Ch.483Again, Back to Where I Belong

Ceylon calmly accepted his defeat.

While he could have continued fighting by recovering from the penetrating wound with healing miracles, the situation could have ended with his neck being pierced rather than his shoulder, had I wished it.

Without any unexpected turns, the duel ended with my victory as everyone had anticipated.

This was the moment that determined Arad’s fate.

“Astraea has judged what is right and wrong. Submit to Her will!”

Ceylon removed his dented armor and, while healing himself, issued a withdrawal order in a resolute tone.

“No, why did we even come here if this is how it ends…?”

Though it was a difficult conclusion to accept, the faithful couldn’t break their sworn oath.

Despite showing clear signs of dissatisfaction, they prepared to withdraw.

“Is this really acceptable? Even with the commander’s orders, to retreat in the face of such obvious disorder…”

“What choice do we have? As Sir Ceylon said, even if we were to win against such a powerful opponent, we wouldn’t have enough strength left to find and eliminate the Mains.”

“That’s… certainly true. Who would have thought an Imperial Hero would be like this? The previous Empire’s Greatest Sword at least seemed human, but this…”

They continued grumbling, but thanks to the spectacular and overwhelming duel they had witnessed, they finally seemed to understand.

Had I ambushed them with hit-and-run tactics instead of honorably challenging them to a duel, most of the Holy Corps would have lost their lives.

This should have been obvious from the rumors about me, but people typically don’t grasp reality until they see it firsthand.

They had heard I was strong, but clearly couldn’t imagine I would be this powerful.

“…Isn’t this Main business just an excuse? From what I can see—”

“…Enough with the blasphemous talk. Even if that were true… you have no authority to question this. It’s for our superiors to judge.”

Some looked back and forth between Ceylon and me, about to voice unpleasant suspicions, but their more perceptive superiors stopped them.

As if suggesting this wasn’t the place for such talk.

…Indeed, there’s no way to prevent such rumors from spreading.

Though they might hold their tongues in front of their superiors, once those dissatisfied with Ceylon’s decision return to the Holy City and start complaining among themselves, rumors will eventually leak beyond the Church.

—-

After the withdrawal decision was made, Ceylon and I headed to his tent while watching the busy movements of the others.

Since Astraea’s healing miracle might trigger a reaction from my stigmata, I needed to be treated away from prying eyes.

As soon as we entered the tent, Ceylon knelt before me, apologizing for the blasphemy of wounding me.

Instead of accepting his apology, I praised him instead, saying it had been a good fight.

I meant it sincerely.

Fighting against a strong enemy brings a sense of urgency and crisis rather than enjoyment, but fighting a strong person who isn’t an enemy allows one to purely enjoy the combat itself.

“Is that so…?”

Ceylon looked somewhat puzzled.

As if he couldn’t understand the concept of enjoying battle.

Why doesn’t he get this fun?

Light flows from swords, the ground shatters when fists are swung, and bodies go flying with each collision—how could this not be enjoyable?

It’s on a completely different level from extreme sports.

Anyway, I smoked a cigarette while Ceylon helped treat my wounds.

Holy light descended upon my torn and cut flesh, reconnecting severed blood vessels and regenerating torn skin.

Perhaps thanks to Astraea’s stigmata, the recovery was happening quickly despite the miracle being performed by a paladin with mediocre healing abilities.

While I rested comfortably, Ceylon wrote a report to send to Cardinal Jaisus.

It included information about the stigmata, my unwillingness to make it public, our future plans, and his intention to “pretend to be my lover” to protect me.

“Um… Lord Median?”

“Ah, about my name—it doesn’t matter now, but later you should call me Haschal. If we’re going to… pretend to be lovers, we should at least use familiar forms of address.”

“…”

Ceylon sighed deeply before speaking again.

“About this… pretending to be lovers. Is that really necessary…? Couldn’t we just explain that we’re friends who impressed each other…?”

“Didn’t you see your followers’ expressions? If you want to hear them calling me the Ka’har’s whore, then go ahead.”

Not for my sake, but for your followers.

If by some chance they were to discover that I also have a stigmata… they might commit mass suicide out of penance for their sins.

Unable to refute my point, Ceylon finally lowered his head and continued writing his report.

—-

After that, everything proceeded smoothly.

Ceylon instructed a priest who appeared to be his vice-commander to lead the Holy Corps in retreat, handing him the report.

He ordered him not to open it and to deliver it directly to Cardinal Jaisus.

The vice-commander looked at Ceylon with a face half-filled with concern and suspicion, but ultimately withdrew with the Holy Corps without raising any objections.

It was an almost disappointingly simple retreat compared to their imposing advance… but in truth, Astraea had saved their lives.

If I hadn’t had the stigmata, things wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.

After sending off the Holy Corps, Ceylon and I went to Kranus’s cathedral to inform Radenis that the Arad situation had been resolved.

And to make some threats while we were at it.

“I’m planning to leave the management and restoration of Arad to your church, but don’t try anything foolish. Both the Church of Astraea and the Church of Elpinel will simultaneously declare your church as collaborators with the Mains. If you don’t want to end up like Grimnir, behave yourselves.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Radenis nodded obediently.

Though he did look at us with questioning eyes, as if about to mutter, “Why are you two together…?”

Since the search for Valkers’ minions among the rioters was still ongoing, we decided to stay in Arad for the time being.

Our lodging was, of course, at Astraea’s cathedral.

The city residents who had been investigated and released without charges looked like they wanted to tear down Astraea’s cathedral immediately, but since I had declared it my residence, this was impossible.

From that point on, it was no longer just a cathedral but my spoils of war and lordly castle.

Attacking the cathedral now would mean opposing me, not the Church of Astraea.

I may have forcibly taken away their chance for revenge, but I had saved their lives and granted the punishment they wanted.

Anyway, Ceylon and I avoided going out as much as possible while waiting for Radenis’s report.

Since we couldn’t spar inside the cathedral, nothing particularly special happened during that time.

Ceylon spent his time praying before the goddess statue or teaching me basic doctrines, and while I wasn’t particularly interested, I respected his sincerity and listened to Astraea’s teachings.

Though I didn’t bother memorizing them.

—-

Three days passed like that.

The city’s residents began rebuilding the collapsed and burned city in cooperation with Kranus’s followers, and Archbishop Radenis presented me with the results of his investigation.

“The Society of Reverse Ascension?”

What an unnecessarily grandiose name.

It has a distinctly cultish feel to it.

“Yes. Most of the instigators were merely extremists, but two of them were indeed connected to Valkers. We were able to extract that name after rigorous interrogation.”

…Let’s not ask what kind of interrogation.

They probably opened up someone’s skull again.

According to Radenis, the men he found were low-ranking and didn’t know much, but they were able to extract some information.

The Society of Reverse Ascension.

It was a cult alliance formed by Eljur’s “Council of Dream Utopia,” Valkers’ “Invidia,” and various other heretical groups like the “Eternal Ascension Path.”

Their purpose was predictably obvious.

Cultists only want to take revenge on the churches or indulge in the pleasure of evil deeds.

Given Eljur’s involvement, it was highly likely that this Society of Reverse Ascension was also the fundamental culprit behind the chaos in other cities besides Arad.

Except for Nashiriya, which was ruled by lunatics to begin with.

“…So, where is their headquarters?”

“They themselves don’t seem to know that. But if they’re not hiding in some small village, it’s probably Arvil.”

Radenis answered as he set down his teacup.

Arvil.

A city governed by the Churches of Saulite and Imela, and according to the Special Crusader Unit’s investigation, a place where illegal pleasure districts were flourishing.

“You seem quite confident. I suppose you’ve found some convincing evidence?”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Eljur must hate the Church of Imela, so wouldn’t he want to start his revenge by destroying Arvil?”

It was quite a persuasive inference.

Enough to make me nod unconsciously.

“Then I should investigate Arvil… though I’m not sure if we should inform the Holy City about this.”

“Are you worried about a bloodbath like what happened here? Rest assured. Unless it’s the Church of Astraea, they usually don’t resort to such extreme measures.”

“…Ahem.”

At Radenis’s sarcasm, Ceylon, who had been listening beside me, showed signs of discomfort.

Of course, even he acknowledged that Wilhelm bore much of the blame for this incident, so he didn’t argue.

“No, that’s not it. You know, the bigger something gets, the easier it is to detect? If the churches in the Holy City start moving in earnest, those guys will notice and go into hiding.”

Such people are exceptionally good at hiding.

Valkers himself had successfully hidden for over a decade, hadn’t he?

“Hmm… I understand your concern, but… we can’t simply not report this. If a situation develops that you cannot handle, someone must step in to stop it. If you’re truly worried, I’ll emphasize your concerns in the message to the Holy City.”

…There was no room for rebuttal.

In the end, I agreed with Radenis’s opinion to send information about the Society of Reverse Ascension to the Holy City.

I couldn’t very well insist that no such situation could arise when faced with someone asking what I’d do if things got out of hand.

And so, the tumultuous events in Arad were finally concluded.

—-

Afterward, I extracted another warhorse from Radenis and departed for Nashiriya with Ceylon.

Before heading to Arvil, I needed to meet my companions and inform them of what had happened.

To be honest, I feel like I’ve done something half-crazy… but if I explain it well, they shouldn’t be too shocked, right?