Chapter 183 – The White"s TeachingsThe White"s Teachings
Hikaru and the girls left the indoor market. The wind was chilly, but with the sun out, plenty of people milled about on the streets.
As they walked down the road, Hikaru heard something. Many pedestrians stopped short and glanced at a man standing on a platform in an open s.p.a.ce. He wore a gray habit, and there were no white lines on his sleeves. He had short, green hair and cool-looking features—a handsome man.
The man seemed to be using some sort of a magic megaphone as Hikaru could hear him from afar.
『Saint Rusalka said: “Even if you feel superior to others, you must not be arrogant. People have limitless potential. If you believe in G.o.d and walk down the path of faith, you will receive His blessings”. It is said that soon, someone in that village received a great blessing. They then wished to hear more from the Saints, so they came to Agiapole. But Saint Rusalka didn"t wish for them to come here. There are many theories as to why—it was dangerous, or the Saint wanted to spread the teachings far and wide, among others. I believe the believers made their way to Agiapole no matter the hardships that awaited them—』
He was preaching about the Church"s teachings. Hikaru listened for no particular reason.
「So these teachings are not from G.o.d specifically. The Church simply preaches the stories of the Saints.」Hikaru muttered.
It made perfect sense. In this world, G.o.d manifested Himself on soul cards. While His existence could be verified, communicating with Him was impossible.
It"s strange, though. G.o.d doesn"t speak, but drakons do. They"re messengers of G.o.d, but they don"t know what He wants.
Drake said that when he was back in his home, the heavens, he could feel G.o.d"s presence. But down here, that presence felt weaker. He could also feel evil. After all, humans could either walk the holy or evil path.
「Saint Rusalka seems to be the most popular among the believers.」Paula said.
「I like Natalia more than Rusalka.」Lavia said.
「I see you"re quite the enthusiast, Lavichan. Saint Natalia"s stories mostly involve dialogues with peculiar people.」
「I think the dialogues hold some truth. “If G.o.d exerts His will in this world, then plucking the fruit of a tree is also His will. But why does G.o.d let the fruit rot?”」
「You"re not even interested in Saint Natalia"s words, but the oddball!」
The church-raised Paula and the bookworm Lavia started talking about religion. Hikaru didn"t read as much as Lavia, all the more so when it came to religious books. He felt it unnecessary. He"d only read books that contained information about job cla.s.ses and magic items. In other words, practical books. But watching Paula and Lavia having fun made him want to read other books too so he could join the conversation.
「Hmm?」
Hikaru noticed the man on stage looking in their direction with eyes wide open.
The sermon ended after about five minutes. Such preaching was an everyday occurrence here in Agiapole. Indeed, Saint Rusalka"s stories were interesting with its ups and downs.
In this city, the stories of Saints were used frequently in conversations. Learning about them would be of benefit. The people listened in earnest, and they left once it was over.
「I didn"t expect Rusalka"s knight to do that in the end.」
「Rusalka"s knight is so cool.」
「Do you like devoted men, Lavia?」Hikaru asked.
「No. I like you.」
Hikaru was taken aback from her straightforward answer, his mouth gaping.
「Thanks for the treat.」Paula said with a wry smile.
「Excuse me. Are you perhaps Hikaru?」
Hikaru turned around to find the man preaching just now. He knows my name. Hikaru watched him cautiously, but immediately relaxed.
【Soul Board】Shuva Bloomfield
Age: 18 Rank: 11
16
【Vitality】
..【Perception】
….【Hearing】3
【Willpower】
..【Mental Strength】1
..【Faith】
….【Holy】3
..【Charisma】1
..【Appeal】1
He opened the man"s Soul Board. Hikaru knew the name Bloomfield. The stranger looked just like her, with his green hair and cool features.
「I heard about Saint Natalia when she shouldn"t even be related to my preaching, so I was wondering what it was about.」he said.
Apparently, he heard the girls" conversation. It must be the three points on his Hearing.
「Then I saw you, an adventurer with black hair and black eyes. My sister has told me a lot about you in her letters, Hikaru.」
「Sister?」Hikaru feigned ignorance.
「Sophie Bloomfield, an adventurer with the Four Stars of the East.」
So he really is Sophie"s younger brother.
「I see. I"ve met Sophie a number of times. What does she say about me?」
Shuva gave a strained laugh.「She says you"re extremely intellectual and perceptive for a boy.」
Okay. I thought for sure she wrote that I"m a sophistic, c.o.c.ky brat.
「This must be Lavia, and Lady Paula.」
Uh, oh. He just referred to her as “Lady”.
Sophie probably told her brother about Paula"s extraordinary healing capabilities. Perhaps Sophie suggested they go to Agiapole because her brother was here. It was definitely possible that she pushed him to recruit Paula to the Church.
「It is an honor to meet you.」
Shuva quickly closed the distance to grab Paula"s hand, but Hikaru moved in front of her. Seeing Hikaru"s menacing eyes, Shuva panicked.
「Ah, I"m sorry. I don"t plan to do that.」
「What do you mean by that?」
「It is up to the person if they want to join the Church or not. I don"t have the right to say anything. My sister, who"s known as one of the best healing magic users in the Church, said Lady Paula possesses rare abilities. I couldn"t help myself. I"m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.」Shuva said, bowing.
He"s an honest guy at least, unlike his sister. It"s clear that I"m younger than him, but he"s polite.
Most people might say that Sophie herself was an honest and wonderful woman, but for Hikaru she was as enigmatic as Selyse. It was hard to imagine what went on their minds.
「I"m honored by Lady Sophie"s words, but by Hikaru-sama"s side is where I belong.」Paula said with a smile.
「It sure looks like it!」Shuva said.「Hikaru, if you have any problems while here in Agiapole, don"t hesitate to tell me. I"ll do anything I can to help.」
And then he left. It felt like a refreshing wind just blew past. Hikaru was wary of him at first, but in the end, he didn"t have a bad impression about the guy.
「Even though he"s a monk, he still treats me with, an adventurer, with the proper etiquette.」
In this country, hierarchy was clear through the designation of colors. Monks were the lowest-ranked people, but merchants and adventurers were treated as someone with even lower status.
Usually, monks, who were always bossed around by the Reds and Blues in the tower, would be acting more arrogant in front of normal citizens. Yet not a trace of such behavior could be seen from Shuva. He was humble, just like Saint Rusalka.
「There"s good people here too.」Paula said.
「My impression of this city improved somewhat.」Hikaru couldn"t help but admit that.
The next day.
A Red Priest nodded satisfactorily as he watched the things brought to his room.
「Ah, finally here. From now on, I live in the tower. There"s no higher honor than this.」
「I completely agree.」Gelop said, laughing together with his lackeys.「By the way, I heard this room belonged to a priest who got fired—」
「Ssh!」The Red Priest raised his forefinger to silence him.「Choose your words carefully. Said priest embarked on a long journey, resulting in less personnel to spread the word of G.o.d, and so I was chosen.」
「Ah, yes, exactly!」
「Be more careful from now on.」
「Understood.」
「Good. I must say, you brought some good stuff.」The priest regarded the beautiful bookshelf by the wall.
「Of course. It"s a congratulatory gift for your ascendance to Red Priest, so I got you a fine quality items.」
The things brought in were Gelop"s donations—in other words, bribe.
「Just keep this up.」the priest said. He meant “Give me more bribes”.
「Is the priest here?」
A woman with deep-blue hair that swayed as she walked entered the room.
「Lady Katina!」
It was the Pope"s senior secretary, Katina. Gelop knew her, but his followers didn"t. Since she wasn"t wearing any gray, red, or purple, they a.s.sumed she was an ordinary citizen.
「On your knees, you fools!」Gelop ordered his men.
Gelop himself hung his head low. Katina was one of the people closest to the most powerful person in this country, a person beyond reach.
「Wh-What brings you here?」The priest seemed to be panicking as well. He might"ve expected a Purple to come, but certainly not Katina.
「First, I wish to congratulate you for your promotion to Priest.」
「Thank you very much. I will do my best to serve—」
「I have a small request.」Katina cut him short.
The priest couldn"t possibly refuse her.「What would that be? If there"s anything I can do, I"ll give it my all—」
「I want you to meet an adventurer.」She didn"t let him finish again.「His name is Hikaru. He has black hair and black eyes. I want you to recruit him to our side. In other words, make him your p.a.w.n.」