第１８７９堀：聖職者は物理 (Part2)
"Thank you for your concern. Given how much this matter has escalated, there must be something behind it. As the representative of the Clear Church—the predecessor to the Clearstream Church—I cannot simply turn a blind eye."
With those words, Archbishop Dodona walked toward the cross enshrined in the depths of the chapel, and then...
"Hmph!"
With that sharp cry, the Archbishop hoisted the cross into the air.
"..."
We could only stare, voices caught in our throats. The cross was easily three meters tall. It was thick and imposing, and as I wondered how on earth he was holding it, I noticed a hollowed-out grip carved into the base.
"Oh, so the 'Natural Enemy of Monsters' is still in fine form."
"And he’s supposed to be retired, yet the Clearstream Church wants to parade him out like this."
It seemed this display was the Archbishop’s genuine strength. Well, after sparring with him to gauge his abilities, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but still...
"I acknowledge your strength, Archbishop, but isn't it a bit unwieldy?"
"Indeed. It’s so massive that you’d never be able to swing it in a forest, let alone a place cluttered with obstacles."
"Quite right. Archbishop Dodona, do you have other armaments? If we storm the Clearstream Church with that, the opposition will likely flee or destroy the evidence. We need something more compact."
We decided to be blunt, pointing out that his current choice was hardly appropriate for the situation.
"Ah, haha. You are quite direct, aren't you?"
"...Indeed. A bit too direct, perhaps, but it is the truth. You understand that, don't you, Archbishop?"
At Enora’s prompt, the Archbishop lowered the cross.
"My apologies. You are right; we aren't dealing with monsters here. I shall choose something else."
He reached for two pole-like objects displayed on either side of the cross. Looking closer, they were maces. The heads were diamond-shaped, designed to crush and tear simultaneously. They were certainly more maneuverable than the cross, but...
"Wait, come on now. You’re supposed to be paying a formal visit, aren't you? Bringing weapons into such a meeting is problematic. King Giadana and Chancellor Daeda will have their knights, and the pretext for your visit is to discuss the suppression of Ohe with the Clearstream Church, right?"
"Ngh..."
"I understand your sentiment, but please, use these instead."
Sia stepped forward, handing him the gauntlets she had received from Narjia.
"And these are?"
"A blacksmith I know crafted them for fighting with one's fists. Sister Enora can explain further, as she fights that way herself."
All eyes, including those of King Giadana and his retinue, turned to Enora.
"It is embarrassing to admit, but while I serve as a bishop and use a mace similar to the Archbishop's in battle, I often find myself in skirmishes during relief efforts and soup kitchen duties. Thus, I have become quite accustomed to fighting with my fists."
As she spoke, Enora pulled back the sleeves of her robes to reveal her own gauntlets. It was impossible to walk into a church, claim you were there to provide healing magic, and then be trusted while openly carrying heavy weaponry. Consequently, all of Enora’s subordinates were sisters trained primarily in hand-to-hand combat, acting as frontline medics.
It made no sense. While I was busy trying to escape the absurdity of it all, Archbishop Dodona had already donned the gauntlets, clenching and unclenching his fists, testing their weight. He looked natural, suggesting he was more than capable of brawling. Given how he moved during our spar, it was no surprise.
"These are magnificent. You have my gratitude. Now, regarding the plan to infiltrate the Clearstream Church..."
The pleasantries finally concluded, and we moved on to the strategy. It went without saying that Archbishop Dodona would lead the assault team, but his appointment left us clutching our heads in despair. Thanks to his insistence, we were no longer mere observers; we were now officially his "students," forced to charge in alongside him. This put us in a precarious position regarding our future as adventurers.
A cleric on the front lines might seem strange in a game, but throughout Earth's history, religious figures have often been surprisingly militant, frequently found at the very vanguard of the fray.