Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: 5. Religion
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I escaped Firendel and arrived in Eisenheim.
A commercial city located in the southeastern part of the empire. Smaller in scale than Firendel, but far more vibrant.
I sat at a cafe terrace on the outskirts of the bustling district.
“One coffee, please.”
“Yes, please wait just a moment.”
The waiter took my order and headed inside. I took a moment to look around the city.
Merchants and factory workers came and went, with the occasional mercenary here and there.
‘A peaceful place.’
After admiring the scenery for about a minute, I started to get bored.
I took a sip of the coffee when it arrived and shoved it far away. It wasn’t to my taste.
‘Did I order it for nothing?’
Around that time, things started getting noisy near the cafe entrance.
“H-hey, what’s that? A golem?”
“Whoa, it’s moving on its own! Who’s it headed for?”
“I heard a prototype from the Magic Tower was out, but... is that what it looks like?”
A wooden puppet about 80cm tall was creaking its way in from the cafe entrance.
Its carved wooden face bore simple lines for eyes and a mouth. The joints were secured with bolts.
Judging by the craftsmanship, it was a terribly crude puppet. All I could do was let out a hollow laugh.
‘I figured he wouldn’t show his real face... but this is beyond imagination.’
The wooden puppet was Broker’s ability. You could think of it as Broker puppeteering it.
“Here.”
I called out to Broker, who was looking around like he was searching for someone.
Broker waddled over to my table. With a creak, Broker opened his mouth.
[Ah, finally found you. You keep changing your looks every time, so it’s hard to spot you.]
“So what’s with this getup? New hobby?”
[Who knows what kinda stunt you’ll pull. Call it insurance.]
I knew exactly what Broker thought of me.
No need for chit-chat here. I shrugged it off casually.
Broker creaked as he climbed onto the chair. His little legs dangled comically in the air.
[Eisenheim, eh. Smart pick. Information and money flow freely here.]
“Boring city. Still, it’s nice seeing all these people buzzing around.”
As I replied, I channeled my mana and cast a perception interference spell.
The attention that had been drawn to us vanished in an instant.
Broker flinched hard, twisting his body.
Once he realized it was just perception interference magic, Broker let out a sigh of relief.
Too many pointless reactions. His consciousness must be synced up tight.
[...So. You said you’re making a side character. What kinda help do you need?]
Blue Moon was still too fragile. Most of its members were dead, and the demons I’d summoned hadn’t grown properly.
In its current state, Blue Moon would likely get wiped out.
“That’s why I’m thinking of chipping away at the Empire. But doing it straight-up would be no fun, so I figured I’d start a cult and spark a little war.”
[Religious war...?]
“Call it a war, but it won’t be on a grand scale. More like a performance piece.”
From that alone, Broker seemed to grasp the gist of my plan.
Broker gestured to his own body.
[Can’t whip up a puppet refined enough to fool people anytime soon. Two months at least.]
“I can help with that. Time’s not the issue.”
Broker nodded. Deal sealed.
[Alright, compensation time. What can you offer me? And how many?]
As if he’d just remembered, Broker tacked on:
[Oh yeah. Those are definitely relic-grade artifacts, right?]
Not far from Eisenheim’s bustling district, in an outlying residential neighborhood. The cult leader’s mansion was more modest than expected.
Broker scoped it out and smirked.
[Guy doesn’t put on airs for a leader. Looks like he’s got some basic alert magic on the windows, though?]
Looking closer, faint mana emanated from the window frames. Decent security level.
This setup probably meant two or three mercenaries inside.
“What they call humility, I guess. Or maybe he’s like me and hoards real assets.”
Though the odds were low.
This cult was tiny. Barely any money coming in.
‘Calling it a cult feels off. More like a little prayer circle.’
I kicked off the ground and leaped to the second-floor balcony. Yanked the window open by force.
The alert magic on the frame got reversed and dismantled. Child’s play.
Mana detection picked up the presences inside clear as day.
‘The one in the room’s gotta be the leader.’
I cracked the window and slipped in. The guy in the hallway started turning around—I smashed his jaw.
“Kh—!”
He crumpled without a sound. The man by the stairs was reading a book.
Peeking closer, it was a doctrine tome. Didn’t bother with the contents.
Our eyes met. His gaze shifted to me and the wooden puppet beside me.
“W-wait a sec. Who the hell are you? How’d you get in here?”
I waved and strode right up to him.
“Uh, wh-whoa? St-stop! If you come any closer—”
I clocked his jaw. It spun, and he dropped like a sack.
The leader’s study was at the far end of the first floor. I paused at the door, ear pressed.
“...Therefore, we must believe in salvation. For death is not the end, but a beginning.”
A voice drifted out. No one else there. Just him practicing his sermon solo.
Diligently rehearsing this late into the evening. Impressive.
I opened the door.
A man in his mid-fifties stood inside. Ordinary middle-aged mug, but his eyes gleamed with unusual fervor.
“Wh-who are you?”
The leader asked warily. On his guard.
“Your faithful believer, Leader.”
I gave a slight bow. Suspicion flickered in his eyes.
Didn’t buy it one bit.
“...How did you get in here?”
“I came for salvation. Word is, you can resurrect the dead.”
The leader’s face shifted subtly.
“...That is true, but grace isn’t for everyone. Only those with true faith...”
“Please bring back my dead daughter.”
I said it softly. He paused.
“I understand your grief. But death is a trial from God. Miracles defying it aren’t granted on a whim.”
“She was thirteen. Died of illness. If you can truly revive the dead, save my daughter.”
“It doesn’t work like that. Faith must come first...”
“You’re saying my faith’s lacking? Then how do I prove it? Money? I’ll give you everything I have.”
“...No need for money. Your faith seems genuine enough. I’ll revive her—just head home for now...”
“Thank you for seeing it. Finally, I’ll see my daughter again.”
I plopped down by the door. No intention of leaving.
The leader backed up. Glanced at the study window.
But Broker had all exits sealed.
Clank clank!
“Hiiik!”
The leader, fumbling at the window, toppled backward. A wooden puppet clung to the glass.
The puppet waved its stubby arms in greeting.
[Hello, Leader.]
The leader’s breaths came ragged. He turned trembling eyes on me.
“...Who are you?”
“Ah, truth is, I wanted to start a religion too. One that saves people. Y’know, something noble.”
“What?”
“But looks like there’s already a fine leader out there. Resurrecting folks? That’s some power.”
I smiled.
“So here’s my offer. Hand over your body to me.”
Fury lit the leader’s eyes. He snatched a knife from the desk.
Decorative. Not sharp, but a hard stab would make it lethal.
“St-stay back!”
He swung wildly. Total amateur.
I ignored it and dove straight into his arms.
The blade sank into my gut.
[...Urk.]
I drowned the surging agony in godly faith.
“Oh God!”
I seized his neck and wrenched hard.
Crunch crunch crack!
Confirmed: leader fully dead.
Ripped the knife from my abdomen and jammed it into my skull.
I awoke in the leader’s body.
“Hallelujah.”
The miracle of raising the dead.
Perfect for a cult leader.
Broker, who’d watched it all in silence, groaned.
[...Crazy fucker.]
Broker unlocked the window and slipped in.
I brushed blood off me and booted the corpse slumped my way.
[Pretty green for a leader.]
“Explains the small operation. Anyway, let’s bounce. Time to craft that puppet.”
I chucked the body into my subspace and turned to leave.
Then Broker hit me with a question.
[Hey. That bit about your daughter. Real? Not one of your toys. A real kid?]
“Nah, total bullshit. Think I’d have a daughter?”