The snow covering the land of Agartha has finally begun to melt. Warm breezes are blowing, heralding the long-awaited arrival of spring. However, there were those who could not afford to feel the arrival. They are the Vieilleurs of the Church of Crimiana.
They have begun to build a village where only the believers live, without waiting for the snow to melt. Using supplies brought in via the Duchy of Niza, they fought against the cold and cut down trees in the forest to make lumber, which they then processed to build dwellings for themselves. In parallel, they also built a wall around their village. The speed of their work exceeded the expectations of Linos and his men, and by the time spring came, 70% of the wall had been completed.
So far, everything had gone as Vieille and Crimiana had planned. Although the number of immigrants was only about one-third of what they had planned, they had been able to bring with them selected soldiers from their home countries and highly skilled technicians. It was a very efficient group of the most elite people of the Church. Therefore, the construction of the village had been done on a small scale, and there was enough food to last for another year. All they had to do was to slowly expand their power while attracting the people of Agartha to Crimiana's side. If Agartha, sensing the danger, attacked us, we would do everything in our power to defeat them with our well-trained soldiers and bring down their capital, while destroying the beastmen villages that had been built nearby.
However, two unexpected things happened here. One was that the number of believers of the Crimiana cult in Agartha was not increasing at all, and the other was the problem of condensation.
The serious problem was the condensation. The village often had condensation both outside and inside the houses. Vieille and his team took various measures to prevent this, but no effective remedy could be found. As a result, by the time spring arrived, the buildings were filled with mold and an indescribable, unpleasant smell. Some of the houses were even covered with mushrooms.
Naturally, the beds they slept on, the sheets that covered them, and even their clothes were covered with fungus. It was an unpleasant environment that ordinary people would have run away from at once, but the congregation continued to endure it with their own mental strength.
They also had quarrels with the people here and there in Agartha. In particular, the people of the capital had no trust in them, and gradually they were becoming an object of abhorrence among the people of Agartha.
"...I understand. Please continue.
When Vieille finished listening to the bishop's report, he tried to act as nonchalant as possible. However, the weariness emanating from her entire body and her forced movements made her look miserable and painful.
"Vieille-sama..."
It was Bishop Koffresi calling out to him.
"Please rest a little. But this environment.... But in a few days our new house will be ready. Then you can move to your new house and rest.
Hearing his words, Vieille smiles back at him.
The other members of the congregation are enduring this environment just as I am. I cannot be the only one to receive such special treatment. I am only asking for your kindness."
Kofresi looked down for a moment and then opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
"Let's leave this place, Mr. Vieille," he said. Why don't we find a new place for us to live?
"What are you talking about?
Unusually, Vieille replies in a tone of voice.
"Do you know how much work we have done to build this village? The construction of the village is on schedule. If we abandon this land because it is covered with mold, we will be further vilified by the people of Agartha. Besides, this place is at the throat of Agartha. Our presence here is tantamount to putting a blade to the throat of the king of Agartha. You can't just leave. This is also the hardship that Lady Klimiana has given us. Only by overcoming this can we become true servants of the Lord God. Mr. Koflesh, is your loyalty to the Lord Krimeana that flimsy?
Koflesi is simply horrified by Vieille's anger, which he does not usually show.
I'm sorry. I am so shallow, Koffresi.
"I wish I knew. I know that you will help us, my dear. In the spring, when the weather gets warmer, things will change. We are almost there. We still have work to do. We must cultivate the fields and grow crops. We will lead our village to prosperity. We must show them our power. Then the people of Agartha will surely realize the power of your blessings. This is the moment of truth. Let's do our best, Mr. Koflesh.
Kofresi bowed his head repeatedly as he left the room. Cassel entered the room in his place.
"Sister..."
"Oh, Cassel. Now, Mr. Koflesi..."
"I heard you outside. Sister... I think you're right. It's just..."
Just what is it, Cassel?
"After all, I can only think that this country is still under the influence of the Great Satan. I think we should go home and consult His Holiness the Pope...
"The people of this land, under King Agartha, have not accepted our religion of Crimiana and the precious teachings of the Lord Goddess. This nation will surely be punished. When we report this to His Holiness the Pope, he will surely tell us to destroy those who oppose us. We will establish a paradise here. We must lead this village to prosperity. When the hammer falls on the wicked who oppose us, the people of this land will realize their own folly. For this to happen, this village must be prosperous. When the land of Agartha once again becomes a hellish scene, there will be only one merged, prosperous and peaceful paradise. We must be. Cassel, you must help us. Yes, yes. Let us preach this once more to the people of Agartha. It is not too late..."
Vieille said this and hurriedly left the room to get ready to go out. Cassel could do nothing but watch him go, unable to say anything.
Vieille, together with several bishops, went to the capital of Agartha and began to preach. He was amazed at how great the Lady Klimiana was. On the other hand, he told them about the terrible future that awaited this country with a serious expression on his face. Finally, with gentle eyes, he told the audience that the village of Klimiana was the place of salvation.
It was a convincing performance, for which I can give myself a perfect score. Vieille was absolutely confident in his missionary skills. In fact, she had been a missionary in various places and had won many followers in every place with her divine atmosphere and her overwhelming persuasive presentation skills. She had done so well that she received a perfect score. However, the reaction of the people of Agartha who gathered around her was cold.
"When is this evil one coming?"
"In the near future, in the near future!"
"Well, Master Linos will be here, so I guess it will be all right."
No! He is so powerful and evil that even the king of Agartha can't match him! Yes, in the olden days..."
"If that king can't beat him, he's going to die no matter where he runs, isn't he? Well, it's all right. The king will figure something out. Unless he's not in the city... but he was shopping at the market yesterday. By the way, what kind of outfit is this guy wearing that even Linos can't compete with?"
"It's that evil... Evil... evil... evil..."
"Don't tease the grown-ups too much, girl."
Such conversations were repeated everywhere I went. Some people in the city offered food and drinks to Vieille, but she continued to deal with them in her usual way.
They continued their usual way of dealing with such people. We owe it all to you, Klimiana-sama. Thank you, Lord God.
Naturally, those who had given alms left them with indescribable expressions on their faces.
The day was drawing to a close with no results. As Vieille and the others were heading home, they saw a man carrying a heavy-looking stone. Vieille and her friends approached the man and held the stone with him. However, the man's reaction was unexpected.
"Hey, don't touch it! Don't touch it!"
"No, I'll help you. It's heavy, isn't it? I'll help you. Don't worry about it.
I told you not to touch it! Aah!"
Unable to resist, the man threw the stone out and placed it on the ground.
"You idiot! It's easier to carry it alone. If you guys hold it, the center of gravity will collapse! Don't get in the way of my work! We have to carry this thing to the master's site by nightfall! I won't stand in your way!"
With that, the man lifted the stone and started walking again.
On the way back to the village, one of the bishops opened his mouth as if muttering.
"I heard that the king of Agartha is good at warding.... I wonder if he has placed wards around the city to prevent us, the Crimianists, from entering..."
"Maybe so. I'm sure it is.
Vieille mutters weakly. The girls had already lost the energy to judge the ridiculousness of this conversation. Moreover, the story was, in a sense, half true, but of course they had no way of knowing that. In the midst of all this, Vieille shakes her head slightly, trying to raise her fragile heart. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I must not be weak. And she swears in her heart that she will make the king of Agartha and the people of this land look back on her.......