The Successor of the Saint Does Not Fight - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Curse of the Rain-Summoning Serpent Part 9

Of course, everything is just my fanciful tale.

Think about it. No matter how powerful a demon might be, would a lowly reptile like a snake really engage in such complex thoughts?

While White Wolf insisted.

“We possess wisdom comparable to humans.”

The fact remains that White Wolf himself is rather foolish, so I can’t trust his assertion.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, the villagers gazed up at the sky, their cheeks dampened by rain and tears.

Watching that scene, I was quite repulsed.

(Whoa… Looks like the people in this village are hardcore demon worshippers after all…)

The reason I reverted White Wolf back to his original size was not only to confirm their familiarity with demons – it was also to serve as a deterrent, so the deranged demon worshippers wouldn’t attack me. It was like saying, “If you lay a hand on me, this big dog won’t stay quiet.”

Fortunately, it didn’t come to that, but I still felt a strong desire to leave the village as soon as possible.

I didn’t know when these demon worshippers might gather momentum and come after me, shouting, “Offer up the saint as a sacrifice!”

So, I decided to wrap things up quickly.

“Yes! So, from now on, I’ll set up a barrier to stop the rain. Will that suffice to end this incident?”

“What, my dear? What do you mean?”

White Wolf peers down at me with his massive body. Terrifying.

“There’s no malice from the Rain Serpent, right? So, there’s no need to destroy it with a large-scale barrier…”

“It’s okay. It’s not a barrier like the Holy Saint’s.”

I cough deliberately, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Umm… The barrier I’m about to create is very special. Once it’s set up, its effects will be permanent, but we’ll need the cooperation of everyone in the village to maintain it. Specifically, you’ll need to perform a certain ritual regularly.”

“A ritual…?”

The villagers looked puzzled.

So, I flashed them a triumphant smile.

“You mentioned it earlier. As a ritual to show gratitude to the Rain Serpent, you said something about placing captured mice in the waterfall basin—right? Well, it’s truly a miraculous coincidence, but the ritual needed to maintain the barrier is exactly the same. What an amazing coincidence, right?”

With an intentionally exaggerated attitude, I laid it on thick.

I wouldn’t let them commit to anything verbally, but essentially, here’s what I wanted to convey:

—Continue to coexist with the Rain Serpent as before.

By giving the suspicious demon-worshipping ritual the pretext of being maintenance work for my barrier, there would be no reprimands from the church.

(And I can return to the holy city without having to fight…!)

In principle, I could claim I’d “set up a barrier to prevent harm,” marking the mission as complete.

In reality, even if the villagers resumed the ritual, it didn’t guarantee the rain would stop. It all depended on the whims of the demon. It might continue to rain forever.

However, if the church requested another mission because the rain hadn’t stopped, I could brazenly respond:

—Actually, that village turned out to be a nest of demon worshippers—

—So, I deliberately abandoned them—

Perfect.

My incompetence wouldn’t be exposed, and I could confidently refuse another mission. While everyone in the village might face an inquisition, that was none of my concern.

In my heart, the fanfare was already playing.

All that’s left is to set up the barrier (pretend to).

I tossed aside my umbrella and pointed my right index finger towards the sky.

Unable to contain my excitement, my gestures became exaggerated involuntarily.

“—In the name of Meril Klein, let us bestow protection upon this land! Come forth, sacred barrier!”

It was a farce.

Both I and the villagers knew that no barrier would be erected here.

It was just a façade we were maintaining.

However—

“Heh.”

As I spoke, the rain clouds seemed to part as if a hole had opened in the sky.

In the sudden sunlight that streamed through, everyone was momentarily blinded.

(What? What just happened?)

I glanced around, unable to comprehend the situation.

The villagers rejoiced at the long-awaited blue sky, raising their hands in exultation.

“Look! A rainbow!”

Someone pointed to the sky and exclaimed.

The rain, which had persisted like mist, vanished as the sun broke through, revealing a rainbow in the sky.

A vast rainbow, spanning layer upon layer, covered the sky.

(Oh wow. Such a beautiful rainbow…)

Though I didn’t quite understand what was happening, I was mesmerized by the breathtaking sight.

The sparkling rainbow seemed to convey gratitude from some silent entity, and unwittingly, I found myself feeling a little sentimental.

Suddenly, something dropped onto my head.

It wasn’t heavy. I initially thought it might be a slightly larger raindrop, but when I touched it—

It was slimy.

A snake.

A snake, flicking its red tongue.

Its slithering movements were disgustingly creepy.

“Aaahhhhh!!! What the—?!?!”

I let out a scream I’d never uttered before, flailing my right arm wildly.

But the snake entwined around me wouldn’t let go.

And then, as if in pursuit, more snakes fell onto my right and left shoulders.

“Aaahhhh!!!”

With a scream, I ran as fast as I could.

Snakes continued to rain down from the sky, but it seemed they were targeting only me. None of the other villagers were getting showered. It felt like someone had it out for me.

“My, my, my. Seems like you’ve really caught the Rain Serpent’s fancy, my dear.”

White Wolf chuckled knowingly.

Unbelievable. This is how you treat someone who takes a liking to you? This harassment is going too far. This is why I can’t stand dim-witted reptiles. Oh no, another one just landed on my shoulder. Get away from me, you vile demon—

The chase between me and the snakes persisted for some time.