Third Report On the Difficulties Surrounding the Holy Warrior and How They Were Handled I can feel the muscles in my face stiffen. My mind flooded with thoughts, I ask her again. “…You’d rather not?” “Yes. I’d rather not.” The look she’s wearing almost dares me to ask why. It pisses me off. She doesn’t want to do it, huh? All right, I get that… If I were in her place, I might not want to, either. But this isn’t the time or place to be demanding what we want! We’re dealing with the fate of humankind here. “Why?” She answers my question with a question. “…Ares, have you thought about why Miss Limis and Miss Aria were chosen to be members of the hero’s party?” Naturally, I’ve thought about it. Not a day has passed that I haven’t thought about it. Why would the leaders of Ruxe assign their own daughters to join the Holy Warrior? Even if those daughters had natural talent, there should have been a great number of other women who were suitable candidates. It’s clearly an impractical choice, and a major power like the Kingdom of Ruxe is bound to have noticed. When I contacted Creio about exchanging party members and he refused due to unexplained circumstances, I started forming my own theory. So this girl is smart—an elite indeed. She seems to have put some thought into this. “I have.” “Tell me, then.” “…It’s only a theory.” “So tell me, then.” I give in completely to her cold stare. Surely, she’s already realized the reason. She doesn’t need me to say it. I glance at our surroundings and check that no one is observing us. Or maybe I’m just stalling. Amelia’s gaze has me nailed to my chair. If I hadn’t realized it just now, I would have figured it out eventually, of course. I prepare myself and face Amelia. Licking my dry lips, I answer in a word. “Blood.” “…” “They want the Holy Warrior’s blood. For one thing, there is the possibility that the divine blessing can be passed down genetically. On top of that, being the relative of a hero would grant you an extremely high level of influence. The Ruxe royal family themselves assimilated the blood of a Holy Warrior into their family several generations ago.” Which also explains why the holy sword Ex and other strong weapons and armor had been stored in the Ruxe royal family’s vault. Amelia remains silent. I don’t notice any change in her composure. Love and lust are the easiest ways to control a man, but presently, there are no princesses in the Ruxe royal family. It follows, then, that the two leading noble families in Ruxe, both extremely loyal to the royal family, would be chosen instead. Toudou is essentially the property of the Ruxe Kingdom, summoned here at great risk. He is their asset not only for defeating the Demon Lord but for various matters of national interest thereafter. Thinking back on it, I should have figured this out much earlier. Why would Limis, born into a family of aristocrats and raised like a princess, and Aria, raised in a strict, militaristic family, allow a man they just met to sleep in the same room with them? Naturally, this isn’t something they’d have wanted to discuss at our first meeting, but it is possible they received orders of this nature from their parents. Then Cardinal Creio (that bastard), most definitely aware of these intentions, pushes me into this matchmaking party under the pretext that the sole objective is to defeat the Demon Lord. Amelia listens to my explanation in silence but eventually heaves an exasperated sigh. “Ares, you are an awful person.” “All right, I concede.” “You think in terms of efficiency. Of practicality. And you assume that, because you think that way, so does everyone around you.” “I said I concede, didn’t I?” I underestimated her. At this point, I won’t be able to convince her with any religious dogma or logical explanations. “I’ll ask you again—” She leans halfway over the table and continues to upbraid me. Her gaze is almost sharp enough to cut through me. She speaks quietly with her expression unchanged, but I know she’s angry. “I am a bride of God. What did you just order me to do?” “You’ve got some work to do on that personality of yours.” “Not as much as you do. Ares Crown, do you actually intend to sacrifice me to the Holy Warrior?” Sacrifice—that’s well put. She’s gotten to the heart of it. I’m kind of backed into a corner now… How am I supposed to justify that? It’s not that I planned to sacrifice her, but I was aware that things could work out that way. There were no indications of anything happening within the party while I was a part of it, but it’s safe to assume things are moving in a certain direction. “At level fifty-five, even if he makes a move on you, you can refuse him. Toudou is still only level twenty-seven.” “But that’s just for now, isn’t it? How long do you think feeble little me can keep a Holy Warrior like him at bay?” I don’t know how this girl can call herself feeble, but I keep my mouth shut. She’s won this argument. It’s only natural for her to oppose something that puts her in danger. Besides the fact that fornication is labeled a vice by the Church, she can’t be forced into that. I think of proposing to her that if she explains to Toudou that losing her virginity means losing her ability to perform holy techniques, he would probably leave her alone…but at this stage in the conversation, it feels pointless. She obviously has a clear understanding of the situation. Can I really ask her to violate the creed? Understanding that I have completely conceded, she gives a satisfied sniff and sits back in her chair. “So you understand why I don’t want to do it?” “…Okay, you win this one.” “By the way…,” she continues, clearing her throat. “My orders from Creio were only to function as your support.” “Meaning that…joining Toudou’s party was never on the table.” “Yes, that is how I understood it.” I can’t understand that. Can’t understand it at all. Creio dispatches a sister but then eliminates the option of sending her to Toudou’s party. It might not be the most virtuous thing to throw her into, but she would undeniably be useful there. Why didn’t he tell me that wasn’t on the table in the first place? Is it that he values a priest from the Church more than the Holy Warrior? No, he’s not that kind of guy… He’s more ruthless than me and would stop at nothing to accomplish his goals. My own overly practical way of operating is due considerably to his influence. Taking into account his character, there’s no way he’s actually thinking of this as a trial from God. Dammit, all this speculation is starting to muddle my brain… I don’t know what to think anymore. I pause my musings for a moment—the only thing I can do right now is follow the instructions I’ve been given. Even if there are constraints I don’t understand, I still need to keep moving forward. “Let’s get down to business. Amelia, what can you do?” If she can’t join the hero’s party, she is considerably less useful to me. As for her holy magic skill, I’m more advanced than her, so that isn’t much of an asset. Even so, I’ll take all the help I can get right now. I’d rather have her than not. “Let’s see…,” she says, her expression overly serious. “Cleaning, laundry, cooking—” “Wha—?!” “—I don’t do any of that.” …Is this chick taunting me? I can’t tell if she doesn’t realize she’s pissing me off or if she’s doing it deliberately. I’d like to spit some kind of retort back at her, but she continues without a trace of anger. I’m not sure if she’s deliberately being dense or not. She’s got a lot of nerve… Nerves of steel, maybe? “I’ve completed my studies of holy magic up through roughly mid level. The only thing I can really do in battle is swing a mace. I’ve never studied any combat techniques…” “Okay, that’s all fine.” I didn’t have any plans to have her fighting monsters. If I were looking for front-line support, I would probably hire mercenaries. “You scared of monsters?” “Do I look like I am?” She raises her eyebrows slightly and responds as if trying to get a reaction out of me. …This girl has some serious nerve. Was this always her persona? …No, I suppose I wouldn’t have noticed it before, since our exchanges were only the minimal. Anyway, I guess I’d rather have a person with a little nerve than with none at all. “If anything, I’m more afraid of people than monsters,” she says jokingly, the littlest smile on her face. “What a coincidence, so am I! You can’t join the hero’s party, but you can trail them, right?” “If anything, I’m more afraid of people than monsters.” …Will I really be okay with this chick…? I feel the hopes I had for her start to deflate. All these highs and lows are driving me crazy. She’s even more of a mess than I thought… Or, rather, she’s a pile of junk. I wonder if hitting her on the head would fix her. Almost as if she’d read my thoughts, at that moment, Amelia bows deeply. “I am wholeheartedly at your service, Ares.” “If you feel like you can’t handle this, Stephenne can take your place. So let me know.” I can feel the mental image I had of Amelia as the operator crumbling to the ground. Dealing with Stephenne might be less trouble than Amelia and all her sarcasm. I made the suggestion in relative seriousness, but Amelia promptly strikes it down. “No, I’m sufficiently motivated… After all, I volunteered for this.” “…Volunteered…?” She wasn’t demoted; she willingly accepted this mission… What the hell…? At that moment, I know I’ve acquired a partner who could be an unbearable nuisance. If her practical abilities are outstanding, she could be all right…but if not, I’m gonna be miserable. My eyes stare off into space, and hers wander here and there around the room. Will we… Will we really be okay…? Her actions at least show that she’s highly motivated, don’t they?! Remember, she’s an elite. This girl is an elite. I clench my fists under the table, desperately repeating these things to myself. But it doesn’t make me feel any better at all. I wake up feeling lousy. I haven’t woken up feeling good since the day I was put on this mission. “Good morning.” “…Yeah, whatever,” I grumble, not having heard the words for some time. I slowly sit up in bed. Standing by my side is Amelia, dressed in a deep-blue priest’s robe different from the one she wore the day before, looking all ready to go. It’s still early morning, but I don’t see any sign of sleepiness in her face. Her attitude yesterday seems like a joke compared to the sight of her now. Like it was some kind of trick. Either she’s faking it now, or yesterday was some kind of deviation from her normal self. I want to believe it’s the latter, but thinking back on it…it’s definitely the former. “This is a shitty joke.” I take a breath and survey the room. The double room we rented is much more spacious than the single room I was staying in before. Amelia was supposed to have slept in the bed next to mine, but it’s already made up so perfectly that it looks like she didn’t use it at all. This new companion is pretty brave—or rather than brave, you might say she’s foolish. Camping while you’re on the road might be a different story, but under normal circumstances, it’s not a good idea to sleep in the same room with someone the first day you meet them. Naturally, I tried to rent two single rooms, but we ended up in a double because Amelia made a fuss that it would save money. It is cheaper, but it’s not like we’re hard up for cash. Her insistence showed the difference between her own personality and the quiet reservation of most sisters. Amelia hands me my robe, carefully folded, as if it’s the natural thing to do. I can hear the wind rattling the window. Yesterday, we had bad weather, and today doesn’t appear any better. I quickly get dressed and then turn to Amelia. Having filled her in on the hero’s current situation the day before, now it’s time to get to work. “We’ll wait for Toudou to show up at the church. His next move could change based on the outcome of the exam.” “Understood.” “One way or another, we need to be aware of Toudou’s movements. My face is already compromised, so you’ll have to be the one in contact with him.” Amelia nods, her face void, with no sign of confidence or lack thereof. “…If he asks me to join the party, I can refuse, correct?” “Yes, of course you can. You can also accept, if you are so inclined.” “I will refuse.” She narrows her eyes at my half-hearted joke. I turn away from her stare melodramatically. The holy arts are divine miracles. Magic produces similar results, but the theory behind the two is different. Consequently, the Church wanted to differentiate the holy arts from magic—and thus uses the terms holy arts or holy techniques. The word magic is more commonly understood, so it’s easy to group the two together, but there are priests who cringe when they hear the holy arts referred to as magic. Anyway, I digress. Helios and Toudou stand facing each other in front of the altar. Somewhere in the background, an anxious Limis and steadfast Aria are waiting, and Amelia stands behind Helios under the pretense of being his assistant. I observe this from my seat among the dozens of attendees, hidden in the crowd, a hood pulled far over my head. I can see shadows under Toudou’s eyes, perhaps from fatigue, but there is no apprehension in his face. “We will now conduct your ability certification, Naotsugu Toudou,” says Helios. “…Yes, sir.” “God will grant you miracles corresponding to your faith. I will now state the miracles you are to perform in the order in which you should perform them. If the miracles you are granted are deemed satisfactory, you will pass.” “…Understood.” Toudou listens to the ceremonial explanation with complete seriousness. Then the exam begins. Toudou is a reasonably intelligent guy. His chanting, his technique, and his gestures are all just as I taught him—flawless. He’s even able to perform the level-up ritual, which isn’t a requirement for the rudimentary qualification exam. Toudou performs the blessings, healings, and buffs with no mistakes and no hesitation. Watching his focused, serious expression and fluid movements, I catch Limis breathing a sigh of relief. After Toudou finishes all the basic techniques, Helios suddenly stops speaking and claps his hands. “You are a magnificent talent, Sir Toudou,” he praises with superficial politeness. “How much time has passed since you learned your holy techniques?” “About…ten days, I think.” “Although it is the lowest level, to be granted miracles in just ten days shows that Ahz Gried is surely, undoubtedly smiling down upon you. I have no issues with the efficacy of your miracles thus far.” “…Well, then—” Toudou’s stiff expression relaxes a little. Almost as if he was waiting for this, Helios continues. “Now, perform all the holy techniques you have just performed once more.” “…What do you mean?” “Let us complete your certification as a class-five priest,” says a smiling Helios, ignoring Toudou’s question. What a wicked man. Bewildered, Toudou starts performing the holy techniques again in the same order. The change comes over him immediately. When he performs the class-five healing technique for the second time, his face contorts. Although he has completed the task, he gives no indication of starting the next one. “What’s wrong, Nao?” asks Limis. “…It’s nothing.” He grimaces as he begins the next technique. But the exam is already over. Toudou casts a physical strength buff and an agility buff, and at that point, the discomfort he was surely experiencing begins to show. Even from a distance, I can see that something’s wrong. His posture changes. His legs begin shaking. There’s a visible tremble in the hand making the cross, and his voice begins losing its composure. Helios is stone-faced. His placid smile seems plastered on. Meanwhile, Toudou must finally have become aware of his condition. His eyes turn toward his trembling fingertips in blank amazement. Holy energy is the evidence of a person’s faith, of their divine protection. All people have holy energy at birth and receive the protection of the God of Order. It’s different from magic in that it’s impossible for a human to have a holy energy level of zero. The divine protection that a person unconsciously receives at birth is actually very powerful, and under normal circumstances, it should never run out. So what does it take to use it all up? “My body is…so heavy…,” Toudou murmurs, his lip quivering. He looks like his knees might give out at any moment, and Aria rushes to hold him up. Here’s your answer. This is what happens when your holy energy runs dry, when you lose the divine protection you’ve always enjoyed. At this moment, the weight of Toudou’s frame must have felt unbearable. Without holy energy, there is an abnormal decline in your physical ability. This is something that every priest has experienced at least once. The cost of asking for a miracle from God is great. As your level increases, your divine protection becomes stronger as well, so when your holy energy runs out, you feel an even greater disparity. With a little rest, your holy energy will be restored, and your divine protection will return to you. But running out of holy energy during battle must be avoided at all costs.
Chapter 8
16 min read