Ch.301301. The Plague of Drugs

“Ah, ah, I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

Jason, who had introduced himself as the village chief, wore a bewildered expression and seemed troubled.

But from the moment his eyes darted around, I could tell he knew something and was involved.

“I’ve learned that the Wellington Trading Company was scheduled to do business with this village around this time. Also, considering the quantity of seeds, there are only limited places where they could be grown.”

It was thanks to the information Erika had extracted from the Bright and Zeronia families.

There were several other candidates besides this place, but someone had managed the impressive feat of stealing transaction ledgers from within Wellington.

Gideon Zeronia.

He used to desperately try to come between Erika and me, but I heard he’s now just working diligently within the Zeronia family.

I never had much interest in the man, but what he did this time was significant.

“No, no. Could you wait a moment? I really don’t understand what you’re talking about…”

“How much more do I need to say? Do I need to mention that the bishops of Goddess Demeter and God Bellas purchased land in this area?”

“…”

The village chief’s mouth hung open.

He was sweating more than when he worked in the fields, completely at a loss.

“What’s going on?”

“Who’s bothering our chief?”

“Which bastard! Which damn bastard!”

Villagers came rushing over.

With them at his back, Jason the village chief straightened his shoulders with newfound confidence.

He wiped the beads of sweat from his bald head with his palm and looked up at me.

“Who are you to come to our village and make such strange accusations? Yes! We do business with Wellington Trading Company. Isn’t it natural for farmers to trade with merchants?!”

“…”

“And about bishops buying land? Ah, that’s right! The bishops of Goddess Demeter and God Bellas did buy land here and they are actually here! Do you know why?!”

The village chief, now a completely different person, shouted with spittle flying. Behind him, the villagers shouted in agreement and pointed fingers at me.

“May I ask permission to draw my sword?”

“What?”

Aria, whose hand seemed to be itching, made a strange request, but Elenoa nudged her side and shook her head.

Fortunately, Elenoa didn’t intervene. It meant she trusted me to handle this myself.

“Ah, I asked if you know why!”

The village chief asked threateningly. I stared at him blankly, wondering how far he would go.

“Those people! They’re about to retire! After serving according to the divine words, they’ve come to this mountain village to live quietly and farm in peace!”

“…”

“That’s the kind of village this is. It’s land where a bishop who served Demeter, the goddess of abundance and earth, has come! And, and what? What are you saying?!”

A young man who had been plowing the field was holding a hoe, which the village chief suddenly snatched and struck the ground with it.

“You fool! How dare a pretty-faced guy like you talk such nonsense! Drugs? Do you know how clean the Griffin Kingdom is when it comes to drugs?! How dare youuuu…!”

“What’s happening here?”

The village chief’s passionate speech was suddenly cut short. The villagers parted like the Red Sea before Moses, and…

At the end stood two people wearing elegant silk clothes, unlike the others.

Both were too young to retire, more like middle-aged in appearance.

The one wearing Goddess Demeter’s rosary was a man, while the one representing God Bellas was a woman.

“Oh my! Bishops! This person is…”

Just as the village chief was about to point at me and shout something,

The bishops’ eyes widened, fixed on me as if struck by something.

[The one from Demeter is Bishop Hareis, and the one from Bellas is Bishop Ulliana.]

Stella immediately whispered to me.

Very useful information.

“Bishop Hareis, Bishop Ulliana. I didn’t know you were preparing for retirement. Many things have happened while I was away.”

Addressing them by name in this situation gives the impression that I came knowing everything.

They must feel like they’re in the palm of my hand.

“S-Spirit Master! Y-you’ve returned?!”

“Why didn’t His Majesty announce such an important matter…!”

The two bishops bowed hurriedly and rushed toward me.

Their expressions darkened like soil, realizing something was going wrong.

“I haven’t seen His Majesty yet. I’m on my way back now.”

“Oh my! I see! It’s such a relief that you’ve returned!”

“Indeed! So many people shed tears over your sacrifice! You’ve overcome those wicked Black Mages of Dante!”

It was Laizer who made me like this. I had already heard that during my absence, the bishops who serve the gods had blamed everything on Dante’s Black Mages.

I understood.

If citizens learned that Goddess Hertia or God Laizer had come down to Greyfond to unleash calamity, the foundation of the religious world would collapse.

But understanding didn’t mean I would be considerate.

“Enough with the unnecessary talk.”

I waved my hand to stop their useless words, then glared at the two of them and said:

“It seems you ordered something from Wellington Trading Company, so I’ve come to deliver it personally.”

I took out the glass vial again and handed it to them. They checked the contents and looked perplexed.

I sighed and asked with some irritation:

“Why did you decide to retire so early? I can only think it’s because you needed someone in charge to set up a workshop here.”

They couldn’t offer excuses, probably thinking I already knew everything.

In reality, I came here with half a conviction and solidified that conviction after seeing their reactions.

“I’ve heard the religious world is shaking. The recent incidents must have somewhat contradicted the divine words.”

[Ah.]

Stella quietly bowed her head with her hands clasped.

She was simply praying to the gods for the calamity about to unfold.

“I won’t bother asking what you planned to do with this drug. You won’t be able to do anything anyway.”

“…”

“…”

The two remained tight-lipped.

They seemed unable to predict what I would do next.

“Ordering Golden Flower means you must have a sample.”

Golden Flower is such a demonic substance that even after death, souls become like zombies craving it.

It sounds strange to call souls zombies, but the souls that clung to Goven’s carriage were exactly that.

So.

Where are those souls now?

“Open your eyes wide and remember the tragedy about to unfold.”

Mana began to pour out violently, and the broken souls that had been following our carriage carrying the seeds revealed themselves.

Souls with holes in their bodies, souls with eyeballs hanging out from drug overdose, souls with rotting skin or visible skulls.

All of them retained the appearance of when their bodies were destroyed by the drug called Golden Flower.

“Kyaaaah!”

“W-what is that?!”

“M-monster! It’s a monster!”

The villagers began screaming or running away at the sight of the revealed souls.

The souls, corrupted by the drug Golden Flower, having lost consciousness and following only the scent of the drug:

[Uooooooooh!]

[Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff!]

[Ack! Aaaack! Aaaack!]

[F-fuck, d-drug! Druuuuug!]

Realizing Golden Flower was here, the souls began convulsing grotesquely and spreading throughout the village.

“This is the scene you tried to create in Griffin.”

A plague called drug addiction engulfing the entire village.

Everyone fled, leaving only the two bishops and the village chief.

The bishops trembled, kneeling before me and begging for their lives.

I looked at the remaining village chief and asked:

“The bishops interrupted you earlier.”

“Ah… ah.”

“Continue. You were saying ‘Griffin is a drug-free country, how dare you.’ I’ll listen to the end.”

I kindly reminded him of what he was saying and gave him the opportunity to finish.

“P…”

The village chief knelt down with tears in his eyes and bowed his head.

“Please spare me, I beg you.”

* * *

The Dark Spiritmaster and Stella were watching Deus’s back with concerned eyes after witnessing the calamity in Posville village.

[Is this… really okay?]

At the Dark Spiritmaster’s question, Stella kept her lips tightly sealed and continued staring at Deus.

As if trying to find some answer.

[Poetic justice. Making those who tried to grow drugs face the souls of drug addicts as punishment is good.]

The Dark Spiritmaster, unlike the Saintess, approved of this outcome.

[But it’s not like Deus.]

[…]

[This sudden appearance and forceful suppression… it’s different from how Deus has resolved issues until now.]

[I agree.]

Stella nodded slightly.

Her shadowed expression showed nothing but concern for Deus.

Sighing, Stella added her opinion:

[Besides, causing such a commotion makes it easier for Wellington Trading Company to cut their losses. The original Deus would have proceeded quietly to catch everyone involved.]

But he had made a spectacular scene instead. He started by striking first without any apparent plan.

[…Deus is hiding something.]

[I agree, senior.]

The Dark Spiritmaster crossed her arms and sighed worriedly, and Stella nodded with the same concern.

But the problem was…

[If Deus hasn’t explained it to us… he probably won’t ever tell us?]

[Being too firm in one’s convictions can be problematic.]

If Deus was hiding something,

No matter what they said, he wouldn’t tell them.

Just as their meaningless worry seemed to continue,

Crack!

Horns sprouted from Stella’s forehead, and her pupils changed to vertical slits.

[Stupid bitches.]

[Don’t use such harsh language with Stella’s mouth.]

[Fuck you.]

[Why did you come out?]

Vellica flipped her middle finger and clicked her tongue.

[I came out because it’s frustrating. You two have good abilities but just stupidly watch from behind?]

[…What are you talking about?]

[It’s ridiculous. You milk-carrying women can’t even sway the heart of one dick-carrying bastard?]

The Dark Spiritmaster felt dizzy for a moment, unaccustomed to such vulgar words coming from Stella’s mouth.

Taking advantage of this moment, Vellica boldly declared:

[Leave it to me. Tonight, I’ll make that bastard spill all his secrets.]

[How?]

[I have my ways. You’ll hear, ‘S-Stella! S-stop! Stop! Ahh! Like that.’]

[…Are you crazy?]

The Dark Spiritmaster blushed and shouted at Vellica for saying such absurd things.

[You come too. I need those tits of yours.]

She was simply inviting the Dark Spiritmaster to join the party.