Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 93: The Pine Tree and Wildflower

“Tsk. It was quite a nice item.”

Geher’s face fell in disappointment as he examined the completely ruined sickle.

Though sickles might seem all the same, a well-made one is worlds apart from a shoddy imitation. Some masters are truly gifted in their crafting.

This sickle had been bought for a price higher than ordinary ones, yet in Geher’s eyes, it was nothing extraordinary. It wasn’t gold, just iron and wood, so it wasn’t expensive.

As a Master, Geher would never cut corners, even when funds were scarce. He thought the sickle was overpriced but didn’t expect much.

If the blade were too heavy, it wouldn’t swing properly; if too dull, it wouldn’t cut effectively. In itself, the sickle was sound, it had neither excess weight nor dullness, but Roka’s sword had utterly ruined it.

To have enough power to break through my celestial weapon and ruin the sickle...

It wasn’t just Roka’s power or the Moonlight Sword. While Teresia’s sword technique was formidable, Geher was a Grand Master. Even with the blade and technique, she might not have beaten him. So why could Roka do it?

“I wonder what that sword taught her.”

Roka’s final strike, made in frustration when all her other attacks failed, was genuinely frightening.

Unlike Heron’s technique, the sunset-colored strike didn’t slice cleanly through the sickle; instead, it simply faded away. Yet even so, it rendered the sickle into worthless scrap, unsellable and ruined.

Sunset Slash.

She had learned a dangerous new technique. When Roka used it, the devastating technique momentarily froze even Geher’s seasoned heart.

500 years ago, if Master Heron had used this technique, its power would have been enough to defeat Geher in one strike and more.

It is a technique that transcends all boundaries. This kind of power isn’t always good. I wonder what compelled that sword to reveal such potential.

Of course, Roka was not yet able to control the technique. Whether it’s a technique or a weapon, they exist for people, not vice versa. It becomes perilous when they end up wielding the wielder.

“I hope that kid doesn’t become a villain. It’s somewhat reassuring that she doesn’t seem evil, but...

When great power is entrusted to a child, the results can be either wondrous or disastrous.

Usually, it leads to a bad outcome. Geher was concerned about that. Great power should be in the hands of a great mind, one mature enough to handle it.

It is too early to decide if she will emerge as a hero, a demon lord, or even as a hermit like myself.

A tiny hermit hides in the forest, but a great hermit blends in with people. Geher himself had been a hermit, even while residing in the imperial palace, so few truly knew him.

But this hermit had once been a mercenary king, traveling the world. He had witnessed much in his travels, and to him, Roka seemed unstable.

Something was stabilizing her for now, but if that support vanished, even he wouldn’t know where she would end up.

******************************Roka returned in high spirits, carrying a sword I hadn’t seen before. It shimmered with moonlight, revealing a unique, treasured weapon.

It might not rival the uniqueness of Yurinel’s holy sword, yet it rivaled the strength of Duchess Shmira’s Demon Spear.

Weapons like that weren’t common, even among demon lords. It showed the Empire’s strength.

To house such a weapon in the imperial storehouse was to display the Empire’s power and wealth. Despite the alliances and divisions among the demons, they had not attacked humanity without caution.

Demons weren’t as powerful as they appeared. While individual demons might surpass humans in strength, as a race they were vastly outnumbered and outclassed. Their realm was mostly wasteland and undeveloped land on the outskirts of the continent.

Perhaps the demons sought to conquer the continent simply because they no longer wished to dwell in barren wastelands. The lands of humanity, led by the Empire, seem very appealing to them.

“This is the Moonlight sword. Master of Masters. It’s the sword used by the Lunar lady Teresia.”

Roka beamed as she ran over to present the sword, grinning like a dog with a prized bone. Yet when she spotted Ms. Rowena, her smile faltered.

“Who is she?”

Was it my imagination, or did a shadow fall behind Roka? Ms. Rowena met her gaze with an awkward smile.

A gentle breeze tickled my ear. I had heard that elves excel at wielding magic to command spirits.

You’re raising quite a dangerous child.

The wind spirit carried Ms. Rowena’s voice to me. Then, I heard her true voice.

“Don’t worry, little miss. I have no intention of dating humans. I’ve seen too many of my kind regret loving humans and being left alone because of the lifespan difference.”

When Roka frowned and glared at Ms. Rowena, she waved her hands dismissively, echoing that excuse.

“Alright, Priest. Since you promised first, you must keep it. Don’t forget your promise to visit Elvenhome. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“What promise?”

Roka asked sharply. As I patted her, she recognized her mistake and laughed sheepishly. In that moment, I couldn’t help but take notice.

Roka is sharper than I thought. She had never shown this side of herself before me, so I was unaware.

Regardless, Roka needed to know what the promise was about.

“Roka, do you know there’s a problem in the Cidatel Republic?”

Roka wore her familiar expression. I could tell what she was about to say just by looking at her face.

It was the kind of look that said, “Roka doesn’t know anything”, a look she reserved just for me.

“I told you about Grimudo and the monster corps. The strongest of those monsters, Phoenix, is causing trouble in the Caldera Mountains near the Republic.”

At the mention of Phoenix, her face lit up with surprise. Normally, Roka would simply shrug and say, “So what?” but today, she appeared visibly flustered.

“Phoenix... that monster king?”

“So you’re aware of it too? Yes, that monster king, the one countless people have tried to defeat, yet no one has succeeded.”

Grimudo creates monsters, though I remain unsure how he conjures such colossal beings; once they appear, they seldom vanish quickly.

Even those who can fight monsters can’t ignore that Grimudo is behind them. That’s why monster subjugation is rare—it’s complicated.

Take the Manticore, for example. Even if one isn’t overly concerned with capturing monsters, its sheer difficulty makes it nearly unmanageable.

The great monster Phoenix, known as Grimudo’s crown, is dangerous. It’s so close to Grimudo that it matches his power.

I’m sure of this because our party has encountered it before.

“Even though Yurinel, Parnell, and Lucia grew steadily stronger, I doubt we could have defeated it, even at the peak of our abilities.”

Even with the Bluebird’s feather, our party, strong enough to fight Grozam, the 3rd-ranked demon lord, only managed a draw and drove it away.

Phoenix eventually retreated, unwilling to continue the fight, yet we knew our chances of victory would have been slim if the battle had persisted.

Of course, I can’t take Roka to face such a creature.

Even if Roka were as formidable as Yurinel, Parnell, and Lucia, victory would remain uncertain. At her current strength, she wouldn’t survive a clash with Phoenix.

**Other methods won’t work.

Perhaps there would be a chance if the Empire and the Temple united, though that remains merely an ideal.

I never imagined the world could ever seem so hopeful.

My Lord is lending us aid because we cannot succeed on our own.

I have no choice but to use the Night When the Milky Way Blooms.

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This is a situation of tangled interests. Convincing the Emperor and the three Grand Archbishops to set aside their conflicts and unite would be less persuasion and more akin to brainwashing.

Naturally, I don’t have that power, and the Lord, who respects free will, wouldn’t help me gain it either.

I shouldn’t get discouraged if I don’t expect much.

While it would be wonderful if others offered assistance, I cannot expect them to sacrifice themselves for me. Such selflessness is rare, and not something I should wish for.

My Lord can do that, but as a human, I can’t force others to make sacrifices as if I were special.

My life isn’t more precious than others.

The lives of others are like flowers, blooming once before withering, while mine resembles a pine tree, evergreen throughout the year.

Just because I have leaves in winter doesn’t mean I can make the flowers bloom. They’ll freeze and never bloom again.

Even if I die, my life only changes form. Therefore, when the time comes for me to sacrifice myself to save others, I shall do so with a smile, that is the price for the favor granted by My Lord.

“Roka.”

But I’d rather walk this path alone, if possible.

“You stay here.”