Episode 682: Inside Circumstances (4)
The prayers of the believers have begun.
“When the mist of the gates clears, we will pour our blood and flesh as sacrifices to drain the inexhaustible fountain of salvation.”
When the young man seated in the seat of honor chanted, all the believers chanted again.
“When the fog clears, we will pour our blood and flesh as sacrifices to drain the inexhaustible fountain of salvation!”
Then the stench of the waterside grew stronger.
The stench pierced his lungs so much that it was difficult to breathe, and Ray threw himself away from the water’s edge.
The demonic energy flowing from everyone reached the spring on the floor.
Bishop Billane, who was watching it from the side of the statue of Goddess, approaches and rolls up his arms.
“With thanks.”
He took out a small silver knife and slashed his forearm.
Red blood dripped onto the water’s edge.
The blood that had been spreading slowly dyed the fountain red.
Whoa-!
Philia and Klein didn’t seem to be able to feel it, but Ray could clearly feel the flow of magic moving.
‘Sam sucks in demons.’
As if they were even conscious.
It grows rapidly by feeding on the magic of the followers and the blood of the bishop.
In an instant, a group of lights burst out from the ‘Spring of Salvation’, which had been eating away demons for a long time.
Whoaaah-!
“Oh oh.”
“It truly deserves to be called a prayer of blessing.”
The two exclaimed in admiration.
The light that poured in so brightly that it made the temple look like daylight gradually weakened over time.
Eventually, when the fountain of salvation returns to its original form.
The devotees who had kept their mouths shut and devoted themselves to prayer finally relaxed.
“Thank you for your effort.”
“You worked hard.”
Even the cheeks were flushed red, as if they were satisfied with what they had done.
When the ceremony was over, Bishop Villein healed the wound on his arm and said,
“The ceremony just before was a prayer of blessing that the Demonic Church is proud of.”
“Yes, it was the first time I saw it in person, but it was a great sight.”
“The followers’ divine power is unparalleled.”
“ha ha ha. I mean, this is the cornerstone. There is a slight difference from those with acute angles.”
The bishop wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Now that the holy water has been made, all that remains is to distribute it to those in need.”
At those words, Ray frowned.
Is this holy water?
This is the one that is filled with magi and mixed with some old man’s blood?
It is a content that cannot be seen as being made through prayer.
In the Holy Land, holy water is made only through prayer.
That was the power of those chosen by Gaia and the power of the goddess.
Even though the method of making the holy water itself was different, it was so different that Ray couldn’t believe that the spring in front of him was holy water.
“Can I check it out?”
At Ray’s words, Philia and Clein exclaimed in surprise.
“Saint!”
“I’m sorry, Bishop.”
Bishop Villane smiled and nodded.
“I understand. Check it out.”
“thank you.”
When permission was granted, Ray strode toward Sam.
Then some believers stood in front of him.
“Back off. Even if the bishop permits it, I cannot tolerate such disrespect.”
“That’s right. I don’t want to come out hard, so please step back.”
They were clearly hostile.
It was a great disrespect for a non-believer to enter the temple, but he said he would check the holy water, so it was understandable.
However, whether they were hostile or not, Ray didn’t care at all.
“Get out of the way.”
He gently pushed the followers on the shoulders.
The believers who had endured with demonic energy wrapped around their bodies felt as if their hearts stopped when an enormous boulder suddenly fell in front of them.
I open my eyes, but I can’t see anything.
It feels like being alone in the middle of the sea.
‘Is this really a person?’
‘What the hell is this guy…!’
The believers who resisted with gritted teeth were easily pushed away by his hand.
Approaching the water’s edge, Ray gazed at the water’s surface.
It doesn’t stink like before.
Besides, the demonic energy that had been clearly felt until just now had faded.
When I lightly dipped my finger into the spring, my finger burned with a crackling sound.
“Ugh!”
Startled, he removed his hand.
As if he had been rejected by the holy water, he only dipped his hand into it, but a fierce reaction came back.
Bishop Billane, who was watching the scene from the side, said puzzled.
“Um… that’s strange. I’ve never had anything like this before.”
Klein and Philia also approached in surprise.
“Are you okay?”
“It was only lightly burned. Heal.”
Mana heals wounds by uttering a short start word.
The scars are also scars, but that Holy Water was more concerned about them than that.
‘The holy water is attacking. This isn’t even a monster.’
Even though I have been exposed to goddesses in my life, this is the first time I have been exposed to water.
“Have you checked everything?”
Bishop Billane asked with a smile that was not asked during the courtesy.
At that, Ray nodded slightly.
“It seems that the Holy Water is right.”
“ha ha ha. It is a grace bestowed by the God of drink. It is to heal the sick and to save the dying.”
As the bishop said, if it really has such an effect, I have no intention of stopping it. but.
‘I don’t think people who aren’t demons will be safe even if they eat demons.’
As for the demon world, this is the middle world.
Why was there so much damage in the Heavenly Demon War in the past?
The divine power of the heavens and the magic of the demon world are poison itself to beings in the middle world.
Even if a small amount enters the body, ordinary people die quickly.
There must be something.
Even if the demon gave holy water after yielding one hundred steps, it would not make sense to give it to the people for free.
When Ray is struggling with the Holy Beast.
Like the rest of the followers, a female disciple dressed in black robes came to the car herself.
“Let’s talk.”
When the woman, whose face was covered by the hood of her robe, bent down to pour tea.
A golden pendant peeked out of the robe.
familiar phrases.
The white gold leaf decorated on the border is exclusively for the royal family.
“….”
“..”
Silence fell in the hall.
Clein and Filia looked at each other silently, their eyes locked.
“That pendant…”
“Oh, this is something I got from a believer.”
The goddess also smiled brightly and showed the pendant.
At first glance, it looked like Gingamin, but upon closer inspection, it is unmistakably a royal pattern.
Klein said in a low voice.
“…Sorry, but this pendant belongs to the Royal Family.”
“Tell me which believer you received it from. Depending on the circumstances, you may be arrested.”
As the two spoke menacingly, the goddess stuttered in embarrassment.
“I’m just…”
“It’s okay. Please tell me who you got it from. We’ll take care of the rest.”
Philia said in a softer tone.
The female student, who was very nervous and frozen, pointed to a corner of the temple with trembling hands.
“…I got it from that person over there.”
At the place she pointed to, there was a black figure who was carefully cleaning the statue of the goddess.
As if the current commotion did not even reach his ears.
It seems that he is busy touching the goddess statue with a white cloth.
Klein walked over to him.
“Kingdom knight. Excuse me, but pull up your hood and look this way.”
“…”
Silent reply.
Without answering, he just silently wiped the statue of the goddess.
Klein, slightly frowning, finally reached out.
Grasp the shoulder and twist to remove the hood.
Then, a blond-haired young man appeared from inside the robe.
He stopped polishing the statue and punched Klein.
“Keugh!”
The moment Clein, who had narrowly escaped the fist of a young man full of experience, was about to pull his sword out of its scabbard.
Philia screamed in surprise.
“Your Highness, Prince Semir!”
“Wow, Prince?”
Startled, Klein hurriedly straightened his posture.
After inserting the swordsman and taking a step back, the young man only then looked back.
“…The Commander of the Philia Corps and the Commander of the Klein Knights. what’s going on with me?”
Cold eyes looked down at them.
Not daring to meet his eyes, the two lowered their heads.
“Why is the prince here…”
“Why am I in a place where I shouldn’t be?”
“I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant…”
“Huh, I won’t hold you guilty of using force because it’s not enough that you dared touch my sincerity. Hana-kyungs ruined an important ceremony, so how are you going to take responsibility for it?”
If it’s a serious ceremony… Are you referring to cleaning the statue of the goddess?
Philia said as if making excuses.
“His Highness the Prince, one of the female priests had the royal property.”
“so?”
“…I want to confirm whether Prince Semir really gave the pendant to the goddess.”
Prince Semir sneered at her words.
“So far, I gave you the pendant. What can I do when my heart is shaken by a mere object, when there are so few sutras in charge of protecting the kingdom?”
“It’s just a thing! It is a national treasure managed by the royal family! If His Majesty the King knows…!”
Prince Semir stopped talking.
“Do you think the king will give his soul?”
“….”
“The kings don’t even know the royal family.”
At that, Philia and Clein shut their mouths.
Certainly.
Most of the nobles have already been attached to other royal families, and the remaining nobles are fighting for power by forming factions.
Once the king, who had lost his strength, started to step out, it was like giving others a good excuse.
It is said that the king, who sold national treasures to merchants where the prince gave them to the people, could not intervene recklessly.
When the two couldn’t say anything, Prince Semir scolded them.
“Whatever I do with the royal family is on my mind. It is not a matter for you to be involved in.”
“….”
Klein, who wanted to refute, clenched his fists, but soon gave up.
The status difference that existed between them was clear.
Even if he was at fault, he couldn’t be recklessly questioned.
Ray’s eyes lit up as he watched them closely.
‘It’s this guy.’
He received several favors from the king.
The first of these was to bring her son, who was attached to the Demonic Church, back to the royal family.
It’s not something I’m very keen on, but I’ve been asked to, so I’ll have to move.
Ray held the fair-haired young man’s temple with one hand.
“Let’s go back when the conversation is over.”
