Chapter 142: The City Where Black Rain Falls Part 7

There was something I had to do before leaving.

– Whoosh!!!

A fierce fire ignited on the purification oak wood I had cut from the dimensional garden. When the black flames burrowed into the firewood, I closed the furnace.

"Good job, Legion."

The one who emitted the unbelievably strong black flames was none other than Legion. After patting the little lizard's head, I placed him back on my shoulder.

After some time had passed, I reopened the furnace to find perfectly made oak charcoal; it was so glossy that it shone. Carefully, I took out the charcoal and transferred it into a pouch made of thin linen. The well-made charcoal clinked like clear metallic chimes as they touched.

It seems like a small amount, but since it's purification wood, it should be enough.

I added some mint-like herbs to the charcoal-filled pouch and tied a heavy stone to it.

– Splash!

Then I dropped it into the well. The pouch slowly sank to the bottom.

Charcoal isn't just for grilling meat.

Charcoal had excellent purification properties. The well was fine aside from being "black" but it was better to be prepared in case anything happened later.

"Connie."

"Yes? Yes!"

"Let's pray together."

"Me, pray?"

"Yes, you are a priest of Donar."

"But I'm still…"

"It's alright, come here."

There was a role for Connie to play. I took Connie's hand, who was bewildered and didn't know what to do, and we began to recite a prayer together. It was different from the "set" prayers that priests recited daily.

"O Father of life, who forms seven parts of this humble body, please extend your generosity to the wanderers from foreign lands…"

"P-Please… extend it…"

Connie repeated after me with his eyes tightly shut. As the youngest priest of the temple, he seemed unaccustomed to reciting prayers that weren't formal.

But that's why he's more useful.

If Connie wasn't an oblivious apprentice priest, he wouldn't have followed my lead.

This prayer was one that the god Donar would not be pleased with.

The barbarians and beastmen of Altan worshipped the barbarian god of Altan. They did not worship the twelve gods. Therefore, it was clear that Donar would not be pleased with the prayer I was offering.

But one must look far ahead.

If Donar showed "generosity" now, it would create a small "gap" in their faith, which was wholly devoted to the barbarian god. Through that gap, belief in other gods could seep in, and the possibility was more than sufficient.

Taking away the followers of the barbarian god.

What could be more thrilling for a god than that?

I lowered my voice to a whisper that even Connie couldn't hear and spoke towards the well.

"…Great Donar, don't you desire their faith?"

-The god of rivers and seas, Donar, listened to your prayer.

"I will give it to you."

Their faith.

Take the bait, Donar.

-The god of rivers and seas Donar bestows a small blessing.

I felt an unfamiliar divine power from my fingertips.

Donar had exercised his "small" power through Connie.

While Connie might not have noticed, I wasn't a priest of Donar, so the unfamiliar sensation made me feel dizzy and I staggered. I saw Connie startle and try to catch me. I quickly raised a hand to stop him and shook my head.

"I'm fine. Keep praying, Connie."

El who noticed this quickly supported me. I looked into the well while leaning on El. A very small sparkle caught my eye.

It worked…!

I smiled and gestured to Connie again.

"Connie, stop now and draw the water."

Connie hurried to the bucket with his ears drooping and drew the water. Soon, an exclamation burst out.

"Si-Sir Theodore! Look at this!"

I didn't need to look to know. It seemed Donar had done a proper job.

Even if it's just a single well.

Of course, even this would shake the hearts of those from Altan. The harsh barbarian god of the barren wasteland never granted his followers any power other than "death".

"…The water has returned to normal."

Even Draven who had been gruff all along had a trembling voice at this moment.

"It's more than that."

"..."

"The well water contains the power and blessing of the god Donar. Use it to wash the children and quench their thirst. I can't promise a complete recovery… but it will help for now."

"Thank you."

"It's not me you should thank. Everything was bestowed by the god Donar."

"..."

"Give your thanks to him."

-The god of rivers and seas, Donar, is pleased with your actions.

-The barbarian god Altan is displeased with your actions.

…Well, when you gain something, you always lose something else.

They needed Donar's help in Dihid, so they had no choice but to gain his favor for now.

I'll think about the barbarian god later…

Anyway, for the people here, who couldn't go to the temple or call a priest, the well would be useful for the time being.

That's fortunate.

In addition, Lloyd looked around and informed Draven of the places that needed repairs and the points for setting up guards. With this, they could probably fend off the attacks targeting the people here due to the ridiculous rumors about the Altan people's hearts being a miracle cure.

However, the most important thing was to crush the source of these rumors and identify the true nature of the plague.

After bidding farewell to Draven, we headed to the house of the "caretaker couple" he had mentioned.

Their house was located on the road leading to the city center, away from the management area. It was similar to an ordinary farmhouse, with the only difference being the large warehouse attached to it.

Is that where they store food…

-Knock knock.

When Connie knocked on the door, a middle-aged woman with a nervous demeanor opened it after a long while.

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Connie from the Temple of Donar."

Before Connie even finished speaking, a voice from inside the house yelled, "Who is it?" The middle-aged woman who didn't even fully open the door replied back.

"It's the dog from the Temple of Donar!"

"...."

"...."

"...."

"...."

Not a priest, nor a beastman, but she called him a "dog". The way she yelled it out without any intention to hide it left us all speechless for a moment.

I can see exactly how this couple treats those from Altan.

A middle-aged man, in stark contrast to his wife, staggered over. He was short with a rat-like appearance. He shoved his wife aside and stood in the doorway before looking us up and down.

"You don't look like priests."

"That's because we're not."

I smirked as I replied, causing the man to flinch before he scanned me again from head to toe.

"Then… who are you?"

With people like this, it's best to come on strong from the start. Embarrassing as it was, titles, accomplishments, and inflated rumors come in handy at times like these.

"El."

At my signal, El put on an arrogantly smug expression and raised her voice.

"He is the Saint of Purification and the Nemesis of Evil. The great druid Theodore, who exalted the name of Lynshaka in the cursed land and vanquished the demon of Rabata!"

…Wow, it's always embarrassing to hear that, but it's not a lie! I looked down at the man with a poker face. As the man stared at me with his mouth half open, El shouted again as if to threaten him.

"He has come all the way here to drive out the plague of Dihid! Truly, you have no manners!"

Connie perked up his ears and looked at us. He was surprised at the completely different kindness we had shown in the lower-class district.

"Oh, uh, ah! I, I didn't recognize you! I'm sorry! Please, come inside!"

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong.

This was the timeless trait of these kinds of bastards.

"Tsk."

El violently kicked the door open and entered the house. Seriously, I never taught her to do that, but she's doing it so well! Anyway, I followed with a swagger into the house.

"S-So, why are you here…?"

"Shhh!"

Before the man could finish his sentence, El glared at him. Wow, she's really good at this. Better than me, actually!

"Ahem, ahem."

I cleared my throat, then leaned back in the chair. I examined the man with a haughty expression.

"You're the caretaker?"

"Y-Yes…! I'm the caretaker here…."

"Hmm."

"Thanks to my diligent management, the plague hasn't spread here. I'll continue to manage it well, so you don't have to worry, Saint…."

Watching his brazen lies made me feel like I was about to vomit. I scowled at the man, and he made a strange noise, then shut his mouth.

"Do you think I came all this way to hear that kind of story?"

"...."

"Do you really have no idea why I came here?"

The man shook his head. He looked completely terrified.

The atmosphere was ripe. I slammed my fist on the table and quietly whispered to the man who was holding back his hiccups.

"The Heart of Altan."

"…Ugh!"

"You spread those rumors, didn't you?"

"Th-that… ugh! Th-that is!"

"Shh."

"...."

"A stupid lie like the Heart of Altan being a cure couldn't have come from someone like you. So, let's be honest. Who's the idiot who put that nonsense in your head?"

"...."

The man was sweating profusely while trembling like an aspen tree. Disgusting. I narrowed my eyes and smiled at him. Huh, unbelievable.

"I can hear the gears turning in your head from here. Want a piece of advice? Whoever you're trying to protect, they're in the same mess as you."

"...."

"How do I know?"

"...."

"Because I'll make sure of it."

I drew the hydra's fang from my belt and planted it right next to the man's hand on the table. There was a sizzling sound as the leather mat covering the table began to corrode.

"Now, shall we start a serious conversation?"