The Earth Mother's Baptism (1)
The location of the Holy Sword Aldebaran had been confirmed. Moreover, it had been discovered that the individual known as Edanant von Hohenberg was currently wielding it. The question was how to handle this unprecedented situation.
The highest-ranking priests representing the Gael Holy Kingdom had gathered in the conference hall. Their vivid crimson robes made it clear that these were cardinals of the second rank, assembled like a cloud of authority.
“This is completely unheard of! An outsider laying hands on the Holy Sword!”
“But isn’t he the younger brother of the Hero Maximilian? He isn’t a complete outsider. He has already slain wicked demons and cultists. We should take that into full consideration before passing judgment.”
The Holy Sword must be reclaimed at once. No, they should hold off on any decision and observe the situation first. The cardinals’ opinions split sharply, clashing with equal intensity. The dominant view insisted on strictly upholding the Holy Kingdom’s regulations, but the tide shifted once it became known that Edanant von Hohenberg, confirmed user of the Holy Sword, had eradicated a cultist faction that had infiltrated the Valtaria Empire.
“Are we not currently facing an unprecedented crisis with both the Hero and the Saintess missing at the same time? If we reclaim the Holy Sword now, we will only embolden the cultists!”
“What if we recognize Lord Edanant for his successful subjugation campaign and appoint him as the new Hero…?”
The vacancy left by the Hero and Saintess was indeed critical. They should put Edanant von Hohenberg forward. He was blood kin to the Hero Maximilian and had achieved remarkable feats. He was worth trusting. Once such arguments began to surface from certain corners, the cardinals who had clung to doctrinal principles rose up like a swarm of hornets. They belonged to the faction loyal to the Sole God and the Second Saintess Beatrice.
“What nonsense are you all spouting? The ownership of the Holy Sword belongs solely to His Holiness!”
“No matter how impressive his achievements, we cannot make exceptions to our sacred regulations!”
While the cardinals of the Gael Holy Kingdom acknowledged Edanant’s accomplishments, most of them stubbornly adhered to principle when it came to transferring ownership of the Holy Sword. The reason was simple: he was an unbeliever who had never received baptism. Had he been a devout believer, they might have viewed the matter more favorably. The fact that he had never undergone baptism became the key factor fueling their wariness.
Why had he never received baptism? That question now emerged as a new point of suspicion.
The Valtaria Empire had long ago accepted the Gael Holy Kingdom’s proposal and worshipped the Earth Mother Gael as the Sole God. As a result, most nobles—including the Emperor—were baptized followers of the Earth Mother. It was common custom to receive baptism immediately upon coming of age, so the cardinals found Edanant’s situation strange.
“Could it be that Lord Edanant harbors some blasphemous intent…?”
“What are you saying? Lord Edanant is the one chosen by the Holy Sword itself.”
To resolve these doubts, Edanant absolutely had to receive baptism. He must undergo the Earth Mother’s baptism. On that point, there would be no compromise. After much debate, the cardinals proposed a compromise: instead of arbitrarily transferring ownership of the Holy Sword, Edanant would receive baptism from a priest dispatched by the Holy Kingdom. No one raised any objections to the compromise. After all, only one who had received the sacred baptism could rightfully be permitted to wield the Holy Sword bestowed by the Earth Mother.
The individual Edanant von Hohenberg shall receive the Earth Mother’s baptism from a priest dispatched by the Holy Kingdom. Only upon completion of this sacred rite shall ownership of the Holy Sword be formally recognized.
By order of the Cardinals.
If you want ownership of the Holy Sword, receive baptism.
When Javelin relayed the Holy Kingdom’s demand, I felt the sheer absurdity of reality crash down on me. Forcing someone to believe in a religion? It was no different from the military chaplains who lured new recruits with hamburgers and cola.
It would have been better if they had just threatened to demand tithes. I would have handed over as much petty cash as they wanted. Of course, I would have grumbled nonstop while doing it.
“Did you know? In the old days, they used to perform baptisms by submerging believers in cold river water. These days it’s simplified to just pouring water over the head.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
Full immersion was called baptism by immersion. Sprinkling water over the head was called baptism by aspersion. How could I not know? I had witnessed the Holy Kingdom’s priests conducting baptism ceremonies many times. I had even seen Maximilian receive his own baptism.
Javelin shrugged with a cheerful bounce in her voice as she answered.
“If you receive baptism, they treat you to bread and wine. They even give you a chunk of ham and some cheese. It’s truly benevolent welfare, isn’t it?”
“Wow, that sounds incredibly tempting. I suddenly feel like getting baptized right this instant.”
I didn’t feel like giving a serious answer to Javelin’s playful question, so I brushed it off with exaggerated gestures. She burst into giggles.
“I heard that citizens of the Valtaria Empire, regardless of class, receive baptism at the same time as their coming-of-age ceremony… You’re quite unusual, Lord Edanant. Is there any particular reason you’ve avoided baptism until now? Some unavoidable circumstance that prevents you from receiving it, perhaps?”
“…….”
Was she trying to sound me out?
Javelin asked with a bright, beaming smile. I kept my mouth shut for a moment. The First Saintess’s blue eyes were sparkling with clear intent. For a second I wondered if the Saintess had chosen the wrong profession. Wouldn’t a mischievous shepherd girl have suited her better than the purity and solemnity demanded of a Saintess?
I feel like I said something similar to some brat before…
A sudden sense of déjà vu washed over me. The impish yet cheerful demeanor of the Saintess reminded me of someone. Strangely, the memory was hazy. Even though it couldn’t have been more than three years ago.
“I have a holy water allergy.”
“Pfft!”
The silver-haired girl covered her mouth and laughed. In contrast, the paladins escorting the Saintess clearly disliked jokes; they openly displayed their displeasure.
“I’m kidding. If it’s a decision from the Holy Kingdom, of course I’ll comply.”
“A wise choice.”
After leaving the villa, I walked the streets with Javelin, chatting casually. Every time the silver-haired girl and the fully armored paladins appeared, all eyes around us locked onto us.
Sigh. I really hope fake news isn’t spreading again.
The womanizer who seduced the Empire’s princesses is now targeting the Saintess as well… If any newspaper published such garbage, I was seriously considering possessing the Bomb Maniac Gael and blowing up their building.
“The cardinals of the Holy Kingdom will probably try to recruit you starting with this baptism. With the Saintess Party missing, there’s a massive gap in their fighting strength. Naturally, they need a ‘new Hero,’ don’t they?”
“You’re joking too much. How could I possibly replace my brother?”
I had no intention of accepting the Holy Kingdom’s proposal. I also had no intention of leaving the Empire. All I wanted was peace and quiet. Even though everything had only grown worse since the Saintess Party went missing.
Simply stepping foot into the Holy Kingdom, where high-ranking priests swarmed like flies, would dramatically increase the risk of my identity being exposed. That was why I politely declined Javelin’s meaningful suggestion.
“…I knew you would answer that way, Lord Edanant. I expected it to some degree, but being rejected so flatly is still a little disappointing.”
“…….”
Javelin let out a deep sigh. She looked exactly like a girl who had confessed her feelings only to be turned down. Did she really need to look that heartbroken? The only power that could rival the supreme Valtaria Empire was the Gael Holy Kingdom itself. If Javelin declared a holy war, countless paladins would gladly throw away their lives.
“Before receiving baptism, you’ll need to memorize the basic prayers… Do you happen to know them already?”
“No, I’m completely ignorant on the subject.”
“To think there exists someone with such a lack of faith. As the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, I find that truly lamentable.”
“…My apologies.”
It was incredibly embarrassing, but I didn’t even know the short prayers that even children could recite fluently. I felt like an idiot. Was this how Lue felt when she ran around causing chaos all the time? If the moment came to recite a prayer, I would probably freeze solid.
When I openly showed my dismay, Javelin smiled with gentle benevolence and offered to help me.
* * *
The kind Saintess willingly extended a helping hand to enlighten this poor, uncivilized savage. Missionary work is also part of a Saintess’s duty, after all.
Javelin said so as she headed back to the villa with me. To think I would end up receiving private tutoring from the Saintess herself. If the priests who worshipped her as a demigod had seen this scene, they would have shed tears of blood from sheer jealousy. They were such fanatics that they had rushed to her the moment she arrived in the Empire, begging for her teachings.
“Here, lie down quickly. I’ll read them to you.”
“That’s a bit…”
“Ahem! Are you really going to refuse the kindness I’m so graciously offering?”
“…….”
The beautiful silver-haired girl sat down on the soft carpeted floor. Then she patted her lap a couple of times. Faced with such blatant coercion, I had no choice but to surrender. With an extremely uncomfortable feeling akin to sitting on a bed of nails, I committed the blasphemous act of resting my head on the Saintess’s lap.
“There we go. Good boy.”
The sacred maiden smiled brightly as she stroked my hair. Every time her soft hand brushed across my skin, my shoulders twitched. What the hell was this situation?
I blinked rapidly, trying to read Javelin’s expression. I had thought she was just teasing me, but it didn’t seem that way. Javelin was smiling with genuine happiness. The peach-like blush coloring her cheeks made that perfectly clear.
“I’ve wanted to return the favor of a lap pillow for so long… and now the perfect opportunity has come.”
“…Pardon?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just found the way you were staring at me with those wide eyes rather amusing, Lord Edanant.”
“…….”
The silver-haired girl spoke in a voice thick with emotion. Her hand stroking my hair, gentle as dandelion seeds drifting in the wind, overflowed with warmth. She was treating me like a lover she had reunited with after a long separation.
We had clearly been complete strangers until recently. And yet Javelin was showing sincere affection as if we had known each other for years.