Chapter 44. Enchantingly and Beautifully

Of course, I knew that screaming “Kyaah!” while purifying wasn’t very pleasant to see. But it was extremely difficult to maintain dignity when faced with an undead.

At that moment, Mihail, who had been looking down at me and the holy knights from a high vantage point with a noble posture, jumped down with an indifferent face.

Though it seemed he jumped down carelessly, his landing posture was like a work of art. His low, steady gaze and unwavering movements, contrasted with his softly flowing, glossy hair.

Having captured everyone’s attention at once, Mihail rose with a nonchalant face. Then he turned his head to look at me.

“It’s deplorable how messy it is.”

Hey, what’s so unsatisfactory?

I purified it.

It may be just one ghoul now, but in the last expedition, I must have dealt with thousands of durahans.

So I could be confident.

My purification ability isn’t a mess. It’s very powerful.

As I glared at him with wide eyes, Mihail twisted one corner of his mouth up, seemingly amused.

“You have talent, but you can’t control it.”

“……?”

“You’re like an untamed wild horse.”

What, a horse?

I was irritated but couldn’t talk back.

Because I somewhat agreed with it.

It didn’t make the newspapers, and it seemed not to have reached Mihail’s ears, but…

‘I fainted.’

My biggest weakness.

The fact that I would faint while using my purification ability.

And if that was due to an uncontrolled ability…?

If there was even a slim possibility that could be the cause…

I couldn’t dismiss Mihail’s words lightly. I had to find out why I was fainting. And I had to solve that problem.

Otherwise, I might die at any time.

Once the thought that I could die even if it wasn’t at the Battle of Agulena took root, I became a bit desperate. Of course, I had no doubt the heroes would protect me when they were around, but…

‘That’s only true for Johann or Claude.’

I couldn’t trust Mihail, who had just stood by with folded arms throughout the first desert expedition.

At that moment, Mihail approached me closely.

“Do you know what God used to create the world?”

“……?”

Why is he suddenly asking this?

I don’t know anything about this world’s religion. So when I looked at him with eyes that said I didn’t know, Mihail kindly explained with a small smile on his lips. His gaze fixed on my lips.

“The Word.”

As he said this, his long thumb pressed gently on my lips.

“The scriptures were recorded with words. The world was also built upon His words.”

Surprised by the sudden warmth touching my thin skin, I opened my eyes wide. Having made me flustered, Mihail continued speaking in a calm voice.

“Words have power. That’s why mages chant spells, and enchanters recite incantations. And…”

Mihail’s finger moved down slightly, caressing my lower lip. This caused my mouth to open slightly.

“Purifiers also recite spells.”

“Ah…”

“Do you understand?”

“…But this…”

I turned my head away.

Fortunately, unlike last night, he let me go without resistance. The warmth that had touched my lips disappeared.

I unconsciously took a step back and looked at him. It was an instinctive reaction. How should I put it? I felt like a small rabbit standing before a predator.

Mihail looked at me with leisurely eyes, as if to say that I couldn’t escape from him just by moving one step away.

I start to feel suffocated by his sticky gaze. I wished he would withdraw his gaze soon.

Perhaps my inner thoughts were conveyed.

Though he didn’t withdraw his gaze, he broke the uncomfortable silence by parting his lips.

“I’ll teach you a few spells.”

“Spells?”

“Yes. Just a moment.”

Mihail turned his body with a gesture for me to follow. The holy knights standing around made way.

“Marvin.”

As he walked, Mihail called someone’s name.

A tall person among the holy knights immediately responded to the call and came forward. It was the knight who had cast the chains of light to capture the ghoul earlier.

“I’ll need you to do some work.”

“No problem. Everything is just a sacred duty.”

Marvin stood at attention and replied. His eyes held an unwavering determination.

Mihail smiled slightly, looking pleased with his attitude.

“Very good.”

Then he gestured for me to come closer.

I somehow wanted to keep my distance from Mihail, but I had no choice but to do as he said. Hmm… Maybe I wanted to keep my distance from Marvin.

Watching him thrust the chains of light into the ground right next to me made me uneasy.

Mihail spoke to Marvin in a tone as casual as ordering food at a restaurant…

In a tone as casual as if he were ordering food at a restaurant, Mikhail spoke to Marvin.

“Make it ghouls again, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

“……”

I just gaped blankly.

Anyone watching would think this was a very trivial and everyday conversation.

Marvin had his eyes closed, concentrating on finding ghouls underground. Meanwhile, Mihail spoke to me.

“Chaos of darkness, return to ashes.”

“……?”

“Repeat after me. Chaos of darkness, return to ashes.”

“Ch-Chaos of darkness? Return to ashes?”

I was puzzled at first by this sudden request, but then I recalled his mention that words have power.

It took about 2 seconds for my brain to process these unfamiliar words that were abruptly thrown at me.

A purifier’s spell.

It was the magical language that controlled the intensity of the purification ability.

“You can control your ability.”

Mihail spoke as if confirming my thoughts.

Just then, Marvin captured a ghoul from the ground. He was dripping with cold sweat, as if he had brought it from quite far away.

“Now, try it.”

At that moment, the chains of light sprang up long above the ground. At their end, ghouls were hanging in a row.

“Huh!”

No way, how many are there?!

I inhaled sharply in surprise at the procession of ghouls that seemed to number well over twenty. Ignoring my state, a stern voice came from beside me.

“The spell.”

Mihail’s sharp face flashed across my retina.

Ugh…

As if the ghouls suddenly thrown before my eyes in a group weren’t enough to send chills down my spine…

I struggled to overcome my trauma. At the same time, I tried not to pour out my purification ability as it was, suppressed by fear.

“Ch-Chaos of darkness, return to ashes!”

Light flowed from my hand.

However, it was a slightly different, no, quite different form of ability than before.

Instead of pouring out powerfully, it spread gently as if seeping in. A sacred and sublime light.

“Ah…”

Kieeek!

The ghouls screamed and then settled down onto the ground as ashes.

Before, I never had time to hear such long screams from ghouls. They used to vanish before they could even finish their screams.

The whole process was calm and smooth.

A natural speed and order.

How could it change so much with just one spell?

As I stood there dumbfounded, Mihail approached me. Then he placed his large hand on my head as if praising me.

“Well done.”

“Yes…”

“This is how you should do it from now on. Enchantingly and beautifully.”

“……”

I looked up at him blankly.

Somehow, it felt like I was finally receiving proper training.

That’s right.

I am a purifier.

Of course, I should refine my purification ability.

Memories of special training and courage training that had troubled me in the past flashed through a corner of my mind like a kaleidoscope.

Well, I can’t say they weren’t helpful at all.

But to be honest, it felt like I was finally receiving training that’s suitable for me.

After that, Mihail taught me a few more spells. At the same time, Marvin also diligently caught undead as if fishing.

As Mihail dismissed the holy knights midway, only the three of us, including Marvin, remained outside the castle.

The sky was already turning red with the setting sun.

Ah.

It’s beautiful.

How can the setting sun be this beautiful every day?

As I unconsciously let out an admiration while looking at the desert scenery, Mihail sent even Marvin away.

It meant today’s training had come to an end.

“You seem to like the sunset.”

“I guess so. I just realized I liked it today.”

Mihail chuckled at my answer.

Then he turned his head to the same direction as me.

The setting sun in the desert was beautiful. With nothing obstructing the view, only the endlessly spread sand and red sky covered the whole world.

It was art.

At that moment, Mihail extended one hand to me while keeping the other behind his back. Like a gentleman escorting a lady.

I quietly looked at him.

I thought he was a madman who only knew how to push people off cliffs without warning, but it seems he does know manners.

Inwardly giving him a generous evaluation, I took his hand. Then Mihail led me somewhere.

Crunch, crunch.

The sound of sand being stepped on echoed in my ears.

We were walking for a while,

When it felt like we were in the middle of the desert,

He stopped walking. Then he sat down on the ground. I naturally sat down next to him.

We silently watched the sunset.

It just felt natural.

The sun seemed to set faster than I expected.

As I watched quietly, I could see it gradually sinking.

“Ah. Come to think of it, I’d forgotten.”

At that moment, Mihail broke the quiet air we were sharing.

When I turned my head, he was taking something out from his chest. It was something long rolled up.

“What’s that?”

As I tilted my head curiously, Mihail’s gaze went down to my body and then back up to my face.

“Miss Sera, you seem to lack caution.”

“……?”

“I mean you’re wearing clothes that are too big for your skinny body.”

No, but these clothes are so comfortable…

“This is my favorite outfit since coming to Sahar. The loose fit is incredibly comfortable.”

“This is a place where the wind blows a lot.”

Saying that, Mihail unrolled the thing and wrapped it around my waist. Now I could see it was a belt.

He quietly began to tie a knot. Somehow his touch felt embarrassingly intimate.

I could see his long eyelashes in detail under his lowered eyelids. As I was admiring them, I suddenly realized something and squeezed my eyes shut.

Oh, no.

Last night…

The moment the wind blew in his room.

My loose clothes that had billowed up greatly, and what Mihail must have seen of me between them…

Ugh…

I’d rather die…

Ghoul, can I turn to ashes and fly away instead of you?

“There. It’s done.”

At that moment, Mihail, who had firmly tied the belt knot, met my eyes.

I had no choice but to turn my head away.

My cheeks were burning.

Thankfully, the sunset had dyed the world red.