Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Holy Nation (6)
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Plip-
Plop...
"Rain...?"
Patter patter patter patter plop—
Rain was falling.
"A m-miracle!!!"
The scattered raindrops grew thicker and thicker by the moment.
Shwaaaaa—
Soon, it turned into a downpour, unrelenting and fierce.
The hellish blaze began to weaken, little by little.
"How in the world..."
Even more astonishing was that the rain was falling only around us.
The raid party members, stunned by the miracle of the rain, began to realize one by one that it was directed solely at us.
Everyone started questioning how such a thing could be possible, but for those whose blind faith came before doubt, it was only natural to turn their gazes to Gregorio.
"Did you see it!!! Until now, we have been the bells rung by heaven, but now we possess the power to understand its will and act upon it!!! With God's proxy by our side, we have nothing to fear!!!"
As if rewarding that faith, Gregorio proclaimed it as a miracle he had wrought.
To be precise, he was publicly revealing for the first time someone with the power to perform miracles.
One of Gregorio's closest aides.
A figure who appeared as a savior at this moment when a miracle was desperately needed and trust had reached its peak.
An Awakener who could control the weather had revealed themselves.
——
Only after the rain started did I look up at the sky.
Towering clouds blanketed the area.
Were even those clouds created by a single person?
If this was the Holy Nation's secret weapon—the reason they dared to tackle an S-rank Gate despite opposition from the entire world—
Could they maintain this downpour until the Gate was cleared?
If that were truly the case, it was a power surpassing even an S-rank Awakener with ease.
Had they really been hiding an S-rank water-element mage all this time?
If not hidden, they could have secured cooperation from other guilds—so why keep it secret?
Why hide it even from me?
A flood of questions arose, but voicing them was forbidden.
"Behold!! The monsters aren't even approaching—they can't even show their faces! The miracles we perform demand no sacrifice! In any situation! Only unwavering faith brings forth miracles!!!"
"""""Waaaaaaaahhh!!!—"""""
Expressing doubt was not permitted.
Not by the dubious source itself, but by those who believed in it blindly.
Of course, if the object of that faith was truth itself, there would be no issue...
"As previously instructed, we'll split into two parties from here!! Those following the Saintess, move to the right!!!"
So, could this party—composed solely of the weak who now had to take the side path—actually fulfill any role?
I prayed it wasn't a sacrifice, that it was a true miracle.
——
"Keep advancing. No danger exists with the miracle at our side."
The party had split, but we were still receiving orders from Guild Master Gregorio.
There were plenty of suspicious circumstances, but that alone wasn't reason enough to doubt right now.
After all, it was undeniable fact that we'd passed the Gate's entrance and delved deep inside without a single casualty or threat so far.
"Hah... To summon a downpour like this in a place without any water...!"
"Who in the world could be performing such a miracle...!!!"
So perhaps it was right to believe blindly, like them.
Was I the one blocking my eyes and ears by doubting what had actually happened?
If we cleared the Gate without a hitch like this, the one who summoned this downpour would truly deserve the title of 'the miracle itself.'
Praying once more that the miracle I'd witnessed was unadulterated truth—probably because doubts still swirled in my mind.
Rumble rumble rumble—
"Ah..."
Was heaven answering my desperate prayer?
One question had just been resolved.
The godlike ability to pour endless rain on a hell of fire.
No such convenient power existed.
——
Rumble rumble rumble—
From the end of the path the Saintess's group was following came the sound of heavy footsteps.
Monsters whose forms perfectly suited the fiery hellscape.
They were charging toward the Saintess's group as if fleeing from something.
Shwaaaaa—
At the same time, the torrential rain began to lose its fury.
...
It had come suddenly, and now it stopped just as abruptly.
The clouds had vanished before we knew it.
Desperately scanning the sky, I spotted the truth all too easily—and it was disheartening.
Only the sky above us was clear of clouds.
Shwaaaaaaaa—
Everywhere except where we were.
And over the areas the monsters were fleeing from as well.
Clouds blanketed the skies, unleashing downpours.
"Ah..."
The monsters were running toward the rainless zone.
For example... right here, where we were.
"We have to turn back. Rendezvous with the main force... No, better to exit the Gate altogether!"
The others, excluding the Saintess, had realized something was wrong and halted their steps.
But they couldn't turn and hurry back.
Still blindly faithful to Gregorio, they weren't allowed their own judgment.
As the Saintess tried once more to urge them onward—
"Everyone, we need to move now..!!"
"Saintess party, advance as planned. Hold out until reinforcements arrive."
Gregorio's voice reignited the faith that had faltered with the rain's pause.
"I repeat. Buy as much time as possible until reinforcements arrive. Only unwavering faith brings forth miracles."
"We need to get out of here fast!!"
Ordering them to hold until reinforcements came meant they already knew danger would strike here.
"Only... unwavering faith brings forth miracles..."
But to those already ensnared in blind faith, not a shred of doubt was permitted.
""Only!!! Unwavering faith brings forth miracles!!""
No, they refused to allow themselves even the slightest doubt.
"Snap out of it, everyone!! Monsters... S-rank Gate monsters are coming!!!"
"""""Only unwavering faith brings forth miracles!!!"""""
They resumed their halted steps.
Their footsteps, fueled by that power, urged on their unshakeable trust.
"Ah..."
They weren't courageous.
Rather, they hid behind faith because they lacked the courage to face the truth.
Those concealing their true hearts advanced boldly, as if fear didn't exist.
Even the Saintess, who had doubted all along, now hoped Gregorio's words were true. That's how I knew.
——
"Hweee..."
Hyeji sprawled exhausted on the sofa chair.
When I pointed out it was bad for her back, she said it'd be fine once the Saintess arrived anyway, leaving me with no retort, so I let it be.
And after mulling over Hyeji's words...
"Hweeeee..."
Since she was right, I stopped caring about posture too and just got comfortable right then and there.
Four hours had passed since the Holy Nation entered the Gate, and there was still no word.
They weren't sharing their camp feed inside the Gate, so we couldn't see the situation—only confirm no casualties yet, thankfully.
At this point, the Gallery was buzzing with opinions that they might actually clear the S-rank Gate.
The deeper into the Gate, the more hellish the environment became.
Surviving there for so long proved they had some secret sauce.
Of course, counterarguments and questions followed, like why they couldn't get cooperation from the Hunter Association if so.
"Are they really gonna clear it like this?"
"Eek! What then!!"
"...We congratulate them. It's good news."
Clearing the world's first S-rank Gate would bring immense value.
The Holy Nation would benefit most as the direct clearers, but on a global scale, it was hugely beneficial.
"It's already six o'clock..."
"Umm..."
Hyeji endured the painful wait without leaving her seat, while Yena slept soundly without a care.
I stayed glued to the Gallery, hoping for new posts or a message from the Saintess.
"Six... Ah! Yujun, any equipment done yet?"
"I told you, checking every five minutes won't make it happen."
"I'm just so curious..."
Ever since learning my ability, Hyeji notified me like an alarm every time the five equipment crafting tickets filled up.
It was nice when I paused the macro recently, but now with the A-rank crafting macro running again, it was annoyingly frequent—sorry, but true.
"Even if it crafts, it won't always be what you want~"
Probably because her own A-rank Awakening was on the line, she was super invested. But waiting like this usually meant it wouldn't come.
Still, understanding her feelings better than anyone, I had no choice but to check.
"..."
I pulled out my phone, and Hyeji sluggishly got up and shuffled over.
"How is it? Did it?"
"It... It did..."
"R-Really!!?"
A staff with enchantment-possible attributes had appeared! One I wouldn't trade for three daggers!