The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 100 Moon Dew

Moon Dew, the essence of moonlight bestowed by the gods through prayer to the nature gods, has the effect of invigorating the spirit and instantly restoring physical strength.

Eric only received a trace of the Moon Dew from Kasha's lips and tongue, yet he felt much more awake and his energy returned.

Their lips and tongues quickly separated. Kasha wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, leaned against Eric, and asked him how he felt.

"It's very soft."

The female druid tilted her head and smiled. "I was referring to Moon Dew."

"...It works very well." Under the cool moonlight, Eric felt his face getting warmer.

“Because the time available to collect moon dew each month is very short and it is too physically demanding, I rarely collect it,” Kasha said, looking up at him. “But besides this, I can’t think of any other gift I could give Mr. Eric.”

"Miss Kasha, you're too kind." Eric supported her waist, then glanced at the small bottle of Moon Dew in his hand, which he estimated would be enough for him to drink a dozen or so sips.

“This bottle of Moon Dew is far more valuable than those strange and unusual things that merchant sold during the day. Miss Kasha, have you ever thought about selling this?”

Kasha shook her head, seemingly exhausted, and leaned against him more and more heavily. "This bottle of Moon Dew will only have an effect if Mr. Eric and I drink it while we are bathing in this moonlight during its collection."

"So that's it."

Eric put away the Moon Dew, while Kasha remained nestled together for a while longer.

The night breeze kept blowing, carrying a chill, but the parts that were touching each other were subtly warming up.

“Miss Kasha…”

"I have no energy left."

Would you like some Moon Dew?

She looked up and glared at him, then gently pushed him away and sat down on the spot.

"I now believe that Mr. Eric is a devout believer."

Eric smirked and sat down next to her. "I just feel like I keep getting so much benefit from Miss Kasha that I don't know how to repay her."

“Nothing in return is needed.” The forest ranger turned to look at him. “It’s just a natural feeling, a willing offering.”

“Then I shouldn’t treat it so casually,” Eric said.

Kasha looked at him with great interest. "What does Mr. Eric intend to do?"

“By Yera,” Eric said, clasping his hands together, “I will pray for Miss Kasha from now on.”

"..."

A leopard roared, and the flock of birds took flight.

On the cliff, the black panther pounced on the human wrapped in a burlap robe.

After all, he was a human turned black panther. Even with a large mouth with gleaming fangs facing him, Eric couldn't smell the stench typical of wild beasts.

She wasn't really going to bite or eat him; she pounced on him, observed his expression for a while, and then licked his face a few times.

Eric's face was covered in saliva, and he wondered if it was her own saliva being used up, and whether he would feel thirsty when he returned to human form...

She quickly transformed back into human form and remained lying on top of him.

“Mr. Eric, I don’t even know your last name, but I hope you can stay.”

“Kimino. I am Eric Kimino.”

Kasha read his name aloud, then suddenly frowned and got up from him.

“Eric Kimino… I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”

The only reason his name could be heard by someone from such a secluded forest dwelling is probably because of his status.

“I’m quite well-known in the Church of Yela,” Eric said, sitting up as well. “In fact, my family is quite famous; you should have heard of them.”

“The Gimino family…” Kasha recalled for a moment, “The name does sound somewhat familiar.”

Eric smiled but said nothing; he wasn't shameless enough to introduce her to the glorious history of the Chiminno family at this moment.

Kasha looked at him. "So, I actually brought back someone extraordinary?"

“Well, this world would be finished in less than two years without me,” Eric said, then paused, “No, it’s only a matter of time.”

Kasha didn't understand, but she noticed his mood had momentarily somber. "Is this all the reason Mr. Eric can't stay?"

"more or less."

She leaned closer, "You don't dislike it?"

Eric looked into her eyes. "No."

She leaned on his shoulder.

"Does Miss Kasha take this initiative when she meets someone she likes?"

“I never thought about this before I met Mr. Eric. I like you very much, and even this forest likes you. This has never happened before. I think this is a gift from the God of Nature.”

Eric didn't feel that the forest liked him that much—if he had to say, his being stranded here while unconscious could be interpreted as the forest trying to keep him here.

"If the God of Nature wants to bestow blessings upon you, then please don't choose someone from the Church of Jela."

“That’s because the God of Nature saw through Mr. Eric’s true nature.” Kasha smiled. “Tell me about the person you love.”

Eric felt a little embarrassed as the faces of Sophie and Alena flashed through his mind.

As a clergyman, he was only interested in nuns within his own sect, so he was rather embarrassed to express his feelings.

"Could it be a nun?" Kasha wondered, looking at him.

Eric, shameless as ever, pretended not to hear and looked up at the bright moon in the sky. "Miss Kasha, shouldn't we be heading down now?"

Kasha looked at him for a moment, then sighed, "Alright."

The two got up and went down the mountain. When they reached a steep part, the female druid transformed into a black panther and leaped down. She then looked down at him, wagging her tail, as if waiting for him to ask for help.

Climbing up was a bit strenuous, but going downhill wasn't difficult for Eric. Using the cliff face as a springboard, he jumped a few times and landed easily on the ground.

The black panther flicked his calf with its tail, seemingly in displeasure, but did not revert to human form. It simply followed him, walking all the way to where the horses were.

Eric mounted his horse, and the black panther leaped into human form mid-air, landing behind him.

“There’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask.” Eric glanced at the hands tightly clasped around his waist, then turned his horse around. “Miss Kasha, can you only transform into an animal on the ground?”

"No, I can turn into an owl or a crow, but I don't like the feeling of leaving the ground."

The two rode back to the cabin in the woods below, where Kasha suggested having a few more drinks, but Eric politely declined.

She made a makeshift bed for him on the first floor using rattan, and Eric finally spent his second night there on it.

Eric woke up shortly after daybreak the following morning.

He changed back into his own clothes and then found Kasha sitting on the stairs watching him.

"Are you leaving?"

Eric nodded. "Thank you for your warm hospitality these past two days, Miss Kasha. I will always remember you."

The forest ranger remained expressionless. "If I want to find you in the future, where should I go?"

Eric paused for a moment.

"The holy city of Lessier, or Ory in the county of Otville-Dant.

She repeated the names to herself several times, memorizing the two places.

Is what you just said true?

"Of course. If you don't find me..."

Kasha interrupted, "It's the sentence before that, 'You will always remember me.'"

Eric pursed his lips and made a strange hand gesture with his right hand, a gesture he had learned from her.

"I swear to the God of Nature, I will always remember Miss Kasha, the forest ranger."

The female druid chuckled.

"I swear to your god... Okay, I believe you."

(End of this chapter)