“Can you elaborate?” The young man frowned. Belter was a Master Hunter. While his counter-surveillance skills might not match those of the kingdom’s intelligence operatives, his years of battling Chaos and hunting cultists had given him plenty of experience in evasion. Leon had encountered numerous obstacles in his pursuit.
No matter how skilled Belter was, he was still human—he needed rest and sustenance. The environment of this world was far harsher than that of Earth. The wilderness was fraught with danger, and Belter, being relentlessly pursued by Leon, couldn’t afford to spend much time replenishing his supplies.
Therefore, Belter had to visit human settlements to restock food and supplies.
“This man was very strange. He only spoke a few words, saying he needed a room and asked us to buy him some food and provisions… Since he offered a gold denarius, we obliged. Especially when he specifically requested three pounds of beef—that took some effort. I’m sure you know, Sir Knight, how hard it is to get beef this time of year?” the innkeeper complained.
A gold denarius was enough to support a family for three to four months! Leon nodded. The price of food varied with the seasons. In spring and summer, a pheasant might sell for a dozen copper coins, but in the depths of winter, a live pheasant could fetch two silver denarii—two hundred copper coins.
Among meats, beef was the most expensive. Cattle were valuable assets and essential labor in this world, so chicken, duck, and mutton were relatively cheaper, while beef was a luxury.
Still, no matter how expensive, a gold denarius could buy thirty pounds of beef. In the end, the innkeeper managed to procure some cooked beef and provisions for the mysterious man, who left the inn before dawn the next day.
“That doesn’t make sense. The city gates don’t open until after sunrise. Did he mention where he was going?” The young knight’s brow remained furrowed. His opponent’s cunning was beyond expectation, and Leon still couldn’t determine whether the Master Hunter had fully succumbed to Chaos.
Regardless of whether he had fallen completely, I must eliminate him! Leon resolved firmly. Given that Belter had already killed several hunters and a Master Hunter, Leon was determined to put an end to him.
Anything tainted by Chaos must either be purified or utterly destroyed!
After conversing with the innkeeper, Leon nodded. The sky outside finally began to brighten. The young man stood up, deciding to explore the town. If the innkeeper’s account was accurate, Leon was about two days behind Belter—a gap that made it nearly impossible to catch up with the cunning Master Hunter.
Given the circumstances, Leon thought it best to wait here for the woman from the Garland Council to rendezvous with him. She could open a portal to take him directly to Belter’s likely next destination.
As the sky gradually brightened, the snow continued to fall. Leon walked toward the inn’s entrance. The innkeeper, seeing that the knight was neither arrogant nor overbearing, and hadn’t abused his authority, began to warm up to him. “Sir Knight, the wind and snow are fierce outside. Why not rest inside?”
“If I don’t go out now, should I wait until nightfall to play hide-and-seek?” The young man turned with a smile, his black hair already dusted with snow. His azure eyes glimmered faintly as he waved and left.
“Black hair? Azure eyes? So young and already a knight of the kingdom. Could it be…?” The innkeeper’s eyes widened as he noticed the young man’s hair and eye color.
Most people in the Kingdom of Nord had blond hair and blue eyes. Black hair and blue eyes were exceedingly rare, and this young man appeared to be no older than twenty-five.
Suddenly, he recalled the story the minstrel had sung last night—the tale of the Nord knight, the hero of thousands, “Hammer” Leon.
The “Hammer” Leon in the story also had black hair and blue eyes…
He didn’t dare to think further.
Stepping out of the inn, Leon trudged through the snow-covered streets. The biting wind and snowflakes struck his face. The harsh winter season added many complications to his mission, especially in Nord, where only those who had experienced it knew how cold the winters could be. During this season, most people stayed indoors, enjoying the warmth of their hearths—nobles, merchants, mercenaries, and peasants alike.
This was the time when peasants repaired tools, sewed clothes, and tanned hides.
Though not always, some hunters or fishermen ventured out, hoping to make a small profit if they caught something.
The longhouses of the Nord people lined the streets, their wooden frames and thatched roofs extending from the heights to the ground. The houses were long but narrow, with piles of firewood stacked in front and doors tightly shut.
From Leon’s years of travel, he knew that genuinely hospitable people were rare, as many had paid dearly for their kindness.
Leon carried his golden warhammer in hand. Considering the recent troubles, he finally opened his cloak, revealing the White Wolf Knight badge on his chest.
Sure enough, the townsfolk, initially wary of outsiders, showed reverence and admiration upon seeing the badge. Leon approached a man in his thirties working on woodwork by his door and asked, “Excuse me, where is the blacksmith’s shop in this town?”
“Ah! Sir Knight!” The man looked up, startled to see a knight. “The blacksmith’s shop is at the next intersection. Turn right, and you’ll see it after a few shops.”
“Got it. And… is there a church here?” Leon continued.
“Do you mean the Church of Life? Wulan Town only has the Church of Life. If you’re looking for the Church of Justice or the Mage’s Guild, you’ll need to go to Granstad, about eighty miles from here. There are many churches there. Every ten days, the lord organizes a guarded caravan to Granstad from the town square. The next one leaves in seven days… Do you have any other questions, Sir?” The man’s response was detailed. Leon nodded and pressed on, “How many priests and warriors are in the Church of Life here in Wulan Town?”
“There’s one priest and three paladins, Sir. The priest is a good man. He often provides free healing and gives out baked goods and cider during holidays.” The man paused his woodwork and smiled. “The priest also heals the sick and casts divine spells for adventurers, so many here worship the Dawn God or the Earth Mother.”
“Got it. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Sir. May fortune be with you.”
Heading toward the Church of Life, Leon found it to be a modest building—a small structure with white walls and a wooden door, guarded by two warriors. At a glance, Leon felt a pang of disappointment. From his travels across the continent, he knew that a church’s strength could often be gauged by its gatekeepers. These two warriors were, at best, ordinary soldiers. Leon reckoned he could send them to meet the Dawn God and the Earth Mother with a single swing of his hammer.
The souls of the faithful always ascended to the realm of their chosen deity.
Thus, the church in this town was likely weak. Leon guessed the priest’s abilities wouldn’t exceed the third circle.
A third-circle priest’s aid, like a healing spell, would be of little help to Leon’s plans. It wouldn’t solve any of his problems.
Entering the Church of Life, Leon found a clean, small courtyard. Though compact, the church had all the necessary facilities. The Dawn God and the Earth Mother were a married pair of deities. Since sunlight nurtured life on earth, their connection was profound. Both deities were of the neutral good alignment, and the Church of Life was widely welcomed across the continent. They often aided the poor, healed the sick and wounded, held regular events, and worked to improve agricultural crops, reclaim wasteland, and teach people how to live better. Thus, most tenant farmers and peasants worshipped these two deities, and the Church of Life, along with the Church of Justice and the Mage’s Guild, formed one of the three major churches on the continent.
The Church of Life wielded significant influence among the people, but Leon wasn’t fond of their constant preaching of selflessness and kindness. He maintained good relations with the Church of Justice but remained distant from the Church of Life.
As for the Mage’s Guild, its power was undeniable. It was well-known that spellcasters needed to access the Weave to cast spells, and the Weave was controlled by the Goddess of Magic. Therefore, all spellcasters theoretically required her permission to connect to the Weave.
The Mage’s Guild’s strength was immense. When necessary, all spellcasters had to heed the Goddess of Magic’s divine decrees, though deities generally refrained from interfering in mortal affairs.
“The divine belongs to the gods, the mortal to mortals,” Leon muttered, tightening his cloak as he entered the Church of Life. The paladins at the gate, seeing the knight’s badge, didn’t stop him but asked, “Sir Knight, how may we assist you?”
“Nothing urgent. I’m just here to look around, visit, and maybe buy something,” Leon waved dismissively. The paladins, seeing no reason to hinder him, added, “The priest is inside. Feel free to speak with him.”
“Understood.”
Inside the church’s courtyard, children played in the snow, their laughter filling the air. A woman in her thirties, dressed as a priestess, stood in the corridor, smiling at the joyful scene. Hearing footsteps at the entrance, she turned and, seeing Leon, was momentarily taken aback. “A knight? How may I help you?”
The priestess had nearly white blonde hair, with crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes. Her features were plain, with a prominent aquiline nose, but her warm expression softened her appearance.
“Are these the next batch of children to be baptized?” Leon asked, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, his expression unreadable.
“…These are the children of hunters and soldiers who didn’t make it. The church has taken them in,” the priestess shook her head, her expression somber. “After losing their fathers, their mothers are busy making ends meet, so they stay here during the day, under my care.”
“So this is a daycare, huh?” The knight suddenly laughed, using a term from his homeland.
“Daycare? What’s that? Is it a friend of yours, Sir Knight?” The priestess didn’t understand the term but didn’t press further. “May I ask why you’ve come to the Church of Life?”
“Yes, I have a question. Four days ago, was there a tall, thin man…” Leon inquired whether the priestess had sensed any presence of Chaos energy.
As a clergy member, the priestess had a duty to monitor such things. Since the rise of Emperor Charlemagne during the Age of Strife over a thousand years ago, the church and the empire had reached an understanding. Priests, through daily prayers, were most sensitive to the presence of Chaos energy.
“Well… it’s nothing compared to the overwhelming scent of blood on you, Sir Knight. Your presence has drowned out any traces. Have you been in a fierce battle before arriving here?” The priestess closed her eyes to sense the energy but was overwhelmed by the aura of blood around Leon.
“Yes, before arriving here yesterday, I encountered a pack of bloodsuckers in the wilderness,” Leon shook his head. His visit to the Church of Life had yielded nothing, and the frustrating reason was himself.
“Never mind. Can you make divine scrolls here?” Leon, seeing no useful information, changed the subject.
“Huh? What kind of scrolls do you need, Sir Knight? I’m only a second-circle priest. Making scrolls is…” The priestess hesitated.
“Not that kind. I mean the basic divine spell every priest in the Church of Life must know. Can you make scrolls for that?”
“Oh! I see. I have plenty of those. Five silver denarii each.”
“I’ll take two.”
“Thank you for your patronage.”
Exiting the Church of Life, Leon’s bracelet suddenly glowed. Finding a secluded corner, he pressed the gem on the bracelet. “Archbishop?”
“Leon, there’s new information. According to reports from the paladins involved in the hunt, Belter was sighted near the Mien Forest, about thirty miles from Wulan Town. He may have gone deep into the woods. Be cautious and don’t act rashly,” the authoritative voice continued.
“Mien Forest? Got it!”