“Divine fire? What did they do after stealing it? Where do you use that?”
As expected, Ban’s god was curious about the reason for violating the ‘taboo’ rather than what happened to those who violated it. If I’d known this would happen, I should have looked at that story summary post more carefully…… Ban groaned and tried somehow to recall the content he’d roughly skimmed through before finally slowly shaking his head.
“I only half-listened to it, so I don’t know the details.”
“Really?”
Fortunately, Orma quickly lost interest and turned his head again to look at the Black Wildwood.
It was certain that Jaena was in there. Then there was no need to waste time.
Orma once again released his shadow and began searching by spreading a wide encirclement net. However, unlike before, all the living, breathing things touched by the shadow were in a state where communication didn’t work. Those things screaming to please kill them were eerily similar to Orma’s inner self.
‘Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!’
‘Whywhywhywhydoikeepburningeverydayandburningagainbutnotdyingsomeonepleasepleasepleaseletmediepleaseendthissufferingplease!’
‘Eternal, eternal, eter nal ly…… repeating.’
Everything in the Black Wildwood longed for death. Yet unable to die, they cursed the endlessly burning fire and also cursed themselves for not being able to die. Just like Orma.
“What’s wrong?”
“……No, it’s just a bit strange.”
Ban read Orma’s flustered expression incredibly well. He didn’t bother explaining what was strange, but seeing his stiffened face, it seemed the information coming in through the shadow connection wasn’t very good content.
Could it be that Jaena had already died? ……No, if that were the case, the quest would have already notified him of failure.
Ban, who had been pondering for a moment, led his horse ahead of Orma and headed into the blazing flames. Perhaps because Orma’s power dwelled in it and could withstand the calamity’s sunlight, the horse fearlessly entered inside even though the surroundings were a complete sea of fire.
He didn’t know why the snake tribe had kidnapped Jaena. However, judging from the hidden quest that suddenly appeared with content not only to find Jaena but also to evangelize to new believers and save them, it clearly meant to evangelize the snake tribe who had kidnapped Jaena to believe in Orma.
But…… most beastmen were Muhwi’s believers. Even if the snake tribe had stolen Muhwi’s sacred fire and fled, receiving the punishment of being driven out, would they curse Muhwi? Rather, wouldn’t they cling more desperately, repent, and hope for forgiveness?
Moreover, the quest content didn’t stop there.
Ban stared at ‘saving’ written boldly in the quest window. Isn’t the word ‘save’ too abstract? The subject performing the quest is Ban, himself, after all. Not Orma, but ordinary human Ban is supposed to save someone. When I’ve got enough problems of my own……
“Do you know where Jaena is and are going there?”
“For now, I’m heading toward the center. The flames are strongest there.”
Didn’t he say he kept hearing Jaena’s prayers whining that he’d burn to death at this rate? Whatever reason the snake tribe had for kidnapping Jaena, it couldn’t be a very good one.
However, when he looked around, all that was visible was an entirely black field. No other creatures were visible, and no charred corpses were visible either. Only sparks and ash flying through the air. When only the crackling sounds of burning filled the air, a faint voice could be heard.
“……Hey! Fallen……! To become the heir of the tiger tribe…… a heretic!”
It was a scolding voice full of anger. Perhaps Orma also heard that sound, as the two briefly made eye contact before immediately spurring their horses toward where the sound came from. The closer they got, the more their eyes stung from the hot heat and it was hard to breathe from the acrid smoke, but anyway, they were able to find Jaena before long.
“……Hyaaaaah! N-no! I don’t want it! I don’t want tiger butter!”
“What are you talking about tiger butter! Convert! You must live a new life as Muhwi’s believer!”
“The heir of Bion not believing in Muhwi is unthinkable! Heretic! Repent right now for having misguided faith before Muhwi!”
Jaena and the snake tribe shouted at each other, but the content of their conversation didn’t get through at all and was closer to one-sided shouting. Jaena’s sudden statement about not wanting tiger butter was difficult to understand, but hearing the snake tribe rebuke him as a ‘heretic,’ it seemed they had realized Jaena was Orma’s believer and were angry calling him an apostate.
Perhaps he had rolled on the ground while resisting fiercely, as Jaena was covered in ash like ‘Cinderella,’ yet even tied up tightly on a stone altar, he desperately flailed and screamed.
“Never, never! If I say I believe in Muhwi, you’ll kill me as a sacrifice! Huiiing, Orma-niiim! I’m dyiiing!”
“……So noisy I could die.”
“Heok! O, Orma-nim!”
Even in the voice full of annoyance saying he didn’t know why he had to suffer like this to find someone like him, Jaena bounced happily. Only then did the snake tribe notice Orma and Ban’s presence and turned their heads in shock.
Actually, if they were tiger tribe like Jaena, they were beastmen with quite human-like appearances. The snake tribe’s lower bodies were completely covered in scales, and instead of human legs, they had sleek snake bodies and tails. Their vertically elongated pupils were strange in focus like reptiles’, enough to give chills the moment eyes met, and they stuck out thin, long tongues while constantly hissing.
Moving with such appearances, that’s why they didn’t notice even when Jaena was secretly kidnapped at dawn. Orma, who belatedly understood that the whisper about not seeing a ‘tiger human’ but seeing a ‘talking serpent’ meant this, slowly looked them over before opening his mouth.
“You’re trying to offer him to Muhwi?”
“……Hiik! Th-those eyes…… are golden……!”
“Is he really the Evil God? O, Muhwi…… please put that Evil God back in hell and judge him with your sacred flames!”
The snake tribe didn’t know what to do and didn’t answer the question but only spouted nonsense. Seeing Orma’s expression instantly furrow, Ban hurriedly stepped forward before he killed all the snake tribe according to his temperament.
“I am Orma’s apostle, and the beastman you have bound is Orma-nim’s believer. For what reason did you kidnap Jaena-ssi?”
“Wh-what……”
“……That human is the Evil God’s apostle?”
“Does he really believe in the Evil God?”
Even at Ban’s calm and composed voice, the snake tribe only stared blankly at Ban or were busy glancing at each other in confusion. From the murmuring content they could hear, it seemed they couldn’t believe in the appearance of the Evil God Orma and that there were apostles or believers following him.
While the one who appeared to be their leader kept his mouth tightly shut in silence, someone’s voice of the heart that clearly popped out broke the stillness.
“……Why?”
Everyone present except Ban instantly noticed that the meaning of “……Why?” was ‘Why does that human of all people believe in the Evil God?’ and agreed.
Even if the snake tribe’s eyesight wasn’t good, they weren’t blind. At a glance, the mysterious and beautiful knight looked noble and sacred like an angel alone even in this hell-like scenery. He didn’t match at all with the Evil God who was emanating fierce killing intent as if he’d tear them to death at any moment, yet an apostle?
……Could it be the Evil God caught that human’s weakness? Or maybe he brainwashed him? If he were in his right mind, there’s no way he’d be Orma’s apostle……
“I don’t know what you mean by that question, but please release Jaena-ssi.”
Ban, who alone didn’t understand that muttering, tilted his head slightly before speaking politely. Only then did the snake tribe elder come to his senses and shout in an aged voice as if he couldn’t accept it.
“Unthinkable! How dare the heir of the tiger tribe be an apostate! He must repent, confess, and willingly display the sincerity of his faith to Muhwi through death!”
“……Is that how you can be forgiven?”
“Wh-what?”
“If Jaena-ssi does that, can you all be forgiven by Muhwi?”
Even the snake tribe elder was at a loss for words at the question asked without batting an eye.
How does a human who isn’t even a beastman know that? How do they know the snake tribe is being punished by Muhwi……
“Did Muhwi truly say that all sins would be forgiven if you offered a beastman who is his believer as a sacrifice?”
“Th-that’s……”
“There’s no way that’s true.”
After being exiled and driven to the Black Wildwood, their prayers wouldn’t have reached Muhwi. The elder flinched and trembled at the sharp gaze and cold voice as if seeing through everything.
However, Ban didn’t stop there and declared as if putting a final period.
“Muhwi has rejected your faith. So you who have been excommunicated are no longer Muhwi’s believers, are you?”
A chilling silence flowed at the statement that there were no believers of Muhwi present here. No one could dare deny those words.
