Chapter 78: 78-78 Holy City

「どうだい、ここまでの話は. 急いでたから随分と省略してしまったけれど」

「……大体の話はわかりましたが、すみませんがすぐには信じられません」

「まあ、そうだろうね……それが自然な反応だと思う」

ティレンス皇子は迷宮内の暗い通路を早足で歩きながら、隣で歩く私に様々なことを説明していった.

それは私にとって初めて耳にすることばかりだったが、どれも信じがたいことばかりだった.

────ミスラの大聖堂の地下、『嘆きの迷宮』は生きている(・・・・・).

つまり、未だに踏破されていない迷宮なのだという.

二百年以上前に、教皇アスティラによって迷宮が踏破され安全が確認された後に『神託』を受け、彼女はその地にそのまま国を建てたとされている.

彼の話だと、この『神聖ミスラ教国』はその嘘(・)の上に建てられた国ということになる.

始まりからして嘘だったのだと.

……すぐには信じられない話だ.

「……それにはいつ気がついたのですか？」

「僕も実際は色々調べていくうちにだんだんと理解していったんだけど……何かがおかしいと思ったのは、五歳の頃かな」

「……五歳？」

「そう、僕がちょうど物心ついたような頃さ.

あることがきっかけで、何かがおかしいと感じはじめたんだ」

迷宮の暗闇の中を歩き続けながら、彼は話を続けた.

「ミスラ教のことは知っているよね.

お母様が救い主『聖ミスラ』から神託を得て作り上げた宗教、ということになっているんだけど、曰く『いつの日か救い主聖ミスラが復活する日が必ずやって来る.

我らはその地に集い都を築かねばならない.

その地に住まう民は聖ミスラ復活の時が来れば永遠の命を授かる.

彼らはその為に集められる』、と.

────そういう話がまず、僕らが信じる最初の教義(おしえ)になっている」

それはミスラ教の第一教義とされる教えだ.

聖ミスラの『復活の日』に行われる『救いと祝福』に備え、『聖都』に民を集めよ、と.

ミスラ教徒達はその教えに忠実に従い、建国以来ずっと、大陸の各地で『救いの手』と呼ばれる事業を行い『聖都』に人を集めつづけている.

貧しい国に派遣されたミスラの「宣教師」が孤児を拾い、建設した教会で教育を受けさせ、聖都のあるミスラ本国へと移住させたり、酷い扱いをされている奴隷を買い上げて、ミスラの市民権を与え教育し、仕事に就かせてたり────或いは戦争によって家を無くした人々を受け入れ、住居と仕事を与えるなど、主に居場所を無くした人々を積極的に受け入れる事業だ.

そんな事業を国として行なっている為、『ミスラ教国』と言えば普通は素晴らしい国だと考えられている.

言ってみれば、国家の精神の核となり、発展の中核ともなっているのが、その『教義(おしえ)』だと言われているのだが.

「その教義に嘘が含まれていると？」

「────いや、違う. 全くの逆(・・・・)だよ」

「逆？」

「あれは全て、本当のこと(・・・・・)だと僕は考えている.

……『聖ミスラ』はこの国に確かに存在(・・)する.

そしておそらく、今も復活の時を待っている.

『その復活の時の為に全ての民は集められた』と言うのも、本当のことだと思う.

色々と調べていくほどに、あれは真実だと確信せざるを得なかったんだ」

「あれ、とは……どういうことですか？」

「……見たんだよ. 僕は五歳の時に.

I saw you interacting with a giant skeletal monster (・・・・・).

It was St. Mithra himself, as depicted in the icon.

...... One night, my mother took me in her arms and took me somewhere.

The next thing I knew, we were in a strange place ...... where my mother and a giant skeleton were talking face to face in a language I didn't know.

The next morning, I woke up in my bed as usual, but I couldn't forget it.

When I told my mother what I had seen, she told me to forget it all because it was a dream.

──── But it was definitely not a dream.

I can't forget it. It couldn't have been a dream.

"...... Are you sure it wasn't a dream, ......?

Yeah. I had a little blood taken from me at the time and I remember the pain well.

I don't know what they were talking about there, but ──── they seemed to be discussing something while looking at me. I also remember that I was so scared that I couldn't stop shaking while I was there.

By that time, I already knew about St. Mithra from picture books, and I had been educated that it was something to be respected, but when I saw ...... the real thing, I couldn't believe it was a holy being.

──── Why?

...... It seems to like human blood.

My mother gave it some of the blood from my arm, put it on her big ──── finger, brought it to her mouth and drank it with relish.

It looked at my face as if it was enjoying ...... it.

There were no eyeballs on its face, but I felt like it was looking at me like it was preying.

Has anyone ever told you that ......?

...... No, I didn't say that.

Not since your mother denied it to anyone.

Even as a child, I think I kind of knew that it was dangerous. After that, when she asked me, I kept saying I forgot.

After that, I continued to pretend that I innocently believed in the teachings of this country and in my mother. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been allowed to live until now.

The things he said quietly were things I could never have imagined.

He said that ever since he can remember, he has been living with the feeling that there are enemies around him. Sometimes he would lie to the people around him and act like he didn't know what was going on.

──── since he was only five years old. For ten years.

Is it really possible to do that ......?

It's not that I could, it's that I had to.

When I really started to realize that everything around me was an enemy, I was in despair. ...... Well, I got used to it.

I'm not saying, "Why are you telling me this ...... story?

I mean, why did you even want to involve me in this?

"That's exactly when I met you. That's when I met you.

...... I don't mean to brag, but I was getting really skeptical back then.

I wasn't the kind of guy who trusted people easily.

...... Well, it's still true today, but back then it was a big surprise.

There was nothing to believe in, and I took it for granted.

But somehow, from the first moment I saw you, I knew I could trust you.

It's hard to explain in theory.

And after spending a little time with you, I realized that you are not like other people I've met.

──── You're also incredibly talented.

I was really surprised.

In the country, I have never been defeated by anyone in academics or swordplay, but I have lost almost everything.

So I thought you could handle it.

It's too ...... abstract to say.

And you're overbearing. There's only so much I can do on my own.

But that's the truth. I don't know what else to say.

Everything I've just told you, ......, is one-sided wishful thinking on my part.

I need your help, but I don't think there's any reason or benefit for you to get involved.

First of all, it's absurd to ask you to help me when you're suddenly involved in my situation.

Of course, if you don't think it's possible after listening to this much, you can just take the information home with you. ...... It's just too dangerous to go on.

I'm sure you're aware of that, but I'm sure you're not the only one. ...... The reason we came here in the first place was to stop Rollo and his interference with the kingdom (us).

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...... Well, I suppose you're right.

I'm sorry that I'm suddenly saying this and confusing you.

But I really had no choice but to tell you like this.

Today was probably the last day (・・・・・) that I could see you like this, and the last day that I could work on this case. ────

"What do you mean, ......?

Instead of answering my question, he said something like this.

──── Hey, what did you think of the country?

Instead of answering my question, he said something like this: " Hey, what do you think of this country?" It seemed to me that he had abruptly changed the subject, but he continued.

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This Mithraic country is really beautiful.

Even though I have lived here since I was born, I still think so.

The buildings, squares, and churches of the city are all in perfect harmony, and there is not a speck of dust on the streets. There is not a speck of dust on the streets. Everywhere you look, it is amazingly beautiful.

That's what I was thinking, too.

I nodded silently.

I nodded silently, "Of course, this Mithraic nation is built on a lot of lies and operates on a lot of false premises.

The more I look into it, the more I see that the ...... teachings are made with evil intentions. In fact, this place is a false city created with a purpose by that "Holy Mithra (monster)" whom Mother worships as her savior.

...... But the people who live here are basically good.

They don't know to doubt, they've just been led to believe what they've been taught.

As you know, the country of Mithra has done a lot of things that cannot be made public.

The way they treat the demons is the same.

But the people who just love this place and this country should be innocent.

...... Of course, I know that's a convenient interpretation.

But if it's not, then no one in this country can be saved. ────

"──── Sorry.

I still don't know what you mean by "teachings", but to be honest, I don't really follow the rest of the ...... conversation either.

I'm sorry ......, I spoke too much at once.

It was designed with a very long term intention.

The time may not come ──── soon, if at all.

But if ...... continues at this rate, this country will probably be in trouble in the future.

I think we have to do whatever we can to stop it.

...... Does that lead to what you were saying earlier?

When I broke into his room, he said.

He's going to kill his mother ──── and Pope Astira.

I still couldn't swallow what the hell that meant.

"Oh. She's my biggest 'enemy' at the moment. ...... Unfortunately, yeah.

To be honest, I still don't understand how you can ...... refer to your own mother as your enemy.

Yes, I do. If possible, I would like you to understand everything.

I'd like you to understand everything if I could. ...... But now is not the time.

I don't think I can explain everything to you satisfactorily here.

And I know it's impossible to expect you to believe me.

But ──── you're really the only one who could save this country.

There was no one else I could turn to.

Suddenly, he stopped walking and got down on both knees on the ground.

Then he put his hands on the floor and bowed his head so ──── that his forehead almost touched the ground.

──── Please. I need your help, Leanne.

I can't ask you to believe every word I say.

But I'm trying to save my country ...... and the people around me.

You have to believe me on that.

I still feel that I haven't heard the whole story from him.

And I'm not convinced that he's worth believing.

Still, ────

But for the first time since I met him, I felt like I was hearing the truth from his mouth.

All you had to do was say, "............ from the beginning.

I understand. I'll help you as much as I can.

When I replied, he looked up and gave me an unexpected look.

"Yeah, ......?　...... You don't really believe me, do you?

No, I don't think I can trust you yet. ...... But Rollo said earlier that you might not be the enemy.

I don't know. ...... I believe she can read people's minds. I thought I had carefully built a wall around my mind, but ...... it seems to have come out.

Yes. So you can thank Rollo for that. I'll take his word for it.

Yes, I do. I have him to thank for that. And you, of course.

...... No, you don't deserve to be thanked like that, Prince.

I think the purpose of what you just said is legitimate, and as the youngest member of a family that unites neighboring countries, it is in the national interest to help. This is not the same as showing affection to a friend, it is simply a matter of mutual interest, so there is no need to thank .......

I was trying to emphasize that I hadn't forgiven him, but Prince Tirens laughed as he blurted it out.

"Pfft. ...... Haha, that's Lean!

That's what I'm talking about. I trust you.

I trust you. ...... I'm falling more and more in love with you.

"...... How long are you going to keep that joke up?　I'm getting tired of it.

No, no, no, I meant what I said.

──── What do you think?　I'm not sure what to say.

Next time I'll make a serious proposal.

...... That's the part I don't believe in, really.

I felt several huge shadows approaching from the darkness where we were headed.

It was the shadow of a demon, no need to check with the lights.

............ Apparently, we really don't have much time.

I wanted to explain the situation a little more to you, but I don't think they'll let me.

So it's true that the labyrinth is still alive.

...... Are you starting to believe me now?

Yes, a little.

In the direction we were going, a swarm of demons had sprung up to cover the passages of the vast labyrinth.

We were told that our destination was farther down the hall.

This means that ────

We'll have to go through ────.

I'd like to speed up the pace a bit from here, can you keep up?

I've been a child prodigy until you came to study with me, you know.

I may not be as reliable as you, though.

I'm going to go to ...... and push my way through.

I'll cut in first, but please assist me as best you can.

As I held my sword towards the group of demons, a low voice called out to my back.

"──── Princess Linneburg.

I'm really sorry for getting you involved in our situation.

"...... I'll hear your apologies when you're done, Prince Tyrence.

Let's hurry. We'll continue our conversation on the run.

The moment I said that and confronted a group of demons in the dark, countless demons sprang up from under my feet.

I immediately tried to respond to the unexpected appearance of the demons with my sword, but before I could do so, something thin flashed in the darkness and the heads of the demons fell to the ground one after another.

"Was that ......?

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

It's the mithril steel wire.

It's my kind of weapon, isn't it?

I've been trying not to use this in public.

...... Were you allowed to show me that?

Of course. I'm going to entrust you with the fate of my country and me.

...... I don't want to be entrusted with something like that.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

I immediately ducked through the silver threads in the air and slashed the crowd of demons jumping at him from the edge of my eye.

Nice work. Nice work, Lean.

"──── If you can't afford to talk, help me, Tyrence.

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