The Cult (1)
I opened my eyes. The ceiling, now familiar to me, came into view. I turned my head to look for Ashtain. He wasn't in the room. He must have gone down first. After finishing my simple preparations, I went down to the first floor of the inn. As expected, Ashtain had come down first and secured a seat. The food was already ordered, with appetizing dishes lined up on the table. I walked over to his table and pulled out the wooden chair opposite him to sit. Then, I protested with dissatisfaction.
“You could have woken me up, you know?”
“You were sleeping so soundly that I thought it would be rude to wake you. Who likes being woken up when they're comfortable?”
If it's Ashtain, it's fine. Saying that out loud was embarrassing, so I trailed off.
“……Wake me up next time.”
“Shouldn't you think about waking up on your own first?”
“How heartless of you.”
“What can I do? That's just my personality.”
Lies. Did he think I'd believe such flattery? I know better than anyone how kind he is. I'm not so naive that I wouldn't notice the consideration he shows me. It's Ashtain who cares for me when I'm sick or struggling. Still, if I point this out, Ashtain sometimes furrows his brow. As if he's heard something he shouldn't have. I really hate seeing Ashtain make that expression. So, I deliberately voiced my complaint.
“Do you know that sometimes you don't seem like a hero even though you are one?”
He smiled faintly, took a bite of the skewered meat, and swallowed his dark beer. A satisfied “Mmm” escaped from Ashtain's mouth.
“Sorry I'm not the hero from fairy tales.”
That wasn't something I said intending to receive an apology, so my heart felt heavy. What had I said? Had I unknowingly criticized Ashtain? What right did someone like me have to…… Seeing my gloomy expression, Ashtain, after checking my face, pulled a piece of meat from the skewer and fed it to me. It was spicy yet sweet, with a savory flavor.
“Umm?”
“You tend to get unnecessarily sensitive when you're hungry.”
“I-I'm not sensitive because I'm hungry.”
“I know, I know. Have another.”
That tone didn't sound like he knew at all. He skillfully removed another piece of meat from the wooden skewer. I tried to refuse repeatedly, but I had no choice but to succumb to the piece of meat that was forcibly pushed in.
“Aria.”
Aria. Ashtain, calling me by my name instead of the title Saintess. I like the name Aria that he calls me. It makes my heart flutter. It feels like it's awakening the 'me' whose self has become faint. It feels like it can engrave the existence of 'me'.
“It's delicious, right?”
I nodded. To hide my reddened face, I nodded quickly up and down.
“It is delicious, but forcing me to eat before the pre-meal prayer of thanks, do you wish for me to be a delinquent Saintess, Ashtain?”
“What's wrong with being a bit delinquent?”
“The Goddess is watching.”
“Does it matter if that guy who only watches while people suffer or die sees it?”
My expression hardened.
“………That's blasphemy.”
Ashtain seemed to realize he'd made a slip of the tongue and lowered his head.
“Yeah, I was too harsh with my words.”
“It's fine if you tease me, but please be careful with your words about the Goddess.”
“It's okay to tease you?”
That wasn't what I meant. When I glared at him, he reached out his hand. Was he going to flick my forehead again? Instinctively, I covered my forehead with both hands.
“Since I'm sorry, have another.”
Ashtain chuckled and pulled off another piece of meat to put in my mouth. Since my hands were on my forehead, I had no strength to push his hand away. Another piece of meat pushed through my lips.
“P-Please stop.”
“I don't want to?”
His misdeeds continued. In the end, my cheeks became as puffed up as a hamster's. Finding this sight extremely amusing, Ashtain burst into loud laughter.
“………It's too much.”
“Cute, you.”
I desperately chewed and focused on swallowing the food down my esophagus. And belatedly, I closed my eyes and offered the pre-meal prayer of thanks. Goddess, I'm sorry. Please look kindly upon this lamb who takes her daily bread first and then offers prayer. After briefly finishing the prayer and opening my eyes, I saw Ashtain gazing at me intently.
“Seeing you like this, you really are the Saintess.”
“……Do I look like someone unqualified to be the Saintess? Then Ashtain, who enjoys drinking in broad daylight, is unqualified to be the hero.”
When a sarcastic reply came out, he gave me a gentle smile.
“That's not what I meant, so don't get worked up. It's just surprising that you don't force things like 'This is against the Goddess's will' or 'You must believe in the Goddess's grace' like other religious folks do.”
I let out a deep sigh.
“Did other clergy members say things like that?”
“Hmm, mostly. That's why I found you a bit strange at first. I thought you'd bring up the Goddess's will at every word, but talking to you, you were surprisingly normal.”
“Faith isn't something that comes from being forced.”
Ashtain's eyes widened. Maybe he didn't expect me to say something like this. He replied in a somewhat serious tone.
“That's true.”
“Forcing it only breeds aversion. My role is, when someone wishes for faith, to guide them onto the right path.”
“You're quite the proper Saintess.”
“………Don't tease me.”
We had a pleasant breakfast while engaging in ordinary conversation. Most of it was about the monsters settled in the Ascendio Mountains, but I was content enough. Conversations with him bring peace to my heart. After finishing the meal, when I was sipping tea and Ashtain was drinking dark beer, Ashtain suddenly turned his head sharply toward the inn's entrance.
“……Hmm? Looks like someone's here.”
Was it the hero's sharp intuition? Just as Ashtain said, the inn door opened. For a moment, I swallowed my breath. Was this what it felt like for one's heart to stop? A sharp sensation pierced my lungs. What I saw was a familiar outfit. An all-too-familiar outfit. He, who had been looking around, fixed his gaze on me.
“So you were here.”
Having found me, he smiled with his eyes. The sound of teeth chattering could be heard.
“Aria?”
Ashtain looked at me with worried eyes. I wondered where the noise was coming from, but it seemed to be coming from my mouth. My body started trembling. Why, why had he come here? The question didn't make it out of my mouth.
“Bishop Ronin.”
He gave a benevolent smile.
“It's been a while, Saintess.”
* * *
To put it bluntly, Ashtain didn't like this man who was smiling broadly. It wasn't that there were any displeasing elements in his outward appearance. Neat attire, polite speech, actions exuding elegance. Someone who harbors hostility toward such a person without reason would just be a lunatic. However, Ashtain had seen Aria's extreme rejection reaction. Just moments ago, she had been actively chatting. But look at her now. Wasn't she repeatedly clacking her teeth and unable to even meet his eyes properly? This was clearly agitation caused by this man's appearance. Ashtain wasn't an idiot. If anything, he was on the clever side. If Ashtain had been dull, he would have been swept away by the world's hardships and disappeared long ago. The hero's mind spun quickly. Aria, who treated her own body as dirty and self-harmed in the bathroom. Aria, who asked to be held because she was scared of being alone. And Aria, who showed aversion to the man from the cult. Like pieces of a puzzle fitting together. All these circumstances pointed to one assumption. Aria had experienced something in the cult. It was surely not a good thing. Having quickly organized his thoughts, Ashtain looked at the man who was extending his hand and offering a friendly greeting. A thick scent of blood emanated from his eyes.
‘A kindred spirit.’
“Meeting you like this for the first time, I am Ronin Edrick, who holds the position of Bishop in the Sex Cult. It's an honor to meet you, Hero Ashtain.”
He knew this side's name. Then there was no need to bother introducing himself. Ashtain went straight to the point.
“What brings you here?”
“Your speech is curt, you.”
It was a sharp tone. When the nun with purple hair behind Bishop Ronin flared up and tried to move, Ronin raised his hand to stop her.
“Refrain from rude language toward the Hero, Jina.”
The nun called Jina bowed her head reluctantly.
“……I'm sorry, Hero……sir.”
Ashtain waved his hand half-heartedly. Receiving a bow wouldn't make him feel good anyway. It was worse than not doing it. In the first place, that nun's apology was directed at Ronin, not himself. Ashtain slowly stared at Ronin.
“So, what's your answer?”
Despite Ashtain's rude attitude, which might warrant a twitch of the eyebrows, Ronin replied good-naturedly. Behind that good nature, there would be a cold and sharp awl. To him, Bishop Ronin seemed skilled at hiding his emotions.
“The Cardinal wished to question the Hero about the unseemly incident you caused. Therefore, the official pretext is to demand an explanation for the incident the Hero caused, but.”
He deliberately trailed off. It meant there was another ulterior motive, so ask about it. Though annoyed, Ashtain decided to play along with his scheme.
“……But?”
“It's merely a formal excuse. The reason I've come here is largely because I wanted to see the Saintess's bright appearance.”
Ronin's gentle gaze turned toward Aria. Aria trembled as if electrocuted and stared at him.
“B-Bishop Ronin.”
Her words trembled, and so did her body. It was like a mouse in front of a cat, terrified. Ashtain found this trembling version of her unfamiliar and pitiful.
“I'm overjoyed to see your happy face.”
Ronin smiled brightly. It was such a clear smile that Ashtain felt his strength drain. In contrast, Aria's face was rotting darkly.
“Do you remember what I said before?”
‘Please have a bit more hope.’
How could she forget those words that echoed in her ears? Aria bit her lip and delayed her response.
“Oh dear, have you forgotten?”
“………No, I remember.”
“I see.”
Ronin swept back his parted hair. A brief silence. He opened his mouth.
“It seems you've found it?”
At Ronin's words, Ashtain furrowed his brow. Found what? Ronin reached out his hand toward Aria. Was it with the intention to stroke her? There was no way to know now. Because Aria reflexively swatted his hand away. She looked at her own hand with a dazed face.
“Ah, th-this is.”
Ronin quietly looked at his swatted hand. The corner of his mouth curved like a crescent moon.
“How cruel of you.”
“I'm sorry…….”
Ashtain covered Aria's mouth. He didn't want to hear her apology. That reason for her action was sufficient. Ronin's eyes, which had been staring at that sight, curved softly.
“I'm delighted that the Hero is more upright than expected.”
Ashtain furrowed his brow.
“If you're just going to spout nonsense I can't understand, I'd appreciate it if you left right away.”
“Haha, I'm also someone burdened with official duties, so I'll return after delivering the message.”
“A message? Are you asking for an explanation about bringing Aria?”
“That's fine too, but isn't there still one thing left that the cult needs to take back?”
Was there such a thing? Ashtain rested his chin on the back of his hand and scratched his temple.
“What was it?”
“The Holy Sword.”