Arifureta Zero: Volume 1

by Ryo Shirakome

  Oscar adjusted his glasses, a conflicted expression on his face.

  “Before I left, I asked him if we could visit again as just friends.”

  “Huh?” Miledi instantly perked up.

  “He didn’t exactly say yes, but he at least said he’d think about it.” Oscar watched Miledi’s eyes widen in surprise.

  “We still have our own journey to complete. But one day, we’ll come back to see him again. Not to convince him to be our comrade, but to help him out. We’re his friends now. Surely he won’t mind... right?” The original goal of the Liberators was to save those who had been crushed by the injustices of the world. It would be well within the scope of their goal to help a friend who’d enforced such a strict lifestyle on himself. In fact, they couldn’t call themselves Liberators if they didn’t.

  “O-kun!”

  “Whoa!?”

  Miledi flung herself at Oscar. Flustered, he somehow managed to catch her.

  “That’s it! You’re right! Absolutely right! We’re Nacchan’s friends!”

  “Uh, yeah, we are. Anyway, that’s why you don’t have to feel so down about it. We’ll just say the Fairy of the Desert incident ended with us gaining a friend instead of a comrade. Now, please get off me.”

  “I knew I could count on you, O-kun! You’re the greatest partner ever! Now we’re friends with someone amazing! And if he needs our help, we can go back to save him anytime! Man, I feel way better now!”

  “Great. Now quit clinging to me.” Despite his best efforts, Oscar was unable to peel Miledi off of him. Though Miledi wasn’t as well-endowed as Susha, she was still quite attractive. Oscar found himself troubled by her close proximity, especially since he’d seen her naked not too long ago. When he saw her smiling innocently at him, though, he berated himself for having such indecent thoughts. What mattered was that she wasn’t depressed anymore.

  Oscar gave up on getting Miledi off him and stroked her back until she was satisfied.

  After a while, the two started walking again. There was a new spring in Miledi’s step. Oscar too, walked with a lighter heart than before.

  They crossed a number of sand dunes before the town of Liv came into sight.

  “Hmm? Hey, O-kun?”

  “Yeah, I see it. Something’s definitely not right.” Oscar activated his glasses’ Farsight spell.

  “There’s an awful lot of iraks in the town. A bunch of wagons too. They all look pretty ornate... Miledi!”

  “Huh, what is it? What’d you see?”

  After a brief pause, Oscar continued in a strained voice.

  “It’s the Holy Church!” Miledi’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

  Members of the Holy Church arrived late in the afternoon.

  At first, the villagers thought the herd of iraks and wagons in the distance was a merchant caravan. Hoping to trade for supplies, the villagers had eagerly crowded the main gate.

  When they saw the opulence of the wagons and the knights on the iraks though, the villagers realized their mistake.

  It was not merchants, but the bishop of Doumibral who had come to visit them.

  The bishop, Agares Myurie, stepped out of the lead carriage. He was accompanied by his priests and the templar knights. All told, he had brought sixty knights with him. Either he was here to threaten the village, or he wanted to impress upon them the power of the Holy Church.

  Agares was a young bishop still in his twenties. His blond hair was swept back, revealing a handsome face. He spoke softly and always seemed to have a gentle smile on his face. All things considered, he looked like the very embodiment of a pious, humble man.

  However, one did not rise to the position of bishop at such a young age by being humble. The Holy Church had only thirty bishops at any given time, one for each major city on the continent. As there were only seven archbishops, four cardinals, and the pope who ranked above them, few bishop seats opened up because a previous bishop was promoted.

  The primary reason for the election of a new bishop was because a current bishop had lost their position. There were various reasons a bishop could be stripped of their rank. Some retired because of age or failing health, others were demoted for failing to fulfill their duty. Yet more were excommunicated because their faith had been found lacking, or some perished in unexpected “accidents.” Agares’ predecessor had been deemed a heretic and executed. He had been known to all as a very pious man, so the decision had come as a shock.

  Moreover, the inquisitor who had unveiled the previous bishop’s heresy was none other than Agares.

  Agares had made quite a name for himself as a very effective inquisitor, so the town could more or less guess what he had come to Liv for.

  “Good citizens of Liv, there is but one reason as to why I have come here today. We have heard there is a heretic in this town who dares declare themselves a god. Such an act is an affront to Lord Ehit. Are there any here who know of the Guardian of the Desert?” Susha and Yunfa paled when they heard that name.

  Someone must have told the Holy Church. Though Yunfa and Susha had tried spreading rumors that Naiz was actually the Fairy of the Desert, the number of people he had saved had grown so large that his old nickname had started making a comeback.

  Still, his existence was nothing more than a rumor. To most, he was just a fairy tale. The Holy Church shouldn’t have had any reason to send an inquisitor after him, especially because Susha and Yunfa had worked so hard to misdirect the rumors. They were the one organization they hadn’t wanted finding out about Naiz.

  And yet— We didn’t do enough! Susha grit her teeth.

  These past two years, she’d done everything in her power to keep Naiz’s identity a secret. Plenty of adventurers, minstrels, and travelers Naiz had saved had also helped her out, but it still hadn’t been enough. The Holy Church was after him now.

  “Sue-nee...” Susha wanted to reassure her younger sister, but she couldn’t. All she could do was tightly hold on to Yunfa’s hand. Agares smiled at the villagers, looking absolutely harmless. That smile terrified them.

  Many in Liv had been saved by Naiz. Of them, a good number knew what he looked like.

  None of them believed they would be able to survive Agares’ torture.

  “All of the clergymen within the federation are out looking for this heretic known as the Guardian of the Desert. We will bring this accursed man to justice no matter the cost. Anyone who claims there is any god but Ehit deserves nothing but death. The same goes for all who try to hide him from us.” Agares gestured with sweeping hand motions as he gave his speech, almost like an actor on a stage.

  “There have been more and more reports of this godless heathen appearing in the desert. In order to keep this blessed world pure, we must weed out all heretics. In order to bring in this one, we have decided to launch an inquisition. The archbishops have granted all bishops the authority to execute anyone they deem suspect.” As he said that, the knights unloaded a number of wooden beams and a giant blade from the wagon, then began fitting them together.

  “A-A guillotine?” One of the villagers muttered. The contraption the knights were setting up was indeed a guillotine.

  Agares fondly patted the scaffolding and swept his gaze over the villagers. They flinched back in fear.

  “There is no reason for you to feel indebted to this Guardian of the Desert. Had he been a true believer, he would have used his powers in the service of Lord Ehit. The fact that he did not proves his guilt. Now then, let the inquisition commence.” Agares sat down on a magnificent chair that one of his priests brought out for him. His knights fanned out and dragged the villagers to him one by one.

  Surprisingly, when the villagers told Agares they knew nothing he simply said “I see,” and let them return home.

  An hour passed. The sun was about to dip under the horizon, and the curtain of night had begun to fall.

  The villagers, who had been expecting to be tortured, started to look hopeful. This almost seemed like a formal, proper i
nterrogation.

  A middle-aged man was brought up to Agares and the bishop asked the same question he had to all the others.

  “Do you know the Guardian of the Desert?”

  Susha let out a barely audible gasp. The man was someone who had actually met Naiz.

  Apparently Naiz had gotten him some valuable and rare medicine to cure his son. The man had swore he would one day repay the favor. He was also one of Susha’s conspirators, and had helped her spread rumors about the Fairy of the Desert.

  The man, whose name was Porukka, stared unflinchingly at Agares.

  “No, Lord Bishop. I do not.” His voice didn’t stutter. His poker face was perfect.

  Agares smiled and responded in a calm, cold manner.

  “It’s not good to lie.” The villagers exchanged worried glances. Porukka’s expression stiffened.

  “Wh-What do you—”

  “You have met this man before, have you not?”

  “N-No, I haven’t!”

  “That’s a lie, isn’t it? You have a child, correct?”

  “...Yes.”

  “Now see, that is the truth. Is your child a girl?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that is a lie. You have a son, not a daughter. This Guardian of the Desert met with your son, did he not?”

  “No, Your Eminence.”

  “Another lie. He saved your son’s life, did he not?”

  “No he didn’t! I’ve never even—”

  “More lies. He saved your son’s life, which is why you’re lying to protect him.”

  “You’re mistaken, Lord Bishop! Please, believe me!” Porukka shrieked, terrified.

  Agares’ smile didn’t waver. He repeated the question.

  Those that knew Porukka trembled in fear. Agares had guessed everything despite Porukka’s answers. No matter what the man said, Agares somehow divined the truth.

  “It seems you really don’t know any more than this. Hmm, well, I was at least able to ascertain this man’s appearance. A step in the right direction.”

  “Wh-Why? How...”

  Porukka looked at Agares with lifeless eyes. Still smiling, Agares explained.

  “Because I am an Apostle, one who carries the blood of Ehit in my veins.” The villagers began muttering to each other. Agares basked in their fear for a few minutes before addressing them.

  “I have the power to see into people’s souls. You cannot lie to me. No matter how good a liar you are, your soul shall show your falsehood.” In other words, this was the special magic he had inherited. Like Oscar and Miledi, he possessed inhuman powers. It was also what made him such a good inquisitor.

  “Now then, it’s time for your divine punishment. For the sin of lying, you and your entire family are condemned.” Even now, there was still a smile on Agares’ face. He hadn’t hesitated to condemn them all.

  “Wait! Please wait! Spare my family at least!” However, it was too late. The templar knights dragged his family up to the scaffolding.

  “The inquisition is not over yet. We must hurry the process along, or it will be dark before we’re finished. Surely you good people would not want to force the templar knights to do something as menial as create light for us?”

  Even though Agares had just condemned a man to death, he was lecturing Porukka as if he was the unreasonable one for not agreeing to die quickly and quietly. Agares’ gaze held not even a hint of remorse. There was no hope for Porukka or his family.

  Tears sprung to the villagers’ eyes as they watched Porukka and his family get dragged to the guillotine. Many of them couldn’t bear to watch and turned away. However, one brave soul was different.

  “Is it a sin to thank someone who helps you?” Her voice rang out clearly through the crowd.

  The knights stopped what they were doing and started looking for the voice’s owner.

  The crowd hastily parted out of the way, leaving two young girls standing alone. However, Susha didn’t try and hide. She stood firm and met Agares’ gaze, her eyes glimmering with resolve.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Could you say it again?”

  His gaze seemed to be saying, “Say that to my face, if you dare.” However, neither Susha nor Yunfa flinched. This time it was Yunfa who replied.

  “You don’t know? When someone helps you, you say thank you. And when you do something bad, you say sorry. I’m eight and even I know that. How come you don’t, Bishop?” Yunfa’s words dripped with venom. They echoed clearly through the night.

  For the first time since he’d arrived, Agares’ smile slipped.

  The priests and knights were amazed. On the other hand, the villagers watched on in abject horror.

  “Bishop, please forgive our desire to help this man who has done so much for us. Our faith in Ehit is in no way false. We simply wish to show our gratitude to him as well. That’s all. Please allow us this shred of humanity. I’m sure Lord Ehit would show us mercy as well.” Now it was Susha’s turn to speak. She knew that once her turn came, she wouldn’t be able to keep hold of her secrets. Not in front of this man who could use ancient magic, anyway.

  She had a rough idea of where Naiz lived because of the two odd strangers she’d talked to this morning. They’d told her they went to meet Naiz relatively often, and the two of them were staying at Liv’s inn. In other words, Naiz’s house had to be somewhere in the area. There was only one place you could hide yourself that was nearby. The Red Dragon’s Mountain.

  Perhaps if they confessed, Susha and Yunfa’s lives would be spared. But neither of them would, even if they knew lying was futile.

  No matter what happened, their lives were forfeit. If they were dead either way, they decided to go down fighting instead of begging. And now was the time to fight. Porukka had done his best to protect Naiz, so they had to do what they could to protect him as well.

  Susha and Yunfa clasped each others hands and walked forward.

  “Please forgive Porukka-san and his family. At the very least, spare their lives.” Susha looked far more mature than any twelve-year-old the village had seen. Yunfa, too, bowed her head and begged Agares to forgive Porukka.

  While everyone else just looked on stunned, Agares grinned. His smile was far more sinister than before.

  “I see. Such splendid children. To think you would lecture me on morality. Fufufufufu, it has been some since I have enjoyed myself this much. Indeed, this is wonderful. As thanks for bringing me such joy, allow me to explain something to you.”

  “Explain what?”

  “You seem to be misunderstanding what morality is. It is certainly something very important. Indeed, almost as important as worshiping Ehit.”

  Susha gulped. She knew where Agares was going with this.

  “However, there is nothing more important in this world than Ehit’s will. Compared to that, something as trivial as human morality means nothing. In fact, what you’re doing is not truly moral if it contradicts the word of god. Besides—” Agares raised his hands up to heaven and brought his face close to Susha’s, his movements like a broken doll’s. Susha was terrified by his bulging pupils.

  “What right do you have to speak of Ehit’s will?” Out of everything Susha had said, that was what irked him the most.

  A ball of glowing fire appeared in Agares’ hand. He had used no magic circle, spoke no incantation, yet he had managed to cast one of the strongest fire spells known to man, Solar Blast. Normally, the spell created a sphere of fire over eight meters wide, but Agares had compressed it into the size of his hand and made it far more powerful. This was the power of one of God’s Apostles.

  Originally, Agares had been planning on questioning Yunfa and Susha first, but their blasphemy had driven him over the edge. He would wipe them off the face of Tortus.

  “You are not even worthy to breathe the same air as me. Disappear.” No one moved. The sight of him creating such a powerful spell had left them rooted to the spot.

  Only Susha, who was hugging her little
sister, still had the courage to glare back at Agares.

  “Then Ehit’s will is wrong.” Her voice didn’t waver.

  Agares unleashed his fireball, which was powerful enough to blow through the whole crowd and leave not even ashes behind, as the girls looked on and accepted their fate.

  “Ability Ten, Hallowed Ground, Partial Activation!” A black shadow interposed itself between Susha and the fireball. He was holding something no one expected to see in a desert, a black umbrella.

  He thrust it in front of him, and it began to glow with a vibrant light. The fireball smashed into it head-on. At the same time—

  “Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiileeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeediiiiiiiiiiiii” A girl’s voice rang out from somewhere far away. Then, a second later—

  “Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick!” A girl’s foot slammed into Agares’ face.

  She slammed into him from the side, and the force of the kick nearly shattered his cheekbones.

  He was sent flying away from his chair. The villagers watched as Agares flew through the air.

  He flew straight through a number of buildings and skidded across the ground. His legs slammed into a tree, which flipped him around, and kept going. He skipped across the oasis and finally came to a halt on the far bank.

  No normal kick could generate that much force. It had looked like she had almost been falling sideways.

  Miledi, for the girl was obviously Miledi, alighted atop the chair Agares had been sitting on seconds before. She looked down at the dumbfounded templar knights and winked.

  She made her characteristic peace sign as her ponytail fluttered behind her.

  “It’s everyone’s favorite magical girl, Miledi-chan!” Miledi posed for the crowd.

  A second later, Agares’ fireball flew off into the sky. Oscar had deflected it with his umbrella. It exploded safely above the heads of the villagers, illuminating the early night sky with its radiance.

  The light framed Miledi perfectly, making her look like a goddess descending from heaven.

  “Nice one, O-kun! I never knew you were such a good showman!”

  “That was actually just a coincidence.”