Ch.2323. Not Entirely Welcome (2)

I looked at the crown that Bishop Andre was proudly introducing, my eyelids trembling. I don’t remember seeing such a terrifying object in the original work. I don’t recall the protagonist ever receiving something like this. It seemed like I couldn’t even touch it, let alone wear it on my head.

“…Am I supposed to fight while wearing this?”

If I fought wearing this, getting holes punctured in my scalp would be the least of my worries. Hearing my bewildered voice, Bishop Andre shook his head.

“No. Not all holy relics are used in battle. This crown is the same. It’s not a weapon. Though it depends on how the owner uses it.”

“Uses it?”

The bishop nodded as he placed his hand over the glass case. His eyes, gazing at the crown of thorns, were filled with a certain expectation and reverence. Bishop Andre gently grasped the glass case covering the crown and removed it. The red velvet on which the crown of thorns rested looked as if it had been stained red with blood.

“This crown… is a relic said to have been worn by a saint long ago. Its exact origin is unknown. There’s only the vague speculation that it’s an object from the mythical era. Being such an ancient relic, its power is likely far stronger than most other relics.”

Though it’s not something that appeared in the original work, if the author actually created this holy relic, I think I know what it’s modeled after.

“People have believed that if they pray while wearing this crown, their wishes would come true. Or that the crown would grant what they desire.”

What a useless way to pray. I frowned.

“Unfortunately, the crown never answered those who prayed while wearing it. And people eventually stopped seeking the crown.”

Bishop Andre lifted the crown of thorns and handed it to me. I took it and looked at it questioningly.

“…If it never answered anyone, doesn’t that mean we don’t even know if it has power or not?”

“Didn’t you, the hero, draw the Holy Sword that was thought to be impossible to pull out, and prove its power to the world? This crown should be no different.”

When I still showed signs of dissatisfaction, Bishop Andre shrugged and gestured toward the crown of thorns.

“The holy relic will test the qualifications of its user, so feel free to try it on if you’re curious.”

The crown of thorns, dried and withered with all moisture gone, was surprisingly light. It seemed like it would crumble to dust if handled carelessly. Even if I wore it, it didn’t seem like it would hurt much. I carefully raised the crown of thorns over my head. There was a slight pricking sensation, and then the crown settled on my head. As I had worried, the thorns didn’t dig into my head.

“How does it test the user?”

“They say the crown administers a test. If you overcome it, you’re qualified to receive its power.”

Along with Andre’s explanation, a handful of mana began to enter my body through the thorns of the crown. It was a strange feeling of magical power, completely different from that of the Holy Sword. I didn’t try to resist and let the crown’s mana flow into my body.

“The trial is…”

The words “what kind of trial” got caught in my throat. It felt like lightning had suddenly pierced through the top of my head. And then the sensation of my body being shattered into pieces. I couldn’t even scream at the terrible pain and fell to my knees.

“[Ilroy!]”

“Hero?!”

My vision darkened and my consciousness gradually faded. I could feel the crown slipping from my head and falling to the floor. Ignoring the urgent calls of Bishop Andre and the Holy Sword, I collapsed to the floor.

==

I seemed to have had an old dream.

I wasn’t my pre-possession self. In the dream, I was still Ilroy. On a day of pouring rain, Ilroy was standing in the ruins, completely drenched. Through the rain, Ilroy was looking at the Holy Sword. The Holy Sword, stuck in a rock, seemed to be waiting for someone.

Ilroy walked slowly. Approaching the rock where the Holy Sword was embedded, he grasped the hilt and pulled it out. The Holy Sword rose smoothly with Ilroy’s touch, as if it had been destined to happen from the beginning. Ilroy stared blankly at the drawn Holy Sword.

Then, with a weak gesture, Ilroy embraced the Holy Sword and sat down on a pile of stones. The rain continued to pour down, threatening to engulf Ilroy and the world.

Rain. Dizzying rain pouring into ears and head.

“…Hmm.”

Consciousness gradually surfaced. The first sense to return was hearing. I could hear the rustling sound of my head rubbing against something. Next came smell. The scent of old wood and burning incense. Vision was the last to return. Hazily, the scene of what appeared to be a church room came into view.

I tried to get up immediately, but a terrible weakness was weighing down my body, making it impossible to rise right away. I uncomfortably shifted my body and turned my head forward. The soft and warm sensation against my head and face was extremely comfortable.

…Wait, sensation?

I froze and blinked. Damn cliché. And then, creaking, the sound of a door opening. Without turning my head again, I could sense Bishop Andre entering the room. I tried to get up, but a hand gently pressing on my chest made me relax again, unable to strongly resist.

“The hero has awakened.”

I heard the voice of the woman providing me with a lap pillow. One of my ears was buried in her thigh, making the sound come through half-muffled. The bishop nodded and sat in the chair opposite me. He wore an apologetic expression.

“…This is my oversight. I never imagined such a thing would happen.”

Right, the crown of thorns. I put it on my head to undergo its trial and lost consciousness. Remembering is one thing, but couldn’t they just let me get up? I’m dying of embarrassment.

“What would you like to do with the crown? If you wish, I can exchange it for another holy relic.”

“[Keep it.]”

I opened my eyes wide at the Holy Sword’s voice.

“[Nothing will be as helpful in defeating the Seven Calamity as that. Most other things would be useless trinkets.]”

The Holy Sword made a significant statement. If it’s from the mythical era, when the Holy Sword wasn’t yet embedded in the rock, perhaps it knows what role that crown of thorns played. I grimaced, recalling the pain like lightning striking my body.

“[You know you’re not in a position to be picky.]”

The Holy Sword is right. My current strength is woefully inadequate for capturing the Calamity. I’m not in a position to be choosy about how I get stronger. I sighed deeply and shook my head.

“No, I’ll gratefully accept the crown. Just in case.”

“I’ll still see if it’s possible to provide you with other holy relics. It’s difficult to rely solely on one in this situation.”

Bishop Andre said this while thoughtfully holding his chin. But wait…

“Could you explain what’s going on here?”

I glanced at the owner of this lap pillow who kept gently pressing on my chest whenever I tried to get up. Being with Bishop Andre, does that mean this person is also an inquisitor?

“You should remain lying down as you still need to rest.”

“No, this person…”

Bishop Andre shrugged and smiled.

“I had planned to introduce her in a different way later, but it’s awkward to introduce her like this.”

Bishop Andre raised his gaze to the woman, then lowered it back to me.

“During the meeting with Her Majesty the Queen, it was decided that the Holy Nation would send a representative to the expedition. After internal discussions, she was selected.”

What kind of way is this to get a new companion? I felt my face twitch.

“I am Marianne Prim.”

Marianne’s voice came through again, muffled. Wait, I’ve heard that name before. If I remember correctly, she was a character in the original work who appeared as a mid-boss of the inquisitors during the kidnapped saint episode. Yes, and while fighting the protagonist who was trying to recover the saint – she was brutally killed, her head cut off.

“…I assume this means she’s skilled enough to join the hero’s party.”

“There aren’t many in the Holy Nation who can match her skills.”

The bishop answered with a slight smile. How chilling that smile is.

“She doesn’t possess healing magic like Isis, but she’ll be quite helpful.”

So why is this person giving me a lap pillow when there are perfectly good pillows available? I protested strongly with my eyes, but Bishop Andre just smiled, pretending not to understand. I wish the Holy Sword would give some advice.

“[You look quite comfortable lying on that thigh. Handle it yourself.]”

The Holy Sword said only that and suddenly fell silent. For some reason, I felt like crying.

“You needn’t worry. She will never disobey your orders, unlike Isis or that mercenary.”

That makes me feel a bit uneasy. I tried again to push away Marianne’s hand pressing on my chest.

“Rest.”

“I’m fine now, please let me get up.”

At Bishop Andre’s words, Marianne removed her hand. I painfully regained my freedom and was able to sit up. My face felt flushed with embarrassment.

“Your jokes are quite mischievous.”

“I’m just showing you her characteristics. Does that bother you?”

I turned my head toward Marianne. Silver hair and golden eyes. Not a common combination. But what stood out was her face, devoid of any emotion. Marianne’s face was literally like a sculpture carved from marble. There was no trace of blood or any movement that might indicate emotion.

“…Is this how the Blue Orthodox Church raises people?”

“It would be troublesome if you misunderstood that way. While there are certainly those in the Blue Orthodox Church who have no blood or tears, and though such people may be necessary, we never artificially ‘create’ such individuals. The same goes for Marianne.”

Bishop Andre said, shaking his head. The fact that he doesn’t deny the necessity already makes Bishop Andre seem sufficiently bloodless and tearless.

“May I ask what that means?”

“It means we’ve raised ‘people who were like that from the beginning’ according to the needs of the Blue Orthodox Church.”

I felt like sticking out my tongue in frustration. ‘People who were like that from the beginning’? Marianne didn’t seem to care about Bishop Andre’s words at all. Bishop Andre’s eyes glinted as he looked at Marianne and me.

“Marianne will be helpful. I guarantee it. Since the Holy Nation is sending one of its top forces, I hope you won’t decline and will work together with her.”

I nodded with a sour expression. Since the Holy Nation was showing sincerity, I couldn’t refuse, and anyway, three people seemed insufficient for tackling the Calamity. If she’s strong enough for Bishop Andre to guarantee, she’ll be helpful somehow.

“Marianne, from now on, follow the hero’s orders.”

“Yes, understood.”

Marianne then turned to me and bowed her head.

“I am Marianne, who will serve the hero from now on. I await your command.”

As I failed to respond, Bishop Andre dropped a bombshell.

“By the way, since she just arrived from the Holy Nation, Marianne currently has no lodging. If the hero could kindly provide a room…”

This is driving me crazy.

==

My current appearance was quite ridiculous. In one hand, I carried a wooden box containing the sacred crown of thorns, at my waist hung the Holy Sword, and beside me walked a beautiful woman in nun’s clothing. Is this some kind of starter pack for Blue Orthodox Church initiates? It seems like it would attract quite a few believers.

“…There should be a spare room on the third floor for residence. It may not be very comfortable, but you can use that room.”

“Understood.”

Marianne nodded. I had tried to make conversation several times on the way from the church to our headquarters, but all I got in return were “understood” or “yes” or “no.” I suppressed a sigh that was about to escape and opened the door to the headquarters. As soon as the door opened, Daphne, who had been sitting in the lobby on the first floor, approached with quick steps.

“Ilroy.”

Oh, you’re still here and haven’t gone back?

It seems she had gone out and returned to wait for me. I felt sorry and was about to say something when Daphne suddenly looked beside me and blinked. Daphne’s gaze was fixed exactly on Marianne. The purple light in Daphne’s eyes, looking at Marianne, began to fade slightly.

“…And who might this person be?”

Daphne asked in a chilly voice.