97人人模人人爽人人喊谢绝

Vol 6: Chapter 25

Rethinking the Goddess

Fuu… I was so tense.

Dealing with the head of a country is always mind-wracking. I never imagined being asked to “kill me” in that situation.

In the end, I somewhat succeeded in convincing the Holy Queen to continue living. I do not agree with any plans which involve sacrificing one’s life to achieve something.

「We are ready to leave.」Dante-san said.

As the sun slowly rose in the east, we exited the forest and continued our journey on the highway.

「Reiji… Do we have a magic airship available to us?」

It’s no wonder Dante-san would ask that.

This is because though we will proceed by land, we will be heading from the central eastern part of the continent to the western part. Even if we ride horses, it will easily take 3 months.

「Before that, everyone, I would like to restate my goal.」I said.

From Silver Balance’s Dante-san, Mimino-san, Zerry-san, and Asha.

To the Holy Kingdom’s Lady Eva, Captain Maxim, and 4 knights.

「I will be heading to Lake Brunstalk from here on out. To defeat the goddess.」

「Yes, we know that. But how exactly do you plan to “defeat” God?」

It was the same thing I had said to the Holy Queen in a confident manner, but I could clearly see that they couldn’t comprehend it. Most people haven’t seen the goddess directly, after all.

「First of all, I would like for everyone to listen to my hypothesis. The goddess… is not a god.」

「Huh…??」

「What is God in the first place?」

「??」

Dante-san cocked his head in response to my question.

「I have heard that God blesses us with grace and saves our souls in this world.」

Mimino-san raised her hand and answered. Perhaps that is the teaching of the church.

「I suppose. And what kind of shape does this god have?」

「Hmm? God has no shape, right?」

「Yes, I think so too. In other words, the goddess is not a god because of what it is.」 I said.

「O-Oi, Reiji. It just doesn’t make any sense. Explain it in a more easy-to-understand manner.」

Dante-san raised both hands as if surrendering.

Lady Eva started explaining in my stead.

「I heard that the existence called the “goddess” actually has a shape and has summoned the representatives of various races… the Pledgers. Its appearance is divine and involuntarily makes you kneel. In other words, if God is a being which harmonizes this world, then isn’t it strange for the goddess to appear the way it did? God should treat all souls equally, yet the goddess only appeared before the representatives, and commanded them to build temples to worship her. …That is to say, it’s interfering too much with this world.」

「As you say, young lady. The goddess created the “Covenant”, “Mediator”, and “Skill Orbs”. These systems themselves prove that the goddess is not a god. God should be able to save the world without using such a retrofit system, or even if humanity would perish without it, God should leave them to their own fates.」I said.

Everyone was silent, as if trying to digest what I just said.

After a little while, Asha asked.

「But, Reiji-san, if the goddess can divide the world into two or create “skill orbs”, you can call that a god, right?」

「Hmm, from the viewpoint of the people in this world, such transcendental power would surely seem godly. But we already know a few things the goddess is not capable of even with the information we have.」

「Eh?」

「Firstly, when the world was about to collapse, the goddess tried to resolve the issue by dividing the world into two. In other words, she doesn’t have the power to save the world. In the first place, what do you think “the collapse of the world” means?」

「Hmm… I wonder. Perhaps it means that all living things will be destroyed?」

「Yes, I think that is one aspect which collapses. The goddess gave people a way to survive by giving them “skill orbs”, right? But it wasn’t given to animals or monsters. In other words, for the goddess, “collapse of the world” means annihilation of creatures who can understand and communicate with language such as the human race, dwarfs, elf, beastmen, etc. The goddess was trying to save only beings which can speak.」

「!!」

Asha stood still in shock.

「Even still, Reiji-kun. As Asha said, the goddess is a being with great power, right? I don’t know how you can beat such a being.」Mimino-san asked.

「You are right, of course. The worst-case scenario for the goddess is the annihilation of all peoples in the world, including us, so there is no other way for us to strike at the goddess than to commit mass suicide. Obviously, that is not a viable method, so we need another method.」

「Another method?」

「The goddess temple.」

Here is where the temple comes into play.

After the goddess appeared, the first thing it started to interfere with this world was with the construction of the “Goddess Temple”.

Although it is not known what exactly the sorcery circuit engraved in the temple is, I have heard from the young lady that it “affects a wide range”. The young lady suspects that it is “mental interference”, and I think there is a good chance of that.

The next time I get to actually look at the goddess temple and its sorcery circuit,【World Ruler】should be able to give me a clear answer.

「Building a temple and gathering faith in the goddess… This is an effective way to create the world that the goddess wants. And I think it serves as another purpose for the goddess. It means that the faith in the goddess itself may be the power of the goddess.」

「Faith? Faith won’t fill up your belly.」Zerry-san said.

「You’re right, but I have also heard that by believing in God, you can use【Healing Magic】.」

「Ah… I have heard that too. If I remember correctly, Non told me that there are people who awaken【Healing Magic】through faith without using skill orb.」

「In other words, I think there is a way to gain power through faith, and I think the temples serve as a device for that purpose.」I said.

The basis for this speculation is mostly “intuition”, but I have a strong feeling that it is true. Because my speculation is supported by【World Ruler】to the extent that it can be perceived.

(Moreover… even a reincarnated person like me is incorporated into the scenario written by the goddess.)

Black hair and black eyes have appeared many times in the past.

Due to the incredible power they possessed—probably the power of a skill orb with 9 or more stars—and the disaster they wrought, they became synonymous with ill omen.

However, the reason why I think they still continued to appear is because the goddess wanted to use skill orbs with 9 or more stars.

Two worlds with the presence of “Pledgers” and “Mediators”. However, their power balance changed drastically from time to time, and as the Vision Ogre said, the world was about to collapse.

The world divided into two was about to collapse.

The only thing that could correct it would be an element from outside those two worlds.

In other words, it means that a reincarnated person was included in the goddess’s world union plan from the very beginning. That fact just annoys me to no end.

As a safety measure when the two worlds can no longer be managed by the “Pledgers” and “Mediators”.

「The most important thing we have to do now is to get to Lake Brunstalk as soon as possible, before the goddess temples around the world reach completion, and subdue the goddess who is beyond the Pope.」

I am certain they would have countless questions.

As Asha said, there is no doubt that the goddess is a transcendent being, and it is clear that defeating the goddess will be no easy feat.

「I am aware that this sounds like a reckless gamble… so if you do not agree with this plan, don’t hesitate to–」

「Of course we’re going.」

Dante-san said before I could even finish my sentence. And he patted my head.

「Okay, I understand fully now. Thanks for the explanation.」he said.

「Ah… Dante-san. But the goddess is not trying to kill people. Those who have faith will be saved. Exactly as the church preaches.」I said.

「But the goddess tried to kill you, right?」

「…………」

「Then it’s my enemy. I’ll say it again, because you are my and Non’s benefactor.」

The warmth radiating from Dante-san’s smile calmed my heart. What I did for Dante-san was repayment for saving me when I was wandering all alone in the forest as a runaway slave.

「I am always on the receiving end, and never get to return it.」I said.

「There is no such thing as “give” and “take” between friends. Isn’t that right, Mimino?」

「That’s right. Reiji-kun, you should rely on me more!」

Mimino-san clapped her small chest proudly.

「Bochan, I am already free of debt, right?」

「Uh……」

Right… I previously promised Zerry-san that I would forgive her debt.

「In other words, this time it’s my chance to make you owe me!」

「Eh?」

「Man〜 to think bochan would finally be in my debt!」

「Zerry-san… does that mean you will follow me?」

「…Of course that’s my answer. You’re so dense.」

Zerry-san stretched her arm and poked my nose with her index finger. …Ouch.

……Aaah, she is always like this.

Slaphappy, self-indulgent, and beyond saving.

However, she has ever been a friend.

「Of course I will go too.」

「Me too, of course.」

Lady Eva and Asha said at the same time.

Sparks flew as their eyes met.

「Thank you, both of you. But it will be a dangerous battle.」

「I have long since decided to go with Reiji-san! Moreover, if the goddess is involved in Yuri nee-sama’s sudden change, then all the more reason I should go with you.」Asha said.

Yuri, as a “Pledger”, encountered the goddess directly.

When she returned to the Sylvis Kingdom, she forcibly took the throne and began spreading the goddess faith.

「My sister loved and revered His Majesty the King with all her heart. I cannot forgive the goddess for tainting her feelings.」Asha said.

「Reiji. Her Majesty the Holy Queen and my father are determined to fight. In that case, I can’t choose to back down now, can I?」

Lady Eva is still headstrong. In the short period we were apart, the young lady had grown taller and more mature.

Captain Maxim and the knights standing behind her also seemed resolved.

「Reiji.」

The young lady possesses the “Magic Eye of Inspire”.

But not only that, a bright flame dwelled in the young lady’s eyes.

I already knew what the young lady was going to say next.

「We will definitely defeat the goddess.」

I was no longer the young lady’s escort, but–

「Understood, my lady.」

I couldn’t help but answer in that manner.

「——Right then, Reiji. Let’s get back to the main point.」

Dante-san said, as soon as everyone’s feelings were settled.

「How are we going to get there? A magic airship would surely be the quickest.」

…Oh, right. That’s what Dante-san asked in the beginning question.

「Yes, going by a magic airship would certainly be fast, but it needs to be replenished on the way. And if there is a goddess temple near the replenishment site, we would likely be captured by the goddess.」

「Then, are we going by sea?」

「No, not quite.」

「Hmm? Then by horse? That will take quite a bit of time.」

Dante-san’s concern is reasonable.

But… I am not really sure how to explain it.

(And it’s also about time…)

「Umm, do you all remember that when I appeared in the church, I came from a pretty high spot?」

「Come to think of it, you are right. I was completely shocked when you broke through the stained glass.」

Lady Eva said, nodding.

「Our transport is related to that– Oh, it looks like they’re here.」

「They?」

Everyone looked around. But they only saw a few caravans passing through the main road in the morning who didn’t notice us in the thick of the woods.

「The direction they’re coming from is up there.」

I pointed to the sky deeper into the forest

In the blue sky seen through the trees, two small dots can be seen.

They grew bigger and bigger with every passing moment, and you could see the shape of wings spread out.

「O-O-Oi… D-Don’t tell me those are…!?」

「Dante-san, it’s okay. Please put away your weapons.」

I said to Dante-san as he readied his shield and mace.

Those were not our enemies. However, Dante-san and I have once fought against one of them as an enemy.

The winged figure grew larger. Even larger and larger as the distance shortened.

「——— ~~~~~ !!」

It seemed as if someone shouted something.

But I couldn’t hear it.

As they descended, they flapped their wings as if applying brakes. Causing a gale to blow on the ground.

They landed on the grassland that we passed through, accompanied by small tremors.

They had shiny purple scales. And they looked towards me as they retracted their spread wings.

『We have come, Reiji.』

『Let’s get going.』

It was two dragons. The two shadow dragons who I once allied together with in the Lev Magic Empire.

「Well… this is how we will get there.」

I said, as everyone still seemed unable to comprehend the situation and was trying not to be blown away by the wind.

「Our target is Lake Brunstalk. Even the goddess should not be able to catch us!」

Dante-san was looking at me as if saying, “tell me this is a joke”.

It’s not a joke.

I am serious.