"This is truly my honor, Lord Hero."
That foul-mouthed lad who once worshipped the Goddess had now grown into the very image of a greasy middle-aged man, and his flattery and fawning came far more naturally than before.
Clad in a white ceremonial robe, a large pale-gold cross emblem upon his chest, paired with that serene expression on his face—he did, after all, look the part of a respectable archbishop.
"The honor is mine."
Himmel greeted Schwenk most courteously, and the two shook hands.
"Wow, Lady Nanoda, since when have you even been acquainted with the leader of this Church of the New God?"
Yuna blinked her eyes in surprise. The believers here were unexpectedly kind toward Nanoda, who had brought them along—there was even a faint air of reverence about it.
"A human monk? The Goddess's Order?" Linie seemed to have some impression of humans dressed in such garb.
"Miss of the Demon Race, you've got it wrong. We are not the Goddess's Order; we are the Church of the New God, and we do not worship the Goddess.
Unlike the Goddess, who favors only humans, the protection of that new Holy Spirit is equal. Whether human or Demon Race, even animals that have gained sentience, all may become its devoted believers.
Would you like to join our church and experience it for yourself? You'll absolutely love it here."
The sight of Schwenk patiently and persuasively coaxing left Nanoda rather speechless.
"Hey, that's my subordinate—don't even think about luring her away!"
"Oh my, it really has been a long time, Acting Bishop."
"Acting Bishop?"
Himmel, Yuna, and Linie all spoke at once, in tones of surprise, astonishment, and confusion respectively.
"What? Who decreed that a member of the Demon Race can't serve as a church's Acting Bishop?"
After a round of polite greetings and introductions, Nanoda laid out before Schwenk the strategy proposed by the Southern Lands. Schwenk agreed at once, without hesitation, dispatching reinforcements from the Church of the New God to bolster Nanoda's forces.
Afterward, at Schwenk's direction, everyone was led out by the monks to tour the stronghold of the Church of the New God.
The only one specifically asked to remain behind was Nanoda.
"Why are you still sitting in that seat? Haven't you fled back to your Goddess's Order? Not sending those people off to die like you did back then?"
With no one else around, Nanoda spoke her true thoughts directly.
"If the Goddess were here, she probably wouldn't let innocent humans die so carelessly either."
Schwenk shed the disguised appearance of an archbishop and sighed, as if resigned to his fate.
"You're still saying things like that, even now? Don't tell me you're trying to atone."
Nanoda tried to understand Schwenk's thoughts and his ways.
"Yes, and yet no. The Goddess's mercy cannot necessarily save everyone. Whether or not this New God—who profanes the Holy Scripture and borders on heresy—truly exists, he has indeed saved a small group of people. Thinking of it that way, I find I can bear the present situation after all."
"So the fellow who spewed filth the moment his Scripture was snatched away has really become an upright monk?"
This man who once blindly believed in the Goddess seemed to have come to his senses. His bearing now was vastly different from before.
"And also… and also… most importantly!"
Suddenly, Schwenk's expression began to twist, his voice grinding out through clenched teeth. "Most importantly, you—hurry up and give me back my Scripture! Do you have any idea how restless I've been every single day without my Scripture?! How do you think I've endured these past several years?!"
Once again he turned back into that familiar, noisy monk, every so often spitting out a few choice bits of friendly "* Frieren-style profanity."
"*"
Ten years' worth of pent-up curses came tumbling from his mouth like a string of little pearls, crackling and popping, leaving even Nanoda momentarily stunned.
"All right, all right, here you go."
Nanoda drew out one Scripture from a row of items tucked beneath her cloak and tossed it over.
The voice cut off abruptly. Schwenk, like a monkey spotting a banana, leapt up and snatched the Scripture right out of midair, with none of the dignity befitting an Archbishop of the Church of the New God.
"My Scripture! My precious Scripture!"
Paying no heed to Nanoda's gaze, he planted a kiss directly upon the Scripture.
A reunion ten years in the making—it absolutely was not that Nanoda had forgotten to return the Scripture in a timely manner back then, deliberately keeping Schwenk dangling all this while.
"Remember to have enough capable hands ready tomorrow."
Nanoda found Schwenk—who was holding, embracing, kissing, and nuzzling the Scripture like a lover—rather an eyesore, and so she waved a hand and left.
"Don't worry. I've got a few here who are quite eager to see you, too."
"Huh?"
"You'll find out tomorrow. They're your very own devoted fans."
The headcount before setting out the next day.
Yuna had been clinging to Nanoda, begging to come along, and Linie wanted to test the results of her training.
Bringing along their strongest combat force, Himmel, Nanoda's side—including herself—numbered just two demons and two humans.
Their original core fighter, Aura, had slipped away in secret; Qual also felt it was unsuitable to fight alongside a Hero; and Jane disliked this Hero who had bullied her the moment they first met.
The general-level Draht kept putting on airs, insisting he only listened to Aura's orders; Schlacht declared he was nothing but a slacker guarding the city gate; and Lugner had a great many matters to attend to as well.
"Acting Bishop! It's been so long! Do you still remember me?! I'm the monk who healed that one-armed man for you back then! If it hadn't been for you, we might all have died beneath Ohaly's army!"
The monk was so worked up he nearly burst into tears on the spot.
"Greetings to you, Lady Acting Bishop."
It was the female monk who had once told Nanoda the directions, the one with the power of the Heavenly Eye. Dressed in a black-and-white nun's habit, she bowed, her curvaceous figure jiggling all around within her somewhat tight clothing as she did.
"Oh, Lady Acting Bishop, we're stronger than we were back then. Now I can't wait to use my muscles to mete out judgment upon heretics in the name of the New God."
Behind them, a dark-skinned brawny man, clearly a head taller than everyone else, struck an utterly theatrical pose, the buttons of his shirt straining open under his muscles to reveal a black, barb-studded restraint belt bound underneath.
These were all monk-warriors of the Inquisition Army that Nanoda had led out of that battlefield.
"So this is what Schwenk meant. Very good—everyone's in high spirits. It truly has been a long time."
Nanoda raised her voice a little, her tone calm.
"Salute the Lady Acting Bishop!"
A fervent chorus of voices rang out all around, sharp enough to make one's eardrums ache.
Compared to the Hero Himmel, these believers, fanatically devoted to the New God's Spirit, held Nanoda in even greater reverence.
It was still the same crowd as ever. Among them, the old veterans who knew Nanoda numbered around a hundred, and the newcomers, mimicking their seniors' movements, neatly traced a cross over their chests with their hands.
Goodness—you all even developed a prayer gesture like this on your own?
"Amazing—Lady Nanoda is truly remarkable."
Yuna excitedly clapped her hands.
"I never expected you'd really be the leading figure—the Acting Bishop—of this church. Whether it's this church or you, both are truly something special."
Himmel was thoroughly impressed.
"So many… humans."
Linie cocked her head.
The mighty Inquisition army set off all together in an imposing procession, carrying a certain dignity and sense of ceremony—like a marching legion, divine soldiers descending from the heavens.
Roughly a week of travel passed; the trivial happenings in between are omitted.
The party arrived near the outermost edge of the Kinton domain.
"Hey, you lot, what do you think you're doing? It's very dangerous up ahead. This area is now managed by the Continental Magic Association, and without the Association's permission, entry is forbidden."
A Mage wearing glasses and holding a round-headed staff blocked everyone's path.
Yuna didn't recognize this Mage. Judging from the aura of his Mana, he seemed to be a Second-Class Mage.
Those present were all monks who wielded holy power, or warriors, or members of the Demon Race and Mages who could conceal and suppress their Mana.
The bespectacled Mage's Mana Perception couldn't make heads or tails of them.
He pushed up his glasses and carefully scanned the group. When he noticed the single horned, twin-tailed Linie mixed in among them, his heart skipped a beat.
"Why is there even a member of the Demon Race mixed in?" The Mage grew wary, ready to flee at a moment's notice.
Linie cocked her head, caught in the crossfire for no reason.
"No need to worry. We're not bad people."
Himmel stepped forward, the very picture of a kindly, cheerful old man. From his pocket he produced the writ personally issued by the Southern King and handed it to the wary Mage.
Taking it with some skepticism, he looked it over for a while.
The other man's expression quickly changed.
"So it's Lord Hero Himmel. My deepest apologies—I'd only ever heard the rumors and failed to recognize your true face."
Upon learning that the half-aged man before him was the Hero, the bespectacled Mage's attitude underwent an enormous shift, and he selectively overlooked the matter of a member of the Demon Race being mixed into the group.
"Haha, that's hardly your fault. On the contrary, I ought to commend you for your diligence and devotion to duty. Now then, may we go in and investigate?"
Himmel's words and manner were like a spring breeze, instantly winning over a great deal of the Mage's goodwill. The Mage marveled inwardly that he was indeed worthy of being a Hero—even as he neared old age, a Hero was still a Hero.
"Please wait a moment. I still need to report to the Association."
With that, he flew off into the sky.
"Yuna, can you sense it?"
Taking advantage of the wait, Nanoda struck up small talk with Yuna.
"Mm, Lady Nanoda, the place ahead is really dangerous!"
Yuna's expression turned utterly serious. That Mana encircling the entire Kinton domain was like a declaration of its own formidable strength, a mark staking out territory. If she had come alone, she absolutely would never have set foot in here.
But it's so strange… why do I always feel it's so familiar? she muttered inwardly about that subtle sense of wrongness.
"Please be careful, Lady Acting Bishop. This whole domain is filled with beings that can no longer be called human—or perhaps they should be called the undead. The entire domain reeks of incomparable evil!"
The female monk with the Heavenly Eye knitted her slender brows and leaned close to Nanoda's ear, speaking in a low voice.
To varying degrees, the monk-warriors who wielded holy power also felt uneasy about the lands ahead.
"What's there to fear? We'll purify all those undead with the Thirteen Spears of the New God!"
The tall, dark-skinned monk flashed a dazzling, snow-white grin.
"Thirteen Spears? Wasn't it Three Spears before?"
It seemed to have jumped up several versions all at once. Nanoda thought this technique looked rather impressive.
"This is the first I've heard of such a spell in the Scripture, too." Himmel was a little curious as well.
"Ah, this is all a gift from the New God." The female monk added her explanation, carrying a trace of fervor.
It was just then that the bespectacled Mage flew back, handing Himmel a bottle containing a little clay figure.
"The First-Class Mage up above has granted approval. If you feel you're in danger, just smash this bottle—the figure inside will go out and bring you reinforcements. Please, by all means, do not push yourselves too hard."
"Mm, understood."
Himmel readily agreed, then turned to address the group. "Everyone, gather your spirits! Beyond this point lies the true battle!"
"Lady Nanoda, I'll do my very best."
"Don't worry. I've made a few preparations as a backup, too."
"Linie will wipe them all out!"
"Smash the undead!"
"For the new Holy Spirit, bring down salvation and judgment!"
"Purify! For the Lady Acting Bishop!"
Everyone's morale soared, crying out to save this land anew and to proclaim themselves and their faith.
The scene shifts. The group stepped into the edge of the Kinton domain, the area that had originally served as the Northern Empire's first line of defense.
Across the nearly flat plain wandered skeletal soldiers, each clutching a different rusted weapon. Among them were also quite a few special undead soldiers, fully armed, their flesh not yet rotted.
Linie, who had once stormed and taken the Kinton domain alongside Aura, recognized them—those zombie-like creatures in high-grade equipment, only recently turned undead, were the knights originally stationed here, belonging to the Northern Empire.
Upon hearing footsteps, or perhaps sensing the presence of the living, the undead scattered across the plain twisted their necks with an eerie, mollusk-like crack, all turning their heads to face the same direction.
One "weapon" after another was raised, and the footsteps came without rhythm—some sprinting hurriedly, some dragging along the ground, some even crawling through the grass—gathering in droves, as if their advance would never end.
And what answered them were countless spears and lances forged from holy power. A dazzling, resplendent golden light erupted from the horizon, like the rising sun, like a meteor shower in broad daylight—soaring, falling, blazing, piercing, bursting, thundering!
Their vision was robbed by the magnificent spectacle, leaving only a blinding curtain of light. Everything was blanketed in gold, until at last it gradually gave way to a pure white nothingness.
The "Thirteen Spears of the New God," cast by a thousand people—each one launching thirteen spears—amounted to tens of thousands of consecutive strikes pouring down, absolute firepower that blanketed a vast swath of the plain entirely!
The once black-and-white undead were swept over by the golden gleam and vanished without a trace; everything was purified, turned into the purest motes of dust, melting into the boundless world.
The female monk with the Heavenly Eye opened her eyes, and after a string of blasts loud enough to resound through the heavens, her ethereal voice rang out.
"Confirmed—there are no longer any of those undead in the vicinity."
The grass-and-tree-covered ground had been annihilated by this mass assault into nothing but a loose heap of soil and scattered shallow craters that were nonetheless everywhere.
The immortal undead had been blasted away until not even a scrap remained.
____
👻🔥Want more? P*treon: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Zenless Zone Zero: Rewriting Fate in New Eridu — posted on The_Mikudayo
📚 Walnut-chan readers are already 40 chapters ahead, and they're the reason new translations keep coming
Let's reach these milestones together:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all readers