Chapter 93
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I will purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 93
"Understood. From this moment forward, the Eternal Death God Temple will cooperate with the Southern Region to confront the monsters."
Nashas, who had been quietly contemplating my words, lowered her head.
Ah, what a relief. With this, the danger of both the Eternal Death God Temple and the Southern Region crumbling before they could even act had diminished considerably.
"Beyond potions, healing power will also be necessary, so I will leave three Sun God Priesthood members here in the Southern Region."
"Thank you for your thoughtful consideration."
Nashas lowered her head once more.
But this time, she could not raise it for quite some time. Her wrinkled hands wiped at her eyes.
"I know you may not believe me now, but I must tell you—it was not easy for us to turn away from the Southern Region's suffering."
Nashas's voice was laden with guilt.
Her fingers trembled so severely as she dried her tears that I wondered if she was alright.
"Many of our priestesses wept at the groans echoing from beyond the Main Gate."
"I've been curious about that. Why did the Eternal Death God Temple remain silent despite the situation?"
In the original story, the Eternal Death God Temple only stepped forward when the Southern Region faced devastation from the monsters.
But by then, distrust toward them had already taken root in the hearts of the Southern people, and they refused to aid one another, resulting in severe losses on both sides.
If Idella had not arrived in time to save them, the Southern Region might have been completely destroyed.
"It is because of our doctrine."
"Your doctrine?"
Nashas nodded with a solemn expression.
"Do you understand? That nothing is as fair and yet as unfair as death itself."
"I do."
Of course I do. I understand it far too well.
After all, I died catching a criminal who had killed people, including myself.
Yet that criminal, despite killing multiple people including me, would merely be imprisoned.
So death is both fair and terribly unfair at once.
"But the moment humans intervene, fairness vanishes and only unfairness remains. That is nothing short of denying death itself."
"..."
"For us who serve the God of Death, that is blasphemy."
It made sense, yet at the same time, it did not.
But they too had their complicated circumstances, so I did not condemn them for it.
I was simply curious.
"But why have you decided to act now?"
"Because the God has permitted it."
Permitted?
"Yes. I dare not presume to understand the God's will, but if I may venture to say..."
Nashas, who had hesitated for a moment, whispered in a very soft voice.
"Perhaps the God judged that death caused by monsters is not natural order at all. Rather, it disrupts the order of death and must be stopped."
That makes sense.
After all, what exactly are monsters?
It is a mass of malice created by 'evil'—designed to reject life and plunge the world into chaos.
They are beings that defy death, so the Spirit Death God must find them utterly infuriating.
"Of course, it's possible I'm simply believing what I wish to believe."
"No. I think your words are correct, High Priest."
At Nashas's bitter murmur, I shook my head firmly.
"The Spirit Death God hasn't imposed any divine punishment upon you. That means your judgment was right."
I offered Nashas a bright smile as she stood there with her mouth agape.
"...Thank you, High Priestess."
Nashas wiped the corners of her eyes once more.
Free from guilt, her face shone all the brighter.
"Ah, and there's one more matter I need to discuss."
Only after finally composing herself did Nashas continue.
"Actually, this is the real reason I came."
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow at dawn—or at least sometime in the morning—you should visit the Slums near the Desert. Personally, High Priestess."
"The Slums? Why there all of a sudden...."
"I don't know the reason either. But the Spirit Death God insisted that you absolutely must go there."
Nashas sighed and pressed her hand to her chest.
"I've never heard a god speak with such urgency before. My heart was practically trembling."
Why does the Spirit Death God have so many demands anyway?
Unlike the Sun God, he gives nothing while working me to the bone.
He even has a High Priest who can hear his voice directly, so why insist that I go?
"I-I'm terribly sorry. I thought perhaps I should go myself, but the Spirit Death God said it wouldn't mean anything unless it were you, High Priestess...."
As I clenched my teeth, Nashas spoke in an urgent tone.
How did a blind woman sense my irritation? Is my aura fluctuating that visibly?
"...Fine. I understand."
Sigh. What fault could Nashas possibly have?
I'm not happy about this at all.... But it's better not to ignore a god's words.
I exhaled heavily.
If I went alone, that would be one thing. But if I go, my companions will surely follow, won't they?
They must already be exhausted from traveling around treating people, and now I'm about to tell them to head to the Slums at the crack of dawn. I'm already dreading their reactions.
In the end, I'm the one who'll take the blame.
"Please be careful. The Slums are very close to the Desert, and lately it's become almost lawless."
"Understood. Thank you for coming all this way to deliver the message. I'll visit the Temple of the Sun God as soon as I return."
"That would be the greatest honor."
Nashas bowed deeply, offered her thanks once more, and departed with the priest.
Left alone, I gathered Monica, Victoria Lawrence, and Seth Noel with a tense expression.
Seeing their bewildered faces, I swallowed hard before barely managing to speak.
"...We're going to the Slums at dawn tomorrow."
"Huh?!"
And as I watched everyone's expressions turn upside down, I couldn't help but squeeze my eyes shut.
* * *
The next day, early dawn when the sun was just beginning to rise.
"Is that the Slums?"
Through the carriage window borrowed from the Flu Family, the Slums came into view.
Even from a distance, it was unmistakably different from the Central District.
Just look at those roofs that seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
It was a landscape I knew all too well.
"Jeremy, you must never leave the High Priestess's side. Understood?"
Inside the carriage, Monica was gripping Jeremy's arm with stern warnings, while Jeremy nodded firmly with a hardened expression as he inspected his weapons.
At the grim sight, I recalled last night's events.
Everyone had thrown a fit when I announced I was going to the Slums.
They'd tried to dissuade me, asking why I would go near the desert where monsters roamed wild, but I couldn't tell them the Spirit Death God had commanded it....
What choice did I have? I had to stubbornly insist I would go alone, and eventually everyone sighed and followed along.
But the real sigh came from me.
It seemed I had to give up on winning everyone's favor.
Besides, once Idella appeared, I'd have to step back anyway, so there was no point in building goodwill.
Feeling tears blur my vision, I wiped at my eyes.
The Slums were drawing closer and closer.
"Good heavens, divine one."
The moment we arrived at the Slums, the Holy Knights and priests who came with us cried out to the heavens.
I had expected the Slums to be in poor condition, like any other such place....
But it was worse than I'd imagined.
Beyond the collapsing tent city shrouded in sand, the complexions of the people passing by were deeply troubling.
There were those wrapped in filthy cloth, their eyes vacant and lifeless as they stared into empty space; those walking with weapons drawn and sinister expressions, as if fearing threats from anyone; and emaciated children moving inconspicuously through the chaos.
Now I understood why Nashas had called this place a lawless zone.
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