Published at 30th of August 2022 06:54:50 AM

673 A Certain Girls Visit to the Holy City (side: Miria)

Were finally here, Miria.

Meltisan says, looking back at me and smiling. Her blond hair flutters as she turns.

I look out over the city. The streets are blindingly white. Tall, solemn-looking buildings are lined up side-by-side. Each building is as beautiful as a work of art.

This is the Holy City of Ridom, the capital of the Holy Country of Liarm. It is the home city of the head of Liarm, the Pope, as well as the Saint who guides the country.

Thank you for sticking with me all this time.

You were determined to do what you wanted to do, and it would have felt bad to part ways just like that. Besides, I had stuck with you for too long to turn back. Before I met you I was just wandering around without an objective, after all. Weve come this far, so of course Ill stick with you until the end.

Meltisan

Besides, travelling around as a pair with a white mage is good for gaining experience. The experience isnt split too many ways, and we can recover quickly between fights. Theres no way I could let an opportunity like this slip.

The corners of Meltisans mouth curve into a smile. I feel myself starting to smile too.

Youre so shy, Meltisan. Whenever I praise you or say thanks, you always brush it off like that.

I-if you noticed, then stop saying things like that!

Meltisans face blushes bright red.

We walk through the Holy City. Scattered amongst the bright white designs of buildings is the occasional statue.

Im amazed by the detail in each statue. But one of them is by far the most eye-catching. In the centre of the city stands a huge statue of an angel, about thirty metres tall. I have no idea how something so large could have been made.

Amazing

Thats the Angel Lumira statue. Ive heard about it. Apparently, the Saint of the previous era, Lumira, carved it by herself in just seven days. Her beloved Hero Miia supposedly served as the model. Though theres a bunch of different theories about that among scholars.

I-in just seven days? I guess she must have used magic, but she must have had a lot of mana to be able to do it so quickly.

Or its just an exaggeration to make the position of Saint more renowned.

After saying that, Meltia frowns and peers around, then whispers to me quietly.

Miria Ridom has a lot of zealous believers, even for within Liarm. We need to be careful while outside. In particular, dont say anything bad about Saint Lilixira. All the people of this country view her as sacred. I know you dont have a very good impression of her, but

Its okay. I understand.

I nod.

The reason Ive come to the Holy City of Ridom is to directly ask Saint Lilixira about what happened in Alban.

Meltia was invited into the castle in Alban, and I accompanied her. The soldiers in the castle turned out to be slime monsters, and the princess had been replaced by the King of Monsters. I was targeted by Thermal of the Three Knights, but then was saved by a red-eyed girl and a spider monster who were with Irushisan.

That much is fine. The problem was what happened after that.

Once the turmoil had died down All of a sudden, it became that a high-ranking dragon that had taken control of the Kingdom of Ardesia, and the slimes were that dragons underlings. Saint Lilixira had driven out the dragon, saving Ardesia from the clutches of monsters.

But theres no way that could be right. Irushisan saved me. Besides, its clear he was hostile to those slimes.

He did kill Gregory-san and turned his claws on me, but that probably, no definitely wasnt what he wanted.

I want to know the truth of what happened. Andmost of all, I want to meet Irushisan again. That why Ive come to the Holy City of Ridom

But the problem is how to meet Saint Lilixira. Ive heard shes a busy person, so its questionable whether shes even in this city. She often goes out to meet with the heads of other countries, and to subjugate dangerous monsters. Theres a good chance shes currently trying to arbitrate in Ardesia now that their royal family has died.

I know that getting an audience with her wont be easy. She apparently travels by riding her partner, the Holy Dragon Seraphim, so I wont be able to catch up to her by chasing around. In order to meet her, Ive no choice but to wait patiently in Ridom.

Besides, there are a lot of dark rumours about the Saint. Apparently her Holy Knights are the strongest in the world. She herself has overwhelming combat abilities, and she leverages that military might to extract concessions for all the nearby countries. She apparently does a lot to support smaller counties, but the diplomacy she applies on the neighbouring countries is often exploitative.

One of the doctrines of the Holy God religion is help your neighbour, without heed for personal gain. The Holy Country of Liarm supposedly enacts that teaching on a national scale as it saves distant lands from monster calamities.

However, the Holy Country and the Saint appear to be more practically-minded than the Holy God. The without heed for personal gain part seems to be being ignored.

She seems quite a scary person. The reason shes authorising a version of events in which the dragon was the one in charge is probably to turn the narrative into one more suitable for her. This is probably a good opportunity for her to install a puppet in control of Ardesia. Compared to everyone thinking she benefited while monster fought monster, its more convenient if she turns the dragon into the villain. She can seize control with the pretext of having saved everyone. We need to watch out, Miria. Theres a good chance the Saint will want to execute us to prevent the truth from escaping.

Her expression grim, Meltisan makes a cutting motion in front of her neck.

U-umm, Meltisan

Hah, you dont need to be that scared. Thats probably an exaggeration, but we should be at least a little cautious. Once we manage to meet the Saint, its probably better if we hide the fact that that dragon is your friend.

No, umm, your voice is a little loud Everyones looking

You scoundrels would dare slander the Saint!? Shes is giving her all to mediate and lighten the suffering of the people. And yet, you would claim shes making a puppet of Ardesia?

A moustached man wearing a white robe strides up to us. His face is red with rage. It feels like he could start punching any moment.

T-this is bad, run!

Meltisans eyes open wide in surprise, and she pulls my hand as she begins to run away.

You wont get away! Dont think for a moment you can get away with insulting the Saint! Hey, someone lend a hand! These outsiders have blasphemed against Saint-sama! We need to punish them!

P-please forgive us! Were just rumour-loving wanderers!

Meltisan, you were the one who said we needed to be careful.