Intelligence on the Cult

"Senior, there's something I want to tell you..."

Tasia hesitated, her emerald eyes reflecting the dancing flames of the campfire.

Rorschach had lived two lives... two lives as a teenager, and he had never experienced a girl confessing to him. Yet now, the plot of his life seemed to be sliding toward a rom-com light novel again.

He remained perfectly calm.

"Go ahead."

"The Great World Mother of Genesis Land was betrayed by Her children and fell into slumber. The betrayers concealed the truth of history from Mother's other children and became gods above all the rest.

Now that the World Mother is gradually awakening, the betrayers, knowing they cannot stop it, fear Mother's punishment and have fled our world one after another. That is why there is the so-called Age of Silent Gods.

We are also children of the Great Mother. Those who awaken Mother and return to Her embrace will receive Her forgiveness and become Her most beloved children.

That is the doctrine of the 'Return Mother' cult."

So it's not that kind of development after all. Rorschach straightened his posture and slowly rose to his feet.

"How did you know... Go on."

"Eight days ago, you stayed at an inn in Doug Town, Limburg. After being attacked, you escaped. The ones who attacked you were members of the 'Return Mother' cult. On the orders of the cult's middle ranks—the Viscount of Limburg—the innkeeper incited thieves to test you."

Tasia's voice turned cold.

"Correct. How did you know?"

"I'm one of the cult's people."

"Obviously. You deliberately approached me from the very beginning. Was it because I was the only mage in the party?"

"I, Anastasia, am the saintess of the 'Return Mother' cult, known as the child closest to the Great Mother."

Rorschach remained calm, even looking at her with amusement.

"If you have any more information, keep talking." The voice came from behind Tasia. The ranger emerged from the darkness.

"Huh?" Tasia felt something cold press against the back of her head.

It was Hill's hand cannon. "Don't move. It's loaded."

Two more people emerged from behind the other carriages: Singlev, holding a hammer in each hand, and Mr. Arle, raising his sword cane. The four of them surrounded Tasia.

Flames ignited in Rorschach's right hand as Fireball readied itself to launch. "Miss Saintess, why did you stop talking?"

"Huh? When did you..."

"While you were curled up in the carriage, we had a little discussion. I was on watch, you see. I didn't expect you to come looking for me on your own. I'm honored, Lady Saintess." Rorschach unconsciously adopted a villainous tone. He was practically unable to stop himself from cackling.

Tasia promptly raised her hands. "You win! I only meant to confess to Mage Rorschach, but since things have come to this, I'll tell you everything. Ranger sister, could you please move your gun? It could go off so easily!"

"Tell us. Why's your damn cult picking a fight with us?"

Tasia simply collapsed onto the ground and shook her head.

"Our... damn cult's high priest received a divine revelation. We were to intercept a merchant caravan traveling from the Imperial Capital to Valuana and make sure the goods they carried did not reach the Holy Kingdom. If we failed, it would have an adverse effect on the Great Mother's destined awakening..."

"Your old lady's awakening can be affected by three wagonloads of hides? Explain yourself..."

Mr. Arle interrupted Singlev and instead asked, "Aren't you the saintess? Why did other members of the cult receive the divine revelation?"

Tasia scratched her chestnut hair. "This saintess thing... I don't know why it's me either. It's always been the cult's high priests and elders who conduct rituals to receive divine revelations. They used to be vague, but this was the clearest revelation ever. Maybe the World Mother really has awakened a little?

"My own guess is that I'm naturally gifted at nature magic. I can learn anything from the Nature School right away. The cult raised me from childhood. I don't even know who my parents are or where they might be...

"When I got older, the cult recommended me to study Nature School magic at the Tower of the Forest in the Viscount's name. They also shoved in two kids around my age along with me.

"They were both idiots! Brainwashed fanatics! They watched me every day and reported everything to the cult. The other people in the tower were all a bunch of self-righteous jerks too. They even thought we were friends!"

Tasia's chest rose and fell.

"I wanted to run away last year. I begged my teacher to send me somewhere far from the cult and wore him down until I got a letter of recommendation for the Tower of Storms. On the way back to the cult, I tried to escape, but I was caught and dragged back that very same day. Then they put me in solitary confinement and locked me up."

Starting out in an orphanage? Are you trying to become the protagonist? Rorschach suppressed the urge to complain and caught the key point. "Your escape failed? Then what's going on now?" Don't tell me a whole group of cultists is coming after us to kill us!

Tasia became excited. "Listen carefully. This information is important! The one who caught me was Leopold, the civil protector of Limburg. That old man and his subordinates are supposedly Limburg's cavalry escort, but they're actually the cult's elite force, the Wilderness Hunters.

"After he caught me, I was guarded by a squad of knights. A few days ago, they were suddenly transferred away. How could I let an opportunity like that slip by? Those useless replacements barely even count as professionals. They thought they could keep me contained? Of course I escaped, and then I ran into you.

"The Hunters must have come looking for you. Leopold is very powerful, a warrior blessed by the gods. He's nothing like an innkeeper or some thieves..."

Sing was thrilled to hear that. "Hehe, we already beat up that big guy and his men! Young Master Rorschach took out three of them with one big Fireball! We aren't half bad ourselves."

"You're really that strong?" Tasia was a little doubtful. She examined the little party, then sighed. "Sigh, the Tower of the Forest doesn't teach much evocation magic. My fists just aren't hard enough."

"I passed out because I exhausted my mana in that battle..."

"Leopold himself disappeared. His six knight subordinates have been eliminated."

"Mhm, mhm. I don't think the cult will be able to trouble you anytime soon. They've all been busy running around lately. Don't ask me what they're busy with—I really don't know!"

The "public trial" did not end until deep into the night. Tasia's throat was nearly smoking dry, but she finally persuaded Mr. Arle to take her in for the time being, while Hill was assigned to watch her at all times—after all, with Tasia's honey-trap magic, there was no need to go hunting anymore. Once everyone else dispersed, Mr. Arle and Rorschach, who was on watch, remained behind.

"Mr. Arle, aren't you going to explain?"

"Explain what?" Mr. Arle's face flickered in and out of view in the dancing firelight. He wore the same professional smile as always, but it irritated Rorschach now.

"Don't you think you interrupted Tasia rather abruptly? What exactly does the cult think we're transporting?"

"What the cult thinks we are doing. Is that important, Mage Rorschach?"

Rorschach's chest rose and fell as he stepped toward Arle one pace at a time. "Sir, 'is that important'? We were hunted down and nearly died over three fucking wagonloads of hides. I think you'd better explain yourself!"

"I think it would be best if no one understood. Mage Rorschach, the rest of the journey should not be dangerous. You may part ways with us at the next city, and I will still pay the remaining balance of the commission."

Mr. Arle sat down comfortably by the campfire. "To be frank, do you think Singlev and Hill have not guessed that there is something wrong with our cargo? But they are not novice adventurers. They understand that as hired hands, they do not need to know too much about their employer's affairs.

"You became a mage at such a young age. You are among the finest of your peers, so please do not let a Young Person's impulsiveness sway you, all right? You have a bright future ahead of you. There is no need to dwell on this."

"..."

"Mage Rorschach, I'll stand watch for the latter half of the night. Please get some rest."