Chapter 56: Three Wings of the Windmill (3)

The ‘wings’ would be completed by tomorrow, so he told us to come and pick them up then, Khamsin said in a confident voice.

“I will give you the best wings.”

* * *

“So, what does everyone think?”

After leaving the workshop, I immediately asked my companions for their opinions.

This was, in fact, to give Lily a chance to speak.

“There’s something bothering you, isn't there, Lily?”

Ever since she had heard Khamsin and Ethesia's story, she had been making a face as if she had something she wanted to say.

“…….”

Sure enough, Lily slowly nodded her head.

“I… don’t really believe it.”

Then she carefully began to speak.

“I heard that the priests of the Dairus sect are very upright and frugal.”

Once the words started to flow, Lily continued as if she were about to burst out with everything she had been holding back.

“Since it's the closest city, we often had opportunities to interact with the people of the Dairus sect. The bishop always praised their faithfulness whenever he came back from meeting them. He said there were many priests we could learn from.”

He especially didn't spare any praise for Grand Priest Mistral, Lily said.

“The story that such a Dairus sect is corrupt… I just can't easily believe it….”

At that moment.

--

Main Quest

「Carrying You」

Before leaving for Wind Canyon, investigate the sect yourself. (Optional)

--

Thanks to this ‘hint’ from Lily, the quest content was updated.

“B-But I've only heard stories in the end… maybe we've misjudged them by their outward appearance. The people in Daian might know more about what happened in Daian…”

Lily herself added in an unconfident tone.

“No, Lily.”

“Pardon?”

Those were the words we needed right now.

“You’re right.”

“What do you mean…”

“Indeed, it's dangerous to judge something based solely on what you've heard from others.”

Whatever it is, a person or an event, when you're making a judgment about something, you shouldn't just rely on the evaluations passed on by others, but you should evaluate and judge for yourself.

“I know this better than anyone since I'm a bard. The songs I sing may be based on some facts, but they are not the real facts.”

Facts passed on through others, no matter how true they may sound, are likely to be facts that have already been viewed through the subjective lens of the person who passed them on.

“In the end, it's a ‘processed fact’ that has been passed on through the people who sing the songs.”

In other words, it is bound to be at a certain distance from the objective ‘real fact’.

“But it seems that people often believe that it's all true.”

They accept the processed fact as the real fact.

Why?

Because it's much more convenient, and it suits their taste.

Why bother to investigate history and determine the authenticity yourself?

Just sit in a pub and they'll sing you a nice song.

Unlike here where the means are somewhat limited, in a place where you can get information relatively easily… no, it's probably more like that because of it.

Anyway.

At least when you're about to stamp your seal on something and say, ‘this is this’, especially if it's a negative ‘stigma’ that could lead to hatred, we needed to be even more careful.

At the very least, you have to go through the process of seeing and hearing for yourself, and thinking for yourself.

And the best way to do that is, of course.

“Then, shall we go and have a talk?”

‘conversation’.

“…Pardon?”

“Let's go and meet them ourselves. The supposedly corrupt priests.”

If you want to know more about your opponent, there is no better way than this.

* * *

“We would like to meet the Grand Priest.”

“……?”

At my sudden visit to the temple and my words, the priests showed a troubled expression as if they were at a loss for words.

Who are you, why are you looking for the Grand Priest, and so on.

They seemed to be at a loss for words because there were so many things they had to say.

But that was short-lived.

When I presented the insignia of alliance, the priests were surprised and murmured among themselves, and then, after asking us to wait a moment, they disappeared somewhere.

And a little later.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

In the small room where the priests had led us, an elderly man was waiting for us.

Unlike the gray priest robes that the priests who had led us were wearing, he was dressed in a pure white priest robe.

Perhaps that's why he felt more dignified, but on top of the clothes, all I could see was an ordinary old man with a benevolent smile.

“I am Mistral.”

In a word, he looked like a person wearing clothes that didn't suit him.

“Thank you for granting us an audience despite our sudden visit, Grand Priest.”

“Mistral is enough.”

And Mistral also spoke as if he knew that fact well.

Then, as we sat down at his suggestion, he continued in a leisurely tone.

“For what reason have the allies of Stout come to see this old man?”

“Today, in the square, we saw the citizens surrounding a priest and protesting vehemently.”

“I have shown you a shameful sight.”

“They were saying, ‘the priests are corrupt!’.”

The moment I uttered these words, I could see four people gasp in surprise.

Ibi, Miki, Lily, and a young priest who had been standing in the corner since leading us here.

Among them, Ibi especially had a look that said she had a lot to say.

‘Y-You're saying that right in front of him…!?’

She was making a face as if I could hear the words she hadn't even said out loud.

But the person who had heard those words ‘right in front of his face’, Mistral, on the contrary, did not show any signs of being flustered.

“It must all be because our priests are lacking.”

He just gave a bitter smile.

“I came to ask for your opinion, no, Mr. Mistral's opinion, on that matter.”

“Are you asking if our sect is really corrupt?”

I nodded, and Mistral, after a moment of thought, opened his mouth again.

“Did you by any chance come from Stout… at the request of Priest Aqua?”

“No, we just happened to stop by during our travels.”

Though since we came with a purpose from the beginning, it couldn't be called a coincidence.

“And since I'm a bard, I can't just pass by when I see an incident that could become a song.”

“Is that so?”

At my answer, Mistral seemed to be lost in thought again, but the silence was not long.

“When the various suspicions first arose, our sect conducted its own investigation.”

He then continued cautiously.

“According to that investigation… we could not find any evidence that our priests were committing any wrongdoing.”

“So the sect is innocent?”

“As far as I can judge, yes.”

Mistral immediately added.

“And personally, I firmly believe that our priests will not be swayed by such indulgence.”

It was then.

“Grand Priest, I think we should also actively respond to such rumors──”

The moment the young priest who had been quietly standing in the corner opened his mouth, Mistral immediately raised a hand to stop him.

“The very fact that we are being criticized is all because we are lacking. We have failed to gain the trust of the citizens.”

“But Grand Priest…”

“That is not our job.”

Mistral once again firmly dismissed the young priest's words.

“We are clerics, not politicians.”

It was the first time his tone and voice matched the title of ‘Grand Priest’.

“Actively asserting our innocence in front of the citizens is not our way. If, we are truly innocent, then Lord Dairus will know.”

And if that is the case, then one day the citizens will also know, Mistral said.

“Therefore, our job is to serve Lord Dairus with more sincerity.”

The young priest seemed to have a lot more to say, but at such a firm attitude, he eventually chose to quietly take a step back.

“While letting people tear you apart?”

At my direct words, which I had thrown in place of the priest, Mistral once again gave a bitter smile.

“It must all be a trial that Lord Dairus has given us, who are lacking.”

And there was no hesitation in his voice as he replied.

“Then is the fact that the wind is not blowing well also a trial from Lord Dairus?”

“…!”

But even Mistral, at these words, showed a surprised reaction for the first time.

He seemed to ponder the meaning of my words for a moment, and then.

“…You are talking about the ‘blessing’.”

He soon understood the intention of my question.

“Some say that the blessing, that is, the ‘core’, is not intact, which is why the wind has stopped.”

“As a matter of fact, our sect has also been observing the state of the blessing under our jurisdiction more carefully since this… anomaly occurred. In fact, I went to the shrine myself just yesterday and confirmed it with my own two eyes.”

“How was its condition?”

“It was intact. I couldn't see anything wrong with it.”

Khamsin and Ethesia had also said that he had claimed this.

“Does that mean that if there is a problem, it is not with the core you manage, but with the cores managed by the other two wings?”

“No.”

Mistral shook his head and answered promptly.

“Grand General Ethesia and Councilor Khamsin have said that the blessings they manage are intact. I trust those two.”

It was a firm statement, with no hint of falsehood.

“Even in a situation where those two are pointing to you as the cause?”

“…….”

But it seemed that he had to remain silent on this question.

“…By any chance, have you already met those two?”

“Yes. In fact, we were at the council until just a little while ago. Thanks to that, I heard everything from the corridor, including Councilor Khamsin strongly pressuring you in the meeting room.”

“Wai, hey, wait…!”

At that moment, Ibi from the side poked my arm and stopped me.

“Are you f*cking crazy…?! How much are you going to say?”

Then she came to my ear and whispered in a strong tone.

“Weren't you just trying to get a feel for what kind of people they are? We have to go into that shrine or whatever without them knowing, and now they're going to be f*cking suspicious…!”

And although they didn't say it out loud like Ibi, Miki and Lily seemed to have similar thoughts, judging by their gaping, astonished expressions.

“I have a plan.”

At that, I gave a short reply and gave them a grin, asking them to trust me.

Ibi looked at me for a moment, then eventually turned her head and waved her hand as if to say, ‘do as you please’.

“Mr. Mistral. I have a favor to ask of you.”

So, I did as I pleased.

“Let us into the shrine.”

At that moment, this time, five people's mouths fell open.

Of course, it wasn't me or Rine.

In other words, Grand Priest Mistral was also included.