Chapter 197: To the Church of Light (2)
Chapter 197: To the Church of Light (2)
"Wow. This is insane."
It looked like a drawing room spacious enough to fit a dozen people comfortably... but this was actually the interior of a carriage.
I expected it to be nice since the Main Chapter of Righteous Light had prepared it, but this was beyond my imagination.
Not only had they applied space expansion magic to its absolute limit, but I couldn't even feel the vibration of movement.
Judging by how fresh the air was, there had to be constant ventilation even with the doors shut. Temperature control was just a bonus.
And then there was the interior design.
Plush beds lined up according to the number of people, a dignified painting of a lion on the wall, a soft sofa in the center, and high-end carpets covering the floor.
Finally, symbols of Righteous Light were hung everywhere.
The sun-shaped emblems were placed so perfectly that they transformed a space that could have felt overly gaudy into something truly reverent.
Just how much gold did they pour into this? No, this was likely the prime example of something money couldn't buy.
As I looked around in constant admiration, Helena, sitting on the opposite sofa, spoke with a confident smile.
"How do you like it, Brother? Is it to your satisfaction?"
"It's the best. This is practically on par with a luxury inn."
"Indeed. Within our Church, it is known as the Walking Church. Though we have slightly modified the internal structure for your comfort, Brother."
"...Is that really alright? It's my first time seeing one in person, so I didn't recognize it immediately, but I heard the Walking Church is reserved only for His Holiness the Pope."
"There is no issue, as it was His Holiness himself who sent it. Above all, you carry a divine blessing more radiant than anyone else in our Church. You are more than worthy, Brother."
"Haha... That's an honor."
Helena clasped her hands in front of her chest as if praying, her golden eyes sparkling.
...It was a lot. It was seriously a lot.
We lived in an age where even Cardinals or candidates for Saintess and Saint were lucky to receive an A-rank blessing.
Since the Pope was elected by a vote among the Cardinals, their blessing was no different from the others.
Therefore, the fact that I possessed an A+ rank blessing was clear evidence that I was being favored by Righteous Light.
The problem was that I was currently on my way to tell them in advance that I’d refuse if they tried to offer me an Apostle position.
I averted my gaze from Helena, who had been staring intensely at me for a while.
My eyes landed on Iris, who was covering her face with her hands, her mouth clamped shut.
She looked like a small animal that had spotted its natural predator—or a child playing hide-and-seek, thinking that if she couldn't see me, I couldn't see her.
Perhaps realizing she couldn't hide them, she began to gently stroke her long, exposed ears.
"Iris?"
"Hieek! M-Master! Not the ears...!"
"If you don't like it, take your hands off your face and look at me."
"That... that is embarrassing."
"You know you're being more embarrassing right now, right? How long are you going to stay like that?"
"Urgh..."
Iris trembled as if reliving a cringeworthy memory. However, she didn't take her hands away.
"I guess I have no choice."
I couldn't just leave her like that, so I picked her up and sat her on my lap.
Like a sleepy platypus burrowing into its nest, Iris naturally buried her face in my chest.
She’d probably get up on her own once she calmed down.
I was patting her small back and letting out a deep sigh when I made eye contact with Helena, who was staring blankly at us.
"Priestess Helena?"
"Ah! Y-Yes, Brother Yandel. Is something the matter?"
"You were staring so intently. I thought you might have something to say."
"Mmm..."
Helena let out a low hum and slowly scanned our surroundings.
Carla was sitting on my left as if it were the most natural thing in the world. On my right, Elisha had slid over to occupy the spot Iris had vacated.
Fay was busy exploring the carriage with curiosity, and Iona was already rolling around on one of the beds.
Seeing this, Helena tilted her head.
"I can understand Miss Fay and Professor Iona... but I have always found it curious how close you are with your slaves, Brother Yandel. Ah, of course, I have no intention of meddling in your private life, but the slave on your lap right now is..."
"Aha."
The Church of Righteous Light hated the Evil God with a passion. Naturally, they didn't think much of cultists, nor the slaves associated with them.
And what were the reasons for my slaves' falls?
Carla was a victim of guilt by association regarding cultist charges, while Elisha and Iris were charged with spirit summoning.
To Helena, who viewed me as someone who hated the Evil God as much as—or even more than—she did, my intimacy with Iris must have been hard to grasp.
I pressed down on the nape of Iris's twitching neck to steady her before speaking.
"All three of them made a sort of deal with me."
"A deal? With slaves?"
"They may be slaves, but they are exceptional mages. Above all, they aren't directly linked to the Evil God, are they?"
The false charges framed against Carla's father couldn't be overturned yet. However, it had long been proven that Carla herself had no connection to the cult.
That was why she had been sentenced to slavery rather than execution.
What about Iris and Elisha? It was a clear fact that Iris had attempted to summon a spirit.
But that didn't equate to worshipping the Evil God.
...The danger of summoning another transcendent being couldn't be denied, but regardless, it had nothing to do with the Evil God.
"Even so, wouldn't it be a waste to treat them as mere slaves?"
"But..."
I slowly shook my head at Helena, who seemed ready to protest.
"No, this is enough for me. ...Besides, while I call it a deal, our relationship isn't actually that stiff."
"Pardon?"
"Uh, well, you've heard it too, haven't you, Priestess Helena? What a partner means to an elf."
"...A half of the soul, a pair of wings, roots intertwined as one, a Thousand Year Promise. Surely you don't mean?"
"Yes. That 'surely.' You know Iris was the Sylvan Tower Lord, right? The reason she remains my slave even though she could break the slave imprint herself is because of a much stronger contract between us."
"Ah..."
Helena nodded, looking somewhat impressed. Perhaps emboldened by this, Iris wiggled around to face forward, revealing her face.
"It is as Master says. I know how Elisha and I must look to a cleric like you, but there is no need for concern."
"Is that so?"
"It is. Master's enemy is my enemy. Master's goal is my goal. This imprint... will disappear one day, but until then, it is a symbol of the trust that binds Master and me."
Iris wore a faint smile as she caressed the thorn bush pattern engraved on her neck.
"The Lindelheit lady has likely made a similar promise."
"Huh? No, I haven't?"
"Eh?"
Iris blinked her sky-blue eyes and tilted her head.
Carla also blinked her ruby eyes and tilted her head in the opposite direction.
"Uh... Lady Lindelheit, weren't you also planning to clear your slave status and be united with Master later?"
"What are you talking about? I'm Master's slave forever."
"...Then why were you so enthusiastic about teaching him your family's secrets? I thought you were dreaming of Lindelheit's revival through Master since you would eventually become one family."
"That's because my body, my heart, and the knowledge in my head all belong to Master. ...To be a little honest, I also just liked the idea of leaving my mark on Master."
"Was it just territorial marking...?"
Iris looked dumbfounded. Elisha and Helena seemed to be thinking the same thing, their mouths hanging open.
Only Carla blinked with an innocent face, as if she couldn't see what the problem was.
"Hey. Carla? If I were to release you from your slave status..."
"N-No, Master!"
Carla's healthy complexion instantly turned pale as she clung to my arm.
"Please don't abandon me! You said you'd keep me as your slave for life!"
"No, I'm not abandoning you, I'm freeing you."
"It still means I won't be Master's slave anymore! D-Did I do something wrong? Did I upset you? I'm sorry. If you tell me, I'll never do it again..."
It had been a while since I'd seen that anxious expression, like a puppy left out in the rain.
I patted Carla's shoulder and slowly pried her off my arm.
"I'm really not abandoning you, so calm down. You can't be a slave forever. I'm talking about a long time from now."
"I... I'm fine being Master's slave for the rest of my life. I told you before. I don't care how many other women you bring in. Even if you don't love me... it hurts, but I'm still okay with it. Just please don't try to separate me from you. Please... please need me..."
"......"
"I can't even imagine a life where I'm not Master's slave anymore..."
Heavy.
Carla's obsession was way too heavy.
I knew her mindset had been twisted during her slave education, unlike Elisha or Iris, but I didn't realize it was this bad.
Even though she had been acting brighter lately, it felt like the underlying fear hadn't changed.
I let out a long sigh and pulled Carla close. Then, I whispered into her trembling ear.
"It's okay. Why would I ever abandon such an obedient and pretty slave? Carla, you are my slave for life. No one can take you away. You can't escape either. So rest easy and leave everything to me. Just focus on how to be loved by me. That's the duty of a pet slave, isn't it?"
"Nyehee..."
The words full of possessiveness that I had whispered several times before.
As I repeated them, Carla's trembling gradually subsided until it stopped completely.
As a side effect, her face turned beet red and her expression became dazed, but at least she was okay now.
I didn't realize Carla was this obsessed with the master-servant relationship.
Actually, for me, there was no reason to refuse. I'll just keep her for life as she wants.
Instead, I'll have to be a bit more careful with Carla when bringing up these kinds of topics in the future.
"Phew..."
Relieved that the situation was resolved one way or another, I looked up.
"Ugh."
Helena recoiled in horror, looking as if she had just witnessed a master of gaslighting in action.
"Priestess Helena, there's been a slight misunderstanding..."
"Ah! It's already time for prayer! I shall take my leave now. It was a pleasant conversation, Brother!"
Helena scrambled up from the sofa and hurried toward the wall where the symbol of Righteous Light hung.
It was a blatant display of rejection. I reached out toward her retreating back with a bewildered expression... but that wasn't going to bring back someone who had already checked out.
Naturally, my chance to explain myself vanished as well.
Slide.
Iris's small hand overlapped mine, which was still hanging hollowly in the air.
"...I understand."
It was a warm smile, as if she were looking at a comrade.
"No, don't 'understand,' give me a solution."
And Iris, you're one to talk when you're constantly acting like a baby yourself. That's your own fault.