Chapter 119: Priests of the God of Lies and Deception (4)

“W-what?” Hayes stammered, her confusion written all over her face. “Wait a second. You’re telling me you want to help?” “Exactly. You said you needed assistance,” Ketal replied with a casual shrug. “Well, yes, but...” “Then that settles it,” he said, grinning widely. “When you return to your holy land, I will go with you. I’m just an ordinary individual, but I will do whatever I can to support you.” “Uh... okay,” Hayes managed to say, looking horrified. She had been trying to rid herself of any prejudice against Ketal and accept him, but bringing him back to her sacred ground was a whole different matter. Internally, she was screaming. Ketal wasn’t a bad person; he had helped her many times before. She owed him a great deal, and in that sense, they could call each other companions. However, that was as far as her comfort went. She just couldn’t figure him out. She recalled the battle between the inquisitor of the Sun God and the demon. Ketal had acted strangely, standing off to the side, casually observing the fight, and even chatting amicably with evil. Hayes could still picture how Ketal had viewed the two combatants: no distinction between good and evil. He eventually chose to help Aquaz, but whether that was a whim or genuine concern remained unclear for Hayes. Ketal’s values were not what most people in the world held. So, letting him inside the holy sanctuary was unthinkable. Hayes herself was a priestess, and this was beyond the scope of her personal decisions. She shook her head hurriedly. “I’m grateful, but it’s all right. Our holy land is extremely dangerous right now,” Hayes said. “Don’t worry,” Ketal replied with a laugh. “I may be an unremarkable barbarian, but I can handle myself.” Hayes already knew Ketal possessed enough power to toy with a named demon if he chose. That was precisely why she found him dangerous. If he acted there as he had before, they’d have no way to control him. She tried to reason with him, speaking more urgently. “Ketal, it’s worse than you think. There are multiple Transcendent dark mages, and plenty of Advanced fighters. Even higher-level Transcendents might appear. They’ve surrounded our holy land, flooding it with monsters and cutting off every route. A protective light still guards the inside, but everything beyond is steeped in darkness.” She hoped to scare him off, but she failed to realize that her words only fueled Ketal’s enthusiasm. “That’s how it is, then,” he muttered, eyes shining. “Sounds like you need help more than ever.” Hayes fell silent. Ketal showed no intention of backing down. She couldn’t understand why he was so eager. Is it because he is a barbarian who simply enjoys fighting? she thought. However, this was an invasion of evil—this felt different, or so she thought. She wrestled with her thoughts in vain, while Ketal’s reasons were much simpler. He had always wanted to see a holy land, a place personally protected by an actual god—an otherworldly being who could exert real power. In truth, he hadn’t expected the chance to come so soon because most holy lands rejected outside visitors. Now, an opportunity had fallen into his lap. Helping Hayes meant he could also see the holy land. And beyond that, there was a full-scale battle brewing between good and evil. Ketal had no intention of missing such an event. “I don’t have anything going on, so the timing is perfect,” Ketal said. “This is our concern,” Hayes pressed on. “If you interfere, the forces of evil might take aim at you.” “They already have,” Ketal reminded her. “Ah, yes,” Hayes said, remembering the time in the Barcan Estate when the demon had branded him. “Besides,” Ketal went on, “they’d come after me for other reasons anyway.” Hayes’s eyes went wide. “Wait. Did you... Were you involved in the recent demon invasion here in the capital?” “I helped a friend.” She finally realized that the someone Naflas had suspected might have been Ketal all along. Ketal broke into a chuckle. “Remember how you once invited me to visit Kalosia’s holy land back in the Barcan Estate? This is perfect timing!” Hayes let out a defeated sigh. “We don’t have much to offer you in return. Are you sure about this?” “Of course,” Ketal said with a confident nod. “A friend is in trouble, so there’s no need for rewards. I will lend my strength with no strings attached.” “Thank you...,” Hayes said softly.” *** Naflas let out a long sigh and sank onto the edge of his bed after returning to his lodgings. His weary face showed just how drained he felt. “How in the world am I supposed to handle this...?” he muttered under his breath. He had acted composed in front of Hayes, but he was growing more anxious by the day. He had contacted every kingdom and organization that came to mind, only to be refused for one reason or another. Now, if he wanted to keep searching for help, his only real choice was approaching other churches. Strictly speaking, there was a good chance they would lend a hand because the world was facing an invasion of evil. However, that led to new questions, such as how soon would they help, or what would they ask in return. Churches did not always cooperate with one another, even in normal times. For the Church of Kalosia, which had long been spurned and persecuted, the situation could be much worse. And if another church did agree to intervene, Naflas had no idea what their ulterior motives might be. They might wait until the Church of Kalosia had weakened further, or they might detain its representatives under the authority of their own deity. A kingdom would probably avoid such measures because of the massive political backlash, but a powerful church could easily justify extreme actions. Of course, not all religious orders were so calculating. Some would genuinely assist out of goodwill. But even under the best circumstances, it was still a gamble. On top of that, begging another god for help felt like betraying Kalosia.Yet, Naflas had no alternative. Just as he steeled himself to commit to that path, there was a knock at the door. Quickly, he took a deep breath and tried to clear the tension from his face. “Come on,” he called. The door opened, and Hayes stepped inside. Naflas’s gaze softened at the sight of her. “Have you gotten enough rest?” he asked. “Yes,” Hayes replied with a small nod. She had never once complained, though she had every reason to be upset. Naflas felt a pang of sympathy as he studied her. She had set out on a pilgrimage to deepen her faith and become a better priestess, only for him to appear out of nowhere, tell her that their holy land was under threat, and drag her around from place to place. It would be understandable if she felt blindsided or exhausted, but she’d never shown any resentment. He admired her resilience, though it also made him feel guilty. “What brings you here?” he asked gently. Hayes hesitated before answering, “I found someone who says they want to help us.” “Someone wants to help us?” Naflas’s eyes went wide. “Yes,” Hayes answered. “Who is it?” he demanded, barely hiding his urgency. “It’s... a barbarian,” she admitted. “A barbarian?” Naflas stopped short, trying to process her words. Hayes, half resigned, explained the situation in detail. Once he heard her story, he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “So it’s the barbarian from the Barcan Estate, the one you mentioned before,” he said, and Hayes nodded. During their journey, he had questioned her about her past experiences and learned a bit about Ketal. He was the man who had joined Hayes in dungeon raids and had also defeated a demon that appeared in Barcan Estate. “I see,” Naflas said after some thought. “He offered to aid us, did he?” “Yes,” Hayes confirmed. “That’s certainly fortunate,” Naflas murmured. “If he is that strong, he could help us tremendously.” The barbarian had doverpowered the named demon Ashetiaar, so he had to be at least on the level of a Transcendent. Having even one such powerful ally could make a vital difference. It could allow them to return to the holy land without seeking more allies elsewhere. “A barbarian, though...,” Naflas repeated, frowning. That was the sticking point. As an Elder, Naflas had journeyed widely to reach his rank. He had encountered barbarians on multiple occasions, and not once had it ended harmoniously. They generally rejected the very concept of gods, and by extension, they despised or mocked priests. Some had raised axes at him, jeering that he should beg his deity for salvation. The memories made him uneasy. He let out a thoughtful hum before speaking. “Very well. I should at least meet him.” “You want to meet him in person?” Hayes asked. “Yes. You say this barbarian is different from the rest, so it’s worth taking a look. Besides, it’s probably better than requesting help from another church,” Naflas pointed out. Hayes swallowed the retort on her lips. She still harbored some doubts, but Naflas pressed on. “Please arrange a meeting. I will speak with him directly.” *** Not long afterward, Naflas sat in a chair in their lodging, waiting with a mix of expectation and dread. He heard a firm knock at the door, followed by a low, resonant voice. “May I come in?” “Yes, please enter,” Naflas said, trying to compose himself. The door creaked open, and his first impression was sheer intimidation. He’s enormous... Ketal towered at least a head taller than most men. Even among other barbarians Naflas had seen, he was remarkably big. There was a subtle pressure about him that would make anyone with a timid heart want to back away. Naflas stood slowly, maintaining calm and meeting his gaze. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Naflas, a servant of Kalosia, the God of Lies and Deception. I am not particularly special, but I hold the position of Elder.” “An Elder,” Ketal repeated in a pensive tone. Naflas tensed up. He worried that Ketal might share the usual barbarian aversion to priests. Hayes had insisted Ketal was different, but Naflas’s decades of life had built certain biases he couldn’t shrug off so easily. Barbarians often valued strength over everything else, ignoring law or the worship of deities, and Naflas unconsciously prepared himself for trouble. However, Ketal was thinking something else entirely. So, that’s what an Elder is, he mused. It was the highest position a regular worshipper could achieve. Even if the details differed from his world from Earth, Ketal believed Ketal had to be a very high-ranking member of their church. Meeting someone of that status felt strangely meaningful. “Greetings,” Ketal said in a polite voice. He gave a short, formal bow—just as Hayes had taught him. Naflas’s eyes widened in disbelief. He wasn’t too shocked that a barbarian had learned a few manners—being in the royal capital demanded some level of civility. What truly amazed him was the specific greeting Ketal used. It was an old, traditional gesture unique to the Church of Kalosia. “Concealed by falsehood, veiled by deception, I offer this greeting,” Ketal intoned. “I am Ketal, a mere barbarian.”