Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Shatia Great Chieftain
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“Wow……!”
A new village came into view for Erin and her companions.
Surprisingly, judging purely by architectural style, it was far more advanced than that of the Elves.
It was comparable to the buildings in cities back in the Empire.
“Amazing. It’s so well-built, isn’t it?”
“To think a race with this level of architectural skill exists on our continent……”
However, there was one thing.
The clear difference from villages on the Old Continent—
*The entrance…… is so narrow!*
The door size fit perfectly for Lily’s small stature, so Erin’s group inevitably had to duck to enter.
From the perspective of humans and Elves, it felt like stepping into a world inhabited solely by children.
There was a peculiar cuteness to the village itself, but it was obvious that no one but the Shatia Tribe could live there comfortably.
Whispers.
The gazes of Shatia scattered throughout the village focused on them, and murmurs could be heard—
But not a single one approached Erin’s group directly or raised any objections.
The reason seemed to be—
Standing at the front of the group.
Lily, the knight before their eyes, apparently held considerable influence within Shatia society.
After wandering the village for a few minutes,
“Please wait a moment. I’ll fetch the Great Chieftain right away.”
“Isn’t the Great Chieftain the highest authority? In that case, we could go meet—”
“No need. Our leader isn’t one to fuss over such trivialities. Besides, no matter how high the ceilings in the citadel, it would feel oddly uncomfortable for you all. Just wait patiently.”
Lily stopped in front of a building with an unusually tall door, sufficient for humans to pass through comfortably, then spoke to Erin as if making a request before quietly stepping inside.
* * *
‘……’
Bringing Erin’s group to the village had been fine so far—
The problem was her lack of certainty about the events she had just experienced.
Just moments ago.
Lily had heard the voice of a god. At the very least, she had clearly sensed a voice claiming to be a god resounding in her mind, nowhere else.
As she walked down the corridor, she cautiously recalled the conversation she’d had with that god at that moment.
* * *
“You’re a god?”
[Yes. I’m a god. And right now, before your eyes, Saintess Erin—practically my proxy—is with you.]
“Saintess?”
[Yeah. See the platinum-haired woman in pitch-black clothes?]
Upon checking, there was indeed a woman matching the description perfectly, staring at her rigidly.
A voice echoing in her head, a world that seemed frozen in time for some reason, a bizarre animal glowing in strange, unfamiliar colors……
She was undoubtedly facing more than three phenomena at once that could only occur through the intervention of a being on the level of a ‘god.’
Moreover, the subtle calm she felt every time the voice resounded…… Like being held in the arms of her parents, who had passed away long ago in the war, Lily was gradually accepting the entity producing this strange voice.
[As I said earlier, I don’t know the full details. But the reason we’ve come isn’t to fight you all. We’ve come to spread the will of your god—me.]
“Spread…… You mean proselytizing?”
[Well, something like that. Anyway, yeah. Believe it or not, that’s up to you, but just hear me out once. I won’t force it. Isn’t solving things through talk far better than spilling blood?]
—!!!
* * *
‘If it can be resolved through dialogue, it’s far better…… right.’
Finishing her recollection, Lily let out a short sigh.
Of course.
Of course she knew that words were preferable.
But we Shatia—we had barely secured our territory from the Elves through dialogue alone, hadn’t we?
It wasn’t just because she and her kin were inherently belligerent.
They had no choice.
Otherwise, they couldn’t protect themselves from those who still eyed their lives greedily even now—
Lily cautiously recalled the response she hadn’t been able to give then—one she hadn’t even expected to reach.
‘If the being I encountered truly is the god from legends, then it can’t possibly be unaware of the Shatia’s circumstances.’
Yet it merely spoke of peace—when she’d thought that far.
“General Lily, welcome.”
She realized she had arrived at the audience chamber.
“I wish to meet the Great Chieftain.”
“She’s been waiting just for you, General Lily. Please, enter.”
Lily gave a light nod to the Shatia who bowed ninety degrees to her, then cautiously stepped toward where their leader awaited.
* * *
After Lily entered the citadel.
Taking advantage of the brief silence that followed, Luca cautiously approached Erin and asked,
“Um…… what should we do, Saintess?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“As you said, they don’t seem to view us as enemies…… But the gazes from her kin in the village aren’t exactly friendly, that much is true. Avoiding conflict with them is ideal, so if a disturbance arises, we may need to flee depending on the situation. What do you think about me securing an escape route?”
Luca’s most important duty.
Was to protect Saintess Erin.
After all, weren’t Holy Knights—Dish of Holy Knights—chosen solely to guard the holiest being in a world selected by God himself—the Saintess?
However, Erin shook her head again and smiled.
“It’s fine. They won’t harm us in the end…… And if such a situation arises, God won’t just sit idly by.”
“God……”
“Yes.”
Erin hugged the Holy Scripture in her arms tightly and said,
“I believe in Lord Igugwoden.”
“……Understood. My apologies.”
As their exchange concluded—
“The Great Chieftain is coming!”
A commotion erupted from beyond the citadel gate—
At the same time, a woman with a far more mature air—though still short—approached slowly, with Lily escorting her like a guard knight.
Her long orange hair, similar to Lily’s, was tied in a ponytail.
Her brown eyes, deep as the earth, gave a strong impression.
Only her stature was small. Her ample breasts and hips were unmistakably those of an adult woman.
Having already seen the example in Lily, that could be overlooked, but the questionable point was—
As Great Chieftain, she was equivalent to a monarch here—a king.
Yet the clothes she wore—
“It feels like beholding a conqueror queen.”
As Eirene said, the Great Chieftain’s attire was too rough for a queen.
Unlike Eirene, who always wore a tiara and dresses befitting her regal dignity, the massive weapon slung over her back screamed field general.
Her gaze was no ordinary one either. It carried the cold emotion unique to those who lord over all, reminiscent of Eirene in her past—but laced with the sharpness born only from clashing blades on the battlefield.
“A conqueror queen, you say?”
To Ophelia’s question, Eirene replied while fixing her gaze on the Great Chieftain.
“Yes. It evokes Eleanor von Ainsberg, the Conqueror Queen whose contributions were pivotal in founding the Ainsberg Empire.”
“I see……”
Step, step.
Finally, the Great Chieftain stood squarely before Erin, the group’s representative.
Looking up, she extended her hand toward Erin.
“I heard from Lily. I am Jenipia, chieftain of the Shatia Tribe. So, you’re Erin, the woman who came from that distant new continent?”
“Yes. I am Saintess Erin. If I may say, aside from Pibiola of the Elves behind me, we are not of the Heimnar Tribe but humans.”
“I see. It wouldn’t be strange for unknown races to exist on a new continent we know nothing of…… But your appearance does closely resemble the Heimnar. It wasn’t intentional confusion, so I ask your understanding on that.”
“It’s fine.”
“And……”
Jenipia’s gaze turned to Pibiola behind them.
Pibiola carefully recited the phrase she’d prepared on the way here.
“I am Pibiola. I represent the Elves in coming here…… But as I told Lily, we haven’t come to fight you all.”
“Pibiola. Do you truly know what transpired between us and the Elves?”
“……Shamefully, no, I do not.”
“What have you heard from your ancestors?”
“I only know it was a blood feud. That we were pushed to a narrow coastal strip for a reason—that’s the extent of it…… But they’ve passed, so I couldn’t ask more.”
“And yet you say you won’t fight?”
“Yes. Because it is the will of God.”
Jenipia’s eyebrow twitched at the word ‘God.’
“God…… Lily did mention something like that.”
“……”
In Lily’s silence, Erin spoke up.
“Lady Jenipia. Sorry to interject suddenly, but God exists. We’ve come to convey His will, not to fight you. Do you follow any religion or god?”
“Our people may have their beliefs…… But I, at least, do not.”
“Then, would you hear the words of the Sole God, Lord Igugwoden? We don’t force religion without rewards, so please just listen comfortably for now—”
“Erin, was it? Sorry, but could you let me finish first?”
Erin bowed lightly to the interrupting Jenipia.
“……My apologies.”
“No need. I don’t mind seeing such passionate youth.”
Muttering “Igugwoden” to herself—
“I have a question. What sort of being is this Sole God Igugwoden?”
“He is our master who loves us endlessly, our creator.”
“Creator…… Meaning you humans, the Elf girl behind you, and even I—all were made by this god Igugwoden?”
“In the broadest sense, yes. A Dish of Facts became the land, a Dish of Facts became the sky. All life sprang from those two dishes.”
“I see.”
Jenipia pondered silently for a moment—
“Sorry, but if gods truly exist…… From our position, we couldn’t believe in one—we’d have no choice but to hate it.”
“Pardon? Hate…… why?”
Seeing Erin’s shock at the blunt words, Jenipia gave a bitter smile—
“If gods truly exist…… Then the harsh trials inflicted on us Shatia now would amount to divine punishment.”
“Divine punishment? What do you—”
—Dragon.
“!!!”
“Isn’t the dragon that still hunts our lives even now also a creation of that god?”
At the utterly unexpected word that burst forth—
Erin and the others were too stunned to close their mouths.
* * *
‘Did it go well?’
I’d explained to Lily as best I could that we had no intention of fighting and were just here to spread the faith.
But Erin’s group looked unsettled as they entered the village.
Still, with me watching, there’s no need to worry too much.
‘They look cute wandering around…… But not seeing the conversation is a bit frustrating.’
As I thought that—
[ GiveMeMoney : xwqe.wo.to ]
[ GiveMeMoney : This is Erin-chan’s current situation ]
‘Ooh!’
Messages finally started coming from the silent author.
[ GiveMeMoney : So sorry for the late observation, Lord Igugwoden ]
[ GiveMeMoney : Personal circumstances…… ]
[ Igugwoden : Nah it’s fine!!! I was waiting for the comic lololol Just about to get frustrated ]
[ Igugwoden : Gonna read it right now!! Thx thx ]
I’d thought they were AFK forever, but they were drawing a comic.
I immediately checked the author’s comic.
*
And.
Only after reading that comic—
‘Ahh……!!!’
—Did I realize exactly what this ‘new observation system’ was.