241 - - Art. 241. The Beginning of the Test

"The participants of the pilgrimage have arrived!"

The Holy Land was in a flurry of activity when the report arrived that the participants of the pilgrimage had arrived.

Priests were running all over the place to welcome the participants and prepare for the ordeal.

"Let's go check it out!"

"Right."

We followed the priests to the participants.　

"Is this ......?

There we saw the participants in tatters.

Every one of them was breathing on their shoulders, and their equipment was badly damaged.

It was obvious that they had been through a fierce battle with some kind of strong enemy.

"So that's what it's all about, huh?"

As expected, the girls have been taking on quite a challenge without our knowledge.

Above all, the number of participants has obviously decreased since the start of the event.

This is evident from the fact that the dark brown-skinned exotic adventurers who were conspicuous at the opening ceremony are nowhere to be seen.

They must have been badly wounded and dropped out.

"If they're that battered and bruised, we'll have an easy time of it..."

Gyro, who was standing next to me, said something terrible.

"What are you talking about?　Does it really look like that to you?

"What?　No, but we had an easy time getting here, didn't we?"

Watch out, Gyro, you're making a big mistake.

"That was on the street. I'm pretty sure those wounds were sustained off the street."

"Off the street?"

"Yeah, they were supposed to be ahead of us, but somehow they arrived a night later than us. That means they were fighting somewhere else.

"Another place?　Well, I don't remember passing them on the way, so maybe that's true, but if they're battered and bruised, doesn't that increase our chances of winning?"

"No, wounds and magic consumption can be cured by drinking a potion."

"Pow!　Oh, oh, ......, I guess so."

"I'm more concerned about the fact that the enemy was so battered and bruised even after mobilizing all the participants in the pilgrimage. That means that even if they had worked together, they would have been in danger of being wiped out. The fact that they won against such an opponent shows that they are very good.

Is that so?

"And the opponent is so powerful that churches that normally don't get along with each other join forces to fight. They fight so often that they instantly put aside their usual ties and fight together. With such intense experience, it's hard to believe that these girls will be easy to defeat.

"I see. That's my brother, that's my sister. ...... I guess I was wrong about you."

Good, you understand.

I am relieved that you once again understand the threat they pose.

In the coming battles, you must be on your guard or you will be dead in a heartbeat!

"Ladies and gentlemen, preparations for the ordeal will soon be complete. Until then, please stay here and recover.

The participants rush to take out their potions and begin to heal themselves.

"Let's get ready while we still can!"

"Yes!"

I'll go get my stuff."

We returned to the room the priests had prepared for us and prepared to participate in the ordeal.

When we returned to the place where the participants had gathered, they too looked ready to go.

"Lakshi-chan!"

We heard a voice calling us from among them.

"Mr. Foca!"

"Thank God you guys arrived safely."

When Mr. Foca saw that we were safe, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Yes, we arrived yesterday."

Yesterday?

Foca's fellow participants then shouted in surprise.

"I can't believe it, I thought you were ahead of us, but I didn't know there was that much of a difference. ......"

"No, we only came out on top thanks to you all who put us through a difficult ordeal. We just got lucky."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

But what are Phoca's friends talking about?　He nodded his head as if to say, "I'm sorry, but I don't understand.

Funny, I thought you guys were up against a dangerous problem. ...... Oh yeah!

As servants of God, these guys don't mean to make a big deal out of their exploits.

They must be thinking that they deserve to help those in need.

"I see what you mean."

Even though the higher priests are bickering among themselves in the temples, the pilgrims on the pilgrimage are facing their daily problems from the same perspective as the people.

"It's the active priests of the Holy Land, isn't it? ......"

"Huh?　Uh, ...... yes, yes!　Oh-ho-ho-ho."

Perhaps thinking it was too much to hide any longer, Phoca admits that he is right.

The priests are not only strong but also humble. We can never be too careful.

It was then. The priests of the Holy Land reappeared.

The participants stopped talking when they saw them, and the place naturally became quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for the ordeal. This way, please."

...... Finally, you're here.　

We're here at last.

"""""""This is the venue of the trials!

As we entered the place of trials, deep in the holy land, we were amazed at the sight.

It was a sight that we could not have imagined from the dreadful word "ordeal".

What?　What is that, a large pond with several small footholds?"

"There are holes so deep you can't see the ground. And that's ...... something floating in the air. ......"

There's a hell of a hill over there!

"Something about that floor, it's shaped funny."

Yes, it was a field divided into several stages.

But that's not what surprised me.

I was surprised because I knew the scene so well.

The shape of the sanctuary, the familiar facilities within the sanctuary, all came together when I saw this course.　

"This is ......, this facility is ......."

I was astonished by this fact as I recalled my forgotten memories.

This ordeal is an educational athletic activity created by ...... me in a previous life!