Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: For Elise
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Investigating everything—Kim Katt and Elise's investigative activities were going as smoothly as could be. We'd occasionally report back to Lisha, build some camaraderie with the slum dwellers through a bit of roughhousing, and inch ever closer to the truth.
Today, too, Elise and I were holed up in the back alleys, enthusiastically beating information out of the Eternal Life Cult devotees.
"I'll take a moment to jot this down."
"Sure."
These past few days, Elise had looked positively thrilled.
I was having a blast hanging out with her, too. We'd split the investigation funds from Lisha down the middle, go shopping or grab meals together, and overall make the most of our time.
We'd even snuck into gatherings twice more already.
It felt like we were on the verge of uncovering the misty veil shrouding the Eternal Life Cult's true nature.
"Elise. Think it's about time we raided one of their gatherings?"
"A tempting proposal, but that way we'd only take down a fraction of them. What we truly need to crush is their leadership."
Elise closed her notebook and replied.
"We need more investigation. The devotees who receive baptism and vanish... where do they go? What happens to them? Nothing but ominous, wicked thoughts come to mind."
"Yeah."
That part was definitely suspicious.
At every gathering, the devotees selected for baptism would disappear.
They never returned or showed their faces again. Only one from the last gathering had briefly appeared, looking like a starved mummy, before vanishing forever.
As if it were for show.
Had the other nine turned into similar grotesque husks?
Or something even worse?
Dozens had vanished already, yet we had no clue where they'd gone. Even sneaking into the gathering site on off days yielded no traces whatsoever.
It was literally just a venue for the rituals.
Our conclusion: the vanished devotees were being "transported" somewhere. That destination was likely the cult leaders' hideout. And there, piles of treasures would probably await.
Whatever they were doing with the baptized devotees, it was surely nefarious, and achieving such ends would inevitably require various magical tools.
If we found that place, we could smash everything to bits and loot all their gold.
Elise's goal was to crush them, while mine included plundering the heretics' wealth. Our interests aligned perfectly. Time for deeper digging to uncover their base.
"What about this one..."
"Just dump him in the corner or whatever."
Not many could withstand Elise's forceful interrogations. This scrawny heretic we'd just turned into pulp was no exception. We shoved the guy, out cold and breathing raggedly, into a corner and moved on to find our next target.
"Looks like these Eternal Life Cult devotees definitely worship a monotheistic god."
After days of "persuasive" research into their doctrines, we'd confirmed the Eternal Life Cult followers revered a single god.
We didn't know the god's name yet, but their creed promised immortality's power through that sole deity's blessing. Elise had flown into a towering rage upon learning this.
Not only had it insulted her own god, but it mocked all gods in existence—she'd been ready to lose her mind in fury. I'd barely calmed her down.
As we headed to the next area, Elise spoke up.
"The Idol War was ultimately a clash between monotheistic heretics and modern religions that recognize many gods. A battle between irrationality and reason, if you will. It was a massive conflict, and it's no exaggeration to say it shaped the world's religious landscape as we know it today."
"Sounds like a history teacher."
It was a tale about the great Idol War from ages past.
Like a world war back on Earth? In an era of clashing faiths, monotheistic zealots declared their religion the only truth and waged war to unify the world, only for righteous believers of diverse gods to counter with holy wars.
That was Elise's answer to my questions about monotheism.
"The war against those heretics who claimed only their god was real was hellish, toppling countless ruins and kingdoms. But the explosive advances in magic and technology during that time were invaluable."
This history lesson delved into knowledge not found in books. I didn't fully grasp it, but it piqued my interest, so I listened intently to Elise.
She meant it as a history rundown, but to me, it just sounded like fantasy world-building. Idol War... Religious brawls were the same whether on Earth or here.
"Take the establishment of modern hygiene concepts and medical progress, for example. The war against plague-god worshippers caused massive casualties but ultimately led to hygiene reforms and medical breakthroughs, extending average lifespans."
So that's why sewers and bathhouses were so advanced.
Hygiene had skyrocketed human lifespans like nothing else. Soap saves humanity at the world-top level, right?
Legendary nurse Nightingale's hygiene protocols had drastically boosted soldier survival rates amid wartime injuries, too.
According to Elise, these relatively modern hygiene ideas solidified after the war against plague-god heretics.
Humans advance through war, huh?
I could almost hear the Wright brothers and dynamite Nobel wailing from the afterlife. Depressing how humans were humans, isekai or Earth.
"Thus, humanity progresses through suffering and tragedy."
"Radiant Cross Society doctrine?"
"No, just my personal take... Hehe, you're the first holy knight I've chatted like this with."
Elise smiled shyly.
"Heh, same here."
Couldn't let her one-up me.
I shared Confucian ideals of respecting parents and rites, mixed with folk faiths ingrained in modern Korean sensibilities, rearranged isekai-style.
Of course, I included the legendary general Goliath of Blesset and King David's tale, plus stories of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the central lands, worshiping the future Heavenly Demon.
Elise was delighted, saying it broadened her horizons.
Hanging with Elise was so relaxing.
This must be what a healing imouto is.
Anyway, as we scanned alleys for our next prey—
Tak-tak-tak.
Something scampered frantically our way. Turning, dust clouds rose from afar.
"Holy knight?"
"Yeah, something's coming."
Looking closer, it was a black-haired little girl. Whoa, a compatriot? Then I recognized her: Lina.
What?
Lina?
Tak-tak-tak-tak!
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
Lina screamed as she ran, like something chased her. She'd become an adventurer, but maybe old habits died hard—caught pickpocketing?
I watched quietly.
"...O-Onii-chan?!"
Lina, glancing back mid-run, spotted me and said that.
Her horrified face lit up instantly.
...She expects help?
Is she nuts?
"Onii-chan!"
"Get lost, you little shit!"
I dodged Lina charging at me like a bullfighter evading a bull. No idea what she hoped, but I wanted zero ties to this brat.
"Grab her!"
"Outta the way!"
Two weird, sack-clothed old beggars were berserking after her. They seemed out to catch Lina... Whatever, none of my business.
No pointless bloodshed for me.
"H-Help me, please!"
Lina pleaded as she neared.
Sorry, my help ain't cheap.
Doubt she had the cash.
Better stay uninvolved.
"Beat it, kid. I told you, right? No such thing as free happiness in this world. Handle your own messes without dragging others in."
I scolded Lina as she tried hiding behind me. She looked up, visibly disappointed.
"Ah..."
"Holy knight, who's this child?"
Elise asked curiously.
"Uh."
My tie to Lina was complicated. Sister, but not really. A tightrope between real and fake sis...
A 10-silver connection.
"Kinda like my little sister... Whoa!"
Whoosh!
"What the fuck! Who the hell is this guy!"
One beggar swung a club at me.
Caught off-guard, I nearly tripped dodging. If not for superhuman reflexes, my skull might've split.
"You fucking bitch!"
Rage exploded like my head would burst.
Swinging at me out of nowhere?
Beyond comprehension—astral. I stepped back, hand on sword hilt.
"Stay out of it, asshole!"
The beggar snarled, club aimed... Making me mad. I drew my sword without hesitation and advanced.
Stay out? Your attack just made it my business.
"Elise. These guys seem like heretics."
"Agreed. Highway robbery in these times... Atone with death, wicked ones."
Nothing to do with Lina, but this fool attacked first. Now it was unequivocally my problem.
Time to settle it.
"Wh-What?! Her accomplice?!"
Spinning my drawn sword as I closed in, the beggar swung wildly to halt me, face like he'd never dream of striking first.
I shot Lina a glare.
Daring to drag me into your mess?
Get ready to die.
"Not an accomplice."
"Then what?! Move!"
"Remember swinging at me just now?"
"Wha...!"
Shing!
I thrust straight.
"Arghhh!"
My honed long swordsmanship wasn't something a street rat could block. One slash severed his carotid; blood sprayed as he flailed and collapsed.
"You worthless worm. Know your fucking place."
Rifling his pockets yielded two copper coins. Poor as he looked. No profit.
"The wicked need only punishment."
Elise had smashed the other assailant's skull. They struck first, so heretics for sure. She looted the corpse too.
"Ah, ahh..."
Glancing back, Lina trembled, watching me.
"Hey, you fucking Lina. People died because of you. What now?"
"Th-That..."
"Our little Lina needs a lesson. Daring to screw me over?"
"Onii-chan, it's not... I mean..."
Time to break her habits today.
Hiding behind me? Clear intent to use me. Pondering her punishment, her shivering reminded me of Elise's words.
Kids deserve a pass once or twice.
Fine, one chance.
"Lina."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Know anything about the Eternal Life Cult? If not, you're done."