Chapter 185

Fidellto could not hide his dismay upon hearing that, of all people, the accompanying professor was Tirmy.

Just as the Goddess Jelsroin loved Harden, her followers also thoroughly researched Akerandir on a regular basis.

Tirmy’s combat skills were top-tier among the numerous Akerandir professors.

‘Although it is naturally better than Gulbana, the Disaster of the Archipelago, or Kaina, the Demon Inquisitor…’

In this case, the plan they had prepared had no choice but to be greatly disrupted.

They had intended to not just threaten if necessary but even fight, but at this level, they really had to watch their step.

With her intimidating gestures and eyes, Tirmy walked step by step toward the Jelsroin cult’s side.

Although the Jelsroin followers backstepped without realizing it, it didn’t take long for them to be caught up to.

Fidellto smiled awkwardly and tried to introduce himself again.

“P-Professor Tirmy, it is an honor to meet you. I am Fidellto, a priest of the Jelsroin cult…”

However, Tirmy, who always pursued efficiency, did not wait for his words to end.

“Duel?”

“P-Pardon?”

For a moment, Fidellto tilted his head, unable to properly understand what Tirmy had said.

But like a priest of Jelsroin who thoroughly researched Akerandir, he recalled Tirmy’s way of speaking and shook his head violently.

“No, no! We have absolutely no intention of using violence! We are just asking if we can exchange that chest for the emblem. As I mentioned, if you demand other compensation within our power, we will accept all of it.”

Tirmy swept her cold and sharp gaze over Fidellto as well as the other Jelsroin followers.

— P-Priest. Wouldn’t it be better to just back off?

— You know Twilight Duelist Tirmy well too, Priest…

The goddess’s request was a request, but they had to survive first!

Since the Jelsroin cult was already having difficulty recruiting manpower after being designated as heresy, each person was an extremely precious resource.

Jelsroin also truly valued the lives of her followers.

While the atmosphere of the Jelsroin cult was thus heading toward an emergency state,

“Okay.”

— ??!?!?!?

Tirmy simply nodded and returned to the carriage.

The Jelsroin followers blinked with wide eyes, staring blankly as they followed her figure.

— A-Are we alive?

— It seems so…

The Jelsroin followers were relieved that they hadn’t immediately had their necks pierced by the rapier, which could be said to be Professor Tirmy’s trademark.

In fact, Yusina and Sion were just as surprised by Tirmy’s behavior.

“She’s just backing off?”

“Yeah. I thought she would fight at any moment.”

Roan explained in a calm voice.

“Because the Professor always pursues extreme efficiency. She rarely engages in combat that isn’t a duel.”

“Uh… Roan’s words are right, but…”

Yusina also knew that fact itself, but knowing it and accepting it were two different matters.

Somehow, Roan’s understanding was faster than Yusina’s, who had taken the class directly.

Meanwhile, because Tirmy had suddenly rushed out and suddenly returned, Espard was left standing alone in front of the Jelsroin cult.

‘She is still as self-centered as ever!’

He watched Tirmy returning to her place for a moment, but soon, as someone who was well-accustomed to dealing with heretics, he wore a solemn expression and stood before Fidellto.

The caravan members cheered at the reassuring back of Espard.

— Uwooo! It’s the Saint of the Bell!

— Professor Tirmy let it slide, but now you guys should prepare yourself!

— You heretic bastards! Get ready to leave your eyeballs in the alcohol barrel!

To heretics and black mages, the name of Saint of the Bell, Espard, was absolutely devastating.

— S-Saint of the Bell!

— Does that mean there’s both the Twilight Duelist Tirmy and the Saint of the Bell!

— But didn’t the Saint of the Bell graduate? Why is he in the off-campus volunteering?

— Y-Yeah?

There was a bit of confusion, but with the appearance of the two giants, the Jelsroin followers were now completely intimidated.

Fidellto bit his lower lip, sensing that the success of the matter had now completely left his hands.

‘Even the Saint of the Bell is here. What on earth is this combination?’

No, they had obtained information that the Saint of the Bell visited Akerandir not long ago.

“I heard the Saint of the Bell left on Friday…!”

— Yes, we definitely saw the Holy Pope Palace’s carriage leaving Akerandir, but…

Could they have anticipated that they would move from Akerandir and used a trick?

‘…Since we have already fallen into the trap, such regrets are useless now.’

In this state, even if they fought, it would be a guaranteed defeat.

But even so, they couldn’t ignore the goddess’s command altogether.

‘Even if I end up captured, I have to try as much as I can.’

Fidellto, who served the Goddess Jelsroin from the bottom of his heart, did not back down.

“I-It is an honor to meet you, Saint of the Bell. I am a foolish priest serving the Goddess Jelsroin…”

“I’ve heard your name, Fidellto. It wouldn’t be an honor for heretics to meet me, so let’s not make empty remarks to each other.”

— H-Hieeeek—!

— W-We might really die!

At Espard’s voice, which came down heavily, the Jelsroin followers were terrified.

Espard continued speaking with a still terrifying expression.

“I will ask a few questions.”

“Yes, yes! Please go ahead.”

“Have you ever killed a person?”

As soon as the question was asked, Fidellto turned to his followers as if urging them.

‘If you killed someone behind my back, tell me right now! …No, not now, tell me later.’

It was roughly that kind of look.

Fortunately, the Jelsroin followers present shook their heads violently as if they were innocent.

“Of course, n-no, we haven’t, Saint of the Bell.”

“I see. Have you ever coveted someone else’s property or lover?”

“Of course not! Since being designated as heresy, we have only lived quietly underground! It is the Goddess’s command.”

Fidellto could answer confidently at least regarding this.

They never came out of the underground temple unless it was by the Goddess’s command like this time, so they didn’t even have time for that.

“Lastly, even if you are born again, will you answer Jelsroin’s call?”

Espard asked incomparably more solemnly than before.

Fidellto could not answer easily, even though he was completely overwhelmed.

Common sense dictated that he should say they would follow an officially recognized sect rather than heresy, but still.

— Priest…

— We are…

Fidellto stated his belief despite the heavy pressure crushing his entire body.

“Yes. It does not matter even if you kill us right now. Because we are the servants of the Goddess Jelsroin.”

“I see.”

Espard nodded as if he understood well.

A few Jelsroin followers even closed their eyes tightly, fearing that an iron mace might strike their heads at any moment.

But.

“Then I have nothing more to say. Conduct the negotiation with the others on your own.”

“???”

Fidellto stared with a bewildered expression at Espard, who strode back following Tirmy.

“Are we alive right now?”

— It, it seems so.

— I really thought we were going to die…

The Jelsroin followers wept and embraced each other at the thought of having saved their lives even after meeting the Saint of the Bell!

However, a bit of doubt remained.

‘The professor left, the Saint of the Bell left too, so who are we negotiating with…?’

Meanwhile, Yusina asked Espard, who had returned.

Tirmy aside, it was not easy to imagine Espard leaving heretics alone.

“Uncle, why did you leave those people alone?”

“Well, they didn’t seem like guys dangerous enough for me to capture.”

“But he said they would walk the path of heresy even if born again?”

This time, Roan explained instead.

“Those who easily change their beliefs are more dangerous. On the other hand, it means those guys can be trusted regarding the words they spit out.”

Just as there was a saying on Earth that an unskilled shaman kills a person,

here there was a saying that a priest without belief was the most dangerous.

Because if one distorted the teachings of God as one pleased and wielded faith, they would be no different from a terrorist.

Espard laughed out loud and nodded.

“Roan’s words are exact. In my experience, those who basely betray their own beliefs were the worst.”

He even raised his thumb toward Roan.

However, just because it was Roan didn’t mean he had no questions for Espard.

“But what are we to do if both the Professor and the Saint wash their hands of it? The situation needs to be sorted out for now.”

At the reasonable point, Yusina and Sion, who were listening, nodded simultaneously.

Espard scratched his chin.

“That’s true… But I am not officially included in the party, and I don’t think it’s my place to boss anyone around. Yusina, you’re graduating soon, why don’t you handle it? To gain some social experience.”

“Eeeh~ It’s impossible for me~”

Yusina took a step back and waved her hands.

No matter how much Tirmy and Espard had broken their spirit, negotiating with heretics was not at the level of social experience.

Instead, Yusina pointed her finger at Roan and spoke.

“How about Lord Roan Darc, who will resurrect the next Darc family, does it instead?”

“Why me all of a sudden…”

Roan turned to Yusina with a bewildered face.

It was indeed a situation where he couldn’t help but say ‘all of a sudden.’

Right above him, there was a line of Saintess Candidate Sion, fourth-year Yusina, Saint of the Bell Espard, Professor Tirmy, and caravan leader Gordon.

‘Why should I step forward when I am at the very bottom!’

Because there was really no need for him to step forward, skipping all of them.

However, Espard and Gordon liked Yusina’s opinion, even clapping.

“Not bad? If you want to act as the family head after graduating, you should do this kind of thing in advance.”

“I also agree. I have no disagreement regarding Young Master Darc’s brightness. You will handle this matter wisely as well.”

‘These crazy people…’

Resurrecting the future family head was fine, and being bright was fine, but asking a freshman who had just enrolled two weeks ago to negotiate with heretics was not normal.

Roan looked at Sion, conveying a plea for help.

Sion was already looking at Roan innocently.

‘Darc will do well!’

…It didn’t seem like she would be of much help.

Next was Tirmy.

Tirmy, who pursued extreme efficiency, wouldn’t watch a freshman take full authority with eyes open.

However, Tirmy misread Roan’s gaze.

If I step out alone, the opponent might look down on me, so I will draft the plan, but please make the proposal, Professor.

It was a highly efficient method in Tirmy’s view as well.

“I will help you.”

‘What did I expect from an Akerandir person!’

Roan wore a thoroughly rotten expression, but soon began to make a plan.

…Originally, players were the kind of people who would try to solve a quest no matter how unreasonable it was.

Roan asked Tirmy.

“Did it seem like they would return if we just told them to return?”

“No.”

Tirmy answered like a knife.

Indeed, if that were the case, they wouldn’t be crazy heretics.

They wouldn’t have even thought of attacking a spatial holy magic carriage in the first place.

“We can’t just exchange the emblem for the wealth either, right?”

“Of course! As a Saint, I can’t just stand by and watch that!”

“Me neither!”

Espard and Yusina immediately objected.

Roan glared slightly at Yusina, who spoke so well, but anyway.

“…And engaging in an all-out battle is burdensome.”

“Correct. Of course the Professor and the Saint are here, but their numbers are their numbers. Not everyone will be safe. If anything happens to just one of you, it will be a major loss to the Empire.”

Gordon agreed with a serious face.

The caravan members didn’t care much since it was a risk they had accepted from the start, but it would be a disaster if Espard or others from the school were hurt.

As the leader, Gordon wanted to avoid such risk if possible.

In addition, from Akerandir’s perspective, if the escort targets were injured or killed on a mission they were escorting, their prestige would fall greatly.

‘The conditions are trickier than I thought.’

It was a quite complex problem considering all these matters, but a method occurred to Roan.

“Then, how about doing it like this?”

Roan began explaining with a serious expression.