Ysoria cheerfully opened the door to Kaito's inn room. "Hero, it's time to wake up." Her cheerful demeanor froze when she saw Nysera sleeping beside him, her head resting on his arm.
Kaito's eyes snapped open, a bit of exhaustion still clinging to them. He noticed Nysera beside him and gently shook her awake. Nysera drowsily opened her eyes and blinked, her expression as blank as ever.
"Nysera," Ysoria began, "you mustn't intrude into the Hero's room. You must at least respect his privacy."
Nysera simply held up a peace sign, her face completely deadpan. "...More research is needed," she said before teleporting out of the room in a flash of light.
A little while later, the party gathered downstairs for a quick breakfast. Kaito dipped a piece of hard, stale bread into his soup and crunched on it. The culinary development of this world, particularly in its pastries and desserts, wasn't up to par with Earth. However, they excelled at meat dishes, using various monster meats to create rich flavors despite the lack of spices. The vegetable soup, at least, was a decent meal.
"Rin, are you just going to drink tea?" Kaito asked, looking over at the swordswoman. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"
Rin calmly sipped the tea from her cup. "It's all I need. Would you like a cup, Hero? Tea is best when shared."
"Sure," Kaito said, intrigued. "I can't say I'm not interested, seeing how you're acting."
Rin gracefully poured him a cup and presented it with both hands. Kaito took a sip. Instantly, the world began to slow down as if he had frozen time. His mind, previously buzzing with complicated thoughts about Roland, the most efficient path to defeat the Demon King, and his worries about never returning to Earth, suddenly became clear. It was as if all his concerns were bubbles he could simply blow away, allowing him to focus completely on the present moment. He looked at his hand and moved it, seeing multiple afterimages trail behind. His mind was open; he felt that he was capable of anything.
"H...e...ro," Ysoria's voice called out, a slow, drawn-out sound. She spoke again, louder this time. "Hero!"
Kaito shook his head, and the sensation disappeared. "Huh?"
"Are you alright, Hero? You've been zoned out for five minutes now," Ysoria asked, her face etched with concern.
"Huh?" Kaito repeated again, looking down at his cup. It was empty.
"Would you like more, Hero?" Rin asked politely.
"Maybe later," Kaito replied, his mind reeling from the experience. "We should head to the Holy Land and defeat the Corruptor of Heart."
Ysoria nodded, her expression grim. "Even this village is crawling with corrupted clergy, spreading their new faith of an unknown 'Goddess of Darkness'."
"We can't let this heresy go on for much longer," she said with a tone of fierce determination.
Rin spoke up. "Isn't the message they're preaching kind of normal, if not good? Eight-hour workdays, five days of work, guaranteed overtime pay, free healing treatment, along with lengthy vacation time when needed?"
"As servants of the Goddess, that's slothful behavior," Ysoria said with a hint of disdain in her voice. "We must give it our all regardless of circumstance to reach the expectations of the Goddess. That's the teaching that has been written in stone within our doctrine."
...
Kaito and the others finished their breakfast and stepped out into the village. The streets were filled with clergy in black robes, an almost perfect inverse of the Holy Church's usual white. They weren't preaching or condemning; instead, they were actively helping the villagers. Some healed farm animals with a gentle touch, others treated injured citizens, and a few carried heavy objects, all with a happy, satisfied smile on their faces.
"It looks like they're just helping people," Kaito observed.
"Don't be deceived so easily, Hero," Ysoria warned with a stern expression. "Their actions are an attempt to corrupt the citizens of this village. They are putting on a guise of helpfulness to gain the villagers' trust, all while secretly corrupting their souls to worship this so-called Goddess of Darkness. It is likely the intricate plan of the Corruptor of Heart."
Kaito, though still doubtful, accepted her words at face value. They found a carriage and took it to the Holy Land, a short journey away. After a final wave to the driver, they entered the sacred grounds. To their surprise, the Holy Land was bright and bustling. Numerous citizens were dressed in black priestly robes, and some greeted Ysoria with cheerful waves upon noticing her. She smiled and also waved back.
"Are you sure they're corrupted?" Rin asked.
"They must be," Ysoria insisted. "How else would you explain their sudden worship of a new deity?"
Suddenly, a cheerful voice called out to them. "Ysoria, you're back!" A young girl in a simple black nun's outfit rushed up to them.
"Sister Anna," Ysoria said, her face lighting up with relief. She pulled the girl into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're still safe."
"Why wouldn't I be safe?" Anna asked, her expression one of genuine confusion.
"I'm sure the Corruptor of Heart tormented you greatly," Ysoria said, a fierce protectiveness in her voice. "Don't worry, we will slay him and return the Holy Land back to normal."
Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "But the Corruptor of Heart was killed a long time ago."
"Huh?" Ysoria reacted in surprise. "If so, why are you all worshiping this 'Goddess of Darkness' now?"
"Oh, that," Anna said with a bright, innocent smile. "Didn't you know? We all decided to start a new religion."