The sky began to stain a madder red, signaling the time for the two to move on. They set their sights towards the inn they had reserved in advance and began to walk.
"Hmm? What's that...?"
As they approached a T-junction, Yuka suddenly stopped, gazing down the road that stretched in the opposite direction of the inn. At the end of her gaze, a single building stood against the backdrop of the sunset. Judging by the cross at the pinnacle of its roof, it was probably a church.
"A church, huh..."
Yuka stared at the church with curiosity and spoke.
"Can we take a peek?"
"I don't mind, but..."
Even though Izayoi thought it was somewhat frivolous to visit a church just out of curiosity, he swallowed his words because he himself was intrigued. Understanding the position and views of religion in this world could be useful for their journey ahead. It was inconvenient to lack knowledge that was considered common sense.
Above all, there was a possibility of gaining information linked to the sacred sword and the hero, which was more than enough reason to check out the church.
The two directed their steps towards the exact opposite of the path to the inn. The church building itself seemed slightly old-fashioned but was otherwise ordinary. Even without entering, just standing in front of it somehow made them tense.
Given the time, there seemed to be no one coming in or out, and the entrance to the church was closed.
Izayoi thought it might be already closed for the day, but Yuka, undeterred, reached out for the closed wooden door.
As Yuka forcefully pulled the door open, Izayoi felt something leaking out from inside the building and stiffened for a moment.
"Is something wrong?"
"...No, it's nothing."
"...Alright."
With a puzzled expression, Yuka entered the interior of the church. Izayoi, with a slight hesitation, stepped inside as well. As they crossed the threshold of the building...
"---!?"
Suddenly, Izayoi was struck by a pressure as if something heavy was bearing down on him. He staggered but did not fall.
"Are you feeling unwell, Izayoi?"
Yuka, noting his dizziness-like staggering, expressed concern in her voice. Izayoi waved one hand at the anxious Yuka and performed a body-enhancing spell to regain his posture. It seems that this phenomenon exerts a physical pressure, and by strengthening the body, it can be endured without issue.
Brushing off the pressing weight with brute strength, Izayoi examined the flow of magical power in the area to identify the cause of the phenomenon. If someone was casting a spell on Izayoi personally, following the flow of magical power to its source would reveal it immediately. Even if it was something like a barrier, crushing the base of it should eliminate the mysterious pressure attacking Izayoi.
He discreetly scanned the surroundings so as not to arouse Yuka's suspicion. However, there were no humans that seemed to be casters, nor anything that appeared to be the base of the phenomenon. On the contrary, no man-made flow of magical power was felt inside the church.
Instead, he sensed the same mysterious power that he had felt at the entrance of the church. This power was probably affecting Izayoi.
While still enduring the pressing pressure with body strengthening, Izayoi glanced at Yuka, who seemed unaffected.
"W-what is it? Staring at me like that..."
Yuka's cheeks tinged slightly red as she was stared down squarely by Izayoi. While tilting his head at her reaction, Izayoi analyzed the phenomenon.
The pressure was bearing down only on Izayoi without affecting Yuka at all. The difference between the two was that one was a hero and the other a demon king. More specifically, one was human and the other a demon.
The reason Yuka was not attacked by this pressure was probably that she was human. Therefore, she felt nothing even at the entrance of the church.
In contrast, Izayoi was a demon. Not human. Therefore, he sensed the mysterious power leaking from inside at the entrance of the church, and the moment he entered the building, he was assaulted by the pressure.
A power that bares its fangs only against demons and not humans. Moreover, a pressure that almost made Izayoi, who possesses the specs of a demon king, fall. A mere demon would probably not be able to stand up again.
The identity of such a power. Izayoi was familiar with that power.
--- The Sacred Sword.
It was similar to the power contained within his sword, no, it was the same. Izayoi could assert because he had fought it many times. Without a doubt, this power was the same as that of the sacred sword.
Izayoi, who hadn't thought he would encounter the detestable power of the sacred sword here, had an uncontainable disgust and hatred seeping through his expression.
"Hey, Izayoi. You've been acting strange since a while ago, you know?"
Yuka, sensing that something was off with Izayoi, peered into his face.
"...There's a power identical to the sacred sword flowing here."
"Eh, that means..."
Suddenly, Izayoi, sensing multiple presences from behind, covered Yuka's mouth with his hand.
Yuka, whose mouth was covered without warning, was startled and tried to pry the hand away but restrained herself when she saw Izayoi's A young man, dressed as an adventurer. He was probably older than Yuka. The youth, exuding a tight, hurried atmosphere, seemed to be rushing through life.
But what Izayoi was concerned about was not that he was an adventurer.
This youth, with a walking manner and physicality refined beyond his age, was likely a very skilled individual—probably not below A-rank. No, perhaps even higher.
The blonde youth disappeared into the back of the church, ignoring Izayoi and the others.
"He is..."
"Ah, you mean Gram? He's a very devout believer and contributes greatly to this church, even while being an S-rank adventurer," explained someone.
"S-rank..."
Yuka moaned a bit behind Izayoi. She was astonished to encounter a person of the highest adventurer rank.
On the other hand, Izayoi wasn't too surprised, as he had expected it. However, it was mysterious why an S-rank adventurer was in such a church.
As was the case with Terumus, requests from those shady royal families are circulating in every adventurer’s guild. That request caused Terumus to be short-handed and fall into a crisis during the monster invasion, but let's leave that aside for now.
Given the current situation, where the majority of high-rank adventurers had gone to the royal capital due to the royal family's request, an S-rank adventurer remaining in Marshealg seemed suspicious.
The priest said he was devout, but was he? He didn't appear to be a pious believer from the vibe he gave off.
Izayoi decided to investigate him as a person of interest, directing his consciousness back to the conversation with the priest.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"Well, actually, I was recommended this place by my adventurer friends. I never really paid much attention to such places since I’ve always been engulfed in battles, but now that I’m here, I think it’s not bad," lied Izayoi fluently.
Yuka, recalling a previous incident at a yakitori shop, pondered why Izayoi could lie so easily.
"Oh, that is most delightful. Gratitude for the guidance of a good friend," the priest responded, grasping the cross hanging around his neck.
The priest's cross emanated the same power as the holy sword.
Realizing that, Izayoi instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword but was stopped just in time by Yuka.
"Calm down, Izayoi. Drawing your sword now would be unwise," whispered Yuka, sticking close to his back.
Yuka’s whisper cooled Izayoi's almost boiling thoughts.
He almost drew his sword right there—an uncharacteristically rash act. Izayoi held his head, but it couldn’t be helped. The power of his sword invariably resurrected memories of his dear family taken away by the holy sword.
While the cross before his eyes was not a holy sword, it contained a similar power, which was enough to disturb Izayoi's mind and disrupt his tranquility.
Understanding Izayoi’s inner turmoil, Yuka, who had been standing back until now, responded in his stead.
"Um, so, we were hoping to receive some teachings while we're here."
"Yes, yes, that’s no problem. Let’s sit down and talk comfortably, shall we?"
The priest suggested the front row of several provided benches and walked toward the altar.
Yuka took Izayoi's hand and sat on the front bench.
"Are you okay?"
Yuka, slightly worried due to his earlier behavior. His unexpected act was uncharacteristic of Izayoi, who was always calm and seldom acted impulsively. Knowing the reason and sensing his feelings, Yuka was concerned.
Izayoi cooled his head, placed a hand on Yuka’s head, and rubbed it a bit roughly.
"Sorry for worrying you. I’m fine now."
"W-what’s with the patting?"
Yuka spoke discontentedly, but she didn’t seem as upset as her words suggested.
With a wry smile at Yuka's reaction, Izayoi looked up at the priest standing in front of the altar.