38
Chapter 38
I stepped in before the furious Barbarians could set the Nun on fire.
- What is the meaning of this?
"That woman insulted our culture! It's as good as insulting Lord Mallak!"
Wait, how does that even follow?
"We must make an example of her!"
Tur, who was grinding his teeth, and Bojak, who couldn't hide his excitement, answered.
Both of them were clutching their weapons, seemingly enraged to the limit.
This isn't something that can be settled just by talking them down.
- Everyone, stop.
Let's get them to stop first.
- Lord Mallak.
Nyx, who had been glaring at Grace with some composure, explained the situation.
As a side note, Nyx looked quite healthy, seeing her after such a long time. She must have been eating and sleeping well.
Apparently, the Nun had been huddled in the corner of the tent for days, quietly praying to the Goddess.
She didn't even show her face when all the Civilized Persons gathered to pray before Totem No. 2. That's likely where the Barbarians' resentment started.
Then, she got into a huge argument with the Barbarians who took the Civilized children to the Training Ground for training, and somehow ended up insulting their culture.
I can see why the Nun got angry. She probably saw small children playing around by throwing axes.
To be honest, that terrified me too.
Even if their civilization is at a medieval level, isn't this a fantasy world where magic and gods exist? They might be sensitive about child abuse, similar to the modern era.
Since Grace is both a Civilized Person and a religious figure, she probably reacted twice as sensitively.
- Since they are now members of our Tribe Alliance, it's only natural they receive the same training. No exceptions.
"And we didn't just drag the children away. We had the consent of both the children and their parents."
Nyx's point was valid.
To Barbarians, it's only natural to be trained as a Warrior from a young age.
Non-combatants are only so because they have specific reasons why they cannot fight; in Barbarian society, if your limbs are intact, basic training is a given.
There's no reason not to train the Civilized children. In fact, not doing so would be discriminatory.
Nun Grace had failed to perform even the basic duty of 'Prayer to the Loa' and had insulted them by complaining about something that is common sense in Barbarian society.
"I see why you're called Barbarians! Giving blades to innocent children who know nothing!
Do you think such brutality will be forgiven? Why don't you understand that human decency must be maintained, even in a world like this!"
The Nun seemed just as heated as the others, remaining defiant even as she hovered on the edge of death.
If I were an ordinary 21st-century modern person who didn't know the situation here, I might have taken her side.
But I am currently experiencing a fantasy world where a demonic apocalypse is unfolding in real-time.
I couldn't help but think, 'Is this Nun still living in a fantasy world? How has she managed to survive until now?'
It's not like they're telling the kids to go out to war and die; surely they can do some basic training.
It would be a huge help for self-defense too.
In a world like this, I believe it's even more important for children to grow strong. In the end, you have to be able to protect yourself.
I was just thinking of the words to persuade Grace.
"Nun Graceeeee!"
The middle-aged knight standing at the front of the Civilized group screamed.
It was the knight who had been acting as a leader alongside the Nun and handling the translation.
This guy was just as angry as Tur and Bojak. What's with this sudden outburst?
"Do you really not realize that every single thing you do here creates a negative perception of us?
Not only did you ignore their culture, but you put us all in danger! Have you completely lost your mind?
This isn't something that ends just by sacrificing you! You've put all of us on trial!"
"William, are you taking their side too? Are you not ashamed as a knight of the Empire!"
So the knight's name is William.
"Ashamed? What is there to be ashamed of! Do you still have enough pride left to actually feel shame? The Empire has fallen! Even the Cathedral is gone! Do you still not understand?!"
"..."
Grace glared at him.
The middle-aged knight, William, continued speaking with a flushed face, as if daring her to look.
"Have you already forgotten how much we suffered to get to the far reaches of the frontier?
Have you truly forgotten how many sacrifices were made just to reach Bolvano?
We are out of food and people! There is nowhere left to run! There is no such thing as paradise! This is the end!"
William was practically screaming.
"And because of that, you'd use the children as hostages?!"
"I'm not telling them to go to war! I'm just teaching them how to fight! I handled a real sword starting from when I was fourteen!"
"I grew up in an orphanage run by nuns. Before that, I lived in the slums. Since I was a child, I saw countless children die as punching bags for adults.
Do you really think it ends with just teaching them how to fight? No. When soldiers run low, they'll send even the children to the battlefield.
Not only does this go against church doctrine, it's a violation of ethics."
"That's all just speculation!"
"It's not even worth listening to further. I'd rather die than turn a blind eye to such atrocities. At least then, I wouldn't have to live with the shame."
Grace closed her eyes. Her conviction was truly unshakable.
William, frowning deeply, walked into the crowd of Civilized Persons and brought a boy and a girl forward.
"You know this too, right? Ellie, Jerry. They're my children. I'd do anything for them. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes.
Betray the Goddess? I can do that in a heartbeat. Tell that Goddess, who just watched while my mother and wife were eaten by demons, to suck my dick."
William poured his heart out. The Nun didn't seem to be looking or listening, but he kept talking.
I think I understood why William was going this far.
"Grace! Please, snap out of it! Kneel before Lord Mallak and beg for mercy! Tell him you were wrong and ask him to spare you!
Lord Mallak is a merciful person, so he might forgive you! Hurry! You have to survive first...!"
He just wants to save the Nun.
He probably thinks this is the last chance, while I, a Loa, am watching.
"Unnie Grace."
A young girl who had been quietly observing the situation spoke up. It was William's daughter, Ellie.
"The adults aren't making us do this. The tribe people aren't making us do it either.
I chose this myself."
Only then did Grace open her eyes.
"I'm tired of waiting in a safe place for Dad to come back. I'd rather learn how to fight so I can protect him myself."
The eyes of Ellie, a girl who had experienced ruin, did not waver.
"That's nonsense...! You're only nine years old. You should be playing with dolls at your age..."
Ellie slowly shook her head at the Nun's voice, which was filled with sorrow.
"The world isn't like that anymore."
As if those words broke her, Grace gasped for air a few times and burst into tears.
"Uwaaa... uwaaa...!"
I'm not sure exactly how those words affected her, but she probably has her own reasons that I don't know.
Isn't it always like that? A single word, seemingly insignificant to others, can shake someone's heart.
Maybe she finally realized the Church of the Goddess had fallen, or that the world truly had ended... something like that.
- ...
Ellie's words affected me as well. For some reason, I saw glimpses of Paya in her.
...Perhaps I had been thinking the same way Grace was.
"I'm... I'm sorry..."
The situation reached a conclusion with Grace's apology, her mind changed by Ellie's words.
I'll have to wait and see if Grace can truly integrate into the Tribe Alliance, but I decided to be optimistic.
I want to give her a second chance. After all, she didn't act with bad intentions.
In her own way, she was just trying to protect the children.
Of course, she must be punished for the chaos she caused. I left that part to the insulted Barbarians.
Surely they wouldn't do something like torture or flogging?
***
- Paya.
I called Paya over to the altar.
I had sent Rake, who had been napping against Totem No. 1, elsewhere for a moment.
As soon as I arrived, I felt a warm touch and realized it was Rake.
"Lord Mallak?"
There was a stray feather in Paya's hair, perhaps from a visit to the House of Feathers.
Seeing her like this, she really is just a little girl.
- Do you wish to participate in the battle and fight by my side?
"Yes."
Paya answered without a moment's hesitation.
"It would be a great honor and joy to be with you, Lord Mallak. Nothing could be better than that."
Like other Barbarian Warriors, Paya did not fear death. Or perhaps she did, but overcame it through her faith in the god.
Since Paya had always respected me, I should respect her in return.
Like a mother paying for a tutor because she trusts her son's desire to study math, I made my decision.
- Paya, I shall grant you my blessing.