Volume 2 - CH 10

A few days later, I visited the barracks used by Tilda’s troops with Lucy, who has completely recovered.

They welcomed us with open arms when they found out that we, their allies from the last battle, had come.

“Tilda’s room is here. Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you very much.”

We thanked the guide and knocked on the door of a certain room.

“Come in. It’s open.”

Upon opening, we saw a simple interior with a chair, a desk, and a bed. On the chair sat Tilda, the woman with long black hair and the person we are seeking.

“It’s unusual for us to have a guest. However, you have our utmost welcome.”

She said in a quieter voice than when we last saw her.

She also had the same calm tone during the battle we had once before, if we ignore the difference that she was rampaging on the battlefield like a madman back then.

“I’m sorry to bother you without notifying you first. But I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling better.”

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Lucy greeted back, to which I also accompanied with a nod.

Tilda was the spearhead of the entire unit that had taken out most of the enemies on the last skirmish, despite suffering heavy casualties in their end as a result.

The most amazing part of it is that she has even managed to inflict tremendous damage against the Goblin King after all that damage on her.

So by the time we were done, and the enemy leader was slain, she immediately collapsed from exhaustion, only to wake up two days later after being rescued, according to the report.

All the wounds in her body should have healed, but she was probably not back to full strength yet, since their troops have taken no actions as of late.

“I’d like to talk to you a little bit about how we would proceed with you from now on if you don’t mind.”

“No problem. Carry on.”

“Thank you very much. The idea is that I would like to incorporate Tilda’s unit into mine……”

From here, Lucy began to tell Tilda what she and I had talked about before.

She had talked about the troops’ current predicament, the Marquis’ view of the matter of hiding their names in the list of contributors, of why she would join Lucy’s unit to gain the benefits, and ending it with an earnest invitation in the end.

While Lucy was at it, I began to remember some of the things I had researched on my own. It was about the Herderites. If yo u ar e ab le to r ead this mes sage, yo u are re ad ing fr om an unau thori zed agg rega te si te. Rea d at my Wor Pres s at sta bbing wi th a syri nge. h ome. bl og to suppo rt me and my tra ns latio ns.

Herderism is a religion that is not common in this area, but it has a doctrine of increasing virtue through good deeds, which is common in other religions.

However, Herderism was different from other religions in how it promoted virtue.

They try to increase virtue by reincarnation.

They say that by throwing yourself into a great battle and serving for the sake of justice, you can be reincarnated with your current virtue intact once you die in battle.

That by repeating the same process, one can aim for a higher place at their destination of reincarnation.

(It’s quite a dangerous religion, but now I understand why the Herderites are so strong.)

I recalled their bravery and courage on the battlefield.

For them, death is not something to be feared but a step towards the next life.

No one can criticize their religion either. After all, the actions they commit – mainly the battles they throw themselves into – are always for the greater benefit of humanity in the end.

Well, at least not at this time, with the monsters running rampant and could attack at any place, and where brave soldiers to fight monsters are always a need.

People with a definite sense of justice and have the perfect place and time to earn virtue. That is the Herderites.

While I was thinking about this, Lucy’s and Tilda’s conversation seemed to be reaching its end.

“It’s a win-win situation, and I would love to have you join my unit.”

Lucy is now sitting in front of Tilda, trying to persuade her with her talks.

There are several documents on the desk in front of her.

One of them has the chief commander’s signature on it.

The document says that in exchange for the honor of defeating the enemy general, he promises to support the Herderites.

In addition, if they come to agree to be put under the protection of Lucy, a noblewoman, their lives would be secure.

(Considering this approval already came from the Marquis, the same man who had segregated the refugees not because he was wise but because he was xenophobic, I would consider it a big benefit. Not to mention this is a foreign religion we are speaking.)

“It’s certainly a fascinating offer, but……”

“Is there something you are unsatisfied with within the conditions?”

Tilda meditated once. Then, she looked back at Lucy with a sharp gaze.

“It’s you I’m worried about.”

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“……M-me?”

“Yes. You feel inferior to us.”

Lucy chewed on her lip at this illustrative remark.

“You are easily perturbed, that I can easily see. Because of this, I’m worried that you’ll be hesitant to send us to the front once you feel the battlefield uncomfortable for you. That’s what worries me more than the issue of whether we can trust you or not. If you encounter a situation that was the same as the other day, will you be able to send us to the front as I did to them?”

For Tilda and the rest of the Herderites, it is essential to participate in a glorious fight.

They can’t be under the thumb of anyone who might be an obstacle to that.

“That’s certainly important. So what do you think, Lady Finlay?”

“Yes, she’s absolutely right. I guess I have to change a lot of things on our side after this.”

She nodded as if she was fully aware of what I was talking about.

If Lucy accepts Tilda here, she would have to change her tactics entirely. This means she has to adapt even more aggressive strategies than before, like charging ahead at first sight of the battle, unlike before when she was playing defensive due to her fear of monsters.

The only saving grace is that she has become braver now, thanks to my treatment. But she was still a beginner in this area, so she still needed time to adjust.

Not to mention many nobles would certainly be aggravated with her actions and would see her as an upstart baron that doesn’t know her place if she did that.

But that’s bot all. There’s also the issue of the Marquis getting wary as the Herderites would also be gaining fame with her every success……aah, what a headache.

While I was about to suffer a migraine, Lucy looked up and faced Tilda again.

“Ms. Tilda. I promise I will actively use you all on the battlefield when the time comes that I need you. And I will not hold back.”

“……In that case, we will now be at your command.”

I’m not sure if she sensed Lucy’s determination when she said that, but thankfully, Tilda agreed in the end. Th s cha pter tran slation is ma de pos sib le by stab b ing wi th a syr i nge tra nslati ons. check onl y up-to-d at transla tions on my Wor dpr ess si te.

All that was left is to submit the paperwork to the command center, and their assignment would be officially changed.

As for me, I’m just happy, honestly. After all, there’s nothing more reassuring than having capable allies.

“I’m going to go to the command center now. If I don’t hand-carry these documents quickly, they will end up in the chief commander’s desk along with the other non-urgent documents. Or worse, get misplaced and never be found again,” Lucy said this as she stood up.

Remembering how hectic it was when I last came to the headquarters, I also stood up to follow her, but someone stopped me from behind.

“Hey, you. Wait a minute.”

“Y-you mean me?”

I stopped and turned around, only to see that Tilda is facing me instead of Lucy.

“Yes, I have some business with you. I need to talk to you for a minute.”

“I don’t mind, but……”

I then looked at Lucy, who already had her hand on the door of the room.

She was puzzled for a moment, but she seemed to have understood the meaning behind my stare and waved her hand at Tilda instead after a few seconds.

“I’ll be fine on my own, Yuushin. Just listen to her.”

After saying that, she took the transfer documents in my hand and left the room.

After hearing Lucy’s steps no more, I faced Tilda and sat down in the chair that Lucy has been sitting in earlier.

“So, what’s the story? I’ll help you as long as it is within my abilities.”

“Yes. You see, it’s about our customs.”

“You mean about Herderism? I’ve done a little research, but I only know that reincarnation is an important part of your teachings in your religion.”

In the past, I would have thought that reincarnation is just a form of fantasy, but now that I’ve had the unique experience of transferring to another world, I’m no longer in a position to deny it.

Of course, mine was transmigration rather than reincarnation since I didn’t die and get reincarnated to another body, but either way, I’m confident I can now take these topics seriously.

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“Yes, and in our teachings, reincarnation is necessary for our faith. But in order to be reincarnated, we have to die first.”

“The more you believe, the fewer believers you have. What a difficult predicament.”

There must be very few newcomers to their religion.

“Exactly. That’s why we’re also proactive in having children, so that the souls of our friends may inhabit them.”

“Wait. So, you’re saying that this reincarnation makes your religion self-sufficient? Pardon my rudeness, but even if it’s true, with so many children being born every day, I don’t think the odds of a fellow soul inhabiting a child anywhere near here are very good.”

“That’s okay. In the previous battle, many of our comrades successfully went to the path of reincarnation. With these many souls, several tens of them should be reborn here. But because of the recent events where having a child is now a burden more than a blessing, I doubt that they would acquire sufficient bodies to reincarnate into. Thus, it is also the role of us survivors to make babies for them to be reincarnated safely, just to be safe.”

After explaining in a way that I couldn’t help but rebuke for many loopholes it has, Tilda got up from her chair and moved in front of me.