NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 169
Francheska.
She, who had now become affectionately known as Flang, was the reliable housekeeper and intelligence agent of the expedition team, and also my teacher.
Without her, a safe expedition wouldn’t have been possible; she played a crucial role in this expedition.
Although she ceded the credit to me, so the other members and outsiders saw me as the main figure, I constantly reminded myself that she was the number one contributor to this expedition.
“…Hey, Flang.”
“Shh. Stay still for now.”
Despite being such a grateful person, she occasionally did troublesome things.
Dragged out of my training suddenly, I couldn’t help but express my confusion to Flang, who was pulling me towards the village.
“I’m training right now…”
“It’s good to work hard, but taking care of your body is important too. The expedition is over now, so it’s okay to rest for a day, isn’t it?”“That’s true, but just because the expedition is over doesn’t mean everything is finished…”
“If you’re uncomfortable with the drinking party, at least take a light walk. This is an order from your teacher, so comply quietly.”
Flang, unusually using the word “order,” was determined to lead me firmly.
Of course, she only looked like a cute girl on the outside, but inside she was a guardian who had protected humanity for over a thousand years.
Even though we formed a relationship somewhat similar to that of a master and servant, Flang always held the upper hand in our relationship.
“…Is it okay for a maid to give orders to her master?”
“Sometimes, it is the loyal servant’s duty to defy the master’s orders for their sake. If you’re not satisfied, you can behead me right here.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. I’ll comply, master.”
So it was like this again. I reluctantly followed Flang out.
But still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
Now I led the most successful expedition team, but even after half a year, I couldn’t help but doubt if my strength was sufficient.
“…Is it really okay like this?”
“I guarantee it.”
Flang glanced up at me, subtly expressing my underlying anxiety.
She then smiled faintly and, wrapping her arms around mine, spoke softly.
“You’re strong enough as you are now. I’m confident that there is no human stronger than you on humanity’s side.”
“Really?”
“Honestly, I wish you wouldn’t push yourself so hard… but if you must become stronger, you need to gain enough strength to not be broken by anything.”
Unable to choose the best option, I chose the lesser evil.
That mindset often showed in the form of a pained expression when she saw me pushing myself too hard.
Her role was to protect and support humanity, but teaching me was almost like harming the very human she was supposed to protect with her own hands.
“…That’s right. I’ve worked hard.”
Even though she acknowledged my achievements and encouraged rest, how could I go against that and return?
Accepting the situation, I stepped into the village, and Flang, smiling, released her arm and walked beside me.
What we arrived at was a small shrine in the center of the village, where villagers were holding a modest ritual in front of a statue.
“Friga, please grant us rest and peace.”
The scene of praying before the sacred statue was not uncommon in the capital, so I could immediately guess what they were doing.
“The world is tough, so it seems like more and more people are praying wherever I go.”
Though I wasn’t religious, I could understand it to some extent.
The world was full of monsters, and the empire was collecting huge taxes to summon heroes, making life tough for everyone.
In such impoverished conditions, relying on religion was the only way for people to maintain their spirits; that was the situation humanity was in.
In that sense, the state religion Friga acted as a beacon of hope that gathered humanity in one place.
“Hmm, hmm.”
As I was contemplating humanity’s circumstances, Flang, standing beside me, cleared her throat for some reason and looked at the shrine ceremony.
Her side glance at me seemed like she was expecting some reaction from me.
“Master, are you also interested in Friga?”
“…Friga?”
“U-uh, she is the god of humanity. From my perspective, she deserves respect, r-right?”
Well, as a guardian of humanity, it was understandable that she would be interested in religious matters.
But why was she stuttering, which was unlike her?
Even though she had changed quite a bit from the first impression, I still knew her to be serious and dignified in everything.
“Well, anyway, if you’re interested, maybe you could share your thoughts? Just as casual chatter…”
“Yeah. Casual chatter?”
Whatever the case, her heightened reaction meant she was expecting something from me.
I didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about, so I replied quietly.
“My thoughts on Friga…”
“Yes?”
“I don’t have a very good opinion. I’ve seen a lot of people who believe in Friga commit atrocities.”
Religion may give people hope, but it also causes problems, just like in the previous world and now.
Just a year ago, the cardinal leading the self-righteous church committed all sorts of illegal acts, and after his death, the other church members didn’t seek revenge for him but fought to take his place.
Moreover, they oppressed other religions, demanded excessive donations from people seeking healing, and considered those who didn’t believe in their religion as blasphemous…
Having seized power, they engaged in numerous activities that couldn’t even be compared to the hypocrites of my previous life, not just in terms of quality but also in quantity.
“…Master, do you not like Friga?”
As I continued to speak, I noticed Flang’s dejected expression.
With her head down and shoulders slumped, she looked nothing like the proud figure who served the expedition members.
Yes, anyone could see that she was clearly downcast.
“Yes, that could be the case. Yes.”
…Damn, I always thought this, but the gap between her first impression and now was too great.
When I first met her, I thought she was a calculating, cold-blooded person, but no matter how much she has softened now, she still shows what she thinks outwardly.
“…Well, just because the upper ranks are corrupt doesn’t mean the lower ones are always wrong. It’s the ones exploiting people’s hopes who are at fault.”
Even so, it was true that the upper echelons of the church were rotten.
Flang, for some unknown reason concerned with Friga, couldn’t deny that and nodded quietly at my words.
“Yes, that’s right. No matter how noble the group, they can go in a direction different from their intentions depending on the situation.”
She seemed to understand intellectually, but her gaze at the statue was still filled with complexity.
From the perspective of a guardian of humanity, did the deteriorating state of the church, considered a beacon of hope for humanity, look so unfavorable?
“Come to think of it, that statue was made in the image of a god, right?”
Whatever the case, it wasn’t good to let her stay so downcast.
I thought it was necessary to change the subject, so I decided to steer the conversation toward the god the church worshipped, rather than the church itself.
“Yes. It was made in the image of the Goddess Friga.”
Flang responded immediately, her voice regaining energy.
The same applied to the explanation that followed.
“Friga is known as the guardian god who has protected the country since the founding of the Orion Empire. Those who have seen her often describe her as benevolent, trustworthy, and someone they want to rely on.”
“Hmm, I see. Is that what the myth says?”
“I am also striving to live up to those expectations.”
“…Why are you talking about fulfilling expectations when we’re discussing the Goddess?”
“Oh, no… I meant that I want to emulate her. It doesn’t mean much.”
Well, she was just projecting her ideals onto the idol because she was a guardian of humanity.
Thinking that, I turned my gaze back to the statue, and the image of the Goddess soon came into focus.
A delicate face, elegant posture, and a voluptuous body…
“Aren’t there inherent limitations that make it impossible to emulate her?”
“Inherent limitations?”
Flang looked puzzled, glanced at the statue, then followed my gaze downwards.
Realizing that it was her own flat chest I was referring to, she began to glare at me with narrowed eyes.
“……”
“…Are you mad?”
“No.”
“You seem mad.”
“I am not mad.”
Hey, your tone has become stiff.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s just my fault for not being good enough to satisfy your preferences, master.”
“No, Flang, you’ve done well enough up until now…”
“But didn’t you say that I can’t overcome inherent limitations?”
“……”
“…Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Because lying to get through the situation feels too petty.
But I can’t let her stay sulking like this.
“If you let go of your anger, I’ll do that for you.”
As soon as I raised my hand, preparing my secret weapon, Flang’s body flinched.
Yeah, it had been a while since I trained voluntarily, so I hadn’t had many opportunities to do this.
“S-still, it’s not right.”
“Not right? What do you mean?”
“That I’m angry…”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t angry before?”
“No, that’s—ugh!”
I placed my hand on her head and gently stroked her hair.
That was all that was needed.
Stroking her hair and genuinely thanking her for always being there for me.
“Thank you for always working hard, Flang.”
Over the past six months, I realized that, for a doll dedicated to serving humanity, that was all she ever wanted.
To the point where I worried that I was taking advantage of her too conveniently.
“…You’re treating me like a child again.”
But as if that was enough, Flang finally accepted my touch, calming her anger.
“Do you dislike it?”
“I didn’t say I disliked it.”
She then covered my hand with both of hers, bringing it to her cheek to savor the touch.
Imprinting the sensation deeply into her skin, as if not wanting to forget.
“Rather, like this…”
Bringing my hand to her face, she lowered her gaze and began to speak in a bitter tone.
“I wish these days could continue forever.”
Forever.
Uttering a wish that seemed impossible to come true, Flang fell silent.
It was because she vaguely anticipated the future awaiting us at the end of this expedition.
“…Let’s go back to the lodgings. We need to sleep early if we’re leaving tomorrow.”
The relationship of teacher and student, even the formal master-servant relationship.
Once we would return to the empire, these relationships would inevitably distort in ways we wouldn’t want.
But no matter what would happen next, I couldn’t just pretend that nothing happened.
I just hoped that the strength I’d gained would help me handle whatever came next.
As I boarded the carriage for our journey home, holding onto that one thought, Sanson, who was managing the soldiers, ran over to me and spoke urgently.
“Wait a moment, hero. There’s a place we need to visit before going to the empire.”
“A place to visit?”
“Yes, those who participated in the subjugation have been instructed to undergo a purification ritual in a specific area before returning to the empire. Given how long we’ve been in the subjugation, we might have been exposed to evil energy.”
Evil energy.
I didn’t particularly feel anything, but we should respect the ritual or tradition to some extent.
“So, where do we need to go?”
The place for such a ritual would be our next destination.
Sanson answered my intuition.
“Frigarach.”
Frigarach Sanctuary.
The city that serves as the stronghold for the Friga Order, the state religion of the empire.
,Francheska.
She, who had now become affectionately known as Flang, was the reliable housekeeper and intelligence agent of the expedition team, and also my teacher.
Without her, a safe expedition wouldn’t have been possible; she played a crucial role in this expedition.
Although she ceded the credit to me, so the other members and outsiders saw me as the main figure, I constantly reminded myself that she was the number one contributor to this expedition.
“…Hey, Flang.”
“Shh. Stay still for now.”
Despite being such a grateful person, she occasionally did troublesome things.
Dragged out of my training suddenly, I couldn’t help but express my confusion to Flang, who was pulling me towards the village.
“I’m training right now…”
“It’s good to work hard, but taking care of your body is important too. The expedition is over now, so it’s okay to rest for a day, isn’t it?”
“That’s true, but just because the expedition is over doesn’t mean everything is finished…”
“If you’re uncomfortable with the drinking party, at least take a light walk. This is an order from your teacher, so comply quietly.”
Flang, unusually using the word “order,” was determined to lead me firmly.
Of course, she only looked like a cute girl on the outside, but inside she was a guardian who had protected humanity for over a thousand years.
Even though we formed a relationship somewhat similar to that of a master and servant, Flang always held the upper hand in our relationship.
“…Is it okay for a maid to give orders to her master?”
“Sometimes, it is the loyal servant’s duty to defy the master’s orders for their sake. If you’re not satisfied, you can behead me right here.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. I’ll comply, master.”
So it was like this again. I reluctantly followed Flang out.
But still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
Now I led the most successful expedition team, but even after half a year, I couldn’t help but doubt if my strength was sufficient.
“…Is it really okay like this?”
“I guarantee it.”
Flang glanced up at me, subtly expressing my underlying anxiety.
She then smiled faintly and, wrapping her arms around mine, spoke softly.
“You’re strong enough as you are now. I’m confident that there is no human stronger than you on humanity’s side.”
“Really?”
“Honestly, I wish you wouldn’t push yourself so hard… but if you must become stronger, you need to gain enough strength to not be broken by anything.”
Unable to choose the best option, I chose the lesser evil.
That mindset often showed in the form of a pained expression when she saw me pushing myself too hard.
Her role was to protect and support humanity, but teaching me was almost like harming the very human she was supposed to protect with her own hands.
“…That’s right. I’ve worked hard.”
Even though she acknowledged my achievements and encouraged rest, how could I go against that and return?
Accepting the situation, I stepped into the village, and Flang, smiling, released her arm and walked beside me.
What we arrived at was a small shrine in the center of the village, where villagers were holding a modest ritual in front of a statue.
“Friga, please grant us rest and peace.”
The scene of praying before the sacred statue was not uncommon in the capital, so I could immediately guess what they were doing.
“The world is tough, so it seems like more and more people are praying wherever I go.”
Though I wasn’t religious, I could understand it to some extent.
The world was full of monsters, and the empire was collecting huge taxes to summon heroes, making life tough for everyone.
In such impoverished conditions, relying on religion was the only way for people to maintain their spirits; that was the situation humanity was in.
In that sense, the state religion Friga acted as a beacon of hope that gathered humanity in one place.
“Hmm, hmm.”
As I was contemplating humanity’s circumstances, Flang, standing beside me, cleared her throat for some reason and looked at the shrine ceremony.
Her side glance at me seemed like she was expecting some reaction from me.
“Master, are you also interested in Friga?”
“…Friga?”
“U-uh, she is the god of humanity. From my perspective, she deserves respect, r-right?”
Well, as a guardian of humanity, it was understandable that she would be interested in religious matters.
But why was she stuttering, which was unlike her?
Even though she had changed quite a bit from the first impression, I still knew her to be serious and dignified in everything.
“Well, anyway, if you’re interested, maybe you could share your thoughts? Just as casual chatter…”
“Yeah. Casual chatter?”
Whatever the case, her heightened reaction meant she was expecting something from me.
I didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about, so I replied quietly.
“My thoughts on Friga…”
“Yes?”
“I don’t have a very good opinion. I’ve seen a lot of people who believe in Friga commit atrocities.”
Religion may give people hope, but it also causes problems, just like in the previous world and now.
Just a year ago, the cardinal leading the self-righteous church committed all sorts of illegal acts, and after his death, the other church members didn’t seek revenge for him but fought to take his place.
Moreover, they oppressed other religions, demanded excessive donations from people seeking healing, and considered those who didn’t believe in their religion as blasphemous…
Having seized power, they engaged in numerous activities that couldn’t even be compared to the hypocrites of my previous life, not just in terms of quality but also in quantity.
“…Master, do you not like Friga?”
As I continued to speak, I noticed Flang’s dejected expression.
With her head down and shoulders slumped, she looked nothing like the proud figure who served the expedition members.
Yes, anyone could see that she was clearly downcast.
“Yes, that could be the case. Yes.”
…Damn, I always thought this, but the gap between her first impression and now was too great.
When I first met her, I thought she was a calculating, cold-blooded person, but no matter how much she has softened now, she still shows what she thinks outwardly.
“…Well, just because the upper ranks are corrupt doesn’t mean the lower ones are always wrong. It’s the ones exploiting people’s hopes who are at fault.”
Even so, it was true that the upper echelons of the church were rotten.
Flang, for some unknown reason concerned with Friga, couldn’t deny that and nodded quietly at my words.
“Yes, that’s right. No matter how noble the group, they can go in a direction different from their intentions depending on the situation.”
She seemed to understand intellectually, but her gaze at the statue was still filled with complexity.
From the perspective of a guardian of humanity, did the deteriorating state of the church, considered a beacon of hope for humanity, look so unfavorable?
“Come to think of it, that statue was made in the image of a god, right?”
Whatever the case, it wasn’t good to let her stay so downcast.
I thought it was necessary to change the subject, so I decided to steer the conversation toward the god the church worshipped, rather than the church itself.
“Yes. It was made in the image of the Goddess Friga.”
Flang responded immediately, her voice regaining energy.
The same applied to the explanation that followed.
“Friga is known as the guardian god who has protected the country since the founding of the Orion Empire. Those who have seen her often describe her as benevolent, trustworthy, and someone they want to rely on.”
“Hmm, I see. Is that what the myth says?”
“I am also striving to live up to those expectations.”
“…Why are you talking about fulfilling expectations when we’re discussing the Goddess?”
“Oh, no… I meant that I want to emulate her. It doesn’t mean much.”
Well, she was just projecting her ideals onto the idol because she was a guardian of humanity.
Thinking that, I turned my gaze back to the statue, and the image of the Goddess soon came into focus.
A delicate face, elegant posture, and a voluptuous body…
“Aren’t there inherent limitations that make it impossible to emulate her?”
“Inherent limitations?”
Flang looked puzzled, glanced at the statue, then followed my gaze downwards.
Realizing that it was her own flat chest I was referring to, she began to glare at me with narrowed eyes.
“……”
“…Are you mad?”
“No.”
“You seem mad.”
“I am not mad.”
Hey, your tone has become stiff.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s just my fault for not being good enough to satisfy your preferences, master.”
“No, Flang, you’ve done well enough up until now…”
“But didn’t you say that I can’t overcome inherent limitations?”
“……”
“…Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Because lying to get through the situation feels too petty.
But I can’t let her stay sulking like this.
“If you let go of your anger, I’ll do that for you.”
As soon as I raised my hand, preparing my secret weapon, Flang’s body flinched.
Yeah, it had been a while since I trained voluntarily, so I hadn’t had many opportunities to do this.
“S-still, it’s not right.”
“Not right? What do you mean?”
“That I’m angry…”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t angry before?”
“No, that’s—ugh!”
I placed my hand on her head and gently stroked her hair.
That was all that was needed.
Stroking her hair and genuinely thanking her for always being there for me.
“Thank you for always working hard, Flang.”
Over the past six months, I realized that, for a doll dedicated to serving humanity, that was all she ever wanted.
To the point where I worried that I was taking advantage of her too conveniently.
“…You’re treating me like a child again.”
But as if that was enough, Flang finally accepted my touch, calming her anger.
“Do you dislike it?”
“I didn’t say I disliked it.”
She then covered my hand with both of hers, bringing it to her cheek to savor the touch.
Imprinting the sensation deeply into her skin, as if not wanting to forget.
“Rather, like this…”
Bringing my hand to her face, she lowered her gaze and began to speak in a bitter tone.
“I wish these days could continue forever.”
Forever.
Uttering a wish that seemed impossible to come true, Flang fell silent.
It was because she vaguely anticipated the future awaiting us at the end of this expedition.
“…Let’s go back to the lodgings. We need to sleep early if we’re leaving tomorrow.”
The relationship of teacher and student, even the formal master-servant relationship.
Once we would return to the empire, these relationships would inevitably distort in ways we wouldn’t want.
But no matter what would happen next, I couldn’t just pretend that nothing happened.
I just hoped that the strength I’d gained would help me handle whatever came next.
As I boarded the carriage for our journey home, holding onto that one thought, Sanson, who was managing the soldiers, ran over to me and spoke urgently.
“Wait a moment, hero. There’s a place we need to visit before going to the empire.”
“A place to visit?”
“Yes, those who participated in the subjugation have been instructed to undergo a purification ritual in a specific area before returning to the empire. Given how long we’ve been in the subjugation, we might have been exposed to evil energy.”
Evil energy.
I didn’t particularly feel anything, but we should respect the ritual or tradition to some extent.
“So, where do we need to go?”
The place for such a ritual would be our next destination.
Sanson answered my intuition.
“Frigarach.”
Frigarach Sanctuary.
The city that serves as the stronghold for the Friga Order, the state religion of the empire.