Chapter 197

With nothing particular of event happening during the journey, they had made it to the first site without any troubles . Although they’re heading towards a holy site, it’s in reality just a remote place .

There wasn’t any people of the church living around nor any grand building . Although there was periodic cleaning, it’s a place that people would visit only once in many months .

The expedition was heading towards northwest, near the Kingdom’s border with the coalition . Resting a night at a nearby village after five days of journey, they departed on the next morning .

Arriving at the destination before the sun completely rose, the monks and nuns were cleaning the surroundings in order to prepare for the ritual .

Eventually, the preparation were finished at right after noon, and the Cleansing Rite were carried out in a solemn atmosphere .

「It’s the first time for me to experience such a large scale Cleansing Rite . What about you, Priest Dret? 」

While looking at the people already moving onto preparation of leaving and cleaning up, the plump-eared priest asked the other priest beside him .

「That’s right . Although I had been in several Cleansing Rites already, it’s the first large-scale one I had . As expected from the duke’s house I guess . 」

The priest whose name is Dret recalled his experiences with Cleansing Rite and replied .

Although it was a Cleansing Rite for the duke’s daughter, she didn’t have to do much actually . It only took her a few minutes to cite the ritual incantations and pray on the altar that the monks had prepared .

The only thing troublesome was the preparation for that and the travelling process . Originally, monks that go on a Cleansing Rite are responsible for their own safety, but with a duke’s daughter here, that’s not possible .

That’s why, there were a bunch of escorts and servants surrounding the carriages when they travelled, and the preparation work are all left up to them .

There are voices within the church condemning about what is the point of a Cleansing Rite if everything was done by others . However, a Cleansing Rite for any noble young lady is usually a very good deal for the church, so there aren’t actually many who would make a big deal of it .

After all, the people from the church also needs to eat . Just like how an outfit store sell dresses, the church earns its living by selling the product, Cleansing Rite .

The Cleansing Rite this time was paid in a grand sum by the Duke’s house . The amount is enough to run the church in the capital for almost a year .

It just meant how much the Duke valued the Cleansing Rite for his daughter . Even if it meant having troubles with mobilizing that many priests and monks, there was no reason for the church to decline .

「Is the withdrawal preparation going well? 」

「Yes . Although it is large scale, there are also many people with us . The Duke’s house is lending their manpower too, so it’s going well . 」

Satisfied by the answer from the plump-eared priest, Priest Dret continued .

「If there’s still time, we should give a chance to the escorts to offer their prayers too . 」

「Yeah, that’s a good idea . I’m sure the escorts would be pleased too . 」

For the usual common folk, Cleansing Rite is not something they consider at all . After all, there’s no reason to take rests from their job and go for a dangerous expedition for a Cleansing Rite .

Although for mercenaries, it wouldn’t be much of a problem if they’re with their parties, but it would still mean a loss of their potential income . So there aren’t many who are willing to do it voluntarily unless they’re really devout .

However, it’s decided that the escorts and private soldiers will be visiting all three holy sites as part of their job . While earning, they can undergo the Cleansing Rite as well, there’s no mistake that they would be gracious with the chance .

Thanks to Priest Dret’s generosity, while the withdrawal preparation were being carried out, the escorts were given a chance to offer their prayers in a small group at a time .

However, among all the happy members who were offering their prayers, there was only one mercenary escort who didn’t leave the duke’s daughter’s side . Black hair and eyes, a young man dressed in a short purple robe .

He’s the magician who had won in the Lotus Cup recently, known as the 『Countless Swords Sorcerer』 in the capital . The plump-eared priest hid his frown immediately, and walked towards the magician who was conversing with the duke’s daughter with a smile .

「Ardis-san, was it? 」

「Yeah…… . You’re? 」

The magician who turned around and faced the plump-eared priest threw him a question .

「I’m a priest of the church in the capital . It’s quite a while already but, we’ve met when you took an escort request for Sister Solte . 」

「……Sorry, I don’t recall you . 」

It seems like he didn’t remember the plump-eared priest .

「It’s alright . It’s only the second time I’m meeting you here, it was also a short period after all . 」

「So, you have anything with me? If it’s about the escorts, then you should find someone from the private soldiers――」

「No, it’s nothing important . Did you hear that the escorts are also given a chance to offer their prayers to Goddess-sama? 」

While the Countless Swords Sorcerer visually pointed over at the captain of the private soldiers, the plump-eared priest stated his business briefly .

「Yeah, I heard it from Solte just now . 」

「Ardis-san wouldn’t be offering a prayer? 」

Although other escorts were moving in conjunction to take advantage of the chance given, only the Countless Swords Sorcerer didn’t show any signs of doing so .

「……I have to be beside Minerva . 」

Although the Countless Swords Sorcerer answered with an excuse of protecting the duke’s daughter, it was evident from his face that he was displeased .

「There’re other escorts too . There’s no problem if it’s just a few minutes right? 」

「Nope, I will refrain . 」

However, the Countless Swords Sorcerer declined without even considering the words from the priest .

「Why is that . It is a rare chance to offer appreciation to the Goddess-sama right? 」

「Shishou, please don’t be mindful of me . Rona will be accompanying me after all . 」

Although the duke’s daughter offered a compromise hearing that, the person himself seemed even more displeased .

「It’s not like everyone worships the same figure . Sorry but I’m――」

「Wan――! 」

While the Countless Swords Sorcerer seemed really irritated, the golden beast at his legs barked and covered his words . The Countless Swords Sorcerer met eyes with the beast, and after a short while of silence, he once again refused the offer from the priest .

「……No . I will refrain after all . Don’t be mindful of me . 」

「……Is that so . I understand, I apologize to have been rude . I will be excusing myself then . 」

The plump-eared priest caught on that any more persuading is useless as he backed off .

「What happened? Did you find something interesting?」

The plump-eared priest must’ve showed on his face after returning to Priest Dret after excusing himself from the duke’s daughter . Priest Dret seemed to notice it as he called out to him .

「No, it wasn’t anything actually……」

「You certainly don’t seem like that . I will be listening if there’s something bothering you . 」

「Thank you . ……It’s quite difficult to have everyone understand the benevolence of Goddess-sama . 」

Speaking of his experience with the Countless Swords Sorcerer, Dret seemed a little troubled as well as he consoled .

「That’s true . It’s sad to think but there’re also people who don’t understand the heart of our Goddess-sama . However, they shall one day surely come to realize it too . In the end, we can only preach the teachings of Goddess-sama . It’s alright, I’m sure the day he understands would eventually come . 」

「Yes……, I can only hope so . 」

However, unlike his words, the cloud in the plump-eared priest’s mind didn’t clear up . The tone and the anger that the Countless Swords Sorcerer showed when he spoke of the Goddess .

It’s evident that he does not like the Goddess at all . It’s not only the conversation he had just now that he felt something .

A few years before, the Countless Swords Sorcerer seemed to look at the people praying and the murals on the church’s wall with hatred .

That was like a gaze going against the Goddess . While the plump-eared priest’s thoughts continued to wander around there, Dret’s words suddenly made him realize something .

「However, 『It’s not like everyone worships the same figure』 huh…… . It sounds like he’s worshipping someone else other than the Goddess-sama…… 」

「T-That’s……」

The plump-eared priest felt a shock going through his body . The unorganized pieces of discomfort fell together, and led to a single answer .

At the same time, he felt cold sweat down his back .

「Impossible……」

There is only one god in this world . In other words, Goddess Eisera is the mother and the root of all .

However, the plump-eared priest also knew of the existence of another god besides the Goddess . In the ancient times, the evil god, Greihs who was defeated by the Goddess in the war of gods .

At the same time, he thought of the believers of the evil god, the existence of evil beings who are brought chaos onto the world .

「What is it? You don’t look well . 」

「N-No…… . I’m fine . 」

Putting more strength into supporting his fumbling self, the plump-eared pries forcefully directed a smile towards Dret, and decided to keep the scary thought to himself . The thought that the Countless Swords Sorcerer is one of the evil god’s believers .