Chapter 147: The Great Inheritance (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: The Great Inheritance (4)
As soon as I heard that huge number, seventy million stones, it made my heart thump. However, I forced myself to calm down and continue the conversation. I could wait to be happy after the money was in my hands. "Will this letter serve as evidence?"
Upon receiving the letter, Krovitz read it slowly from the top, his expression changing entirely. He did not speak for a long time.
"...Is there a problem?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. If the contents of this letter are true... This is a really serious matter for the church. I am not doubting you, but will you be able to wait inside for a moment?"
"Sure."
Krovitz led us to a sort of drawing room inside the temple, then vacated his seat with a sense of urgency. Apparently, he needed to confirm the handwriting before informing his superiors.
"You don't think... there's something wrong, rrright?"
"Haha, of course not. They just want to discuss it after verifying it."
"Murad is right. You guys read it as well. The contents of that letter are no laughing matter."
The wait was longer than expected. Just when we were starting to throw around new theories, Krovitz returned. "I apologize. I made you all wait too long. Now, let's go. Everyone is waiting."
The place he led us to was the chapel on the second floor, a space that only those who were priests, not ordinary believers, could use.
"I heard that non-members of the church are not permitted here..."
"The goddess has connected our paths. How can we call you strangers?"
Upon hearing Krovitz's answer to Rotmiller's question, my worries vanished. If they had decided the letter was fake, he wouldn't be behaving like that.
Creak.
Soon, Krovitz opened the door and revealed the interior of the chapel. It was a fairly large space, but only seven people were seated inside. When I studied their faces, I froze.
Holy...
After I visited the count's family, I read several books on the positions of the church, so I recognized them right away. There were only two people here wearing armor—a man and a woman. The designs on their armor were different, but the silver thread adorning the hems meant they were captains of the Paladins. Including Krovitz, the three sole captains of the church were gathered here, but that wasn't all. There were two high priests, one cardinal, and an elderly man standing in the center as if to receive their counsel.
As soon as Rotmiller saw him, he knelt and made the sign of the cross. "...A servant of the stars greets the holy Archbishop." His reaction was understandable. If you wanted to put it in Catholic terms, it was like the Grand Archbishop was right in front of us right now.
But who is that child?
Feeling strangely intimidated by the colorful lineup for a moment, I turned my attention to the small boy, about ten years old, seated in front of the archbishop. Now that I was looking, it seemed that everyone was standing in formation to protect the child. Even the archbishop was standing right behind him. Who could this kid be?
While I was questioning this, the archbishop made the sign of the cross, and all the members of the church silently looked at us. "May the blessing of the twilight star be with us."
It was a very remarkable sight. Even Rotmiller, who was also a believer, seemed to be at a loss and went as still as stone. Was it because we were in a chapel? A strangely sacred yet imposing atmosphere pervaded the air.
After a moment of silence, the archbishop opened his mouth. "High Priest Ludwig was a very precious person to us. Thank you for delivering the letter. May I ask how this letter came to be in your possession?"
To be honest, this was a bit unexpected. The person who, of the three major religions, had the most authority was speaking much too politely and cautiously to mere fourth-floor adventurers.
This isn't the norm, though. That man must have been really important.
I slowly opened my mouth and briefly explained what had happened in the Labyrinth of Larcaz.
Perhaps because of his clerical mindset, the archbishop replied, "The twilight star sent you to him because he had lost his way. Thank you for saving his soul. Even though he was possessed by an evil god, his soul will continue to shine forever even in darkness."
It was a bit uncomfortable to listen to. It wasn't a matter of being right or wrong, but it felt like they were fundamentally the opposite of me. Ever since my childhood, I hadn't had a good relationship with religious people.
"...This belonged to him." Soon, I took out the necklace the high priest had been wearing and handed it to them. If this were a holy relic, it would be worth a lot more than the reward, but it didn't feel like a waste because it was the right thing to do. I was indebted to that high priest.
"Thank you. This isn't the item we have been looking for, but this should comfort his soul even a little bit."
Yeah, it wasn't a holy relic. Well, if there had been anything like that, that bastard would have taken it away a long time ago.
"Cardinal Greyond, how much of the bounty will be going to them?"
"The relic was not recovered, but considering the importance of the handwritten letter's contents, his belongings, and conveying his last moments, it would not be excessive to pay all seventy million stones designated by the Ministry of Finance."
"Then, please do so."
I gulped without realizing it. I had expected to receive just half of the reward since we didn't return the holy relic, but they were giving us all of it. I felt bad for feeling uncomfortable earlier. These were really excellent believers.
Of course, that wasn't what was important. "I want to ask you something."
"Ask away."
Since the first matter had been settled, I got straight to the real point, something that may be more important than the reward. "So what are you guys going to do now?"
"May I ask what exactly you mean?"
"Didn't you just find out about the culprit who kidnapped High Priest Ludwig? I'm wondering if you're going to get revenge, since I'm caught up in this now, too." As I asked the question, I subtly hinted that they were sort of responsible for that.
The answer I received was incredibly vague. "I cannot confirm that here and now."
"I see."
Welp, I figured if these guys planned to seek revenge, that bastard wouldn't come after me for at least a while. I supposed I had no choice but to act on my own. I nodded.
"Don't worry, great warrior." At that moment, the little child I had been keeping an eye on earlier opened his mouth.
Shaaaaaa!
An all-too-brilliant silver light poured out of him. When I came to, a ring made of three intertwined vines was sitting on my thick finger. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I realized what exactly I was looking at when I heard the cardinal's cry that followed.
After a moment of silence, the archbishop opened his mouth. "High Priest Ludwig was a very precious person to us. Thank you for delivering the letter. May I ask how this letter came to be in your possession?"
To be honest, this was a bit unexpected. The person who, of the three major religions, had the most authority was speaking much too politely and cautiously to mere fourth-floor adventurers.
This isn't the norm, though. That man must have been really important.
I slowly opened my mouth and briefly explained what had happened in the Labyrinth of Larcaz.
Perhaps because of his clerical mindset, the archbishop replied, "The twilight star sent you to him because he had lost his way. Thank you for saving his soul. Even though he was possessed by an evil god, his soul will continue to shine forever even in darkness."
It was a bit uncomfortable to listen to. It wasn't a matter of being right or wrong, but it felt like they were fundamentally the opposite of me. Ever since my childhood, I hadn't had a good relationship with religious people.
"...This belonged to him." Soon, I took out the necklace the high priest had been wearing and handed it to them. If this were a holy relic, it would be worth a lot more than the reward, but it didn't feel like a waste because it was the right thing to do. I was indebted to that high priest.
"Thank you. This isn't the item we have been looking for, but this should comfort his soul even a little bit."
Yeah, it wasn't a holy relic. Well, if there had been anything like that, that bastard would have taken it away a long time ago.
"Cardinal Greyond, how much of the bounty will be going to them?"
"The relic was not recovered, but considering the importance of the handwritten letter's contents, his belongings, and conveying his last moments, it would not be excessive to pay all seventy million stones designated by the Ministry of Finance."
"Then, please do so."
I gulped without realizing it. I had expected to receive just half of the reward since we didn't return the holy relic, but they were giving us all of it. I felt bad for feeling uncomfortable earlier. These were really excellent believers.
Of course, that wasn't what was important. "I want to ask you something."
"Ask away."
Since the first matter had been settled, I got straight to the real point, something that may be more important than the reward. "So what are you guys going to do now?"
"May I ask what exactly you mean?"
"Didn't you just find out about the culprit who kidnapped High Priest Ludwig? I'm wondering if you're going to get revenge, since I'm caught up in this now, too." As I asked the question, I subtly hinted that they were sort of responsible for that.
The answer I received was incredibly vague. "I cannot confirm that here and now."
"I see."
Welp, I figured if these guys planned to seek revenge, that bastard wouldn't come after me for at least a while. I supposed I had no choice but to act on my own. I nodded.
"Don't worry, great warrior." At that moment, the little child I had been keeping an eye on earlier opened his mouth.
Shaaaaaa!
An all-too-brilliant silver light poured out of him. When I came to, a ring made of three intertwined vines was sitting on my thick finger. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I realized what exactly I was looking at when I heard the cardinal's cry that followed.
"A prophecy...! A prophecy has descended!"
It was something I had only ever heard from NPCs in the game and never experienced myself.
Goddamn it.
It was a prophecy, and apparently the first one to descend in a long time. That answered that question. And as for why that archbishop was treating this child like a treasure chest, the reason was simple.
To think he's a saint.
A saint was a vessel that could hear the voices of the gods and sometimes harness their power. A child who fit all the qualities of a vessel spoke. "The goddess has just spoken. That ring will ward off three powerful ill-fated encounters."
"Do you mean the Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos?"
An ordinary fortuneteller would have just said yes or no to this question, but the oracle was different. "Yes. She said it can only prevent encounters with that man. So you must be prepared to face your fate when all the stems of that ring are cut off."
It felt like I had become a warrior who would defeat a demon lord or something. To be honest, I was dumbfounded. I may have defeated that Elisa bitch and dealt with the high priest, but why would the goddess give me a gift like this? Especially considering I was an evil spirit.
What is this? Is it a prank?
Suddenly, I wondered if all these people were scamming me with that child, but the ring on my hand erased those doubts. Even their expressions, which were stained with astonishment, seemed too sincere to be an act.
"May the blessing of the twilight star be with us."
"Let it flow as it should."
The top religious figures in this world all looked at me and drew the sign of the cross. I glanced at my teammates' faces.
"Bjorrrn, who the hell are you?!"
"Are you really destined to be a hero?!"
"No, that's not the biggest issue here. H-How could a barbarian be chosen by a human god?"
Even if you guys look at me like that, I really don't know, either.
Only then did I turn to stare at the little boy, realizing that this wasn't just something to celebrate. I had a lot of questions.
Slump.
However, the child collapsed weakly. Perhaps that was the price of receiving a prophecy. The archbishop lifted the child into his arms, promptly ending today's meeting. "Sir Krovitz, please guide these people outside."
"No, wait! I still have to ask—"
"I ask for your understanding. We'll meet again later and I'll explain everything. Until then, please keep today's matter a secret. A great disaster may befall you otherwise."
"What? A great disaster?" That was ridiculous, but the conversation ended there.
"Sir Krovitz will explain the details." The archbishop's adamance forced us out of the chamber. Then, following Krovitz's lead, we headed to the drawing room we had been waiting in earlier.
"Krovitz, what is going on here?"
"I... am also unsure why she has chosen to give a prophecy to someone of another race."
"...Has this never happened to a non-human?"
"No, as far as I know, this is the third time."
"So, what happened to them?"
"According to the records, they were branded as heretics within their tribes and kicked out."
Ha, this was a pain in the ass. It was like another suicide button had been handed to me in addition to the evil spirit thing. "I can see why you told me to keep this a secret."
"Yes, because if it becomes public knowledge, it will do more harm than good."
The core of the barbarian's build was the Spirit Imprint. If I got kicked out of the tribe, from that day on, I'd be no more than a failed character. Barbarian shamans only existed in the tribe's holy land.
"Don't worry about us, though. We will not leak this information." As he said that, Krovitz looked at his colleagues. They didn't say anything, but their feelings were clear.
Therefore, I also looked at my teammates.
"Ah! I-I'll keep my mouth shut! Rrreally! You trust me, rrright? Bjorn?"
"Don't worry. I didn't hear anything."
Of course I wasn't worried about Missha nor Rotmiller all that much. He wasn't that type of person, and he was also a follower of Reatlas. The real problem was...
"H-Hey! Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"
"Why do you think?"
"...I will stop drinking from now on."
I let out a sigh as Hikurod lowered his head with a dejected expression on his face. Whew, we shouldn't have all come together. Were all the gods here like this? Instead of relieving me of the biggest stone weighing down my heart, it felt like a new, smaller stone had just been placed on it.
But he's not that much of a blabbermouth, so...
I decided to focus on the bright side. If this ring really prevented encounters with the Dragon Slayer, then this amount of risk couldn't even be called a risk. In terms of pros and cons, what had happened today was unconditionally beneficial. I had managed to get what I needed most desperately: time.
This is the first time I've gotten a holy relic through an oracle, though.
Objects bestowed by the gods were called holy relics. Most of them had overpowered abilities. That was why I didn't doubt the ring's powers. I didn't know how long it would last, but I was certain I wouldn't run into him until all three strands were cut.
The problem is how long that will take.
Two years? Three years? I wondered if it was possible that it'd last that long, as this was a hot holy relic that had just dropped, but... it would be better to assume as short a duration as possible and prepare accordingly. I decided to assume it would last half a year to a year, and finished getting my thoughts in order.
The moment I got up from the couch, one of the entwined vines snapped in two.
Rip.
"Uh, Bjorn? It looks like one just broke."
"...No. It can't be." I rubbed the broken vine with a finger wet with saliva, like I was trying to twist a fraying rope back together. But, as always, reality was cruel. "Look. It's still in one piece."
The moment I held out my hand with the ring to show them, the severed vine turned into silvery particles of light and scattered into the air.
Shaaa!
I stared blankly at my hand.
[The activation conditions for Blessing of the Stars have been met.]
I couldn't even laugh.
"A prophecy...! A prophecy has descended!"
It was something I had only ever heard from NPCs in the game and never experienced myself.
Goddamn it.
It was a prophecy, and apparently the first one to descend in a long time. That answered that question. And as for why that archbishop was treating this child like a treasure chest, the reason was simple.
To think he's a saint.
A saint was a vessel that could hear the voices of the gods and sometimes harness their power. A child who fit all the qualities of a vessel spoke. "The goddess has just spoken. That ring will ward off three powerful ill-fated encounters."
"Do you mean the Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos?"
An ordinary fortuneteller would have just said yes or no to this question, but the oracle was different. "Yes. She said it can only prevent encounters with that man. So you must be prepared to face your fate when all the stems of that ring are cut off."
It felt like I had become a warrior who would defeat a demon lord or something. To be honest, I was dumbfounded. I may have defeated that Elisa bitch and dealt with the high priest, but why would the goddess give me a gift like this? Especially considering I was an evil spirit.
What is this? Is it a prank?
Suddenly, I wondered if all these people were scamming me with that child, but the ring on my hand erased those doubts. Even their expressions, which were stained with astonishment, seemed too sincere to be an act.
"May the blessing of the twilight star be with us."
"Let it flow as it should."
The top religious figures in this world all looked at me and drew the sign of the cross. I glanced at my teammates' faces.
"Bjorrrn, who the hell are you?!"
"Are you really destined to be a hero?!"
"No, that's not the biggest issue here. H-How could a barbarian be chosen by a human god?"
Even if you guys look at me like that, I really don't know, either.
Only then did I turn to stare at the little boy, realizing that this wasn't just something to celebrate. I had a lot of questions.
Slump.
However, the child collapsed weakly. Perhaps that was the price of receiving a prophecy. The archbishop lifted the child into his arms, promptly ending today's meeting. "Sir Krovitz, please guide these people outside."
"No, wait! I still have to ask—"
"I ask for your understanding. We'll meet again later and I'll explain everything. Until then, please keep today's matter a secret. A great disaster may befall you otherwise."
"What? A great disaster?" That was ridiculous, but the conversation ended there.
"Sir Krovitz will explain the details." The archbishop's adamance forced us out of the chamber. Then, following Krovitz's lead, we headed to the drawing room we had been waiting in earlier.
"Krovitz, what is going on here?"
"I... am also unsure why she has chosen to give a prophecy to someone of another race."
"...Has this never happened to a non-human?"
"No, as far as I know, this is the third time."
"So, what happened to them?"
"According to the records, they were branded as heretics within their tribes and kicked out."
Ha, this was a pain in the ass. It was like another suicide button had been handed to me in addition to the evil spirit thing. "I can see why you told me to keep this a secret."
"Yes, because if it becomes public knowledge, it will do more harm than good."
The core of the barbarian's build was the Spirit Imprint. If I got kicked out of the tribe, from that day on, I'd be no more than a failed character. Barbarian shamans only existed in the tribe's holy land.
"Don't worry about us, though. We will not leak this information." As he said that, Krovitz looked at his colleagues. They didn't say anything, but their feelings were clear.
Therefore, I also looked at my teammates.
"Ah! I-I'll keep my mouth shut! Rrreally! You trust me, rrright? Bjorn?"
"Don't worry. I didn't hear anything."
Of course I wasn't worried about Missha nor Rotmiller all that much. He wasn't that type of person, and he was also a follower of Reatlas. The real problem was...
"H-Hey! Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"
"Why do you think?"
"...I will stop drinking from now on."
I let out a sigh as Hikurod lowered his head with a dejected expression on his face. Whew, we shouldn't have all come together. Were all the gods here like this? Instead of relieving me of the biggest stone weighing down my heart, it felt like a new, smaller stone had just been placed on it.
But he's not that much of a blabbermouth, so...
I decided to focus on the bright side. If this ring really prevented encounters with the Dragon Slayer, then this amount of risk couldn't even be called a risk. In terms of pros and cons, what had happened today was unconditionally beneficial. I had managed to get what I needed most desperately: time.
This is the first time I've gotten a holy relic through an oracle, though.
Objects bestowed by the gods were called holy relics. Most of them had overpowered abilities. That was why I didn't doubt the ring's powers. I didn't know how long it would last, but I was certain I wouldn't run into him until all three strands were cut.
The problem is how long that will take.
Two years? Three years? I wondered if it was possible that it'd last that long, as this was a hot holy relic that had just dropped, but... it would be better to assume as short a duration as possible and prepare accordingly. I decided to assume it would last half a year to a year, and finished getting my thoughts in order.
The moment I got up from the couch, one of the entwined vines snapped in two.
Rip.
"Uh, Bjorn? It looks like one just broke."
"...No. It can't be." I rubbed the broken vine with a finger wet with saliva, like I was trying to twist a fraying rope back together. But, as always, reality was cruel. "Look. It's still in one piece."
The moment I held out my hand with the ring to show them, the severed vine turned into silvery particles of light and scattered into the air.
Shaaa!
I stared blankly at my hand.
[The activation conditions for Blessing of the Stars have been met.]
I couldn't even laugh.