Chapter 228: Invasion of the Believers of the Fierce God

◆War God’s Priest ◆

“The Temple of the Chief God is colluding with the Empire!?”

Having heard rumors that something strange was happening at the Temple of the Chief God, I received an astonishing report from a subordinate I sent to investigate.

“Y-Yes. We obtained rumors from nearby residents that a traveler with an imperial accent has been frequenting the Temple of the Chief God. In fact, although they hid it skillfully, we have also confirmed a person with an imperial accent loitering near the Temple of the Chief God.”

“But why would the Empire bother with the Temple of the Chief God? That place is a rundown temple that could collapse at any moment, isn’t it?”

In fact, for the past few decades in the Holy Capital, the temples of our War God and the God of Commerce have prospered, while the Temple of the Chief God has been in steady decline.

What merit is there for the Empire to get involved with such a declining temple?

“It seems the Emperor of the Empire intends to revive the Temple of the Chief God and use that favor to solidify his foothold in his home country. To that end, it appears he has sent several skilled individuals from the home country.”

“Haaah?”

What’s that about? To have to rely on the power of such people, is the Emperor of the Empire a coward?

“Hmph, the Empire isn’t much either.”

That being said, this is a chance.

Declining or not, a temple serving the gods being controlled by a nation is blasphemy against the gods.

“Alriiight, I’ll personally punish the Temple of the Chief God!”

“Eeeh!? If you do such a thing without the High Priest’s permission, you will be reprimanded!”

Because my subordinate started saying cowardly things, I couldn’t help but be exasperated.

“Don’t be an idiot. If I do that, the other guys will definitely eavesdrop and steal the credit!”

Around the High Priest, there are many sycophants who are only good at brown-nosing.

By cozying up to the High Priest, those guys eavesdrop on information and steal other people’s achievements.

Because of that, only the incompetent ones get promoted, which is exactly why our temple just keeps rotting.

“Call as many subordinates as you can gather! Time is of the essence; gather them directly in front of the Temple of the Chief God!”

” ” “Y-Yes, sir!” ” “

Receiving my command, my subordinates dashed off scattering like baby spiders.

Now then, won’t you be the bait for my rise to the top, Temple of the Chief God.

◆

Arriving at the Temple of the Chief God, I made my move once I confirmed that a certain number of my subordinates had gathered.

“Come out! Temple Head of the Temple of the Chief God!”

Using a subordinate’s wind magic, I amplified my voice to make it reach inside the temple.

Then, the priests of the Temple of the Chief God came out from inside like insects driven from their nest.

Hahaha, they came out, they came out.

“Wh-What on earth is the matter!?”

“Finally came out, huh! I am Santoi, Commander of the Temple Knights serving the War God! You all are suspected of concluding a secret pact with the Empire! Submit quietly to our investigation!”

“Huh? A secret pact with the Empire!? What on earth are you talking about!?”

When I announced the suspicion, the priests of the Temple of the Chief God played dumb, just as expected.

Well, I anticipated that. But that doesn’t matter.

Even if they play dumb, I just have to investigate by force.

“Don’t play dumb! You intend to receive money and personnel from the Empire, and in exchange, abuse the gods’ authority held by the Holy Capital to aid in their invasion! The appearance of this church is the proof!”

Saying that, I thrust my halberd to point at the temple, which had become as good as new.

“I-It’s a misunderstanding! The temple was repaired through the goodwill of traveling believers who came to the Holy Capital!”

Haha, a poor excuse.

“Hmph, you’ve shown your true colors already! There’s no way mere travelers could put up that much money!”

Unable to offer a word in return to my point, the Priest of the Chief God closed his mouth without being able to retort.

“Y-Your claims are far too one-sided! If you say we are connected to the Empire, then show us the proof!”

“Proof, you say? If we enter this temple, we’ll find as much of that as we want!”

Any further argument is pointless. We will storm the temple before they hide the evidence!

However, two women stood between us and the priests of the Temple of the Chief God.

“Who the hell are you guys!?”

“Hey, hey. I dunno who you are, but you’re saying whatever you please, aren’t ya.”

Appearing with rough language was a little girl with a sharp glare.

“Trying to storm into another temple without evidence is lacking in manners, wouldn’t you say?”

The other was a woman with large breasts.

I thought they were priests of the Temple of the Chief God, but they look like nothing but adventurers.

“What are you… adventurers… No, I see, you are the helpers sent from the Empire.”

” “Huh?” “

Hmph, I heard they called in skilled people, but to send such little girls, the Empire must have gone soft in the head too.

No, to strictly follow the rules of the pilgrimage, these little girls must have been all they could prepare.

If they knew the loopholes of that rule, there’s no way they would have sent such little girls.

“But not bad.”

“Hah?”

“Very well. I’ll play with you a little… no, discipline you. If you guys lose to me, do community service at the Temple of the War God. Then I’ll forgive your sins.”

” “Haaah~?” “

Kukuku, they are little girls lacking in manners, but if I show them my strength, they’ll realize their recklessness.

After that, I’ll take them back to our temple, convert them to the War God, and make them my subordinates.

“Kukukuku.”

“…This guy is kinda creepy.”

“…Yeah, I got a chill somehow.”

Hahaha, they haven’t even fought yet and they’re already scared!?

“Now, ready your weapons! I’ll show you the power of a Priest of the War God!”

Readying my weapon, I dashed towards the little girls.

Don’t let it end too easily!

“Nuuunnnuowaaah!?”

It was right as I swung my weapon down at the little girls.

Suddenly, my body was obstructed by something.

“Wh-What is this!?”

My body was repelled backward just like that, and I unintentionally fell on my rear.

Wh-What? What happened?

“Y-You guys, what did you just do!?”

“Eh? What? What are you talking about?”

“Whaddya mean ‘what did we do’, you just fell on your ass all on your own.”

What did you say? The little girls didn’t do anything?

Then what on earth was that just now!?

I had absolutely no idea what happened, but that didn’t mean I could just stand there dumbfounded.

Readying my weapon again, I slashed at the little girls.

Boiing

But once again, I was obstructed by something and repelled backward.

“Wh-What on earth is this!?”

When I thrust my hand out, it stopped in mid-air before touching the little girls.

Here, there’s something here.

“Hey! What is this invisible wall!?”

However, not only the little girls, but the priests of the Chief God merely played dumb and made no attempt to answer.

Having no choice, I had a subordinate mage investigate it.

“This is… a barrier!?”

“A barrier, you say?”

Those priests of the Temple of the Chief God. ‘Know nothing’ my ass.

To put up a barrier in broad daylight when they aren’t even being attacked by external enemies, isn’t that like declaring they are doing something guilty!

“Alright, dispel the barrier!”

I ordered my subordinate to dispel the barrier, but he immediately shook his head saying it was impossible.

“It’s impossible. I have never seen such a powerful barrier. Moreover, it seems the barrier is erected not just at the entrance, but over the entire temple. Maintaining a barrier over such a wide area is impossible!”

A barrier over the entire temple, you say!? Just how much magic power are they using!?

“Hey! If you claim to be innocent, dispel this barrier!”

“It’s a misunderstanding. I haven’t erected any barrier.”

” “…” “

But the priests of the Temple of the Chief God merely played dumb.

“Don’t play dumb! To go out of your way to erect a barrier to refuse our entry! The Temple of the Chief God really is connected to the Empire!!”

“A-Absolutely not, we are doing no such thing!”

“Then why can’t we enter! If you have nothing to hide, let us in immediately!”

However, the priests of the Temple of the Chief God stubbornly refused to admit it.

So they intend to hide the evidence during this opening!

“Surround the temple and keep watch so no one escapes! With a barrier of this level, they shouldn’t be able to maintain it for long!”

Once the barrier is dispelled, we’ll charge in immediately and seize the evidence!

It was then. An old man slipped past my side and spoke to the priests of the Temple of the Chief God.

“Priest-sama~, could I ask you to heal my lower back again~”

“Eh? Ah, no, we are a bit tied up at the moment…”

The people of the Temple of the Chief God were also bewildered by the old man who suddenly intruded.

“Is that so? Then maybe I’ll have the young lady from yesterday cast some magic on me.”

Saying that, the old man entered the inside of the temple.

…What was with that old man.

“Ah.”

At that moment, a subordinate let out a dumbfounded voice.

“He just went inside, didn’t he.”

The subordinate pointed at the back of the old man entering the temple.

“…Hah!?”

I immediately issued a command to my subordinates.

“Everyone, charge in!!”

” ” ” “Uwoooooh!!” ” ” ” “

” “Oh cra—!?” “

The little girls panicked, but it’s too late! Once the barrier is dispelled, victory is ours!

Taking this opportunity, I’ll completely crush the Temple of the Chief God…

SPLOOOSH!

The next moment, we were underwater.

“Blub-blub! (What the)!?”

There’s no mistake, it’s underwater. Moreover, deep water where my feet don’t touch the bottom!

Why!? How!? I was supposed to be at the Temple of the Chief God!?

“Blub-blub-blub! (What’s going on)!?”

Th-This is bad! At this rate I’ll sink! I have to hurry and rise to the surface!

“Blub-blub-blub! (M-My armor is heavy)!!”

Uwoooh! My metal armor is heavy and I can’t swim well! Moreover, the clothes underneath have absorbed water and are even heavier!

I-I’ll die! I’ll die at this rate!!

“Glub-blub-blub-bluuuub! (Someone save meeeeee)!!”

◆ Liliera◆

“…Wh-What just happened?”

Because the priests of the War God who were trying to force their way into the temple suddenly disappeared, not only the priests of the Temple of the Chief God, but the onlookers watching the commotion from afar were also bewildered.

But amidst that, only myself and Janet—that is, Jairo-kun—realized the reason.

“This is undoubtedly that, isn’t it…”

“It’s undoubtedly that, huh…”

Yeah, the cause is undoubtedly Rakushi-san—that is, Rex-san.

He must have done something when he rebuilt the temple.

I don’t know what he did, but it’s undoubtedly something good for noth… something outrageous!

But how are we going to cover this up…

“…Hey, could it be they received divine punishment from the Chief God?”

While I was agonizing over that, the onlookers suddenly started saying such things.

“…Yeah. When you talk about the priests of the War God, they’re always acting high and mighty, and even now they were trying to force their way into the temple for absurd reasons…”

“…Not just that old man from earlier, but even now believers are passing through normally. Didn’t the god just drive away disrespectful non-believers?…”

Just as they said, with the priests of the War God gone, the believers who came knowing nothing were normally entering the temple.

…Yeah, this is it.

“That must be it! The god drove away those with misguided intentions!”

“Yeah! That must be it! Bro—the god drove away the bad guys!”

Jairo-kun also seemed to have guessed my thoughts, immediately agreeing and helping me steer the conversation.

“E-Ehh? I-Is that so?”

“It must be! I mean, something like this is impossible for normal humans!”

We forcefully persuaded the bewildered priests and successfully managed to shift the narrative to: ‘the priests of the Temple of the War God disappearing was divine punishment.’

” “Haa~, that was close.” “

Furthermore, it seems the priests of the Temple of the War God who disappeared were blasted away to a lake near the Holy Capital, and their lives were reportedly saved by the nets of local residents who happened to be out fishing…