3 bar menu

Volume 10 Chapter 293

The Hero and the Cult of Haruto

「Um, Eliza-san. Haruto-sama is……?」
As they began to eat and settled down a bit, Akari spoke to Eliza.
「So, Akari, you didn’t know after all」
「Actually, the Haruto-sama we prayed to earlier is the name of the Sage who saved us from being killed」
「Eh, what?」
Akari didn’t understand.
Being saved—she could comprehend that.
However, was there a need to offer prayers of gratitude for not being killed?
「A few years ago, this country started a war with the Elven Kingdom of Alheim. At that time, I was a soldier in the national army and invaded Alheim」
「This guy used to be a squadron leader in the national army until recently」
「Is that so?」
「Yeah. He was quite strong, you know?」
Eric had participated in the war initiated by the Fifth Prince of Aplistos against Alheim.
However, the war ended without a single sword being drawn or a spell being cast, all because of the presence of the Sage Haruto, who had married the hero and the second princess of Alheim.
「Haruto-sama teleported our entire army of 100,000 at once」
While the national army of Aplistos marched to Alheim over a twenty-day period, they were instantly teleported back to their country by the Sage’s magic.
「A hundred thousand!?」
Akari couldn’t comprehend how difficult teleportation magic was, but she understood that teleporting such a large number of people at once was incredibly impressive.
「If he could teleport us easily like that, he could have dropped us into the sea. It’s a war… …and we attacked first」
「It was later revealed to the public, but it seems the royal family of this country started the war for the World Tree of Alheim」
Initially, this country had explained to its citizens that they mobilized the national army to rescue the Fifth Prince who was captured by Alheim.
But that was a blatant lie.
「Because it was a war started for such selfish desires, we were entirely at fault. Haruto-sama had every reason to annihilate our army. Moreover, he was a Sage who could use magic to instantly move a distance that took twenty days on foot」
「Regardless of distance, being able to move freely to any location—that means Haruto-sama held the power of life and death over us」
Eliza laid her hand on Eric’s hand next to her.
「At that time, I wasn’t married to Eric yet. We were a bit short on money」
「Because there was talk of a deployment reward for the national army. So, um… …I confessed to Eliza, saying, 『Let’s get married when I return from this war』」
「When he left, I wanted to stop him if I could. But I was convinced that it was a war—we would definitely win」
「To be honest, when we were sent back here by teleportation, I didn’t really understand the situation」
Many of the soldiers in the national army, while initially fearing the Spirit King Sylph alongside Haruto, didn’t feel much urgency about being sent back to Aplistos.
Many soldiers even thought they would gather supplies and march again soon.
「But you know, after returning home to the house we were living in together, I told Eliza about it and she burst into tears. That made me realize. We had died once」
It wouldn’t have been strange for them to die.
If Haruto had wanted, a hundred thousand lives would have been lost.
「So, I quit the national army. I realized there are monsters beyond belief in this world. I got sick of serving this country, which might continue to wage war against those monsters in the future」
「To be honest, I was planning to run away from this country too……」
Even after the invasion of Alheim failed, the kings of this country hadn’t given up on the World Tree. They were planning the next invasion.
Since Eric, who held a certain position in the national army, was informed about this, he had considered fleeing with Eliza.
「The head of the country was replaced, so I decided to wait and see for a bit. After all, I’ve gotten used to living here」
「The king changed?」
「Yeah. Two months after the Aplistos invasion, the Fifth Prince staged a coup. I wasn’t involved, but some members of the national army were」
「What!?」
The king and ministers tried to pin all the costs of mobilizing the national army on the Fifth Prince alone.
Upon returning to the country, the prince was immediately imprisoned and awaiting execution.
At that time, he learned that the king and ministers had from the beginning intended to eliminate him for the sake of the World Tree.
The Fifth Prince didn’t possess much cunning, but for some reason, he was well-liked. And his personal guard included the greatest military strategist in the country.
Under the guidance of that strategist, the prince was reclaimed by his personal guard, along with a portion of the national army, and then they seized the royal palace.
Although the citizens were informed that the prince had staged a coup, it was actually all done by the strategist acting on his own.
The reason the capable strategist went to such lengths—-
It was because he had become enamored with Haruto, who effortlessly wielded extraordinary magic and even commanded the Spirit King, Sylph.
「If you allow the spread of the Cult of Haruto in this country, I will make you the king of this country」
The strategist said that and tempted the Fifth Prince.
Not wanting to die, the prince had no choice but to accept the proposal.
Afterward, through indoctrination by the strategist, the Fifth Prince transformed into a true believer in Haruto—
The citizens don’t know about this.
Thus, in Aplistos, the Cult of Haruto is now spreading as the state religion.
The high priest is the former Fifth Prince, who is now the king.
Of course, behind the scenes, the strategist is manipulating everything.
The strategist considered Haruto to be a god who had descended to earth. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to teleport such a large army of a hundred thousand.
Under the surface, preparations were being made to offer this country as a sacrifice to him when Haruto eventually arrived.
That’s the purpose of the Cult of Haruto.
By the way, the evangelisation is progressing remarkably smoothly.
Because the hundred thousand citizens who invaded Alheim as the national army had directly experienced Haruto’s power.
　『Haruto-sama is indeed a god who has descended to the earth』
This teaching receives immense support from the soldiers who were safely returned alive thanks to Haruto. They tell their families and friends that it was all thanks to Haruto, so the Cult of Haruto has been spreading at an incredible speed.
「So, that’s why we always pray to Haruto-sama before meals. 『Thank you for returning this person to me』.It’s like that」
「I see」
「How about it? Would you like to join the Cult of Haruto, Akari?」
Saying so, Eric handed a thick book to Akari.
On its cover—
A black-haired, blue-eyed handsome young man, accompanied by the Spirit King of Wind, was depicted.