Chapter 23: Hand in Hand
One question grew larger as I studied vows while being detained.
A vow is the biggest difference distinguishing the old gods of Ise from Lux Stella. Instead of simply making an offering just once, it makes you pledge how you will live your life going forward.
The nuance here is important. Lux Stella doesn’t abandon you if you break even one vow, but grants you power if you keep even one properly. Of course, the standards seemed quite strict.
The fact that Sertell, who had been a priest for several years longer than me, still couldn’t perform miracles without sacred objects is evidence of that. Well, even if the standards were lenient, it would probably still be difficult for Sertell. Anyway, the core lies in the types of vows.
Temperance, Transmission, Honesty, Diligence, Evangelism.
After learning about them, it became clear. There were a few vows one could make without having to live like the stereotypical good person. There was even no restriction that you had to make only one vow.
Those who can do it, go ahead. It seemed Lux Stella was saying that, and I couldn’t help but smile. Anyone who keeps all five of those would have to be quite crazy, if not more than that.
From my position of not knowing the penalties for violating a vow, I could only avoid taking on such a grave risk. Of course, that didn’t mean only making a single, easy vow was wise either.
I tried to think from their perspective. Would someone trying to gain a deity’s favor be so cautious as to choose only one vow out of concern for not being able to keep it? If I were the deity, I would have said, “Oh, what a poor fool, get lost.”
Confidence is needed everywhere. Excessive humility is not humbleness, but only annoys those around you. This moment of making a vow before the deity was the perfect time to muster that confidence.
I followed the procedures written in the book.
The first step for a vow: prove your minimum resolve by cutting your forearm with a blade to draw blood. As instructed, I unhesitatingly gripped the dagger in reverse and… sticking out my tongue, I made a very small, very slight cut on my forearm.
My resolve was to shed tears of the heart while tormenting others. I did not hold the shallow thought that I could prove my faith through mere self-harm. If it felt like an excuse, it would be a truly shallow notion.
The tears of the heart and the tears of the flesh – even a deity like Lux Stella would know which is more precious. Lifting my bleeding forearm proudly, I called out:
“Lux Stella. What I show you is not arrogance, but confidence!”
“…”
A gaze pierces the back of my head. It’s unlikely the priests have arrived yet, but it’s certainly Sertell’s gaze, who was slowly backing away. He must not have dreamed I would attempt a vow so suddenly.
Perhaps because he was so flustered, Sertell didn’t even try to stop my vow. Thanks to that, I could continue advancing toward Lux Stella’s statue, the altar where the crucifix was placed.
“Lux Stella, behold me with that starlight that brightened Ise’s dawn!”
The book says, what’s important when taking a vow is confidence and sincerity. According to the author, when taking a vow, sufficient resolve must be clearly demonstrated, the book sternly warns.
I did not casually disregard the book’s warning. Instead of being bound by perfunctory formalities and distorting the original intent, I decided to candidly reveal myself. Having demonstrated my resolve, all that remained was what to vow.
Step by step, as I approached the altar, I shouted with all my might:
“I vow to devote myself fully to all endeavors, so as not to shame myself!”
The Vow of Diligence. As I feel it, I will be recognized for my dedication as long as I give my all.
It was truly simple for me, who had always given my all no matter when or where. To the point where I was once kicked out for giving my all while being a freeloader leeching off my parents.
“I vow to pass down everything I have awakened to posterity!”
The Vow of Transmission. The more knowledge is propagated and records are left behind, the more dedication is recognized.
This is like getting something for free. It’s a world full of savages who draw their swords before thinking. As a modern person from Earth who has lived in a more advanced society, I just need to enlighten this uncivilized medieval Ise world.
Isn’t that an easy task?
“I vow to drive Ise, pushed back into twilight, beneath the horizon!”
The Vow of Evangelism. The more the pagan worship of Ise’s ancient gods is driven out and Lux Stella’s faith is spread, the more dedication is recognized.
Well, if one dreams of a utopia where different beliefs coexist harmoniously, or is an atheist who dislikes religion, they would never have taken this. I’m someone who went to church when told there were choco pies, went to a cathedral when told there were hamburgers, and even took a Dharma name when told there was pizza.
Moreover, Lux Stella’s faith will be my rice bowl in the future.
In the not-too-distant future, as a clergyman of Lux Stella, the pagan worship of Ise’s ancient gods was absolutely unacceptable to me. If my rice bowl broke, I would obediently leave, but they dare to gather around my rice jar trying to eat with their hands?
There were even some among those whose rice bowls had broken who were audacious. In such cases, an example needs to be made. Fortunately, in this world, religious freedom is not tolerated.
“The seeds of Ise, those empowered by Ise’s power, all of them!!!”
There are no exceptions for those eyeing my rice jar. I will sweep them all away.
When I shouted with the purest and cleanest resolve more than anyone else, I had already arrived right in front of the altar. It was only then that I realized, intoxicated by my own fervor. All that remained was Lux Stella’s decision.
“…”
Taking a bit long, aren’t we? Bad reception? Well, it’s not like I don’t have the leisure to wait for Lux Stella. Humming a little ditty, I waited for God’s choice.
It was then that the sounds of many footsteps overlapped. The priests had finally arrived at the chapel. These unruly friends came rushing in just as I was feeling a bit dazed after pouring everything into my vow.
As I was catching my breath in front of the crucifix, they barged into the chapel, flinging the doors open violently.
Soon, the sounds of their robes brushing against each other filled the space, and a low voice seemed to bubble up.
“Young Master… Please come down obediently.”
***
It was a voice I hadn’t heard before.
Since I didn’t hear any screams or clashing of blades, Sertell must not have been caught. Or maybe he fled after seeing their numbers. Either way, it didn’t matter.
I slowly turned to face the priests. The dark robes they wore hung limply, as if completely soaked. It was the dead of night, and the dark color helped conceal it, but they were clearly drenched in blood.
The faint scent of incense that had wafted through the sanctuary was now overwhelmed by the stench of iron. Standing before the altar, I addressed the priests.
“It seems you have some faith left, enough to restrain yourselves before Lux Stella.”
“If you come down now, I swear to Lux Stella…”
“Swear?”
“…I will send you off without a single moment of suffering.”
One of the priests said this as he placed his hand on his sword hilt. With wide, bloodshot eyes, he fidgeted as if about to draw his sword – he really looked like a devout believer. In my view, these friends had chosen the wrong profession.
“Do you not even allow one facing death to pray to the deity?”
“Young Master. Any futile acts will be useless. Surely you now realize there is no place for Young Master to survive, no matter how much you drag this out.”
“If you’re worried I might flee, why don’t you pray together?”
“Young Master…!”
“You all must have your reasons for doing this, so I won’t hold it against you. Just allow me to pray with those who cannot escape death and face it. Of course…”
Glancing around at these men who should have been tavern owners, I added:
“If you still have faith in Lux Stella.”
“Futile acts!”
“At least until the bell rings. Dawn is not far off. In the light… under the sun, I would gladly die.”
‘If I’m going to die anyway, let me at least see the sunlight before I go.’ Saying this, an odd atmosphere began to spread among those sword-wielders. Among the men who were about to kill a twelve-year-old child, there were still some who seemed human.
Quite a few of the priests who had placed their hands on their sword hilts slowly corrected their posture and looked up at Lux Stella’s altar. They finally felt ashamed and lowered their heads.
In the end, some of them spoke to the priest who had taken the lead.
“Brother Batis. Grant him this final respite, at least.”
“What’s this? What reason do you have to spare him after slaying our brothers?”
“Too much blood has already been spilled. Our brothers may find their way to Lux Stella’s light through their devout daily lives, but that boy has not lived enough of a life to do the same.”
“…”
“For the sake of justice… remind us that only Inse can embrace humanity.”
It was then that the priest called Batis slowly lowered his hand. Of course, judging by his gaze, he wasn’t fully convinced by their pleas. He simply stepped back and forcibly tried to mend the rift emerging among the group he had led.
Don’t be fooled by their attempts at persuasion into thinking they’re good people…
Those guys didn’t say a single word about not killing me. The priests who lowered their swords were just making excuses, putting on a pretense of doing their best for their own conscience.
Batis also noticed this and briefly showed a look of disgust, but it was only momentary. Instead of his companions, Batis stared at me, baring his loathing and hatred.
“Until the bell rings. After that, you must come out on your own. Otherwise, we will drag you out.”
“Thank you.”
Afterward, a suffocating silence descended. I turned around once more, knelt before the altar, and added one name to the death list: Sertell. The swordsman who should have caused chaos by drawing his blade at this moment.
Yet despite me dragging out the time this much, there was no reaction from him. Sertell… that opportunistic bastard must have seen the numbers were too great and is keeping his head down. He’s biding his time until the salt is rubbed into the wound.
As I pondered who else to add to the death list, suddenly:
“!”
I flinched as sharp stings pierced the backs of both my hands. Thinking I had accidentally stabbed myself with the dagger, I checked my left hand, but the dagger was lying on the floor.
Then what caused it? As I raised the back of my hand,
“…”
There were torn wounds on it. Not mere scratches, but crossed marks as if someone had left a symbol. Droplets of blood oozed from the cross-shaped wounds.
Those droplets of blood began to trickle down, at some point using my forearm as a canvas to take shape. At first, I didn’t know what it was, but after a little time, it became clear.
This is… a sentence. The trail of blood winding down my right forearm had formed a sentence.
[Do as you will.]
Turning my head, I saw another sentence written on my left forearm.
[As you wish.]
Unconsciously, I lifted my head to look up at the crucifix on the altar. The idol, which appeared to be made of brass with a brownish tinge, now had streams of blue-green light flowing down its smooth surface.
At that moment, the bell I had been waiting for rang out.
It was still the dead of night when the bell rang to signal the dawn. For that bell to ring now held great significance – it announced that the entire monastery was under attack.
It was only natural for the previously silent priests to become flustered. Some of them even forgot they were in the sanctuary and rose to approach me.
The one leading them was the priest Batis, who had taken the lead earlier.
“Young Master. As promised, the bell has rung.”
“I said that awaiting the sunrise.”
“But a promise is a promise. You did say it, so you must do it.”
“Do you always keep your word?”
“…I will help ensure you keep it.”
The priest Sertell had said long ago that indiscriminate killing corrupts the human heart. Sertell had thoroughly proven this statement not only through his own actions, but by bringing up numerous examples.
True to the depravity of those who had already slaughtered their fellow priests, they blinked and drew their swords. There was no choice but to obediently follow.
“Well, we’ve already wasted enough time.”
“?”
“Do not fall for Young Master’s nonsense. Just empty boasts…”
Batis, who was scolding his doubtful companions, suddenly fell silent. The sounds that had been drowned out by the loud bell finally reached their ears. Even those who had initially hesitated slowly began to open their eyes wide.
The priests had no room to pay attention to me as they looked around at each other.
“There were still this many surviving brothers?”
“Impossible… the plan was a success. There’s no way this many could have survived to counter-attack now!”
Can such gruesome acts really be described so elegantly?
Clicking my tongue at their pitifulness, I swiftly snatched up the dagger from the floor.
Clang!
The clanging sound came from right in front of me. The dagger had deflected an incoming blade and was now embedded in my wrist. The owner of that wrist, Batis, was gritting his teeth and glaring at me with blazing eyes.
“How dare you audacious rascal cause chaos in Lux Stella’s sanctuary.”
There seems to be some misunderstanding. While I don’t care about other things, I cannot tolerate being mistaken for someone setting their own house on fire to catch a mouse.
“You fools. It wasn’t me, but the Bishops of Povius and Yubas.”
“This mouth of yours, still sprouting nonsense!”
“The surest way to keep a secret is to reduce the number who know it.”
Now, not even the bell could conceal it. This time, vivid screams could also be heard. Circumstantial evidence that they didn’t die from a surprise attack, but from fighting back.
As the occasional clashes of blades and shouts intermingled, everything became clear. Even Batis, who had intended to kill me, seemed to be catching on, his face turning deathly pale.
I drove one more nail into these friends.
“Didn’t you know that if you greedily gobble up the food you’re given, you’ll be dragged to the slaughterhouse?”
It seems he finally realized the leash he thought he had was cut from the start. Batis began backing away, not even having the presence of mind to tend to the wound on his wrist. The other priests were equally flustered by the unexpected uproar.
“Th… This is…”
“Brother Batis, do you have any idea what’s happening?! Wh… What should we do!”
“That’s… That couldn’t be…”
“Brothers!!!”
Sometimes, harsh situations rob people of their judgment. Batis’s choice, having been driven into a corner, was irrational. He clearly panicked and lost his senses. His goal was none other than me.
“…It’s you. It’s your fault and the Duke who sent you! If I kill you!”
“Sigh.”
Seeing his sloppy movements, so different from before, as he searched for something to grab, I could only sigh. He was so clearly not in his right mind that even the priests nearby backed away from him.
Looking at the priests who were relatively more composed, I imparted one piece of advice.
“Do you know why I came to the sanctuary?”
“Y-Young Master.”
“The entrance is wide open, making it very difficult to defend.”
The screams became more distinct, the clashing of metal more intense.
“If you want to live, muster your strength and block them.”
Lifting my hands bearing the cross-shaped scars, I smiled.
“That way, I’ll live too.”
We are on the same side now.
