Road to the Holy City (8)
Several days had passed since Yohan and Annie left for the Holy Kingdom. During those few days, the villagers, including Falco and Billy, had spent almost every waking hour planting trees, barely resting except to eat and sleep. Thanks to their relentless efforts, the work was completed much faster than Falco had initially anticipated.
The defensive wall surrounding the village was designed to look like an ordinary forest from the outside. As one drew closer to the village, the density of the trees gradually increased until they finally pressed tightly against one another, forming a solid wall. Consequently, unless someone already knew the village's exact location, it was safe to say it would remain virtually undetectable to outsiders. Still, if anyone did manage to find their way here, it would be a remarkable feat in its own right. Even the Goddess might clap her hands in delight, welcoming the stranger as a potential new believer.
This wall design was only possible because of the Guardian Deity's Ring in Falco's possession. A conventional construction project—felling nearby trees and building a log palisade—would have taken months at the very least. However, the villagers' only task was to snap off nearby branches, bring them over, and plant them in designated spots, which made the burden incomparably lighter.
Once the construction was finished, Falco and Billy threw a feast for the residents who had endured days of hard labor. For drinks, they brought out the beer they had purchased in Junk Town and hauled back in their wagons. As for snacks, there was no shortage of food, with fresh fruits and vegetables scattered all around. Everyone gathered around a massive bonfire, sitting at tables and chairs brought out from their respective homes.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted."
"Still, at least we won't have to worry about bears or wolves wandering into the village anymore."
Sitting in the middle of the festive gathering, Falco stood up. She thrust her wooden mug forward, causing the beer inside to slosh over the rim and trickle down the side.
"Listen up, you bastards! You've worked your asses off for days, so tonight, we eat, drink, and lose our minds! Got it?!"
"Drink till we drop!"
"Hell yeah!"
Falco roared, and the villagers, each holding a mug of beer, shouted back just as loudly, refusing to be outdone.
"If anyone stays sober, the Goddess will personally smite you, so drink and eat until you puke!"
"Wooo!"
Only after delivering a series of aggressive and, in some ways, highly blasphemous toasts did Falco finally sit back down.
"When the Boss insisted on buying so much beer, I wondered what he was planning, but I never expected it to be used like this," Billy, who was sitting next to Falco, remarked. Falco took a gulp of her beer and shrugged.
"Each barrel is so heavy. I wondered why he left them in the wagon instead of storing them safely in a room, but this explains it."
"Exactly. For the record, I knew exactly what Yohan was planning the moment he suggested buying the alcohol."
"O-oh, is that so?" Billy offered an awkward smile at Falco's bluster. Then, he too began to empty his mug.
"It's all great, but it's a shame we don't have any meat."
"What's wrong with this? We have plenty of fresh fruit to enjoy."
The two continued their leisurely conversation. Surrounding the central bonfire, the villagers enjoyed the feast, placing their beer mugs and fruits on the tables they had brought from their homes. The two companions, especially Billy, watched the villagers chatting and drinking happily with warm, satisfied smiles.
"Should I just go out right now and hunt a deer or something?" As the relaxed atmosphere drifted on, Falco casually tossed out the suggestion in her characteristically nonchalant tone.
"A-are you serious?" Billy asked, his face stiffening. This woman was someone who actually followed through on her words—or rather, this pointy-ear was. Billy hadn't known her for very long, but he already knew that Falco possessed the most extreme personality among the members of the Goddess Knights.
"I'm joking. Even if I caught a deer, draining the blood, skinning it, and gutting it is way too much of a pain."
"Whew..." Fortunately, she seemed to be teasing. Billy let out a heartfelt sigh of relief.
"Well, anyway, we can rest tomorrow, but the day after is when the real construction begins."
"Yeah. Now that the crops are planted and the wall is up, we need to focus on the interior."
"It'll be fine. I'm confident in my physical strength, and I've built log cabins several times before." Watching Billy exude confidence, Falco suddenly recalled Billy's cabin located near the village. It was rustic but well-built, and the interior was filled with handmade wooden furniture.
"Since we have nothing but wood to spare from now on, even if we can't tear down all the houses and rebuild them from scratch, we should at least make some decent furniture for the inside." At Billy's words, Falco simply nodded, her beer mug still pressed to her lips.
Demon King. Yohan rolled the word around in his mind, savoring it. The Goddess, the Hero, and the Demon King—it was no exaggeration to say they formed the holy trinity of any fantasy world.
"Hehehe..."
"A-are you alright?" Annie asked in a worried voice, witnessing the sinister smirk spreading across Yohan's face.
"Do not fret. Yohan is simply prone to harboring bizarre thoughts and breaking into unpleasant, solitary chuckles," the Goddess answered in Yohan's stead.
Right, now was not the time for this. Get a grip. Yohan slapped his own cheek with a sharp smack. Setting aside the romanticism of a Demon King in the fantasy genre, he had already experienced firsthand just how incredibly dangerous demons actually were. If anything, he should be grateful that no one currently held the title of Demon King in this era.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I was just spacing out for a second."
"I-I see. At any rate, it seems finding lodging was difficult because of the festival commemorating Teodoro IV. Around this time of year, visitors flock here from the Holy City and other neighboring towns." No sooner had Annie finished speaking than a bright flash illuminated the glass window behind the drawn curtains, followed immediately by a faint popping sound. Yohan instantly recognized it as the sound of fireworks.
"Looks like the festival has begun."
"But seriously, if they're launching fireworks like that, doesn't it mean they'll be partying outside until dawn?" Annie nodded at Yohan's question.
"Yes. They spend the night enjoying food and drink, or offering prayers to the Main God. I understand this festival originated from a night-long vigil held for Teodoro IV and his Holy Knights when they marched out to defeat the Demon King."
"..." Yohan had absolutely no idea what fireworks had to do with a solemn night-long vigil. He wore a thoroughly unimpressed expression.
"Ha, and does anyone actually listen to those prayers?" Annie's expression turned complicated at Yohan's sarcastic remark. Ah, slip of the tongue. Yohan realized he had spoken without thinking.
"Oh, you foolish mortal."
"Tsk, no, what I meant was..." He couldn't even offer a proper rebuttal as the Goddess openly scolded him from the side.
"It is fine. I understand what you meant," Annie said.
"Whew..."
"In truth, there are many believers who never set foot in a cathedral or offer a simple prayer on regular days, yet they think they can make up for it by praying for hours only during festivals like this." Her words carried a heavy weight. Both Yohan and the Goddess quietly pondered Annie's observation.
"So they run a religious racket by hunting down heretics, while the actual believers in the Holy Kingdom aren't even that devout."
"You've understood it perfectly. And this sentiment isn't just limited to ordinary believers." Despite having been a core figure within the Central Church, Annie did not hesitate to criticize it. Of course, given her circumstances, she had every reason to. Annie had spent years working as an inquisitor, growing thoroughly disillusioned with the Central Church—specifically, its upper echelon. As her resentment festered, she had encountered a Goddess who physically existed right before her eyes, holding equal legitimacy to the Main God Justia. She had gladly converted to the Goddess's faith. Consequently, she was now capable of delivering far sharper criticisms than before.
"Oh, right." Yohan turned his head slightly to lock eyes with the Goddess. "This Teodoro guy and the old Demon King... do you know anything about them?"
"I am curious about that as well," Annie added, her interest piqued. Both of their gazes converged on the Goddess. In response, she crossed her arms and wore a haughty smile.
"Of course I do."
"Oh." Yohan and Annie let out simultaneous gasps of admiration at her confident reply.
"To be precise, they are not 'my' memories, but rather recollections from the time when I was still the Goddess of Justice, Justia." In the distant past, the Goddess of Justice had split herself into two entities. One half became the Main God Justia of the Holy Kingdom, while the other half was stripped of her name and imprisoned in a forgotten place where no one would ever seek her out. That other half was the silly Goddess standing right before them.
"Hey, remembering things from that far back is still pretty impressive. Good job." Yohan offered a rare, genuine compliment to the Goddess. She looked quite taken aback for a moment before nodding with an air of immense satisfaction.
"Hehehe. Do you finally realize how truly magnificent the deity you serve is?"
"I've known that for a while now, though?" Why is she asking something so obvious? Yohan replied in a flat, nonchalant tone.
"I mean, I survived because of you, and I got my revenge on those bastards. Plus, how many times have we slaughtered those damn demons using your power?"
"U-uh, well, yes..."
"And that's not all. Saving Falco was only possible because of your Goddess radar, and you were the one who purified all those undead monsters in the dungeon..." Yohan rattled off the Goddess's achievements, both big and small, without pausing for breath. While Annie merely blinked in blank surprise at the display, the Goddess grew so flustered that her pale face flushed as red as a ripe tomato.
"I might be one thing, but Falco and Billy? If you asked them for their livers, they'd throw in their gallbladders too."
"S-stop it!" Unable to take it any longer, the Goddess lunged at Yohan and slapped her palm over his mouth. "I-I get it, so cease at once! Even for me, hearing such praise is too much to bear!" Instead of her usual shouting, the Goddess spoke with great difficulty, her face burning with sheer embarrassment. In truth, this was exactly the reaction Yohan had been aiming for, though he made sure not to let it show.
"I-I feel the same way! Whether it is my liver or my gallbladder, if the Goddess demands it, I will gladly..."
"I do not need them! What kind of bloodthirsty, human-sacrificing evil deity do you take me for?!" Annie, who had been quiet until now, suddenly delivered a blow to the Goddess in a way even Yohan hadn't anticipated. Yohan had to sweat bullets to keep from bursting into hysterical laughter.
"Alright, alright, both of you calm down. Now, tell us more about that legendary hero guy."
"Ahem." The Goddess cleared her throat, her ears still burning red. "I do not know the specifics of when or where he was born, nor what his life was like. I only know that he waged a relentless war against the demons and their cultists lurking across the continent."
"According to legend, he was born right here in the Patermachi region, and he began to distinguish himself from the moment he joined the Holy Knights," Annie added to the Goddess's explanation. Since he was a figure grand enough to warrant a commemorative festival, his legendary exploits had clearly been preserved through oral tradition down to the present day.
"Indeed. That explains why they hold the festival in his birthplace rather than the Holy City."
"Yes, that is correct."
"In any case, the Holy Knight Teodoro led the Holy Knights against the army of the Demon King of that era, and personally claimed the Demon King's head."
*SLAM!*
The moment the Goddess finished speaking, Yohan slammed his palm onto the table and bolted upright.
"Wait a second. The Demon King of that era?" Having caught a phrase he absolutely could not let slide, Yohan's eyes flashed with sharp intensity.