Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Can You Die for God?
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The man sitting before her.
Auriel, seated face-to-face with him, held her silence for a moment, carefully watching his eyes.
She had plenty she wanted to say, especially since she was the one who had invited him here in the first place.
His name, for starters.
Why he wore a mask even indoors.
What business brought him to this place, Bennetsa...
Just pulling out those questions she had planned to ask when inviting him here would shatter this awkward silence in an instant.
But even so, in this moment, Auriel waited for him to speak first.
Wondering what reason this man had for seeking her out...
Curious about what words he might say to her.
And...
"Just one question."
"Wh-what is it?"
Finally, words emerged from his mouth.
They were...
"Can you die for your god?"
"...Pardon?"
The man broached an utterly unexpected topic.
His sudden and extreme question left her slightly flustered.
However...
"Hmm... Is this a continuation of our earlier talk? Well... I'm not one to shy away from a debate like this."
Seeing it as an extension of the 'religious discussion' they'd had on the way here, Auriel pondered briefly before responding.
"...Of course. My body is sworn to the Lord. For Him... for His will, I am prepared to die gladly."
Auriel spoke with a confidence all her own.
But.
"Even if that god disappoints you? Even then, would you sacrifice yourself for it?"
He posed the question again, his tone growing more serious.
Though the words bordered on blasphemy, Auriel felt a twinge of displeasure but held it back and answered.
"That will never happen. The Lord would never disappoint me. Even if things seem difficult or painful right now, in time, it all becomes clear—they were trials He sent for my sake. Endure them, devote everything to Him, and surely the reward will come."
"But in the end, death wipes it all away. No matter the fame you earn, once you're buried in cold soil, it's all worthless."
"Not at all. Death is merely a step. We have the afterlife, don't we? Devote this short life to Him, and we'll enjoy eternal bliss in heaven. No need to fear."
Unlike his earlier prickly yet composed demeanor, the man now spoke with rising agitation.
Auriel, too, began to raise her voice as she replied.
"Even if that's impossible... no, more than that—how can you be so sure the afterlife or heaven even exists?"
"Th-the scriptures say so, and His Holiness the Pope teaches..."
"Scriptures or the Pope's words—they're just records and speech from the living. No one has returned from true death, nor come back from heaven. And yet you'd sacrifice yourself for an uncertain god and dubious rewards you can't even confirm exist?"
As a cleric, she could tolerate no more.
Auriel's voice filled with anger as she shot back.
"Even without that, I always feel His presence! Every time I pray to Him! Every time I work miracles with divine power by His grace! I always know He's by my side! A heretic like you could never understand or comprehend it!"
"......"
"Ah..."
Auriel had let her emotions sweep her into a heated outburst.
She hadn't wanted a harsh argument with this man, yet she'd done it anyway. Regret washed over her in an instant.
"...I-I'm... sorry. I got carried away..."
"...No. My approach was wrong from the start. Better to cut to the chase."
"Pardon?"
And so,
he began to reveal the 'main point' to the puzzled Auriel.
And...
Right after his words fully ended.
-Slap!
"..."
Auriel struck the man across the cheek.
The impact shifted his mask slightly, revealing a glimpse of his face.
Blond hair. A golden beard.
Yet even after catching that glimpse of the face she'd long wondered about,
Auriel felt no anticipation or joy...
Only deep fury.
"...I'm disappointed. Heretic or not, how could you say such things?"
"...Hoo..."
Auriel spoke in a cold voice.
The man readjusted his mask to conceal his face once more, then let out a heavy sigh.
"...I figured you'd say that. That's why I brought it up."
"Leave. I have no desire to see the face of a vile heretic like you any longer."
"Very well."
With that, he rose from his seat without hesitation.
Auriel remained seated, glaring at him with anger etched on her face.
"Believe it or not, that's your choice. I have no right to judge it. But even so—if your heart changes, remember what I said."
"That will never happen!"
-Bang.
With those final sharp words, he departed.
In the end, she hadn't even learned his name.
Auriel covered her face with trembling hands for a moment.
Fatigue crashed over her like waves, mingled with unrelenting emotional turmoil.
And... an emptiness gnawing at her heart.
Amid it all, she wiped her reddened eyes with a handkerchief, struggling.
"Don't mind it... Just words from a heretic I met less than half a day ago... It's all the devil's trick to confuse my heart..."
She muttered as she clasped her hands in prayer.
But in that moment, her gaze lingered on the spot where he had sat.
Now empty.
Unable to tear her eyes away, she wiped away tears once more.
"Eh? A-already leaving, sir? I thought you were staying here..."
Bishop Juda expressed his bewilderment as he approached.
The man, dressed as a plague doctor, replied in a stiff voice.
"Plans changed. See you at tomorrow's performance or whatever."
"Ah... yes. Take care, then."
With that, the man exited the hotel.
Watching his retreating figure, the bishop frowned slightly and spoke to the priest beside him.
"Tail him. If he looks like he'll cause trouble, take him out immediately."
"Understood."
The priest vanished right after receiving the order.
Having issued the command, the bishop turned back toward the hotel interior.
'Things got a bit messy... but it's still fine. Proof the Lord hasn't abandoned us yet... those who carry out His will...'
"How'd I do?"
"Perfect, senior. How are you so sharp despite being so young?"
"Truly the Pirate King's daughter... Impressive."
Back in their inn room, the three spoke in upbeat tones.
Acroryl had shown some hesitation but ultimately accepted their proposal.
Though she'd only disguised as a guard to slip in and out briefly, it was still a major contribution to the mission.
"Now, if we stir up some chaos at the auction house, we'll pull all the navy's aggro. Sneak in during the confusion and grab the valuables—that's the real jackpot!"
"I do feel a bit bad for that navy lady... She's actually a good person."
"Nah, it's fine. She'd try to lop your head off if she knew who we were anyway."
"Exactly. Best to make a quick score and cut ties cleanly."
At Elkana and Mazelan's words, Ambasha pushed aside her lingering guilt toward Acroryl.
For her, nothing mattered more than mission success—and earning her father's praise through it.
Then...
"Th-this doesn't feel right..."
"...What?"
"Huh? What're you talking about all of a sudden, Frankling?"
Frankling, who had stayed silent until now, finally spoke up a beat late.
Her expression unusually grave, she addressed the excited trio.
"I've thought it over several times... but this isn't right. Using that woman Acroryl... it bothers me on so many levels."
"...Haha, what're you saying, sis? We barely talked to her... Don't tell me you've grown attached?"
"Don't worry, using the navy as pirates isn't a bad thing at all..."
"That's not it. I just can't trust that woman at all."
Frankling spoke firmly.
Unlike her usual timid self, she raised her voice straight and true.
Ambasha responded in a slightly tense tone.
"C-can't trust her? Sis, you saw how nice she was to me. Plus, she's a friend of Mazelan and Elkana..."
"But she's navy. An enemy who'll stop at nothing to hang pirates. What if that cunning fox is tricking us into a trap?"
"No way... She has no clue about our identities anyway. And someone that kind wouldn't lie..."
"We've known her less than a day. Someone who abandoned her homeland to play admiral in a far-off place like this? No way she's harmless."
"Hmm... Can't argue with that... The briefing did warn us to watch out for her..."
Mazelan nodded slightly in agreement with Frankling.
He wondered if she was overreacting,
but truthfully, Frankling was the one here with by far the most years as a pirate.
Her perspective differed fundamentally from greenhorn Ambasha or ex-bounty hunters like themselves.
Experience in any trade was never to be dismissed.
Ambasha's plan was tempting, but it carried real risks too.
Then.
"I'm with Ambasha."
"!"
"Elkana?"
"Sorry, but I know Acroryl better than anyone here. She's always kind to kids, and she has her own sense of pride. She fights fair and square upfront—not the type for dirty tricks."
"That's when she was your comrade. Now that she's navy ink, she's a different person..."
"Besides, Frankling, you're kinda out of the loop on outside info, right? You didn't even know about Mazelan until now—feels off for you to say that."
"Hey, Elkana, that's a bit harsh. No matter what, Frankling's our captain here."
"But honestly, you're leaning toward Ambasha too, aren't you? This beats the original plan of minor chaos on the outskirts—way more solid, with bigger gains."
"Kuh..."
Mazelan faltered, struck at his core.
In the midst of this tangled debate,
Ambasha stayed silent, eyes fixed on Frankling's stubborn expression.
'I won't back down... not even to you, sis...'