The Red Liberation Army.
Those words made Osian think of a specific group who emerge when a certain ideology goes to extremes.
'No. Considering the current state of society, it's natural that they would appear.'
Rather, it was incomprehensible why they hadn't appeared until now. Just today, the wealthy had borrowed public authority as escorts to tour and observe how commoners lived, calling it their tradition and entertainment.
Could this be all there was? Osian had traveled to various places while working as a fixer.
Among them were places that were hard to describe in words. Especially in the districts numbered 40 and above people were living in grinding poverty. Those who wandered without homes, swept away during the rainy season to become corpses floating down rivers.
A young lady in a splendid dress uses a space that could house 100 people all by herself. But 100 workers in patched rags squeeze their bodies into a space that couldn't even house 10 people.
Those who live well squeeze out even more to live better, while those trapped below are exploited their entire lives until they die.
Not everyone is like this, but it's so harsh that finding those who aren't is difficult. Such a system, far from being fixed, only became more severe.
Many people accept and move on, thinking "that's just how the world is" because they've lost the will to resist. They just live going with the flow, following a life where they never know when death might come.
But a few people didn't do that.
'If there are people who accept it, then conversely, there are people who want to fight to the end.'
The rebels Alensia mentioned were exactly those people.
The Red Liberation Army. Just hearing the name, you could tell what they wanted.
"They desire liberation from excessive labor. The downfall of the wealthy who exploit the poor. That's why they move during chaotic times like now."
"But it seems like they haven't engaged in any notable activities until now."
This was the first time Osian had heard the name Red Liberation Army since coming to Tirna. If they were bastards who moved this viciously, at minimum, he should have heard of them. It was suspicious that he hadn't known about them until now.
"That's because they're outsiders who came from abroad. Originally, the Red Liberation Army arose in a neighboring country that practiced oppression and tyranny."
The Red Liberation Army was born in a country called 'Slavbinsk'. Located in the north with a harsh environment, this nation had seriously dire finances due to the tyrant of the time.
The nobles held parties every day and didn't care how many people below starved to death. Thousands of people froze or starved to death daily. As if that wasn't enough, the nobles squeezed the commoners even more viciously.
The most ridiculous thing was that the nobles brought commoners to their hunting grounds and hunted them like killing pigs. Not metaphorically—they literally took hunting rifles and shot fleeing commoners to death.
'This is practically a structure where revolution is bound to happen.'
Even Alensia, who was explaining, seemed to think "this is a bit much" as she wore a bitter smile.
"Among them appeared a man like a flame. That's Lukai, the founder and actual leader of the Red Liberation Army."
Lukai also had another alias: the Red Muffler.
"Lukai shook Slavbinsk with his excellent eloquence and mercenary skills in managing people. He was a cold strategist and a passionate agitator. Even though it was corrupt, a country the size of Slavbinsk was thrown into chaos."
"Why did such a guy end up drifting here?"
"Because the revolution failed. Well, it almost succeeded. They drove out the Slavbinsk nobles and even chased away the tyrant. The problem was that after the tyrant fled abroad, he came back leading armies from other countries."
No matter how excellent a revolutionary Lukai was, most of those who followed him were ordinary people who had been exploited.
Even if you give weapons to such people, they couldn't possibly defeat regular armies pushing in from other countries.
Lukai struggled through guerrilla warfare somehow, but realizing his limits, he retreated.
"So that's how he came here."
"According to the intelligence department. But as they say, old habits die hard—he's doing similar things in Tirna too."
Similar things. Osian recalled what had happened today.
"Even if that Lukai is an impressive guy, can he really do such things while pretending to be a guard?"
"Lukai is skilled at planting spies in enemy camps for agitation and disruption. Now that the guards are busy with protests, it's not entirely impossible. Anyway, I'm truly grateful. Thanks to you, we prevented the problem from spreading."
"I just moved because it caught my eye."
"Haha. 'Moved because it caught my eye.' That's more fitting for a hero than a fixer, isn't it?"
At the word "hero," Osian shook his head.
"It's not a particularly pleasant title to hear."
"Hmm. Ah. Right, yes. You must have many hardships."
Alensia also seemed to know what situation Osian was in, sending him a pitying gaze. He was a manufactured hero. Of course, his deeds were worthy of a real hero, but Osian didn't particularly like being revered like this.
How could he like it? Seeing people move around using his name arbitrarily would rather be disillusioning.
"Oh right. Senior Sestain wanted to convey his gratitude."
"That old man?"
"Yes. He said he received help in District 17."
"Ah. That happened. Well, it wasn't intentional."
"And he was interested in the knight order you're creating. He might visit soon."
"Tell him we accept people regardless of age limits."
At Osian's words, Alensia chuckled.
"Well, I should go to clean up the scene. Take care."
After parting with Alensia, Osian recalled his original purpose and headed toward District 41.
'It's rather quiet here.'
All the districts in the 30s were noisy due to protests, but District 41 was the opposite. It was strangely quiet. Even the vagrants usually seen weren't visible anywhere.
'Well, most of them are probably in the 30s districts protesting, so it's natural.'
Holding picket signs and shouting in districts abandoned by the city government wouldn't get anyone's attention. Besides, protests are something only people who can afford them do.
'People who really can't find food for today and might starve to death don't have such luxury.'
Anyway, thanks to District 41 being quiet, Osian could reach the orphanage where Martinez was without any particular interference.
"Ah. It's you, brother. You came faster than I thought."
Martinez was just playing with the children at the time. The children who recognized Osian also shouted happily.
"Oh! It's the handsome big brother!"
"Wow! Play with us! Play with us!"
"It's hero big brother!"
One child called Osian a hero. Since it was just repeating what they heard from others without knowing anything, Osian didn't bother correcting it.
"You rascals! Don't bother the guest again!"
From inside the church came Sister Dorthea's angry voice. At that shout, the children scattered in an instant.
Sister Dorthea peeked out just her head, then winked with one eye.
Thanks to this, Osian was left alone with Martinez.
"You received the Sister's consideration."
"Yes. You look brighter than before, which is fortunate. Everyone seems to be doing well."
"What have I done? It's all thanks to you, brother."
"It's because you're here that they can smile. More than that, since that day, has your body gotten somewhat better?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Rather, I've become stronger than before. Should I say I feel more energetic?"
Martinez had gained enlightenment from his fight with Red Eternity. Thanks to that, he had gained power stronger than before.
"You certainly seem that way. Your prayers are definitely more refined than before."
When Osian first saw Martinez, he was an unpolished gemstone wielding his natural power. But since Martinez came to Tirna, he had gradually changed.
Playing with children, listening to others' opinions, truly learning altruism and compassion. He didn't entrust everything to the Papal faith and fight. Martinez now knew how to think and move properly on his own.
"When His Holiness the Pope first sent me here, I thought it was because I was being punished. I thought I needed to wash away my sins."
Martinez confessed his honest feelings.
"Because in our order, Tirna is called a city of sin."
City of Sin. Osian thought that description wasn't particularly wrong. What happens in this city is hard to express even with the word "sin." Of course, this isn't just Tirna's problem. It's just that the whole world is like that.
"But I realized that wasn't it. It's not the city's problem. It's just that people were like that. I was too late in realizing this."
"Just realizing it is enough. You're still young. It's natural not to know things."
"But I can't take this power given to me for granted."
Martinez conjured golden sacred fire above his palm.
"As much power as I have, I must take responsibility accordingly. Before, I thought burning heretics to death was everything, but now I must use it to help people. That's my resolve."
"If you've decided that, I'll support your path."
"You came looking for me because you need my help, right?"
Martinez's eyes turned toward Osian and Osian nodded.
"That day, while fighting in Trinity Building, you must have felt it too. That the power we possess is very threatening to outside beings."
"...Yes. That's right."
"And as you know, you and I aren't the only ones with this power."
Martinez thought of Malina, the assassin who wore pitch-black shadows and showed ghostly movements. Her power was different from his, but it dealt effective damage to Red Eternity.
"There are more."
"Yes. And we'll need many more in the future."
There was only one person Osian hadn't met yet who had the qualification of an Ascendant. That was the [Priest].
"As a paladin, you must know about priests too. Is there an outstanding priest in your order?"
"The most outstanding..."
"For instance, like you, someone who can handle multiple divine powers that others can only use one of."
The reason Osian had come to find Martinez was to find the hero of the [Priest] class, one of the last remaining job classes. Since playable characters were usually from similar orders like paladins, he thought Martinez might know.
Martinez shook his head.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't on particularly good terms with other believers."
Well, considering Martinez before coming to Tirna, it was natural. He had wandered around alone without other believers, burning heretics to death.
"But there must have been rumors."
"I didn't hear those either."
No matter how uninterested he was, he couldn't possibly not know if there was a hero-level priest equal to himself.
'Could it be that there isn't one in the Petra Holy Kingdom?'
This was unexpected. Osian stroked his chin with his hand. High probability doesn't lead to certainty. He would have to think about this matter separately later.
"Hmm. I see. And there's something else I need to tell you. Actually, this is the main point."
Osian plainly explained what had happened at the Broker Union conference hall. At the mention of another outer god appearing, Martinez's expression hardened.
"Is it the same kind as Red Eternity?"
"Outer gods come in various types, so who knows. However, judging by what it did at the conference hall, it's definitely a very vicious one."
Martinez knows that not all outer gods are bad. Just like Cthulatlap, who was with the Slithering Sisters.
But if it was a monster that ruthlessly destroyed its surroundings like Red Eternity, it was right that it must be eliminated.
"Actually, I have something to tell you about that too, brother."
"What is it?"
"The main body's movements have been unusual lately. It seems the Petra Papacy is about to move in earnest."
"I see..."
Even if Tirna tried to hide information, those who should know would have found out. That heretics in District 17 had prepared a divine summoning ritual and had almost succeeded.
'Even if Tirna is overwhelmingly ahead of other countries, it doesn't mean all other countries are blind.'
The Petra Papacy knows, and neighboring kingdoms probably know too. It was understandable that the Papacy was moving. With such an incident erupting in Tirna, they must be looking for an opportunity to intervene.
"They have sufficient justification too. Problems caused by excessive freedom. No one can point fingers at the Papacy."
"Yes. Because of that, exchanges between various parishes currently in Tirna are gradually becoming more active. Even here, where no one paid attention, brothers and sisters have started visiting."
"So that's why the surrounding facilities have noticeably improved recently."
Anyway, it's not bad for the children. When believers visit, donations will increase too. But seeing Martinez warning him this much, the Petra Order doesn't plan to let this slide easily.
"Thanks for telling me."
"What do you mean? Between us."
Hearing those words, Osian chuckled. This guy has really changed a lot, he thought.
"Oh, and brother, you said you were looking for a priest."
"I did."
"If there's no such priest in our order, maybe we're thinking about this wrong."
"What are we thinking wrong about?"
"The person you're looking for isn't a priest from an order."
Martinez stared intently at Osian and said:
"It's someone who heals others."