Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Am I Being Kidnapped? (1)
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"Hey."
"Yes, Chris..."
"Do they at least feed you in prison?"
"O-Of course."
Alured was sweating bullets in front of me.
It was a natural reaction, given the mess he'd caused.
"You're sure they feed heretics when they drag them off?"
"The Church doesn't conduct interrogations like that...!"
"So no burning at the stake or anything?"
"If they're proven to be heretics... But Chris isn't a heretic, right?"
That remained to be seen, but at least they fed prisoners. Small mercies.
"No torture either, right?"
"Of course not!"
"And they don't lock you up?"
"Well..."
The holy knights had entered the castle two days ago, and no one had come looking for me until now.
Thanks to that, I'd been able to hold a simple ritual.
There were too many spirits for any real rest, though.
"Everyone's been busy, huh."
Either way, I was about to be hauled off by these clowns who'd finally tracked me down.
But the whole setup felt off—nothing like I'd imagined.
"Old Man, why'd you come?"
"Might not see you for a while, so I had to say goodbye. Wish I could tag along..."
The old men had to hold down the fort until reinforcements arrived, so they couldn't come with me.
They'd been a solid backup while we traveled together. Kinda sad to split up.
"And who's all these people?"
"Folks gathered for your send-off."
A warp magic circle bound for the Church had been set up deep in the barony.
The path to it was lined with soldiers.
Everyone except those on the walls, by the looks of it.
To think the old men had wrangled with the holy knights just to pull this off...
"Times like these, soldier morale is key."
"How's this boost morale?"
"Heroes inspire it just by existing."
"...?"
Made no sense.
The old man sidled up and whispered in my ear.
"Don't forget—we've got your back."
"...Pardon?"
"Let's move out."
Parmon mounted his horse and took the lead, while Serena glued herself to my side.
"Jeez..."
This didn't feel like escorting a heretic at all.
For starters, I was comfy as hell.
No ropes, no threats.
Just strolling to the magic circle, surrounded by holy knights.
"...Is this for real?"
At first, some inquisitor had ordered them to bind me.
But they hadn't even tried before backing off.
The old men had dropped the Empire's name as a threat, and the guy folded like a lawn chair.
Who wouldn't listen when Parmon was gripping his sword and glaring?
"Escort the prisoner."
The inquisitor named Daunon.
At his command, the holy knights around me started marching.
Exuding menace.
"Hmph..."
Clank—
Clank—
The clatter of armor and footsteps echoed, tension thick in the air.
"...Chris, if you're uncomfortable, just say so."
"I'm good. Real good."
Serena, stuck to my side, kept shooting me worried glances.
She'd insisted on coming along—said there was no way I'd go alone.
They hadn't stopped her, which didn't sit right...
Clank—
We'd barely taken a few steps when cheers erupted from the soldiers.
"The Saint is on the move!!"
"Woooooo!!"
A massive roar.
"This... is not what I pictured."
I'd expected chains and dragging.
This looked like a saint's grand procession.
Marching through cheering crowds, flanked by holy knights and priests.
The noise was deafening.
Daunon clearly hated it.
"How dare you utter the saint's name so lightly! What are the holy knights doing?!"
At his shout, the knights glared at the soldiers, killing their momentum.
The men flinched.
"Anyone speaking blasphemy will be arrested on the spot."
His icy, authoritarian tone.
Silence fell over the soldiers.
"Come on, picking on exhausted guys? Lame."
Daunon's sharp eyes turned to me.
Eye contact must've been tough for him right now...
He flinched.
Yep, startled.
His gaze was so filthy, my eyes felt like they'd rot.
"Your head's stuffed with greed, huh. You sure you're a real priest, mister?"
"What?"
"Your fate started out pretty good... but that greed's gonna ruin it all."
"Hah, arrogant for someone who doesn't know their place."
His eyes dripped contempt by default.
Without the old men, he'd probably straight-up call me peasant trash.
He was already plenty condescending.
"We'll see if you keep that attitude during interrogation."
Interrogation?
I shot Alured a glare.
"Hey, you said no torture."
"..."
"That guy's tone says otherwise."
"...It won't happen. You can trust me."
Bullshit.
His hostility toward me was blatant.
Honestly, I felt kinda wronged.
What the hell did I ever do to these guys I'd never even met?
"Man... your fate is all twisted up."
Serena's face hardened as she tugged my arm.
"If they... harm you, Chris..."
"Huh? Nah, it's fine."
Serena was worried sick.
Her stiff expression screamed she was ready to flip the whole thing upside down.
"Rough road ahead, but no real harm. Luck's still on my side."
"..."
My fortunes were wide open right now.
Divine favor at peak.
Personal luck at peak.
Prime condition.
My divinations were sharper and more accurate than usual.
Didn't even need to shake the rattle to get a read.
I glanced at Alured and smirked.
"You really don't listen, do you?"
"...Pardon?"
I kept getting that vibe.
Like a bratty kid.
The others pissed me off, but Alured? Felt like dealing with a child.
Key point: it wasn't my emotion.
Not even a divine message from my body-possessing goddess.
If I had to guess...
"Illia appears as an old man?"
"Yes. She embodies the earth's compassion."
"What does she look like?"
"Mostly statues of grandfathers."
"Hmm..."
A grandfather figure...
Alured added, seeing me ponder.
"Only saints and saintesses have seen the goddess. Statues are based on their accounts."
"Any grandma ones?"
Alured chuckled at my question.
"The goddess has no fixed form. She appears as her followers envision her."
His priestly smile looked genuine while he spoke.
Enough to make me blurt out:
"Learned something new."
"...Pardon?"
"Good face, solid attitude..."
So why the weird feeling?
He flinched.
Avoiding my gaze—suspicious as hell.
Not scared, hiding something.
And it didn't bother me.
Unfamiliar emotion.
"Not divine will either..."
"..."
"...Huh?"
As we walked, a bizarre scene unfolded around me.
Soldiers everywhere.
Knights lined up ahead, clearing a path to the magic circle.
"...What now?"
Parmon gave a signal, and the knights began stomping in unison.
Thud—
Thud—
Gripping their swords tight.
Perfectly aligned.
Like paying respects. It continued until I reached them.
Then a booming voice rang out.
"Knight Order!"
Shing—
"Salute!"
The knights drew their swords as one and raised them skyward.
The sight...
"Whoa..."
A hero's send-off.
Me walking between knight ranks, guarded by priests.
Another wave of cheers from the soldiers.
"Woooooo!!"
"The Saint walks with us!"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Morale this, morale that...
The old men were milking me for all it was worth.
The holy knights scowled as they walked.
Daunon's face was beet red, ready to blow.
"Cheap tricks from godless fools..."
I smirked and looked away.
Closel was standing there.
Muttering something.
His voice echoed in my head.
[Chris, can you hear me?]
"...?"
[The papal candidate next to you made a formal request.]
Alured did something?
That feeling from earlier was spot on.
[Protect yourself the moment we warp. Expect a skirmish.]
A fight?
No clue what was going down.
[The papal faction will secure you.]
His voice cut off.
We reached the magic circle, and the holy knights halted.
Parmon dismounted and approached.
"Got a word."
"..."
The knights stepped aside, annoyed.
The old man leaned in.
"Reported your achievements to the Imperial House."
"The palace...?"
"Don't worry about it. Focus on your job. Politics is ours."
Something big was brewing around me.
Should've given a heads-up...
Definitely their way of looking out for me.
These old guys cared.
"Bind the prisoner the moment we arrive at the Church."
Daunon ordered the knights and stepped onto the magic circle.
As I took position, Alured sidled up close.
Subtle smile, gripping his sword tight.
Whoooosh—
The magic circle lit up.
That's when I saw it.
Alured drawing his sword.