Chapter 20

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: Not a Temple—It's a Madhouse

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A place that was nothing but white. From afar, the building's exterior resembled a temple in style, but aside from that, it was just a massive white lump of stone. The surroundings felt like they'd been wrapped in some kind of barrier—no other buildings dared approach. Nothing but a vast, empty garden stretching out endlessly.

The belief that the noble power bestowed by the gods should be far removed from extravagance. Was that why the temple looked like this? If the blinding white backdrop and barren garden were meant to proclaim their holiness, it felt oddly pretentious.

Evgenia Temple. The grand headquarters of the Evgenia Church, the empire's foremost religion worshiping the noble god. This was where those Saintess Candidates who kept visiting me ate and slept. No wonder they all seemed a bit off—living in a place that could drive you insane.

Seren aside, of course. She was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the real mystery. How could someone grow up so bright and lovely in a dump like this? If it were me, I'd have bolted long ago.

I approached the firmly shut doors of the temple. A Holy Knight in white armor stood guard there, spear at the ready.

"Hello~ I have some business inside. Mind if I go in?"

I greeted him cheerfully first. They say you can't spit on a smiling face. These rough-looking guys might warm up if I played nice.

- Halt. Do not approach any further. The Archbishop and Saintess Candidates are currently in sacred worship. No entry allowed.

Nope.

The Holy Knights responded stiffly, crossing their spears to block the entrance. I'd only asked a question, but the looks they gave me were like I was some street thug.

"Hmm~ Well, I'm the Hero, you see. Got business with a Saintess Candidate. Still no good?"

I hadn't wanted to reveal my identity, but their glares pissed me off, so it slipped out. At least they'd react differently knowing that.

- Even a Hero cannot interfere with Evgenia's sacred worship. Leave quietly while we're asking nicely.

Nope. Still assholes.

"Fine, I'll wait until worship ends. That okay?"

- This territory falls solely under the Evgenia Church's authority. We cannot permit even that. Leave the temple grounds. If you do not comply, we will use force.

Ah. Can't hold back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anymore.

"Got it. One question: What's the doctrine of the Evgenia Church?"

- The world's peace is the only noble will of Evgenia. How ignorant.

"Then what's a Hero?"

- No more pointless talk.

"A Hero's probably ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the vanguard for world peace, right? Setting out to slay the Demon God. And I hear Saintesses and temples support that Hero."

Schring—

As I kept talking without a care, they uncrossed their spears and aimed them at me.

"So that makes me the direct superior to the temple's Archbishops, Saintess Candidates, and Holy Knights."

- …

"Pointing spears at me—insubordination? Treason? Or just lost your minds staring at all this white?"

I drew the sword from my waist too. The one from the palace basement, said to be the empire's treasured blade. Beatrice, the holy sword. I'd taken it because I liked the look, but I hadn't expected to use it so soon.

"Step aside. I'm higher up than your bosses. Before I smash the damn door."

I unleashed my suppressed aura. My cold gaze swept over the two Holy Knights blocking my path.

Only now did they realize things weren't going their way—their stances shifted.

- …Hero, causing a disturbance here means the empire's laws won't protect you.

Honorifics now. Could've started with that. Treating me like some punk kid? The temple was even worse than I'd thought.

Worries about Seren, whom I hadn't seen in months, took precedence. If even the door guards were like this, the Archbishops had to be trouble.

"I'll handle my own protection. Move. If you're not aside by the count of three, I'll break in."

- Hero…

"Three."

- You can't do this.

"Two."

- Do you want to become enemies with the temple?

"One."

- The goddess Evgenia will punish you for this!

You're dead.

I channeled mana into the sword. The blade glowed as white as the temple walls, overflowing mana dripping from the tip to wet the ground.

"This is on you."

Yeah, my bad? Not at all.

I swung down—not at the men, but at the firmly shut temple doors.

Swoooosh—

The sword ki flew silently, kicking up a sandstorm. As the dust cleared, the doors were cleanly obliterated, and the Holy Knights lay collapsed beside the gap.

"Fucking pricks. Every world has these types who only listen when you beat sense into 'em."

Be grateful you're still breathing.

I stepped over the rubble into the temple. They hadn't noticed yet, thanks to the quiet entry. I headed straight for the central cathedral where Seren was likely to be.

Priests and Holy Knights I encountered en route tried to block the intruder, but my sharp glare and the sword still humming with mana made them hesitate and run off somewhere. Probably to report.

Ignoring them, I reached the cathedral and threw open the doors without hesitation. Inside, priests, the Archbishop, and Saintess Candidates were deep in prayer. Plenty of familiar faces—had to be the right place.

The creak of the doors and footsteps made them turn one by one. Shock at seeing someone who shouldn't be here plain on their faces. A few Saintess Candidates even looked glad, but whatever.

"Oh my~ What brings the Hero to the temple?"

Couldn't they see my expression? Or just clueless? Saintess Candidates approached me. No Seren among them.

"Seren."

"Pardon?"

"Where's Seren? No Saintess Candidate in sight during sacred worship."

"Ah… Seren's been cleaning the temple interiors as punishment for a recent mistake~"

Trembling eyes, quivering lips, fidgeting fingers. Lie, start to finish.

"Where?"

"Um~ Seren's atoning right now. Why not join us?"

"I won't ask a fourth time. Where's Seren?"

Finally noticing my eyes? The nameless Saintess Candidate flinched and backed away.

"Cat got your tongue?"

"Ah… She's cleaning the dormitory hallway… I can guide you…"

"Nah, I'll find my own way."

I turned on my heel. That building visible after leaving the cathedral had to be the dorms. All white, but distinguishable by shape.

Not what I'd learned it for, but I cast Bless on myself and sprinted to the dorms, barreling straight through any blockers.

I'd suspected as much. Seren wouldn't distance herself willingly. Some bad situation? Bullying? I'd thought that but hadn't come sooner. I'd been too weak. Weak enough to get beat by street punks.

So I'd endured Sio's grueling training for months. Even if I couldn't slay the Demon God, I had to protect those around me. Sio and Seren were my only people in this lonely world.

Bang—

I flung open the dorm doors. There was Seren, cleaning deep inside.

At least it's a temple. A gathering of the pious and holy. She'd be safe here. Even if she couldn't visit, she'd be fine. Why had I thought that?

- Isn't all this cleaning and running errands for others tiring?

Her sullen expression visible from afar, chapped hands, hunched posture.

- Can't you just come to me now? All you'd have to do is attend me at night. Seren.

And the pig blabbering beside her.

- This life won't end anyway. How long do you plan to resist? Heh heh~

His disgusting hand reaching for Seren. First things first—lop that off.

Splat—

The hand flew off and hit the floor. The fool still hadn't grasped the situation, still harassing Seren.

- Stop resisting and accept it… Huh…? Ugh, uwaaaah! My hand…!

Seren froze at the sudden turn, staring blankly at the severed Archbishop's hand. I approached her.

"Seren."

"H-Hero…?"

"Let's go."

"W-Wait… Why are you here…?"

"Wanted to see your face. This temple's a real shithole."

I took Seren's hand and headed out.

Some cursing from behind, but fuck 'em.

Outside the dorm, Holy Knights, Archbishops, priests, and Cardinals filled the area, surrounding us and reeking of rot.

- Hero, what is the meaning of this outrage? Invading temple grounds and acting so lawlessly.

"Outrage my ass. I smile and you think I'm a fucking pushover? Senile old fucks with shit for brains. Listen to this Cardinal talk."

- Hah… Seems some evil has possessed the Hero. We must purify him quickly. Holy Knights, subdue him at once.

Quick to form ranks at the ramblings of that doddering hag. All rotten to the core.

Not a temple—a madhouse.

Holy Knights and priests closed in, tightening the noose. Seren, sensing the danger, timidly clutched my sleeve.

"Hero… This is bad…"

Guess it's been too long. If we'd met recently, she wouldn't worry like this.

"Just watch quietly."

Just beat the living shit out of them.

Fuck. Pound 'em like there's no tomorrow.

"Sit."

- Ngh…

"Stand."

- Khk…!

"Sit. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Stand. Sit. Stand. Sit."

Slow on the uptake.

"Think getting old lets you slack off?"

- No, sir…

"See those Holy Knights and priests passed out behind you?"

- Yes, Hero.

"Don't wanna join 'em? Do it right, Cardinal."

Reminds me of the army. Should've lined everyone up properly. Shame there's no one between me and the Cardinal.

"Today's the day we fix those rotten minds. Any complaints?"

- N-No, sir…!

"Louder."

- NO, SIR!!

"Good~ Just ten hours of this today, then rest up. Anyone whose knees touch the ground… Nah. Go ahead, try it. We'll start with them."

At my command, everyone strained to hold position. Arms trembling, legs shaking—someone's bound to break soon.

"Hero… I'm fine, so let the others…"

Seren fidgeted anxiously beside me.

"Seren, keep being that nice and you'll stay a pushover like before. Even if you're okay, you're my person—so I'm not."

I'd vowed to protect my own, no matter what.

"O-Oh. Ah, ugh… Got it…"

Seren's ears and nape flushed red. Face too? She covered it with both hands and slumped down.

What? Too much for her? Yeah, I'd probably feel weird watching my superiors get disciplined too.

She's just too damn nice, that's all.