Once the city was rebuilt, the witchers were gone, and Alpha was gone too.
Lori was safe now, albeit relatively safe. From now on, she no longer needed to hide herself so carefully. Maybe she could even wear some nice clothes that didn't cover her face and go for a stroll, with Karl accompanying her. She could finally see the city for herself.
Perhaps it was for this simple reason that she felt neither fatigue nor sadness. She was even very happy, because the people she had helped were working hard to rebuild the city, and Carl's promise would be fulfilled when the city was completed.
It's not like a castle in the sky, something unattainable; quite the opposite, it's hard to say how long it will take to rebuild the city, but it will definitely be completed. It's something that's attainable but unseen.
While Karl couldn't offer any more words—going this far was already a bit much, as he himself had no certainty about the matter—he couldn't offer any further assurances as long as Ketchum was still alive.
Carl poured himself a cup of tea, sat down in a chair, and watched Lori playing with her doll. Suddenly, he felt a strange sense of warmth.
Even if the entire city is reduced to ruins, even if there is a severe shortage of supplies.
But nothing has changed here; everything is the same as usual. The most difficult time is over, and the unsettling things are about to end.
Carl's only thought now was that he and Lori could live here a little longer. His lifespan was infinite, and so was this child's. He needed someone to accompany him to the end.
The End is a concept; legend has it that when time reaches a point with no future, both gods and demons will break free from their seals, and a final battle will ensue.
Before that, they had so much time to enjoy the beauty of being alive. These are the kinds of beauty that the dead cannot experience, and those who are alive should cherish them even more.
"Karl." Lori suddenly called out to the guy who was contemplating life in the chair, and before he could react, she pounced on him.
She curled up against Karl without his permission, and he realized the child just wanted a more comfortable place to sleep, like a cat.
“Hey, you’d better be in bed,” Carl said helplessly, stroking her hair.
But then this guy suddenly stopped talking, and just shook his head to indicate that he wanted to take over this warm place.
Lori was now wearing a robe, still a nun's habit. Carl suddenly felt he should perhaps buy the child some nice clothes. He actually earned a good salary, but he always donated it to the church. However, he suddenly felt he might have some expenses, a feeling that made him feel he couldn't be a saint. But he was able to find joy in it.
But speaking of which, what kind of clothes should girls wear? Karl fell into thought. In this small town, there was no distinction between men's and women's clothing. Everyone dressed basically the same, either in a priest's robe or a linen garment.
However, I've heard that girls in big cities where resources are more plentiful wear very beautiful clothes. These already lovely girls, accentuated by their pretty clothes, make those who see them feel the beauty of life.
Carl slowly closed his eyes; he also wanted to rest. It seemed Lori was going to rest like this for the night, so he had no choice but to behave himself as the bed and not move. Although his injuries hadn't fully healed, being pressed down still hurt a little.
Outside, the rain was pouring down. In such a downpour, a warm room was incredibly precious. The flame flickered, and two people slept huddled together in a chair.
The room remained quiet until the knock on the door.
Carl opened his eyes, looking somewhat annoyed at the doorway. Who would bother him at a time like this?
He picked up Lori and settled her on the bed. The child was already fast asleep and he shouldn't wake her.
"Wait a moment," Karl said to the man at the door, straightening his robes to look a little neater. After all, he represented the church and needed to maintain a respectable appearance at all times.
When he pushed open the door, Carl almost froze, staring at the guy in front of him in disbelief.
This was Ketchum; without even a greeting, she swiftly plunged her longsword into Karl's chest and pinned him to the wall.
The change happened too fast and too suddenly. Karl opened his mouth and could only spit out blood, staring at Ketch in astonishment.
The injury wasn't serious enough to cripple him, and Ketchum had no intention of actually hurting his friend. After securing Carl to the wall, he simply patted him on the shoulder.
“That’s good, now we can both have an explanation,” Ketchum said softly to Karl. “As long as you stay here safely, we’ll still be friends.”
“You know?” Karl smiled helplessly, looking at Ketchum and said softly, “I thought you would pretend you didn’t see it. Why did you have to wait until now? It would have been easier for you if Alpha hadn’t left.”
“I don’t want to make a big deal out of this; nobody can afford to cause any more trouble. My friend, it’s time to calm things down here.”
“No, friend. You're just tired and want to rest.” Carl pressed his hand against the wall, the house collapsing instantly from his force. Amidst the roar, his deep voice was like thunder:
run.
It was just one word, but it resounded throughout the heavens.
......
Under the torrential rain, the small figure ran quickly through the ruins.
Lori ran while crying, running so frantically, like a stray dog.
She had no idea where she was going or when she could stop. She just kept running, fleeing for her life.
This was Karl's last instruction to her; happiness vanished in an instant.
So cold, so tired. She was still wearing the same pajamas, which were soaked through in the heavy rain, so she couldn't run very far.
Memories flooded back, and the familiar despair filled her eyes with tears.
How many times have I run in the pouring rain, not knowing where I'm going or when I should stop?
Because if she stopped, she would die; what was chasing her was not death, but a saint.
What exactly did I do wrong?
Lori clutched the doll in her arms, her tears mingling with the rain.
This doll was her way of assuring herself that she wasn't hallucinating, because she suddenly felt that she had never actually stopped. She had been running since that day without stopping. The idea that someone had taken her in was just a beautiful illusion.
She knew why the city had become like this, and she knew why so many dangerous things had come here.
Witcher, mercenary, merchant, priest, swordsman, guard, wanderer, commoner, monster...
They all came to take her life. Each one had a different origin, but they all came here to kill her.
Lori doesn't remember doing anything wrong; she's been on the run ever since she can remember. An endless road of escape.
But Carl said she could be redeemed, that God would still accept her as long as she was truly willing to atone for her sins... But her sin was living, and she was bathed in sin every moment. Heaven would not accept something filthy.
Lori fell to the ground, then quickly got up. She'd fallen more than once before, and if she didn't know how many people were waiting to chop off her head when she fell, she certainly wouldn't sit down and cry.
She suddenly stopped, her face filled with disbelief.
Because not far away, she had once again witnessed that terrifying groan. It was white armor, and in the dark night of the heavy rain, golden holy light emanated from his entire body.
He raised his sword at himself, and Lori turned and ran, but was still thrown back by the spreading force. She rolled on the ground, lifting her head dusty.
Ketchum slowly walked over and raised the weapon in his hand.
There was only a child before him, but he had to let her die here. It was his duty and responsibility as a priest; he had to let this child die here.
Damn responsibilities and obligations. If I hadn't become a paladin, perhaps I wouldn't have so many troublesome things to do.
His heart sank, for this damned reason he had become enemies with his best friend.
Even though it seems so cruel and excessive, he did it to maintain order, because only in this way can the world remain peaceful.
Ketchum had reached the child and was surprised to find that she had stopped running.
Because Lori got up from the ground crying, knelt down shakily in front of him, and clasped her hands together in front of her chest as if in prayer.
Although she was kneeling before him, Ketchum couldn't sense that she was begging for his forgiveness.
Tired? Gone, perhaps resigned to her fate, knowing she'll eventually die here. Ketchum thought, he wouldn't mind giving her time to pray.
He raised his weapon, looking at the child kneeling before him, and pointed it at the child's head.
Ketchum was waiting for her to finish her final prayer before he killed her here. That way, it would be better for everyone, and the world would remain at peace.
It was disgusting, deep down, Ketchum began to loathe himself. His hand remained steady; only in this way could he avoid missing his target.
Someone has to be the butcher; it just so happens that it's my turn.
"Hey, over there." Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him. Ketchum turned around and saw a guy standing there, also fully armed.
It was crimson armor, rainwater evaporating into mist upon contact with it. Its surface was covered in exhaust pipes, from which steam was released every second. The design was quite strange, almost like a standing dragon, but with ram's horns protruding from its head.
“If you really want to fight, don’t go after the children.” She pointed her greatsword at Ketchum: “You are fully armed, so you should fight fully armed people as well.”
Ketchum didn't look at it again, but instead glanced at the spot where the child had been kneeling.
The place was now empty, for a monster had taken the dying man.
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