🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 47
As Liz and Denk entered the city hall, the first thing they encountered was an overwhelming crowd of adventurers and receptionists on the verge of collapse.
In this city, during the periods of the Golem Defense, adventurers would pour in and disperse repeatedly, and no service job was as grueling as that of the receptionists at city hall.
Because adventurers came in day and night, the receptionists—who had been working in three shifts since a few days ago—greeted Liz and Denk in a state that looked close to death.
“We thank you for coming to help our city, and we will begin the guidance…”
In Castletina, lodging was provided free of charge for participants in the Golem Defense, but subsidies were not given to individuals. Rooms were assigned for two people, and companions could not stay together. Liz and Denk nodded upon hearing this.
“Please go to the inn we mentioned. You can leave your carriage at the stable behind the inn, and we’ll provide earplugs for your horse. Please put them on before the defense begins tomorrow—it may get scared by the loud noise. Also… you mentioned your companion is a priest.”
The receptionist glanced at Denk.
“You’re traveling with a Holy Wanderer. If you want, we can arrange lodging, but I’d like to recommend that only the priest sleeps at the Castletina Church. There are few vacant rooms. Is that okay?”
“It should be fine.”
“Thank you once again for participating in the Golem Defense. Have a comfortable night.”
Leaving the receptionist, who looked like they needed a more restful night than anyone else, Denk and Liz walked toward the lodging.
They arrived at a commercial area not far from the city hall. Inns affiliated with the city hall lined the streets, while other shops sold souvenirs or offered meals.
Liz’s curiosity was piqued when she saw a large rock on a stall. Next to it was a sign reading: “Fragment of a medium-sized stone golem incapacitated in the 2nd Golem Defense, Year 890 of the Divine Calendar. Only 30 sonak.” She groaned.
“Would anyone really pay for something like that?”
“From what I know, wizards from the neighboring city of Wektina buy them for research.”
“I see…”
They reached the inn. The owner explained that room assignments would be announced before midnight, and Liz nodded in acknowledgment.
While Liz went inside, Denk parked the carriage in the open area behind the inn and held the reins of Mohican.
Just as he was about to head toward the stable, he noticed Liz staring intently in a direction.
“Miss, is something wrong?”
“Over there… isn’t that a fight?”
“There’s no way there isn’t. All the adventurers in town come here.”
“No, it’s not that… people are gathering near the tent Isabel went to.”
Denk shifted his gaze. Sure enough, people were moving toward the Zeronis tent. It looked less like a fight and more like some kind of spectacle.
“I’ll go. Isabel might have gotten caught up in something. You head to the lodging first…”
At that moment, a pillar of bright light shot up into the night sky, accompanied by a gust of wind that made everyone’s skin tingle.
“…!”
Liz, Denk, and everyone else saw it clearly.
The light soared high into the sky, spreading in all directions, and soon the entire city was enclosed in a massive protective barrier.
The sudden event sent people fleeing in panic, screaming. Some opened their windows in their homes to see the dazzling light.
Liz and Denk exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously.
“That must be our Miss.”
“Take Mohican and go first. I’ll go check it out.”
With that, Liz ran toward the pillar of light, her footsteps tapping briskly. Denk watched her retreating figure with a worried expression.
“What’s with that priest?”
“How can he be so insolent!”
The Zeronis troops shouted in frustration.
Isabel had dared to argue with their commander, Lister, and, to prove herself as an agent, caused chaos across the city.
A large woman, seemingly part of Isabel’s group, scolded her and then took her away, but the Zeronis troops still had to run around to manage the aftermath. Ultimately, because Isabel was led away by the woman, Lister was held responsible solely due to the display of divine power.
Lister sat on a chair, arms crossed, his face shadowed in thought. He seemed deep in contemplation.
Thus, the other troops deliberately voiced their complaints loudly, hoping their shouts would comfort Lister, making it clear that this mess wasn’t his fault, but caused by that foolish priest.
Yet, there was one fact they could not deny.
“But that is truly amazing divine power…”
A troop member who had sent Isabel out of the tent murmured this, shaking his head.
No one contradicted him. They all shared the same thought. They were Zeronis troops, yes, but first and foremost, clergy of the Divine Church. None of them could wield divine power like Isabel.
Moreover, Isabel had accomplished such a feat without showing any sign of exhaustion and even waved brightly to her companions, as if saying they would meet again.
“So, is he really an agent?”
“I’ve never heard of a Smiel. Could he be an angel whose records were lost?”
“There is a record from Zeroprime. He was sent wandering with the Angelos Rod as an agent.”
As their conversation dwindled into doubt and curiosity, the troops gradually turned their gaze to Lister.
It’s said that an agent of a unique angel recognizes another agent. But it isn’t a mystical signal only agents can detect; it’s simply a shared understanding between those who have experienced the same thing.
Lister, therefore, was confused.
Could this person really be an agent? Logically, it was possible. That immense divine power capable of protecting the entire city could not have appeared without the angel’s presence.
If he, too, had received the power to manifest divine energy, then that priest must have received vast divine power as well…
Yet something felt off.
What intention would the angel have had in bestowing this power on such a tactless, stubborn, foolish priest?
‘Is it blasphemy to question God’s true will?’
Lister pondered this and suddenly stood up.
All troops fell silent.
“I’m going to the church.”
“…What?”
“You all have Golem Defense experience. Organize this mission among yourselves using your previous knowledge. I’ll go meet that priest at the church.”
Lister said this and exited the tent with the heavy, deliberate steps characteristic of someone clad in full armor, muttering to himself:
‘Qualification…’
Qualification. Lister had always valued it.
Faith always requires qualification. If shallow beliefs that can be swayed by minor temptations are called faith, Lister would have no hesitation in condemning such logic as blasphemy.
Judging heretics was his duty, his mission, and his ‘qualification’ as Michael’s agent.
His unwavering belief stemmed from pride in his position as an agent.
But this foolish priest—was he really in the same position?
That meant…
‘So this person also has qualification. I must see for myself.’
With that conclusion, Lister silently headed toward the church.
Meanwhile, Isabel was being scolded by Liz.
“It’s fine to land a blow on that brat, but you shouldn’t use flashy techniques in front of everyone. People were startled. Some even woke up because of you. It’s night, Isabel.”
“I’m sorry…”
Denk watched with interest. Liz wasn’t scolding Isabel for defying a dangerous person but for inconveniencing others.
“Even if you need to show divine power, waking everyone who’s sleeping isn’t right. You wouldn’t like someone turning on the light while you’re asleep, right?”
“Right…”
Isabel made a sad expression. Of course, she had a quest from Smiel to ‘prove her divine power,’ but she could have done it in other ways. Yet, she didn’t resent Smiel for giving her the quest.
Liz didn’t scold her further, merely giving her a heavy tap on the back.
“Still, it’s good you didn’t chicken out. That brute’s expression was priceless.”
“Right… it was priceless…”
Denk chuckled faintly. Isabel didn’t seem to understand what ‘priceless’ meant.
Liz sighed and patted Isabel’s back.
“Next time, try a simpler approach. Don’t wake anyone.”
“Yes!”
Even amidst this, Isabel smiled brightly at Liz’s gesture. Liz couldn’t maintain her serious tone either.
“Ah! We need to go to the church.”
“The reception said the same. They asked that you stay at the church.”
“I want to sleep with you and Mister!”
“Miss… you and I can’t stay in the same room. Lodging is assigned separately by gender.”
This time, they calmly accepted Isabel’s shocked expression. She had expected to sleep with everyone together, as she had on the first run with the hero party. Isabel, disappointed, trudged toward the church.
As she started walking, Liz called out loudly:
“Isabel!”
Isabel turned, and Liz, pretending to stir food, shouted:
“Let’s eat together tomorrow morning!”
“Ah, yes!”
Isabel’s face brightened instantly. She tapped her feet lightly and ran cheerfully toward the church.
When Isabel arrived at the church…
“Uh….”
She looked around, somewhat bewildered.
Even at night, a church’s candles are never extinguished. It is always ready to welcome the lambs.
Even if unusually crowded or bright, it wouldn’t be odd. Night masses or church events sometimes extend late into the night.
However, seeing fifty priests gathered from the entrance, all candles lit, and a banner reading: “Welcome to Castletina, Holy Agent”, even Isabel couldn’t help but be surprised.
Moreover…
“Finally, you’ve arrived! We wondered when you would come.”
Evan, the young bishop of the Castletina diocese, approached with a broad smile, leaving Isabel even more flustered.
