Episode23(S1-18)：HORN OF THE HEXENBIEST

“I would like to add that the ground that was cut by the explosion showed no signs of combustion.”

Ephemera mutters as she looks at the parchment summarizing her investigation. The sigh she lets out, along with the scowl that accompanies her upturned face, adds to her sense of unease. As The Heavenly Priestess in charge of the peace and tranquility of the people, she must be concerned about the appearance of another source of anxiety.

“So it was an explosion without any heat at all. But from reading this, it sounds like it was a substantial explosion: ......”

“If so, that's even stranger. With an explosion of this magnitude, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a significant amount of heat generated.”

“Well, we are complete strangers to explosives. Or maybe there's technology out there that we don't know about.”

Good grief," mutters Grullius. But as if to deny it, Aela chants in a sharp tone.

“Isn't that dangerous? Extremists could rise up without us knowing about it.”

If an unknown technology is in line with peace and humanity, it is commendable, and we are willing to invest in its further development and advancement. However, if it is associated with danger and ambition, this is not the case. The possibility of military applications of peaceful technology is also possible, but as long as it is associated with danger, the best way to ensure safety is to place it under the protection of the public authorities. In other words, whatever the true purpose of the technology that may have caused the explosion, we cannot be blind to it as long as it is associated with danger.

Their urgent task is to find a way to find out what it is and how to seize it.

“It's possible. But we don't have enough clues. Maybe the Hexenbiests fought amongst themselves?”

“I've never heard of Hexenbiests having that kind of power. But it's not impossible that they actually had it, just that we've never seen it before.”

A prediction that does not cross the threshold of possibility is no better than a fantasy. Grullius shakes his head, knowing that if you are obsessed with dreams of illusion, you can lose sight of reality.

“To begin with, the definition of Hexenbiests is just a ferocious animal with weird horns on its head, right? Do you really think they have that kind of power?”

“Maybe there's a secret in those horns.”

Grullius reacts slightly to Ephemera's casual comment, which she utters with a smile. He looks at her with a twitch of his eyebrows and opens his mouth, collecting his thoughts in his mind.

“Ilah, as I recall, those horns fetched a pretty penny among collectors, didn't they?”

“Yes. In some circles, it is also used as an ingredient in herbal medicine, but it does not seem to be very effective. Some people have seen improvements in physical functions, but there have been reports of deaths as well. Therefore, the possession, use, and sale of horns is prohibited, along with the danger of Hexenbiests.”

“Improve and enhance physical function?”

Yes," Ephemera replies as she turns to Galianot. The highlights in her eyes are gone, and she spits out the truth with sadness in her disappointment-tinted eyes.

“This is a story that I have heard from believers, so I cannot confirm it. A woman by the name of Elsat Merkins once visited me. Her grandmother, Pomla Merkins, had been bedridden with a serious illness for some time and was told by her doctor that she did not have long to live. Her grandson, however, took pity on her and gave her a drink made from the horns of a Hexenbiest that he had hidden away. She herself had only heard about it through hearsay, but she hung on to a glimmer of hope. As a result, she was able to recover her health and was able to work in the fields the next day.”

She continued, "And again. She spun her words, leaving the three people in a daze, wondering if there was more to come. Her words were devoid of emotion, as if she were a slave who had been ordered to speak only the words she had been told to say.

“Apart from that, a man named Gaston Rickwelt, who lives in a certain town, also took drugs as well. He had been training day and night to make a name for himself as a fighter. However, the results were not good and he was having difficulty making a living. Before a certain martial arts tournament, he took a medicine made from the horns of a Hexenbiest. Like the aforementioned woman, he too had only hearsay knowledge. However, he did not die as a result and won the martial arts competition that was held immediately afterward. Note that he was later stripped of the championship.”

Afterwards, Ephemera cites several similar cases. These included several cases in which deaths had occurred as a result of taking in Hexenbiest's horns.

But what is most peculiar is that there is no regularity in their gender or age. Often, there are certain rules and regularities in any disease or injury. But gender, age, life history, and species. It must be astonishing that everything is inconsistent and yet it is still a very small percentage. It is hard not to pay attention to the fact that there is such a large majority that it seems eerie.

“The fatality rate is about 80%. How can people still decide to drink?”

“The exact number of survivors and fatalities is not disclosed. Moreover, the people who are trying to sell it try to hide the information that is inconvenient for them. And those who want to buy them cling to straws to get them. Will such people make a sound judgment after gathering corroborated information? If they hesitate to do so, they will not touch it from the beginning.”

Ephemera sighs as she tells the truth coldly, yet matter-of-factly. She sips from a slightly warm teacup, her dry lips glossy and wet. Her lips are wet with a hint of age-defying elegance, but no one mentions it or is transfixed by it.

“Oh, you are so nonchalant. As The Heavenly Priestess, I thought you were mourning the sins and punishments of your followers.”

“Yes, it is true that as The Heavenly Priestess, I am charged with guiding you on the right path. However, it is dangerous to talk only about beautiful things when advancing the political process. I would also like to add that there are those who believe that politics and religion should be considered separately. For these reasons, I have decided that we should keep a pragmatic mindset here and now.”

I see," Aela laughs with a knowing look on her face. Grullius and Galianot also smiled as they watched the exchange between the two.

“Haha, you are quite a pragmatic guru, aren't you? From the looks of it, I guess it's safe to leave the distribution of Hexenbiest's horns to Ilah.”

“Yes. I will take care of that for you.”

Ephemera, who responds with an unwavering chest, is a woman of grace and determination in the midst of childishness. Her agelessness and will exudes a sense of dignity that is unmistakable of her age.

By the way, she clears her throat and glances at the other The Four Knights.

“I know this is a bit of a digression, but what are your plans for dealing with the Hexenbiests? If we continue to ignore the situation, the damage will only increase. If we don't do a major cleanup around here, it could affect the good name of the country, and in some cases, there may even be a riot.”

“Ah. Ilah is right. But it's also true that our position precludes us from taking any unplanned action.”

The lives of not only The Four Knights but also all the officials of The Kingdom of Prerahar are financed by taxes from the people. In other words, their every action is made possible by the blood and sweat of the people. Therefore, they know that any disrespect for this is frowned upon by the people.

“That's why Zenon is going on the expedition, right?”

“Yes. The information I will get from now on, the information Ilah and Quis got. We can only formulate our future from this information.”

“Right. Well, what am I going to do in the meantime? If I let you guys do all the work, I'll end up a tax cheat.”

Galianot smiles boldly and shows an attitude as if to hide his frustration. However, it is just for appearances, and in reality, he has no feelings at all. In fact, in his position, he even has a genuine desire not to do anything, since his spare time is a sign of peace.

“Why don't you make your troops more proficient while you're at it? If you don't, we'll be cleaned out.”

“That's right. Then I will take care of your troops as well.”

Galianot is a heroic figure who is said to be the strongest not only among The Four Knights but also among all soldiers belonging to The Kingdom of Prerahar. He is the ultimate goal of all those who have weapons and armor, and those who study under him are generally jinxed to be known as the strongest of them all.

“Yes, I agree. With Sir. Maxwell's training, the others may be able to acquire the ability to resist Hexenbiests. However, I do not have any military commanders under my command, so it will only be the other two of you.”

Aela, who is agreeing with Ephemera's words, spins her words with a smile on her face.

“Okay. I'll ask for your help then. I'll give you the details through Grovel later, okay?”

Duston Grovel is a man who serves as Aela's second-in-command. He, too, carries a sword as a soldier who dedicates himself to the kingdom. She has complete trust in him and is somewhat like a maiden. However, this is a secret that only she knows and no one else is allowed to know. Galianot, unaware of her deepest thoughts, nods his head in an exultant manner, and Grullius makes a similar suggestion.

“It's decided. Well, I'd better get going. You take care of the rest.”

Grullius drinks the cold tea and stands up vigorously. He leaves the room with the same energy. His quick pace is an expression of his will, an expression of his attitude toward the atrocious behavior of the Hexenbiests.

However, none of The Human Child knew that it was not really Hexenbiests. They continue to wander in absurdity and nightmares until they learn that The Angels and The Devils, their higher beings, are real. They do not even know that they are in the palm of such life. ......