Chapter 171

Chapter 171

They weren't getting on the divine train immediately.

They had crossed several mountain ranges, stuffed themselves into a caravan, teleported twice, and traveled extensively, so they decided to take a day off.

"We can just go to any house in this village."

Said Rete, walking side by side with Simon.

"It's a great honor to welcome a priest, an apostle of the Goddess, into your home."

Hearing this, Simon blinked.

"Its not a nuisance?"

"Ah, well We might somewhat be if we visit suddenly, but that's just how things work here. You saw the farmers, too, didn't you? If they can receive the grace of the Goddess just by feeding us and providing us bedding, wouldn't they be glad?"

Simon shook his head.

"So we are a nuisance. I think it's better to go to an inn and not cause trouble."

"Well, if you say so I guess it can't be helped."

The two went into a moderately large and clean-looking inn in the center of the village.

It had a tavern on the ground floor with rooms on the floor above.

Crosses, sacred patterns, and holy objects were displayed all over the walls. Rather than an inn or a tavern, Simon felt like he was in a chapel.

People sat at tables, busily talking while enjoying food and drink.

Simon and Rete walked to the counter. The innkeeper, a hairy beard grown on his face, was all over the place tending to the many customers.

"Benedictio deae! May the blessings of the Goddess be with you. Do you have any vacant rooms?"

Simon greeted him. The innkeeper, who was frantically carrying a large serving of the meal, briefly glanced at the two of them and said,

"A man and a woman? Will a room with a big bed do?"

"Are you insane?!"

Snarled Rete from next to Simon, her arms crossed.

Yelp! After putting down the food, the innkeeper wiped sweat off his forehead.

"Hey now, you can just say no if it's nothing like that. There's no need for you to to"

Belatedly, the innkeeper looked properly at Rete. When he saw her white uniform, his jaw dropped in disbelief.

"B-B-B-Benedictio deae!"

The innkeeper stomped out from behind the counter and immediately fell before Rete's feet.

"May the blessings of the great Goddess be with you, priest!"

The customers who looked around wondering what the fuss was about all shouted, Benedictio deae! and rose from their seats.

Rete, brushing back her hair, sighed,

"This is why we dont go to inns."

She then commanded,

"Everyone, raise your heads."

The innkeeper immediately raised his head. He looked terrified.

"I-I wasn't able to recognize a priest of Efnel! I have committed a great sin!"

"It's fine. Let us have two of the best rooms here. I'd like my room as far away from his as possible."

"U-Understood!"

The innkeeper went upstairs to clean the rooms. His family in the kitchen said, Benedictio deae, and burst out, escorting the two to a table and bringing them dishes.

The fact that food was being served even though they hadnt ordered meant that these dishes were supposed to go to other customers.

Rete said,

"We've already eaten. Please bring these to their original owners."

"Y-Yes!"

But this time, the people around them who had been drinking loudly couldn't, too focussed on not offending Rete. Some people even pretended to pray.

"You see that?"

Rete smiled proudly while resting her chin on her hands.

"I told you we should just pick any house. That way, we'll only be a nuisance to them. How many people are we being a nuisance to right now by coming here?"

""

"When in the Federation, do as the people of the Federation do. It's good for them and good for us. From now on, listen to what I s"

Simon rose from his seat.

"Good evening, brothers and sisters."

In no time, everyone's eyes moved from Rete to Simon.

Bewildered, Rete subtly gestured for Simon to sit down, but he simply smiled and said,

"My name is Skar Seraphino, an apprentice priest. Would it be all right if I prayed for you all?"

At that, everyone stopped what they were doing and began to put their hands together in prayer as if waiting for this.

After skillfully setting the mood, Simon also put his hands together and began to pray.

The prayer was made to be something everyone could relate to.

Health. Luck. Happiness.

Every time Simon finished a sentence, people everywhere muttered, Ita est.

Upon finishing his prayer, Simon calmly lowered his hands.

"It is a pleasant night. We spend each day like this with food and wine given by the Goddess. Belief is not a moment, it is our daily life. It is our habits. Is it not also a kind of faith to be true to the Goddesss graces?"

Simon looked to Rete.

"Why don't you allow them to focus on the graces bestowed by the Goddess tonight, dear priest?"

There are many people in the market.

When there were many people, the smells also mixed.

But this terrible stench, slightly burnt and stale, was clear even amid countless scents.

'The odor of jet-black.'

The man walked, relying only on his sense of smell and not his sight.

He bumped into some people, who got annoyed or yelled at him, but the man ignored them. All he could think about was that putrid smell.

The characteristic burning smell of jet-black. And the stench of corpses.

The man was sure.

'A necromancer is here.'

He looked around and moved with haste.

'The smell is strong.'

The burnt aroma poked his nose.

This was the right place.

He quickly stopped and looked around.

Where? Where was that bastard?

Nearby the man frantically looking around, Simon, among the crowd, was choosing a mask from a stall.

Simon chose a mask he liked, paid the price, and walked away.

"You."

Yank!

The man hurriedly jumped in and grabbed him by the collar.

However, the one he grabbed wasn't Simon, who had just passed by, but a big guy next to him. The guy frowned.

"Wh-What's wrong, you bastard?"

The man ignored him and tore off the front of the big guy's shirt. Then, he stuck his nose into the guys skin, right next to the heart.

Sniff sniff.

His nostrils flared up.

It didn't smell burnt. It was just the stinky, nasty smell of sweat. The man was about to vomi

Thuuuud!

Struck by the big guy's fist, the man fell to the floor. The guy shouted in disgust,

"You're crazy! Who the hell are you?"

Murmur murmur.

The people of the market backed away and formed a circle around the two.

"What is it, a fight?"

"Woah, look at the size of him."

The big guy came closer, cracking his knuckles in fury. The man stumbled up to his feet.

'Dammit.'

The scent of blood wafted up to his nose, and he lost track of the burnt smell.

Rage overtook him. He had let the necromancer barely escape.

"Goddess,"

The man drew the sign of the cross. Then, he started mumbling in a small, cold voice,

"I waited for this time of judgment. Once again, today, I'm sending your creation back to your arms, Goddess. If his sins are light, please embrace him, and if his sins are heavy, throw him into eternal damnation."

"What are you talking about, asshole? Looks like you haven't beaten up enough yet, huh?"

As the big guy strode closer, the surrounding crowd quickly split to get out of the way of either person being thrown back. Then, the big guy roared and thrust his fist.

Tap.

The man's raised hand easily blocked the punch.

It didnt matter how much strength the big guy applied. His fist didnt budge, even when trying to pull it back out.

Crack!

"K-Kuaaaaaaaagh!"

The back of his hand and wrist touched. When the man released the hand, the big guy fell to one knee, clutching his broken wrist.

"Are you"

The man squatted down and met the guys eyes.

"a heretic?"

His face turned pale when he heard that word.

The people around him reacted the same. They either covered their mouths or screamed. People on the outskirts of the crowd even turned their backs and ran.

"I lost him because of you. You did it on purpose, didn't you? What's your relationship with him?"

A subspace opened behind the man's back.

Clang! Thud! Thump!

Numerous torture devices tumbled to the floor, including sharp wheels, knives, torture racks, large saws, clubs, and spiked maces.

"Inquisitor Methyn"

He gripped a spiked mace and raised it over his head.

"will now commence his inquisition."