Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Uncle Will Reward Good Children
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The song of the holy ones becomes a prayer of glory offered to God, and the Lord shall respond with blessings upon their heads.
-Magdalena 7:36
One of the ancient scriptures passed down from antiquity, this verse is often blamed for the absence of hymns in various worship services and rituals, tormenting countless tone-deaf believers to this day.
However, in recent times, many across the continent thought of one woman who perfectly embodied this passage from the scriptures.
Auriell Stardust.
A stunning beauty with radiant silver hair and blue eyes as her signature features.
Despite being a mere nineteen-year-old orphan from humble origins, this young former convent nun had captivated the entire continent with nothing but her musical talent.
Countless people shed tears at the sound of her voice.
Innumerable souls raced by carriage across a thousand miles just to fill their ears with that heavenly timbre.
The greatest composer of the era, Mozzarella, had lavished her with praise.
Congline Saliel had composed a piece solely for her.
And Betavin, the rising star among their successors, was said to have wept upon hearing her exquisite voice.
Even as a convent nun devoted to serving God, she traveled the continent, offering the highest praises to the divine.
Her voice was so sweet and beautiful, it felt like dragging a celestial being down to earth.
With thunderous applause ringing out after yet another performance,
Auriell bowed gracefully before stepping off the stage.
"Well done, Auriell. Today's show was truly magnificent."
"Thank you, Bishop Juda. And..."
"Ah, don't worry about the donations. I've delivered them to the orphanage just as you asked."
"I'm always grateful. Thanks to you, Bishop, I could offer my prayers to the Lord with a joyful heart today."
"What have I even done? If anything, I should be the one thanking you. Without you, Auriell, a lowly country priest like me would never have been able to serve the Lord from such a position."
Bishop Juda spoke with a warm smile.
After their heartwarming exchange, he continued in a more cautious tone.
"By the way, what have you decided about that matter? You know, the thing with Bennetsa we talked about before."
"Bishop, as I said, that place doesn't suit me. The only places that need my prayers are those dedicated to the Lord and spots like this, helping the little lambs in need. Attending such a worldly event would surely grieve the Lord."
Auriell refused once more, just as she had in the past.
But Bishop Juda responded with earnest gravity.
"I understand your feelings well. But as I said, the world doesn't run on ideals alone. Even if it's a secular event, that's precisely where the continent's wealth and power congregate. Offering a prayer there would be the perfect chance to spread the Lord's influence across this land, wouldn't it?"
"But..."
"I'm asking you once more—please do this. Think of it as helping the poor. We'll donate every bit of the compensation."
"...Hmm..."
The bishop's plea was more fervent than usual.
After deep contemplation, Auriell finally relented.
No matter how it clashed with her beliefs, there was truth in his words.
Above all, wasn't he the bishop who always stood by her side, striving to fulfill the Lord's will?
With her decision made, Auriell nodded at last.
"Sigh... All right. If you put it that way..."
"Th-thank you! Truly, thank you, Auriell!"
Bishop Juda's joy was the greatest she had ever seen.
Watching him, Auriell swallowed her lingering reluctance and forced a bittersweet smile.
Bennetsa bustled with crowds streaming through the streets.
True to its name as the City of Water, the entire metropolis was entwined by massive canals. In broad daylight, I strolled boldly through it alone.
Obviously, the face of the Pirate King—mine—was already plastered across countless wanted posters for sale.
From the posters on the walls
to the navy soldiers patrolling right before my eyes.
Yet not a single person reacted to me wandering the city at that moment.
The reason lay in Bennetsa's tradition during the festival.
On festival days, everyone donned paper masks or elaborate costumes, blending into the masses.
Just looking around, cats and bird masks were everywhere,
granting people an early taste of 'anonymous freedom' beyond their usual caution, letting them revel in the festivities even more carefree.
And right then,
I wore a mask evoking a black crow.
With my entire body shrouded in black cloth, I resembled a plague doctor, but no one paid me any mind.
At most, a few admired my fine attire. No one suspected I was the Pirate King.
'Came at the perfect time. Now, shall I scout the target?'
Before arriving, I'd planned operations with my subordinates.
Phase one involved us infiltrating in disguise and handling things discreetly.
Even now, comrades roamed Bennetsa in masks.
With tomorrow's grand auction approaching, they'd blend in today, conducting preliminary reconnaissance for their missions.
'One side's no worry... but the group with Ambasha feels iffy... Though with Frankling there, they'll manage...'
Feeling like a dad fretting over his kid on a school trip, I followed the map down an alley into the depths.
It was sparsely populated, but this was the quickest route to the target.
Or so the map said...
'...Fuck. Why isn't it here? Shouldn't it be around now?'
I'd followed the map exactly, yet I faced a dead end.
More precisely, a quietly flowing canal. I couldn't help but frown.
'Cross here? ...No, that doesn't seem right...'
Just then, a gondola glided up naturally and stopped.
On a hunch, I cautiously asked the gondolier.
"Hey, excuse me—how do I get to the central gallery from here?"
"...Fuck..."
"?"
-Whoosh!
The next instant, he swung his oar at me.
Mana-infused, the strike targeted my neck precisely.
And then.
-Thwack!
"...Huh?"
"...What the hell are you?"
The oar now neatly gripped in my hand.
The gondolier's face twisted in shock...
-Boom!
My swung fist sent him tumbling into the canal with a splash.
"Jeez... What the hell was that about?"
I'd only asked for directions, yet he'd tried to decapitate me out of nowhere.
Thinking the local security was even shittier than expected,
I boarded the now-ownerless gondola and fiddled with the oar.
'First time with a gondola... Feels like punting a ferry, maybe?'
Unlike others, it had a small golden figurehead at the stern.
Curiosity piqued, I decided to test this new ride—acquired through perfectly legal self-defense.
But then...
"Found it! Here!"
"Don't leave without us!"
Two guys burst from the alley.
Acting like they knew me, they hopped aboard lugging a large sack.
It wriggled like something alive inside.
The ominous sack, plus the aura I sensed within,
let me vaguely guess what these bastards were up to.
"Great! Let's shove off!"
"Cool outfit, huh? Always bitching about it being a hassle, but he's the most into it. Hurry! We'll be late!"
Somehow mistaking me for one of their crew.
I lowered my voice to a mumble and asked,
"...Shove off? To where?"
"What? Joking at a time like this?"
"To Marquis Zaboni's place, duh. Let's go—he's probably dying for the merchandise by now."
"...Got it."
They obediently spilled the destination like good boys.
Time to reward such fine children. I slowly raised the oar.
And then.
-Crack!!!
"Gahk!!!"
"Eeeek!!!"
The unknown slave traders 1 and 2 went flying, skulls cracked.
From time immemorial, scum like these needed smashing like mosquitoes—no mercy from me.
After kindly detaching their heads from their worthless bodies,
I casually unleashed mana to loosen the wriggling sack.
A figure soon appeared before me.
A pretty young convent nun with silver hair and blue eyes.
She glanced around, then stared at me in wide-eyed surprise.
"D-did... you save me?"
"Well, in the end, yeah."
It was more like collateral from a scuffle, but the result counted, so I affirmed it.
She immediately made the sign of the cross before me.
Then bowed politely and said,
"Thank you for saving me, benefactor. I, Auriell Stardust, shall pray for the Lord's blessings upon you."
"No need for prayers... Just guide me where I need to go."
"...? Um... I said I'm Auriell...?"
"...So?"
"...Y-you really don't know? No true believer of the Lord could have never heard of me..."
"Buddhist."
"..."