Chapter 90: Artificial (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: Artificial (1)
Deep beneath Rosario—the name of both the Holy Kingdom and its capital.
In a massive cavern at the heart of a labyrinthine sewer system, a man stood alone.
He wore a benevolent smile that seemed out of place in such a dismal location. Around his neck hung a moon-patterned pendant, the 'Bell of Sironia,' and he was dressed in ink-black mourning clothes. This man was none other than the Chief Cardinal of Rosario, Anderde.
"You've arrived."
A soft murmur.
From the shadows behind the empty cavern, a man draped in a black robe began to walk forward.
"As expected, there is no deceiving the Cardinal's eyes."
The masked man, whose identity was hidden and whose eyes curved in a playful arc, bowed slightly. He walked toward Anderde and gave a light wave of his hand.
Thud—
With that, a single crate dropped in front of Anderde.
Anderde looked down at the box, which was neither particularly small nor exceptionally large.
"Go ahead and check it," the masked man said.
Anderde knelt and opened the crate.
"Ooh..."
Seeing the numerous Abyss Bodies contained within, an exclamation of awe escaped his lips.
After marveling at the quantity—there looked to be at least fifty—Anderde closed the lid and stood up, bowing politely.
"Thank you, brother. Thanks to you, we can proceed with the plan as scheduled."
"That is good to hear. I believe you mentioned it would be during the Birth Festival. Is that correct?"
"Yes. Unless the plans change, that is when it must happen."
The masked man shrugged at Anderde's words. He turned to leave but then paused to ask a question.
"By the way, may I ask you one thing?"
"Please, feel free," Anderde replied with a benevolent smile.
The masked man hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I was wondering why a Cardinal such as yourself would go to such lengths for something like this. Of course, if you feel the question is too personal, you don't have to answer."
Anderde seemed to ponder the question for a moment before opening his mouth.
"Because... I wish to receive salvation."
"...Salvation?"
At the masked man's follow-up, Anderde spoke again.
"Brother, what do you think of the gods?"
"Hmm... I'm not sure. I haven't given it much thought."
"I feel that the gods are unfair."
It was a statement far too heterodox to come from a Chief Cardinal.
"Let me ask you something."
Since the masked man remained silent and listened intently, Anderde continued.
"There are believers who always offer prayers to the gods. Some go to the temple every day to pray; some go to battle to protect the god's name; some do not hesitate to walk a path of thorns to fulfill a divine mission."
"Others head for the holy land, leaving behind an ailing grandmother to follow the divine commandments, while still others commit unwanted killings to uphold the god's will."
"Some pray to the gods for even a piece of moldy bread because they are starving, and others pray to heal a sick old woman."
Anderde's words flowed continuously.
The stories of someone, anyone, and everyone else poured from his lips until he finally posed a final question to the masked man.
"All of them believe in Sironia and offer their prayers. If so, to whom do you think she would reach out her hand to help?"
"..."
As the masked man pondered the question, Anderde spoke again, still wearing that benevolent smile.
"Do not think too hard on it. There is no correct answer among the choices I gave you."
"...What?"
The masked man looked bewildered by the sudden statement, but Anderde pressed on.
"As I said, there is no right answer. She—no, Sironia—does not reach out a hand of salvation to anyone. She simply acts according to her own whims."
Anderde's expression turned bitter.
"That is what a god is. It has nothing to do with the duration of one's faith. Even if someone has believed in Sironia for decades, if they do not catch her fancy, they will receive no power or blessing."
"Conversely, if someone happens to catch a god's eye, they are granted power even if they do not believe in her. They act according to their own desires, as if faith means nothing. They are dogmatic."
"Gods are such beings. Rather than those who offer sincere prayer, faith, sacrifice, and martyrdom, they merely wield their power however they please."
Anderde fell silent for a moment after finishing his speech, then a smile returned to his lips.
"That is why I made this decision."
He spoke with an air of extreme benevolence and holiness.
"That is why I intend to try."
The masked man suddenly looked past Anderde at the cavern behind him.
"A place where no one is discriminated against."
The cavern was dark, but the torches flickering here and there allowed him to guess its massive scale. Beyond the Cardinal, there were countless people.
"A place where anyone who believes can receive power fairly and equally."
Men, women, the elderly, and children.
Commoners, priests, inquisitors, and nuns.
They were all praying reverently toward a single point.
"A god solely for the believers."
At the far end of the space stood a statue. It was massive—so large that anyone could see it—but it was clearly man-made.
A giant stone statue in the shape of a human.
"A human god."
"..."
The masked man stared at him.
Anderde was still smiling.
An infinitely warm smile.
But that smile in the darkness, illuminated by torchlight, was utterly alien.
"..."
The masked man felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
The shadows cast by the torches on either side of Anderde's benevolent face made his smile look even deeper.
Like a madman.
* * *
Alon was internally flustered by the sudden, violent burst of light that erupted the moment he used his magic.
Wait, why is that glowing? The statue of Goddess Sironia shouldn't react even if I use magic, right?
Just in case, Alon immediately stopped the manifestation of his magic.
However, even though he had stopped, the light emanating from the statue of Sironia did not fade.
Then.
[W-What—]
A very flustered, beautiful voice began to echo in Alon's ears.
No physical form was visible.
There was only the voice and the brilliantly glowing statue of Sironia.
Realizing from this that the voice belonged to the Goddess Sironia, Alon looked slightly taken aback. Thinking he should show proper respect first, he moved to bow.
[W-Wait—!]
At the urgent voice, Alon stopped in a half-awkward posture, just as he was about to drop to one knee.
"?"
Alon looked at the statue with a questioning expression.
However.
[You... what are you...?!]
"......??"
Hearing the Goddess's voice trembling as if she were shaking, Alon finally realized that he was being viewed with suspicion and caution by Sironia.
Why me...? Alon wondered, but he couldn't keep the Goddess waiting for an answer for long.
"I am Count Palatio of the Asteria Kingdom, Great Goddess Sironia."
Alon answered by recalling the protagonist's self-introduction he had seen in the game.
[No, that's not what I'm ask— Gasp.]
The Goddess Sironia, who had been speaking as if frustrated, suddenly caught her breath. She remained silent for a long time.
[Count Palatio. What is your purpose for coming here?]
Finally, she spoke again, her voice much calmer than the urgent tone from before.
...Of course, Alon could still sense the underlying desperation in her voice. He remained silent for a moment, wondering how to handle this, before finally getting to the point.
"...I came here hoping I might receive the Necklace of the Eye Eater."
It was the one artifact Alon had been looking for in this Saint's Room—the only one among the many relics that was hidden and not enchanted with tracking magic.
The moment he spoke the name.
Click!
The marble floor to the right of the Sironia statue, which had been solid just a moment ago, slid open slightly.
[Reach out your hand.]
Sironia's voice echoed.
As Alon extended his hand.
Plop!
A white necklace dropped into his palm.
"This is—"
[Is this truly the purpose for which you came?]
"It is... but why so suddenly?"
Alon had guessed her intention to some extent, but he asked just in case.
To that, Sironia replied.
[Take it.]
"...Is it truly alright for me to do so?"
[Yes. Is your business here finished, then?]
"It is."
[Th-then, you should leave.]
With those words, she vanished in an instant.
The white light disappeared as if there had been a sudden power outage.
Her tone had become calm halfway through, but to anyone's ears, she sounded incredibly rushed. Moreover, she had essentially fled the scene. Alon stood there with a bewildered expression.
...Wait, this situation feels familiar.
It suddenly occurred to him that this was very similar to when he met Heinkel at the Magic Society. Recalling Heinkel's warning of "Behind you!", he slowly turned his head to look back.
"..."
Naturally, there was nothing behind him.
What on earth... was that?
Feeling a strange sense of dissonance, Alon left the Room of the Holy Spirit with the Necklace of the Eye Eater he had originally wanted.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that same moment.
Roman, the Saint of Rosario, was staring with wide eyes, more shocked than anyone could possibly describe.
There were several reasons for his astonishment.
First, he was shocked by the fact that Count Palatio could actually converse with the Goddess Sironia.
Second, he was amazed that the statue of Goddess Sironia glowed even more brilliantly when the Count was present than it ever did when he was with her.
But more than anything else, the reason Yuman's jaw had dropped was this:
The Goddess... personally gave him a holy relic?
It was because Goddess Sironia had personally bestowed a holy relic upon Count Palatio.
And she had done so through an act that was like a sacred ritual, performed only when the Goddess herself chose a Saint...!
...Of course, that had merely been Count Palatio's request.
Since he couldn't hear the statue's voice unless he was inside the Room of the Holy Spirit, Yuman found the whole thing suspicious.
Did Count Palatio know I was watching and use some strange trick?
He decided to settle on that conclusion.
Normally, when Goddess Sironia performed a Saint's ritual, she didn't proceed in such a rushed manner; she followed proper procedures.
Therefore, as soon as he saw Count Palatio leave, Yuman immediately entered the Room of the Holy Spirit, knelt, and began to pray.
After some time had passed.
Wuuuung!
The statue of Sironia began to glow.
[What is it, my child?]
Goddess Sironia's voice echoed.
...She sounded a little tired.
However, Yuman, who had already witnessed her presenting the artifact to Count Palatio, failed to notice the subtle difference in her voice and prepared to speak.
"I wish to report to the Great Goddess Sironia. I have confirmed that Count Palatio left with an item from inside the room—"
[Enough.]
Goddess Sironia cut Yuman off.
[I gave it to him myself, so you need not concern yourself with it, child.]
"Pardon? Is that... truly the case?"
[Yes. If you saw what happened today, pretend you saw nothing.]
With those final words, Goddess Sironia vanished.
And so, Yuman remained kneeling in the Room of the Holy Spirit, dazed.
The Goddess really bestowed a relic upon Count Palatio herself?
Lost in thought, Yuman could only reach one conclusion.
"...Then, is Count Palatio... a Saint like me...?"