My Reincarnation Skills Are “Playing With Dolls” and “Playing With Clay”, but What Am I Supposed to Do With These? C156

Episode 156 Isnef Church

The day before yesterday, Kesa and the others had all visited the temple that Maggie and her friends had visited to research historical materials. 

He was unarmed and dressed in plain clothes. 

Yesterday, six men lost their lives, three outside the abandoned mine and three inside the mine shaft. It was a mop-up operation involving about 50 participants, which resulted in a considerable loss of life. 

So the guild that called for the strategy decided to hold a joint funeral with all expenses covered. 

It seems that some of the deceased adventurers had families, and a woman with a small child was crying in front of the altar at the back of the temple. 

I thought I knew that this world was bordering on death, but when I thought about when the same thing would happen to me, I was at a loss for words. 

A white-haired priest who seemed to be the head of the temple chanted a holy verse that was slightly different from Elzark's. It was displayed as <Monk LV14 (Old)>, so it was quite a high level. 

Once the chant is finished, Zebet, on behalf of the guild, gives a greeting as the chief mourner, apologizes and regrets for causing so many victims, and continues with words of prayer for the souls of those who passed away. 

Then, the priests read the scriptures again, and we all took turns in front of the coffin placed in front of the altar, offered prayers and threw flowers. 

After that, everyone worked together to carry the coffin filled with flowers to the cemetery in the back and lower it into the bottom of the hole that had already been dug deep. 

I guess there aren't any shovels in this world, so I used a hoe-like tool to pour soil over it and bury it. It's a burial, not a cremation. 

After the funeral was over, I went to Zebet who looked tired and told him about the old sealed entrance that I had seen yesterday after saying goodbye to everyone in the guild. 

It looked very similar to the painting I saw at the earl's mansion at the entrance to a mine shaft that was said to have sealed away the "evil one" 200 years ago. 

What did Zebet say at first? He had that look on his face, but by the time he was listening, he was listening intently and intently. 

"Does such a painting remain in the lord's house? This is the first time I've heard of it... But I don't think it's possible, but does that mean that a large number of monsters are spawning under the influence of that dangerous guy? If so, then... Are you still alive?”

"I don't know either, but even if it's a labyrinth or something, I wonder if so many monsters would spawn in a mere mine ruins?"

"That's definitely a mystery..."

Then Zebet thought about it for a while and then said. 

“I have a family member who is bereaved, so I can’t leave here yet. I’m sorry, but could you please come to the guild when the bell rings at noon? Let’s go to the mansion together and see what looks like the sealed entrance to Lord Larkin. I want to tell them that it has been found. Depending on the situation, I may have to make some sort of decision, such as sending a messenger to the divine capital to request an investigation..."

In a normal country, you would think that cases that are beyond the control of the feudal lord would be reported to the king and the army would be sent out, but this Munica is like an autonomous territory of the earl's family, and it seems that they are not in a position to rely on outsiders. . 

However, he is still in a position to look up to the High Priest of the Katerra Pantheon as his master, and the temple specializes in dealing with evil people, so there is a possibility that he will ask for his cooperation. 

“Even if I can’t meet the Earl, is Mr. Larkin okay?”

"Ever since I became the guild leader, I haven't met the Earl directly. He seems to have kept his head down for a long time. That's why Mr. Larkin is already the de facto lord."

That's why we went back to the inn, changed our clothes, ate something light in town, and took a walk around the port town of Munica, which we hadn't done any sightseeing with before. 

Like the previous anchorages, of course there is an abundance of seafood from the archipelago, but this place is also close to the Hakurei Mountains, so there are also plenty of mountain delicacies such as mushrooms and fruits. 

And, although it is undeniable that the entire town is old, the rows of historic houses decorated with colorful flowers have a beauty that looks like something you'd see in a tourist guide. 

Also, the public safety is not bad. I don't see any beggars in the streets, and there don't seem to be any slums, so I wonder if the earl's family has practiced good government to some degree. 

However, as I walked further down the street towards the outskirts of town, the houses gradually became shabby, and I felt that this was probably an area for poor people. Just when I thought it was time to turn back, I saw in the corner of my vision a stone building that was much smaller than the Pantheism Temple, but somehow had a similar atmosphere. 

The pattern decorated above the arched entrance looks familiar. 

Nolte noticed my gaze as I stopped walking. 

"master?"

"I saw that pattern somewhere..."

It was Maggie who exclaimed. 

“Isnef teaching!?”

 it was. 

It was a necklace-like accessory called a lesarium that was worn by the priests of the demonic ruins, with a winged snake shaped like a sword. 

"It's Isnef Church, it's been built in this western part of the world. It's been a long time since it was built, right?"

Butch expresses a sense of caution. Because I have experience at those ruins. 

However, this place doesn't have that harsh atmosphere, rather it feels like it's a poor and quiet place. 

I can hear what sounds like a child's voice coming from the back... 

When I got closer and looked behind the low wall, I saw half-naked children playing in the grass. Nearby, women are hanging their laundry to dry on strings tied to tree branches. 

This scene... 

"It's similar to the House of Salvation. Maybe this church is doing something like an orphanage."

As Lucien said, it resembles the House of Salvation for Women on the outskirts of the royal capital Deba. 

However, at first glance, it doesn't seem like there are any demi-humans here. 

When I asked if there were any temples or academia at the port to look for ancient documents, there was no mention of this church. But now that I've found it, should I visit it? 

However, it's almost time to meet Zebet. 

"Split into two groups? I'd like to take a peek here."

Maggie seems to want to investigate Isnef Church. 

"Lucien, what do you think we should do?"

"Well, I think Shiro should go to the Earl's place due to his status, so why don't you just take Carmilla with you? If you don't talk, you'll look like a young lady."

It's terrible not to talk, Mr. Lucien. Carmilla herself doesn't really care though. 

"I'd rather stay here in case there's any danger..."

Well, it's true that Maggie and the others will be entering an unknown place, so we should focus on that. 

In the end, Maggie, Butch, Lucien, Nolte, and Lina, who dared to become a magician, decided to visit Isnef Church. 

The monk costume that resembles Princess Karena is a monk from a pantheistic religion, so it seems to have the opposite effect here, and in the unlikely event that you are in danger, it would be safer to have a magician around. She's wearing a robe that resembles Beth, so it's hard to tell if she's a wizard or just a woman wearing a robe. 

So, Carmilla and I returned to the guild, met up with Zebet, and visited the Earl's mansion on the hill again. 

　

The old servant who showed us around the day before yesterday, with a slightly scary atmosphere, probably introduced us to Larkin, the earl's son, unlike the other day, perhaps because Zebet was there. 

Larkin heard our report in the same old reception room as last time, but he seemed genuinely surprised. However, at the same time, there was a feeling that he was preparing for something. 

“Please wait a moment.”

After saying that, he left his seat and returned a few minutes later with a somber look on his face. And she said:

"Come with me, I'm sorry I have to repeat the same story that my father wanted to hear in person..."

Zebet and I looked at each other. Zebet also said that he had never met the Count directly. 

I go down the dimly lit, almost pitch-black staircase that smells like garbage, and proceed further down the underground hallway. 

At first, Carmilla secretly sniffed around her, but halfway through, she calmed down as if she was sure of something, and then she looked tense, like when she sensed an enemy in a labyrinth. 

"Guildmaster Zebet, there's no need to tell the townspeople about my father's condition."

When I heard Larkin say that, did I instantly feel like my face was disfigured due to illness? That's what I thought. 

When I opened the majestic old wooden door with a creaking sound, I found myself in a room like a study, with only a single candle as the light. 

In the back, there was a person wearing a luxurious-looking gown, sitting on what looked like a luxurious easy chair. 

Zebet makes an inaudible noise and turns to Larkin, but Larkin doesn't say anything and guides us to the sofa across from him. 

I was speechless. 

Because I could see his status and knew that this was definitely Count De Carno. 

Larkin's father, Count De Carno, who would have turned 70 this year. 

There was a handsome, pale-faced ``young man'' with a sad expression on his face.