Contacting the Cult (2)
"First off, I must extend my thanks to all of you. For driving a wedge into the Monster Protection Association."
In the hut of the dark-skinned Alf. She said this as she poured each of us a cup of tea. I'd only come along thinking she was some cultist, so why was the Monster Protection Association suddenly coming up?
"Does the Monster Protection Association have something to do with you?"
Hildegaard voiced the exact question I'd been dying to ask. She showed no sign of removing her mask, not even touching her teacup.
"To explain that, I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Abigaile, vice leader of the Jimo Religion. The Monster Protection Association is a subordinate organization of our Jimo Religion."
"You're thanking us for splitting up your own subordinate group?"
"Our Jimo Religion is currently divided into two factions. My moderate faction, and the hardliners who follow the other vice leader. The Monster Protection Association falls under the hardliners."
"So those hardliners actually believe in protecting monsters?"
"Something like that. But they're far more dangerous."
Abigaile took a sip of her tea before continuing.
"Our Jimo Religion views monsters as punishments sent by the Jimo God. My moderate faction believes we must strive for forgiveness from the Jimo God, but the hardliners think we should accept the punishment without resistance."
"So we should all just become monster chow and die?"
"They believe that if enough blood soaks the earth, the Jimo God will calm its wrath."
"And they don't plan to offer themselves up as sacrifices first?"
Abigaile gave a wry smile and took another sip of tea. Even if they were rival factions worshiping the same god, she clearly didn't want to badmouth them too harshly.
"The Monster Protection Association was created by the Jimo Religion hardliners, but they don't truly follow our teachings. They're people who genuinely believe monsters deserve respect as living beings."
"It's not that we refuse to respect monsters as lifeforms. We just want to be the ones who survive the struggle."
"I understand. Most of the Monster Protection Association members have never even seen a monster up close. They have no idea what it's like to risk your life fighting them."
"I didn't want to say it, but these days' young men have no clue how scary the world really is. Ah, of course, you're an exception, Vivaldi."
"Ah, ahaha……."
I gave an awkward laugh as my response. Just how old was Hildegaard to say something like that? Her voice sounded incredibly young, but with that mask on, there was no way to tell.
"Thanks to your deliberate slacking off, the Monster Protection Association members finally got a direct taste of monster danger. Many left the group with a newfound phobia of monsters, and now the association can barely function."
"……Good riddance. They won't be a threat to Vivi anymore."
Natalia sniffed at her teacup and grimaced. Her race was almost purely carnivorous, so she clearly hated this grassy-smelling water.
"I'm especially grateful to Vivaldi, who came up with this brilliant plan in the council, and to Hildegaard, who helped push it through. The hardliners have been getting too extreme lately, and it was causing us no end of trouble."
"Ah, no…… I didn't do it with that in mind……"
"Even if you draw the line like that, it still makes me uneasy. The Monster Protection Association was a real pain in the ass for us adventurers. How are we supposed to trust that you're any different?"
They weren't listening to me properly, whether inside the guild or out. Abigaile quietly stood up.
"I know Lady Hildegaard has a deep interest in ancient texts."
"A deep interest? I'm interested to the point of dying for it! Got something to show me?"
"Yes. Would you like to see it?"
"Of course!"
Even with that seamless mask on, I could swear I saw Hildegaard's eyes light up with enthusiasm. Abigaile grabbed a lantern and led us to what seemed like a basement. The space below was vastly larger than the hut above.
Haru conjured a fireball atop her finger to illuminate the area.
"This place…… isn't it a Small Labyrinth?"
"We call it the 'Sanctuary'. We've cleared out all the monsters, so no need to worry."
"……Yeah, definitely not like the Monster Protection Association."
As Natalia said, if Abigaile were with them, they'd have let the monsters overrun the place.
"This is the original copy of the 'Holy Scripture' we use."
At the bottom level stood something like a stone stele, and Abigaile shone the lantern on it.
"Oho……! What an ancient relic! To think you've preserved something like this!"
"According to its contents, the Jimo God's anger stems from war."
"The children of the Heavenly Father God massacred the children of the Jimo God…… That's it, right?"
I pointed to one line on the stele and said. I'd meant to just listen quietly, but this intriguing bit pulled me in. Back in my previous life, I'd been obsessed with mythology as a kid and devoured comics about it.
"It says the wrath won't stop until all the Heavenly Father's children are dead, but also that it will if the Heavenly Father apologizes first. These contradictions must be why the Jimo Religion split into two."
"……."
"……."
"……."
"……."
I'd been excitedly rambling on alone, but Hildegaard, Natalia, Haru, and even Abigaile were all staring at me with strange looks.
"……Eep……."
It reminded me of that black history from my previous life—spouting weird stuff and getting looks of contempt from the girls. The same shame burned my face, making me shrink back.
Were they staring because I was reading cult scriptures like some fanatic? No, don't be embarrassed. That was the goal, right? Build up that negative image to escape this guild!
"Listen, Vivaldi."
"Y-Yes…… Lady Hildegaard."
"How…… did you read that?"
"Huh?"
How? It was written right there in letters, so I read it. What was she talking about?
"I'm no slouch in ancient languages myself, but this system's completely different from any I know."
"Eh."
Only then did it hit me that something was seriously wrong. I frantically reexamined the stele. It had felt so natural to read that I hadn't noticed, but this wasn't this world's script.
It was the alphabet from Earth in my previous life!
"I always thought you were no ordinary talent, but to think you even mastered this ancient script?"
"N-No, it's not like that……!"
I couldn't see Hildegaard's eyes, but I felt waves of infinite positivity radiating from her. She clearly thought I was some genius or the like.
How was I supposed to explain this wasn't the case? My head spun, no idea what to do, when Abigaile suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Lord Vivaldi! There are more steles we haven't deciphered! Could you read those too?"
"Ah, awawa……!"
"You are exactly the talent our Jimo Religion needs! Surely a messenger sent by the Jimo God! Please, come with me!"
Abigaile, who'd been so calm and rational, was now clinging to me like a true cult fanatic in desperation. Not to be outdone, Hildegaard latched on too.
"Vivaldi! Ever thought of joining Siantia? We research ancient traces from the labyrinths! With you, we'd make incredible progress!"
"Heee……!"
"Vivaldi, you're so cool……!"
"……This isn't the time to swoon, Haru. They're about to steal one of our guildmates."
Haru just stared in admiration, but I heard the shing of Natalia's sword sliding from its sheath.
* * *
"Ueee……!"
"……Just hold on a bit longer, Vivi."
Natalia slung Haru and me over her shoulders and sprinted for what felt like forever. The scenery blurred by like a splash of mixed paints. I felt nauseous but didn't dare complain or beg to be let down.
Hildegaard was too terrifying, hurling lightning while chasing us.
"Wh-Why is she going all out to kidnap me…… Urk!"
"……That's not full power. If Hildegaard were serious, that village would've vaporized already."
"Eek?!"
"Looks good now. She's not following anymore."
Haru said this while lobbing fireballs to keep Hildegaard at bay. Natalia stopped in a barren wasteland devoid of anything. She dropped us and collapsed to the ground.
"Haa…… haa…… Give me a sec to rest……."
"Th-Thank you for your hard work, Lady Natalia. Thanks……."
"……For Vivi's sake."
It felt too intense staring at Natalia panting and sweating.
"……Vivi."
"Yes?"
I'd glanced away, but Natalia seemed to have something to say.
"……You're too good at everything, Vivi. Sometimes I think you're too big a talent for our guild to hold onto."
"N-No way……."
"……I only kidnapped you on impulse this time, but if your path lies elsewhere…… I'd support it."
This was definitely a test! If I bit and said I wanted to quit the guild, she'd kill me on the spot!
"That's not it. Lord Vivaldi."
"Haru?"
"I don't want Vivaldi going anywhere else. I want to always watch over him."
Haru smiled slyly like a vixen, flames of greed flickering in her eyes. It seemed Natalia wasn't the only blade I needed to fear.