Episode 25: A Distorted Doctrine and the Faith of the Saint ② – The Prideful Church’s Reckless Rampage –

We were shown to Irene's office, where we talked about what had happened since the party had broken up.
　I recounted about how Alberic's lover betrayed him and then how he committed suicide, and how Hroboros attacked the kingdom while I abandoned it to its fate.
　About Falty, the war with the Principality, the death of her sister and the demise of the Principality.
　Irene listened quietly to the whole story.

"People who weren't involved have no right to say anything about events that happened subsequently. So, all I can say is that I want to give you my praise for working so hard in such difficult circumstances."

　After saying that, she lowered her eyes. ……She generally seems like a sensible, mature woman, and she was the oldest member of the party (apart from Falty, although Irene is also in her early twenties), so she is usually a reliable person.

"It's the same with me.
　I was cooperating with the church as a “saint” in exchange for a reward of 『a fiefdom and rights to take in and raise children』 in exchange for defeating the demon king, and I even have the certificate to prove it――― but the devout faction, who do not approve of the fact that the 『children』 include non-humans, have started a war against us."

"What? ? What's that? Are you sure you're okay with starting an internal power struggle in the current situation?"

"Actually, the reason for the devout wanting to get rid of the republican faction is because they are in the way, so it doesn't really matter what the reason is.
　So now I have been excommunicated from the church, which is dominated by the devout…… and there has even been issued an order for me to be executed as a heretical witch. ……The soldiers and nuns in this town are the few remaining survivors of the same republican faction, as well as old friends."

　This explains why there are so few adults for the size of the city.
　Even so, the church trying to get away with something this twisted, it's too much of a shit show it makes me want to throw up. Although the direct cause of Al's death was the kingdom, it was the church that instigated it, so let's see what the church has to say about it.

“The current devout sect has been infiltrated by outlaws and wayward soldiers, and they are attacking and looting villages that only have residents of the republican faction, and even villages that have no connection to the church. Among the nuns is a girl who is a survivor from a village attacked by the devout sect……

　Then they're just a normal dangerous gang. A truly disgusting story. Does that mean that, from the perspective of the devout, it's fine to ignore everyone except their own followers? ……That's just called a group of fanatics, isn't it?

"I've seen many villages and towns that have been attacked on the way, but so that's what it's all about. When I hear stories like that, I feel bad that I didn't run into any devout believers on the way.…… I feel like I want to round them all up and blast them away."

　Falty gritted her teeth, but I felt the same way, and when I thought about the people who had been killed and the girls who had been raped and had their lives taken away, I wanted to cut down these criminals. ……That's a problem I need to look into first.

"Also…… when I was doing some research on a favor that you asked of me regarding Al, I found out that the devout faction had gained the backing of the Empire and was gaining power within the church, and that the church was working together with the Empire to persuade the king of the kingdom to eliminate Al... I guess they were also trying to silence this fact.
　It would be bad if it got out that the church, which worships the goddess and the hero, was involved in getting rid of the hero."

"What's this 'silencing' thing? What a terrible thing, but even so, Al himself was a selfless guy. It would have been just fine to leave him as a decoration in a peaceful world, so why did they have to go out of their way to kill him? "

"……I don't know that much either. Only the Empire knows."

"……So, in the end, it's the Empire, huh?"

　I couldn't help but exchange glances with Falty, as it was the same thing we had heard in the Principality.
　In the case of the Principality, the ruler may have been related to the Empire, but the reason the Principality invaded the Elven Kingdom was also because the Empire was backing them. Roger and the Empire are the most suspicious of all the characters at the moment.

"They've got all sorts of reasons and excuses lined up, but the church――― or rather the empire, was determined to get rid of the hero party. Perhaps even Roger is involved in this."

　By Irene's words, that unlike the Kingdom and the Elven Kingdom, they were close to the Church's stronghold and the Empire, both geographically and in terms of standing, were convincing, and they made sense as corroboration for the events we had encountered up until now.
　……The king of the kingdom was also shouting about the church and the empire on his deathbed, and Falty told me that the Principality's ruler had said something similar.

"……However, I think it's not good to believe in just my word, so you should use your own eyes and ears to check and verify things for yourself. I don't remember raising you to be such simple children who would be easily swayed by other people's words."

"I don't remember you raising me."

　Falty was displeased by Irene's words, but it's true that Irene taught us a lot from an adult perspective during our trip. Although it depended on one's life experience, all of the words were thought-provoking and full of meaning.

"Why do you always say things like that, Falty? The～re, there, there♪."

　Irene then embraced Falty and started stroking her head with great speed. After letting out a scream, Falty tried to run away, but Irene restrained her. As usual, Falty seems to be within Irene's control. Well, she's an elf, so she's long-lived, and she's older than us in terms of age, but she still looks and acts like a child.

"……But for all that, this town is very peaceful. Although things were dangerous outside."

"I'll explain later, but there are various circumstances."

　Irene, who released Falty, said something, but it was strangely unclear…… is something unusual?

"But Raoul's right, it's true that this city is peaceful, like it's been cut out of this apocalyptic world."

"The local area is blessed with an abundance of water and food, which is a great thing. The city was originally well built, so――――"

　As we were talking like that, the door to the office opened with a loud screech. The pale-skinned girl I saw in the street earlier peeked her head out of the door and was looking this way.

"Oh, you've come to see Irene? I'm sorry, it seems we've been talking for quite a while. I apologize sincerely―――"

　It had slipped my mind that Irene was the guardian of the children here.
　Maybe she had something to say, or maybe she simply felt lonely.
　When I spoke to her while thinking about such things and smiling, the girl shook her head and pointed at the devil.

"It has nothing to do with the Saint. But why are the Celestial Knight and the Divine Bow with the Devil? "

"Eh? Ah, this person has horns, but she's not suspicious…… hmm? "

　She had the voice and speech of a young child who had not yet gone through puberty, but this girl had just called the Devil by her correct name. When I met Irene outside the castle, the Devil introduced himself as a catastrophe, but this child wasn't there at the time, was she?

"Setsu, I told you to be a good girl and wait for me, didn't I? "

"Wellー. There is a possibility that the Devil will do something bad to the saint."

　The girl walked into the room, in contradiction to Irene's words. I wonder if Setsu is the name of this girl? She was now holding the doll and staring at the Devil.

"*Wobble, wobble* I'm not a bad devil." (TLN: Dragon quest reference “I’m not a bad slime”)

"Can you please shut up for a bit?"

　I coldly said this to the devil, who was speaking in a comical way, then she hung her head. It's troublesome when she suddenly starts asserting herself after listening quietly with interest while I was talking with Irene, and as always, it's important to read the atmosphere.

"……What do you mean? Why do you call this lady a devil? "

　In order not to scare her, I kneeled down in front of the girl and spoke to her slowly, matching my eye level with hers.

"Raoul, I was going to tell you about it later, but that child―――"

"I am the Queen of Ice and Snow. One of the calamities that will destroy the world."

　The girl looked up into my eyes as she answered my question, as if it were nothing. ……A calamity? This child? ?
　I was surprised, and when I looked at Irene, she was downcast and looking sad.

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