“The family is coming to pick me up at the Marzen border, so just go there. You don’t need to see me off, right?”
“Bye.”
“See you again!”
The day before departure, Seilan left a casual greeting and vanished. Rowy also just nodded to send Seilan off. Because he now knew that even when they parted, they could meet again soon.
However… the farewell with the temple people was a bit different. Because the kids, who had heard the news that Van was leaving, kept crying loudly. Van had to carry those kids around in front and back for quite a while. But even at this moment of seeing them off, the children were still crying sorrowfully.
‘…I really absolutely hate kids.’
Rowy shook his head disapprovingly. Seeing that, the Head Priest smiled and spoke to him.
“The children are sad. I’m also very sad that you’re leaving so suddenly.”
“I wasn’t planning to stay long originally.”
“I know. But since we formed a connection, it’s natural to feel regret.”
At the voice truly full of sadness, Rowy blinked his eyes. Honestly, it seemed like all he’d done here was cause trouble. For once, Rowy had made an objective evaluation of himself.
“Well, take care.”
Rowy gave a magnanimous greeting. At that, the Head Priest, who had chuckled, pointed to Father Rainer standing behind.
“Oh, Father Rainer also has something to say.”
When he turned his head at those words, Father Rainer bowed his head. Rowy also greeted Father Rainer.
“Goodbye. Take care. Thanks for teaching me sacred language. It was very helpful.”
Father Rainer, who had bowed his head once more at Rowy’s greeting, handed over an envelope he’d been holding.
“What is it…? Should I open it?”
At Father Rainer’s gesture, Rowy opened the envelope. Inside… was the talisman that Father Rainer always drew. Rowy read the sacred language he’d now become familiar with. This talisman with simple words written on it was…
‘Peace.’
…It was a talisman wishing for Rowy’s peace.
‘It will help you have good dreams.’
Rowy, who had read even the small writing inside the envelope, looked at Father Rainer with eyes moved by the unexpected gift.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it well.”
The Head Priest, who had been watching Rowy and Father Rainer’s greeting with pleased eyes, now approached Van.
“Head Priest.”
Van, seeing the Head Priest, bowed deeply and kissed the back of his hand. The Head Priest affectionately stroked Van’s head.
“It doesn’t matter if you leave the temple, I just hope you’ll be happy.”
“…Yes.”
Van’s expression clouded. Since he was the one who had abandoned the temple and left first, yet was being told this, he felt something closer to guilt instead. As if understanding Van completely, the Head Priest patted Van’s shoulder.
“You are still walking God’s path. Don’t doubt and move forward.”
“……”
“And… there are more people who came to greet you.”
Only then raising his head at those words, Van’s eyes widened as he spotted the approaching people.
“Commander.”
“It’s been a while.”
Shane and Turner, who had lost their memories due to a demon’s curse, warmly greeted Van.
“We heard long ago that you’d returned to the temple, but that happened to be when we were extremely busy with a trading company commission.”
“We wanted to see you before you left, so we ran here without even resting.”
“How…”
At the voices of those he’d missed, Van’s eyes blurred. The last time he’d seen them, their eyes had contained no emotion at all. But now…
“You’re really too much. How could you not contact us even once? At least send a letter from now on.”
“That’s right. There are so many people at the temple waiting for you, Commander.”
The grumbling voices were friendly. Van, speechless, just quietly listened to their stories. And then, Max appeared from behind the two, limping.
“Phew, I’m not late. Why are you leaving so early?”
Max, who had been grumbling, approached and hugged Van tightly. Even while stroking Max’s head, Van still couldn’t take his eyes off Shane and Turner. Because his brothers… were looking at him with the same warm eyes as before. Just like that day in their childhood.
“How…? Perhaps the curse…”
“Ah, that’s not it.”
Van asked carefully with hope. However, what came back was a negative answer. And what followed… was something Van had never imagined.
“We’ve heard stories about you until our ears hurt.”
“Max, Neil, the priests—everyone talked about you, Commander.”
“Now we can practically recite them. Is it true that when I climbed a tree as a child and fell, you caught me with your body, Commander? They said the scar on my arm is from that time.”
Shane said that while rolling up his sleeve. There was a scar Van knew well. It was just as Shane said. Seeing Shane falling, Van had rushed over urgently and caught him with his whole body. However… at that time, Van was also young.
‘In the end, we both ended up covered in blood, crying and looking for the Head Priest.’
Van, recalling that time, smiled faintly.
“…You were a troublemaker from when you were little. You only pretended to be dignified after growing up.”
“See! I was right, wasn’t I? I was very young, but I remembered everything!”
Max chimed in noisily. Turner also joined the trip down memory lane.
“Then does that mean it’s true that I was scared and couldn’t sleep alone at night, so I went looking for you even past the age of sixteen?”
“Yes. You came looking for me saying you were scared when it rained, and came saying you were scared when the wind blew.”
“This is less that I can’t believe it… and more that I don’t want to believe it.”
Turner, who had the most massive build in this temple, shook his head. It was so funny that eventually Max and Van burst into laughter. Shane, who had been smiling along while watching them, spoke to Van in an affectionate voice.
“Commander. Daer hyung. Now you understand, right? Just because we lost our memories doesn’t mean our memories together have truly disappeared. Because there are this many people who remember for me.”
“Ah…”
The moment Van met Shane’s characteristically calm gaze—so familiar to him—Van eventually lowered his head and showed his tears.
* * *
Until Rowy, who had rushed over at the sound that Van was crying, hid Van behind him while being wary of everyone, Van couldn’t stop his tears. Van, who belatedly came to his senses, hurriedly wiped his eyes, but since he’d already clearly been crying hard, Rowy’s eyes became even sharper.
“Who made him cry? Was it you?”
Rowy approached Turner, who was two, no, three times bigger than him, and started pointing accusingly without warning. Because he was the biggest among them, Rowy thought he was the culprit. Though Turner just smiled gently and greeted him even seeing such a Rowy.
However, Rowy still kept his eyes sharp and glared at everyone. At that adorable protection, a smile gradually began to spread across Van’s face too. The Head Priest, who had been watching from the side, chuckled and joined the conversation.
“And if your family happens to want to take him as an adopted son-in-law, don’t worry and just say the word. I’ll excommunicate him right away.”
……? What is this talk all of a sudden? Rowy’s eyes, which had been sharply vigilant of his surroundings, widened in bewilderment.
“Please definitely invite me to the wedding!”
“Of course.”
Like that, regardless of Rowy’s opinion, their marriage was confirmed once again.
“Now, it’s really time to part. Everyone’s finished their goodbyes, right?”
The Head Priest gathered everyone scattered here and there. It was truly time to send the two off now.
“Come, let’s send them off with smiles.”
At those words, Neil and the kids, who had been sniffling continuously, wiped their tears and nodded. It was a brave sight. So… definitely much more so than Turner’s childhood. Van smiled again and greeted everyone.
“Then we’ll be going. I’ll write letters, so don’t worry.”
“Goodbye.”
Swish swish, Rowy also waved his hand along with Van. Like that, the two left the temple and began descending the mountain path. The Head Priest watched their backs with pleased eyes. Father Alex standing beside him also wore a smile.
“They’re truly a beautiful pair.”
“Right? I’ll have to write a wonderful wedding officiant’s speech.”
Exchanging joke-like stories, the Head Priest and Father Alex slowly turned toward the temple. Then they hardened their faces as if they’d never been smiling.
“Well, since we’ve seen them off… let’s first find the impostor who pretended to be a priest and handed over the holy sword.”
“Yes.”
Like that… To hunt the demon that had revealed itself once again, Elysion Temple began to move again.
