Vol 3 Chapter 67 – Just Ditch That Pissant Religion, the ‘Church of Shannon’!

I was so giddy, I was even skipping.

In my hand was a bag containing the reward money from the guild, which we’d received after they confirmed the identities of the bandits Al and the others had slaughtered the other day.

When I shook it, it made a heavy, clinking sound.

Mfuu, I let out a smug little snort.

Money really is the best!

I called out to the two idiots trailing behind me.

“Wow, we really cleaned up! Those guys must have been into some pretty nasty business, because the bounty was huge. HUGE. This is the best! They get to be useful to me even after they’re dead. They must be so proud of themselves in hell!”

“What matters most is that we were able to erase evil from this world.”

“Indeed!”

…I feel like “Indeed!” is the only thing Antares says anymore.

Just how much does she like Al?

What’s so great about this walking pile of unpredictable violence…?

Humans are such a mystery…

“Plus, nothing bad happened in this town. I’d love to continue our journey this peacefully, but I know that’s absolutely impossible…”

That was another reason I was in such a good mood.

Now that we had the reward money, we had no more business in this town.

I wanted to get away from this place and its crazy religious war as soon as possible.

I wanted to, just this once, make a clean getaway.

As I was thinking that, Al asked me a question, looking puzzled.

“Why is it impossible?”

“Why don’t you ask your own heart?”

It’s your fault, you idiots. Don’t mess with me.

I shot them a sharp glare as I said it sarcastically, and they both earnestly put a hand to their chest…

” “…………?” “

“WHY DON’T EITHER OF YOU GET IT?!”

I roared at the two idiots, who just tilted their heads in confusion.

It appears my words did zero damage to either of them.

Aren’t lunatics with monster-level mental fortitude just way too OP?

How do you even beat them? Can someone please beat them for me?

Just as I was thinking that…

“Whoa!?”

CRASH!

A loud noise echoed out.

And it was very close by.

Not quite a crowd of gawkers, but several people had come out to see.

However, perhaps because the town lacked energy, or perhaps to avoid getting involved, many of them seemed to be hiding.

And at the center of it all were several figures.

A group of men was surrounding a single woman.

Ugh, the worst. It’s trouble, isn’t it…?

My hopes of leaving town without incident were instantly crushed.

And of course, the two idiots were already walking toward it…

With a reluctance that came from the very bottom of my heart, I followed them.

“What happened?”

“Ah, it’s the Church of Arias again, forcing people to convert. Can’t say it too loud, but I wish they’d give it a rest already.”

“I see.”

I asked one of the onlookers, and it was indeed related to the religious war.

Hearing that, I actually felt a little relieved.

Al seemed to have a policy of staying out of these things as much as possible, so if we were lucky, we could avoid a fight and leave town.

“What are you going to do? You’re not going to get involved, are you?”

“It’s between religions. It is not my place to interfere in a clash of justice versus justice. However, at this rate, innocent civilians will be harmed. I’ll give them a warning.”

“A warning…”

When I checked just in case, that was Al’s reply.

A warning… what level of warning are we talking about?

It’s not the ‘beat them to a pulp first and then tell them to stop’ kind of warning, is it?

I watched Al’s back as he strode deliberately forward.

Hey, you guys! Notice him! Look behind you!

Your own personal Grim Reaper is on his way!

“C’mon, c’mon, don’t run away! After you renounce your faith, you can just hang out with us for a little bit!”

“…………”

Even while surrounded by several mean-looking men, the cornered woman showed no signs of fear.

In fact, she didn’t look like she was going to break, either.

She’s tough.

Perhaps finding such an opponent a rare treat, the men were still sadistically taunting her, completely unaware of Al’s approach.

Oh, boy.

“Hurry up and ditch that tiny religion and back the winning horse! Knowing when to switch sides is what’s important in life, you know?”

“Hey, you lot. I don’t care if you crush each other, but if you cause any more collateral damage…”

It was at that moment, as Al was trying to offer what was, for him, a gentle warning.

“Just ditch that pissant religion, the ‘Church of Shannon’!”

“————————”

The air froze.

Of course, it wasn’t like someone had used ice magic to physically lower the temperature.

Al had stopped moving completely.

And from his body, an almost violent killing intent began to surge forth.

The raging torrent of it easily stole the consciousness of the people around us who weren’t even its direct target.

It must have been an instinctual defense mechanism.

They must have realized that if they remained conscious, they would be subjected to an absolute terror that would haunt them even after death.

In other words, their instincts chose an easy death over the will to live.

…What even is that? The situation is so absurd it feels stupid just thinking about it.

And unfortunately, the men who were the intended targets of this killing intent were completely unharmed.

It wasn’t because they were strong or mentally tough, but because the killing intent was so immense that they were incapable of even perceiving it.

A person in the eye of a giant typhoon has no way of knowing just how terrifying the storm around them truly is.

“Ah…”

“Oh man, he’s dead. That guy is so dead.”

Only Antares and I could have understood the tragic fate that awaited those men.

“Huh? Why’s there a shadow…”

The man frowned, puzzled by the shadow that had fallen over him.

He turned to see what was standing behind him… and there was Al, already holding me aloft, now complete with rubble.

“Hnngh!!”

“Gyehp!?”

With a tremendous sound, he swung me down, and the man was sent flying like a piece of paper.

Hey, the shockwave! Think about your surroundings when you attack!

The followers of the Church of Arias stood there, dumbfounded, seeing one of their own so easily slaughtered.

The woman who had been saved, on the other hand, looked strangely calm.

Al, now the center of everyone’s intense gaze, slowly hoisted the holy sword onto his shoulder.

“Ann, and Holy Sword.”

Al slowly turned around.

Eek, so scary. Can you not look over here?

My feelings didn’t reach him, of course, as Al made a declaration of despair.

“We’re crushing the Church of Arias.”