𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟗: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝
The sky brightened, and the morning sun started to rise, causing the clear stream of the great river leading to the royal capital to shimmer dazzlingly.
We finally reached the skies above the royal capital.
ㅤ
The royal capital is a rectangular city with the main temple of the Church, the sanctuary of the Land God Kai, positioned to the true north on a hill. It comprises three divisions: the highest-ranking section, which includes the northernmost royal palace, the House of Lords, and the church; the section inhabited by upper-class commoners; and the rest of the city.
This was my first time looking down on the royal capital from the sky.
Smoke rose in straight lines from the magnificent palace at the foot of the northern hill—the sanctuary.
The pitch-black smoke was clearly not from a stove.
ㅤ
“Kami-sama, it seems something bad is happening.”
“Let’s lower the spirit horse’s altitude. Hold on for a bit.”
ㅤ
The spirit horse lowered its head sharply and descended. As we fell like a comet, we caught our breath at the sight of the palace.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Already, is it being attacked. . .?!”
ㅤ
Kami-sama looked grimly into the distance.
“There’s no sign of the barrier at the border being breached. Charlene should have repaired it. Since we came from the sky, we would have noticed if the border was breached.”
“So you’re saying it was attacked directly inside the castle.”
ㅤ
Is this also the work of a foreign land god? No, it’s too early to conclude.
I cast a shielding spell on the spirit horse and kept the altitude low to assess the situation. Shouts, screams, and panicked voices echoed from various places in the three major facilities—the royal palace, the House of Lords, and the church.
ㅤ
Chasing after the people who were running about the corridor were――
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“Black and huge-bodied, with a pig’s face and hardened skin armor. . . Oh, aren’t these Orcs!”
“Why are they here?”
“Even you don’t know, Kami-sama.”
ㅤ
I took off my fluttering coat and rolled up my sleeves.
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“Kami-sama, keep the altitude as low as possible and glide without reducing speed. I’ll keep casting binding magic on the Orcs one after another! Dive straight into the cathedral like that!”
“Understood.”
ㅤ
We nodded at each other. After that, it was a blink of an eye.
The spirit horse dropped altitude at the speed of falling.
The Orcs became clearly visible. I aimed.
ㅤ
[Magical Bullet Capture!]
ㅤ
Burr!
Several spheres of light appeared around me and flew straight towards the Orcs where I pointed my index finger. When the light hit the Orcs, it burst and became a sphere that enveloped them. It was to avoid reckless building destruction and secondary damage to people from the shock, so I let it explode with attack magic.
ㅤ
There was no time to check people’s reactions.
I kept capturing the Orcs one after another as they passed by.
ㅤ
“Damn it, there’s no end. . . How many Orcs have they sent?!”
“Charlene, there are injured people.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama slowed down the spirit horse. He was looking at the large square near the three-way junction where the three main streets leading to the royal palace, the House of Lords, and the main temple of the church converged. Many injured people, whether they were noble priests or servants, were being brought and laid down. There seemed to be more than 50 people.
There didn’t seem to be any dead yet, but it was clear that more were being brought in one after another.
Between the people who were laid out at regular intervals, the medical team and the saints ran around with grim faces.
ㅤ
There was no hesitation within me.
ㅤ
“Kami-sama, let’s descend a bit.”
“Charlene, .”
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Ignoring the voice attempting to stop me, I leap off the spirit horse and manage to land with magic.
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“Eh. . . . . . Ah.”
“Wh, Who are you?”
ㅤ
People are stunned by the sudden appearance of an eight-year-old. Of course, I had been using a shielding spell until a moment ago.
I quickly turn my eyes to the nearest saint.
A saint with a gentle face and brown hair, who widens her hazel eyes and flinches.
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“Wh, who are you?! Where on earth. . . Huh?! It’s dangerous here!”
“Casey, calm down. I’ll heal for now.”
“Eh. . . why do you know my name?”
ㅤ
She’s a saint of the same age as me who was very kind to me in the saint’s dormitory. She loves children and was worried about me, who had just fallen from the sky. There’s no time to explain. After a long time, I decided to perform a group healing.
I kneel down, put both hands on the ground where the injured people are lying, estimate the range of the saint’s special ability, wink at Kami-sama in the sky with a “I’m counting on you” feeling, and pray out loud.
ㅤ
“[Oh, God, bless the faithful with healing].”
ㅤ
Casey mutters in confusion.
“That was something only Charlene-sama could do . . . . . .”
ㅤ
Before she finishes her words, people’s bodies start to glow. From the severely injured to the slightly injured, even the medical teams running around treating people and the holy maiden herself, everyone is bathed in and shining with my saint’s special ability.
ㅤ
The glow ends in an instant. I get up and look up at the dumbfounded Casey.
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“The explanation will come later. Where is Lulumia? Where is the sacred relic she took?”
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Oh, that’s right, she is a regular saint. She doesn’t know the form of the sacred relic in the cathedral that only the leading saints can enter. I spread my hands wide to show her.
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“Like this. . . . . . the one that looks like a rusty rod. Have you seen it?”
“Ah. . . . . . um. . . . . . Lulumia-sama is. . . . . . resting in the saint’s dormitory. I think the sacred relic you’re talking about is probably the one she had, but I don’t know where it is.”
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Then other holy maidens rush over.
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“If you’re looking for that dirty rod, the second prince had it. He said it’s dangerous.”
“. . . . . . I see. Where is the second prince?”
“He went to the cathedral of the Land God Kai to return the sacred relic.”
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I scrunch up my hair.
The second prince, who knew about the sacred relic that even the saints didn’t know about, understood their danger, and deliberately took them.
He is definitely the culprit.
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“I understand about Lulumia. The next issue is. . . . . . the trigger for this situation.”
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I shout towards the direction of the severely injured people I had treated.
ㅤ
“Does anyone know what’s going on?! Where did the orcs come from! What happened?!”
ㅤ
Despite being puzzled by the abrupt, rough manner of the young girl, everyone answers in turn.
Combining the most detailed accounts given by the royal palace guards and the maids, the orcs suddenly appeared within the palace and rapidly spread to the palace, the aristocratic parliament, and the church headquarters.
ㅤ
“Low-intelligence orcs should only think about attacking their immediate prey. Intentionally targeting the center of the nation. . . . . . I see, the black ones were intentionally modified orcs. . . . . .”
ㅤ
In a few seconds, I ruminate over my thoughts, and the saints raise their voices.
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“But you’re amazing, aren’t you?! My body feels lighter; it’s incredible considering you’re still small.”
“Just like. . . Charlene-sama. . .”
ㅤ
I make a pose of apology to the saints who are beginning to gather.
ㅤ
“I’m sorry, the story comes later. I’m going to revive the spiritual spring. Everyone might be struggling, but hang in there; whenever you’re tired, I will definitely heal you again!”
“Wait, don’t go!”
ㅤ
Casey calls to stop me, but there’s no time to waste.
Whether the second prince is there or not, I must head to the spiritual spring first.
I activate jumping magic on the sole of my boots, kick the wall for momentum, kick the roof, and jump onto Kami-sama’s spirit horse.
ㅤ
“I kept you waiting, Kami-sama. It seems the second prince has the sacred relic. The ringleader must be him. Orcs also seem to have overflowed from the palace, so the second prince must be involved.”
“Where is he?”
“In the cathedral.”
“I understand, let’s rush in all at once.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama holds me with one arm and lowers his body. I also cling to the horse and shout.
ㅤ
“Let’s gooo!!”
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The next moment, the spirit horse rushes towards the cathedral on the hill at a speed faster than the wind.
Just like that, the spirit horse, like a bullet, spectacularly breaks through the dome of the cathedral.
ㅤ
Bamm!
ㅤ
Protected by a mysterious defensive wall that does not let us feel the wind pressure of the spirit horse, we are unharmed. On the contrary, the top half of the dome is blown away by the impact, and the spiritual spring now looks more like an open-air bath.
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“Destroying the cathedral, you’re in high spirits, Kami-sama.”
“This is the fastest way.”
“Haha, I like this the most too.”
ㅤ
The dried-up spiritual spring’s bath was painfully desiccated. Naturally, the sacred relic embedded in the spout was lost. In the cathedral turned ruins, there was a shadow protected by defensive walls.
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A noble-looking young man with short, copper-colored hair and a well-muscled body.
His attire, primarily gray, bore a crest that could only be worn by someone of royal lineage. He did not smile at me, but at God.
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“I thought you would surely come here, Land God Kai.”
ㅤ
The second prince, Keizen, knew immediately it was Kami-sama when he saw a young man in front of him.
The second prince looked at me with a puzzled face.
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“Land God Kai. Who is this child?”
“She is. . .”
ㅤ
Before God could speak, I stepped forward.
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“. . . .You’re planning to mess up this country, aren’t you?”
“Why wouldn’t I want to shake things up? I, the de facto crown prince, am the only one who can change this stagnant and conservative nation. And we don’t need weakened land gods. What we need is—a strong god suited to the times.”
ㅤ
Beside him, there was a luxurious mirror as tall as he was.
Reflected on its surface was an enchanting beauty who wasn’t present in the room.
Perhaps in her twenties. Long, sharp silver hair, skin as blue as ice, and eyes with black sclera and silver pupils. She was dressed in tight-fitting leather attire.
She gave us a quick glance and narrowed her eyes sweetly at the second prince, Keizen, as a lover would.
ㅤ
[Keizen. Everything is going as I wish. You’re doing well.]
ㅤ
The second prince, too, narrowed his eyes like a lover’s— and kissed the mirror.
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“Of course, Straycia. . . .my beloved Goddess.”
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Seeing him dreamily press his cheek to the mirror, I shuddered and whispered.
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“. . . .Has he been seduced by a foreign god, this lust-blind fool of a prince?”
ㅤ
The crown prince is sick. The second prince is lustful.
Wouldn’t it be better to bring this country down?
—Because it’s Kami-sama’s country, I won’t.
ㅤ
Kami-sama murmurs beside me.
ㅤ
“Straycia. . . I don’t recognize the name. I should know about most of the lower gods on the continent.”
ㅤ
Suddenly, the goddess— Straycia’s brow furrowed in discomfort.
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