Chapter 99: In the Forest (5)

“Priest Andre? You said he wasn’t affiliated with the temple.”

I asked Lumia in a small voice. Lumia, without taking her eyes off Priest Andre, nodded and said.

“Priest Andre is no longer affiliated with the temple. He stepped down from his high-ranking priest position in protest against the abolition of the criminal rehabilitation program. I was wondering what on earth he was up to, and it turns out he was here.”

Priest Andre faced the criminal without sparing us a glance. The brutal criminal, who had murdered three innocent children, wore a gentle, sheepish expression as he kissed Priest Andre’s toes.

“Ah, Priest-nim! You know I’ve repented, don’t you! Please let me go! Forgive me!”

His long beard swayed like a pendulum. This was because the priest was shaking his head violently. His expression was smiling, but his actions were resolute.

“Ho ho ho. You haven’t repented yet! The education isn’t finished! Haven’t I warned you repeatedly? That you cannot leave this place unless you truly wash away your sins!”

“W-what are you talking about! I’ve repented! I said I repented! I admit I was wrong! Hurry up and let me out of this damned place! Huh! Let me out quickly!”

A criminal is always a criminal. He was proving it with his actions. Priest Andre didn’t bother arguing with him any further. As the person in charge, he had the power to silence someone with just a gesture.

A soldier standing behind brought a small staff embedded with magic stones. The mace-like object emitted a bizarre blue light and made a whirring sound. Priest Andre pointed at the man’s head and said.

“Make him quiet.”

“Do you think I’ll stay quiet? Take me right now…!”

As the guard touched the staff to the man’s back, sparks flew. With a sound like fish frying in oil, steam rose from the man’s body.

“Ughhhhhhh!”

The man, rolling his eyes back, collapsed onto the floor with a thud, and the soldiers dragged him into the building. Priest Andre, still wearing a good-natured smile, nodded with a satisfied expression. Lumia greeted Priest Andre.

“Priest Andre-nim. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

He pursed his thick lips and frowned. His face, which had been faintly smiling, brightened considerably as he grabbed Lumia’s hand.

“Priest Ernrich Lumia! What brings you here? Has the order perhaps decided to permit criminal relief activities again? Has Saint Alexander finally realized I was right?”

The priest’s face shone brightly, like a child unwrapping a birthday present. He was glowing so much that I felt embarrassed just watching him. Lumia also averted her eyes and shook her head.

“No. I am here now for other personal matters. Are you still continuing your criminal rehabilitation activities, Priest Andre-nim?”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Priest Andre’s face for a moment before he burst into laughter again. The fleeting despair gave quite an unfamiliar impression.

“Of course. Ho ho ho. Anyone can become good. Guiding people to the right path is what a religious person should do. Saint Alexander is currently heading in the wrong direction. I am right.”

“I see. I also find it very regrettable that the criminal education activities have been suspended. However, are you receiving separate sponsorships for this place? The scale seems too large to operate solely on personal funds.”

“Ho ho ho. I have many sponsors who share my vision. By pooling their strength, I keep the sinners locked up like this.”

Lumia and I nodded like people listening to a tour guide at a museum as we looked around at the inmates. Excluding the robber who was just dragged away, there were various people gathered here, regardless of age or gender. I pointed to a child at the front and asked.

“What crime did that child commit?”

“He stole bread. He learned to steal at a young age and showed no signs of repentance. Even with witnesses, he insisted he didn’t do it. So, we are providing rigorous education here.”

“What kind of education is it?”

Hearing Lumia’s question, Andre gave another one of his smiles. Faced with a businesslike smile, like one a shop employee might give, Lumia flinched and took a step back. Andre said.

“Through a very special kind of education, we help people be reborn anew.”

“I see.”

Neither Lumia nor I pressed further. This man named Andre. His intentions might be good, but he seemed a bit unhinged. I had forgotten about it while distracted by the murderer, but how exactly did he bring people here, and what kind of education was he giving them? What kind of education could possibly make people walk around like living corpses with vacant eyes?

“So, what brings you here?”

Andre’s gaze swept over us. His face seemed to be judging whether we had sins or not. An instinctive revulsion towards the former priest twisted my lips, and Lumia, with a calm face, explained what we had experienced.

From encountering the child who blocked the carriage by chance, to healing the sick mother. The need for nursing care, but being unable to stay at the house continuously because I was on my way to report after completing a mission, led me to seek out Eddy like this.

Andre nodded, put on a sympathetic expression, nodded again, and wiped away a tear.

“Oh my, such a regrettable situation……. We must send Eddy back quickly. Come inside for now. It’s truly a pleasure to see Priest Lumia’s face after so long.”

Entering the former priest’s building felt deeply unsettling. Seeing me shake my head slightly, Lumia said.

“We have to return soon, so we probably can’t stay long.”

“That’s because Eddy is currently in charge of the education. It would be rude to make guests wait outside. Please come inside and have a cup of tea. You can also see what kind of education we provide. Wouldn’t that be good?”

Lumia whispered to me.

“If we refuse further, they might become suspicious. Wouldn’t it be best to just have a quick cup of tea and leave?”

“….If we go inside, they won’t suddenly have priests come out and start shooting exorcism beams, right?”

“I don’t particularly feel any divine power inside. Besides, Priest Andre isn’t affiliated with the order now, so he can’t possess holy relics or exorcism tools. Nor can there be priests on standby.”

I nodded. It seemed much better to just politely have a cup of tea and leave, rather than continuing to refuse and unnecessarily provoking hostility. Andre chuckled heartily upon hearing we would come inside and turned around. Torches lined the dim corridor like soldiers.

“This way.”

Following Priest Andre’s words, we walked with upright posture. The dark corridor was humid, and the deeper we went, the fainter the screams became. Lumia and I, unsure if it was due to the heat or our mood, sweated as we ventured deeper.

“Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaah!”

“Pray! Repent!”

“Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaah!”

“Pray! Recite the prayer! Repent your sins!”

And a little further inside, a blue light was flashing. Inside a room made of glass, the man who had attempted escape earlier was tied up, and mana stones flashed all around. Every time the gaunt man pulled a lever, blue light shot out from all directions, piercing the man. Another man holding a whip shouted each time the shock was administered.

“Repent your sins! Recite the prayer!”

“Aaaaaaaah!”

“Ho ho ho, how is it? This is the initial stage of the education. Those who endure this process successfully will become excellent at reciting prayers.”

“……Astonishing.”

Lumia stared at the torture chamber with a speechless expression. I looked at Lumia with a dubious expression, but she blinked, seemingly unable to comprehend, as if she had never heard of such rehabilitation methods.

“P-please spare me…! I-I’ll pray…! Please, I beg you…!”

“A person who has committed a crime once will commit it again anytime. You are not yet mentally prepared! Repent!”

The blue light spread out again. The man writhed, screaming in pain.

“Kkyaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaah!”

“Quickly! Read the prayer!”

“O-O Lord…! Forgive us our sins today… Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaah!”

The electricity continued to pulse. The man mumbled incoherently and cried, unable to distinguish between reciting the prayer and screaming. Priest Andre watched the scene with satisfaction before speaking to the man pulling the lever.

“Alright! Let’s stop for today! Eddy. Let’s take a short break! Someone is looking for you. Have some tea and catch your breath!”

Eddy looked up. His face was as haggard as the prisoners here, and his eyes trembled nervously. The man with the whip disappeared, a water bottle in his mouth. While Priest Andre ordered tea to be brought. Eddy approached us and asked.

“You… were looking for me?”

“Don’t worry. We didn’t come because of anything strange.”

We turned towards the reception room.