Chapter 300: Exorcism of Peta Sieri (2)

"Hello. Lord Peta Lucius."

Lord, he says. I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from automatically curling up. After letting out a chuckle, I accepted their greeting. I spoke.

"Yes. What brings the Holy Knights and a High Priest from the Archdeity Church Headquarters here?"

And with a bright smile, I slowly looked these guys over. It was because I was curious about what they came to say in person. Was there really a need for this many personnel to come just to inform me that I was no longer an Archdeity Church High Priest? Was there a need to go so far as dragging along binding chains and a cart? The High Priest opened his mouth.

"Yes. By accepting the resignation letter submitted directly by Lord Peta Lucius, as of this moment, Lord Peta Lucius is no longer the Southern High Priest. Therefore, you can no longer execute administrative orders regarding donations and the right to appoint Archdeity Church priests in the Southern Region, and I would appreciate it if you could hand over the relevant duties to me starting today."

It was difficult to attain the position of a High Priest, but quitting was something that ended with a single word. The Archdeity Church accepted my resignation letter as if they had been waiting for it. I was cut off so easily that it reached the point where I doubted if I had heard correctly. It seemed they had found me highly disagreeable on a normal basis as well.

"I see. Then shall I pass on the handover details right now? The documents happen to be fully prepared."

This High Priest was the newly appointed Southern High Priest. Since there would be no reason to see his face in the future, I stared at him intently to get a good look while I could. The High Priest cleared his throat and opened his mouth again.

"So, before I officially begin my duties as the Southern High Priest, I would like to execute a personnel order..."

"A personnel order?"

What kind of bullshit was this now. Smiling brightly, I fingered the mace at my waist. To think the day would come when I would use this on an Archdeity Church cleric. The current Southern High Priest spoke with a stoic face.

"I intend to carry out a personnel transfer for Nun Peta Sieri, a faithful servant of the Archdeity Church. As of today, she will be sent to the Archdeity Church Headquarters in the capital city."

I couldn't help but laugh. I had wondered why they accepted my resignation letter so smoothly, but they had a scheme like this. Personnel authority rested with the Southern High Priest. Therefore, they would accept my resignation as the Southern High Priest, then send the priest who would inherit the position to transfer Peta Sieri. Because a Lord couldn't interfere with personnel orders.

"You're going to transfer my wife?"

"A Lord cannot interfere with the personnel transfers of the Archdeity Church. Since there is no precedent of a nun and a Lord marrying, opinions were divided on this matter, but upper management concluded that it was right to proceed with the transfer."

I pointed to the cart that the Holy Knights had brought behind them and asked.

"I have no idea when carts, handcuffs, and Holy Knights used to lock up criminals started being mobilized for personnel transfers. To think the day has come when Archdeity Church clerics blatantly lie."

"It is not a lie. It is a personnel transfer."

"Swear it on the scripture. That Peta Sieri will only be transferred, and that she will work performing her duties as a nun at the headquarters."

"...If Nun Peta Sieri is a demon, appropriate reformation measures will be taken at the headquarters. Lord Peta Lucius. You have currently stepped down from the position of High Priest, and are now interfering with the personnel transfer measures of the Archdeity Church in your civilian Lord status. This is a great disrespect to our Archdeity Church, as well as a challenge, and..."

A long, drawn-out warning from the priest followed. I let those words go in one ear and out the other. It was because they were words not worth listening to seriously. I cut off the High Priest's long speech and asked.

"So. The conclusion is that you're telling me to hand Sieri over. For a 'personnel transfer'."

"Yes. That is correct."

"You know it's a fact that Sieri will die after the personnel transfer, right?"

"I know nothing of the sort."

"Does that fact disappear just because you say you don't? It seems the leadership of the Archdeity Church all approaches their religious activities with that kind of mindset. It is true that Peta Sieri is a demon. But at the same time, she was a devout follower of the Archdeity Church and a nun who personally went out to the Eastern Plains Region and sincerely participated in service activities. No one living in the territory would be able to point out a single flaw in Sieri. Yet you people are making more of an issue out of her origins rather than the life a person has lived."

"...How can a demon be a simple matter of birth? If we start tolerating demons, the world will end up full of them. Lord Peta Lucius. We have come to make a final polite request. Please hand over Nun Peta Sieri."

"I refuse. Peta Sieri has never lived as a demon even once. I should have clearly explained it in the Kingdom Report as well. It was simply that a spell called the [Stigma of Evangeline] was activated, awakening the demon blood that even Sieri herself didn't know about. Do you not have a shred of guilt, High Priest, about driving an innocent person to the execution ground?"

"It's not a person, it's a demon. A demon is merely a demon."

"She was once a person, and even now she is trying to live like one. It reminds me of my wife, Eve. My wife, who is a mermaid hybrid, was a heinous criminal who raped women and murdered dozens of sailors in the port city Esta. She received a pardon according to the law and was granted permission to marry me by the Archdeity Church. And how is she now? Is she still a heinous criminal? In the Church of Love Subjugation Operation that took place in the Eastern Plains, she stood in the vanguard more than anyone to subjugate demons, and when I leave on a business trip at the kingdom's call, she takes the initiative more than anyone to govern the territory. Anyone can change."

"Aren't the circumstances different! Demons are bastards who are wicked to their very bones! Are you defending a demon?"

"I am protecting my wife. No matter what anyone says, she is my wife, and my family."

"You're failing to see the core of the problem. This is a problem regarding the very doctrine built up by the Archdeity Church. This is... Eok!"

Smack!

Moving my arm lightly, I slapped his cheek. The High Priest rolled on the floor from the hit. The Holy Knights drew their weapons and stood around the High Priest. Brushing off my hand, I looked down at the High Priest. He was rolling his eyes around as if flustered by the sudden slap, unable to spit out any words. I grabbed the mace in my hand and swung it lightly through the empty air once. The Holy Knights, suppressed by the momentum, took a step back.

"High Priest, you don't seem to fucking understand right now, but whether she's a demon or not isn't important. I said she's my wife, didn't I? I said I was quitting, right? Huh? Then you should have caught on. Do you think I quit to ask for a motherfucking personnel transfer? It means I'm saving your face by quitting, so you should just gloss over it appropriately and move on."

"P-Protect the High Priest!"

One of the Holy Knights rushed at me. I caught the flying flail with one hand and smashed the iron head right back into the knight's face. Blood streamed down through the gaps of the iron that had pierced his helmet. The Holy Knight, who had stopped like a scarecrow, collapsed heavily onto the floor. The High Priest scrambled backward in terror. The Holy Knights also began to stealthily step back.

"W-What kind of act is this! This is a challenge to the Archdeity Church..."

"Fuck off, idiot. A challenge is what you do to your mom at the dining table, you motherfucker."

"Y-You! For this! The Archdeity Church will definitely hold you accountable! By directly filing a complaint to the kingdom! Demanding certain corporal punishment for this! And...! Eok!"

Because he kept making a noisy fuss, I delivered another kick. The High Priest, struck by my foot, rolled across the floor before frantically scrambling to his feet and beginning his escape. The Holy Knights ran and fled after the High Priest. I called the soldiers to clean up the Holy Knight's corpse.

After clearing the body, I visited the church to call for the Southern High Priest again. But the High Priest wasn't there. He made a fuss about a handover or whatever, but it seemed he had fled without looking back. I had hoped to resolve the incident peacefully, but the rude and radical behavior of the Archdeity Church ended up bringing about a tragedy. It was time to make a decision. A rough plan was already laid out.

Using a Lord's authority, I gathered the people of the territory. I also called Sieri in as well. I confirmed that all the territory's people had gathered. Looking at Sieri, who had become a demon, they whispered among themselves or cast anxious glances. Sieri herself kept her mouth firmly shut with a flushed face, as if ashamed of her demonic appearance. I looked around at the people and opened my mouth.

"Everyone. As of today, I have stepped down from my position as an Archdeity Church High Priest."

The mouths that had been chattering among themselves stopped, and their gazes turned toward me. Their bewildered emotions poured out clearly. I pointed at Sieri and spoke.

"There is only one reason. It is because the Archdeity Church tried to brand my wife, Peta Sieri, as a demon and kill her."

The people started to murmur again. Robin shouted in a loud voice.

"Silence!"

Confirming that the people had quieted down again, I continued my words.

"Everyone. What is a person's value judged by? Their outward appearance? Their origins? My wife, who grew up receiving her parents' love on the outskirts of the Former Delmon Territory. Peta Sieri was a woman who served as a role model to all the territory's people. As an Archdeity Church nun, her devotion was acknowledged by everyone in the church, and her kindness and diligence were enough to be the standard among the people of the territory."

Everyone nodded their heads. Peta Sieri, who had attended service every single day from her position as a nun even after becoming the Lord's wife, was a paragon of the territory and its very face.

"And in this recent Church of Love Subjugation Operation in the Eastern Plains, she personally stepped forward! Standing at the vanguard to subjugate wicked evil! She spared no effort in supporting the soldiers. Everyone! I am going to confess a fact right here! Amidst that battle, Sieri was struck by an extremely wicked curse from wicked enemies! And ended up transforming into this demonic appearance!"

Sighs poured out from everywhere. Even the people who had been spreading various rumors about Sieri transforming into a demon were covering their mouths in shock. Sieri looked at me with a bewildered face, but when I gave her an eye signal, she lowered her head again. I shouted.

"Everyone! Right now, the Archdeity Church, despite knowing the inner truth of what happened to my loving wife! Is trying to brand her as a demon and kill her! Everyone? Her being a demon, can you believe this?"

"We cannot!"

A knight dressed in civilian clothes shouted from amidst the crowd. Another knight I had given orders to also raised his voice.

"There is no way Sister Sieri would be like that!"

Like a rising wave, voices of agreement began to ring out among the people.

"That's right! Sister Sieri is such a good person!"

"She taught me how to read when I didn't know how!"

"She even took care of my children for me when I was sick!"

"She even spoke directly to the Lord for us when we were in trouble!"

"I remember the sister who stayed up for several nights nursing the soldiers during the Demon King Subjugation!"

Sieri began to tear up. The Archdeity Church's nuns and pastors also raised their voices to support Sieri.

"She was a nun more exemplary than anyone else! There is no way!"

"We believe in Sister Sieri!"

"That's right! Everyone! Now, it's time to show your strength! Sooner or later, the Archdeity Church's wicked legion will come here to execute Sister Sieri! When that time comes! You must show your strength. Do you understand? Gather your strength! And tell them what a good person my wife is!"

"Yes! Understood!"

There was no need for the knights to shout first. The people were boiling over with fervor. There were still many places left to contact.

I should contact Salina, contact the Rosalyn Family, and contact Grand Duke of the North Emilia as well.