Follower

Most of the people who had spread malicious rumors of the Church have been identified and taken into custody. The rest of my work has to do with rebuilding.

Cardinal Guinevere, there are signs of Crystal Monster activity at the edge of this area. They seem to be the large type too. Could we trouble you to investigate?

If it is the large type, you guys don't have to come with me. I am probably the only one who is capable of handling them.

It was a little tough... But why would Crystal Monsters gather in an area no one lives in, unless there are creatures they can prey on?

Uh...

Could it be a survivor?

Are you okay, old one?

Yes, I've been hiding in the shadows of this ruin. I also used magic that hides sound, so I was barely detectable. Thank you for saving me.

Don't mind it. Are you a member of the Church? From what I know, only some Church members are qualified to learn sound wave magic.

Oh, I used to be a Priest in Augustine... Though that was many years ago.

I see. The Crystal Monsters nearby might have sensed the fluctuation in power. Let me escort you back to your village.

My village... Well, okay, please do.

This is the place where I live, the Border Village. Thank you.

Oh no! Why were you so careless, old man? Thanks so much for bringing him back, Miss.

Teacher, I told you not to go too far from the village! Ah, um... Thank you for helping my teacher.

It was nothing, don't mind it. But... This is such a remote place. No wonder it has a name like that.

Ah, that's your village's energy core, right? The energy seems to be running out. I'll help you recharge it.

You don't have to. Wait...

Okay, this should last for another month.

The magic of the Church of Augustus... You... Who are you?!

...A Priest of the Church! Could she be from the Inquisition?! Give us your name!

I am indeed a Priest of the Church of Augustus, and my name is Guinevere... What's wrong, everyone? Did I do something wrong?

You... Damn it, they found this place! So you used the old man to find us?!

Wait, you have it all wrong! Listen to me...

There's no point in talking! Move away from her!

...I don't know what happened, but it looks like a pointless fight is needed.

...Ugh, she's so strong!

I said, stop!

You say stop... But she is from the Church!

She doesn't even know what's going on here. She's just a kind person who stopped to save me, an old man... All of you, apologize to her.

I don't need an apology. But from what you said, does the Border Village have some past with the Church?

And your skills are also not at a level that ordinary people have. There's some reason you are all in this remote place, right?

...The residents of the Border Village are all people who have been expelled from the Church.

Some openly opposed the Church, some are fugitives wanted by the Inquisition, and some are simple people who cannot stand the religion and fled...

So just because you see me use magic from the Church, you think I'm here to arrest you?

We are concerned about that, yes. And so I ask you to promise me one thing.

We have never wanted to rebel against the Church here. We just want to leave quietly in a place that has no Church. Can you please spare us?

...But I am a member of the Church of Augustus. According to doctrine, I am to send those who betray the faith to the Inquisition to be judged.

Indeed. But Miss Guinevere, since you used magic for the sake of the common people, it proves that you are not a person who follows the doctrine to the letter.

...Okay. I won't tell anyone what's going on here.

But I will also request one thing from you all. Even if you no longer believe in the Church, you must do no wrong, or use it as an excuse to attack those who have faith.

Oh, please don't worry, we will definitely do that. We just don't believe in your ''God'' anymore, but we have not lost faith in 'faith'.

...That's all. There will be a Calamity tonight, so you can inform the people there in my place.

B-But... There is no way to save all the believers this way!

And that's how it should be. The ones who can escape have salvation. The ones who don't have punishment. God will choose those who are fit to survive. I'll leave everything to you.

(Communications cut off)... Damn it!

(God's choice? The failure of prophecy and the root cause of the rebellions... Is it all the will of the pope?!) Would our God stay silent about all this?!

Cardinal...?

... (No, I have to stay calm. What's most important now is to save as many lives as possible!)

The Calamity will hit tomorrow. Have our priests notify as many villages as possible and use our carriers to transport them to safety!

What?! The Calamity is...?! Understood! I-I'll go right now!

...Border Village. Looks like I will have to be the one to go to that place.

This... is a joke, right? W-We had a hard time settling into this place...

Where's your proof?! You're from the Church! Give us proof!

Y-Yeah!

Hey, stop being unreasonable, you all! Proof and the like...

Proof? I have it. It's right behind you.

Huh? C-Crystal Monsters?! When did they get so close to the village?!

Let's get rid of them first.

Before and after Calamities, Crystal Monsters' instincts are stimulated due to the changes in the Echo Crystal Concentration, and their aggressiveness is increased. Will you all believe me now?

Of course. Miss Guinevere, do you have any ideas? Those of us who are wanted by the Church cannot leave in their carriers.

Uh... Um...

Then let me handle this. I have a way to save everyone.

Before leaving... Miss Guinevere, do you need me to heal you?

Well, I'm afraid yes. I don't seem to have the energy for a fight after such a long trip...

What's this place?

This is the Shelter. It looks like an ordinary building but it's actually exceptionally strong and can completely isolate us from Calamities and physical disasters. It's big enough for all of us to hide in it.

This pattern... It is a Church building?

I used to be part of the Church after all, and I still know some secrets of the area.

Well now, Miss Guinevere. This has to be opened with the magic of the Church. I am an old man who has long forgotten what I learned. I'll have to ask you to open it.

...Ah, okay. (Just by this, I know this elderly man is definitely no ordinary priest.)

Everyone, the door is open. Let's hurry in!

Most of the villagers have gone in. Teacher, Brothers, you should hurry and go in too.

Yes, we will go in soon. Miss Guinevere, could I trouble you to please cast some illumination magic in the Shelter? I am old and my eyesight is failing, so I cannot see the way clearly.

Easy. (Uses magic) Okay, that's...

I'm sorry, everyone. I lied to you. This is not a Shelter but... an Inquisition Prison.

Unlike the Shelter that can be opened and closed freely, the Prison can only be opened from the outside. Once you enter, you can only wait for someone in the outside world to open it.

...Why didn't you explain that in advance? And why did you lock some people outside?

I...

Well, old man, you can't be the only one to carry the blame. This decision was made by us.

As soon as the Prison is activated, the Inquisition will receive the signal and they will definitely find everyone and get them out after the Calamity.

The people outside the Prison are people who are ''sinners'' or have defected from the Church. Even if we survive the Calamity, the Inquisition will not spare us.

So if we went in, the Inquisition will definitely treat us like ''sinners''... But we have not reached that stage. We can still live freely.

So after I heard the news about the Calamity, I gathered all the people in the village who would be persecuted by the Inquisition and we made this decision together.

B-But... Teacher, you won't be able to save everyone like this.

I cannot be saved. Miss Guinevere, no, Cardinal Guinevere... May I ask one more thing of you?

...I was the one who discovered the Prison and activated it. The people of the village... are all the people who are here.

Hehe, as expected of someone who managed to become Cardinal at such a young age. Fret not, we are not going to sit around and wait for death. We will move as far away from the center of the Calamity as possible.

Before you leave, please allow me to ask you a question.

Ask.

What is ''God'' to a person like you?

God''? God is the voice that guides me. No matter what others say, I will do what God tells me.

Miss Guinevere, it sounds like the winds have stopped blowing. The Calamity should be over, right?

Yes, I've checked the facilities here. There is still a lot of food and water. I'm guessing it used to be a Storehouse long ago.

The Inquisition... The reinforcements from the Church should be heading here soon.

That's right, the signal device has been activated. It's only a matter of time for them to come. What are you and the rest of the village planning to do?

After we leave this place, we will rebuild the village first. Then we will erect an unnamed tombstone for them.

...You are the student of that elderly priest, aren't you? Would you be interested in becoming my subordinate?

You are a Cardinal, right? ...I'm sorry, I respect you and I am grateful to you, but it is impossible for me to believe in the Church of Augustus.

...No, you don't have to believe in the religion of the Church of Augustus. I have found a new faith in your people. It belongs to ''God'' but does not belong to the Church.

But... I do not worship a God who is indifferent to the suffering on Earth, and I don't intend to pray to one for anything.

That's right. There are those who treat God as a vain and supreme being, and there are those who treat God as a means of gathering power to dominate, and there are those who...

There are those who take God off the pedestal to let God become part of themselves. I... I don't want to be an existence that can only shut my eyes and implore the heavens.

I have died once inside this prison. The moment I leave this place, I am born anew.

You're... Cardinal Guinevere?! Did you activate this place?

That's right. This village is very remote, and I judged that it would be too far to travel to get to the carriers, so I used the Inquisition's facilities.

I see. Then these villagers with you are all survivors of the Calamity?

They have just lost their homes. Let the Church envoys help them settle down.

Yes, ma'am. Your Eminence, there is something that needs your attention.

You have a matter here that needs my attention?

Yes, Your Eminence. We have just learned from some of the people in other villages that some of the inhabitants of this village are fugitives from justice as determined by the Inquisition.

...And you have found your targets among them?

Not yet. That is why we intend to bring them all back to headquarters in Augustine and use the full interrogation process to get them to talk.

If necessary, the tools are fully prepared and ready for all levels of punishment.

...Shut up.

Um...!

Your Eminence, what has my subordinate done that you are so angered?

...Nightingale? Aren't you the leader of the choir?

My other identity is the head of the Inquisition, and I wouldn't have revealed my identity if it weren't for blocking your attack.

So you are the leader of the Church's support... Let me ask you this: has this happened in the past too?

It's true that some of the Inquisition facilities are designed according to the idea of ''complete protection against the Calamity,'' and in the past, there were...

Don't play dumb. I see right through it. I'm the one in charge of cleaning up after the pope this time, so the only ones who can do that on previous occasions without me knowing about it are the Inquisition.

Were you and your subordinates responsible for ''picking'' the prophecies of such Calamities?

...Just me, no one else. As you now know, I can't save everyone from such a Calamity.

No. This is not a Calamity, but man-made desires. It is divine indifference and ignorance.

Wha... Cardinal! Even if it's you, you cannot question the voice of the Church!

...Forget it. There is no need to pursue her slip of the tongue. Now that you know all this, what can you do?

I will do something to change the status quo. What about you? What are you going to do? Continue playing God... No, being her slave?

Aaah! Crystal Monsters have appeared! Those who can fight, come help!

(I knew it... No wonder the Crystal Monsters appear so frequently. It's a direct relation to the occurrence of the Calamity.)