Chapter 12.4 (1/2)

Chapter 12.4

The man turned around to where Haruna gestured, where a few nobles, with a monk and knight in tow.

「What took you so long? We have intruders.」

「We just received word that someone was attempting to disrupt the ritual.」

Layotte answered with a straight face to the man’s bold-faced lie.

「Then why don’t you take care of that.」

「I will.」

As soon as Layotte had spoken, Julius swing his sword at the man, without so much as an indication before he sprung into movement. Despite having penetrated his barrier and cut open a large gash through his shoulder, the man appeared to be in no pain. The few nobles who witnessed this started accosting Layotte and Julius, and the room suddenly grew cacophonous.

「Have you lost your mind? They are the intruders, over there.」

「Now that you’re here, you’re an intruder, too. Besides…」

「The Goddess Alfemina has already given a divine message. These people were chosen by Alfemina, and as such, belong here at the Temple.」

「Oh really? You have proof for that?」

「Don’t exert yourself, Lord Barold. With how afflicted you have become, the ongoing Ritual of Purification must be agonizing.」

「Where are all these outlandish ideas coming from? Who’s afflicted now?」

「Stop talking, you miserable man.」

As the man continued to weasel, a girl emerged and shut him down.

「Elle-chan…?」

Haruna uttered, hesitantly. Her face, hair style, and body shape all looked just like Aearis from before. Even her clothes were the same. But her silver hair and blue eyes now shone in blinding, shimmering gold. Most of all, her attitude had changed from that of a friendly puppy to that of holy authority.

「I am sorry to have keep you waited. Hiroshi-dono. Haruna-dono. Mio-dono. Thanks to the three of you, this land has been purified.」

「…Who are ya?」

「Hiroshi-dono. You know who I am.」

Someone spoke, wearing Aearis. When she said this, the party understood. The Goddess herself had arrived.

「How much more will soil this land?」

「I think you’re the one who’s soiling this land.」

Facing the Goddess, the man didn’t back down but instead threw back brazen words of insult. Without batting an eye, the Goddess ignored him.

「Hm. The land may be purified, but the affliction remains. One more job to do here, then.」

The handful of nobles, who had been intimidated by the Goddess’ glance jolted in terror. Without paying any mind to their reaction, the Goddess released another round of powerful, purifying light.

「Agggghhhhh!」

「Stop! Please stop!」

「It wasn’t! It wasn’t my fault!」

As soon as the light hit the nobles, they began writhing in agony. As the party watched in shock, the Goddess continued:

「Now, this is about as much as my priestess can handle. Hiroshi-dono. I entrust her with you.」

「Hold on now, why me?」

In response to Hiroshi’s dismay, the Goddess only smiled, knowingly.

「Now then, Hiroshi-dono. Haruna-dono. Mio-dodno. Please give my regards to Makoto-dono and Tatsuya-dono as well. When the time is right, I should be able to tell you everything.」

「I’m askin’ ya, why ya trustin’ me with Elle?」

Still ignoring Hiroshi’s question, the Goddess left with some quasi-prophecy, purposefully putting on the show of a spirit leaving Aearis’ body. As they witnessed the Goddess’ form, exactly as described in legends, the holy air scattered out of the room.

「Guess she’s gone… After ignorin’ me.」

「What just happened…?」

Hiroshi and Haruna both stood there, mouths agape, still thinking of the Goddess who came and made a mess for the mortals to clean up. Watching them, Aearis stood with a smile as she was unsure what to say.

「In any case, ya did it.」

「So you’re job here is done, right, Elle-chan?」

「Yes. The affliction has been purified.」

As Aearis said, the affliction (that had been built up too much for a single castle) had now cleared completely. Affliction compiled every day, so if nothing were to be done, there would be enough piled up to affect the day-to-day. But now that the official Priestess Princess can come and go through the front, that shouldn’t happen again.

「True, this land may have been tainted…」

「Ugh! You’re still alive!?」

「You little weasel!」

Turning to the source of the voice, the man standing on a beam near the ceiling, halfway abandoning his human form, glaring down at the party, full of hatred. It seemed that the Goddess’ purification seemed to have severely damaged him, enough that he could no longer maintain his human form completely. Still, the fact that he didn’t die from it made him closer to a cockroach than a weasel.