…the church members surrounding us began applauding.
High priest Gilvert Trinity had appeared with a tranquil look on his face.
“Today is a blessed day…because you have all graced me with your presence in our church.”
Over the rows of people’s heads, I could see him standing at an altar at the front of the sermon hall.
He wore a white robe with golden adornments. Unlike his followers, he did not wear anything on his head but his ample white hair. While he looked like he should be an old man, his taut skin, free of wrinkles, made him look more like he was in his late twenties.
“The kingdom has become prosperous. But there is something we must not forget among that prosperity: our faith. These days, even when people gather, their hearts are scattered. The people have lost their true sense of connection and are now mere shadows of their former selves.”
He spoke eloquently with a polite tone of voice and a warm expression.
The man’s definitely a gifted speaker.
It felt like a different kind of skill than the courtroom pros like Ileana and Tamamo had.
“No matter how blessed we are with material wealth, we must not forget spiritual wealth. Our irreplaceable tradition of faith has been sullied because of these foreign things, and this foreign culture…”
He didn’t mention Japan by name, but it was clear that was what he was speaking against.
I can’t deny that Japanese culture has invaded this world.
I had keenly felt this during my work on the Hero’s Case. But…
“This kingdom is a sin. The people who live in it, live in sin. And sin is deserving of God’s punishment.”
…this was getting a little carried away. What did the kingdom’s citizens think about this obvious leap in his logic?
I checked the others’ reactions in my peripheral vision. The couple that I had heard talking before was obviously not buying it, sighing and gagging sarcastically.
Reminds me of modern Japanese people, the way they don’t go along with weird religious talk.
It definitely wouldn’t be the first time a society rejected the foreign things of a different civilization.
Japan limited foreign trade and banned Christianity in the Edo Period. They even referred to European traders as barbarians.
But I thought there was usually a stage where the two civilizations eventually became accustomed to one another. And right now, I felt that there couldn’t be that many citizens of the kingdom who hated Japanese things just because they were Japanese.
“Now, let us return to the beginning. All of you who have come here today have been chosen by the church. That is the same as being chosen by God. Let us live lives that follow God’s law. If you do, you will surely be saved.”
Thinking about it, I started to feel like this was nothing more than the usual spiel for trying to convince someone to join a cult.
So this is the gist of it? In that case…
“…But simple words such as these are insufficient. Allow me to show you all the miracle of our faith.”
Clatter—somebody came out pushing a cart from behind. There was a person lying on it, covered in bandages.
I know that face… It’s Alba Nols.
I had seen photos of him in association with the building collapse case. This was the person they had said was in “critical condition.”
“This individual is the older brother of the man who died yesterday in the building collapse. He tried to save his younger brother, was buried in rubble, and has since been on the verge of death. Oh, what a terrible sight to behold.”
The high priest sat the man up and started removing his bandages, starting from his neck and working downward.
His left side, now exposed, was in an unspeakably wretched condition.
People around began to gasp in shock.
All of his visible skin was torn to shreds, his broken arm lay shattered and limp at his side, and his swollen body was caked with dried blood.
The extent of his injuries made it clear how immense the incident’s damage had been. The case’s information had mentioned he was undergoing treatment, but this was the first time I was hearing he was not at a hospital, but at the church headquarters.
“While I was able to save him from the rubble with my power, he was already in this terrible condition. But now I shall save him through the power of miracle.”
The high priest placed both hands on top of Alba Nols’s body. Then…
“God’s Panacea.”
He recited the name of the spell, and a divine light began to emit from him.
So this is the high priest’s magic…
In the dim sermon hall, the light given off by his hands looked warm and holy. The people surrounding him looked on with bated breath.
Then before our eyes, Alba’s wounds began to close. His skin was restored, and his clotted blood began to flow once again. It was like God themself was bestowing mercy unto humanity.
“Ah… Guh…”
Alba Nols opened his eyes and spoke as tears flowed from his eyes.
“I feel…the power…of God…”
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
The surrounding congregation members began to applaud, as did the prospective members. I did, too, so as to not stand out.
A high-level healing spell…
I had no idea how it worked, but it was pretty impressive to witness all of Alba’s wounds disappear before my eyes.
“Yes, I am the proxy of God. My hands are God’s hands. These hands will cure sickness, cleanse sins, and offer a feeling of blessing to all our devout followers. This is God’s beatitude and God’s miracle.”
His somber words were steeped in persuasiveness.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the couple from before now nodding with their eyes wide open.
“All of your sickness, your unease, your fear…all the evil lurking within your body. I shall release you from it. Now, please take the vessel before you into your hands.”
The atmosphere felt spiritual, filled with candlelight and the scent of incense.
Surrounded by the pungent air, I did as I was told and took the container into my hands.
“Now please drink this holy water in one swift gulp and become one with God’s body.”
I heard the high priest’s instruction, and I was just about to follow.
But just then, one of the church members came rushing in, and whispered into the high priest’s ear, “In the penance chamber…!”
“Please wait a moment.” The high priest addressed us before leaving the sermon hall.
It seemed like there was some kind of trouble going on, I thought to myself, regaining my bearings.
Then something caught my attention behind me, outside of the room.
I turned on the All Ears skill that I was finally getting the hang of.
From some ways away, I heard shouting.
“…Nooo! Release me from this wretched place…!!”
It was Tamamo.
Her voice was echoing up from the deep basement and through the stairwell. Once the door to the sermon hall was closed, I couldn’t hear it anymore.
Maybe this is more serious than I thought…
I got a bad feeling. A chill down my spine cooled my head and brought me back to my senses. The liquid in the ceramic container in my hands had a strange, volatile smell like vinegar. I couldn’t see what color it was in the darkness, but I could tell it was muddled and cloudy.
Did you really almost drink this weird crap? I scolded myself. I need to get rid of this somehow.
Someone would probably notice if I just tossed it. I needed to move as little as possible. I whispered, “Holy Flame.” Covering the opening of the container with my hand, I used the flame to try to evaporate the liquid inside…
The high priest was gone for about two minutes—just long enough to make a cup of instant ramen, al dente. I almost burned my own hand, but I had been able to make all the liquid disappear.
“My apologies. I had to deliver God’s Panacea to another disciple in need. But they are all right now.”
Time to get back to business.
Once again, he instructed us to drink, and the new members began to drink down the liquid. I pretended to drink.
“Give yourself up to the euphoria. Close your eyes. And let us pray.”
The high priest continued in a solemn voice.
“The word of God is the only law of absolute justice.”
It echoed throughout the sermon hall.
“The high priest is the proxy of God.”
I heard the people around me repeating after him.
“We believe in God’s judgment.”
I cracked open my eyes.
Gonnng…
A golden figure floated before us, shining in the light of the candles.
The Scales of Judgment had appeared.
What are they doing here…?
Suspicion flashed through my mind.
“Cleansing Prayer.”
Then a golden flash of light.
And an impact to the back of my head.
I lost consciousness.