Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Declare the Truth Before the Divinity
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Honestly, even now, I've never once thought of myself as some Holy Warrior or whatever.
I had no intention of charging around waving weapons while shouting "For the Goddess!" like those stereotypical holy warriors, nor did I plan on preaching grand ideals, proselytizing, or punishing heretics.
All I wanted was to claim Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis as mine and enjoy a blissful otherworldly harem life.
That meant I had no choice but to fight the Underground Vermin trying to ruin it for me.
The only difference from before was this: Previously, I'd flatly denied it as a matter of course—"Me, a Holy Warrior? Yeah right." Now, if others called me that, I'd just let it slide.
If people wanted to see me as the Holy Warrior, I wasn't about to correct them.
Besides, if the definition of a Holy Warrior was "one who possesses the Goddess's power," then I actually met the criteria.
I looked at the three women clinging to me, sobbing, and comforted them.
"A week... no, ten days? Sorry for worrying you."
"Sniff... If you're sorry, make it up to us properly later."
"...Yeah. Do you have any idea how much we've... er, how much they've been through because of you?"
"If you pull something like that one more time, I won't forgive you! Alvis, because of you, I..."
While the three of them stuck close to me, the priests knelt or even prostrated themselves in awe.
"H-Holy Warrior... we meet you at last..."
"The grace of Goddess Lunia..."
However, the high priest of Revendale Church and some others glared at me with fierce hostility, readying themselves for battle.
"Everyone, snap out of it! Look at that face—it's exactly like the wanted poster! He's an impostor Holy Warrior! Surround him and prepare to attack immediately! Dead or alive doesn't matter!"
The man in the more ornate white robes than the others was clearly the high priest of Revendale Church.
Just to be sure, I activated Eye that Pierces Truth, but all it confirmed was that he had no ties to the Underground Vermin.
'No wonder they've been having such a hard time.'
For the three of them, it must have been tough—not knowing for sure if these people were with the Underground Vermin, and risking becoming murderers if they attacked innocents in earnest.
Even after the high priest ordered an attack—and to kill me if necessary—most of the lower priests hesitated, having witnessed my power firsthand.
As I headed toward the high priest, I spotted Benjamin collapsed nearby, bleeding out and on the verge of death, so I veered his way.
"Mr. Benjamin, are you alright?"
Benjamin, battered by the priests' attacks, was covered in wounds, bleeding from multiple spots, and unable to even stand.
"Cough... cough... Holy... Warrior... you're safe... ack!"
"Don't talk. Your wounds are severe."
He'd already taken a mortal blow from Robert back at Transen Mountain, and all I'd done was emergency measures to keep him alive. Yet he'd come here without proper treatment and gotten attacked again.
His old wounds had reopened or worsened, and new ones piled on—his life force was flickering out.
I tried healing him again with Light Saber's restorative power, like last time...
"...!"
All it told me was that Light Saber's healing wasn't omnipotent.
"Priests! Someone please heal Mr. Benjamin!"
I couldn't do it, but there were plenty of priests here. If they wanted to, they could save him easily.
But they just exchanged glances, none stepping forward.
"Can't you see the injured man here!? Why are fellow believers attacking each other like this!? Hurry and heal Mr. Benjamin!"
"Do not heal him! That heretic deserves to face divine judgment and die right here!"
Revendale's high priest berated the lower priests, urging them to let Benjamin die.
"He's long defended criminals, clashed with the church, then abandoned us on his own accord. After ten years, he returns only to slander the captain of the Goddess's Sword Squadron without evidence! Our faith and holy power are for Goddess Lunia and her true lambs who sincerely believe and follow her—not for fugitives and apostates who spread slander and sow social chaos!"
"I... cough...! Didn't... lie... You'd know if you just used the power... the Goddess gave you... once... Why..."
At that moment, Linian descended to the ground, cradling Luna in her dragon-winged form.
The priests recoiled in horror at her bizarre shape, assuming combat stances.
"Gasp...! What are you!? Reveal yourself!"
"Alvis, should I just kill them all?"
"I'll handle it. Stand down."
As Linian and I spoke, the high priest pointed at me accusingly, as if he'd expected it.
"See that!? This vile wanted criminal wasn't content with terrorist accomplices—he's even brought a monster that's barely human! Benjamin, you who shelter such scum don't deserve the Goddess's power! Heretics and apostates warrant summary execution—you know that! Everyone! Execute that apostate, restore order, and protect the Goddess's holy house from further desecration!"
"...He's speaking falsehoods."
Luna, who had been silent, responded quietly to the high priest.
The priests, oblivious that this white-haired, white-eyed woman in white robes was the powerless Goddess Lunia herself, scowled in displeasure.
"Huh?"
"Alvis. Those who wield holy power are also strongly affected by your presence. One of the powers granted to believers of the Goddess... ahem, is the ability to discern truth. They can tell if someone is lying or telling the truth just by looking and conversing briefly. And before the divine presence at the root of all those powers, they can only speak the truth. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
It was just as Luna said.
Meaning, the faithful of the Lunia Church couldn't utter anything but the truth before the Goddess?
Goddess Lunia had lost her power and become human Luna, but the power she'd safely extracted was now with me—which meant...
I strode toward Revendale's high priest.
"St-Stop him! Kill that vile wanted man!"
The priests hastily summoned holy power to block me, but...
Shimmer—
The weapons and spells of light they conjured faded away before even touching me.
In a way, it was only natural.
Holy power came from the Goddess, and right now, her divine presence was with me...
They couldn't attack the very source of their own power.
The Underground Vermin had subdued the Goddess with non-priests and tricks like curse-laden chains that defiled her divinity.
In other words, I was invincible against the Lunia Church!
The priests panicked, stammering in shock.
"A-Attacks... aren't working."
"Holy power... it's rejecting harm to that man outright."
"It wasn't a trick after all! He really is the Holy Warrior!"
The priests' eyes widened in dawning realization, their bodies trembling.
The high priest, failing to attack me with holy power like the others, drew his personal guard sword.
"If holy power doesn't work, we'll strike physically! Don't panic—kill him!"
"High Priest of Revendale Church. Someone of your rank should be able to tell if Mr. Benjamin is lying or not. Was he lying? Was it false that Captain Robert of the Goddess's Sword Squadron raided Transen Church and killed people? Were our claims of saving people there and fighting Robert also lies?"
"An apostate's words aren't worth hearing! Nor are those of a criminal like you!"
"Why didn't you even listen to Mr. Benjamin? One glance with your power would've settled if it's true or false."
"Shut up! Shut your mouth, you criminal scum! Hey! Everyone, draw your blades and—"
Crack!
In an instant, I lunged forward, seized Revendale Church's high priest by the head with one hand, and slammed him down.
"High Priest!"
The lower priests rushed over, but Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis flanked me protectively, facing them off.
"Why are you so desperate to ignore Mr. Benjamin's words!? Why bulldoze ahead without verifying truth from lie with your own power!? What are you hiding!? Tell the truth!!"
At that moment, the authority within me shone forth.
"Benjamin's words were true! But that truth can't get out! If word spreads that the captain of the Goddess's Sword Squadron is the real apostate who massacred believers, Lunia Church's followers will abandon us in droves! Our tithes and funding would plummet! We can't let that happen... H-Huh?!"
"...So that's how it is."
Revendale Church's high priest clamped his mouth shut in horror, but it was too late.