The Divine Trial (2)
The Divine Trial (2)
I hopped down from the carriage. Beverick flinched.
"Apprentice Priest Beverick. What's the matter?"
"Y-you... you..."
Seeing him stammer like that, he'd clearly been properly trained. Well, sure. Considering how much I'd beaten him, it'd be stranger if he didn't remember.
There was a middle-aged man glaring at me. A neatly trimmed beard and a heavy impression. The exact opposite of the slovenly Beverick.
"...So you're Apprentice Priest Zahard?"
"That's right. Would you be Bishop Brody?"
"Correct. I am Brody. The father of Beverick, and—"
He looked down at me. The pressure was no joke. Oh, would you look at that. For a bishop, he was even brimming with Sacred Power.
So you're just openly threatening me, huh?
"—the man who will clear the innocent Apprentice Priest Beverick's name."
"Innocent?"
I flicked away the menacingly wavering, fiery Sacred Power.
"Aren't you covering for him a little too much just because he's your kid? Come on. Let's be real. Honestly, if that guy were my son, I'd have already stripped him naked and thrown him off a bridge."
"......"
Bishop Brody's eyes widened slightly. Seeing the deflected Sacred Power, he drew a short breath.
He glared back, visibly bristling.
"You... you're no ordinary apprentice priest!"
"Obviously."
"Reveal your identity!"
"My identity is..."
I clasped my hands together. I offered a short prayer.
[Prayer of Fire (C) activates.]
[Your body becomes warm.]
[Your physical abilities improve.]
I grinned brightly.
"A follower of Ra, and an 'apprentice priest' striving to become a priest—soon to be a priest?"
"You and your word games...!"
"Word games or not."
I lowered my voice. I whispered so only he could hear.
"If you don't like it, let's settle it before the judge. Move aside, baldy. Did you rent the whole road?"
"You little shit!"
Whoosh.
Flames erupted. For a bishop, he produced flames just slightly below my current level, flickering right under my chin.
I could have blocked them easily, but I let them be. Why?
Because I have a loyal bear!
Boom!
An explosive sound rang out. Bishop Brody was sent flying backward. Judging by how he sprang right back up, the damage probably wasn't severe. But the dirt smeared all over his face had massively nerfed his once-tidy appearance.
"What is the meaning of this! Inquisitor Radatok!"
"I should be asking you that, Bishop Brody."
Radatok, who had shielded me, glared coldly at him.
"What exactly were you trying to do to Brother Zahard, who is merely an apprentice priest?"
"I was teaching manners to a brat who doesn't know how to respect his elders...!"
"He is currently the accuser in a Divine Trial. No one may touch him until the trial concludes. If you wish to lay a hand on him..."
Radatok the Iron-Blooded Bear stepped forward. Beverick shrieked and fled backward.
"...you will have to go through me first."
"...Tch!"
Brody picked himself up. He glared at me and ground his teeth furiously.
"You... your days of walking with your shoulders squared won't last much longer. You will lose this case. Even God will trample your honor into the dirt!"
"Ah. Sure."
"You insolent little bastard!!!"
"Bishop Brody."
Radatok placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"I will not warn you twice."
"...Damn it!"
Fuming, Brody spun around. Radatok, who had been watching the departing group, let out a sigh.
"Do you intend to keep making more enemies?"
"The relationship's already ruined, so why bow? I don't like groveling to people who have nothing to offer."
Thinking about how I'd bowed my head to that damn Beverick, I only wanted to pay him back even more.
I strode forward. The church headquarters.
The grand cathedral of Ainkad stood before my eyes. The cathedral alone was the size of a small city.
Declining, yet still not wholly dimmed—one of the Empire's largest churches.
The Church of Ra spread out before my eyes.
"...Whew."
Everything within sight was filled with sanctity. There wasn't a speck of dust, and the colors of pure white and flame were etched everywhere.
Majesty. Wonder. It felt like exploring the most beautiful of the ancient cities lying asleep.
I quietly steadied my trembling heart. Seeing it in person, I couldn't help how much my chest quivered.
It really is something.
Good.
Let's wrap up this Divine Trial business cleanly, then take a look around!
. . .
Divine Judge Dimona spoke.
"The trial preparations are already all finished."
"So can I go sightseeing?"
"...Until then, the whistleblower must be isolated. All contact with the outside must be cut off."
"What a bothersome system."
"Why are you so relaxed?"
"Because I don't think I'll lose."
Even if I did lose, I planned to just flip everything over and walk out.
And if neither of those worked, well...
I could just lean on Naga!
—Th-that's not something I can just do as I please...
"You won't do it for me?"
-B-Big Sis will scold me...
"Naga. I believe in you."
I whispered to her.
"You can do at least that much for me, right? I like that about you, Naga. A god who uses her power for me."
—G-g-g-g-g-g-good...?
Her voice trembled. Then she melted on the spot.
—B-but... still... I... can't... ahhh... b-but... wh-what do I do... what do I do...
"I'll trust you."
—Ahh... haaah... I can't... I can't... b-but... if Zahard... says so...
"Excuse me. What are you doing in the corner?"
"Thinking of becoming a heretic?"
"Excuse me?!"
"It's a joke."
I crossed the church entrance. I naturally parted ways with the inquisitors.
"We must go report to our superiors now."
Radatok took my hand.
"My oath will remain even if my body burns away to nothing."
"I'll trust you, Radatok."
"May eternity dwell in the sun."
The other inquisitors raised their voices and shouted.
"Brother! Let's meet again soon!"
"If something comes up next time, let's go together!"
"If you ever want to become an inquisitor, come find me!"
"I'll treat you as my big brother!"
"He's younger than you, and you're still going to treat him as your big brother? Can you even do that?"
"Works for me."
"Works for me too! Big Bro Zahard! Please come see us!"
What a passionate ovation from a bunch of grown men.
Attention within the church focused on us, but I didn't mind. If anything, I felt proud. Hm. As expected.
Sincerity always feels good, doesn't it?
"...Fix your expression and walk properly."
"Where are we going?"
"There's nowhere else you need to report. As the Divine Judge, I personally manage the accuser. But you..."
She glanced up at my shabby appearance. Clothes covered in blood and pus. Even though they'd been washed once, that didn't change the fact they were practically rags. Since we hadn't stopped at any village along the way and had rushed here, I looked no different from a beggar.
"Let's get you washed first."
"What a hassle."
"...Are you serious?"
"Nope. Kidding."
I'm the one who wants a bath. A proper scrub in a clean tub.
"You'll feed me after I wash, right?"
"Depends on how you do."
"Come on. I know you'll feed me."
"...Why are you so annoying?"
. . .
Splash!
I jumped straight into the water. A vast golden bathtub, with water cascading endlessly like a waterfall.
"Haaaaah..."
This is paradise.
Paradise, I tell you.
I leaned back against the marble backrest. Soaking in the warm water, I quickly grew languid.
"Apprentice Priest Zahard. I'll leave your clothes here."
A servant who would both watch over me and attend to me spoke from beyond the door. I answered vaguely, then submerged myself up to the top of my head.
Brrrrrr.
Playing in water is always fun.
I popped right back up. And bumped into something.
A solid chest.
I slowly raised my gaze.
"Hi?"
"...And who might you be?"
"What does it matter who I am?"
The long-haired man sat down beside me and sank into the water. A languid sigh escaped his lips.
"What matters is that there's warm water, and that you can rest your body in it. Right?"
"Not really. Who are you?"
"...You've got no appreciation for the finer things."
A handsome man. His face was good-looking, but his body was covered in scars. He lightly splashed water on his face, swept his hair back, and glanced over at me.
Emerald eyes. His skin was slightly tanned. He was muscular, but not in an unpleasant way.
A body tempered by combat. Long black hair settling lightly over it.
I almost recognized him... who is he?
"So you're the whistleblower?"
"Who are you?"
"...Will you answer my question first?"
"You already know everything, so why ask?"
"Fair enough."
The man grinned.
"Fabian. That's my name."
"...Fabian?"
Ah.
Fabian?
One of Ra's Apostles?
I stole another look at his face. Yeah. That's right. He looked exactly like his illustration. Look at this guy.
Didn't they make him way too handsome?!
I stood up. I looked down at Fabian.
Fabian's gaze dropped. He flinched.
"Whoa... you're packing, huh? A promising future?"
"You're no joke yourself."
Having instantly found common ground, the two of us exchanged thumbs-ups. I turned and sat down beside him.
"What brings you here?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"I do. If I didn't, I'd be a spy. Fabian. One of Ra's Apostles."
"...And you're this calm knowing that?"
"A Divine Trial's going to draw all sorts of people, isn't it? No point being surprised already. I'm saving it up."
"Hmmm..."
Fabian grinned.
"You're an interesting one."
Fabian, one of Ra's Apostles.
The commander of the paladin order called "Traces of Ash."
He was famous for his unpredictable personality and for doing things however he pleased. Fortunately, his only saving grace was that he was good-natured enough not to cross the line too badly.
But even so, he was one of Ra's Apostles. One of the pinnacles of the church's military power, a man on par with the cardinals and the Pope.
Standing before me was one of this world's strongest. I smiled as if it were nothing, but honestly, I was a little scared.
Oh, shit.
He's way too strong for me to be meeting yet. If I got on his bad side, wouldn't I just be annihilated?
He glanced over at me. He considered briefly with a "hmm," then grinned.
"Whistleblower Apprentice Priest Zahard."
"Yes?"
"I understand everything else, but there's one thing I don't get."
He leaned toward me. He whispered softly.
"What are you mixed with?"
...I thought things were going smoothly. Oh, shit.