The Earth Mother's Baptism (2)
It was no exaggeration to say that more than ninety-nine percent of the Valtaria Empire’s citizens were devout worshippers of the Earth Mother Gael. From the moment they were old enough to understand, they attended the cathedrals. And the instant they completed their coming-of-age ceremony, they received baptism at the hands of priests from the Gael Holy Kingdom.
Religious freedom? As if such a thing existed. No matter one’s status or position, every citizen of the Valtaria Empire was required to believe in the Earth Mother without exception. That was why no other faiths could take root. To worship any god besides the Earth Mother was to be branded a heretic on the spot and sentenced to harsh punishment.
In such a rigidly closed society, it was only natural that a layabout who had somehow reached adulthood without ever receiving baptism would draw suspicious stares.
“In the old days the inspections were even stricter,” Javelin explained. “It was an extreme era where anyone who deliberately delayed or avoided baptism was immediately labeled a heretic, no questions asked.”
“Then I suppose I should count myself lucky I wasn’t born in that era.”
The silver-haired girl flashed a bright smile and delivered the grim joke with unsettling cheer. “Just be grateful they don’t burn people at the stake anymore.”
I returned a wry smile.
“The priests from the Holy Kingdom should arrive tomorrow. Your baptism, Lord Edanant, will be held at the Sophia Cathedral near the villa. Both Princess Ludmilla and Princess Elizabetta have said they will attend. You must be thrilled to be so popular with the beautiful princesses.”
“……”
Javelin’s expression soured. She turned her head away with an audible huff. I scratched the back of my head, genuinely puzzled by whatever had upset her.
Wait—both Ludmilla and Elizabetta are coming to watch the ceremony? It’s just a short event where they pour holy water over your head and recite a prayer. Why in the world would the imperial princesses bother showing up…?
Even receiving baptism under the supervision of priests dispatched by the Holy Kingdom was uncomfortable enough. The added presence of the empire’s princesses felt like nothing short of a double disaster. Was it really all right for me to go through with this?
If a Divine Clash happened in the middle of the rite… If my identity as a worshiper of a forgotten god was exposed, I would be arrested on the spot. Neither the Valtaria Empire nor the Gael Holy Kingdom showed any mercy toward demons or heretics.
Still… I fully accepted the divinity of the Holy Sword Aldebaran. Maybe the Earth Mother’s baptism won’t cause any problems. My starting point was different from the other demons, after all.
The only reason I had feared baptism until now was the possibility of a Divine Clash. Had that worry not existed, I would have gone through with it long ago. But there was no avoiding it any longer. With the resolve of a man who had run out of options, I decided to accept the Holy Kingdom’s forced baptism.
“Nothing will go wrong. You have a flawless, charming saintess right beside you, don’t you?”
“Mm… I’m not so sure about that.”
“To deny the sacred beauty of a saintess is an enormous sin. Are you perhaps hoping to be dragged away on charges of blasphemy?”
“……”
I felt an overwhelming sense of awe at the saintess’s benevolent charm as she weaponized the Holy Kingdom’s influence to rob me of any right to object. To reject such righteous criticism like this—if she were a ruler, she would have become a tyrant in her later years without a doubt.
“Ah.”
Something occurred to me when Javelin lifted her head with that sulky expression. Like a panorama unfolding, fragments of a memory I had long forgotten flashed through my mind.
The reason I had kept postponing my baptism. The reason I had left it neglected even though I could have easily faked one. It was all because of someone’s earnest request.
Once I officially become a priestess, I’ll give you the baptism myself. So please wait just a little longer. At least until the war ends.
Along with that determined voice, the faint image of a girl rose in my mind. I had completely forgotten her name and where she came from. Yet her bold smile and the sound of her voice remained crystal clear.
Watching Javelin tilt her head in confusion, I couldn’t help thinking how similar they looked.
“What’s wrong? You suddenly went quiet…”
“It’s nothing. A memory from the past simply crossed my mind.”
“Lord Edanant, sometimes you seem like an old man trapped in a young body. Even the elderly cardinals fall into reminiscence and melancholy the same way you do.”
“Yes… I suppose that might be true.”
It had to be a coincidence. The girl from back then did not have beautiful silver hair. Nor did she possess those dazzling blue eyes. Most of all, the girl had suffered a severe case of smallpox as a child; her delicate face had been covered in scars.
There was no way the girl I had met on the battlefield could possibly be the saintess standing before me now. Concluding as much, I shook my head.
The Gael Holy Kingdom intended to use this baptism ceremony to closely examine the individual confirmed as a Holy Sword user.
Edanant von Hohenberg. Blood relative of the hero and the chosen wielder of the Holy Sword Aldebaran. Doubting the true nature of the Holy Sword was tantamount to doubting the divinity of the Earth Mother. Nevertheless, the cardinals dispatched not only bishops but even inquisitors, showing meticulous caution.
Their clear intention was to thoroughly investigate exactly what kind of person he was on this occasion.
“I, the First Saintess, will personally oversee Lord Edanant’s baptism.”
The Holy Kingdom’s delegation, having entered the imperial capital and paid their respects to the emperor, immediately sought out Javelin. They had come both to discuss the baptism scheduled for the next day and to inquire about the man named Edanant.
In response, Javelin dropped a bombshell.
It was a unilateral declaration that she would personally preside over the ceremony.
“He is a hero who has vanquished wicked demons and heretics. It is only proper that I, the First Saintess, bestow the Holy Kingdom’s grace upon him in representation of our nation. Don’t you agree?”
“W-well, you are not wrong, but…”
Javelin had a strongly independent streak and had frequently caused headaches for the cardinals with her impulsive actions. The bishops who received her one-sided notice looked visibly troubled. Her statement went against the cardinals’ decision. Yet how could they possibly object when the incarnation of the exalted Earth Mother had issued the order herself?
In the end, the important thing was to safely complete the Holy Sword user’s baptism regardless of who presided. So, despite their discomfort, the bishops reluctantly accepted.
“I never imagined the saintess would volunteer herself.”
“Even I have my whimsical moments.”
Javelin had always delegated such duties to her subordinate bishops and priests except when attendance was unavoidable, which only made her announcement more startling. Was there some special reason, or was it truly nothing more than a passing whim as she claimed? Only she knew the answer.
Turning away from the bewildered bishops, Javelin let out a soft laugh and murmured to herself. Her lovely face burned with heated excitement.
…Besides, I made a promise.
A promise. Yes, because I had promised.
That I would one day bestow the Earth Mother’s grace upon you.
The time had finally come to fulfill that old vow.
The silver-haired girl let out an exhilarated sigh and pressed both hands over her heart. It was pounding so fiercely she feared it might burst from her chest at any moment.
Two days later, the baptism was held at the Sophia Cathedral in the imperial capital.
Because it was the baptism of Edanant, revered as the empire’s hero, countless nobles flocked to the venue like clouds filling the sky. They watched the proceedings with eyes brimming with anticipation, as though witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event.
“Did you hear? They say Saintess Javelin is presiding herself.”
“Look, Princess Ludmilla and Princess Elizabetta are sitting in the front row. It’s too far to see clearly, though.”
Soon the silver-haired girl made her appearance.
Javelin Albyon Russell, the First Saintess. Each step she took in her pure white vestments radiated an aura of sacred dignity. The brilliant light pouring through the stained glass only elevated her divinity further.
How could anyone appear so holy?
The countless worshippers who had gathered for the ceremony let out sighs of admiration. Not a single person doubted that Javelin was the living incarnation of the Earth Mother. Among the crowd, more than a few shed tears of joy at having witnessed a demigoddess in the flesh.
“This is the day the merciful Earth Mother bestows her blessing upon the hero chosen by the Holy Sword. I offer my sincere gratitude to everyone who has come to this sacred place.”
Javelin addressed the entire assembly in a solemn voice. The usual mischievous girl was nowhere to be seen. She truly resembled the genuine saintess from legend. Even Ludmilla, who had long been her rival, could not help but marvel at the sacred holiness she displayed.
Elizabetta and Lue, seated right beside her, watched Javelin with eyes full of envy.
“Edanant von Hohenberg.”
The protagonist of the ceremony was called forward. Edanant, who had been waiting in the back, stepped up to stand before Javelin. Perhaps it was the solemn atmosphere, but even though he wore his usual attire, his mere presence captured the gaze of every person in attendance.
Ludmilla and Elizabetta in particular reacted strongly to his appearance. It was a good thing they were seated in the front row; otherwise they might have shown their flushed faces to every noble present.
“May the merciful divinity always be with you. May sacred blessings and fortune follow you always.”
The saintess extended her pure white hand. At the same time, wings embroidered with white feathers materialized behind her. It was the protection of the White Dragon—the power of the guardian dragon that symbolized the Holy Kingdom.
As the massive wings fluttered behind Javelin, feathers imbued with divine power scattered through the air. The brilliant glow of the stained glass combined with the white dragon’s feathers transformed the space into an even more sacred sanctuary.
“And may the Earth Mother’s blessing be with you always.”
“……”
Edanant lifted his head. Javelin gazed at him with a gentle smile. Her hand, radiant with pure white light, gently stroked his hair.
It was the moment the girl’s long-cherished wish was finally coming true.