Chapter 132: Beggar Gritz (8) - The Secret Only You Know

To the girl named Grace, the head of the Carnelian family was an absolute authority whom no one could dare oppose.

He was the king of this land called Bellaria.

If he decided that someone was a criminal, that person became a criminal, and if he declared someone innocent, then any crime was forgiven.

No matter how bold Grace was or how little she cared about society’s empty formalities, openly standing against the family head was impossible.

“…That’s all.”

Therefore, watching the family head cautiously gauge Gritz’s reaction while quietly telling stories about his ancient ancestors was nothing short of surreal to her.

No, it was probably the same for most of the people in Bellaria.

Who could believe that the family head, who usually appeared so dignified and imposing, was groveling before a mere beggar with the pathetic attitude of a dog?

“So, how does it feel to learn that the duty or whatever you tried to shoulder was all the result of a bunch of idiots doing idiotic things?”

Meanwhile, Gritz, who had accomplished that incredible feat, remained utterly indifferent.

As though the family head’s authority and social status meant nothing in his presence.

After all, if he had been the sort of person to care about such things, he would never have wandered around using an oak barrel as his home.

“Even if you ask me how I feel…”

Grace felt troubled.

It was not so much because she was especially kindhearted as because the situation simply did not feel real to her.

If Gritz had been the one to tell her this story, Grace would probably have regarded it as half-fiction rather than taking it seriously.

Gritz had anticipated that, which was why he had made the family head explain the situation to Grace himself.

But perhaps Grace’s trouble and bewilderment appeared to mean something entirely different to the family head, because he desperately bowed his head.

“I-I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize. But I had no choice!! By the time I became the head of the family, the entire family had already been taken over by that monster!”

“Tsk, tsk. Look at you, spouting excuses before you’ve even finished apologizing.”

“……”

When Gritz mocked him from beside her, the family head fell strangely silent, his spirit visibly deflated.

His face was filled with indignation and desperation, but ironically, Grace saw the younger children from the orphanage in that expression.

‘…He really does think he’s the victim.’

A child who had been scolded by someone and, unable to bear the scolding, apologized without actually believing inwardly that they had done anything wrong.

The family head’s face looked remarkably like that of such a child.

‘It was his ancestors’ mistake, so he only took on the burden of cleaning up after them.’

Considering only the family head’s own position, it was a fairly plausible excuse.

But making that face in front of Grace, who had nearly been offered as a sacrifice because of his orders, was utterly shameless.

“Haa.”

Feeling a fresh throb in her head, Grace let out a deep sigh.

“Mr. Gritz.”

“Yeah?”

“Could you put him to sleep for a moment?”

She received no chance to ask what he meant by that.

Instead, with a thwack, the family head was struck on the back of the head with a staff and promptly collapsed unconscious.

“So what are we supposed to do now?”

“Why are you asking me? Is this my job? It’s yours, isn’t it?”

“Wow, you make the situation this bad and then tell me to handle the rest myself? Do you have a conscience?”

“I have a conscience, which is why I did this much after getting a meal out of you. If you try to get everything for free, you’ll regret it.”

It was the sneer of a truly ill-tempered old man.

If she had been an ordinary village girl, it would not have been strange for her to flare up in anger or burst into tears.

But Grace, for her part, had a temperament far removed from anything ordinary.

“Oh, is that so? Then just go.”

After saying that, she abruptly plopped herself down and lay flat on the floor.

Watching Grace, Gritz asked,

“What are you doing?”

“Some great beggar who lives wherever he pleases knows a lot and is strong enough to do whatever he wants, but a stupid, powerless wench doesn’t have that ability! So what else can I do? I might as well sleep. If my head gets chopped off before I wake up, I wonder if that would count as a fortunate death.”

“……”

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving? Oh, are you planning to watch me get executed for blasphemy? Well, that’s your freedom, Mr. Gritz, so do as you please.”

Faced with such audacity—beyond merely daring someone to gut her, she was practically pressing her belly against the blade—even Gritz was at a loss for words for a moment.

“What a nasty temperament this wench has.”

After grumbling under his breath, Gritz said indifferently,

“Fine, then get up.”

“Can’t I just keep talking while lying down? It’s surprisingly comfortable now that I’m here.”

“You’ve reached the true realm of a dog, a realm even I have yet to attain. How admirable. But do you know why beggars like dogs? Because they’re an excellent source of protein.”

Grace did not bother asking what he meant by protein.

Judging from the way he was casually moving his staff around, she could more or less understand his meaning.

Not wanting to be beaten like a dog and tossed into a cooking pot, she obediently assumed a formal kneeling posture, and Gritz opened his mouth.

“In the end, the remaining problem is that Guardian Deity or whatever it is. Unless we deal with it somehow, the problem in this land won’t be solved.”

“Can we really knock it down? No, would it even be okay to knock it down? What if farming collapses along with the Guardian Deity after it disappears?”

“Who knows. According to this fellow’s explanation, this land was fertile even before it had a Guardian Deity, so it would be reasonable to assume nothing will happen. But you never know. Just as the nature of the Guardian Deity gradually changed, it’s possible that the nature of this land, influenced by it, changed as well. But what does that matter? Your life is at stake.”

“Of course it matters. If something major goes wrong with farming, countless people will starve to death or waste away day after day. Where do you think all that resentment and hatred will go?”

“We could pin all of it on that family head over there.”

“Still no.”

“…What, are you about to start spouting nonsense about how this fellow isn’t responsible because it was his ancestors’ sin?”

“I’m not that naïve. I just thought about who would be the first to be cast aside and left behind if something like that happened.”

The orphanage where Grace had grown up, and where her family lived, was able to exist because of the prosperity of this land.

If a time came when people struggled just to take care of themselves, children who were not yet capable of living independently would be the first to be abandoned.

“You really are consistent.”

Gritz’s tone was mocking, but the meaning behind it was closer to admiration.

In his eyes, a girl like Grace was absolutely not the sort of person who would meekly accept a role as a living sacrifice.

Rather, instead of being quietly raised like livestock for slaughter, she had the kind of temperament that would attempt an all-or-nothing escape.

She had that much nerve, as well as the daring to act on it.

And yet there was a clear reason Grace had willingly accepted the role of sacrifice, enduring stifling frustration and gloom every day.

Because otherwise, her family would suffer. And because so many people would suffer as well.

Since Gritz was ultimately the one who had urged Grace to take that desperate gamble, he could not turn his back on that responsibility either.

“Well, there is a way to get rid of the Guardian Deity cleanly without affecting farming at all.”

“Oh, what is it?”

Gritz answered the bright-eyed Grace with a crooked curl of his lips.

“Have you ever thought about becoming a god?”

Grace slowly—very slowly—tilted her head to the side.

Then she said,

“What the hell are you talking about?”

***

Did you hear that rumor?

About this festival? I heard it’s not actually being held to celebrate the priestess going to the Guardian Deity’s side!

What do you mean?

Wasn’t it suspicious from the beginning?

Until now, whenever a priestess was sent away, everything proceeded quietly and without any fuss. Isn’t it strange that this time, all of a sudden, everyone is making a commotion about a festival and a banquet?

I heard it from a friend who works at the Carnelian mansion. Apparently, the Guardian Deity hasn’t been in very good health lately.

They say it’s nearly reached the end of its lifespan.

You ask whether a god can have a lifespan? Why couldn’t it?

This land has been under the Guardian Deity’s protection since the time of my grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather.

If it has endured that many years, then even if it is a god, would it really be strange for its lifespan to run out?

Exactly. It’s truly a serious matter.

Because if the Guardian Deity leaves, this land will turn back into a barren, parched wasteland.

But surely the Guardian Deity couldn’t have failed to think of something even people like us can think of.

The Guardian Deity has already made all the necessary preparations.

What preparations?

Ahem, now that you mention it, my throat is feeling a little dry…

No, no—I didn’t mean you should buy me a drink. Still, I can’t ignore such sincerity, so I’ll accept.

Sluuurp. Ahh! Good stuff.

To prepare for the end of its lifespan, the Guardian Deity came down into the mortal world in human form and had a child with a woman.

And rather than raise that child itself, it had the child mingle with ordinary people.

It said that was so the child could better understand the world’s hardships and worries.

That child was extremely lively and curious, and listened to the residents’ trivial stories day after day.

Does anyone come to mind?

Yes, you’re not entirely oblivious!

The current priestess—she’s the Guardian Deity’s daughter!

Do you understand? This festival isn’t to celebrate the priestess going to the Guardian Deity’s side.

It’s a ritual to send off the old Guardian Deity and welcome a new one!

Then why are they hiding such an important fact from everyone else? Oh, come now.

Your reaction just now is the answer.

If people learned that the Guardian Deity was dying, and that the new Guardian Deity had grown up among ordinary people like us, wouldn’t everyone panic and cause a tremendous uproar?

The Carnelian family is hiding the truth and keeping quiet to prevent that chaos.

They probably plan to announce it only after the current priestess formally inherits the position of Guardian Deity.

So don’t even dream of carelessly blabbing this story wherever you go.

I’m making a special exception and telling you alone. Understand?

Yes, yes. That’s enough, then.

…Hmm. If the Guardian Deity changes, what else will change?

Who knows? This is only speculation, but… wouldn’t the priestess position disappear as well?

Why? This is something I heard from my grandfather, but apparently, in ancient times, there wasn’t even a position like priestess.

Even without one, this land was more than fertile and prosperous enough.

But at some point, a priestess who had never existed before suddenly appeared.

What do you think was the reason?

The Guardian Deity’s lifespan was drawing near, and it had grown weaker than before.

In the past, it could take care of this land perfectly well on its own, but later, it no longer had enough strength by itself and needed the power of things like priestesses and sacrifices.

Conversely, a newly ascended deity is like a fresh, young sprout, so there’s no need to resort to such tricks.

Hahaha! Yes! It’s a good thing, truly a wonderful thing.

Of course, the chosen priestess and her family must have felt it most, but weren’t all of us who lived around them just as uncomfortable and uneasy?

But now that there will be no more need for that, how could this not be cause for celebration?

What are we supposed to do?

What else is there to do?

We simply have to eat and drink noisily, so the Guardian Deity who was here before won’t be lonely on its way out, and so we can welcome the new Guardian Deity!

Long live the new Guardian Deity! Long live Lady Grace!

Oops, I got carried away and raised my voice.

Tsk, no one heard that, did they?

Anyway, my friend.

This is something I’m telling only you, so please watch your mouth. You mustn’t tell this secret to anyone else. Understand?

Heh heh! Good! I’m counting on you!