episode_0038

38.

A month has passed since Erina and the succubus made their pact for the demon’s return. While she diligently pursues her religious activities, other matters are afoot.

A dark interior. A cold draft flows through the round table of a meeting room. Three figures, cloaked in robes that obscure their faces, leaving only their voices discernible in the gloom.

Judging by the material of the robes, they are quite luxurious; at least of a quality befitting a nobleman.

One tall figure, and two smaller ones.

“The agenda is what I mentioned last time,” the tall silhouette speaks first, in a low tone.

“The rapidly growing religion, you mean,” one of the smaller ones chimes in, their voice hinting at age.

“Yes. It claims to be in the Goddess’s name, but its true intentions are unclear; it’s a cult.”

“Anyway, aren’t they all cults except for the Fried Church?”

“That’s a reckless statement.”

“Haha. Who cares? That’s boring old-man talk, I’m not interested.” This voice is sharper.

In the original world, there was only one religion. Lost to history, a very ancient tale, it’s a rather long saga originating from the Great Demon War.

It stemmed from an event that brought salvation to a world devoid of divine power, marked by the appearance of an apostle who established a religion worshipping the Goddess.

As time passed, and the events of that sacred war faded, sects naturally branched off. No matter what anyone says, the Goddess is a real deity, making the object of faith the same across all religions—that’s a peculiar feature.

However, the sects divided based on their methods of worship. Though the details are complex, that’s the main reason.

Among them, the Fried Church boasts a direct lineage. Based on fragments of the lost records, it remains a central religion with considerable influence.

Of course, with faith weakening now, its significance is fading, but it alone retains the right to judge heresies, a testament to its orthodoxy.

“So, you intend to label them heretics?”

“Let’s see. The Pie Church… just a few years ago, they were ordinary.”

“Huh. You summoned us for this?”

“No, no, of course not.”

Tension hangs in the dark meeting room.

“We’ll infiltrate spies.”

“Spies?”

“Yes. Better to be certain.”

“Suit yourself~ I’m not doing it?”

The robe with the sharp voice rests their chin on the table, seemingly disinterested.

The others sigh at this.

“Well, we’ve found someone.”

“Is it necessary to go to that trouble?”

“…It’s better to be cautious.”

“Hmm, it’s better to nip it in the bud. I could go right now♡”

The tall robe shakes their head.

“With faith in the Goddess already dwindling, we shouldn’t resort to rash suppression.”

“Right…as you say, the divine power in this land is diminishing.”

Suddenly, light floods the previously dark room.

“Wh-who’s there!”

“Ugh, you idiots! Turn on the lights. Do you think you’re demons or something?”

“…What? Julia?”

“And why the hood? Look, you’re not five-year-olds!”

Julia, a girl with shoulder-length blonde hair. Her sharp, fox-like eyes are striking, and her small lips are full and pretty.

She wears a robe similar to the other three, but hers is noticeably shorter.

She’s fine as long as she keeps her mouth shut, but her constant swearing is a flaw.

Julia’s outburst causes the others to sheepishly remove their hoods.

“So, Rodo, Pipi, Sannya, what were you talking about? Without me.”

“The suddenly burgeoning Pie Church. There are rumors of a large number of elves among them.”

“Elves? …That’s strange. They believe in the gods, but wouldn’t worship them…”

“Definitely. That’s why we’re thinking of sending a spy.”

Julia tilts her head.

“Why do such a stupid thing?”

“Because faith is dwindling, if even a cult worships the Goddess, it could be beneficial to this land.”

“Oh, then we can just spread the Fried Church!”

They all shake their heads. If it were that easy, they would have done it already.

“You guys need to believe more yourselves first. Your combined divine power isn’t as strong as mine, is it?”

“That’s because you’re an outlier!”, retorts Sannya, the sharp voiced one.

Julia possesses a unique constitution, capable of containing an amount of divine power comparable to the legendary apostles.

Erina’s divine power is only at a normal level; the difference is significant.

“…Since we’ve found someone, you don’t need to go,” Pipi cuts Julia off, reading her thoughts.

“Hmph, do I look that free? I’m incredibly busy! Anyway, I’m out of time.”

It’s time for the regular service.

“I’ll take that as agreement and dispatch someone.”

“Tsk…at this time, is this the reason why this heresy appeared….”

“Pipi, wasn’t the Pie Church quite close to the orthodox churches? That’s why their influence was so small.”

“Exactly. They were very similar to us. So, if you’re going to join a church, it should be the Fried Church…though even that has faded into a thing of the past.”

Julia falls into thought.

Even with a large vessel for divine power, faith is needed to fill it. Though her mouth is foul, her faith is genuine.

Extremely devoted to religion, she has thoroughly studied the various sects, including the relatively minor Pie Church.

“…I’ll substitute my service with prayer today. You handle it. Tell the bishop that.”

Everyone understands that Julia’s declaration means she will investigate the Pie Church.

She doesn’t even wait for an answer and leaves.

‘The Pie Church… I seem to recall hearing that all of their priests and above died recently.’

It’s too abnormal to be mere coincidence. And elves? Even in the abnormal, there’s common sense.

Rodo says he’ll send a spy, but that’s too slow a response. If they even convert elves, the spy might also be converted.

“Damn it….”

This heresy appearing just when the world’s vitality is fading…

The heresy judgment falls to Sannya, but she’s too violent. She’ll destroy them before any investigation can occur. The compromise between infiltration and destruction… I can’t help but curse.

If the leader of the Pie Church was originally a member, their name would be in our records. Following procedure, all church information flows to us. As we have the right to judge heresies, it’s a system for settling disputes. This heresy-judgement activity was rare, but a long-standing custom.

It’s mostly a formality. Aside from someone like Julia, few bother to read the details.

‘Let’s see… it wasn’t everyone who died. But the cause of death… accidental death? What the hell…’

No further details are given.

The important thing is something else, so I put this information at the back of my mind.

I dig around and finally find it.

‘Erina…. That must be her. …There’s a record that she recently became the head of the convent, but nothing unusual.’

I’ll have to confirm it myself.

The record is simply like a diary. The details aren’t written.

Naturally. Besides not being the same church and the judgment not recognized by all, it’s unilaterally declared by the Fried Church.

But I don’t have time to visit. I’d love to, but my workload is overwhelming within the church, so I can’t move freely.

Trusting a spy is even more absurd.

My head throbs, I have to support it with my hands.

“A solution, a solution, a solution… damn it…”

Then, a plan came to mind.

It’s not a hundred percent effective, but it should work to some extent.

Proving their faith would do it. If they’re not just a cult pretending to be religious, they should be able to prove it.

The presence of divine power should be easily demonstrable with simple faith in the Goddess, which isn’t a reference to a single deity. One of the three Gods. The non-devotees of these three gods are classified as heretics. Those who possess divine power under the Goddess.

“I need to consult the Grand Priest.”

Julia immediately goes to the Fried Church’s Grand Priest.

The priest is elderly and frail, needing to appoint a successor. He’s recently become too weak to stand.

“Grand Priest, it’s Julia. I’ve come to consult you on an urgent matter.”

“Ah, yes. The girl favored by the gods.”

Julia briefly explains the situation and her idea.

“……Julia, I’m at my limit. From now on, you, you will lead….”

“Grand Priest? Don’t say that. You’re still strong.”

“No. My body has reached its limit. I’ve lived almost a hundred years—it’s time I went to meet the gods.”

Julia reluctantly nods.

“I’ve already made all the preparations…. I want to rest now…….”

Silently, she accepts the role of Grand Priest. Though relatively young, her work experience is already equivalent to that of a Grand Priest.

She’s already an archbishop, not a mere believer, so there will be little disturbance.

The first thing to do is to thoroughly investigate the Pie Church. To scrutinize this Erina person.

Heresy must not be allowed to exist. Darkness is not needed in an already darkened world. She takes this succession as the will of the gods.