Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 366

366. Why Are You Looking for Me?

As Rembrary examined the stone with a serious expression, someone with the Grand Duke’s memories mixed in approached him and asked,

“Lord Rembrary? What’s wrong?”

Rembrary wondered, ‘Since he has the Grand Duke’s memories, is it possible to communicate with him?’ He pointed to the magic circle with his finger.

“Look at this.”

“Why?”

However, the person with the Grand Duke’s memories didn’t recognize the magic circle drawn across the cave walls and floor at all.

Whether it was because he hadn’t fully digested the Grand Duke’s knowledge or because the Grand Duke didn’t know the Demon King’s army’s symbols, he wasn’t in a state to communicate.

“Never mind.”

The real Grand Duke would have explained, but Rembrary wasn’t sure if the information he gave this person when he regained his memories would be conveyed to the Grand Duke’s mind, or if this part would remain with this person. So, instead of explaining the magic circle or the demons, Rembrary put his hand on the magic circle and severed the strands of mana flow one by one.

The mana that had been moving quickly along the lines lost its path and began to flow in random directions.

He picked up the stone placed on the magic circle. Even the weakly scattered mana soon disappeared completely.

“New Grand Duke. Give me your clothes.”

“Why do you call me New Grand Duke? Why the clothes…”

“Give them to me.”

The New Grand Duke, who had received the Grand Duke’s memories, looked bewildered but took off his top and handed it to Rembrary. Rembrary took it, placed the stone with the accumulated mana in it, wrapped it up tightly, and hugged it.

“Why, why are you hugging my clothes?”

“It seems like you can’t get out alone if you smell the smoke. You’re in a dull state right now, so follow me closely.”

The New Grand Duke, who had no divine power, might not be able to handle the mana stone.

Rembrary had no choice but to carry the burden himself and walk ahead.

However, he didn’t need to do that for long. As the magic circle was broken, the smoke that had filled the entire cave began to disappear rapidly. As the smoke cleared, the fresh air of the forest rushed in from the outside.

“That’s a relief. We can just go out.”

But as soon as he felt relieved, a thunder-like sound from outside echoed throughout the cave.

“What is that sound?”

Rembrary quickly ran towards it. But when Rembrary went outside, it was already a complete mess.

Even though he had heard that this was a Wyvern’s nest, he hadn’t paid attention to the Wyvern’s absence because he was too busy looking after the strange group with mixed-up memories. It turned out that the Wyvern had only been away for a while and had returned in the meantime.

Moreover, this dinosaur-like monster was clearly very angry that its nest had been damaged. Every time the Wyvern monster made a strange noise and flew wildly in front of the cave, its sharp claws passed threateningly near people’s heads and backs.

However, in Rembrary’s view, the biggest problem right now was the group with mixed-up memories.

Myeongwoo Shin, who should have been forming a barrier to protect the group, was flapping his arms trying to fly into the sky because he was scared, and Ardor, who had become Myeongwoo Shin, was stretching his hands into the air to create a barrier, but of course, it wouldn’t work. He didn’t even touch the gun, as if he thought it was just for show.

Still, those two were better off. The biggest problem was the bird with Ardor’s memories. It was only half the size of his palm, but it was moving its beak, saying it would fight the Wyvern, which was hundreds of times bigger than itself. Its spirit was good, but it was a trivial threat that would be crushed to death if the Wyvern just stretched out its claws.

But surprisingly, the most injured was the Lion Lord, who didn’t have mixed-up memories. It was because of Ardor Bird.

He was using his abilities to quickly move the unhelpful group here and there, but he had to keep the bird in one hand because it kept trying to attack the Wyvern if he took his eyes off it.

However, the crazy Ardor Bird kept struggling and pecking in all directions to attack the Wyvern, so only the Lion Lord’s hand was getting more and more scratched.

The situation was so chaotic that even the Grand Duke, who was hiding well on his own, seemed more helpful.

Seeing this, Rembrary, without Siyeong by his side, simply used God’s Authority on a wide scale.

“Silence.”

Immediately, everyone, animals, and the Wyvern within the range of his voice were flattened to the ground, crushed by overwhelming fear.

Rembrary confirmed that God’s Authority worked on everyone and looked at the Wyvern. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a stupid monster. It didn’t try to attack again and was cautiously backing away.

As the Wyvern ran away, Rembrary looked down at the people who were still trembling on the ground.

‘They need to be healed.’

He decided to try it, so Rembrary sent divine power to each of the people wriggling like caterpillars. However, only the minor wounds they had sustained while avoiding the Wyvern were healed, and no one regained their sanity.

Myeongwoo Shin was leaning against a tree with a blank bird expression, looking pitifully at the sky.

Ardor Bird was babbling to himself, hugging Rembrary’s leg, and Rembrary couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Ardor was biting his lip, pretending not to be scared while being scared.

The Grand Duke…

“Sigh.”

The Lion Lord muttered, examining his palm that Rembrary had quickly healed.

“It seems like you can’t restore those people’s memories with your abilities either.”

“It’s not a disease.”

“What should we do?”

The Lion Lord’s gaze turned to Myeongwoo Shin.

“The others are one thing, but that person…”

The Lion Lord’s voice became moist at the end. Even the Lion Lord, who wasn’t very compassionate, seemed to find Myeongwoo Shin pitiful.

“Yeah. Myeongwoo Senior is someone who lives and dies for his image, so he’ll be very embarrassed if he finds out he’s been acting like a bird.”

“Even someone who doesn’t live and die for their image would be so embarrassed that they’d want to die if they knew they had done that.”

The Reed Bunting with Ardor’s memories flew back to Rembrary and sat on his shoulder, wagging its tail feathers happily.

Rembrary stroked the bird’s head, looked at Ardor, who was calling for his manager, and muttered.

“I need to find the Second-in-Command.”

“Huh?”

“Lumena has manipulated the memories of everyone in the village before. Besides, she’s here and wandering around. To return them to their original state, I need Lumena’s help.”

“Huh?”

“I poured divine power into Number 305 too, but I couldn’t make him see Siyeong.”

“Who is Number 305? Who are Lumena and Siyeong?”

Rembrary omitted the answer and looked worriedly at the cave. He was worried about the group with lost memories, but he was also worried about the traces of the demons he had seen earlier.

He already knew that demons were crossing over one by one, but to think they would cause such chaos in a place like this. Could they be causing chaos elsewhere as well? If so, what is their purpose?

‘Do those guys perhaps want to take over this world too?’

* * *

2 PM on the 14th.

Redrin, please wave a carrot if you find Lumena.

*3 PM.

Redrin, please wave a carrot if you find Lumena.

*5 PM

Redrin, if you don’t feel like finding Lumena, please wave a carrot.

*7 PM

Almost a day has passed, but Redrin still hasn’t replied. You said things were going well, but have they become complicated again?

Traces of demons keep being discovered, and I’m worried because I haven’t heard from you.

Anyway, at this rate, the Grand Duke that Redrin picked by looking at his face is going to become my fan.

After rescuing the Lion Lord and me from being trapped in the cave, he took us home and said, ‘Thanks a fucking lot,’ with a smile.

Just to clarify, I didn’t say that expression, the Grand Duke did. He said it with his own mouth.

New Grand Duke… I told you about him yesterday, right? The person who believes he’s the Grand Duke because his memories are mixed up with the Grand Duke’s. I guess that’s his original way of speaking. He keeps blurting out vulgar language, so my ears are rotting these days.

Besides, the New Grand Duke is quick to act. He went to the Redrin Hunter Company to meet the secretary and kept trying to discuss something, so I forcibly locked him up at home. Fortunately, after Mullu showed off some tricks with a spear, he sat quietly on the sofa.

Oh, Ardor is also a problem. Ardor has become delusional that he’s Myeongwoo Shin, a famous actor, so he keeps calling Myeongwoo Shin’s manager. He keeps calling to ask when the schedule for his new movie will be released.

The funny thing is that the manager initially called Ardor crazy, but after hearing about his condition and seeing his face, he subtly tried to take him to his company and have him sign a contract. He said Ardor has a decadent beauty that makes him marketable.

Redrin. Your priest is going around being told he has a decadent beauty. Yes.

Anyway, I intervened in the middle and barely stopped it, but the manager is still trying to sell Ardor on something. He’s a very opportunistic person.

*1 AM

I’m sorry for praying again in the early morning, Redrin.

I felt like I had to let you know that I found Lumena myself instead of the unhelpful Redrin.

You’re really useless sometimes, Redrin. But I still love you.

If you want to argue with me, please turn my bed into gold.

*9 AM on the 15th

I woke up this morning and confirmed that the bed had been turned into gold. Thank you for the love you sent me, Redrin. I’ll break this love into pieces, exchange it for food, and cherish it in my belly.

I’m going to call Lumena at one o’clock later. I heard she’s the president of a rising divine hunter company. I’ll contact her and pray again, goodbye.

* * *

After finishing his prayer, Rembrary washed his face, wiped it with a towel, dressed neatly, and came out of his room.

As soon as he came out into the living room, he saw Myeongwoo Shin crouching on the sofa and sobbing. He often cried after coming here, perhaps because he was sad that he, a free bird, had been captured by humans.

Fortunately, perhaps because he was a face often seen on television, Joogyeong and Siyeong weren’t scared of such Myeongwoo Shin and didn’t call him crazy.

“Mullu. Where’s Ardor?”

“He’s lying down with a face pack on because the dark circles under his eyes won’t go away.”

“Okay.”

“Where are you going?”

“Not now. Later.”

Rembrary gestured towards Myeongwoo Shin, and Mullu immediately understood and muttered quietly, “Yes.”

Rembrary took an apple from the refrigerator, went out into the garden, and squatted on the steps.

Then, he called Lumena’s cell phone, which he had saved in advance yesterday. After a few rings, a husky and rough voice came from the phone.

[You bastard priest. Why are you looking for me?]