Chapter 113. In the Name of the Goddess (1)
The appearance of a two-hundred-strong escort encompassing a coalition of multiple nations alongside a surveillance team of priests who wield divine power enveloped the entirety of Bates in a heavy silence. Fearing that they might be caught if they were noticed, the residents hid themselves away entirely.
“Tsk. A city filled with filth.”
Priest Rino, unable to hide his disgust, pinched his nose.
“How could this place have been neglected to this extent? It is clearly the negligence of the surrounding nations. We cannot overlook this responsibility.”
“Your words, Priest Rino, are indeed right.”
“Indeed, someone who handles high blessings truly has exceptional insight. Speaking of which, by bestowing a blessing before, you became the spiritual father of the youngest prince, I heard…”
“Hmm, a spiritual father? How could one who has turned to God tie himself to the secular matters of the royal family? It is merely an arrangement to convey the teachings of the grand temple from time to time.”
“That in itself is a significant matter. The heavens above would rejoice.”
The priests, who were uplifting Rino as if they were not in the lawless city of Bates but following the empire’s system, showed not a hint of wariness. Perhaps it was because they trusted the soldiers surrounding them like a fortress.
“Still, it is a relief. Initially, I was worried that some disorder might ensue.”
“Ha. Priest Rino. Those vermin wouldn’t dare interfere with the church’s surveillance team. They lack the courage and have gathered here for that very reason.”
Because it was a surveillance team under the name of the Pantheon Church.
To provoke a team established at the behest of the cardinal? That would give the church’s holy knights’ corps a reason to mobilize directly, and everyone knew that would turn Bates into ruins.
Therefore, while the priests worried about resolving the matter, they did not worry about attacks from criminals.
This was because the headquarters of the church had promised to send a significant figure, someone even appointed as a paladin.
“However, I am a bit worried. Starting the actual surveillance after the paladin joins us…”
“Ha. That’s why we must complete the surveillance first. We mustn’t burden those who tirelessly work for the peace of the continent with such trifling matters.”
“Indeed! That’s Priest Rino for you…!”
Rino, who responded with a benevolent smile, had a sharp glint in his eyes.
‘Paladins are but blades serving only the will of the God. They lack even the slightest flexibility. If the surveillance were to be conducted under the paladin’s lead…’
That would be problematic.
Hiding his true thoughts behind a gentle smile, Rino led the surveillance team towards the central district of Bates. As they marched and occupied the streets, the eyes following them gradually disappeared.
“This is the place, isn’t it?”
“Yes… I personally saw those barbarian enter here with my own eyes.”
“Hmm. I see. Then…”
“W-Wait. You promised to let me go, right?!”
“Of course. The Lord will also accept your repentance. For He is merciful.”
“T-Thank you!”
The man with a sly look hurried away without looking back. Rino, who had sent him off with a smile, immediately hardened his expression and whispered to the escort’s deputy.
“Understood. I will deal with him quietly, outside of the city…”
“Ha ha. No need to repeat it in words. Then, I’m entrusting this to you.”
As a part of the escort vanished quietly following the man, Rino and his group of inspectors, positioned on either side, stood before the building where the ‘subject of inspection’ was believed to be hiding. Their number nearly reaching a hundred, it was almost reminiscent of a war.
After forcibly opening the mansion’s door and securing the entrance to the garden, priests followed behind the portion of the escort that had proceeded.
“The inspection team of the Pantheon Church is here. We shall give you the chance to prove your innocence with your own hands, so come out now!”
The captain of the guards, clad in a shining full-body armor, bellowed loudly. Though not a knight per se, his body was so extensively covered in magical artifacts that even the residents of Bates or the barbarian of Hoarfrost Gorge could easily be subdued.
Following his loud call, the captain momentarily fell silent, looking at Rino, the de facto leader of the inspection team, for his opinion. Rino quietly nodded.
“If you won’t come out willingly, we shall proceed by force! We have already offered you the chance to explain─!”
Silence was their only response to his final warning. Following Rino’s lead with a nod, soldiers with hammers stepped forward at the entrance of the mansion, ready to break down the door.
Bang──!
“Ugh!”
“Aargh!”
“Did people just fly?”
Priest Rino exclaimed, dumbfoundedly muttering as he watched soldiers disappear out of sight, screaming. But why- they were the ones swinging the hammer.
“I didn’t expect such a crowd.”
Heavy. Not in terms of the depth or pitch, but something forceful seemed to be embedded within the voice itself. Rino, feeling a pressure as if an intangible force was weighing down on him, caught sight of a warrior in gray amidst the wreckage of the door.
The door, wide enough for two people to pass through, seemed fully occupied by the giant figure. His muscles reminiscent of an Orc warrior encountered in the Potsral Mountains, exuded an oppressive aura without even wielding a weapon.
“Surround him─! The inspection subject is resisting!”
The only one who hadn’t lost his cool and raised his voice calmly, the captain drew his sword and shield. Following his lead, close to a hundred guards readied themselves, forming a semi-circle and widening their distance.
Amidst the silence and tension pressing down on the mansion’s garden, Rino, who had belatedly regained his composure, wiped off his cold sweat and stepped back.
Gulp.
He was a priest capable of performing high blessings.
Said to possess mental fortitude beyond ordinary men. Yet, Rino was panicking at the sound of a voice?
‘Strange. There’s something about this man…!’
“Kneel down peacefully!”
While the perceived threat level of the barbarian skyrocketed within Rino, the captain remained as calm as he was initially. Gradually, Rino too regained his calm.
‘Right, there are so many of us… A mere human. He can’t possibly handle all of us. Unless he’s a superhuman…’
Moreover, there was a paladin among them. Though not present at the moment, the mere thought of her arriving soon wiped away any trace of anxiety.
“Wait, captain. Let me talk to him first.”
“Father, it’s dangerous.”
“No. Did we not pose a threat first ourselves? They, the barbarian, are uncivilized and exceedingly violent. They might have misunderstood our intentions.”
“In that case…”
The other priests looked at Rino, murmuring about his generosity and how impressive it was that he remained calm even in front of barbarian heretics. Ignoring their chatter, Rino stopped at a distance from the barbarian.
“I hope you can understand our aggressive approach. The Bates incident was so severe that we had to act quickly…”
“Enough. Call your leader.”
“There is no specific leader, but I am the representative for now.”
“That cannot be true.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
Rino’s voice grew a bit lower.
In the Alliance, the priest known as the prince’s mentor was none other than Rino himself. To even show respect to something as trivial as a barbarian heretic was a huge concession and mercy on Rino’s part. And they respond like this? Indeed, is mercy a luxury for barbarian?
“… Please cooperate quietly. We have already obtained testimonies that you were seen around Bates on the day of the incident. The mere fact that a barbarian, an inherently heretical being, rampaged on the same day as demon worshippers is enough for us to enforce a sentence by force. The fact that we are attempting to talk to you is a tremendous mercy.”
As if to affirm his words, the guard captain raised his weapon towards the barbarian.
That should be enough for the barbarian to understand. Just as Rino predicted and began to back away,
“These bastards, after all the trouble of cleaning up their mess…”
Chilling.
The voice of the barbarian roared low like a beast.
“Attack──!”
Unable to conquer a moment of fear, one of the lieutenants impulsively ordered the soldiers to rush in – ururur. The guard captain, regretting it immediately, tried to issue a stop command, but it was too late.
Bang!
With a single punch, the barbarian sent three men flying one after the other. Growing tired of throwing punches individually, the barbarian grabbed someone and swung them around like a club, causing Rino’s mouth to hang open in shock.
“Father, please bestow your blessings…!”
Immediately, Rino and the other priests knelt down.
It was to offer prayers to the gods. Whom they would pray to had already been decided. To the goddess who most actively bestowed her blessings when facing heretics, the guardian of justice in Midland, punishing evil.
If her blessing was added to the soldiers, they would surely be able to handle the barbarian…!
“O justice of the gods! Grant them the strength to punish the heretic…”
Closing their eyes, they chanted the prayer and called out to Her. It wouldn’t be long until She responded to the lambs’ prayers by bestowing her blessing.
“Oh…”
“The Goddess Herself!”
The goddess of justice responded to Rino’s call. A mighty being whose presence was beyond the mere perception of mortals descended upon Rino’s consciousness. The same was true for the other priests, who trembled with joy.
“O goddess of the sword and scales guarding Midland’s justice…”
It was not guaranteed that praying would result in the direct descent of a god. At most, they would indirectly bestow their blessing. What could that possibly mean?
‘It means that the Goddess has become enraged to such an extent by the behavior of that heretical barbarian!’
Being able to encounter the presence of the higher gods of the Pantheon even once in a lifetime is considered a sign of immense favor. Rino shouted in ecstasy, believing his faithfulness had been rewarded.
However.
“You! Insolent barbarian! The Goddess herself has descended to punish you…!”
It was revealed through the Goddess’s wrath that this was merely Rino’s misunderstanding.
“The divine power is scattering?!”
“Oh Goddess! Why do you withdraw your blessings…!”
The chaos that started among the priests soon spread to the entire guard unit. It was as if something was constricting their minds and bodies, much like the Goddess had cursed them.
This was the Goddess’s fury. A severe punishment meted out to the mortals who dared to threaten the Goddess’s chosen representative without knowing their place.
‘What in the world…!’
For the priests and the guards who were unaware of the circumstances, the mere fact of the Goddess’s wrath was terrifying enough.
“Such a fuss. If you were going to be angry, why didn’t you stop this from the beginning?”
The barbarian addressed the Goddess with a casual joke, exacerbating the chaos—
The scene came to a dramatic close as a girl with silver hair, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight, made her appearance.
“…Caused trouble again, have you?”
The girl, wearing pure white armor over the cloth armor woven by the Empire’s master craftsman, approached the barbarian, her light footsteps stirring her hair.
“The troublemaker would be them. They grabbed an innocent person. There’s no bigger mischief-maker than that.”
“What are you talking about? The mischief-maker isn’t me, it’s Khan.”
“Going to the Empire just made your tongue longer for nothing. The tiny height remains the same… Is the Pantheon church skimping on the food?”
Thump.
“That hurts.”
“It’s supposed to.”
Somehow, the conversation brimming with nostalgia made both the barbarian warrior and the paladin laugh together.
TL’s Corner:
Okay, so the sword of the goddess is back. I forgot her name though, but it should be mentioned next chapter.