55 [1-55] Fools will curse you even if you die (1/2)

About the same time. There was a minor disturbance at the temple in the city.

The cathedral, a sacred and tranquil place of prayer, now resembled a field hospital.

Blankets had been pulled out at random, and injured knights were lying side by side on them. Speaking of sacred magic, it is recovery magic. It was not uncommon for temples to be used as first aid stations during times of battle.

Whether or not temples would be used as a public authority in times of battle or war depended on the occasion. In the past, temples were neutral to politics. From that point of view, this battle is not a problem because it is against monsters.

The temple started rescue operations before the government asked for it. Since it was impossible to disobey an order anyway, the temple claimed that it was a voluntary humanitarian aid by starting its own action and asserted its independence.

The area was filled with the painful voices of the wounded, not the prayers of the scripture readers. They were treated with a ”regeneration” spell. A spell that immediately closes wounds consumes a lot of magic power, and should not be used if you are treating a large number of injured people in the safe rear.

In the cathedral, there was a man who was shouting at the head of the temple.

You don't know what you're talking about!　Just use the resurrection spell!

That's not enough catalyst for warding!　I'm scouring the city for catalysts that can be used for sacred magic!　We may be able to gather enough catalysts to create the wards once again!

You want me to wait until then?　That's impossible!　We must use the remaining catalyst to cast a revival spell immediately!

We can't ignore our own exhaustion!

Don't be so naive!

”Don't be so naive!” A man of about thirty years of age wearing a gorgeous costume.

His name is Theo Colin Edfelt. He is the third son of the Marquis of Edfelt.

What Theo is pointing at is a corpse that was brought into the temple.

It is Evan Jordus Reisen, an aerial cavalryman who was sent by Noa Curio as a reinforcement force, and who was kicked to death by the Rose Princess of Hell.

Theo has requested that the Temple Chief revive Evan.

As the third son, he would not normally be able to inherit a territory and would have to take care of himself. Theo has always wanted to be a government official, but has never been able to accept it.

However, his life has recently changed. Theo's life was recently changed by a coup d'etat by his brother Hilbert.

The Marquesses of Edfelt were quick to follow Hilbert's lead. Therefore, Theo also had the opportunity to sell his face to Hilbert.

Fortunately, many of the officials at the court who were considered to be pro-king were beheaded (some of them were physically beheaded, of course). Theo was recruited as a government official, and his experience studying in Noachurio led him to become involved in diplomacy.

Noachurio was quick to offer gifts (unnecessarily expensive) to the new diplomat, as well as opportunities for exchange of ideas (a noble gathering of beautiful women to discuss international affairs over a sumptuous meal).

Exasperated by the sincerity of the people of Noachurio, Theo is intent on establishing and stabilizing good relations between the newly established government and Noachurio.

Whether or not Theo is capable of doing so is another story.

Many of the officials who had been working on the front lines had been fired, and the number of people who didn't know their jobs or weren't capable of doing them had increased.

It would be some time before national political problems erupted from this, but Theo's presence was already a major problem in this temple.

”He is the commander of the reinforcements who gave his life for our country!　If we don't do our utmost to revive him, what do you think will happen to relations between our two countries?

What do you think will happen to relations between our two countries if we don't make every effort to revive her?

The Temple Chief's reluctance to revive her has its own side of the story.

The reanimation spell consumes a lot of magic power, and the success rate must be increased with a catalyst for sacred magic.

But both of these are necessary to re-establish the wards. It is doubtful that we can afford to spend a huge amount of magic power to revive one person and use a catalyst right now.

Warding is of no use whatsoever!

It's .......

The head of the temple was at a loss for words.

The next time we put up wards, it's unknown if they'll do any good.

I was told by an adventurer who knows a lot about this kind of magic that if I cast the wards just as the undead army was being brought into the city, I might be able to do some serious damage, but I don't know if that would really work, and the adventurer wasn't sure either.

After all, they were dealing with a monster that could wipe out a ward of about 30 people by itself.

Theo sniffed triumphantly at the Temple Chief, who couldn't say another word.

”Hmm, you finally get it. The Knights are fighting hard, so leave it to them!　But more importantly, revive them!

”I understand, I understand!

I understand, I understand!” The temple chief shouted as if in desperation.

I know firsthand how troublesome it is to go against the current regime in the past month or so. A slight reluctance to cooperate was met with a severe reprimand, and then there was the mob of citizens who threw manure into the air and broke windows and assaulted priests, no matter what information had been spread.

From the beginning, the temple chief was at an overwhelming disadvantage. If he could not be understood even after all this reasoning, he had no choice but to believe that it was the will of the king and obey.

The priests gathered around the corpse, which was in an unbearable condition.

Holding a tin staff in one hand and a spellbook in the other, the priests chanted. This is a ”ritual” method of sharing the burden of magic power and further increasing the power of magic by joining forces.

In this way, advanced magic, which cannot be used by a single practitioner, can be performed.

In time with the chanting, the temple head sprinkles various herbs, unicorn horn powder, and other catalysts. They burned as white flames and drifted around like fireflies.

As the chanting concluded, the head of the temple raised his magnificent golden tin staff high in the air.

”Raise the dead!

At that moment, the inside of the cathedral became dimly dark. In the pale darkness, white, pure light poured down, gathered, and flowed into Evan's corpse.

The soaring holy air formed a mass of light that could no longer tell what was there.

And then.

When the light gradually faded and finally disappeared, what was left was a pile of dark brown ashes equal to the volume of a human body. Evan's clothes and armor were buried in the pile of ashes.

”...... failed, sir. ......

The temple chief nodded helplessly and squeezed out. Some of the priests fell to their knees, unable to bear the consumption of magic. They were already exhausted, both physically and magically, from treating the injured.

”You, you!

Theo drew the sword that hung from his waist and suddenly slashed at the temple chief.

What?

Theo was cut off at the shoulder.

Theo stabbed his sword with bloodshot eyes at the fallen temple chief, who had been cut across the shoulder.

You cut me off, you bastard!　Are you trying to get at me?

”Hold on!　The success rate of resuscitation is not high to begin with!　Moreover, it depends on the amount of catalyst, the condition of the corpse, the amount of time that has passed since death, and the karma of the person to be resuscitated!

Shut up!

Shut up!

Theo even cut down the priest who had come to punish him.

The female priestess who was carrying a vat of water screamed and ran away.

This is a diplomatic issue!　You have stained the glorious friendship that is about to be established between Noa Curio and Ciel-Teira!

It's your fault!　You cowards!　Country to country relations. ......

Blood spurted out of Theo's mouth as he squirmed.

”...... What?

Theo, who had a sword point growing out of his chest, slowly turned around.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

...... Ah, there's still that skeleton assassin from earlier, isn't there?

That's right. Well, that was a mistake. He must have been hiding somewhere.

The warrior jokingly said in a white voice, and his fellow adventurers joined in.

”Oh, you ...... treason ...... international trouble ...... and death penalty ....... ......

The sword was drawn, and Theo fell. The pool of blood on the stone floor grew larger and larger.

Theo never moved again.