019 - Sunset City (3)
"W-what?" Faerie exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the tent to herself.
The craftsman's stares, especially the two men in expensive robes, were unusual.
"Is Lady from outside the Empire, so you don't know the Goddess Gaia's crest?" a robed man who spoke a lot inquired Faerie.
While Faerie was being asked, the craftsman asked quietly, almost whispering. "Was Lady not on the side of the Holy Theocracy Kingdom?"
All the kingdoms around the Moel Empire as the center of the Graham continent were well aware that the Moel Empire and the great Emperor Graham held a belief in the Goddess Gaia.
The Theocratic Kingdom, which is a part of the Moel Empire, is a territory that is revered as a holy Kingdom and serves as a gathering place for all devoted followers of the Goddess Gaia.
During the war, it is stated that the great Emperor Graham received assistance from a Pope. The great Emperor Graham and his descendants began to believe and believe in what the Pope preached after that.
Goddess Gaia.
The Goddess represents the land as the earth. She is known as the 'Mother of the Universe'.
The Goddess who served as the world's foundation. She gave birth to the sky, which encompassed all sides, as well as the sea, hills, and other natural phenomena.
The most important thing is. The Goddess who bestowed both life and salvation on this world.
Loyal worshipers of the Goddess Gaia can cast divinity and use it to treat a variety of illnesses.
As a result, Goddess Gaia is recognized as a great holy Goddess who is willing to provide Her strength to save people who place their trust in Her with all of their heart, soul, and body. Because of her compassion and generosity, Goddess Gaia came to be revered more and more.
Thus, even those who do not worship Goddess Gaia are familiar with her symbol. The Goddess, who is renowned for her benevolence, has a tremendous influence.
Because of this, people couldn't help but be shocked to see Faerie who didn't know the sacred symbol of the Goddess Gaia.
'Dammit! How did I know it was the Goddess's symbol?!'
Faerie quickly remembered the great figure of God and her glowing face as she began to curse her stupidity for not properly preparing how to anticipate if something like this happened.
'Wait, does that imply that 'She' is the Goddess Gaia?!
Faerie remembered the words of the God who had said that She was an observer as well as a guardian of the world where this novel took place.
If it were true that the 'She' that Faerie had known all along turned out to be the Goddess Gaia who was revered by the fanatics of this world, she couldn't insult the God again in a thoughtless manner.
'If it is discovered that I cursed the Goddess they worship, I may be labeled as an evil witch and burned to death!!'
Faerie has already had a near-death experience by hanging herself; is it now time for her to have another near-death experience by being burned alive?
'Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!'
"Lady?" the craftsman's worried voice broke Faerie's thoughts.
The craftsman was naturally concerned. He was startled and worried when he saw the shabby-robed Lady's face become pale.
The craftsman asked, remaining formally, "Is Lady all right?"
That was because, although the girl in front of him was wearing a shabby robe, the wood craftsman felt an uncommon aura from her. As a result, he chose to be cautious.
The man in the fine robe, who had been babbling incessantly for a long time, walked to the middle of Faerie and the craftsman.
He immediately came up behind Faerie's body, "Have you never seen the emblem of the Gods?" he said.
Of course, Faerie was taken aback when she noticed a stranger was standing behind her without her knowledge.
Faerie instinctively moved away, but when her back bumped against something, she gasped in shock.
thump!
"Ah! Sorry!" Faerie exclaimed as her body collided with someone. The sensation of her back touching something hard but soft gave her chills.
The man Faerie ran into, the fine-robed man who didn't talk much, was gritting his teeth so hard that Faerie could hear his voice.
'Scary!'
"Why are you asking questions that are none of your business?" asked one man in a fine robe to another. The tone of his words indicated that he was upset with his friend's behavior.
Even though the fine-robed man appeared enraged as if he was about to go on a rampage and destroy the innocent tent, the fine-robed man, who radiated a cheerful aura, instead answered by asking Faerie another question.
"Lady, are you from outside? If so, where are you from? What Gods do you worship?"
"I said stop."
"Why? I was just curious."
Faerie, who was sandwiched between the fine-robed man with a dark aura and the fine-robed man with a cheerful aura, could only feel chills all over her body.
'His voice!'
Faerie held back her trembling as she heard the voice of a man in a fine robe emitting a menacing atmosphere. For some reason, every part of her body started reacting strangely to the voice of the mysterious person.
'Why...? Could it be an important character?!'
'Faerie, you idiot!' Faerie yelled in frustration, forgetting that the chances of meeting important characters within the Empire's borders were very great.
Faerie was so taken aback by her current situation that she didn't have time to consider using her Mind's eye> skill. Because all she wanted right now was to get out of this dangerous situation.
'Damn you, God! Ah, no! I'm talking to the kind Goddess Gaia! Please make it easy for me when I start working on the contract.'
While Faerie was praying to Goddess Gaia, the man in the fine robe with the menacing aura and voice spoke again.
"It doesn't matter whether she worships another Goddess or not. We're running out of time so--"
"I AM A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER OF GODDESS GAIA!!" Faerie immediately shouted to cut off the robed man's words.
"Huh?" They looked at Faerie who suddenly shouted, with different views.
"Me! Huuufff…," Faerie inhaled and exhaled at the same time before continuing her sentence, "I never skip the daily prayer praising the greatness of the Goddess!"
'That's only half true. Because I usually curse that ugly black ball when I'm struck by bad luck,' Faerie reasoned, putting on a warm smile and attempting to create the image of an innocent girl for these important characters she met by chance.
"… Then?" the craftsman who had finally recovered from the shock, asked Faerie.
Faerie laughed awkwardly so she looked like an innocent girl. "I have a brooch with the same shape as that."
Faerie pulled out her brooch, which was her most precious guarantee. The only thing to be able to communicate and summon the God who made a contract with her.
The 'God's Blessing' is currently in the form of a brooch resembling an oak tree, each with beautiful green crystals that seem like fruit.
This brooch looks just like the one that is on display in the glass case at the checkout desk. But even so, it was obvious that the brooch on display and the one worn by Faerie were very different.
When one of the robed men saw Faerie's brooch, his eyes sparkled strangely. However, Faerie was unaware of this. Because Faerie was trying her hardest to think of a way to safely escape this terrible scenario.
"This brooch is a heritage from my parents; I acquired it at a young age, not knowing what kind of brooch it is, but I always pray fervently while holding it, really!" said Faerie which made the tense atmosphere in the tent subside.
It makes sense.
The Moel Empire, which worshiped and believed in Goddess Gaia, was at odds with the minor Kingdoms that worshiped different Gods.
As a result, if Faerie mispronounces a word or two, she may be arrested and forcibly forced to see the Marquess, the ruler of the border region west who oversees and guards the Sunset city.
"I see..." The craftsman and his wife's faces instantly warmed as they heard Faerie's brief story, which was created in less than a minute.
Faerie couldn't help but smile innocently to hide her guilt for deceiving good people like the two of them.
'I sincerely apologize! But I want to live till this contract is finished! '
Faerie reinserted her precious brooch into the pocket of her shabby rose.
Initially, she intended to save into a
Faerie, however, was concerned about using her ability in front of important characters, so she just stuffed them inside her pocket to avoid suspicion.
'Besides, I'm still not sure what the name of the character I met on this border is.'
As a result, Faerie resolved to leave this place as soon as possible before she caused or entered into severe problems.
To be honest, Faerie wasn't quite ready to interact with the major characters. Her goal here was mere to see if her
"Alright! I'll excuse myself. See you all!" Faerie bowed slightly to the craftsman and his wife, then to the two robed men before rushing out of the tent without looking back.
***
The robed man, who gave off a cheerful aura, pursed his lips as he watched the back of the shabby-robed girl drift away and fade from view. "Hmm, I was hoping to find out the situation from those scoundrel Kingdoms."
He cast a glance at the man wearing the same expensive robe as him. "Aren't you curious, Your Highness?"
The robed man with the menacing aura just furrowed his brows, as if irritated with something. However, as soon as he noticed something shining on the ground, his stiff facial muscles relaxed.
He nodded. "Yes."
He took up something that glittered beautifully and put it in his pocket, "I'm really curious."