I’m the Only Totem in Another World

Chapter 38: Golden Sun Tribe (5)

I stepped forward before the furious barbarians could set the nun on fire.

━ What’s going on?

“That woman insulted our culture! This is the same as insulting Malak-nim!”

But why is that so?

“We must make an example!”

Tur, grinding his teeth, and Bojak, unable to hide his excitement, answered.

Both were holding weapons, as if they were furious.

This isn’t something that can be resolved by simply intervening.

━ Everyone, stop.

Let’s stop them for now.

“Malak-nim.”

Nix, who was staring at Grace calmly, explained the situation.

As an aside, Nix’s complexion looked quite good after a long time. I guess she’s been eating and sleeping well.

The nun had been praying to her goddess for days, huddled quietly in a corner of the tent.

She didn’t even show her face when all the civilized people were gathered in front of Totem No. 2, praying. I guess the barbarians’ feelings towards the nun started to sour from there.

Then, she got furious at the barbarians who took the civilized children to the training grounds for training, had a huge argument, and somehow ended up insulting the barbarians’ culture, leading to this situation.

I understand what made the nun angry. She must have seen something like young children throwing axes at each other for fun.

Honestly, I was also shocked when I saw that.

Even though the civilization is at a medieval level, isn’t this a fantasy world where magic and gods exist? They might be sensitive about child abuse, just like in modern times.

Grace, being both a civilized person and a religious person, would have reacted twice as sensitively.

“Now that they are also part of our Tribal Federation, it’s only natural that they receive the same training. There are no exceptions.

And we didn’t just drag the children away. We also received consent from the children themselves and their parents.”

Nix’s words make sense.

For barbarians, it’s natural to be trained as warriors from childhood.

Non-combatants are non-combatants because they have specific reasons why they can’t fight. If they have working limbs, receiving training is basic in barbarian society.

There’s no reason not to train the civilized children. In fact, not training them would be discrimination.

Grace the nun didn’t even fulfill the basic duty of ‘praying to the Loa,’ and she questioned and made insulting remarks about what’s common sense in barbarian society.

“I understand why you’re called barbarians! Making innocent children who know nothing hold blades!

Do you think such a cruel and brutal act will be forgiven! Why don’t you understand that even in a world like this, human decency must be upheld!”

The nun, also furious, was defiant even though she was on the verge of death.

If I were an ordinary 21st-century modern person who didn’t know the situation here, I might have sided with the nun.

But I’m experiencing a fantasy world with a demon apocalypse in real-time.

I can’t help but think, ‘Is this nun still living in a fantasy world? How has she managed to survive until now?’

It’s not like they’re telling the kids to go to war and die. Can’t they at least give them some basic training?

It would be a great help for self-defense.

I think children need to build up their strength even more because of this world. In the end, they have to learn to protect themselves.

I was thinking about what to say to persuade Grace.

“Grace, sisteeeeeeer!”

The middle-aged knight standing at the front of the civilized group shouted.

It was the knight who had been acting as a leader and interpreter for the civilized people, along with the nun.

This guy was also as angry as Tur and Bojak. What’s with this sudden outburst?

“Don’t you realize that every single action you take here creates a bad impression of us?

Not only are you disrespecting their culture, but you’ve put us in danger too! Have you lost your mind?

This isn’t something that ends with just hanging you! You’ve put us on trial too!”

“William, are you taking their side too? Aren’t you ashamed as a knight of the Empire!”

So the knight’s name is William.

“Ashamed? What’s there to be ashamed of! Do you still have the pride to feel ashamed? The Empire has fallen! The church is gone too! Don’t you understand yet?!”

“…”

Grace’s eyes widened.

The middle-aged knight William continued speaking with a flushed face, as if daring her to watch.

“Have you already forgotten how much we suffered to get here, to the edge of the frontier?

Have you truly forgotten how many sacrifices were made to reach Bolvano?

We’re running out of food and people! There’s nowhere left to run! There’s no paradise! This is the end!”

William was practically screaming.

“But you’re using children as hostages?!”

“I’m not telling the children to go to war! I’m just teaching them how to fight! I’ve been handling real swords since I was fourteen!”

“I grew up in an orphanage run by nuns. Before I entered the orphanage, I lived in the slums. There, I saw countless children die from being used as shields for adults.

Do you really think it’ll end with just teaching them how to fight? No. When they run out of soldiers, they’ll send children to the battlefield too.

It’s not only against the doctrine, but also against ethics.”

“Those are all just assumptions!”

“It’s not worth listening to anymore. I’d rather die than turn a blind eye to such a horrible thing. At least I won’t be ashamed of myself.”

Grace closed her eyes. She’s a person with strong convictions.

William, frowning deeply, went into the crowd of civilized people and brought a boy and a girl forward.

“You know, right? Ellie, Jerry. These are my children. I can do anything for my kids. I’m prepared to do anything.

Betray the goddess? I can do it. The goddess who stood by and watched as my mother and wife were devoured by demons can go suck my dick.”

William poured out his words. Grace didn’t seem to be watching or listening, but he continued to pour out his words.

I think I understand why William is going this far.

“Grace! Please come to your senses! Kneel before Malak-nim and beg for forgiveness! Tell him you were wrong and ask for mercy!

Malak-nim is merciful, so he might forgive you! Come on! You have to survive first…!”

He wants to save the nun.

He must be thinking that now, with me, a Loa, watching, is the last chance.

“Sister Grace.”

The girl who had been quietly observing the situation spoke up. William’s daughter, Ellie.

“It’s not because the adults are making me do it. It’s not because the tribe people are making me do it either.

It’s my choice.”

Grace finally opened her eyes.

“I’m tired of waiting in a safe place for my dad to come back. I’d rather learn how to fight and protect my dad myself.”

The girl who had experienced destruction, Ellie’s eyes didn’t waver.

“That’s nonsense…! You’re only nine years old. You should be playing with dolls at this age…”

At the nun’s sorrowful voice, Ellie slowly shook her head.

“It’s not that kind of world anymore.”

As if those words had broken her, Grace opened and closed her mouth a few times before bursting into tears.

“Uwaaaah…uwaaaah…!”

I don’t know what kind of impact those words had, but she must have her own reasons that I don’t know.

Isn’t it always like that? A single word that seems insignificant to others can shake someone’s heart.

Maybe she realized that the goddess’s religion was gone, or maybe she realized once again that the world had ended… something like that.

━ …

Ellie’s words also had an impact on me. Somehow, I saw Paya in Ellie.

…Maybe I was thinking like Grace too.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”

The situation was resolved with Grace’s apology, her mind changed by Ellie’s words.

I’ll have to see if Grace can integrate well into the Tribal Federation, but I’ve decided to be optimistic.

I want to give her a second chance. It’s not like she had bad intentions in the first place.

She must have been trying to protect the children in her own way.

Of course, she’ll have to be punished for causing trouble. I left that to the insulted barbarians.

Surely they won’t do things like strangulation or caning, right?

* * * * * *

━ Paya.

I called Paya to the altar.

I sent Rake, who was leaning against Totem No. 1 taking a nap, somewhere else for a while.

As soon as I came, I felt a warm touch and wondered what it was, but it was Rake.

“Malak-nim?”

There was a feather stuck in Paya’s hair, as if she had just come from the House of Feathers.

Seeing things like this, she’s really just a kid.

━ Do you want to participate in battle, to fight alongside me?

“Yes.”

Paya answered without hesitation.

“It’s a great honor and joy to be with Malak-nim. There’s nothing better.”

Paya wasn’t afraid of death like the other barbarian warriors. Maybe she’s afraid, but she overcomes it with her faith in her god.

Since Paya always respects me, I should respect Paya too.

With the heart of a mother who believes in her son who wants to study math and pays for tutoring, I made my choice.

━ Paya, I will bestow a blessing upon you.