68. Niren's Defense and Morning at the Church
According to the forecast, today's wind would shift from the west to blowing eastward.
Last night, when I returned to the inn, Fam had already burrowed under the blanket and fallen asleep, so I clung to it and drifted off. I'd meant to hold her so she couldn't slip away even after waking, but when my eyes opened, all I had in my arms was the empty blanket.
As I sat up, Fam was praying toward me.
I crawled out of bed, and she stopped her prayer. I pulled her close and kissed her.
"...Shu-sama. I acquired a Special Skill."
Fam said. She'd gotten Yata no Kagami, huh.
I glanced around. It looked like only Fam and I were awake. Time to change for breakfast.
"Come to think of it, I don't think I've told anyone what I really want. I want to find a place where you can do whatever you think, however you think it."
"A place where I can do as I think? It's right here."
Fam replied.
"If that's what you think, then we'll head to Migurut. We'll lift the curse there, and that's the end of adventuring. We'll keep fighting on the dungeon's low floors or gathering herbs just to make a living. No need for Special Skills that make us targets for others."
It was pointless now that she'd already acquired one, but I wanted her to know my thoughts anyway.
"What about your mission?"
Fam asked.
"Mission? Taking down the Demon King? Hell if I know what that even means or why we have to do it. Who's suffering in this world because of it? Doesn't it feel kinda irrelevant? If Mizuki wants to go back to our original world, I'll help her. But I don't want to put you in danger, Fam."
Fam stared at me. Those usual eyes trying to peer into my heart. Might as well let her know everything. I stared right back.
"That's too late now. You're the one who invited me to be an adventurer, Shu-sama. I'm in your debt for saving me. I was prepared to do anything. Why say this now?"
"I didn't think choosing you back then would lead to all this. I was thrilled when you joined me—my first real companion. I wanted to cherish that. But back then, I had no clue about my own situation. I figured we could take it slow, grow together."
I paused. Fam kept gazing at my face, waiting for my next words.
"Then the Transferred started coming after us. Enemies got way stronger overnight. I want to protect you, Fam. But I'm still weak."
"You've already taken that step, Shu-sama. There's no going back..."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Fam averted her eyes. As I thought—she was hiding something, carrying some burden.
"Shu-sama, I'll protect you. I'll make your wishes come true."
"Fam, the one I want to protect is you. No matter how hard I try, if you're the one who ends up dead, it's all worthless. Besides, you might be stronger than me in straight combat, but overall, you're still weak!"
"Muuu! If I say I'm protecting you, Shu-sama, then I'm protecting you!"
As Fam shouted, Cecily sat up with a grunt.
"Don't fight first thing in the morning. So noisy!"
After breakfast, we stepped outside, and sure enough, the wind had changed direction.
A refreshing morning breeze carrying a hint of chill. Would this really draw the monsters to the city?
We decided to stop by Mateo Merchant Company before heading to the church. Armed soldiers marched past us, probably toward the western wall.
Myra approached.
"I overheard your talk this morning."
"What talk?"
"Your fight."
Myra replied.
"It wasn't a fight." "It wasn't a fight."
Mash and Fam said in unison.
"As you heard, I'm a pretty worthless guy."
"I forgot too. We summoned Lady Rakushel to clarify why Mash was summoned in the first place."
"Yeah. And someone was snoring away."
Time to tease her a little.
"Uu... sorry."
"It's fine. I never expected you to resist Rakushel's charm from the start anyway."
"..."
Myra's shoulders slumped.
"Mash, don't you trust Lady Rakushel?"
"You want to pick up from yesterday too, huh. I believe she's a goddess. But not someone worth worshiping. Faith aside, she's hiding something. That's why I don't buy the 'defeat the Demon King' goal."
"So it's not that you distrust the church because you don't worship Lady Rakushel, right?"
"Exactly. I'm just suspicious of the situation."
Myra nodded at my words, and the conversation lapsed.
"I've been thinking something's weird."
Mizuki said. She'd been waiting for our talk to end.
"Back in our world, no one knows if gods exist, but the church had way more power than here. Here, gods actually exist, but they don't seem that influential."
Mizuki was probably comparing it to pre-modern churches in our world.
"Honestly, I don't know for sure, but in our world, since no one can see the gods, the church as their spokespeople can wield unlimited power. Here, gods are real. The church is the true proxy, so they can't throw their weight around 'in the name of god.' The way faith works seems different too."
This world's gods didn't promise an afterlife, which might loosen the reins a bit.
"Having gods around actually limits the church's power..."
Mizuki murmured. My take was just off-the-cuff, so I hoped she wouldn't take it too seriously.
We'd arrived at the church.
A massive circular building of marble, grander and more imposing than the one in Rishel.
In front stretched a stone-paved plaza, with an obelisk towering at its center. Hieroglyph-like script was carved into it—probably spoils from some expedition.
"Can you read this?"
I asked Myra, but she shook her head.
"This church was modeled after one in a city farther south. The inscriptions are copied from it too, I think, but I'm not sure how accurate they are."
We passed the obelisk and headed for the entrance.
Gigantic columns lined the doorway. Between them stood ornate bronze doors painted with intricate scenes. Likely the entrance inside. Depicted were probably the Goddess Five Pillars. I recognized only Rakushel. One of these summoned Momoka—Ronron.
"The one on the rightmost end, looking up at Lady Rakushel, is Lady Ronron."
Myra explained, reading the situation. Ronron had hair down to her shoulders, riding a pegasus with a lance equipped. Rakushel held her spear high, inspiring the other goddesses.
Myra opened the doors.
"They're usually open, but today being a battle day..."
As I moved to follow, Myra stopped me.
"I'll greet the high priest first and smooth things over."
I recalled Momoka getting harassed at a church.
"Wait, then take someone else with you. Anyone."
"M-Mash, I get you're suspicious of the church, but..."
Myra sighed.
"N-No, it's not that. Really a misunderstanding. Different reason. Explaining would just complicate it more. Ira, go with Myra."
Myra reluctantly nodded and entered with Ira.
I looked up at the western sky. No sign of monsters yet.
We were shown inside the church.
A vast circular space, reminiscent of a dungeon boss room but lavishly decorated. Marble walls supported by surrounding columns.
The biggest difference: a large circular hole in the ceiling, through which a single beam of sunlight streamed down, lending the space a majestic air.
On the opposite side from our entrance stood an elderly man.
As we approached, he knelt in prayer.
Right, I'd forgotten—visiting a church meant this kind of treatment.
"Lord Mash, I am Nestor, priest of this church."
The white-haired elder stood and introduced himself. Straightening up, he seemed taller than me, but his hunched back brought his face level with mine.
I glanced pleadingly at Myra, but she blatantly looked away. Payback for earlier, huh.
"Adventurer Mash here. Myra probably told you, but we heard the church's defenses were thin, so we came to help guard. But as you see, me, Fam, and Mizuki are newbie adventurers. Might just get in the way."
Nestor shook his head at my words.
"As you see, our forces are stretched thin aiding the city's defense. Since Lady Rakushel sent you herself, it's natural you'd worry about the house of god. We're deeply grateful for your protection."
Nestor bowed reverently.
"You didn't prioritize the church's defense?"
"Battles need healers. We sent them to aid the soldiers. You seem to value Myra and Ira highly too."
He glanced at them. So, city defense over the church.
"Yeah."
Their joining us was coincidence, but I nodded anyway.
After a tour of the church, we climbed the adjacent bell tower.
Inside, you couldn't tell if Big Hoppers were attacking, but from here, the whole city was visible.
The church radiated from the initial circular hall: living quarters to the left of the entrance, bell tower, prayer room for job changes, altar chamber, priest's office, infirmary space, back to entrance. Basement held tombs for the city's elite.
Apparently, if I died here, they'd bury me there too. Myra hadn't told them Mizuki was Transferred.
Momoka and Chihiro didn't seem recognized as Transferred either.
Unless you did something flashy like my Goddess Summon or someone checked your character sheet, it wouldn't be obvious.
If hiding someone, living quarters or tombs? Guest rooms in living quarters felt unused—and assigned to us as wait area.
Tombs meant lurking in darkness amid corpses and bones until Big Hoppers came. Gave me chills just thinking.
The culprits' target felt like the church. But no obvious items inside. Maybe the old priest's life?
As I pondered, Fam pointed west.
"Shu-sama, they're coming."
Black specks dotted the western sky.
The specks multiplied, rising from the ground like a swarm.