57. Inside Out

That should be the last of them. Nice work, everyone... And thank you.

Yes?

(I wonder since when did I get used to being like this...)

Is anyone hurt?

Other than some mana loss, we're fine, and so are the non-combatants. It was a total victory.

And that's thanks to your singing, Lady Nightingale.

Glad I could be of help. Well then, let's keep at it. Try to get the south area rebuilt before dinner.

We wrapped up early today thanks to you. Let's hope tomorrow's work will go as smoothly as today's.

Huh? The work will be different tomorrow?

Of course. You will go where we need you to go. Like I said, we'll make the best use of you. Hahaha!

Oh, and by the way, can I borrow you for a moment? I had a little too much to drink. Could use a walk in the wind to sober up.

...Sure. You guys go ahead without us. Snezhana and I will catch up to you soon.

Okay, this is a good place to enjoy the wind. No one will bother us here.

Oh? You knew what I wanted to do?

From the moment we met, you seem to have been paying me a lot of attention. And... we have the same kind of aura.

You mean the aura of someone two-faced? I agree. So what now?

Let's put it to test, see if we're the same on the inside. Of course, we'll be ''communicating'' in a different way.

Okay, Nightingale, that's enough. One of us will get hurt if we keep this up.

I agree. So, why did you want to test me?

Because I was curious about you God Eaters. Guinevere is unreadable. Gryph is single-minded. And you are two-faced.

So I couldn't help wondering what could have brought such a motley crew together to create God Eaters.

Well, we share the same faith. Or should I say, the same ''God.''

God,'' huh? But the name ''God Eaters'' doesn't exactly scream respect for God.

At the sermon to be held in a couple days, you will find out what that name means and what our faith is.

Oh yeah? Other than that, what else are you not telling us?

Rest assured, we're not laying any traps for Teslovik. That I can assure you, Snezhana, loyal subordinate of Fenriru.

Ha, looks like you've done your homework. So... is that supposed to mean that we can trust you?

If you'd like, we could be allies. Please keep that in mind when the sermon is over.

I will. Okay, let's get back, to those who can ''think'' like normal people.

Sorry to have kept you waiting, my dear Vivi. Tell me what you've learned up until yesterday in your patrol.

Yes, Your Holiness. In the aftermath of the recent calamity, four villages were damaged beyond repair, and the number of the displaced increased by 500.

That doesn't sound too good. What about the faith side of things?

People are shakier than ever in their faith. There's a growing chorus of distrust in the Church and the prophecy.

Looks like we've got to do something. Perhaps dispatch the Holy Knights if that's what it takes. How bad are the protests now?

There have been no major conflicts so far. And... I don't think armed suppression and religious teaching will solve the problem at its root.

You're not being straightforward. Come on, my dear Vivi, no need to mince words with me.

I... I think that... rather than dispatching troops, we should send more people to help the refugees rebuild their lives.

When the same thing happened a year ago, we restored faith by eliminating traitors and repressing rebellion. Why should we do anything different now?

...The unrest a year ago was instigated by some corrupted individuals within the Church. We had no choice but to use force to purge them.

But now is different. The refugees have their faith shaken not because they're discontent with our God, but because they dread the future and are uneasy about rebuilding their lives.

So you're saying that we should use carrots instead of sticks to restore faith to those stricken by the Scourge?

That's correct, Your Holiness! If we shower our brethren with merciful grace in the name of the divine, in time they will find their way back to God!

Heh, my dear Vivi. You really do live up to being the inheritor of Holy Mary. And I'm impressed by your profound insight into the idea of merciful love.

But alas, you never really understand what ''mercy'' really means.

Huh?

Stand up. Let me, the spokesperson of God, teach you a lesson. Consider it a punishment for your naivety.

, Uugh!

Physically, you're much stronger than before, but spiritually, you're as weak as ever. Do you know why the prophesied calamity happens so frequently?

I... I...

The vulgar masses have this misguided notion that we're abandoned by God and therefore the prophecy we've received is no longer accurate. But only I, disciple of God, know the truth.

If the merciful [light of redemption] alone cannot impress on the lambs of the might of God, then we ought to bring retribution down upon them.

Uh, well...

The prophecy shields the pious believers from harm. As for the calamities outside the prophecy, they're the silent wrath God unleashed on the renegades!

Do you mean to say that... God excluded those refugees from the prophecy on purpose? How is that... even possible...?

That's why I said you didn't understand God's true intention, my dear Vivi.