143-Episode 143: Martyr's Determination

Norbu.

I was walking down a long corridor when my grandfather called me to the church in King's Landing.

'Norbu-sama, the High Priest is waiting this way.

With that, the intermediate priest who showed us around stops in front of the big door.

''Thank you very much.''

That's too good to be true.

The higher ups behave as if I'm superior to them.

'Go ahead. I'm not qualified to go further than this, sir.

When the intermediate priest steps down beside me, I open the door.

And once inside, it was a very bleak room with nothing in it.

No, there was only one thing that was unnatural in the room.

"This is the door to the ordeal....

Yes, at the back of the empty room, there was a door that was bigger than the one I had just entered.

Its name is the Door of Trials.

It is said that only those who have the qualification to enter this back room can open the door.

"I never thought that I would be touching this door now...

We were supposed to be here much later.

But we cannot be afraid of it.

The fact that I've been called to this place means that it's the right thing to do.

I willfully touch the door.

Okay.

The moment I touched the door, I felt the strength in my body relax.

''But not to the extent that I couldn't move instantly........!

I push the door as hard as I can before the power is completely gone from my body.

Then the door begins to open slowly, but with a dull sound.

''This is........tight........''

The more the door opens, the more my body relaxes.

''I'm ... almost there!

And the moment there was enough room for one person to enter, I slipped into the room.

''Hahaha........!''

I managed to get in I would have run out of steam if it hadn't been opened a bit later.

'Welcome to the Consecration Room, young priest.

I'll be d*mned.

The voice causes me(...) to jump up and get up.

'I'm here, junior monk Norbu, I'm here.

I looked up and saw the old priest sitting at a large table.

'You wanted to see me, High Priest?'

He is the High Priest of the Church in this country, Hiddinos, and....

You can call him Grandfather, just like in the old days. You can call him Grandfather, just like in the old days, can't you?

No, I can't make such a profane statement to the High Priest.

And he is also my grandfather.

This is the reason why the intermediate priest was treating me as a superior to me earlier.

'Oh dear, you are a hard man. No one here can hear our conversation.

That's not the case.

But, well, I think it's honestly quite a feat that you were able to open a door at such a young age. How you have grown so much.

Unusually, the High Priest praised me.

To be honest, I was even amused.

'And that's only because of a good meeting.

Haha, don't be so modest. No matter how many good encounters you have had, you would not have been able to acquire that much strength if you hadn't worked hard every day. Recognize your own efforts, Norbu.

That's what the high priest said, but I was able to gain this much power only because of the influence of Mr. Lex.

And the reason I was able to follow the teachings of Mr. Lex is because Mr. Jairo, our leader, was willing to put aside his pride and devote himself to his work.

Truly, we had a good meeting, Grandfather.............................but the High Priestess.

''Now, you know why I called you here, don't you?

The High Priest returns to his face as a priest and asks me.

'Of course I know,'

That's why I was on a training trip with Jairo-kun and the others.

''Mm, originally your role was supposed to be a few more decades away, but the activity of the swamp(...) has far exceeded our expectations...''

As the high priest said, originally my role was supposed to come much later.

It was supposed to be after I cultivated normally, grew normally, and acquired the ability to open the door to the ordeal one day.

''Huh, when you think about it, it's a blessing in disguise that you've grown up more than I expected. Or perhaps your growth is also God's will for you.

Indeed, it's true that meeting Lex was such a miracle of God's, because it was such an event that I could only call it a miracle of God.

'O Norbu, young priest who has been qualified through the doors of trial! With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, I give you a mission!

At the High Priest's words, I fall to my knees and wait for the rest of the words with determination.

'In a few days from now, the princess will be leaving to perform a ritual to calm the swamp of active corrosion. You will be responsible for guarding the princess in the meantime so that she can reach the ceremonial site safely.

I am on a sacred mission, sir.

Yes, this is my mission.

To escort the Princess Megrielna, who was born to be a sacrifice, safely to the place of ceremony.

Because this is the mission of the Martyr with no return journey!

Hidinos.

After receiving my order, Norbu left the sanctuary room with a determined look in his eyes.

''.........Haha. I didn't expect that guy to open the door.......

It was completely unexpected.

Even if we had naively estimated that there was no way the door could be opened with the current Norbu.

If only I could confirm that, I was going to give the reason that it was still too early and replace it with another talented person....

My grandson is just too good for that!

Oh, my God! Why is it that my grandson is so good at this?

As a boss, I'm happy, but as a grandfather, I'm not happy at all!

What's so sad about sending my sweet grandson to a place of death he knows he will die!

That d*mn serious grandson of his.

He thinks this is his mission.

I don't think so!　Simply that he was born at the worst possible time to the grandson of the highest priest in this country, the land of corrosion!

'd*mn, that's all because that d*mned swamp has suddenly become more active!

The corrosive land that undermines this country is one of the most dangerous areas of all.

Like many of the other danger areas, that land literally corrodes the surrounding earth.

And it spreads. Endlessly.

There are many things of that nature in the danger zone, but the degree of danger is not comparable to other danger zones, simply because it is poisonous to the human body.

But it's not for lack of means.

That is the sealing ritual by the royal family's people.

Norbu's job is to escort the royals who perform the ritual to the place of the ceremony.

It's a good idea to use antidote magic to protect the royalty from the poison of the corroded earth and the monsters that attack them.

But due to the danger of that place, the person who will be accompanying you must be an expert in antidote magic.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

Worst of all, the person accompanying you will definitely die due to the severity of their role.

That's why the people who accompany you in your role are called 'martyrs'.

..........Huh, what kind of a martyr are you?　You're just trying to say something nice to sound like that!

But then again, so am I.

If I could replace it, I would.

But I'm not in a position to do that.

'Oh God. Please accept my faithful grandson's soul with mercy....

What a helpless title for a high priest.

All this incompetent old man could do for his lovely grandson was to pray.

◆

In that case, today we'll gather the ingredients for the golem Lady Aydra asked for.

""Oh!"

The three who will be participating in today's adventure are Liliella, Jairo, and Mina.

Norbu-san has something to do at the church, so he won't be able to come back for a while.

So, where are you going to collect the materials?

Prompted by Liliera-san, I spread out a map on the table.

Yes, when I was gathering information in the adventurer's guild, there was just a land that was convenient for gathering materials for the golem. There are a lot of demons there that can be used as materials for golems, so it's perfect for gathering materials.

'Heh, how could you find a place that convenient? So? Where is that place?

Mina hurries me up to tell me not to waste it.

'Yes, the place is here.'

I point to a spot on the map and everyone's eyes widen.

'Mr. Lex, this place is...'

Looking at the name of the place on the map, Liliera-san raised a snatched voice.

''Yes, we're heading to a dangerous area in the western part of this country.......''

After a beat, I announce.

'It's the land of corrosion!'