Chapter 254: I’m Weak to Trembling, Whimpering Puppy Acts
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After having the high-handed guy sit in seiza, I gave him and the saint, who had been sulking while sitting on the ground grasping her knees, a sermon.
“Get powerful, if you want to throw your weight around. That domineering old hag is also acting bossy because she has some sort of power or authority. Hence, you won’t have any choice other than getting more powerful than her. If you don’t obtain strength allowing you to make everyone surrender, instead of just breaking through at one point, you won’t have any prospects to win against her who outweighs you as one who 『became saint first』. I mean look at Sword. He’s powerful enough that you could say he almost towers above all living beings, and yet there’s an endless stream of people acting high and mighty towards him like you did, right?”
“That’s rich coming from you who’s towerin’ above all living beings and goes ’round, forcin’ everyone into submission with brute force. Monsters stay away since they’re scared of you, nobles try to not cross your paths, and the folks ’round you will all start to address you politely at some point,” Sword retorted, and then spat out, “…’nyway, how has any of that to do with a saint? As far as I know, saints are priests who have the duty to provide relief and purify areas. I’ve heard that such priests, who specialized in purification, eventually were called saints as many of them were females by chance, you know? And yet, all of that doesn’t matter ‘nymore, and it’s become conditions for a saint to hold power and be able to hear the voice of God or some such? …That’s the church for you…you people always are at each other’s throats over every ounce of influence while not doin’ your job of purification properly. Your just arrogant pricks who are as lazy as those noble suckers.”
Thanks for giving me an explanation about saints on the fly, Sword.
Hearing that, the high-handed guy didn’t know what to say and the saint corrected her sitting posture to seiza with a very awkward expression.
＊
Sword’s sermon continued.
“Sure, we, and especially Indra, live our lives in an arrogant way that depends on us makin’ others submit through strength. But even then, we’re goin’ places and finish requests as S-Rank adventurers. While you two have been messin’ ’round after hirin’ the local adventurers as guards, despite not even doin’ your job of purification and relief, I’ve been cleanin’ up the requests that have remained unfinished because of lackin’ manpower. At the same time, Indra hired orphans, washed ’em, gave ’em food, and cleaned their clothes. In short, we’ve been doin’ our duty properly, so we’ve got all right to throw our weight ’round. But, what ’bout folks like you?”
Both lowered their heads in shame. It seems like Sword’s sermon hit them where it hurts.
＊
While recalling, I also added, “It’s certainly as he says. I remembered thanks to Sword’s sermon, but didn’t you consider it weird when you saw those orphans and their priest? It was the first time for me to see such dirty orphans and priests while traveling from place to place. And even after seeing them, you two didn’t think of anything but how to increase and maintain your authority? …But I guess that’s inevitable. The people 『possessing that sort of sickness』 only care about their own little world!”
Hearing that, the saint lifted her head all of a sudden.
“Please wait a moment. They weren’t dirty when I arrived here.”
Since she protested, I bit back, “…If that’s not dirty, what is? I almost cried because they were so filthy! I called them over for work, and when they approached, I totally regretted my decision! …Well, now they’re all clean, and since I also cleaned up the place they moved to, I think it should be alright henceforth.”
The saint yelped at that and cast her eyes down.
Hmm? She sure looks like she’s grasped something from my words. Moreover, her face clearly screams that she messed up.
＊
“…That priest mentioned somethin’ ’bout 『havin’ moved recently』, didn’t he? He also said that their new place was dirty, resultin’ in them gettin’ filthy as well. So, tell me, where did they live before the move?” Sword grumbled while scowling at the two. “A priest would naturally live in a church. …That priest is a decent guy. So he’d likely let the kids live in the church, too. It’s pretty clear that the kids idolize him as well. I hear they even told Indra that 『they wanna let their priest enjoy this dish as well』. …So? Where are you two stayin’ right now?”
…I see. They drove the priests and the orphans out, eh?
I took a step towards the saint and her attendant.
“Not just a mind that’s filled with nothing but hubris and arrogance, but even power lusting that allows you to readily chase out the deeply passionate, kind priest and the hardworking orphans… I got it. Only people as sinful as braves can actually become saints. I guess it’d be a service to society if I killed you.”
The saint stiffened with a start while the high-handed guy stood up and planted himself in front of her.
“It was me! I did it! It’s not her fault! I chased them out! Lady Lala is truly the strongest holy magic user in the church…though not as powerful as you people! And yet that other saint doesn’t approve of her, so Lady Lala has lost confidence. Moreover, as even other people started to look down on her, I got frustrated and irritated! As a benefit of having been chased out in the name of training, I planned to let Lady Lala regain some of her confidence in places where our authority still has some swag!”
――Honestly, just what is this guy yapping about?
I fixed my eyes on him and said, “And that’s why I’m saying you’re just like the brave. It’s not like I’ve got any interest in preaching righteousness. However, I’m going to kill her because I don’t like you. ――That’s a very simple reason, isn’t it? I’ll use you as the reason for her death. Since it looks like it’d hurt you a lot more to have her killed than you dying yourself. So I’ll kill the saint and let you live. Please hate me deeply and come at me anytime!”
Sword sighed, “…Yeah right, your that kinda girl, aren’t you?”
The other two became flabbergasted.
“…S-Such……such a person is a hero…?” The saint muttered, clearly unable to believe what was going on.
Sword lifted an eyebrow while I shrugged my shoulders.
“The one being called a hero is Sword. I’m a free adventurer! That’s why I make sure to do whatever I want. I’ve been recommending Sword to do the same. Titles like hero or such are just useless baggage. If they get in the way of your own freedom, you should just toss them.”
Sword burst into laughter at my words.
“Your right! It’s just as you say! I’m just a simple adventurer. I’ve been called a hero, but I merely moved around, clearin’ up requests. And when I was ’bout to bog down under that stifflin’ lifestyle I imposed on myself by creatin’ false images of myself, I discovered the best, insane partner I could hope for, allowin’ me to finally act like myself. That’s why I won’t stop her if she says she’s gonna kill you because she doesn’t like you. …But, Indra, can you actually kill a woman?”
Hmm? What is he talking about?
I looked at Sword.
“I don’t particularly discriminate by gender, you know?”
Once I looked back at the saint after saying so, she was kneeling on the ground, her body trembling, her hands joined in front of her chest, and her teary eyes looking up to me!
Secret Killer Technique – Trembling Cockatrice Imitation!
“Uughhh…”
As I groaned, the saint started to beg as if praying to a statue.
“Please…it is inevitable for me to be killed for the sin of having failed my duty as saint, but…please…show some mercy when it comes to his…Jervis’s punishment. I beg you to give him a chance to regret his mistakes and repent.”
She’s talking to me with a shaky voice while quivering all over!
“Uugghhhhh…”
As I became troubled, Sword got fed up with it, and commented, “Your really weak when it comes to women, aren’t you?”
――I’m not! It’s just that I can’t handle living beings trembling at me out of fear!
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