Chapter 186 - The God and the Shepherd
We were still in the room with the underground altar. Before I knew it, the situation had evolved to the point where I was now expected to summon Racshell.
While it had only been Elisha a moment ago, a procession of figures clad in priestly vestments began to enter the room. She introduced them, but I couldn't remember their names. One by one, they knelt before me reverently and offered prayers.
"Before I summon Racshell, I'd like to speak with Maira for a moment."
"Of course. Please, speak with her."
Hearing Elisha's reply, I took Maira's arm and stepped out of the room for a moment. As expected, Fam followed us. Seeing this, Marmie and Marianne came along as well. This wasn't a personal matter, so it was probably better for them to hear it too.
"Honestly, I'm getting cold feet. But if I don't summon the goddess now, Maira will lose her standing in the church."
"Mash, I truly regret saying too much. My position doesn't matter at all. If you don't want to do this, please stop. I will manage the rest somehow."
I couldn't imagine her being able to change the current situation with her power alone, so I shook my head.
"No, you did this for Fam's sake. So I'll summon Racshell. But there are two things I need you to think about."
"Two things?"
"First, I haven't summoned her since that orgy back in Heilong. I promised her we'd be alone next time, but I haven't fulfilled that promise."
"Ah, thinking back on that time makes my head feel foggy, but why haven't you summoned Lady Racshell since then?"
"You get it, don't you? I'm weak. I always want to have an ace up my sleeve for when things get dicey."
I always save the important things for last, as a trump card, but end up never using them. I wondered if she’d understand the concept of ‘elixir syndrome’.
"Mash, you are not as weak as your self-assessment suggests. In fact, you have overcome many crises without Lady Racshell's help. Besides, you have us, do you not?"
"I need her for when something happens to you all. And the peace of mind that comes from knowing I can get through anything by summoning a goddess is huge. It's what allows me to act so boldly. But that's not the issue right now."
"I see. So, what is your concern?"
"You know it too, Maira. Even if Racshell can wield immense magic, she doesn't grant people's wishes. And no one can control her. She'll act as she pleases, use up the mana in that crystal core, and then leave."
"...Don't you think she would listen to what you say, Mash?"
"And just what do you plan to do by summoning someone who will only listen to me? While she's here, I won't be able to think about my own goals or what's happening in this world. And it's the same for her. Even if I were to act against her wishes, she couldn't point it out or correct it."
"It is true... I haven't thought at all about what happens after her advent. I was just expecting Lady Racshell to do something..."
That's what I figured. Maira is innocent, but I wondered about the intentions of Elisha and the other priests. The power they wield is a power they can only exercise because God isn't in this world. If a god descends, they become mere servants. Judging by her behavior—or at least, Racshell's behavior—she is a being far removed from the church's way of thinking. That's precisely what makes her a god. Were they truly prepared to abandon their own authority and accept divine rule? When I considered that, I couldn't see a happy future.
"Well, that's the first thing."
"I understand. Could you please tell me the second?"
"The second is a request. After I summon Racshell, it'll be a while before I can call her again. We still don't know Yuuki's true nature. If the worst happens, I need you to protect Mizuki and run."
At my words, Maira's expression tightened.
"You do not even need to ask. We are comrades."
We returned to the altar chamber.
"Ready for the summoning?"
I looked at Fam, Maira, Marmie, and Marianne. Marianne gave me an anxious look. Right, she hadn't seen Racshell yet. Then my gaze shifted to Elisha. Her expression was a little stiff, perhaps from tension.
"I can't guarantee what will happen."
"Yes. I take full responsibility."
Hearing her words, I lowered my eyes.
"Goddess Summon!"
With my shout, the cylindrical space was filled with a dazzling light. Above the crystal core, as if the space itself had torn open, the tip of a spear emerged from the light. She descended from within the iridescent glow. Despite being in a sealed space where no wind could blow, her long golden hair fluttered, and a translucent shawl that shimmered with rainbow hues swayed as if alive. Her lustrous white skin seemed to glow, as if it held light within. Her long, golden eyelashes were slightly lowered, and from beneath them, golden eyes looked down at me.
"...Mash, you have broken your promise once again."
Her voice was clear and beautiful, but it seemed colder and a little sharper than usual. Was this a service for the priests? They all wore expressions of uniform shock. It seemed less like they were overcome with joy and more like they were terrified. Elisha was the same. Her mouth hung open as she stared blankly at Racshell. When Racshell's gaze fell upon her, she snapped back to her senses in an instant, prostrating herself and bowing her head deeply. The other priests followed her lead.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah..."
Beads of sweat trickled down Marianne's forehead as she, like Elisha, stood speechless and stunned. Noticing the priests kneeling and bowing, she started to bend her own knees. I grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Racshell, this is a new face. Her name's Marianne. She's the head of one of the four ruling houses of this city. Marianne, this is Racshell. Listen, do not act formal with her. Talk to her casually and don't use any titles."
"S-S-S-Sir Mash! What are you shaying? I-I can't. P-Please forgive me!"
In her confusion, she bit her tongue and even started calling me 'Sir'. Then, as if her legs had given out, she crumpled to the floor. Compared to her, Marmie, having seen this once before, seemed fine, though she stared at Racshell with wide eyes.
"You saw her on the ship, didn't you, Marmie? But I don't think I properly introduced you. This is Racshell. Racshell, this elf is Marmie. You've probably been watching the whole time since you're so bored, so you already know, right?"
"..."
Marmie remained motionless, still staring at Racshell.
"Marmie?"
Her mouth just opened and closed silently. It seemed she was frozen in shock.
"So, for what purpose have you summoned me?" Racshell asked.
"The one cowering over there is Elisha. The Archbishop. She's the highest-ranking priest around here, so I guess she's your number one disciple. It seems she wants you to use the power of the crystal core beneath you to stay here forever."
Racshell glanced at the crystal core below her, then at Elisha, who remained prostrate without lifting her face.
"I do not mind staying here, but what is it that you desire?"
"We wish for you to rule this world with your divine might!"
Racshell blinked, her eyes turning to me alone. She probably thought it was a ridiculous notion. In that sense, her thinking and mine seemed similar.
"I think the affairs of this world should be handled by the people of this world."
I remembered having this exact conversation with someone recently. The future of this world is for those who live in it—Fam, Maira, Marmie, Marianne—to decide. My feelings on that hadn't changed.
"What have you seen since coming to this world? If things continue as they are, conflict will persist and peace will never come. An absolute leader is necessary!"
Elisha must have thought I was mocking her. She lifted her head, glared at me, and shot back.
"You want a peaceful world? But that's just a world of shepherds and sheep. In the world Elisha speaks of, a god rules, domesticating people like livestock to prevent pointless conflict. What would people live for then? To spend every day praying to their leader?"
"You are one sent by a god, yet you blaspheme a god?"
"In the first place, this world was given to you all by the gods. What's the point of throwing away what was entrusted to you? It's absurd."
"You are wrong. Otherworlders call the place where we live a star, do you not? You say it is smaller than a speck of dust in the vastness of space. We cannot leave this place. You spoke of shepherds and sheep. We are already being raised on this star. We are sheep whether a god is present or not. There are those who cannot understand this."
"So you need someone to hold the reins?"
She looked at Fam.
"You treasure that dog, don't you? Is it because you are a sheepdog?"
"You..."
Why was I arguing with Elisha in front of a god? This was exactly the kind of thing I should be asking the god right in front of me. Averting her sharp gaze, I looked over at Racshell. She cleared her throat softly.
"Very well. You wish for me to use this crystal core to show my power to the people, and to this fool who insults my envoy, correct?"
I had a very bad feeling about this. But from the priests, I heard a murmur of what sounded like joyous approval. Even Elisha, who had been called a fool, wore a look of ecstasy as she nodded.
"Archbishop Elisha, you must not test a god," Maira said.
"Do you side with that man as well? Did you not also wish for a world ruled by a god?"
"'That man' is too harsh. Mash is an emissary of Lady Racshell. My thoughts are as you say, Archbishop Elisha, but I simply wished to hear Lady Racshell's voice. I wanted to know how this world was born, and what path it has walked. What the war of the gods was about. And what the subsequent transfers of heroes from other worlds will bring. I just wanted to know. And Mash chose me as one of them. I want to see for myself the meaning of this encounter, and the world our heroes will reach."
"You are also nothing more than a simple priestess, then..."
Her eyes as she looked at Maira, and her words, were filled with contempt.
"Archbishop Elisha, you do not understand. You do not know how deeply Mash is connected to Lady Racshell."
Ignoring their argument, Racshell descended with a step as light as a feather. The spear was in her hand. Pointing the tip to the heavens, she lightly tapped the floor with the butt of the shaft. A dry clack echoed, for some reason reverberating through the room in layers, unnaturally loud. As if dissolving into that sound, the crystal core turned into grains of light. They swirled around the spear before being absorbed into it. It was an impossibly vast amount of magic. I couldn't imagine any object being able to drink it all down. But her spear was a divine weapon. It had consumed all the magic the crystal core held.
I grabbed Fam's hand and pulled Maira, Marmie, and Marianne closer to me, gathering them in an embrace.
"Well then. Here we go~"
A barrier of light enveloped us. Racshell had isolated us from the world. It was the moment she let go of the spear. The spear swelled into a bundle of light. In an instant, it utterly destroyed the surrounding walls. A torrent of energy shot skyward, piercing the ceiling and swallowing the grand cathedral. The arrow of light became a colossal pillar of light fired into the heavens.
Was it a few minutes, or a few seconds? It might have been just a fleeting moment. I felt as if I had been drifting through a world of illusion. The waterfall of light vanished, and when I came to, we were standing at the bottom of a dark pit. The grand cathedral was gone, the very earth gouged out, leaving a massive crater in its place. It seemed Racshell had protected the people who had been visiting the church with a barrier. They stood inside the crater just like us, cautiously looking around before their faces twisted in shock upon seeing Racshell. When I looked up, she was sitting on her spear, floating in the air. She looked down at the dumbfounded Elisha.
"Was my divine might properly conveyed?"
Elisha was unable to answer Racshell, who spoke as if bored. Racshell turned to me.
"Mash, there is something I wish to discuss with you, alone."
"Yeah..."
I was no different from Elisha. The church, a symbol of divine authority, had vanished in an instant before the power of a god. It was an unbelievable sight.
"Then, please get on."
I straddled the spear behind her and sat down. We floated gently a few meters into the air.
"Hey, this is terrifying! My magic is almost gone and my head's spinning!"
I clung to Racshell.
"Hold on tight, please. You can even touch my chest, you know~"
At her words, I took her up on the offer without hesitation. The act was hidden by the shawl she wore. We soared high into the sky.
Looking down, the spot where the grand cathedral had stood was completely carved out of the landscape.
"Akizuki Uta was sleeping in the church basement in Nielen. If Okita Soji was sleeping under this one, I would've liked to have met him..."
"It's just so unnatural for someone who has lost their life to maintain their form for so long, you know?"
Racshell smiled faintly, but her eyes didn't seem to be smiling. Had she unleashed her spear with the intention of erasing it? On the remaining hilltop stood a domed building surrounded by a rectangular colonnade. It was as large as the grand cathedral had been. It was the former royal palace, now the government building. A spire jutted out from the very top, with a terrace around it that looked to be for maintenance. Racshell landed there.
"This is a secret date spot not listed in 'How to Walk the World,' you know~. It's normally off-limits, but you should visit with Mizuki sometime."
A cool breeze blew. Racshell's hair shimmered and fluttered in the wind. The sunlight was still harsh, but it had softened considerably compared to when we left Richelle. I could see red dragonflies dancing in the air. Summer was ending, and autumn was on its way. I narrowed my eyes, remembering climbing the church bell tower with Fam back in Richelle.
Racshell took my hand, and together we gazed out over the city of Migul. It was a vast city. Even from here, I could see the Crystal Palace. Inside that floating crystal pyramid, many adventurers were likely challenging it right now. I wondered if the Beards were among them. I thought I might be able to see inside through the transparent crystal, but I couldn't see anything. Like the Longhorn Trail, its true form was in another dimension. What we saw was like a mirage. To the south of the city, a vast plain stretched out. A rich breadbasket. Beneath it lay the kingdom of the Earth Dragon race, and though I couldn't see it, far in the distance was the city of Heilong. And to the east, the mountain range. Somewhere in those mountains was the village where Fam had lived, and where the Crimson Brigade that attacked her village was hiding.
"If you were going to shoot it off anyway, you should've aimed at the Crimson Brigade."
"If you get another crystal core, I might consider it for you~," Racshell replied.
"Speaking of which, you weren't using that '~' at the end of your sentences in front of the priests. Why don't you talk normally with me?"
"It's my current fad, you see~"
She hugged my arm, pressing her chest against me and resting her head on my shoulder. She might think she's being cute. I decided to keep quiet about how her speech pattern had irritated me when we first met.
"...So, what did you want to talk about? My vision is starting to warp, so we might not have much time left."
I wish we could stay like this, just the two of us, looking at this view forever. That's what I thought.
"I just wanted some time to be alone with you~. If you're going to call me for something this trivial, please make time for me properly."
"You're right. Next time, I promise."
"Lying to a god... I'll definitely bring divine punishment down on you."
She lifted her face and leaned in closer. We were face to face, her hands resting on my chest. I put my hands on her waist, pulling her in. And then we kissed. The sensation of her soft lips vanished like a bubble. Racshell was returning.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I used that crystal core to make the Sword of Totsuka. I'll put it in your storage, so please give it to Mizuki."
I tried to respond, but it was all I could do just to remain conscious.
"Listen well. You be nice to Mizuki, you hear...~"
My consciousness faded away.
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