kscans

Chapter 68 - The Defense of Nieren and the Morning at the Church

According to the forecast, the wind from the west is supposed to shift eastward today.

When I got back to the inn last night, Famu was already asleep under the blankets, so I just wrapped my arms around her and went to sleep myself. I’d meant to hold her so tight she couldn't slip away, but when I woke up, all I was hugging was a blanket.

I sat up to find Famu praying in my direction.

As I crawled out of bed, she stopped. I pulled her close and kissed her.

"...Master. I've acquired a special skill,"

Famu said. So she got the Yata no Kagami.

I glanced around. It seemed Famu and I were the only ones awake. I started getting dressed to go for breakfast.

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've told anyone what I want to do. I want to find a place where you can do whatever you want, Famu, just as you please."

"If it's a place where I can do as I please, then it's right here,"

Famu replied.

"If that's how you feel, then we'll go to Miglutt. We'll break the curse. And that's where our adventure ends. We'll keep fighting on the lower floors of dungeons or gathering herbs to make a living. We don't need any special skills that would make us a target for others."

It was pointless to say, since she’d already acquired one, but I wanted her to know my thoughts.

"What about your mission?"

Famu asked.

"Mission? To defeat the Demon Lord? I don't even know what that means, or why I have to do it. Who in this world is even suffering because of him? Does it really matter? If Mizuki says she wants to go back to her world, I'll help with that. But I don't want to put you in any danger, Famu."

Famu stared at me with those eyes that always seemed to be trying to peer into my soul. At this point, it was probably better if she knew everything. I met her gaze.

"It's a little late for that now. You were the one who invited me to become an adventurer, Master. You saved me. I was prepared to do anything. Why are you saying this now?"

"I never thought that choice would lead to this. When you joined me, Famu, I was truly happy. You were my first companion. I wanted to treasure you. But back then, I was completely blind to my own situation. I thought we could just take it slow, grow stronger together."

I paused. Famu kept her eyes fixed on my face, waiting for me to continue.

"Then the otherworlders started attacking. The enemies suddenly got a lot stronger. I want to protect you, Famu. But I'm still weak."

"You've already taken the first step, Master. You can't go back now..."

"...What do you mean by that?"

Famu averted her gaze. Just as I thought, she was hiding something, carrying some burden alone.

"Master, I will protect you, and I will make your wishes come true."

"Famu, you're the one I want to protect. No matter how hard I try, if you end up dead, none of it has any value or meaning. Besides, while you might be stronger than me in a real fight, in the grand scheme of things, you're weak too!"

"Mmph! If I say I'll protect you, then I will protect you!"

Famu shouted, just as Cecily stirred and sat up with a groan.

"Don't fight so early in the morning. You're being loud!"

After breakfast, we went outside and, sure enough, the wind had changed direction.

It was a refreshing morning breeze, carrying a slight chill. Could this wind really be luring monsters to the city?

We decided to stop by the Mateo Trading Company before heading to the church. A group of armed soldiers marched past us, likely on their way to the western wall.

Myra came over to us.

"I heard you talking this morning."

"Heard what?"

"You two fighting,"

Myra answered.

"We weren't fighting."

"We weren't fighting."

Famu and I answered in unison.

"You heard right. I'm a pathetic man."

"I'd forgotten, too. We were supposed to summon Lady Laciel to clarify Mash's purpose for being summoned in the first place."

"Right. And someone was sound asleep through the whole thing."

I decided to tease her a little.

"Ugh... I'm sorry."

"It's fine. To be honest, I never expected you to be able to resist Laciel's charm in the first place, Myra."

"..."

Myra's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

"Mash, do you not trust Lady Laciel?"

"You want to pick up where we left off yesterday, huh, Myra? I believe that Laciel is a god. I just don't see her as an object of faith. And faith aside, she's hiding something. That's why I don't trust this mission to defeat the Demon Lord."

"So it's not that you distrust the church because you don't believe in Lady Laciel, right?"

"Right. I'm just suspicious of the circumstances."

Myra nodded at my words, and the conversation fell silent.

"There's something I find strange,"

Mizuki said, likely having waited for Myra and me to finish.

"In my original world, we didn't even know if gods existed, but the church was much more powerful than it is here. But in this world, gods actually exist, yet the church doesn't seem to have that much authority."

Was Mizuki comparing this to the church in her world before the Middle Ages?

"Honestly, I don't know for sure, but in our original world, no one can see God, so the church, as His spokespeople, can wield limitless power. In this world, gods actually exist. The church is a true spokesperson, so they can't throw their weight around in the name of God. The nature of faith seems different, too."

The gods of this world didn't seem to promise an afterlife, which probably made their hold on people looser.

"So the presence of gods actually limits the church's power..."

Mizuki murmured. I hoped she wouldn't take my half-baked theory too seriously.

We had arrived at the church.

It was a massive, circular building made of marble, larger and more majestic than the one in Richel.

In front of it was a cobblestone plaza with an obelisk towering in the center. It was inscribed with characters that looked like hieroglyphs. I wondered if it had been brought back as a spoil of war from some expedition.

"Can you read this?"

I asked Myra, but she shook her head.

"This church was built in imitation of one in a city further south. I believe the characters inscribed here are also copies, but I can't say if they're accurate."

We passed the obelisk and headed toward the entrance of the building.

A line of enormous columns stood at the entrance. Passing between them, we came to a bronze door adorned with intricate paintings. It was the way inside. The paintings probably depicted the five goddesses. I could only recognize Laciel. One of the others had to be Ronron, the one who summoned Hyakka.

"The one looking up at Lady Laciel on the far right is Lady Ronron,"

Myra explained, as if sensing my thoughts. Ronron had shoulder-length hair and was mounted on a pegasus, wielding a lance. Laciel held her own spear high, as if rallying the other goddesses.

Myra opened the door.

"It's usually kept open, but today is a day of battle."

As I made to follow, Myra stopped me.

"First, I'll go greet the priest and explain the situation."

I remembered Hyakka getting sexually harassed at the church.

"Wait. In that case, take someone else with you, anyone."

"Mash, I know you're suspicious of the church, but..."

Myra sighed.

"N-No, that's not it. It's a misunderstanding, really. There's another reason. I want to explain, but it would just make things more complicated. Aira, please go with Myra."

Myra reluctantly nodded and took Aira with her into the building.

I looked up at the western sky. There was still no sign of the monsters.