Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 134

134: The Gatekeeper and the Saint

He, honestly, didn’t have a lick of faith.

Even though he served as a gatekeeper at the royal castle in the Holy Kingdom of Etrantal’s capital—the holy city of Etrantal, lauded as the White City.

He followed the precepts. The precepts were good. Do not steal. Do not covet. And if you followed all the other precepts, it was the same as living a lawful life.

He didn’t dislike the time for prayer. In fact, kneeling, clasping his hands, and closing his eyes during the morning and evening prayers was a good excuse to take a break.

He didn’t dislike religious paintings, religious architecture, the words of prayers, the solemn atmosphere of the churches.

And yet, he didn’t have what could be called faith.

Because he had never seen the absolute God, nor his angelic messengers, nor a true saint, nor a miracle.

He suspected that the people who had been called saints in the past were just famous mages.

So—he had no reason to believe the words of the mere village girl before him.

“In the name of God, open the gate. Clear the way. I have come to save this nation.”

That was how it should have been.

The blonde girl, who had not spoken another word, was beautiful, but that was all. And yet, the diverse crowd of men and women, young and old, who followed her, all looked at her with adoration.

He exchanged a look with his colleague, handed him their matching halberds, and stepped forward. He had been a gatekeeper longer. He didn’t want to be surrounded and killed by this crowd because of his colleague’s—his junior’s—mistake.

“…I can’t do that. Unauthorized entry is not permitted.”

It was all he could do to give a perfunctory reply. But he had put down his weapon and tried to be as polite as possible.

“I understand. Then, please inform them. I must deliver the word of God to the King and the Archbishops of the Privy Council.”

The Holy King and the nine Archbishops of the Privy Council.

They were, without a doubt, the leaders of this nation… and not so accessible that a mere village girl could demand an audience.

“…Do you have any connections within the castle? If not, the King and the Archbishops are very busy. You won’t be able to see them. You’ll have to apply for an audience, which is held once a month, and hope you’re chosen…”

“Do you dare to disobey the words of the Saint?”

“We don’t have time for a lottery!”

“Drag him down!”

He felt his face twitch. Damn it. He’d worked so hard to get this safe, albeit responsible, job as a gatekeeper in this peaceful holy city.

And now, he was surrounded by a crowd led by some crazy woman calling herself a saint, and the atmosphere was turning violent.

“Stop.”

But the ‘Saint,’ who looked like a mere village girl, spoke with a clear, authoritative tone.

“He is, they are, only diligently performing their duties.”

“But…”

“Please, tell them. That one who has been entrusted with the word of God has come. —That a messenger of God has come.”

“You… are a messenger of God?”

“No. Only the angels are the messengers of God. …Please, show them your glorious form…”

She clasped her hands.

More beautiful than any religious painting.

What is this feeling?

And—what was that light behind her?

From within the light, a beautiful woman emerged, her face obscured by a white hood, her body clad in a long white robe. The white cloth was spotless, without a single stain or blemish.

And on her back were white wings, so dazzlingly beautiful that they made the white of her robe seem dull, so pure that only they could be called ‘white.’

“…I will inform them.”

“S-senior.”

“You stay here. Put down your weapons. And do not provoke them.”

He clapped his colleague on the shoulder, whispered in his ear, and, after making sure he’d put down their halberds, slipped through the side gate into the castle.

He called out to his colleagues in the guardhouse to go to the gate, then ran towards his superior’s quarters. His heart pounded, and he found himself running without even realizing it.

He had had no faith.

And he had just realized how foolish he had been.

God existed. Angels existed.

In this world, there was something that answered to faith.

What could be more foolish than to see a messenger of God and not believe?