Zenis fled with Cloudy.
The superhumanly trained Inquisitor's body was agile enough to escape the city, even while holding a full-term girl in his arms.
Having evaded the encirclement, they took a momentary rest in an abandoned hut on the outskirts.
With the tension released, Cloudy leaned against the wall and fell asleep as if she had fainted. Zenis silently stood and looked down at this foolish girl.
"..."
I know.
I shouldn't save Princess Cloudy. She should be left to die here.
If it became known that he had helped this foolish princess, the diplomatically positive atmosphere that had been formed between the Empire and the Mist Kingdom could be jeopardized.
Zenis imagined the future of the Mist Kingdom, where temples would be built, and proselytizing would begin.
Statues of the goddess would be erected throughout the city, and people of all ages would seek the goddess...
If only this girl in front of him were left to die, many more followers of the goddess would come into this world.
'I am an Inquisitor. A holy knight. A combat priest.'
Proselytizing, healing, saving, these are not my duties.
As a combat priest, it is right to act as the weapon of the order.
To kill the few for the many. To endure evil in the shadows for the glory of the goddess's light.
Is that not the mission of myself as a weapon?
"...Huh."
But, nevertheless.
Is it really the role of a priest to abandon this young mother-to-be and the unborn child asking for help right before me?
Before being an Inquisitor, before being a holy knight, before being a combat priest, am I not a priest who follows the goddess?
Is it really right to leave these two young lives to die now, for the possibility of gaining more followers in the future?
"Shit... It's not my job to worry about this."
Zenis took out a cigarette, then, realizing the girl in front of him was a mother-to-be, put it back.
'This is really messed up, seriously...'
Zenis leaned his forehead against the hut's wall and groaned in pain.
The messed-up night of the messed-up country was passing.
***
"I want to give birth."
The next morning, as soon as she woke up, Cloudy said this.
"I'm nine months pregnant now, and the baby will come out in a few weeks. The labor pains are getting worse, so it might come out in a few days if it's early."
"...And?"
"Please help me."
Zenis clenched his eyes shut and agonized, but eventually nodded.
"Alright, I'll call a midwife from the village..."
"No. You have to help me directly."
"Excuse me?"
"I can't trust anyone else. Whether it's a midwife or anyone else, there's a high chance they'll report to Father."
The bold young pregnant woman stared blankly at Zenis, who then pointed at himself stutteringly.
"Are you asking me to directly deliver the princess's child?"
"What other choice do we have?"
"I've never done such a thing in my life."
"Do I look like I have?"
Cloudy's face was covered in cold sweat, possibly because her labor had started.
She clutched her belly and breathed heavily.
"The only way to give birth without being caught by Father is to do it quietly, in a place unknown to others, where no one can find out."
"..."
"Please help us, Priest. Please don't abandon us."
After clenching and unclenching his fists several times, Zenis finally got up with a long sigh.
"...Let's move first. We're still too close to the city. The pursuers will come soon."
***
The two moved along the mountain range but couldn't go far.
It was because Cloudy's labor had started, and she was in pain. Despite the agony, Cloudy earnestly shared what she knew.
"Half-blood babies are said to torment their mothers to death... This one has been quite calm so far, but now it's no joke..."
"You've done your homework?"
"Once I got pregnant, all I felt was fear. I had to study up."
"Is there anything else I should know?"
"The baby's name is Hannibal."
Cloudy smiled weakly.
"We decided on it together in advance."
The two spent the night in a crumbling lodge at the corner of the mountain range.
That night, as Zenis was taking care of Cloudy and also pondering when to abandon her, he accidentally fell asleep and dreamt.
It was a dream from his very early childhood.
Zenis, a war refugee, was crying in the burnt ruins.
Both his parents and relatives had died long ago. There was no one left alive around him. The sandstorm blew over a field of corpses in all directions.
In front of a collapsed house that no longer had pillars, Zenis was sobbing desperately.
Then, a group of people passed in front of Zenis.
Priests dressed in black.
And young boys and girls being led by the hands of those priests.
It was the Holy Knight Division. They used to select young boys and girls among the war orphans to join their ranks.
But they didn't even glance at Zenis.
He was too small and thin; it was clear he would die soon even if they took him.
- ...
However, a blonde girl walking at the front, holding the hand of a priest, was different.
The girl glanced over at Zenis and suddenly let go of the priest's hand and ran towards him.
And then she hugged the crying Zenis tightly.
- Rosetta, what are you doing, Rosetta!
The leading old priest yelled irritably.
- We can't take any more!
- This child is my brother. We lost each other in the war, but now I've found him.
The girl - Rosetta, glared at the leading old priest.
- If you don't take him, I won't follow either.
- ...
After a long sigh, the old priest gestured forward.
- Bring him. But you're responsible for taking care of him.
Then, the surrounding priests protested.
- Captain, we can't afford to take care of all these kids!
- We're running out of food and drinking water!
- Quiet. How can an adult stop a child who wants to save another child? Just go!
With permission granted, Rosetta clumsily helped Zenis to stand.
- From now on, you're my brother, understand?
Zenis, staring blankly at Rosetta, stuttered a question.
- But you aren't related to me at all?
- Why not? We're the same, human beings.
Rosetta whispered with narrowed eyes.
- So, we have to save each other.
As Zenis's face went blank, he heard the leading old priest shouting.
- Let's go, damn kids!
It was a desperate wish.
- Let's survive together.
The group moved forward into the sandstorm-ravaged wasteland. Rosetta led Zenis by the hand, holding it tightly.
Clenching his teeth and following her, Zenis thought.
He would never forget the touch of this tender hand that held him.
Such was a very old memory.
"..."
With the morning dew on his cheeks, Zenis woke up.
Cloudy had been groaning all night, holding her belly. Watching her pale complexion, Zenis made up his mind.
Just as he had survived with the help of a complete stranger.
He decided to help Cloudy give birth.
***
The birth of a half-blood is perilous.
The labor, starting earlier than expected, brought terrible pain.
Cloudy could no longer move, and Zenis had no choice but to assist with the birth in this half-collapsed lodge.
Zenis was ignorant about childbirth, and it was the first time for Cloudy as well.
Fortunately, Zenis was a priest who could use healing magic, and Cloudy had studied childbirth in advance.
The two novices struggled to give birth to the child and assisted each other in doing so.
After several days and nights, Cloudy, now extremely exhausted, gradually lost consciousness. The labor of the half-blood child was too much for her young and frail body.
She was dying.
To somehow keep Cloudy's consciousness, Zenis said anything.
"After giving birth, what do you want to do?"
"...What?"
"You're still just a young, foolish child. You have much more of your life ahead."
"Remaining... life."
"After giving birth, what kind of life do you want to live?"
Cloudy, with a dazed expression, eventually chuckled.
"I guess I can't live as a princess anymore?"
"It seems like you've done everything His Majesty told you not to do, so it might be difficult."
"Ha... Being born into royalty made life easier. I wanted to live even more comfortably. It's a shame."
Cloudy, jesting, hummed and pondered.
"Well, now that I've become a free person, I want to live a life I've never even imagined."
"Like what?"
"I'm good at singing. Wouldn't I be popular as a singer with a princess background?"
"That would definitely make headlines."
"I can read and write, so getting a job at a reputable business seems good too."
"A commuting princess... doesn't quite suit Your Highness's personality."
"Working at a travel agency might be nice, don't you think? I'm good at getting along with people. Traveling the world, talking with customers from everywhere."
"That does seem fitting. Although it's hard to say if a travel agency could operate properly in these dangerous times."
"And, maybe... could I become a priest?"
Zenis stopped replying. Cloudy smiled awkwardly.
"I owe such a great debt to the Church of the Goddess, but donations seem difficult. It would be nice if I could dedicate the rest of my life."
"Unfortunately, being a priest requires an aptitude for healing magic."
"Huhu, that's cold..."
"So, use the rest of your life for you and your child. You're still young, after all."
Cloudy, with wide eyes, chuckled at Zenis.
"It's funny hearing that from a young priest like you."
"I've heard that it's over when kids call you 'uncle' instead of 'brother' or 'big brother'. I hate to admit it, but I'm already an uncle."
"I've also heard that if you think you're old, you're still young, and if you think you're still young, you're actually old."
"..."
"You're still young, Priest."
After having such a conversation, a full day later.
***
Cloudy succeeded in giving birth.
Both Cloudy and Zenis, having stayed up for several days and nights, were utterly drained, but when the newborn let out a vigorous cry, Zenis couldn't help but smile brightly.
"Your Highness, look! A healthy boy."
"..."
"We succeeded. We really did it."
Exhausted, with a pale face, Cloudy barely managed to speak.
"...I'm sorry, I'm a bit weak, I can't see."
"..."
Zenis slowly lifted the baby and placed him in Cloudy's arms.
Cloudy, smiling faintly, caressed the baby in her arms and asked.
"What color are my baby's eyes?"
"Clear gold."
"What about his hair?"
"Bright brown."
"Is he slim like his father, or chubby like me?"
"He resembles Your Highness. Very plump and cute."
Cloudy smiled with her wan cheeks and slowly caressed the baby's hair.
"Hannibal."
Similarly exhausted, Cloudy whispered slowly to the child who had fallen asleep from fatigue.
"Instead of mom and dad... sing songs, get a job, travel, make donations to the temple... live your life that way."
"..."
"Thank you, Priest Zenis."
Cloudy slowly closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry to ask this at the last moment... but please, take care of this child..."
Thud.
Cloudy's hand, which had been caressing the child, fell to the ground.
Standing dumbfounded in front of the dead princess's body, not knowing what to do, Zenis slowly lifted the child into his arms.
Wah! Waaaah!
It was then the child - Hannibal, seemingly sensing his mother's death, began to cry as if the world was ending.
And then,
"Here they are! The priest who fled with Princess Cloudy!"
Hearing the baby's cries, the pursuit team rushed into the lodge.
"Where is the princess?!"
"She... she has passed away!"
"Don't move, you bastard! You're under arrest!"
"..."
Holding the crying child, unable to think of escaping, Zenis finally came to his senses.
And he repeated to himself.
What am I doing here?
--TL Notes--
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