Chapter 145: The City Where Black Rain Falls Part 10

The three beastmen hunting dogs dragged the intruders off to Draven. Meanwhile, I set fire to the caretaker couple's house and warehouse.

"Please, Legion."

Legion who had been perched on my shoulder leaped off lightly and spun once in the air before he transformed into a dragon with beautiful and gleaming black scales. Without hesitation, Legion unleashed his black flames. The house and warehouse were instantly engulfed in the dark fire.

-Whoooosh!!!!

Legion stretched his body as if he felt refreshed; he then let out a long yawn before transforming back into a small lizard. He crawled up my body and settled on my shoulder once more.

"Thank you."

I stroked his chin and looked up at the blazing black flames. Even in the pouring rain, the fierce black fire burned on, refusing to be extinguished. Of course, it was only natural. No rain or wind could ever put out a dragon's flames.

These black flames would not only erase any traces of the plague lingering in the house and warehouse but also serve as a kind of warning.

With the raging black fire behind us, we headed toward the temple.

"Master!"

Just then, a familiar voice called out to us from an alley.

"El?"

"Come this way!"

El gestured urgently. We followed her signal and slipped into a dark alley.

"Why are you here? I told you to go to the temple."

"I did as you said. I went to the temple…"

El frowned and stood there for a moment as if she was struggling with the right words.

"Something felt off. Connie went to report what happened in the village to the high priest, but…"

"..."

"I couldn't go in with him, so I don't know exactly what happened, but I heard strange noises. It sounded like they were either surprised or fighting…"

"And then?"

"So I quietly slipped out of the temple. I had a bad feeling."

"You did well."

If Connie's report about what happened in the village created a tense atmosphere, then the temple wouldn't be of any help to us anyway.

Strange. The temple seemed eager for my help…

It was actually a good thing that El had slipped out early. Though I was a bit worried about what might happen to Connie…

Perhaps there's a conspiracy unfolding that I'm not aware of.

The temples in this pseudo-medieval-like world weren't always aligned with "good". While most of them were, some temples and priests had been known to succumb to greed and commit strange acts.

That's just human nature.

Just as in my original world, religious figures weren't always virtuous; it was likely the same here.

Well, I hadn't expected the temple to be of much help anyway. After all, priests weren't fighters, nor were they skilled in covert operations.

But Connie might have been useful…

Since he was a beastman, he had basic combat abilities. On top of that, he possessed divine power which would have been helpful in various ways. He was even a battle priest.

He was a valuable asset, but there was nothing I could do. I could only hope he would be safe.

"…Let's go. We don't have much time."

-Splash! Splash! Splash!

-Huff, huff, huff!

At that moment, we heard something quickly approaching the alley. Lloyd and El immediately drew their swords and braced themselves. Just as something burst through the darkness,

"Who goes there?"

Lloyd pressed his sword to the shadow's neck and asked,

"Wh-Who… Who is it?"

"…Connie?"

The owner of the frantic footsteps was none other than Connie.

Ah, no wonder. Ayla had been so calm… It was because she recognized Connie. Ayla was wagging her tail in delight.

"I-It's me, Connie. Connie. I followed your scent to find you."

On the other hand, Connie was trembling with his eyes tightly shut. it was understandable with a sword at his neck. Lloyd glanced at me, and I nodded my head. Only then did he lower his sword from Connie's neck.

"Connie, El said there was trouble at the temple."

"...."

Connie silently hung his head.

"What happened? The temple seemed eager to resolve this situation too."

"I thought so as well. But…"

"...."

"Priest Lucas was furious… He said we did something unnecessary."

"What we did was absolutely not unnecessary. You know that too, Connie."

"Yes, I know. So I tried to explain properly, but… Ah, it's all my fault for being so foolish. The reason Lucas sent me there was…"

"Connie, calm down and speak slowly."

When Connie lifted his head, his face was soaked with tears.

"He sent me along to interfere with you, but I acted foolishly and ruined everything."

To interfere with us?

"...."

"'The black rain' is actually 'The Blessing Rain' meant to cleanse this city, but I…"

The Blessing Rain?

"…Wait. Are you saying that Donar Temple is responsible for bringing down 'The black rain'?"

"I didn't know. Really. Even so, that doesn't erase my guilt… Please, forgive me, Sir Theodore."

Now I finally understand.

The reason they sent Connie, an apprentice priest who didn't know anything, and even a beastman, to assist me.

They did it on purpose.

The "black rain" was just rain, after all. Now I see why it carried no poison, curse, or disease.

The "black rain" was created by the temple.

It couldn't have contained poison, curses, or diseases.

The reason the rain had continued for so long was that its source was the temple.

This wasn't something a few wizards could handle.

It was only possible because it was the temple.

They never intended to help me, nor did they seek my help from the beginning.

I calmly reflected on the situation.

It did seem strange that Donar had rushed to me so eagerly.

It was because there was no proper "priest" to serve him.

The gods of this pseudo-medieval land were not omnipotent beings. Of course, they were powerful and great enough to be called "gods" but they were paradoxical beings who could not exist without humans.

Donar wasn't helping me out of goodwill. His true goal was to use me to weed out the temple's husks and restore the faith directed toward him.

I wish I had noticed it from the start.

Donar's high priest certainly knew how to use his tongue.

Well, it's fine now that I know.

From now on, I can use Donar without hesitation too.

"…It's okay, Connie. We don't need the help of the corrupt."

"Sir Theodore…"

"You're enough. Donar is with you."

For a moment, pure devotion flickered in Connie's tearful eyes.

That was enough.

Connie showed potential even during the well purification.

I patted Connie's shoulder and helped him stand properly.

"If those who spread the plague also allied with the temple… this situation has grown far more complicated than I anticipated."

"..."

"Connie."

"Y-Yes?"

"Can you leave the temple and join us?"

Connie's brown ears drooped, and his tail did the same.

…Dogs are loyal creatures.

At times like this, it's not about telling them to abandon their loyalty, but rather ensuring they know exactly who they should be loyal to.

I gripped Connie's shoulders firmly, looked him straight in the eye, and spoke in a resolute voice.

"Connie, what you should be devoted to is not the temple. Nor is it the other priests."

"..."

"What you should dedicate your heart to is your god."

"..."

"The god Donar."

The sincerity that briefly flashed through Connie's eyes did not stop there but began to color his eyes. Like a rising tide.

-The god of rivers and seas, Donar, listens to your words.

-The god of rivers and seas, Donar, takes notice of "Connie".

This will do.

My instincts were not wrong. While the world might scorn and reject Connie as a beastman, he possessed a faith equal to that of the high priests in Donar's temple.

With that "faith", a god does not discriminate between humans, barbarians, or beastmen.

"Let's go, Connie."

"...."

"To spread the true teachings of Donar."

"...Yes."

***

We headed towards the city's central guard post, just as the men had confessed. It was located right in front of the lord's castle and the guard post in the center of the city was heavily guarded, even as black rain poured down.

Damn it, what are these bastards thinking, coming and going through here?

All day long, and even from night until dawn, the guard post was always staffed by guards who constantly kept watch. How could anyone sneak in and out of such a place?

Was it like that saying, "The darkest place is under the lamp"?

But fortunately, I had the shadow cloak I obtained from Rabata.

"I'll go in first."

I planned to enter the sewers first, then Beepy would bring the shadow cloak back to the others, allowing them to use it to go to the sewers. Beepy would then repeat this process, bringing the cloak back and forth until everyone was inside the sewers.

-Clatter.

I wrapped myself in the shadow cloak and carefully headed towards the guard post. Strangely enough, even with the torrential rain pouring down, there wasn't a drop of water pooling inside the sewers.

I opened the iron grate covering the sewers and cautiously stepped inside. Contrary to how it appeared from the outside, the interior of the sewers was very spacious. Five people could easily walk side by side with their arms linked.

"…Alright, Beepy. Take the cloak to the others."

-Beep!

Beepy who was now covered in the cloak flew out of the sewers. The rain was falling heavily, but there was no chance of Beepy faltering.

-Drip, drop… drip.

The sound of water dripping, drop by drop, was oddly unsettling. The underground area was filled with darkness that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The air was cold and damp, making goosebumps rise on my skin. I swallowed dryly and stared into the seemingly infinite darkness.

What on earth could be waiting at the end of this?

-Squeak! Squeak!

Just as I was about to take a step, I heard the sound of a few rats scurrying toward the darkness.

This is creepy.