Ch.85Chapter 85. The Alley Scene Arsil Longed For

After a day of rest, the hero’s party gathered at the papal office to have breakfast with the Pope.

Though not as lavish as the Empire’s fare, the morning table with fresh salad and several meat dishes was certainly luxurious compared to the rationed food being distributed outside.

Despite hearing about people being killed, Arsil had little appetite as she recalled the faces of the bandits she’d met on the outskirts of the Holy Nation and how they had desperately slurped thin soup.

The other party members seemed to feel the same way, as they weren’t moving their utensils much either.

Ravin, however, was different.

“Another glass of wine.”

Arsil frowned as she watched Ravin tapping her glass with a fork to call the attendant.

“What? The food isn’t at fault.”

“You’re eating quite a lot.”

“Who knows what might happen and when? Eating well helps maintain good condition for battle. Besides, the reason we came here was to regroup and recover.”

As soon as her glass was filled, Ravin gulped it down.

“Ah, I feel alive again.”

“Please have more.”

“No thank you, I’m full. Too much gives me indigestion.”

For Agreus, it was beneficial if Ravin ate well.

The “something” Ravin mentioned likely referred to the upcoming battle against the hero’s party, and as a magic swordsman, she would be fighting on his side.

“By the way, I don’t see the Hero or the Porter. Are they oversleeping?”

“The Porter is a commoner who doesn’t know proper etiquette, so he usually eats elsewhere to avoid causing trouble. As for the Hero… she’s probably with him since she follows him everywhere.”

Ravin snorted at Arsil’s response.

“What’s your problem now?”

“Nothing, I’m just a commoner too, so I wonder if I’ve been causing trouble.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

Arsil was starting to get irritated.

Even though they had once been fierce rivals with different ideologies, that was in the past.

She had become a Saint, and Ravin had established herself as the ruler of Valtercrois.

Because of this needless hostility, Arsil couldn’t ask about the alley or about Lee even though she wanted to.

“That’s troubling. As you saw yesterday, I’m ashamed to say bandits are rampant. It could be dangerous.”

“The Hero is probably with him, so it should be fine.”

In response to Arsil’s indifferent reaction, the Pope spoke with genuine concern.

“I hear the Hero goes berserk if the Porter gets even a scratch?”

“…Ah, damn it.”

As Arsil sighed and tried to stand up, Tigria held her back.

“The Porter discovered the Goddess’s sanctuary during the last emergency evacuation incident and changed his class to Item Master, a combat class. He’s perfectly capable of protecting himself, so there’s little risk of Luciena going berserk.”

“Changed class? By discovering the Goddess’s sanctuary?”

“That’s right, and thanks to that, I also received a newly enhanced exclusive item.”

News of the mage receiving a new exclusive item spread quickly both within and outside the Empire.

Nobles and citizens who knew nothing rejoiced at the strengthened forces of the anti-demon army, but those with ulterior motives had to taste bitterness.

Agreus was one of them.

“Still, since I’m up, I should go look for them.”

Moreover, Agreus couldn’t let Arsil discover the true state of the Holy Nation yet.

“Since the Porter has changed class to become a combatant, it’s all the Goddess’s guidance. Perhaps he would be more comfortable eating alone, so why not give him some time to himself?”

“But… I haven’t properly checked the condition of the Porter’s arm yet.”

“Just for a little while. Recovery isn’t just about eating; having time to mentally recuperate is also part of regrouping.”

As Arsil continued to worry, the Pope came up with a plan.

“If you’re that concerned, why don’t I give you and the hero party members a tour of the Holy Nation? You’ve visited many times, but you’ve always just rested and left without seeing much. There are many places to see—distribution centers, schools, chapels, and more. By the time we finish, some time will have passed, and then we can look for the Porter.”

Arsil nodded enthusiastically at the Pope’s suggestion.

If he guided them through the facilities and relief efforts, she could show Ravin how she wanted to transform the Sewage Alley.

Then perhaps the bandit would let down her guard and be willing to talk with Arsil.

“Alright.”

Ravin also rose lightly from her seat.

“Everyone seems to have eaten enough, so let’s go right now.”

Arsil happily took the lead.

—

Early in the morning, Lin headed to the slums on the left side of the Holy Nation with Lucy, using a skill to conceal their presence.

As soon as they entered the area, they saw emaciated people lying weakly everywhere.

Lucy covered her mouth in distress at the pitiful sight.

In front of them, five priests were busily running around the streets.

“Children, it’s study time. Come gather around!”

“Teacher… I’m hungry…”

“After we finish studying, I’ll give each of you a potato or sweet potato.”

“…I don’t want to go.”

“Why not?”

“My parents are hungry too… I can’t eat alone…”

Ruben lowered his head at the hollow-cheeked boy’s reply.

He wondered if he should have accepted the money offered by the silver-haired girl who had visited yesterday.

But the girl had said he would have to follow her instructions in exchange for the money.

Not knowing what trap might lie in that, he had refused, but seeing these starving people who couldn’t do anything made him question whether he had been too hasty.

That’s when it happened.

A masked man with black hair and a red-haired woman approached the child.

“Will you study after we all eat together?”

“Y-yes… I will…”

The child, dazed from hunger, automatically agreed.

Then the man, Lin, quickly made a large bonfire and placed an even larger pot on top of it.

More potatoes and onions emerged from his inventory, and Lin began chopping them rapidly.

Lucy took water containers that Lin had provided and poured them into the pot one by one.

“What, what are you doing?”

“Making a thin soup by chopping and simmering onions and potatoes. If you feed regular food to people who have been starving for a long time, their stomachs will be shocked and they’ll get seriously ill.”

“I appreciate your kindness, but we can’t eat without knowing what’s going on.”

“Want to say that to those people over there?”

When Ruben looked where Lin was pointing, he saw slum dwellers who had come out of their doors, swallowing their saliva as they stared intently at Lin’s large pot.

Lucy shouted loudly to prevent people from rushing forward.

“Alright! Form three lines from here! No cutting in line! If you don’t follow the rules, you’ll only get broth! Oh, it’s soup, so it’s all broth anyway. Anyway!”

Seeing how orderly people became in front of food, summoning their last reserves of strength, the five priests including Ruben lamented.

“We prayed so earnestly to the Goddess…”

“Why are you distressed?”

“Because we don’t know what purpose you have in doing this.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you pray to the Goddess for help?”

“Yes, but…”

Lin clicked his tongue in irritation.

“You called, we came, and now you say you don’t know our purpose? What kind of situation is this?”

“Pardon?”

Tears welled up in Ruben’s eyes as his expression turned blank.

Ah, could it be… finally the Goddess…!

“Why didn’t you accept the money yesterday? I was going to tell you to buy food with it before we came today.”

“I didn’t recognize you…!”

“But it’s not free.”

Lin firmly stated while holding out a ladle.

“No matter what happens, don’t give up on your current feelings. If there are children in the same situation elsewhere, not just here, never give up on them. That’s the condition the Goddess has set this time.”

Ruben and the other priests wiped away their tears and smiled broadly.

—

Arsil guided the hero party to the distribution center.

“Here, rations are distributed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.”

Arsil wanted to show how introducing such a system, unlike in Sewage Alley, would ensure no one went hungry.

However, when people paid for indulgences to receive rations, this time it was Tigria, not Ravin, who pointed it out.

“Those indulgences are purchased with money anyway, so isn’t it difficult to call this a distribution center?”

Arsil was reminded that the mage had always been someone who mercilessly awakened people to the truth.

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t afford enough indulgences this week.”

“Then you can purchase them here. Since you didn’t buy them on time, the price is somewhat higher.”

Seeing the absurd scene at the distribution center, Arsil pursed her lips and led the hero party to the next location.

“This is a school. It’s a place where children are taught for free so they can grow up to be excellent people.”

Along with the distribution center, this was the institution she most wanted to show.

Arsil had hoped to demonstrate how she wanted to transform the alley, but she was soon greatly disappointed.

“Children, it’s study time! Eek!”

“Hahaha! Studying is for poor people without money!”

The woman who had been scolding the students while tapping the podium quickly ducked to avoid flying writing implements.

The students hurled merciless words at the teacher that seemed impossible for children to say.

“You should study hard, teacher! I’ll hire you later when I need someone!”

“My dad said if you don’t have money, your arms, legs, and head have to work hard.”

“By the time we grow up, you’ll be too old and useless, teacher~.”

This was strange.

Just two years ago, children in plain clothes had sat properly and studied diligently with their teacher.

But now, pig-like brats dressed in luxurious silk were insulting the teacher.

“This…!”

As the Saint clenched her fist and tried to intervene, the bandit stopped her.

“Endure it. From the looks of it, these are the children of the church’s sponsors. If you cause trouble, the sponsors will complain, and the church’s finances will be in even more danger.”

“How can I endure this!”

“You endure everything else well, why not this?”

“You…!”

“More importantly.”

Ravin pointed outside.

“I found where the Porter is. Let’s go there.”

As Arsil continued to stare into the classroom, Ravin sighed and said:

“Aren’t you going to check on the Porter’s arm?”

Following Ravin to the slums, the hero party was speechless at the scene before them.

“Sister Lucy! Play sword fighting with me again!”

“No! Big sister is going to play house with me~.”

“You kids! It’s study time now! But if I’m the mom, Lin is the dad, and you’re the daughter, I’m definitely willing to play house.”

Children running around making excited noises, and Lucy seriously considering playing house.

“Now, math might seem boring right now, but you’ll need it later to count food, money, and friends. Understand?”

“Yes~!”

Children sitting on the dirt ground without desks, but with shining eyes as they listened to Ruben’s lesson.

“Ugh… it’s so big, it’s hard to rinse with water.”

“Shall I help you?”

“No, go study with the kids.”

Lin struggling to clean the pot, with adults trying to help him nearby.

Except for Lin and Lucy, everyone was dusty and grimy, but somehow there was a sense of humanity and warmth in this place.

“What is this…?”

Arsil was experiencing anew the feeling she had received in the Holy Nation two years ago.

Ravin, who had intended to mock the Saint, looked down when she felt a tug on her trouser leg.

“You’re a pretty big sister!”

“Oh?”

“What did you come to teach us today, big sister?”

Pleased by the compliment, Ravin gave the young girls a meaningful smile.

“Do you girls know which makeup style suits your face?”

“Wow! Makeup!”

“Behold! This is what makeup is!”

While Arsil was bewildered by Ravin’s sudden enthusiasm, Naidryan was also passionately discussing with a priest who taught botany nearby.

“So you can’t just lump all these different berries together under one name! Their growth patterns and appearances are all different! You need to teach each one in detail!”

“I… I understand your point, but considering the children’s interest level first…”

Meanwhile, the mage had rushed to help Lin with the dishes, creating water with magic.

“It’s a mage! Wow! Water is coming out!”

“Lin, is this enough?”

“Could you increase the pressure a bit more? It’s not coming off well at the bottom.”

The two focused on washing dishes, ignoring the adults who were marveling at the magic.

It was an unfamiliar scene.

Yet somehow, it felt nostalgic to Arsil.

If the children of Sewage Alley had grown up with her, if she had transformed the alley, wouldn’t it have looked something like this?

“Ouch!”

A child near the Saint fell down.

“It’s bleeding…”

When the child began to whimper at the sight of blood from their knee, Arsil approached and healed it with her holy power.

Unlike sparking like lightning, a soft, gentle light enveloped the knee, and new skin miraculously grew.

“The Saint?!”

“It’s the Saint!”

Recognizing the holy power, all the adults in the slum knelt and bowed to her.

Even the older children prostrated themselves, and Arsil realized that the nostalgic feeling was fading away.

It was so regrettable and disappointing.

“There’s no need for all of you to…”

As she tried calmly to raise them up, a child shouted loudly:

“Saint! What are you going to teach us?”

“Huh? Teach?”

“Yes! Everyone except that black-haired mister over there said they came to teach us today!”

“Mister…” In a corner, Lin grumbled under his mask, making people chuckle slightly.

“So what are you going to teach us, Saint?”

Expectant eyes gathered one by one.

What am I good at?

Nervous in a different way, Arsil frantically racked her brain.

What am I good at, what am I good at… Ah!

Found it!

The Saint triumphantly raised her fist.

“Anyone want to learn boxing?”

“……”

“……”

“What the hell is that, you idiot!”

After a brief silence, Ravin loudly objected, but Arsil had already experienced a mental death while standing.