Chapter 61: If There is a God (4)

Chapter 61: If There is a God (4)

Was this really right? The Inquisitor couldn’t stop staring at the Archmage.

Was it really right for them to go there to fight when the people of the Yabad region obviously didn’t want her to? Her mind was in a complicated mess.

“Forty years ago, the Yabad region destroyed its every temple and banned any other religious group from entering their lands.”

She couldn’t help but keep thinking about what these people had to endure because of them.

“But we can’t just stand by and watch now that Demons have appeared there. If we simply let it be, everything will fall apart. As a priest and Hero, I cannot just stay here.”

Then she remembered her mission.

“That’s why... I... I have to...”

But even then, all that remained in her head was confusion. Two absolutes were clashing inside of her.

If she went by God’s words, then she absolutely had to terminate all Demons, but her urge to beg for forgiveness and follow the wishes of those harmed by the Temple’s self-righteousness kept welling up in her heart.

Of course, God’s words always came first no matter what, but it was always more important to reduce the harm caused to people, even mental anguish.

“Inquisitor.”

As though he understood her inner turmoil, the old sage carefully placed his hand on hers. The furry hands of the Shaggi were soft and warm.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

“Whether it’s saving those who despise the Temple or accepting their feelings and not going, there is no right answer to this. Nor is there a wrong one.”

“But...”

“Only those who survive can judge the outcome of your choice. Only those who have accepted and experienced the consequences can criticize your decisions.”

“So, what does that mean? What should I do?”

“Whatever you feel is right.”

“...What?”

“That’s the only way to find an answer to a problem without a clear-cut, right answer.”

“And what if my choice was the wrong one?”

“If there isn’t a right answer, how could there be a wrong one? There may be a choice that future generations will think would have been better. However, that is for those future generations to judge. As we can only see the present, how can we know the judgment of those of the future?”

The Archmage tapped the back of her hand. The smile on the sage’s lips was very soft and gentle. It was hard to believe this man had dealt with so many things right after waking up while in his hospital bed.

“So, Miss Inquisitor, choose what you think is right: saving people even while facing their hatred and contempt, or respecting their feelings and staying back. Or something completely different.”

“...Will the people of Yabad even welcome our help?”

“Well, you shouldn’t expect it for now. There is a high probability they will be hostile toward us.”

“Is that so.”

In the end, was there truly no clear answer? The Inquisitor had to decide on something to which even the Archmage didn’t have an answer.

“I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

However, she had long made the choice in her heart. She just wasn’t sure whether she should follow it.

“I see.”

“Yes.”

However, that uncertainty still haunted her. She hesitated a little but ultimately gave her answer unflinchingly.

“I cannot overlook this.”

The Magic Tower’s investigation had uncovered that a large-scale Demonic ritual caused the dragon’s corruption. After pursuing this matter even further, the Temple concluded that the starting point of said ritual was in the Yabad region.

In other words, while they didn’t know what had happened there, if they made even a single mistake, the whole region could fall into the hands of the Demon Contractors.

She could never tolerate something like that happening.

“You might be criticized. They might shower you with resentment or perhaps even attack you. Are you still going to save them?”

“...Isn’t that just the price we have to pay for the sins we previously committed? I don’t think that is reason enough for me to ignore them.”

The furrow between the Archmage’s eyebrows deepened. Even the Inquisitor, who was still rather inexperienced in these matters, could tell this wasn’t a good expression.

“In that case, I want you to keep something in mind, Inquisitor.: you must never repeat what happened in the past.”

“Naturally.”

She didn’t know whether this truly was the right choice. However, she thought it was for the best. The Inquisitor stood up with such conviction filling her.

The moment the sun rose the next day would be when they’d leave.

* * *

After sinking those seven ships, I had to deal with one more at dawn.

Seeing as they only sent one ship, it seemed they just sent someone to check what had happened since none of the other ships had returned. Only those who’d sunk to the ocean floor knew the exact truth.

“Are you sleeping?”

Had my eyes fallen shut for a moment while I was observing the sea from the castle wall so I could jump down whenever I saw one? Windhand came up to me.

Deb was sleeping beside me, while that guy’s stamina never seemed to run out. It must have taken quite a toll on him to perform all kinds of miscellaneous tasks, reporting things to the Lord and getting a grasp on the situation, but I’d only seen him rest a few times.

“Oh, you’re up.”

Because he woke me, I put aside my complaints and—Slump—watched Windhand settle down next to me.

“Didn’t you get a blanket or something? Even though we’re in the south, nights here can get pretty chilly.”

Seeing me without a blanket or anything, Windhand’s eyes suddenly opened wide.

“Those crazy bastards. How couldn’t they even give a blanket to someone helping the city, even if he's an outsider? Seriously, those idiots.”

No, that was a misunderstanding. They had given me something to cover up, but I just gave it to someone else because I didn’t really feel the cold.

“If you’re just here to mess around, get lost.”

“...I have no idea whether you’re too prideful or if you have none at all. Shit. You already did so much, you should at least be able to enjoy that level of convenience.”

Oh, he got it?

I gently glared at Windhand. He finally backed off, letting out a sigh. It seemed he wouldn’t fuss about that anymore, at least. Phew. Thank God.

“...Anyway, at least take this. If you didn’t get a blanket, you probably also didn’t get anything to eat. Tsk.”

Instead, Windhand stretched out his arm to me and handed me something. It appeared shiny on the outside.

“It’s Gwamegi. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried it.”

...What? Gwamegi? I didn’t eat it here because I didn’t think they had it!

However, the living had to survive somehow. If they hadn’t become a Zombie yet, I would work especially hard to save them for the food.

Anyway, I jumped to my feet. The edge of my coat, which had been spread out around me, went up a little, and the sword I’d leaned against the castle wall was now in my hand, momentarily supporting my weight.

“Prepare a boat.”

“...?”

“Tomorrow, I shall punish all those who dared to join hands with the Demons.”

“...!”

As if immediately understanding what I was trying to say, Windhand straightened his back. At least, I thought so. I would be more certain if I could see his expression, but I was currently showing my back to the people present.

“Wait just a—”

Now that I thought about it more, wasn’t I jumping around too much? But it was far too bothersome to get down the usual way. Jump shortcuts were just too divine in any game.

* * *

Rustle.

“Doesn’t that guy ever get tired...?”

Momentarily dazed by what had just happened, he wondered out loud. After Windhand came to his senses, he heard a voice he’d become familiar with over the past few days. It belonged to a young man who had been sleeping curled up under a blanket.

“Hnng.”

Even in the south, nights were quite cold. As such, the young man who’d slept while leaning against a castle wall stretched out.

“...What’s with this blanket?”

Then, a question mark seemed to manifest over his head upon noticing the additional blanket on him besides the one covering him. Scratching his head, he saw Windhand and greeted him. After looking around some more, his eyes then fell on the Lord, and he suddenly stiffened.

“...What is the Lord doing here so early in the morning?”

The young man stood up, speaking in a shaky voice. While better than the Demon Knight, he was also lacking in terms of manners.

Well, thanks to him, the tension he was feeling eased up a little.

“You heard that, Lord? The adventurer I hired will handle all the Zombies in just a day. You have nothing to worry about. Just let the others know.”

He joked around before the knights could find fault with the young man, his voice trembling. Of course, he never made eye contact with the Lord.

Why had he made his surviving brothers pass along his words until now? Because he blatantly lacked the confidence to face her head-on.

“As you may have heard, people are probably forming a defense line around the Ramchaban Pier. Other than that...”

“Suriya.”

Windhand’s body shook when he heard that.

The name, which he’d been called so often in the past and never heard again upon reaching adulthood, pierced his ears.

“You worked hard and... Thank you.”

He pretended to be calm as he turned around. He still wasn’t confident enough to look into the Lord’s, or rather Pion’s, face.

“Then, and also now. Really.”

If he were to look at her now, he suspected tears would fall from his eyes.

“Well, why would you feel grateful toward a pirate bastard like me? Of course, I did this because I’m also benefiting from it, you know?”

He squeezed out a cracking voice. He felt like he heard someone saying, “That way of speaking...” but he didn’t care.

“I helped because if the city were to fall to ruin, I would lose my base. You got that? So, hurry up and repair the city. I’m going to take care of those Vipurit bastards as you requested.”

He had no intention of shedding tears before the Lord and her knights, not even before his subordinates or brothers.

He grabbed the Curety kid, who seemed even shiftier than usual, and hurried down the castle wall using the stairs on its other side. The young man seemed very displeased by his actions but didn’t openly protest much before the Lord. He was rather thankful for the show of consideration.

“Urgh, why did you grab the back of my neck so hard?”

“Ah, sorry.”

He quickly moved to a place where the Lord couldn't see them. He squatted down where he stood and buried his face in his hands. His palms soon became wet.

“I’m sorry...”

“...Ugh.”

He honestly felt quite sorry for the young man. However, he was crying now from being filled with emotions closer to joy than guilt.

“Ah, shit. This is so embarrassing...”

Damn these brothers of his. Older and younger brothers and sisters who’d gone before him.

Did they see it? His mother, who said she would never again look those who became pirates in the face, even called him by his name.

“What’s so embarrassing about crying?”

“People of the sea don’t cry... You just don’t get it because you’re a landlubber.”

“Bullshit.”

“Did you just curse at me?”

“You’re not even the Demon Knight, so is there even a reason why I should talk to you?”

“Isn’t that what you call discrimination?”

Windhand thought of his late brothers who’d sacrificed their lives for him and who’d died to save Jacrati. And he remembered those he had been too late to save.

He felt so incredibly sorry, but at the same time, he didn’t.

“...I’m telling the Demon Knight.”

“Are you a kid? Are you really that immature?”

“Boy, sailors never forget these kinds of things.”

“You’re so damn petty!”

That the Lord had called his name was no different from calling their names.

The moment their names were called, the dead should feel more at ease now.

“...Thanks.”

“Say that to the Demon Knight, not me.”

“That guy doesn’t accept any gratitude and the like.”

“Just go thank him and get rejected, then.”

As such was his brothers’ unrequited loyalty and devotion to the Lord of this damn city.