Chapter 19. Symbol and Idol (7)

Since I didn’t know how to answer Ria, who was following me and asking what her father had said,

“Ria, the armor suits you well. It looks very cool.”

I replied.

“Oh, really?”

Ria immediately brightened up.

I’ve been feeling this lately too, but it feels like not only has Ria’s physical contact with me increased, but also the faint psychological barriers that remained have crumbled away.

That was a happy thing.

The armor Ria is wearing is, for the most part, not much different from the armor worn by the knights of the Inquisition.

It’s just much whiter and shinier than that armor. And with my blessings generously added, it was truly radiant.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“What I wore while by your side was simplified attire; it’s not that I haven’t worn armor like this before.”

Indeed, the armor Ria wore seemed to increase and decrease in surface area depending on the time and situation.

Ria demonstratively raised and lowered her arms.

Well, even if armor is made, it won’t be as uncomfortable as when people actually fought wearing armor. Many technologies must have been incorporated. I decided to believe what Ria said.

For reference, I was also provided with something similar to armor. Well, it looked more like a bulletproof vest or stab-proof vest than armor.

Although I learned how to shoot a gun and how to handle a sword, those were not my primary fighting methods. It was only enough to protect myself in the worst-case scenario or to provide minor support to Ria.

For now, that was enough.

“Ah, right. Um… Anna and Maria said they wanted to see you.”

The Saint from another world who shares my name.

No, a goddess.

And the only follower of that goddess.

Given the situation, of course, there would be things they wanted to discuss.

I nodded and walked beside Ria.

A large campsite was set up nearby. It felt more like a field command post set up by a modern army rather than a medieval one.

Knights in formation walked through it, or hunters with all sorts of unique weapons strolled around. It was a ‘fantasy’ atmosphere, no matter who looked at it.

In such a place, the tents of high-ranking people and those of non-high-ranking people are not significantly different in appearance. In fact, the interiors are not very different either. It’s just that fewer people occupy a larger space.

As I walked through it, the gazes of soldiers, knights, and other people turned towards me.

Some looked at me with awe. Some looked at me with curiosity. I, who was not used to such gazes, flinched slightly-

Thump.

Ria lightly pushed my waist with her hand.

“Straighten your back. And your shoulders.”

“…….”

“You haven’t committed a crime, have you?”

Is that so?

I am having doubts.

Am I driving people into a bad situation unnecessarily? Should I have stopped them when the government and the church offered to support me?

However, power will surely be needed. Not just my own power, not just the power of a few people around me. Firepower was needed to block the approaching monsters.

I arrived at the tent where Anna and Maria were staying, my lips firmly shut.

“Your face is pale. It’s just like looking at me.”

Anna said that, perhaps trying to lighten my mood.

But Anna’s words only made me more nervous.

I can’t tell Anna directly, but Anna’s world… met that kind of outcome.

“However, what will happen in the future will surely be different from what I experienced. Because in this world, there is that much power.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes.”

She nodded as if to confirm.

The church’s treatment of Maria is strictly ‘on par with the Saint.’ Nominally, it’s the same position as mine now.

But at the same time, the Inquisition views them with unease.

The fact that she is a goddess from another world is already known.

There is no rule that there is only one God in the world. If we assume that being is God, there can be many more such beings. However, perhaps because of the previous doctrine, the denominations of this world are somewhat rigid in accepting a new God.

“I won’t say everything will be alright. You never know what will happen in the world.”

I saw a faint halo behind her head. A silver halo.

And that light had grown a little stronger. It could be because Maria, the only believer, regained her strength, or perhaps… even if it wasn’t openly stated, it could be because more people thought, ‘It’s possible.’

Somehow, I thought the two of them wouldn’t particularly like the latter situation.

And the following words also somewhat proved my thoughts.

“Surely, people who follow Anna will appear. When they see Anna fighting beyond there, a few more… people who are ‘convinced’ will appear.”

“…….”

“Actually, there isn’t much I can tell you. Because I failed. However, I wanted to give you advice in advance. Blind faith-“

“-Beyond the symbol, it will create an idol.”

“……Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

And the moment that idol crumbles, faith will also crumble. This doesn’t simply mean ‘the number of people who believe in me will decrease.’

They will apostatize, find replacements, and start rebuilding something symbolic.

Rather, in that process, the idol may be re-established, the broken parts may be repaired, and even reinforced.

Or, some people may cross over to the other side.

“There is no way to completely prevent that. Everyone craves faith. In a way, responding to that might be an obligation.”

Ria was about to say something, so I turned my gaze towards her. Seeing my expression, Ria closed her mouth.

“However…”

Anna said.

“Even so, you shouldn’t be consumed by that purpose alone. It will be very difficult to ignore that prayer-“

“-I know.”

I replied as calmly as possible.

I don’t want to.

It was like that from my past life. I hated it when others tried to impose responsibility on me. I hated those who tried to revive original sin and laws, which the Messiah supposedly atoned for, and those who tried to force it onto someone who didn’t want to believe it.

I didn’t reach the highest place because my abilities weren’t enough, but conversely, even if I could have, I wouldn’t have done so. Because I didn’t want to take responsibility.

However, even if I didn’t want to, if I refused everything, if I said let’s stop now that I’ve come this far, what would happen?

No matter how it started, I was here.

Such a choice would not lead to a happy ending.

“……I see.”

Anna closed her eyes and exhaled lightly.

“Then, I will just do my best to help from the side. I must repay the favor of saving Maria.”

It wasn’t something I asked them to repay.

It was just that there was someone fallen on the path I was taking- Ah, I’m too lazy to explain now.

Moreover, I had a feeling that Anna already knew even that.

……Even the one called God thought that her power was not her own.

Is the being above like that too?

*

As I came out of the tent, the Knights were waiting, somehow knowing.

All of them wore armor that shone platinum, and each one looked like a knight from an old tale who would save a princess.

Although they were all women, perhaps because I am a woman.

The person who seemed to be the leader stepped forward. She was a knight whose hair ends were curled in an old-fashioned way to create waves.

Yes, there is no other way to describe her than a knight. Her appearance seemed Asian, but at the same time, she had an exotic feel, making me wonder if she might be a mixed-race person.

“Sister.”

It was a term commonly used to call a fellow nun, but the knight called me by that title and knelt on one knee in front of me.

Clack.

All the knights behind her made a similar sound and assumed a standing position. They were already at attention, so making that sound again was quite a feat.

“I am Verena, a knight of the Inquisition.”

“Sister Verena.”

“Yes. I consider it an honor to be at the forefront to assist you in this battle.”

“…….”

My face was reflected in her clear eyes.

The word ‘battle’ made me feel a little afraid. These people had already confirmed a battle that might not even happen.

The future is frightening.

Because the day I will truly cross over there is just around the corner.

A place I couldn’t even think of crossing over to in the original work. A place where I don’t know what awaits.

To such a place, people who risk their lives for just my name are crossing over.

They will cross over and wield their swords. In the name of God, in my name.

Although I didn’t quite reach the position of Saint, I was already the Saint to them.

A living symbol, much closer than an unknown God.

I straightened my back. I straightened my shoulders.

“I see.”

And I spoke as calmly as possible.

It is an obligation to pay for that faith.

Slightly, the surroundings brightened. Not with light from above, but because of some power flowing through my body.

I decided not to think too deeply about what it was.

“……Ah.”

The knight looked up at me with shining eyes.

Even though she was seeing me for the first time, she was looking up at me like that.

Perhaps, these people will fight well. I truly believed so.

In a sense, faith is blindly created by people.

I was afraid of that.