Ch.229Towards the Cathedral

The Extrashafel Cathedral, despite its symbolism and fame, wasn’t particularly heavily guarded.

Unless someone was attacking the imperial palace, no one could imagine any madman would dare attack this place.

The resting place of Carlos the Great. The holy ground where Elpinel’s grace descended.

Extrashafel Cathedral was beyond a symbol of humanity—it was an inviolable domain representing divine authority itself.

Even Isabella, who had destroyed the imperial palace, didn’t dare touch this place, and even the militias who had attacked the institutions didn’t set fire to it.

In an age where gods existed, few were foolish enough to disturb the sanctuary of the most powerful deity.

Even if Elpinel wasn’t their god, no one could escape her wrath.

But that’s none of my business.

—-

I lightly cracked the reins.

As the leather straps whipped against their backs, the startled horses became excited and increased their speed.

Four pairs of hooves and steel-reinforced carriage wheels pounded the road, producing thunderous sounds.

The cool headwind hit my face and shattered. My hair fluttered wildly.

“Out of the way! Move if you don’t want to be trampled!”

Startled people moved aside to avoid being hit.

That’s fortunate. Shouting was worth it.

At the cathedral entrance, a paladin guarding the main gate looked at the charging carriage with rabbit-like startled eyes.

He still didn’t seem to grasp the situation…

“Is this really okay?!”

With little time left until arrival,

I called into the carriage one last time to confirm.

“Yes. As long as I’m here, no one will be seriously injured.”

With that calm voice, a dazzling light enveloped the horses and carriage.

Lacy’s holy light. A measure to protect the carriage while preventing anyone from being trampled to death.

The brilliantly shining carriage charged toward the cathedral’s main gate like a divine chariot.

“W-what! Stop! Stop the carriage immediately!”

“Is it an attack?! No, that light is…”

Two paladins drew their swords, unable to hide their confusion.

The silver holy light they emitted blocked the entrance like a shield.

“Move if you don’t want to die!”

I drove forward with increased speed. The paladins’ expressions hardened.

The pure white chariot crashed into them.

The holy light shield emitted by the paladins shattered like glass.

The paladins who collided with the carriage bodily were thrown back with short screams.

As Lacy had guaranteed, they weren’t smashed to a bloody pulp, but judging by their rolled-back eyes, they had fainted from the impact.

Is that really okay…?

Anyway, there was no one blocking our way now.

The unstoppable ball of light finally reached the main gate—

Like a wall hit by a catapult, the cathedral’s main gate exploded with a thunderous boom.

—-

A moment of silence fell.

Hundreds of worshippers inside the cathedral stared at the collapsed gate with their mouths agape.

“Wh…what…?”

Expressions like their souls had left them. Some were even rubbing their eyes as if they’d seen an illusion.

As expected, their reactions were slow. Worth making the shocking entrance Lacy had requested.

“Lacy! Come out! We’re breaking through!”

The carriage door flung open as Lacy and Bells jumped out.

“L-Lady Elmaine?!”

The priests jumped in surprise at the appearance of the Saint candidate who was supposedly in secluded prayer.

Lacy resolutely raised her cross spear. Pure white holy light wrapped around the spear and shone brilliantly.

“In the name of Elpinel! I will now conduct a heresy trial!”

“Anyone who resists will be considered an accomplice of the heretic! Move aside!”

I ran with them, pushing through the crowd.

“Ugh, urk…!”

“Uwaaaaah!”

People who were pushed aside tumbled down. I tried to control my strength as much as possible, but some might still break bones if they’re unlucky.

Well, it doesn’t matter—there are many priests, so they’ll heal them right away.

“Move if you don’t want to get hurt!”

There was no time to waste.

We needed to break through as quickly as possible before they came to their senses.

It was obvious that the Archbishop of Trier would try to escape as soon as he learned of the Saint candidate’s arrival.

It was impossible to distinguish on the spot who among them was the Archbishop’s minion and who was an innocent priest.

Even among the Archbishop’s followers, it was impossible to tell who was truly a heretic betraying Elpinel, and who was merely deceived and used by the Archbishop.

So we had no choice but to make this raid-like entrance, pushing everyone aside as we advanced.

Otherwise, the target would escape while we were held up by the crowd, or prepare a massive counterattack.

Since this was Lacy’s plan… she would handle the aftermath.

—-

After pushing through the crowds and advancing, we managed to enter the inner cathedral within ten seconds of our initial breach.

The Archbishop of Trier would be in the innermost part of the cathedral, so if we just kept going—

“How dare you cause such a disturbance in this sacred place!”

Right, I was expecting interference about now.

Armed paladins and priests began pouring out from corridors in all directions.

Holy light descended upon them, shining brilliantly.

But that would only make my eyes sting a little—no matter how many ordinary paladins gathered, they couldn’t stop me.

I clenched both fists tightly.

I couldn’t use Durandal. That blade would cut through even the paladins’ armor and cause serious injuries.

Since I didn’t come to devastate the cathedral, I needed to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

Breaking some bones should be fine though.

As I was about to swing my fists, suppressing the destructively murderous energy and focusing only on the power of my achievements,

“Stand back!”

Lacy stepped forward and struck her cross spear down like a staff.

Pure white shockwaves burst out in all directions, pushing away those blocking our path.

Only then recognizing the intruders, the paladins who withstood the shockwave stepped back in astonishment.

“Lady Elmaine?! We heard you were in secluded prayer…!”

“Lord Bells and even Baron Median? Why are they…!”

The confused paladins hastily lowered their weapons pointed at her.

Their eyes were filled with doubt. Even the holy light covering their armor wavered, reflecting their mental shock.

“If you recognize me, please step aside. In the name of Elpinel, the heretic, Tri—”

“Lady Elmaine!”

Just as Lacy was about to declare the Archbishop of Trier a heretic, an elderly priest interrupted with a loud shout.

“What outrage is this! Bringing a heathen to attack the cathedral blessed by Elpinel’s protection—this cannot be forgiven even if you are Lady Elmaine!”

“Indeed, that is…!”

Some worshippers nodded in agreement.

Lacy slightly furrowed her brow and stepped forward.

Though Lacy had proposed this bold plan of forceful breakthrough, she seemed to hesitate somewhat when facing fellow worshippers who were like brothers and sisters to her.

We don’t have time, yet she’s thinking of persuading them with words.

“So, I declare the here—”

“No matter! What! The reason! May be! A servant of Elpinel trying to destroy Her hall! How will you bear Her wrath!”

This bastard.

Seeing how he deliberately interrupted her, he must be trying to avoid unfavorable talk and buy time.

…He’s probably the Archbishop’s minion.

“This deserves more than excommunication! Stop this outrage immediately and quietly…”

The elderly priest berated her with veins bulging in his neck.

Others didn’t know what to do and kept looking back and forth between Lacy and the elderly priest, but judging by the strength in their weapon-holding hands, they seemed to be leaning toward the priest’s words.

Whatever reason the Saint candidate had, attacking the cathedral was a clear fact.

So they probably thought it right to subdue her first, then politely interrogate her to hear the detailed reasons.

“Haaa…”

Lacy closed her eyes and sighed.

No choice. I’ll have to step in. This is my specialty after all.

If I just hit him once…

– CRACK!

…Huh?

A splitting sound like an axe chopping wood. It was a familiar sound to me.

This was the sound of a skull being crushed.

“Geeeh…”

With a weak groan, the elderly priest’s body collapsed.

His eyeballs were half-protruding between his wrinkled eyelids, with tears and saliva dripping.

His temple was caved in—a serious injury that could be fatal without immediate treatment.

“L-Lady Elmaine? What are you doing?!”

The worshippers shouted in shock, their eyes wide.

Can’t blame them. Even I was surprised.

The Saint candidate herself had full-swing struck an elderly priest’s head.

He was barely alive because she hit him with the shaft of the spear—if she had used the blade, his brains would be spilling out by now.

“Be quiet. This is a heresy trial.”

“Heresy trial? What do you mean…!”

Lacy raised her cross spear and coldly glared at the worshippers blocking her way.

With eyes no different from how she looked at non-humans.

“I, Elmaine, chosen by Elpinel, declare: until I judge the heretic Archbishop of Trier, I will consider anyone who blocks my way as equally heretical.”

Her tone was utterly rigid.

The worshippers hesitated, not knowing what to do in the face of Lacy’s unfamiliar hostility toward them.

“I won’t say it twice. Step aside.”

Lacy pointed her cross spear forward. Bells and I hurriedly moved to her side.

Before the confused worshippers could respond, Lacy charged at them.