Published: July 3, 2025
Five days after departing from Holy Capital Marromar, the exploration group consisting of "Room 10," "Room 11," and Ryo arrived at Bachilta, the royal capital of Rashar East Kingdom.
Of course, the exploration group holding the "Holy Seal Certificate" was able to enter the city with almost no checks.
Bachilta, being the capital of the East Kingdom, was quite a large city.
The East Kingdom itself possessed above-average national strength among the Western Nations.
Whether it can be considered a major power is debatable, but it is certainly not a country to be underestimated as a middle power.
Before finding an inn, the exploration group headed towards Bachilta Church.
There was a chance they might need to depart immediately after hearing Graham's story.
Bachilta Church was easy to find.
The massive building stood at the center of the city.
Being the church where the archbishop's seat was located, it was undoubtedly enormous...
It was certainly bigger than the Central Sanctuary in the royal capital of Naitorei Kingdom.
"The winter heating costs seem quite daunting," Ryo muttered, but no one reacted to his comment.
However, Ryo was not discouraged!
"Upon entering, we would suddenly be surrounded by soldiers. Then, the captain of the soldiers would come forward and say, 'Kukuku, foolish adventurers from the Central Nations, you have fallen into our trap. Graham is already in our grasp. You too shall obediently offer your lives!'"
Ryo's sudden conspiracy story caused the three from Room 10 to merely shake their heads slightly.
The three from Room 11 looked a bit surprised.
They were astonished, but it seemed they were not impressed...
Perhaps it was just too short of a story!
"If only I could connect it!"
"That's right! And we would try to resist, but the enemy would reveal their trump card. That trump card would be a golem! And not just any golem, but an angel-type golem springing into action and attacking us! With magic resistance to all attributes, armor that cannot be cut with swords, beams shooting from its eyes, rocket-like arms, and finally, a self-destruct function! One by one, our group would be taken down... Nils falls, Nils is defeated, Nils exhausts all his strength..."
"Hey, why am I the only one getting taken down?" Nils interjected, prompting the other five to chuckle.
There were some completely incomprehensible words along the way, but they decided not to worry about it...
After all, it was Ryo.
Inside the church, there was an unexpectedly vast sanctuary.
"Oh no... I should have said that the winter heating costs seem quite daunting at this timing... What a blunder."
At this point, it was best not to mention whose muttering it was.
That said, it was understandable for Ryo to mutter that, given how wide and high the ceilings were.
And, as expected, stained glass was fitted into the ceilings and surrounding areas, causing the light that poured in to be exceptionally brilliant.
Moreover, perhaps depicting the missionary activities of past saints or some legends of that sort, there were numerous sculptures adorning the surrounding walls.
Despite its brilliance, it was also a solemn space.
Many long benches were placed, and about ten believers sat there, with their eyes closed.
Some were murmuring something, while others were shedding tears...
At least none of them paid any attention to the exploration group.
Leading the way, Nils advanced deeper.
At the back of the sanctuary, in front, stood a sculpture of a man with a loving expression, arms outstretched as if to embrace everything.
"That is likely the founder of the Western Church, Lord Nyu," Priest Eto explained in a quiet voice.
"Not a god, but a founder's statue?" Ryo asked.
"Yes. In the Western Church, it is forbidden to depict gods in statues or paintings," Eto replied with a nod.
Eto is a priest from the Central Nations, but it seems he has received some education on the doctrines of the Western Church.
"You are correct."
With those words, a figure presumed to be a clergyman emerged from a side door and approached the group.