56. First Job

Okay, Teslovikers, your work starts here.

Why are we in the suburbs of St. Jordan? I thought the mission was just to keep Miss Guinevere company.

Well, don't expect God Eaters to be as generous as the Church. As Lady Guinevere put it, ''Now that we hired you, we will make the best use of you.''

(You can't help but let a smile creep across your face... Fine, a deal is a deal.)

So what's the job then?

A little patience. First I'll take you to meet Nightingale, the person who oversees this job.

Oh, right, it's her praying time. Let's wait here.

God Eaters pray too? I thought your kind was supposed to be against the Church.

We're against the way the Church does things, not its teachings or how it works. And... we can be open-minded about people's habits left over from their past.

Their past...? So she was one of the higher-ups of the Church?

Not exactly. Just a humble choir leader.

I'm sorry. Did I disturb you?

Not at all. I was just finishing up my morning prayer. You must be from Teslovik...

Yes, I'm Awakener. And these are Sova, Eriri and Snezhana.

As a God Eater and Guinevere's friend, I thank you for your assistance.

You're welcome, Lady Nightingale. We're just doing what we're hired to do. Anyway, now is not a good time to talk.

...What an unpleasant surprise. It's the Marauders. Ready your weapons!

Ready to engage!

, Get lost!

It's that woman again! Eek! Pull back!

They seem... afraid of you?

...Perhaps I left a deep impression on them?

(I can't believe it! Why would they be so terrified of someone who has such a gentle smile?!)

Anyway, let me take you to where you are needed.

Ruins? No, an unfurnished house! And the sign says [Settlement Area E]...

This is the place. I'll give each one of you a piece of Church-certified equipment, and then you're good to go in.

Why so cautious? Because this is a Church facility?

This is one of the Church's suburban settlement areas to house refugees displaced by the Scourge.

But the refugees turned out to be far more numerous than expected, and the existing settlement couldn't accommodate them all.

...It is known that ordinary citizens of the Empire can only learn elementary magic, while construction-related magic is only reserved for priests of the Church. That's probably the reason post-Scourge reconstruction has been so slow.

Right. And that's also why we God Eaters had to step in. We will have to succeed where the Church failed.

So... our job here is to... build houses using magic?

Much more than that. You were hired for your excellent fighting skills. Let's go and see what help they need.

(So far, we've been playing the role of Church priests, moving stuff and cleaning up messes.)

(Is that all we're here to do?)

Awakener, what is it?

Um...

(She just sneaked up on me!)

Is this all we need to do?

The construction is picking up the pace thanks to you. You've already helped tremendously.

Do God Eaters really just want to help refugees rebuild their homes? And on the Church's behalf too?

Uh... not exactly. We risk exposing ourselves to come here because we want to make some acquaintances.

And that's pretty much all that's to it. After all, it's not the people we're against, it's the faith misleading them.

Wait, what's that sound?!

Seems like those filthy pieces of crap are drawn to defenseless places like this... Okay, it's time to use your other skills.

(She suddenly looks fierce.)

Roger. Let's do this!

They sure showed up in numbers. Hey! You guys over there! Stay close!

Urghhh! They're coming at us! We are so few! We can't hold them off!

What do we do?! Ohhh, dear God, please come down and save us!

The refugees are all panicking... Damn it, I don't have time to give them pep talks right now!

(Is this a hymn? She did mention she was a choir leader...)

(I see. The hymn is essentially a magic spell that releases soothing sound waves. Nothing better to calm emotions!)

Gryph!

Yes! Everyone gather behind us. Stay in formation!