How a Former Pastor Lives in Another World

14

Why is this the truth (Fan Art)

Clearly an innocent victim.

Clearly, those who claim to have suffered from witchcraft after merely suffering from indigestion due to herbs.

Clearly, a village maiden unjustly caught because of the spiteful accusation of a man she had rejected.

Even a cursory objective look would make the accused woman appear to be an innocent victim.

The problem is.

“This wench is a witch, isn’t she?”

Margaret’s soul had accumulated a dark red sin.

In other words, she was a vile human trash, a minion of evil who had even embraced the devil’s power.

The problem was the atmosphere of those who came to interrogate the witch.

“Isn’t she clearly an innocent woman?”

“These commoners… to accuse someone of being a witch just because she didn’t reciprocate their feelings.”

Considering the circumstances, the witch named Margaret seemed very much wronged.

Especially since the suspicion was again related to the plague, overlapping with the powers of the sorcerer Ray had recently vanquished.

“Please, Father Moro! Reveal the true nature of this wicked and cunning witch!”

Father Moro’s expression seemed to scold the ignorant medieval villagers with a shake of his head.

But no.

She is indeed a witch.

The villagers’ intuition was spot-on in identifying the witch.

To look down upon these devout followers of the glorious Solar Order as uncivilized?

Yet, Father Moro is an armed priest of the Inquisition agency, Eclipse.

He must have means to discern the demon contractors.

“Margaret. You have been accused of being a witch. Do you have anything to say?”

‘Father Moro?’

Why the honorifics?

Shouldn’t an inquisitor start by feeding the suspects beef soup before questioning?

“I am wronged, Father! I swear I am not a witch!”

“Let us proceed with verification first.”

Finally!

Father Moro! Please reveal the true face of that cunning witch!

“Aron, Ray! Father Moro has asked for straw and torches!”

While Father Moro conducted the interrogation, the three prepared what he had ordered.

“Aron, do you know how to conduct a witch trial?”

“……I’ve never been taught such things.”

Indeed, it’s the most secretive work of the Inquisition in the religious state.

Such secrets wouldn’t be easily divulged.

“How does Father Moro interrogate the heretics?”

“The doctrine says to draw out the evil heart with the burning Holy Spirit.”

As Jenny and Aron prepared, guessing about the witch trial, Ray suddenly voiced a thought.

“Or make them walk through a burning pile of straw……”

“……?”

The two turned their heads sharply.

Their eyes, wide and round, stared at him, causing Ray to be the one taken aback.

“What’s wrong?”

“You… Is that something a person should say?”

“No, Ray. What do you mean by that?”

Taken aback by Aaron’s unexpected response, Ray tilted his head in confusion.

You, a noble and a clergyman, would say…?

“Brother Ray… How could one live after being burned at the stake?”

“Well… If one’s faith is strong, wouldn’t the Holy Spirit protect them? If they burn to death then…”

Ray clamped his mouth shut amidst stares wondering what madness this man was spouting.

Even when Father Moro called for straw and torches, it seemed right! They must be trying to burn the witch first! This is the Middle Ages!

“Burning at the stake would kill even the faithful. Stop showing your ignorance.”

“Ah, um…”

Why is everyone so rational?

Is this the Middle Ages I knew?

Ray was plunged into confusion.

Amidst the uncomfortable stares of the medieval people who thought modern people acting like medieval ones were barbaric.

Father Moro, who had brought the straw and torches, said,

“Light the straw here and place it near this area.”

“That’s right! We are burning her, aren’t we?!”

Ah, the Middle Ages! Just as I believed!

Ray’s face lit up with excitement.

After all, if it’s a medieval heresy trial, wouldn’t they burn them to see if they’re innocent, and if they don’t burn, they’re not a heretic, and if they drown, they’re a heretic, and if they don’t die, they’re innocent?

Is there someone suspected of being a witch before you?

Wouldn’t burning them reveal the answer?

Since it’s impossible for a person to survive being burned, Ray was looking forward to seeing the witch burn.

“Brother Ray? Why are you piling straw around Miss Margaret?”

“What? Weren’t we supposed to burn her?”

“!”

Everyone was aghast.

That madman was serious!

He really thought that if she wasn’t a witch, she wouldn’t burn to death!

‘Such a man as the leader?’

Their shock was justified.

The idea of burning people to see the result is a madman’s notion, only possible by those who are insane.

And indeed, there were those who harbored such extreme thoughts, for Father Moro saw the same look in Ray’s eyes.

‘Surely not…’

Struggling to shake off his unease, Father Moro explained the heresy interrogation.

“It’s true that we light the straw on fire, but it’s solely for the mass. We ignite the holy water-soaked straw to drive out the dark forces and observe the accused’s reaction.”

“Is that so…”

‘Why not just sprinkle holy water?’ Ray wondered, to which Father Moro replied.

“Some believe that sprinkling holy water purifies evil. But holy water doesn’t possess such powerful force.”

Holy water purification doesn’t work by mere sprinkling.

The true effect lies in drawing the sign of the cross with holy water and amplifying the power of the word through ritual and prayer.

Father Moro lit the prepared straw soaked in holy water. Then, he dipped his finger in the holy water and drew the star of the cross on Margaret’s forehead.

“Evil spirit, by the name of the light, I command you to reveal your identity.”

‘It’s not much different from my past life.’

Ray recalled the work of Pastor Kim from his previous life.

In the world of his past life, where lost souls roamed, it was natural for clergy to perform exorcisms.

There are many methods of exorcism, but among them, the word is an important tool.

A clergyman with a powerful word must first vocalize that utterance to drive away the evil spirit.

‘The problem is, we don’t know the witch’s true identity.’

That witch is a contractor who made a deal with the devil.

Not the devil himself, and the name is likely a pseudonym, so the word may not work properly.

“Hmm.”

When his word had no effect on Margaret, Father Moro tried a different approach.

It was a bell that had been blessed, a relic in its own right.

The clear sound of the bell dispersed with the rising smoke from the burning straw.

Father Moro’s interrogation was orthodox, if anything.

First, test various things that evil spirits dislike and avoid.

If something catches, then one can be certain that Margaret is a witch.

The problem was that none of Father Moro’s methods affected Margaret.

‘The soul is connected to something!’

Each time a sacred prayer was recited, the witch’s evil soul reacted.

The issue is that the soul, looking as fragile as a lantern flickering in the wind, is being restored by a power flowing in from the outside.

And the place where this power flows from is…

‘Lord’s Castle?’

The heart of this city. Something mighty is emanating from where the Lord’s Castle stands.

It is this that gives the witch the strength to remain unshaken by the spell!

“Father Moro, are you alright?”

“Yes? Oh, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

Father Moro wiped the sweat from his forehead.

As a formal priest, Father Moro’s spirit is by no means weak.

In fact, his soul is larger and more powerful than that of the witch caught by the villagers.

But the power flowing in from the outside was extraordinary.

“Everyone! Let’s cheer for Father Moro!”

“Eh? All of a sudden?”

“No, even if we do, how…”

Ray suddenly stood up and took out the lute he had on standby.

And with a light accompaniment…

(Recommended BGM: The Mercy of the Lord Descends)

“The mercy of the Lord descends! Descends! The mercy of the Lord like spring rain! The mercy of the Lord descends and covers me!”

“The mercy of the Lord descends! Descends! The mercy of the Lord like spring rain! The mercy of the Lord descends and covers me!”

“???”

“???”

Isn’t he suddenly starting to sing a hymn?

“What, what are you doing?”

“Ray, you need to let Father Moro concentrate…”

Not only the two were puzzled by Ray’s sudden action.

The accusers who came to testify for the witch’s trial, and the villagers who flocked to see the witch judged, were also murmuring about Ray’s inexplicable behavior.

“Hey~ho! With the mercy of the Lord! Hey~ho! By the grace of the Lord! Hey~ho! I will dance forever!”

Even Ray added dance moves. He mimicked the descent of the Lord’s mercy like rain falling, lowering his palms, and shouting hey~ho! while swinging his fists like a baseball cheer.

‘With three years of experience as a pastor in charge of the children’s and youth departments, rhythmic hymns are a must!’

With the repetitive phrases and light movements, plus the resonance of the lute, it was much easier to follow than the usual solemn hymns.

“Estella! Everyone, rise and let us praise Lord Soltera to drive away the evil spirit of the witch!”

“Hey…”

Margaret is more likely not a witch. Aaron’s words were drowned out by the accusers who responded to Ray’s command.

“Just as the priest says! Let’s drive out the witch!”

“Drive her out!!”

Ray wasn’t a priest, but the villagers began to follow him in singing the hymn anyway.

Naturally, it was difficult to match the melody of the hymn they were singing for the first time, but Ray was there to help with each new verse.

“Lord’s mercy descends and covers me~”

“Lord’s mercy descends!”

“Lord’s mercy descends…!”

“Hey-ho!”

“Hey~ho! With the Lord’s mercifulness!”

“Hey~ho! With the Lord’s grace!”

The Solarien Choir amplifies the power of the hymn through their chorus.

Not everyone needs to possess the power of the hymn.

In other words, one person with the power and the congregation singing together are enough.

“Ugh…!”

Margaret’s brow furrowed.

The power of the hymn that Ray sang was effective.

Aaron shouted at the unsettling change.

“What effect is this!”

“Exorcism!”

Exorcism (逐魔).

It refers to driving away demons.

Unlike exorcism or deliverance, which draw out and defeat demons from within, this ritual drives away demons that come from outside.

Why they were singing the hymn of exorcism during the witch’s trial, no one knew, but the three were convinced of the effectiveness of Ray’s hymn.

“The ordinary faithful will lack divine power! Aaron, Jenny, you too must join!”

“Us, too?”

“What is this we’re doing!”

Aaron blushed as he followed Ray’s hymn.

“Hey~ho!”

“Hey~ho!!”

“Hey~ho!!”

“Hey~ho!!!”

It’s strange.

Was the hymn always this lively and light?

“Do I really have to follow these bizarre movements?!”

“Oh! The Lord’s mercy falls like… spring… rain…!”

Shush! Just follow along. You’re killing the vibe!

To think that I, a scion of the esteemed Graham Earl’s lineage, would be singing hymns while following such frivolous movements.

Aaron swallowed the words he wanted to vomit out during this frivolous and light-hearted hymn dance, something he never imagined in his life.

“Hey~ho!”

“Hey~ho!!”

Seeing the believers sing the hymn as if they’re thrilled, something warm seems to rise in my heart.

Aaron, too, was a devout believer who always attended church mass back home.

The church was a place where not just the nobility but also the commoners came together for mass.

Though their seats were different, it was one of the few places where the noble shared time with the commoner.

What was the attitude of the commoner believers there?

“Yawn~ Mom, when will it end?”

“Kids! Can’t you wake up?”

“But… I’m sleepy.”

The believers perceived the church’s stodgy mass time as a tedious period.

Not only the young believers but also the adults attended out of a sense of obligation.

And it wasn’t much different for the nobility.

While there was some degree of faith in serving God, it didn’t necessarily translate to earnestness during mass time.

For both nobility and commoners alike, religious ceremonies were just dull and yawn-inducing times.

‘But everyone here… not a single one is losing focus.’

A cheerful melody distinctly different from the traditional choir hymns.

With the commonly heard string instruments and Ray’s commands, even light movements are added, making it all the more immersive.

At this moment, everyone is united in heart, praising Lord Soltera.

Could this also be a form of praise towards Soltera?

“Kyaaah! Stop it! Stooop!”

That’s when it happened.

Margaret, who had not received energy from the exorcism barrier formed by the chorus, collapsed.

The witch’s face grotesquely twisted in response to Father Moro’s prayer.

“The witch…!”

Father Moro labeled Margaret as the witch and drew the hammer from his waist.

He was about to strike, but the witch’s body swelled, revealing bulging muscles.

Her fine human hairs transformed into those of a beast, and her pupils slit like a snake’s, seizing Father Moro’s mace.

“You beast…! You’ve made a pact with the devil, haven’t you!”

“Damn it…! No way! To be caught by such a ridiculous method!”

The witch’s maw turned into that of a ferocious beast. The villagers retreated in horror, and the troupe members drew their weapons, but the witch was nonchalant.

“Kukuk…! It’s already night! You weak dogs of a god who can’t even receive the sun’s blessing…!?”

That was the moment.

A shadow cast over the witch’s face.

The moment they realized it was the lute that had been resonating until now!

Crack!

With a dizzying sound, the lute shattered.

So did the witch’s face.

“Die, witch!”

Then, without hesitation, Jenny charged with her axe raised.

“Crush her!!”

The troupe members, coming to their senses, rushed in one after another.

“Gah! Wait, just a…!”

“Death to evil!”

“……Death to evil!”

The clergy, each drawing their weapons, surged forward en masse. The villagers joined in too.

“Death to evil!”

“Kill the witch!!”

Thump! Thwack! Thump! Crack!

“Wait, just a moment! Just a moment!”

“Shut up, you wicked maw!”

Whooosh!

It didn’t take long for the witch’s soul to leave her tempered body.