Vol. 1 - Ch. 301 - Holy Land Lunazert (5)

T/N - There was an error last chapter, cutting some part. I have fixed it. Continuation is from PART 2.

At the end, I decided to sneak inside the Holy Land as soon the guards showed an opening. 

It might as well be a trap, but waiting here wouldn't miraculously ensure Jeu and Rina's safety.

I immediately concealed myself inside what appeared to be the quarter where the priests lived, then checked the earthen wall that enclosed the holy grounds from the inside.

I was trying to map out my escape plan in case the situation went south. 

But, now that I examined it from inside, the unremarkable looking earthen wall was curved inward at a sharp angle, like an anti-clumb overhang. The wall was also adorned with some uncanny patterns that seemed to be encompassing the whole ring. I felt something off.

I picked up a small stone and tossed it at one of the markings.

And my hunch turned out to be correct. The stone had just touched the marking when a sharp metallic object, resembling a spearhead, shot out from the wall. 

I would've turned into a porcupine had I tried to climb it without a thought. 

...The more I experienced, the more this place resembled a prison rather than a sacred sanctuary.

It welcomes those who enter—but never lets them leave, eh?

Rina aside, I fear neither me, nor Jeu could break through that wall from inside easily. Nevermind, I would see through it when it's time to walk that bridge. I shifted my focus to move forward regardless.

Fortunately, the darkness of night had already covered the sky. From a glance, nearly all the priests had already retired to their quarters, and with my wind magic fully deployed, I could roughly perceive people’s positions, movements, and the internal layout.

Keeping the spell at full output, I began searching carefully for the two of them.

There were some unexpected movements I hadn't been expecting, and it nearly scared me. I had to resort to using my Extra-Special Sleeping Drug, a fruit of my intensive research, but I made it. 

I spent several hours methodically searching the quarters, checking for hidden rooms and the like, but I didn't even notice the hair of Rina or Jeu. 

…The people living in these quarters were probably sincere practitioners, here only temporarily for training. I also spotted a few, struggling to stay awake as they offered prayers for the world's peace before going to bed, as if it was a part of their daily routine.

To be frank, neither of them appeared to be the type of 'good customer' of Rosario's tavern, and capable of sneaking someone inside. 

I did contemplate it earlier, and I guess I was right. There was darkness quietly active in the backdrop of Holy Land. The rotten core must be... the high-priests permanent to this place. 

That being the case, the two of them would be in one of the three ancient temples—far too grand in contrast to these 'basic' quarters—or somewhere in the central tower itself.

“…So. How do I get in?”

Unlike the laxly guarded quarters, each temple entrance had two knights strictly standing watch.

I hid myself in the grass beside the covered walkway connecting quarter and temple, weighing whether to force my way through, when a man came sneaking out from his room, glancing around nervously. 

He was carrying a square box that looked like it might hold gift sweets, but the clinking noise coming from the base of the box betrayed him. The box must have gold coins stashed away.

I stopped expanding my visual detection range for a moment, and strained my ears to pick up situation.

"......Who are you? You know it's time for morning prayer, don't you? What business brings you to the temple at this hour?”

The priest, quite young at glance, spread a smile full of flattery on his face as soon the guard questioned him.

"Good day, Sir Ganof. I am Charo of the 7th section. It's really laborious of you, standing guard here all night."

The Knight dispatched a suspicious glance at him.

"......Why do you know my name?"

"Surely you jest, Sir Ganoff. Who doesn't know the name of great Ganoff, appointed as the paladin of Starlight Theocracy's Sacred Order, at the young age of twenty. Your solemn presence is evident even among other paladins."

Spreading a broad smile across his face, Charo presented the story he had heard from a senior paladin at his hometown, showering the knight with flattery. 

Ganof's lips curled upward, seemingly pleased. 

"......Hmm, I guess. So, what brought you here to the temple this late?"

"Well, It's not exactly an errand. I received some sweets, made by a famous pastry chef from my hometown, just yesterday. So, I thought I should share them with others, like the temple priest who had taken care of me during yesterday's training, and the deacons and pay my respect. If you allow my humble self, would you like to try some?"

With practiced ease, Charo opened the box and swiftly pressed one parcel into Ganoff’s hand, and another into the hand of the knight beside him.

Ganoff grinned.

“Hm. It’s true, your training is possible only because of the support you receive. I won’t fault you for paying your respects. Just don’t neglect your own duties in the process. …Come with me.”

“Thank you for the trouble.”

Led by Ganoff, the priest called Charo disappeared into the temple.

That left just one guard behind. I doubt I would find any better opportunity than this. I inwardly apologised to him. I bore him no ill will, but.

After confirming there were no other presences nearby, I moved immediately.

“…Who’s there?!”

The sound of the stone I’d thrown striking the temple wall made the remaining guard snap into action. He raised his spear and began edging cautiously along the wall.

Using the wind to manipulate the pebble, I lured his attention while circling behind him, then administered the sleeping drug. However it appeared he had channeled mana in abundance, perhaps out of tension, and showed no sign of succumbing.

With no other choice, I uncorked my second phial. It was the same paralysis drug—albeit, slightly modified to make it less potent—I had concocted, and forced even Godorfun to flee barefoot during outdoor orientation.

I brought it up and let the guard inhale it. It worked like a charm, not that I had any doubt in it, and the guard collapsed on the spot without so much as a whimper.

“Please stay right there for a while.”

I dragged him deeper into the bushes to delay discovery as much as possible, then slipped straight into the interior of what they called the Temple of Trials.

Inside—I witnessed it.

—The rot festering at the heart of this so-called holy land.

—The sheer, nauseating depravity human beings were capable of.

If at all possible, I’d wanted to recover the two of them quietly and escape without being noticed immediately. But this place wasn't so amidable to allow it.

So, no matter what it took, I had to get them back—immediately.

I drew a long, deep breath and ascertained the resolve of my 'my own will.' 

I forced the lingering images of my family and classmates out of my mind, hardened my heart, and made my decision.

…Even if it meant I could never remain in this country again.

Even if I would never see them ever again—

◆

"How have you not caught the thief who murdered Bishop Mulan?!!"

Pirka, the temple chief overseeing the trials at the Temple of Hunger, hurled sharply and overbearingly at the Aerial, one of the captains of the garrison, as he read the delivered report.

This holy land contained three temples: the Temple of Prayer, the Temple of Trials, and the Temple of Hunger, each presided over by its own temple head.

"Chief!

“Yes, sir! We have tripled the guard and are conducting a full search, but we have yet to capture the culprit! All the temple’s traps were bypassed with ease, it’s as if there’s an accomplice on the inside, allowing the intruder to move freely through hidden passages and secret doors in every direction… ah—pardon me, but who might those individuals be?”

Aerial halted on his report midway as he glanced at the two people—their apparent scroundel-ish appearance setting them apart against the backdrop of Holy Land—sitting on the sofa across Pirka.

One kept a faint smile on his face despite the given situation, while another was all fidgety from tension. However, both shared one common signature—the gloominess lurking at the depth of their eyes. 

“…They are guests of Lord Cornal, who commissioned them to transport supplies necessary for the rites. They have been with me since last night, and have no connection to this incident. Do not pry further.”

At Pirka’s curt dismissal, Aerial visibly flustered.

“I—I see. Guests of Cornal-sama’s… Y-yes, I did recall a delivery notice submitted for supply transport…”

"This isn't a point to discuss right now. Beyond that, just how long do you need to capture a mere thief!"

Pirka slammed his hand down on the table, causing Aerial to flinch back.

“My—my deepest apologies! However, we have just received word that the suspect has been cornered at the Hill of Quietness, which connects the Temple of Trials to the Temple of Prayer! Two platoons have already surrounded the area, and we are calling in additional reinforcements as we speak! Capturing them should be only a matter of time—”

Aerial immediately turn to reassure the situation when—*thud* a knight rushed in with a bloodshot expression.

"Captain Aerial! Our apologies, but the intruder has broken through the encirclement!"

"W-what?! How the hell did he break through that tight security!"

"W-we almost had him when a sandstorm erupted with no prior notice, leading to the failure! And the sandstorm had picked up the shards of the broken window of the temple, which caused minor to severe injuries to many!"

"T-that bastard...! So, we're up against an Earth Mage!? I’ll personally rust my spear with their blood!”

Aerial appeared ready to burst out immediately, however Pirka gnashed his teeths, and stopped him. Cornal had issued the command to catch the thief 'alive.'

"C-calm down, Aerial. It's impossible a lone person wouldn't dare challenge the Holy Land without any sort of support. We need him to know of his connection first. ...You must capture him alive, and drag him to me!"

"T-this, you're correct...! I shall follow your advice, Pirka-sama!"

"All the priests are confined to their quarters, right? We can't have any more casualties. Issue a strict curfew. No one shall leave their room until the thief is captured! Also, strengthen the security of entrance to seal away his chance of escape!"

"A-as you command, Lord!"

And just as the exchange unfolded, another knight, evidently in panic, burst inside the room.

"W-we have an emergency! The auxiliary half of the Temple of Prayer has caught fire!"

"Wha—what the hell!!! Extinguish it! We must stop it from reaching the central sanctuary—"

"Captain Aerial! The toxin tank has been destroyed, and all of its content has spilled out! The entire northern quarter has turned into a pandemonium with poison fumes spreading everywhere!"

An array of reports, each one more implausible than before, poured in like cats and dogs. Aerial dropped to his knees.

"......U, unbelievable. Is he planning to destroy the Holy Land? Is he not afraid of turning the world into his enemy......"

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