Chapter 60: The Song of Elves and Knights (1)

“Huger… ?.”

I trailed off.

There’s no way that guy could become a Devotee.

That brainless Orc being lower than Aaron Meyer or Leon?

Look at him. Isn’t he the fool whose whole face melts into mush whenever he gets distracted by Mary?

“Well. Even so…”

It doesn’t cost money to check.

I raised my hand toward the red pig and shouted.

“Devotee Appointment!”

『Huger has become a Devotee.』

Three seconds.

My raised hand froze for exactly three seconds.

“Kuik, Sister Mary!”

Huger shrugged his shoulders, clueless that he had just become a Devotee.

Why?

Why on earth did that pig become a Devotee?

How desperately did he pray…?

『You can hear Huger’s prayer contents.』

– Chiii! My honey, my fiancée! I don’t know who this ‘person’ in the song is, but please, bring us together! If you do, I’ll give up everything!

“Ugh.”

Disgusted, the cringe-worthy confession scrolled before my eyes.

That was less a prayer and more a love letter.

Yet, oddly enough, the wish inside it was stronger than any of theirs.

Of course, it’s not that the others’ prayers were weak.

‘Is it because he’s an Orc?’

Orcs are a brave race.

But they don’t bother with rules or decorum for themselves.

They love battle and worship the strong, simple-minded warriors to the core.

That primal and straightforward nature means they don’t second-guess themselves like humans.

He could pour his wish into his prayer without hesitation.

“What a funny guy. Really.”

I laughed.

Who’d have thought Huger would be the first among the knights to become a Devotee?

No, even calling this guy a Knight is questionable.

Clap!

I walked to the center of the clearing and clapped my hands loudly to draw attention.

Only then did the others notice me and hurriedly offered their greetings.

Hmm.

The faces of the Knights, who had been singing so excitedly, were flushed with delight.

Some of the quick-witted ones looked themselves over.

They must be feeling an unfamiliar energy coursing through them.

“Chwik! Why are you all looking at me like that?”

But Huger just tilted his head in confusion.

He should be feeling more energy than anyone, having become a Devotee.

“No. More importantly, Sir Leon, Aaron.”

“Yeah!”

The two, who had been growling at my call, responded in unison.

Their reaction was more intense, more awkward than usual.

Something was off.

“You both still lack enough cultivation to become Devotees.”

It’s not about who gets there first—you should have been praying harder.

Seeing the two men’s shocked faces, I clicked my tongue.

Then I turned my head and met Mary’s eyes.

She nodded.

With a resolute expression, she handed something to me.

“Here you are, Saint.”

A staff wrapped in white cloth.

I took it and unwrapped the cloth.

Flutter—

The wind happened to blow just then, making the cloth billow from the end of the staff.

Mary and the Devotees had not only handed out rice balls here.

They’d made elaborate plans for evangelism, composed songs, and prepared fervently for missionary work.

“This is our Symbol.”

I gazed at the Banner in my hands.

The crest painted on the pure white Banner was neither the Bartenberg’s “Sword of the World” nor the Martial Union’s.

It was the symbol of the Horgyo, painstakingly crafted by my disciples through many sleepless nights.

On the Banner was a picture of the Sword Saint (Lone Swordsman’s Sword Star) that I wielded.

Coincidentally, its form was reminiscent of a certain modern religion.

With determination, I planted the Banner into the ground.

The Devotees stood behind me, reverently folding their hands.

“Master Richard?”

Startled by the sudden performance, the Knights widened their eyes.

This wasn’t exactly what I’d intended, but there was no better chance than now.

Everyone here had just finished their prayers.

“From now on, do not call me ‘Master’.”

A voice imbued with Faith flowed from my mouth.

Five sharp-witted evangelists simultaneously spread their halos.

Wuuuung—

Not to be outdone, I too emitted a halo, pouring every ounce of Faith into the Banner.

My mouth was parched.

The words I’d repeated countless times, now I finally spoke them.

“I am the Lamp held by The One.”

“Ah!”

Thump thump!

Thirty Devotees stomped their feet, singing in harmony.

“And I am also the Saint wielded by The One.”

The stomping grew even louder.

I mixed more Faith into my voice.

“I have come to this land, having received the Divine Revelation.”

“Have come!”

“Listen, you sheep plagued by nightmares.”

“Listen—!”

I continued, speaking to the dazed Knights.

“The One will save you.”

“And you will go on to save many more.”

“The Divine will nourish the Faith of the sheep, and the sheep will use Faith as their guide.”

“Believe and pray.”

As my words ended, the Devotees knelt and began their prayers.

Sweeping my gaze over the gathering, I caught sight of Adele turning her head and covering her mouth.

Yeah. I know too.

Just how cringeworthy and laughable this all is.

Saint, Divine Revelation—it’s all lies.

“I believe.”

“I believe!”

Aaron, having rehearsed beforehand, shouted from before me, and Leon belatedly followed.

The Knights’ eyes grew as wide as lanterns.

And that wasn’t the end.

“I will believe—no! I believe! Grant me the blessing too!”

“Chwik. If a god called Hor really exists, wouldn’t he grant my wish too? I might as well believe!”

Moritz came rushing over, shouting as he tripped, and Huger approached with a broad grin.

The expressions of the Union watching this scene took on a complicated hue.

There would be considerable discord.

For them, as Knights, their own martial strength and beliefs mattered most.

Now that the gods had vanished without a trace, religion was a superstition for the weak—nothing more, nothing less.

But if their Commander believed?

And if some among them began to believe as well?

Hadn’t the Alliance Army already been worn down to exhaustion by magic?

The Faith they tasted now from the Union couldn’t simply be dismissed as superstition; it radiated an overwhelming sense of presence.

“From now on, every day at noon sharp, we will conduct a Holy Ritual. Attendance is mandatory—no exceptions.”

They were the ones who found themselves praying without realizing it.

Once is hard—twice is nothing.

“To those who become Devotees, I will grant a sip of Holy Water.”

A Devotee quickly brought a glass bottle and a wooden cup.

The Holy Water, infused with pure Faith, and the cup carved from Adele’s wood.

Aaron and Leon’s eyes gleamed.

Both looked certain they’d be first to drink.

I glanced at them, then spoke.

“Huger. Come here.”

Clack

Scurrying over—

I poured the Holy Water into the wooden cup.

“Don’t you feel a surge of energy in your body?”

“Oh… Now that you mention it, it’s like I’ve eaten all the finest meat I could want. I felt it even while singing earlier.”

Nodding, I handed him the cup.

Aaron and Leon watched with uneasy faces.

“Congratulations. You’re the first Devotee in the Union.”

“K- Kuik? Me?”

“That’s right. I felt nothing off in your prayer. It was raw and desperate.”

With a smile, I brought the cup to Huger’s lips.

“You want to be with Mary? Hor has heard you loud and clear, but your sincerity is still lacking.”

“Th- then, if I pray harder…?”

“Who knows? But remember, Mary is a person. Don’t push yourself on her. Wait patiently and pray until she opens her heart.”

Patting his wide shoulders, I pressed the cup into his hands.

“Drink. The first cup of glory.”

“Chwiik…”

But Huger just looked at the cup, smacking his lips, not even raising it to his mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“What does this water do?”

What does it do…

Honestly, I don’t know either.

I’ve never drunk Holy Water infused with Faith, and never had a reason to.

“You’ll receive Divine Blessing. As much as the blessing within this water. Hor will walk every step with you.”

“Chwiik, I can’t understand if you talk in circles like that.”

“In short, it’s good for you. For your body, your spirit.”

Hearing my answer, Huger pulled up his lips, baring his yellow teeth proudly.

Then he moved away.

“Miss Mary.”

“H- Huger?”

Huger’s voice became unusually deep and calm.

He held the cup, huge fingers trembling, out to Mary.

“Chwiik, I think you need this more than me.”

“N-no! This is the blessing Hor has granted you, Huger…!”

Mary flapped her hands in panic.

Watching them, I spoke up.

“Mary. It’s fine for you to drink. If he wants to give it, let him.”

I was planning to give the existing Devotees their own Holy Water anyway.

Still, it was surprising to see the famously greedy Orc offering up his share to another.

“Haha, my arms are shaking.”

“Huger…”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she received the cup.

She carefully brought it to her lips and took a sip.

Gulp.

The small swallowing sound echoed louder than usual.

“Aaah…”

A halo burst from Mary as her body trembled.

Maybe because of the Holy Water, her light was brighter than ever.

“Master… no, Saint! Please make me the second Devotee!”

“Wouldn’t it benefit us more if I, the Commander, became one first?”

The two men, upset at missing first place, immediately raised their voices.

It was both amusing and confusing.

Aaron and Leon had always been the most skeptical about gods.

Could a few prayers change people so much?

And they weren’t the only ones.

“Saint. Do you yourself believe in and serve the Divine?”

Polk, the Third Knight Division’s Commander, asked me.

I answered that I did.

“One more question. Do you wish for us to become Devotees of this Horgyo?”

“Yes.”

At that, his eyes changed.

Not just Polk, but several others in the Third Knight Division and other Knights as well.

“Understood.”

Why, I wonder.

With firm expressions, they thumped their chests.

***

To reach Riot Castle, we’d have to pass through Baren Royal Capital.

But the gates of the capital were shut tight.

“Let us through.”

“We can’t allow strangers with unknown identities to pass.”

The guards scowled, gripping their spears.

“Remove your masks and reveal yourselves! If not, you’ll be subject to harsh interrogation.”

The masked group looked troubled.

“We have our reasons for wearing masks… But we were summoned by Richard von Bartenberg.”

“Then show us proof!”

What an excellent guard—

The masked group’s leader admired them inwardly.

But right now, this situation was a real headache.

‘Mother said revealing that name would be enough…’

Far from convincing them, suspicion only deepened.

The guards now looked ready to raise their spears.

What should they do?

It’d be easy to put them to sleep with magic, but he didn’t want to harm guards just doing their job.

Perhaps, as fellow people of similar professions, he felt a sense of kinship.

While the masked figures wavered internally—

“You said Richard, did you?”

A voice called from directly behind.

They turned to see a hunched old man standing there.

“I asked you. Did you say Richard?”

“Yes, we did.”

The old man, who had appeared without anyone noticing, glared at them.

Ahem—

Suddenly, he sniffed the air.

“There’s a strong smell of Hor here. My foolish disciple must have made some unexpected friends.”

The old man burdened with bundles, Vallach, grinned in amusement.