novelraw Chapter 266
Chapter 266
Chapter 266
After quickly getting dressed, Kait packed Emotion and the parts from the Araslan Mechanized Race into his bag and left the room. There was no longer any need to hide his identity, but he still felt uneasy about being seen as the same kind as the Talvani by Asban and the others.
"Sorry about this, Kait."
"No, no. I'll be back soon anyway."
"Old Godron has been a big shot in this town for ages. Pretty much everyone living here has received help from his family in some way or another."
Living in this town meant being bound by strong ties. But it also made sense—perhaps it was precisely because someone like that was backing the Talvani that, despite being so disliked, they were still allowed to live in this town. Even if people resented them, it didn't go so far as to drive them out.
Saying a brief farewell to the apologetic Asban, Kait stepped outside the inn. As expected, Damsirea was waiting for him, accompanied by several others.
"Guess it's good I didn't try going out the window."
"Now, whatever do you mean?"
Playing dumb, but Damsirea didn't respond to it either. Aware of the stares from the townspeople, Kait started walking alongside Damsirea. Probably to prevent him from escaping, the others flanked him from the sides and behind.
It was an unpleasant feeling. Come to think of it, before he was sentenced to exile, he'd been escorted just like this during the trial.
"Good grief. I'm being treated like a criminal."
"That's a misunderstanding. It would be a problem if someone tried to harm you. Think of it as our duty to ensure your safety."
Damsirea seemed pleased that things were going her way. Still, her words showed a rather dismissive attitude toward the town's morality. Apparently, the Talvani didn't think too highly of this town either.
"By the way. This Godron person we're heading to—what kind of man is he?"
"Hmm? You're curious after all?"
"He's a big shot in this town, right? I'd rather not get on the bad side of someone like that."
"That's a prudent mindset. Old Godron is indeed a prominent figure in this town. But originally, he comes from a family with an even more important role."
Damsirea showed a certain level of respect toward Old Godron. It wasn't just gratitude for the support he provided.
"He's a priest. An apostle of the Supreme God Azlan and the voice of his words. We Talvani are working with him to find a way into that temple."
"Oh?"
Kait raised an eyebrow. The Araslan Mechanized Race and the Supreme God Azlan.
For Kait and the others, who wanted to investigate the relationship between the Araslan Mechanized Race and the people of Mardila, this was an extremely important source of information.
"That's interesting. Could you tell me a bit more?"
***
According to the mythology of Mardila.
Long, long ago, the ancestors of the Mardila people lived in separate lands. Their progress was slow, and they often made poor choices. As a result, every one of the homelands their ancestors had lived in was destroyed.
The one who reached out a saving hand to them was the Supreme God Azlan, who descended from the heavens. The people, arrogant in their own civilization, didn't recognize that salvation at first. Many took up arms against the god, only to be soundly defeated.
Even after defeating them in war, Azlan remained merciful. He suggested they abandon their dying lands and move to the new lands he had prepared.
The Supreme God with an immortal body of steel and a spear of light.
It's said that those who devote themselves to Azlan and overcome his trials will one day be summoned to his side and granted the same steel body as the god.
Cast aside your tainted flesh and, one day, guide the people with your pure steel limbs.
The Supreme God Azlan still watches over the people of Mardila from the heights of the heavens and continues to test them.
***
As society continued to decay and people's lives grew more desolate, faith in the god and the history of trials were gradually forgotten. Now, only the Talvani, who know of the few remaining records, and the priestly families living near the desert continue to pass down the stories.
"It's lamentable. If we could obtain the divine body, we might be able to revive this ruined land. Only the Talvani, who inherit ancient wisdom, can truly be said to worry about this land's future."
"I see. That was a fascinating story."
Old Godron didn't look the part of a priest at all. His whole body brimmed with vitality, and unless you were told, you wouldn't guess his age from his muscular frame.
He had likely spent his life trying to reach that massive machine roaming the desert.
"Kait. Is that all the information you were looking for?"
"Yes, I learned a lot. Thank you."
The legend of Azlan that Damsirea had told him on the way, and the mythology Old Godron had shared—when combined with the Federation's information Kait had received, a picture of what the Araslan Mechanized Race had aimed to do began to form.
They had enlightened the Mardila people. If their teachings had spread among the people of Mardila, then their ancestors must have genuinely wished to receive the steel bodies.
It was a far easier method than forcing subjugation. Without the Federation's interference, no one would have doubted it.
"Is Dangaresion in the north? I guess it can't survive in the desert."
"Yes. The southern group is believed to have gone extinct long ago. If they're still gathering in a herd, it must be in the northern plains."
That matched the information Emotion had investigated before coming to this planet. Whether she had looked into it after hearing from Damsirea or had known from the start, the fact that she hadn't kept it secret meant she was at least sincerely sharing information with Kait.
"Are you heading out right away?"
"Well, not immediately. I need to prepare, so I plan to earn a bit in this town first."
"I see. ...Then, Kait, would you be willing to help us?"
"Help you all?"
There it was. After hearing all this, their goal and the reason they called Kait here were now obvious.
He had definitely caught their attention during the sand transport. Maybe he had gone a bit overboard back then.
"Yes. We need your strength—the strength of someone who crossed that desert. We've been searching for a path to that temple in the desert for a long time."
"Temple...? You don't mean that moving thing, do you!?"
"Exactly. We've tried dozens of times, but never once succeeded. This time, we're determined to make it work."
"And it doesn't matter who it is among us. We want to obtain the steel bodies and bring life back to this ruined land. That's the only reason we're helping Old Godron, and the only reason he wishes for it too."
Kait found it suspicious, but didn't show it. He nodded deeply a few times, calmly weighing whether to accept or refuse.
They weren't asking him to lead—they were only asking for help. How should he interpret that?
Some of the Talvani probably believed Kait had been granted a steel body by Azlan. After all, they had seen him literally leap out the window.
Some were certain, others doubtful. Those who were skeptical likely couldn't see Kait's body as being made of steel. Based on what he'd seen when sneaking into their so-called "temple" yesterday, the steel bodies they spoke of looked quite robotic.
Old Godron was probably half-convinced too. If Kait really was the real deal, deceiving him would only hinder their goal. Perhaps they hoped that helping this traveler searching for Dangaresion would lead them to their destination.
"Understood. I don't know how much help I'll be, though."
"Oh! Thank you, Kait!"
In truth, Kait was on the enemy side of their god. Even if the Araslan Mechanized Race really did grant steel bodies, he couldn't believe that those who had aided the enemy would ever pass the so-called trials.
"...Well, I guess it can't be helped."
They'd just have to accept that their judgment had been clouded.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no. So, what should I help with first?"