The Road to the Holy Capital, Part 10
The next day, the two of them slipped out of Patermachi and immediately began making their way toward the Holy Capital.
"Do you understand? From here on out, we must assume that someone is watching our every move."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't you worry, boss."
Yohan gave a half-hearted reply to Annie's instructions as he looked around, scanning their surroundings.
"Well, this is pretty damn impressive."
He muttered his honest thoughts without realizing it.
The road connecting the Holy Capital Justia and Patermachi was, without a doubt, the most well-maintained road Yohan had seen since arriving in this world. Stone tiles were laid out at regular intervals across the entire road, looking so smooth that even a carriage ride wouldn't leave one's backside sore. Sure enough, numerous carriages were weaving through the pedestrians, heading both up and down the road.
The road to the Holy Capital wasn't just functionally superior. The architectural style unique to the Holy Kingdom—which made heavy use of pristine white, a sight Yohan had grown accustomed to since entering the country—was beautifully integrated into the road itself.
Even Yohan, with his modern knowledge and memories, found it hard not to be impressed. A typical resident of this fantasy world would probably faint on the spot.
"And there are a hell of a lot of people."
"This road does not just carry those traveling between the Holy Capital and neighboring cities. It also accommodates the endless streams of pilgrims who have journeyed from afar."
"Hmm."
Among the travelers on the road, quite a few looked like they had journeyed from the ends of the earth. They were undoubtedly the pilgrims Annie had just mentioned.
—What an incredible crowd. It feels far more bustling than even the Undercity of Balifield.
The Goddess's awestruck voice echoed in his mind. Since Yohan had been thinking the exact same thing, he simply nodded in silent agreement.
Except for an unusually wide median strip, the road had no distinct lanes; pedestrians and carriages alike moved along the same tiled surface.
Whenever a horse or carriage began to overtake, the pedestrians naturally parted to the left and right. Even without anyone managing the traffic, the crowd moved in perfect order.
They probably just haven't thought of separating lanes for pedestrians, riders, and carriages, or they simply didn't see the need for it, Yohan thought to himself.
The real puzzle was that needlessly wide median strip. A dirt path well over a meter wide ran right down the middle of the tiled two-lane road, naturally piquing his curiosity.
"By the way, what is that empty lane in the middle of the road for? It seems way too wide to be just a median strip."
"It is an official-use lane. All routes connecting the Holy Capital to neighboring cities have a dedicated one-way lane like this."
"Ah."
So that was what it was for. Yohan nodded.
"While one can use a Teleportation Magic Circle when departing from the Holy Capital, the same cannot be done when entering it. Thus, this lane is kept clear at all times to ensure official documents and urgent dispatches can be delivered without delay."
It seemed the latter reason was the primary one. As they continued down the road in comfortable silence after their brief exchange, the sudden, rapid thudding of hooves echoed from behind them.
Yohan glanced back and saw a horse galloping furiously down the empty middle lane.
The horse, carrying a messenger, tore down the central lane and vanished into the distance in the blink of an eye.
"One just passed by. It allows messengers to reach the Holy Capital without any interference, just like that."
"Makes sense."
"Then let us quicken our pace. Even on a paved road, it would take half a day of non-stop walking to get there."
With those words, Annie nudged her horse into a faster pace. Not wanting to be left behind, Yohan lightly flicked his reins to urge his mount forward.
Thanks to their horses, the two managed to reach the Holy Capital before the sun dipped below the horizon.
"Keep in line, everyone!"
"If you want to pass through inspection quickly, have your identification badges ready!"
The entire city of the Holy Capital Justia was protected by massive walls, with gates facing the four cardinal directions. These weren't just ordinary walls, either; they looked to be at least ten meters high. To exaggerate slightly, it felt like a row of modern buildings had been lined up to form a barrier.
And that wasn't all. According to Annie, a highly advanced defensive barrier enveloped the walls of the Holy Capital. As a result, aerial intrusion was impossible, and any attempt to teleport directly inside the Holy Capital would result in being flung to some completely random location.
Sure, the security of the Holy Capital was absolutely airtight. Yohan readily acknowledged that.
But that wasn't the real issue. The true problem was that the four gates were far too narrow to accommodate the massive crowds flocking to the Holy Capital every single day. It wasn't just that the physical pathways were narrow. Because the guards stopped and inspected every single traveler, the lines stretched out endlessly.
"Whoa... if we have to wait in this line all the way to the checkpoint, we'll be pulling an all-nighter."
—Fufu, is sleeping under the stars not your specialty?
The Goddess's sarcastic voice echoed in his mind, but Yohan casually let it slide in one ear and out the other.
"Do not worry. Wait here for a moment."
"Oh?"
Fortunately, it seemed their resident Inquisitor had a plan. Annie slid down from her horse, walked up to a nearby guard, and presented her identification badge.
"I am Heresy Inquisitor Agnes of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I have just returned from a mission and wish to enter the Holy Capital as quickly as possible."
"Yes, that is indeed the insignia of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Right this way, please. Hey! Clear the path! An Inquisitor is passing through!"
Power really was the best thing in the world. Yohan grinned from ear to ear as he watched Annie return and mount her horse.
"Excuse me, Inquisitor, but the man accompanying you is..."
"A new convert I met during my mission. I vouch for his identity."
"Understood, ma'am."
Yohan was suddenly reminded of his childhood memories of waiting in line at an amusement park. After standing in line for over an hour, just as he neared the entrance, people who had bought some kind of express pass would cut right in and board the ride immediately. The scene before him overlapped perfectly with that memory.
"..."
Thinking of it that way, he worried for a moment that they might receive a barrage of glares from the surrounding crowd.
"Let us go."
"Ah, right behind you."
But his worries were entirely unfounded. The visitors waiting for inspection actually bowed their heads deeply to "Agnes" or showed clear signs of fear. Right. This was the general perception of Heresy Inquisitors. Annie, with her easygoing personality, was simply an outlier. By the very nature of their work, Inquisitors were bound to be feared and avoided by the public.
Before long, the two passed through the gate and entered the Holy Capital.
"Ugh—"
At that exact moment, Yohan felt an inexplicable, massive pressure weighing down on him. Fortunately, the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come.
"Is something the matter?"
"Ah, no. It's just... for a second, it felt like something was pressing down on me from all sides."
"It is likely due to the barrier surrounding the Holy Capital. They say that the higher a person's aptitude for miracle arts, the greater the shock they experience when crossing the barrier."
Yohan nodded silently at Annie's explanation. Well, to be precise, it's probably not miracle art aptitude, but my Apostle's Authority reacting to it, Yohan thought.
Whoosh—
As they fully cleared the dark archway of the city gate, the dim shadows gave way to a sudden flood of dazzling light. Yohan instinctively squeezed his eyes shut before quickly reopening them.
"Whoa..."
He let out an involuntary gasp at the vast, breathtaking landscape that unfolded before his eyes.
"Can you see it? This is the heart of the Holy Kingdom, the Holy Capital Justia."
Annie seemed to enjoy Yohan's reaction, delivering her introduction like a seasoned tour guide.
Encircled by the circular walls, the Holy Capital was situated in a massive basin. However, the elevation of the terrain was quite different from that of a typical city. Usually, a walled city slopes upward toward its center, as a higher elevation is advantageous for defending the inner castle. However, the Holy Capital Justia sloped gently downward toward its center, giving the impression that the city had been built directly inside a massive meteor crater.
Right in the middle of this basin stood a towering spire and a colossal castle. The literal center of the Holy Kingdom was right before his eyes.
Yohan observed every single detail within his field of vision. Even if he couldn't teleport inside the Holy Capital due to the barrier, there was no harm in committing this layout to memory.
"That tower..."
"That is where His Holiness resides—the Papal Palace."
Annie answered his muttered question once again.
"Ohhh..."
"O Chief Deity..."
However, it seemed the other travelers nearby had been eavesdropping on their conversation, as they immediately fell to their knees on the stone ground and began to pray.
"L-Let us head straight to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith first. Once we test your devotion there and you pass, you will be officially baptized."
Drawing attention like this was the last thing they needed. Annie urged him forward in a flustered voice, and Yohan quickly followed her down the stone steps.
Of course, while their destination was indeed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it wasn't to test Yohan's purity. Their true objective was to steal the Original Scriptures stored deep within the Congregation's vaults. They had gone through all this trouble and traveled all the way to the Holy Capital just for this.
Once we swipe the scriptures, I'll hit the cities we passed on the way back and rob them of every single Divine Weapon they have, Yohan thought, a sly, wicked grin spreading across his face.
He walked on, imagining his dimwitted Goddess happily munching on a steel breastplate like a snack.
—Apostle. I have something to say. Find us a private place.
As they were walking along the main avenue, the Goddess's voice suddenly echoed in his mind. Unlike her usual playful tone, she sounded dead serious, prompting Yohan to nod immediately.
"Our boss wants to have a quick word."
Yohan leaned in close and whispered into Annie's ear. Annie's eyes widened in surprise for a brief second, but she quickly recovered and gave a firm nod.
"Understood."
The two immediately veered off the bustling main avenue and slipped into a quiet, deserted alleyway. After double-checking that no one was around, Yohan gathered his divine power and opened a Dimensional Portal.
Flash—
The moment they stepped through the portal, the heavy pressure that had been weighing down on his entire body vanished without a trace.
"Phew—"
So much for that "miracle art aptitude" nonsense. Yohan let out a soft sigh and plopped himself down on the familiar linoleum floor of his studio room.
Soon, the Goddess materialized before them. Yohan stared at her quietly.
"Alright. I heard you have something to tell us. What's on your mind?"
"Yohan, Annie. I have something to say to both of you."
Judging by her tone earlier, Yohan had already guessed it would be something important. Instead of cracking his usual jokes, he remained silent, waiting for her to speak.
"First, Annie. According to what you told me before, the Chief Deity Justia has not shown herself to the world for a very long time. Is that correct?"
"Y-Yes, that is correct. While she is said to occasionally speak to priests who have awakened to miracle arts, she has not physically manifested herself like you do, Your Grace, for at least a thousand years."
"Are you absolutely certain?"
"Yes. I swear upon my life, I would never speak a falsehood to you, Your Grace."
The Goddess questioned her persistently, almost as if she were interrogating Annie. Watching this play out, Yohan wondered what on earth was going through her head. Then, a sudden, ominous premonition struck him.
What if the pressure he felt the moment they crossed the barrier wasn't for the reason Annie had explained?
"Wait, hold on. Don't tell me that Chief Deity..."
Yohan asked, his voice trembling slightly. The Goddess nodded, her expression incredibly grave.
"The Chief Deity Justia has awakened from her long slumber. And the pressure that weighed so heavily upon you... was none other than the aura she is radiating."