Raising Paladins

Episode 85. uninvited guest (3)

“Now do you understand why this old woman does not welcome the Dawning Church?”

“… … .”

Meisa sitting face to face with Krenna.

She quietly lowered her head.

It was because Meisa had just heard from Crena what Lord Greenwood had told Carl.

He found out what kind of tragedy his family and Derdrang were involved in with the Dawning Church.

Meisa was determined to somehow persuade Crena, but she couldn’t open her mouth easily.

“The Church of Dawn has lost the trust not only of me, but of the people of Derdrang as well. If it wasn’t for Bailey or the other priests’ insistence, he wouldn’t have asked for Miss Tira. However, because the lives of the soldiers were precious, they had no choice but to call a healing priest. But unexpectedly, my one and only granddaughter is returning as a battle priest of the Dawning Church.

“… … .”

“What was your mother doing to not stop you? No, before that, why did you become a priest of the Dawning Church? Tournoble must have a great Midday Temple.”

“I have someone I respect.”

“respect… … ?”

Maysa raised her head.

There was a certainty in her eyes.

“This is a priest named Carlos who came with me.”

“for what reason?”

“Because you are strong.”

“strong? Did you just fall in love with wielding a sword well?”

“It’s true that his swordsmanship is the best in the Empire, but it’s not because of that.”

“then?”

“He knows how to use his powers for the right thing. Also, help his followers to use their abilities to the fullest to serve the people and believers. That’s why he stepped out for Derdrang, who had nothing to do with it. Even though the tribes are different and what they pursue is different, they think that the Sun Gods are all one.”

“… … That mindset is great.”

“Priest Carlos has purified Meirium, which was stained with darkness. You kicked out the warlock disguised as the mayor, eradicated corruption and evil in the Meirium Market, and saved lives that could have been sacrificed. He also brought back the golden apple tree.”

“Golden Apple… … ?”

“yes. He revived a fruit tree that had been blessed by God, which had only been passed down in legends. The brand that came with me, a fruit merchant named Terence, brought fresh grapes all the way here thanks to the golden apples.”

“Such a thing… … .”

Hearing Carl’s amazing achievements, Krenna gave a small admiration.

However, her prejudice against the Dawning Church still persisted.

“I know he is great. I saw with my own eyes that he wielded a sword filled with divine power. But what is not possible is not possible. The soldiers have already been treated, so let’s all leave tomorrow. I’ll take care of the soldiers’ medical expenses so you won’t be disappointed.”

“Grandma, don’t do that, just a few more days… … .”

“Stop going out.”

Krenna turned her head to see if she didn’t want to hear more.

Maysa had no choice but to withdraw.

***

“… … That’s how it happened. I don’t think it will be easy to change her mind.”

The group gathered in Greenwood’s room.

Among them were Meisa’s words.

Everyone got confused when they said there was only time until tomorrow.

Hanson’s face in particular was not good.

“Captain, let’s just leave. After coming a long way and risking danger, do you even need to put up with this kind of treatment?”

Hanson doesn’t usually assert himself well and silently follows Carl’s instructions.

But even this time, he showed a displeased expression.

Sir Greenwood said to Hanson.

“I can understand how Hanson feels. The journey was so rough that he even met a group of werewolves along the way. Perhaps it was an attack that would not be strange if it hadn’t been for the sword, and several of them had been killed or had their limbs torn off. However, it would be natural for them to feel resentful if they were treated coldly after they arrived.”

Everyone nods.

Even Maysa.

People’s eyes naturally turned to Carl.

Even though Lord Greenwood held a high position, he also implicitly regarded Carl as the leader of the party.

Carl, who was sipping wine, spoke softly.

“We are not going back.”

“… … Leader!”

Hanson’s startled eyes.

So did the other group.

Carl, who saw them, continued the story in a calm voice.

“Before we were combat priests, we belonged to the Dawning Church. Right now, the Imperial Dawning Bridge has lost its authority and is falling endlessly. However, Meirium’s Temple of Dawn stood tall among them. Everyone else pretends not to know the danger of Derdrang, but we’re not here to make money by treating soldiers. We came as representatives of the entire Dawning School.”

An unexpected heavy story.

Everyone was in an atmosphere of complaining about how to avoid getting kicked out by Crena or Derdrang’s disappointing treatment, but Carl brought up a completely different story.

“This Derdrang incident will be an external activity to let the whole empire know that the Meirium Temple and the Dawn Bridge are still alive. But if you go back to a place like this just because you’re in a bad mood, won’t people say that the Dawning School is ruined, Hanson?”

“… … .”

A look of shame crossed Hanson’s face.

“I’m sorry, chief. I hadn’t even thought about that.”

“If you knew it now, it would be enough.”

“… … yes.”

“So does everyone else. It doesn’t matter that Lord Greenwood is there to help us, but everyone from Mayrium has to do their best. We have to somehow lift Derdrang out of danger and imprint on everyone that the Church of Dawn and the Temple of Dawn in Meirium are alive and well. This trip to Derdrang is for that purpose. Engrave it on everyone’s heart.”

A somber atmosphere prevailed.

After hearing Carl’s story, each of them fell into deep thought.

Then Greenwood, who was looking at Carl admiringly, said to him.

“You really have a great mindset. It is indeed an attitude that can be said to be a model for priests. Are you getting greedy?”

Greenwood wiped his lips with his tongue.

When he openly revealed his greed, which was not befitting his position, the people around him laughed lightly.

“By the way, Carl.”

“Yes, Your Highness Cardinal.”

“I understand what you are talking about. But isn’t it an unchanging fact that we need a way out of this situation? You will be kicked out tomorrow. That means we have to find a way within this dawn.”

“You are right. Clearly we need a way.”

“Have you got anything in mind?”

“That’s right.”

“Whoa, what is that?”

Greenwood quickly asked Carl’s confident answer.

“It’s a way to not offend Godmother and prove our need. The only problem is that it is a bit messy.”

“It’s messy… … ?”

Greenwood and the others tilted their heads at the puzzling story.

However, Carl just laughed and took his sword and equipment without saying anything.

“Everyone, come with me armed. Brand and Terrence also follow with daggers.”

The reason is unknown, but the party heard Carl’s words.

It was because there was nothing that didn’t come true despite what Carl had promised.

Soon after, Carl opened the door and looked around.

“Let’s move.”

***

the next morning.

A soldier rushed to Krenna who was eating and said urgently.

“Godmother! Last night, everyone from Meirium disappeared!”

“is it.”

“However, most of the luggage remains, and only the people have disappeared like ghosts. What should I do?”

“Leave it. I was going to kick it out anyway, but it worked out. He must have chosen to slip away quietly through the night rather than be ashamed.”

Krenna nodded in agreement.

After all, I thought that the Dawning School was far from perseverance.

It bothered him that his granddaughter was included in the group, but he decided not to mind.

Meisa is also an adult now, and she is at an age where she has to take responsibility for her own life.

The people who ate together felt the same way as Krenna.

“Send the soldiers’ medical expenses to the Temple of Dawning in Meirium via messenger.”

“Yes, godmother.”

A peaceful meal time after a long time.

There was no attack by the sea lizard clan today.

I don’t know if he believes what Carlos said yesterday about setting up a negotiating table, or if he has other plans.

However, from Derdrang’s point of view, it was a good thing because he bought time to reorganize by treating the soldiers and repairing the broken walls.

Even if they were attacked again at sunset today, they would be able to defend themselves sufficiently.

“Check the armament of the soldiers once more. Also, in the event of a battle, he told me to pay special attention so as not to be attacked by their blue poison.”

“Yes, godmother. This time it won’t be as easy as before.”

The faces of the soldiers are full of confidence.

Then, there was a commotion outside.

“Godmother! Godmother!”

A soldier who had become contemplative ran in with all his might.

He ran to the window without asking Krenna’s permission.

Then he opened the window wide.

“Hey, look over there! What an army!”

The mayor’s mansion where Godmother Crena stayed was on the highest hill in Derdrang.

A kind of fortress mansion to build a defensive line to the end even if the castle gate is invaded.

Thanks to this, from Crena’s mansion, he could see not only downtown Derdrang, but also the coast and cliffs beyond the wall.

Seeing the soldier’s strange face, Crena approached the window.

Her complexion changed drastically.

“Where are all those things… … !”

A clan of seals filling the coastal cliffs with pitch black.

And that wasn’t all.

Monsters with strange appearances that I had never seen before were mixed in the middle.

An army that could number in the thousands.

It was an elite unit equipped with clear-looking siege weapons and even a small catapult.

“Listen, Lord of Derdrang! Open the gates immediately and negotiate with me! Otherwise I will attack you!”

A sea lizard that speaks to a person he has seen before.

Again he was shouting from the eastern cliff.

For some reason, his voice was clearly audible to Krenna’s ears from far away.

“Bring me my sword and armor.”

“Godmother!”

With Tira’s help, Krenna recovered from her previous injuries.

However, the body still has a lot to do in battle.

Most of all, she was an old man over 70 years old.

Priests and vassals frightened at the sound of bringing the sword stopped her.

“Dangerous! Besides, there are too many of them!”

“That’s right, if you leave now, you will surely be in big trouble!”

“Then what are you going to do?!”

Krenna roared.

Outside, the call of the sea lizard continued.

“A head-to-head match is going to be difficult. We’re in a strong castle, so why don’t we hold out? There is enough food and drinking water.”

“Otherwise, I really have no choice but to negotiate with them… … .”

nonsensical talk.

Krenna firmly shook her head.

“Negotiating with monsters is impossible. It’s obvious that those guys will ask for a place to live in the castle with Derd. Let’s try Mercury today and come up with countermeasures.”

The soldiers who heard Krenna’s thoughts quickly left the room.

It was to convey to the other soldiers waiting for orders on the wall.

and that moment.

An angry cry was heard from the cliffs to the east.

“Why doesn’t the Lord of Derdrang answer? If you do not answer, I will consider the negotiations to be broken!”

The talking lizard gave an attack command in sign language after giving it a moment.

Soon after, an army of different races and monsters began to advance.