Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: A Talk About Gods
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Erin's proposal to have a conversation about God.
The eyes of the orange-haired outsider sitting across from her began to tremble violently.
"Go... God, you say...?"
The intense rejection was plainly evident in her quivering four-white eyes.
If the stele's inscription was true, they had been abandoned by their god—and thus, they likely harbored no fondness for the very concept of a god.
Her expression, as if a bug were crawling over her skin, made Erin waver for a moment—
'It's okay. First, we need to make them realize we're not enemies.'
The dice had already been cast, and now was the time to move forward.
"For starters, allow me to introduce myself. I am Saintess Erin. I just arrived here by ship from a distant continent."
Her eyes turned to four whites at Erin's words.
"A... a saintess...?!"
"Please hear me out just a bit more. The god I serve is different from the one you served."
"...Pardon? But there's only one god..."
"That's why—"
As she pondered where to begin her explanation.
"Saintess, if I may interrupt for a moment."
Rengard approached from behind and carefully gazed at her before asking.
"Excuse me. Have you perhaps seen my face before?"
"You..."
The woman fell into thought for a moment, then nodded slowly as her pupils dilated, as if realizing something.
"Could you be the outsider who came from a distant continent back when Rentilden Village was still safe?"
"You do remember."
"You remember me...?"
"Well, not perfectly, but the moment I saw your face, it came to me. There was a woman with orange hair and eyes, dressed in distinctive attire unlike anyone else—and I wondered if that was you. When I visited the village, didn't you and your kin perform that characteristic ritual for your god right in front of me?"
"...Not a memory I particularly want to recall."
"More peculiar still. Time has surely passed, yet you haven't aged a bit."
"?"
"...Hold on a moment. How old are you, if I may ask?"
"I'm 72 this year."
"What?!"
Amid everyone's shock, only Karen nodded as if she understood.
"It seems they're a race with lifespans longer than humans."
"Longer than humans?"
"Yes. Think of the demons. The concept is similar, isn't it?"
Beings with long lifespans—long-lived species by human standards.
Just like the demon Ballus, it seemed entirely possible for other races.
"Huh... So that kid who looked like a child and claimed to be 19 wasn't joking."
Rengard stroked his beard for a moment before getting to the point.
"Anyway, that's not what this old man means. You may not believe me, but I myself nearly lost my life to your god."
"You nearly lost your life?"
"On the day I was sailing back to my homeland, a voice—presumably your god's—echoed in my head. It thanked me for providing the balloon. I even remember it saying it was going to administer some 'proper education.'"
"...!!!"
Her visible shock happened exactly twice.
When she heard the word 'balloon.' And when she heard 'proper education.'
"I wandered aimlessly for a long time due to memory loss, but once I learned the truth, I too intended to seek revenge on you all. So when I arrived here and read the inscription on the stele, I couldn't believe it. But seeing your shocked expression and the ruined village, it seems the inscription is true. In that case, we're practically united in hating the same foe."
United in hating the same foe—
Considering that foe was once a 'god,' it was an utterly profane thing to say aloud.
Yet for some reason, Rengard could sense it. This sharp-eared woman was resonating with him on some level.
"We simply want to hear your story. What on earth happened? Why did your god, who tried to kill me with divine punishment, abandon you all?"
Hearing Rengard, she carefully looked at Erin and asked.
"...You said your name is Erin?"
"Yes."
"As you mentioned earlier, the god you serve is a different god from ours?"
"That's right."
"May I ask the name of your god?"
The name of the god—
Recalling those weighty four letters, Erin clutched the Holy Scripture always at her waist to her chest.
Every time she imprinted the name in her mind, her lower belly rumbled.
"Igugwoden."
"Lord Igugwoden. Our Sole God."
"Igugwoden..."
"We have no intention of harming you, nor does our god. So, please, share your story with us."
"..."
She pondered for a long while—
"...This way, please."
She spun on her heel and stepped into the pitch-black cave, devoid of any light.
Erin cautiously turned to the group and said.
"Your Majesty, Ophelia, Sister Karen, and Rengard. Just the four of you follow me. If we all go at once, it'll overwhelm them. Luca, could you wait at the cave entrance with the others?"
"As you command, Saintess."
"Thank you."
And so, Erin, Eirene, Karen, and Rengard—
The four carefully followed behind her.
* * *
Making small talk on the way into the cave was also Saintess Erin's role.
"Um, I have a question I'd like to ask..."
"Pibiola."
"Yes...?"
"My name. Pibiola. Feel free to use it casually."
"Ah... Thank you. Pibiola. I have a few questions."
"What is it?"
"I understand you gathered here due to your village's destruction for some reason... But why live in such a deep cave with no light at all?"
The orange-haired, sharp-eared outsider—Pibiola—answered flatly without turning her head.
"Because if we don't hide in places like this... we'll be found."
"Pardon?"
"By the god. Our location will be exposed to that evil being we once served."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes."
As one who served a god, Erin could understand.
If their god truly possessed godlike powers, hiding anywhere wouldn't make it hard for the god to find them.
Hiding in a cave wouldn't evade the god's gaze. What was impossible for a god, after all?
That said, she didn't think they were a foolish race.
What seemed irrational from the outside often made sense from within.
History from the Old Continent proved it. Not long ago, people mocked the northern continent folk as ignorant for using inefficient 'one-wheeled rickshaws.' But in rugged terrain where proper roads couldn't be built, it was their best option—a prejudiced dismissal.
Surely, they had valid reasons for their beliefs.
To gain her goodwill, it was best not to interject knowingly.
How far had they gone?
"We're here. Please wait a moment."
* * *
"Have a seat."
Wooden seats encircled a stone-carved table.
Both were crudely made by unskilled hands, rough around the edges—but the torches on the cave walls gave the space a strangely fitting ambiance.
Erin's group sat across from Pibiola.
"×××...."
"Yeah. Leave it there."
The child from the entrance brought a tray of tea.
"Thank you."
Erin smiled brightly at the girl and drank without hesitation.
To show she harbored no aversion to their customs.
Even if it were a trap, it was fine. They had Karen and the Divine Messenger Rabbit.
Moreover, she was certain her god would never let her come to harm.
"...It has a very unique taste. It even warms the body a bit."
"It's mushroom tea from ones grown in the cave. It no longer has any special effects... but we drink it out of habit."
"No longer has effects?"
Pibiola looked toward Rengard and asked.
"You'd understand, wouldn't you?"
"It seems you once harnessed the 'Qi' in the air."
"Exactly. A miracle from that damned god."
Clutching her teacup tightly, Pibiola muttered—
"That time."
"That time, it wasn't defying the natural order."
"Pibiola..."
"I was too young to know better. If I'd realized it would end like this..."
—She began cautiously recounting her tale.
* * *
"M... Mother, what do we do... what do we do."
"Pibiola..."
It was an accident.
An unbelievably unlucky one.
Below the cliff where she and her mother had climbed to gather fruit.
As she rummaged through the bushes without a care—
A boulder came tumbling down from above.
Her mother threw herself to shove Pibiola away, resulting in this—her mother's body crushed under the rock.
The horrific image of her mother, half-buried and bleeding, speaking to her remained unforgettable even now.
"Mother... Mother, please wake up...!!"
Her mother could only barely murmur Pibiola's name, unable to form proper sentences.
Her eyes told the truth. The flame of life was fading. It was already too late.
'No...! Spirit, please save my mother... my mom...!!!'
Kneeling, she wept and begged.
Spirits.
Mysterious beings said to dwell in all things.
Invisible, yet always watching over and protecting them.
To defy this cruel fate, she knelt and prayed to the spirits.
'My mother is a really good person. She believes in the spirits more than anyone. So please save her...!!!!'
She prayed desperately, over and over.
To spirits she wasn't even sure existed, to beings she'd only vaguely conceived of moments before.
And then, that moment.
<<[Do you want help?]>>
'......!!!!'
Startled, she looked up at the sky.
A voice seemed to come from the ordinary blue sky.
In her innocence then, she thought it was the spirits' voice.
'Yes! Please help! Save my mother... save my mother...!!'
<<[Very well. I shall help your mother.]>>
'......!!!'
She jumped up and nodded repeatedly toward the sky.
To show respect to the spirits.
'Thank you, thank you...! Truly, truly thank—'
She still regretted it sometimes.
Back then, upon hearing those words—
<<[But there is a condition.]>>
'A condition...? Anything, I'll do anything! If you save my mother, anything...!'
<<[Amuse the god.]>>
'Pardon...?'
[Just make me laugh once and I'll save your mom lololol Ass show you two~~~~]
<<[If your actions make the god burst into laughter, I shall save your mother.]>>
—If only she'd heeded that chilling sensation more clearly upon hearing those words.