Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Prayer to the Goddess
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The Lunia Church on Transen Mountain wasn't all that large, but it was packed with people inside.
Criminals from the Empire and all sorts of other countries who had committed various offenses and washed up here.
At least among that horde of felons, the ones here had some shot at redemption.
According to the lore, only those who felt at least a twinge of shame for their crimes and had some will to reflect ended up coming here.
The real monsters—murderers, rapists—didn't even show their faces.
"There are really a lot of people. Do they not know criminals come here too?"
I chuckled to myself at Ravi's comment.
This place was known only among crooks, so nobody had a clue that everyone praying here was a criminal.
Scattered around the interior were several burly security guards who looked like bandits straight out of a wanted poster. They were reformed criminals too.
I approached one of them and asked,
"I'd like to pray alone. Is there a spot I can enter by myself?"
"Are you seeking confession, brother?"
This bandit—no, security guard—had a hulking frame and a face like thunder, but his speech was remarkably courteous.
"It's a little different from confession. I just want to pray quietly on my own. If there's a single-person room, could I use that?"
"It seems you have troubles you can't even share with the priests. We certainly have private prayer rooms. I'll show you in. No one will hear, so confess your sins with peace of mind."
I had no sins to confess, but I nodded along, playing the part.
To conceal my identity, I slipped on a mask and hat, then turned to the three waiting behind me.
"It won't take long. Just wait a sec."
Following the security guard's lead, we soon reached a simple room: a desk and chair, two unlit candles securely mounted on either side, and a small goddess statue right in the center of the desk.
"May you find true repentance and prayer here, reflect on your sins, and be reborn anew, brother."
As I took my seat, the guards lit the candles, bowed their heads, and stepped out.
Now it was just me in this candlelit cubby meant for one, facing the pint-sized goddess statue.
Never prayed to the goddess before. Was it as simple as closing my eyes, clasping hands, and chatting?
Not knowing the drill, I settled into the familiar pose—hands folded—and shut my eyes, muttering under my breath.
"Lady Lunia. This weird crap happening to me right now—is that your doing?"
"......"
"All that fate backlash mumbo-jumbo too?"
"......"
"Fine, whatever. But why do you spout nonsense at crucial moments and try to off people? If you dragged me here for some task, shouldn't you at least not sabotage me?"
"......"
"And what about that bizarre other voice I heard in my head during whatever that illusion was last time? It's not saying the same thing as you. Split personality or what?"
"......"
"Where are those Underground Vermin like Vector hiding? How many more are there? If I just wipe them out, can I finally live in peace?"
"......"
Predictably, no voice emanated from the statue.
I suddenly felt like a total fool and let out a soft scoff.
"What the hell am I doing, yapping at a chunk of stone like some nutjob."
This was a world where the goddess supposedly existed, but from what I'd seen, nobody got any favors from her, and she didn't meddle anywhere. Fat chance a faithless schmuck like me would get a reply just by praying.
Maybe I should've asked the bandit—er, guard—for praying instructions.
I'd come hoping a prayer might get me some divine word, but now I just felt bad for dragging everyone out here for nothing.
What do I even tell the three on the way out?
Sorry! Thought praying to the goddess would get a response, but nope! Haha!
...Way too flippant for the ones who'd trusted me enough to follow this far.
One last try before bailing?
As I clasped my hands again, a memory surfaced—what others had said upon seeing me.
- You don't know? You're the Holy Warrior, the goddess's apostle. Deny it all you want with that light inside you—it changes nothing.
Linian, the blue dragon I'd met in Libertà.
- I was tracking where the goddess shunted that dreg, and here it crawls right in. Guess I owe you thanks.
Vector of the Underground Vermin.
- Th-that light just now! It's unmistakably Lady Lunia's power!
- After ignoring our prayers for so long, has she finally heard our voices!
The elves of Arborness.
These folks knew the goddess far better than I did, and they all said variations of the same thing.
If this statue served as some kind of conduit to the goddess... maybe this?
I summoned a Light Saber, gripped it, channeled healing power instead of destruction, and gave a light swing toward the statue.
The light spilling from the blade hit the statue, and—call it imagination—it seemed to drink it in.
That instant.
"No way—it actually works?!"
A voice, faint as a whisper, emanated from the goddess statue.
But it was garbled, like a TV with shitty reception—mere fragments of words drowned in static. No clue what it meant.
"Uh... is this really you, Goddess? What're you saying? Answer my questions, please."
『Pla... ce... attack...』
"Damn it, what god can't even talk straight to a prayer?"
I could hear something, but the incomprehensibility made it worse.
Maybe the remote location was screwing with the signal...
Still, I'd confirmed my power triggered a response. I could sneak into a major city church under cover of night for another shot.
With that minimal win, my mood lighter, I pushed open the prayer room door.
There stood a priest in pristine white robes, flanked by what looked like bandits—but security guards.
Were they here to drag me off for my cheeky words to the goddess?!
"I-I didn't say anything weird!"
The priest eyed me curiously for a beat, then spoke.
"I have words for you, Mr. Alvis."
"...!"
A total stranger dropping my name spelled trouble.
The priest drew a wanted poster from his robes and held it up.
"This is you, isn't it?"
"...I came knowing Transen Mountain Church offers even criminals a chance at repentance and prayer."
"I'll ask later how someone with no prior ties to crime knew that. For now, step inside—we need to talk."
No options, so I trailed the priest and guards to the meeting room.
The three, huddled on the central pews pretending to pray, shot me anxious looks. I turned, winked, and eased their worries.
I claimed a seat at the meeting room table; the priest sat across.
"Brothers, give us the room, please."
"You sure?"
"Yes, it won't drag on."
The guards withdrew. The priest laid a hand on his chest and bowed slightly.
"I am Benjamin, humble servant of Goddess Lunia."
"No need for my intro, I figure."
Benjamin fixed me with a steady gaze.
"As you know, Transen Church gives criminals worldwide one last shot at atonement. I split from the Central Church over it and built this outpost. Nobody comes here without some sin on their ledger."
"That's why I know Transen doesn't dig into visitors' crimes unless it's unforgivables like murder or rape. See, I'm wanted myself—no other choice but here. Bold move confronting me like this."
"My apologies for the impropriety. But our church turns away more than just killers and rapists. Those who spit on our core purpose? No chance."
Benjamin leaned in a touch.
"Take someone posing as the Holy Warrior, the goddess's prime champion. That's blasphemy against the power-granter herself. We couldn't shelter that."
Guess the Sword of the Goddess's warrant was tripping me up.
"I've never claimed to be the Holy Warrior, never acted the part, never profited off it. No idea why it's on the poster, but that's one thing I can swear is false. If the church won't have me, I'll slip out quietly—no fuss."
"Not yet—I've more to say. Hear me out?"
"...?"
"Something off about that claim. Fakes posing as Holy Warrior aren't new. History's full of 'em. Records say Central Church elders met, decided warrants—then the Sword moved on orders. Not this time."
"Sword of the Goddess jumped the gun?"
Benjamin nodded.
"Left Central over a decade back, but ties linger. Word is, Sword acted before elders ruled—vowed to cut down the impostor. Looks like thumbing nose at elders' authority. Huge faux pas. Sword wouldn't blunder that—first red flag."
"'First' means others."
"Right. Next oddity: Aldebaran, Pratea Kingdom."
Where Lenis and I picked up mercenary gigs waiting for Ravi and Elfin. Now a ghost town thanks to Ebony Shadow Mercenaries, repurposed by elves.
"Mercenary hub originally. Wiped out overnight, unknown cause. Handful of mercs survived—out on jobs. They buzzed about a 'Mercenary King' radiating warm light."
Some survivors after all.
"Heard some Arborness elves relocated to ruined Aldebaran post-sacred tree inferno. But post-warrant? Elves there deluging church with furious protests."
"Really?"
"'He saved our doomed race, light for our blindness. Elders affirm: no terrorist, but great guide.' Elves one-hundred percent sold you're the Holy Warrior—sans terrorism. Never uttered 'Holy Warrior,' but dead certain you are."
Grateful for the elves shielding me amid global manhunt.
"Elves don't mass-migrate to human lands sans sacred tree barbecue. Nor fabricate tales. Someone herded 'em to Aldebaran—they swear it's you."
"Your point?"
"Alvis, you're painted as Ebony Shadow Mercenaries psycho-killer sparking Empire-Carrot Duchy border clash—unacceptables here—or goddess-picked true Holy Warrior. We ignore backgrounds usually, but this hits home. Can't sit idle."
Benjamin inched closer.
"Alvis. Are you truly her empowered Holy Warrior? That tale of the current one's sword not shining at investiture—'fake'—true? Poster-terrorist, or signs-point Holy Warrior? Show us your power. Your truth."
I wrestled with it.
Power witnesses so far: traveling Ravi, Elfin, Lenis.
Clueless mercs or too-chaotic elves otherwise.
But a Lunia priest? Instant verdict—real or fraud.
Mere demo, yet it'd lock my path irrevocably. Unsettling.
For kicks, Eye that Pierces Truth: Benjamin legit priest, no Vermin disguise.
Deep breath, decision forming—
"!!!"
BOOM!!!
Text flared up—the ground heaved, church shuddered, ceiling rained dust and debris.
"What the—?!"
Benjamin yelled for the outer guards, flung the door—as Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis barreled in from the main hall.
"Alvis! Trouble! Armored swordsmen attacking the church! Reeking black aura—gotta be Underground Vermin!"