No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 52

EP.52

Chapter 5

Belief and Reality (4)

There wasn’t a complete lack of rationale behind my hesitation.

First, no matter how similar these creatures might seem to what Gloria described, relying solely on her words to act would be irrational.

We often mistake individuals as representatives of their entire civilization. While certain tendencies may exist within a civilization, it’s unreasonable to assume that an individual’s character mirrors that of their society as a whole.

Imagine if aliens encountered a human, and that human killed one of them. Would it make sense for the aliens to annihilate all of humanity based on that one interaction? While their anger would be understandable, it would be equally unfair to the rest of humanity.

If even an individual cannot represent an entire civilization, how could one civilization represent all nations on Earth? Despite globalization making cultures across the globe increasingly similar, there would still be many who would bristle at the idea of being lumped together like that.

…Moreover, there’s no evidence that this world is the same one where Gloria’s country existed. If that’s the case, these goblins might not even be the “Gublings” she’s familiar with.

On top of that, the elves we know of in this world are limited to Gloria. Sure, another elf did show up once, but they were in no state for coherent conversation.

So, from a rational standpoint, the goblins and Gloria hold the same status in my eyes as representatives of their respective civilizations. Of course, saying that out loud would surely rile Gloria up.

“What do we do with them now?”

One of the Hunters, who seemed unsure of how to proceed, asked while glancing at the goblins we had captured and tied up.

There were twelve goblins in total.

…Or perhaps, twelve individuals.

The spot where we had encountered the goblin group was just one part of a larger operation. Other Hunters had already surrounded the goblins from other angles, making the capture process swift.

It seemed the magical readings we relied on hadn’t been wrong. While some goblins resisted, we had both superior numbers and skill.

“……”

I looked down at the goblins.

They were trembling with fear—or at least that’s what it seemed like. Their menacing faces made it difficult to tell for sure. At times, their expressions seemed angry, which, considering the situation, wouldn’t be unreasonable.

Gloria, who had initially insisted on dealing with the goblins as she would in her homeland, stood a short distance away, quietly watching me.

Was she observing what decision I would make? While she didn’t seem as angry as I feared, her silence wasn’t exactly comforting.

I turned to Ria.

When our eyes met, Ria gave me a small nod and stepped forward.

As the two of us approached, the leading goblin panicked and tried to flee. Interestingly, its gaze wasn’t fixed on Ria, who had a sword at her side, but on me.

The divine power.

That was likely the only force the goblins feared. As creatures sustained by magical power, their very existence was incompatible with divine power.

To these goblins, I must have appeared as a terrifying figure capable of incinerating them with just a flick of my fingers.

This was my second reason for not immediately agreeing to “deal” with the goblins.

These creatures, at the very least, showed an ability to assess and react to their circumstances. While detecting danger and fleeing is an instinct shared by all animals, the goblins had a structured way of warning one another. Even as they fled, they helped their fallen companions get back on their feet.

“When elves were first encountered, you didn’t immediately understand each other’s language, did you?”

“No, we didn’t.”

One of the Hunters scratched his head as he answered.

“I’ve heard it took a long time of sending people back and forth to study each other’s languages before proper communication was established. Once magic was incorporated, methods to expedite the process were developed, but…”

The Hunter looked at me with a curious expression, as if unsure how to process what I had just said.

I nodded, fully aware that my words might be perceived as strange.

“Are you saying you’re willing to accept a group that survives through pillaging?”

Gloria finally interjected with that sharp remark.

“…Are there no such individuals among the elves?”

I asked in return.

It was entirely possible that Gloria had never encountered such individuals herself—after all, she was a princess.

“……”

But judging by her silence, it seemed she had at least heard of them.

“There are such individuals among humans as well.”

And not just those who rely on pillaging.

The reason humanity perceives certain acts as crimes is, ironically, because humans have defined them as such. By establishing a framework for what is acceptable and what isn’t, we’ve created standards against which we measure morality.

And those standards evolve over time. They shift with the era, the civilization, and the cultural context. There are acts that appear criminal but aren’t officially classified as such, and conversely, acts that seem harmless yet are deemed crimes. These boundaries vary dramatically depending on the society in question.

Rape, pillaging—yes, these are undoubtedly reprehensible. At least, that’s what I believe as someone living in a modern society.

But humanity has gone through eras where chastity before marriage was a life-or-death matter, and others where slavery was openly practiced. Many civilizations existed where such practices were codified and accepted by law.

…And even in today’s world, where such acts are universally condemned as crimes, they still happen openly.

I haven’t seen these goblins commit such acts. Even if they had, it might have been the actions of a few individuals or a result of a cultural standard different from our own.

If their ways are truly irreconcilable with ours, conflict might become inevitable. But it’s far too soon to make that judgment.

“With all due respect, Sister Gloria, I don’t believe the information you’ve shared alone is sufficient grounds for such a conclusion.”

“……”

Gloria closed her mouth again, unable to refute my words.

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Everyone was staring at me.

…If I were just an ordinary nun, there’s no way I’d have this much say in the matter.

“For now, I think we should… start by investigating.”

Realizing I might have been speaking far too assertively in front of seasoned experts, I finished with a quieter, more timid tone. The others nodded in agreement.

“Well, it’s not uncommon to bring back one or two creatures for study when encountering something new,” one of the Hunters said.

Normally, that would involve dissecting and researching the creatures—tasks far less demanding than what I was suggesting. But for now, it seemed everyone was willing to go along with it.

I bowed deeply to express my gratitude.

*

I had no intention of behaving like someone with an unreasonably thick skin.

To prepare for any unexpected situations, we decided to stay at a nearby lodge just outside the gate for a few days. If those goblins ended up harming anyone, I intended to heal the injured myself. After all, it would be my responsibility.

Naturally, Ria would be sharing a room with me.

“Do you think what I said sounded foolish?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

After finally returning to the room, washing up, and lying on the bed, I asked my question. Ria, who had also settled in, responded with another question of her own.

“…Do you think fighting would have been better?”

“If you can avoid fighting, that’s always the best option.”

Ria replied as she flopped onto her own bed.

To be honest, the beds here were far more comfortable than the ones we used back at the convent. Not that the convent’s beds were bad—these were just of much higher quality.

…And knowing Ria, she probably used to sleep on beds even more luxurious than this.

Because of me, she was living in far less comfortable conditions than she was accustomed to, yet she stayed without complaint. If she wanted, she could walk away at any moment.

As I dwelled on that thought, Ria continued speaking.

“Was it because of what I said last time?”

I didn’t answer, but my silence might as well have been confirmation.

Ria smiled and said, “Of course it was.”

She went on…

“That’s just something you say when you’re in a fight. If a tiger charges at you, of course, you have to cut it down.”

“……”

“But this time, it wasn’t like that, was it?”

“Why did you… leave the decision to me?”

“Hmm.”

Ria paused, seemingly in thought.

“If it wasn’t you, there wouldn’t have been any other choice. Honestly, even to me, they just looked like dangerous monsters. I only asked because the expression you had on your face then was different from usual. That’s all. Nothing more to it.”

“…Really?”

I hesitated for a moment before asking.

“So, it didn’t seem like… a foolish choice to you?”

“Hmm…”

“Ria?”

“After spending all this time with you, I’ve thought about it—you’re not stupid, are you?”

“…And?”

“You’re not stupid, just too naïve. So naïve that you sometimes come across as a bit of a fool.”

…What?

“That’s basically the same thing as calling me stupid, isn’t it?”

“Ah, does it sound that way?”

“Ha….”

Still, hearing Ria’s response gave me a small sense of relief.

It wasn’t like her comment didn’t bother me at all, but, well, if it’s Ria saying it…

The fact that I kept thinking of her in terms of the original story felt a bit strange, given that she was now a real person. But comparing her to the original version was still useful in some ways.

In the original story, Lee Chae-eun was someone who always acted rationally in battle. Even if she showed irrational behavior in her daily life, she wouldn’t have left the decision to me unless she believed the situation was under control.

That thought reassured me.

“…Thank you.”

“Hm?”

“I said, thank you. Don’t expect me to say it twice.”

“What? I didn’t hear you.”

“Then it’s your fault for not listening.”

“Hey, if you’re going to thank someone, at least make sure they can hear it!”

“…So, you did hear me, then?”

Ugh, honestly.

Ria grinned at me, clearly amused.

I stared at her in exasperation before quickly turning my gaze away.