Ch.38Chapter 38. Golden Sun Tribe (5)

# Chapter 38. Golden Sun Tribe (5)

I stepped forward before the enraged barbarians could set fire to the nun.

– What’s going on here?

“That woman has insulted our culture! It’s the same as insulting Lord Malak!”

How does that even make sense?

“We must make an example of her!”

Tur, grinding his teeth, and Bojak, unable to hide his excitement, answered.

Both were gripping their weapons, seemingly angry to the tips of their hair.

This isn’t something I can just smooth over with words.

– Everyone, stop.

Let’s make them stop first.

“Lord Malak.”

Nix, who had been glaring at Grace with relative composure, explained the situation.

As an aside, Nix’s complexion looked quite good after not seeing him for a while. He must have been eating and sleeping well.

Apparently, the nun had been quietly crumpled in a corner of the tent for days, praying to her goddess.

She hadn’t shown her face even when all the civilized people gathered to pray before Totem #2. I suppose this is where the barbarians’ negative feelings toward the nun began.

Then, when the barbarians took the civilized children to the training ground, saying they would train them, she became furious and had a huge argument with them. Somehow, she ended up insulting the barbarians’ culture, leading to this situation.

I understand what made the nun angry. She probably saw something like children throwing axes at each other.

Honestly, I was shocked when I saw that too.

Although their civilization is at a medieval level, this is still a fantasy world where magic and gods exist. They might be as sensitive about child abuse as modern people.

Grace, being both civilized and religious, probably reacted twice as sensitively.

“Since they are now members of our tribal federation, it’s only natural that they receive the same training. There are no exceptions.

And we didn’t just take the children without permission. We obtained consent from both the children themselves and their parents.”

Nix’s point makes sense.

For barbarians, being trained as a warrior from childhood is completely normal.

Non-combatants are only exempt from fighting because they have special reasons that prevent them from combat. In barbarian society, it’s basic that if you have functioning limbs, you should at least receive training.

There’s no reason not to train the civilized children. Rather, not training them would be discrimination.

Sister Grace has essentially failed to fulfill even the basic duty of “Prayer to Roa,” and has insulted what is common sense in barbarian society by raising objections.

“Now I understand why you’re called barbarians! Making innocent children hold blades!

Do you think such cruelty can be forgiven? Why don’t you understand that human decency must be maintained even in a world like this!”

The nun, apparently full of anger herself, remained defiant even though she was on the brink of death.

If I were an ordinary 21st-century person unfamiliar with the situation here, I might have taken the nun’s side.

But I’m currently experiencing a fantasy world where a demonic apocalypse has occurred in real-time.

I can’t help but think, ‘Is this nun still living in a flower garden? How has she managed to stay alive until now?’

It’s not like they’re sending kids to war to die; can’t they at least give them some basic training?

It would be a great help for self-defense too.

I think children need to develop strength especially because of the world they live in. After all, you have to protect your own body yourself.

I was thinking about what to say to persuade Grace when:

“Sister Graaaace!”

The middle-aged knight standing at the front of the civilized group shouted.

He’s the knight who had been acting as a leader alongside the nun and even interpreting for them.

He was as angry as Tur and Bojak. What’s with this sudden outburst?

“Don’t you realize that every single action you take here creates a negative impression of all of us?

Not only are you disrespecting their culture, but you’re putting us all in danger! Have you lost your mind?

This doesn’t end with just you being punished! You’ve put us all to the test!”

“William, are you taking their side too? Aren’t you ashamed as an imperial knight!”

So the knight’s name is William.

“Ashamed? What is there to be ashamed of! Do you still have enough pride left to feel shame? The Empire has fallen! The cathedral is gone! Don’t you understand that yet?!”

“…”

Grace glared at him.

Middle-aged knight William continued speaking with a flushed expression, as if challenging her to watch.

“Have you already forgotten how much we struggled to come all the way here, to the edge of nowhere?

Have you truly forgotten how many sacrifices were made to reach Volbano?

We’re now short on food and people! There’s nowhere left to run! There is no paradise! This is the end!”

William was practically screaming.

“So you’re using children as hostages?!”

“We’re not telling the children to go to war! We’re just teaching them how to fight! I myself first held a real sword at fourteen!”

“I grew up in an orphanage run by nuns. Before that, I lived in the slums. There, I saw countless children die as shields for adults from a young age.

Will they really just teach them how to fight and nothing more? No. When they run short of soldiers, they’ll send even children to the battlefield.

This not only goes against doctrine but also against ethics.”

“That’s all just speculation!”

“I don’t need to hear any more. Rather than turning a blind eye to such horrible things, I’d rather die. At least then I wouldn’t be ashamed of myself.”

Grace closed her eyes. She’s certainly a person of unwavering conviction.

William, with a deeply furrowed brow, went into the crowd of civilized people and brought forward a boy and a girl.

“You know them well, right? Ellie and Jerry. They’re my children. I can do anything for my kids. I’m prepared to do anything.

Betray the goddess? I can do that easily. That goddess who stood by while my mother and wife were devoured by demons—she can suck my dick.”

William poured out his words. The nun seemed neither to see nor hear, but he continued to speak.

I think I understood why William was going this far.

“Grace! Please come to your senses! Kneel before Lord Malak and beg for forgiveness! Say you’re sorry and ask to be spared!

Lord Malak is merciful, he might forgive you! Hurry! You need to survive first…!”

He wants to save the nun.

He probably thinks this is the last chance, with me, a Roa, watching.

“Sister Grace.”

The girl who had been quietly observing the situation spoke up. It was William’s daughter, Ellie.

“I’m not doing this because adults told me to. I’m not doing it because the tribal people told me to either.

It was my choice.”

Only then did Grace open her eyes.

“I’m tired of waiting in a safe place for Dad to return. I’d rather learn how to fight so I can protect Dad myself.”

The eyes of Ellie, a girl who had experienced the apocalypse, did not waver.

“That’s absurd…! You’re only nine years old. You should be playing with dolls at this age…”

To the nun’s voice filled with sadness, Ellie slowly shook her head.

“It’s not that kind of world anymore.”

As if broken by that single sentence, Grace opened and closed her mouth a few times before bursting into tears.

“Uwaah…uwaaah…!”

I’m not sure what impact that one sentence had, but she must have her own circumstances that I don’t know about.

Isn’t that how it always is? A single sentence that seems insignificant to others can shake a person’s heart.

Maybe she finally realized that the Goddess Church had fallen, or perhaps she was reminded once again that the world had ended… something like that, I guess.

– …

Ellie’s words affected me too. For some reason, I saw Paya in Ellie.

…Maybe I was thinking the same way as Grace.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

The situation was resolved with Grace’s apology, her mind changed by Ellie’s words.

Whether Grace will be able to blend well into the tribal federation remains to be seen, but I decided to be optimistic.

I want to give her a second chance. After all, she didn’t act with bad intentions.

In her own way, she was trying to protect the children.

Of course, she’ll have to face consequences for causing trouble. I’ll leave that to the barbarians who were insulted.

Surely they wouldn’t do something like tying her up or beating her with a stick?

***

– Paya.

I called Paya to the altar.

I sent Lakye, who had been napping against Totem #1, somewhere else for a while.

As soon as I arrived, I felt something warm against me—it was Lakye.

“Lord Malak?”

There was a feather stuck in Paya’s hair, as if she had just visited the house of feathers.

Looking at things like this, she’s really just a kid.

– Do you want to participate in battle, to fight alongside me?

“Yes.”

Paya answered without hesitation.

“Being able to be with Lord Malak is a great honor and joy. There’s nothing better than that.”

Paya, like other barbarian warriors, did not fear death. She might be afraid, but perhaps she overcomes it through faith in her god.

Since Paya always respects me, I should respect her too.

With the heart of a mother who believes in her son who wants to study math and pays for tutoring, I made my decision.

– Paya, I will bestow a blessing upon you.