Chapter 411
"And the damage is limited to graffiti?""Yes, no injuries, no stolen items, no apparent ritualistic elements. It's perplexing."
We moved to the reception room of the Grand Temple to hear the details. Natal sat on the sofa, holding the cursed doll "Gloom" he carried on his back. The seating arrangement settled with me and Claudia opposite him, Nell and Amina to the left, Esmeralda to the right, and Genjirou and Ingrid standing behind. We began listening about the graffiti incident.
First, the details: the perpetrators were those two dwarves, with no apparent accomplices.The damage was limited to graffiti; no other significant harm seemed to have occurred.
Not only were they a nuisance, but their purpose was also unclear.
"Is there a possibility they're committing some other crime as a diversion? If they can draw the temple knights' attention as a decoy, it would be easier for criminals to operate.""We thought the same and had the surrounding areas investigated, but we couldn't find any such organization."
The temple wasn't idle, of course; they were investigating.Even if there were no human casualties, material damage was ongoing. So, it was only natural to try gathering information.
"So, the likely scenario is they're thrill-seekers?""Yes. That's the only conclusion at present, according to myself and the other archbishops."
They weren't obstructing the system the gods provided, but since their base was under attack, mobilizing personnel was easy. After moving a considerable number of people and investigating, the straightforward conclusion was that a criminal organization being behind it seemed unlikely.
"...What do you think, Liberta?"
They had gone through the standard investigative procedures.The next step was to rely on information based on my knowledge.
Was there a similar quest? Or any information, even if not similar, that could connect to something?
"No ritualistic elements, unlikely to be a diversion... In that case..."
Frankly, I had no clear, corresponding information.A dwarven graffiti incident causing such conspicuous damage would be memorable, even as a side quest. Especially one affecting the entire city, not just a small part.
"They might be waiting for us to give up.""Give up?"
An incident packed with elements that would be famous among players should be memorable.But my memory held no such corresponding element.Even as a player who purchased cash shop items and additional stories, I didn't know about it.
Then, it was better to consider it a new story that didn't exist in FBO.Considering that and assuming something was going on, there were several similar stories.
"Right, endlessly repeating the same thing, emphasizing that the damage is only graffiti. Humans eventually get used to it."
I think they were aiming for a 'Boy Who Cried Wolf' situation.It was good to consider it a diversion.But it might have been a bit careless not to consider it a *long-term* diversion.
Natal looked at me with interest, urging me to continue. At that moment, I thought I saw the doll's eyes move, but I ignored it and pressed on.
"'Oh, not again. Let's chase them; cleaning the graffiti can wait. It'll just get dirtied again anyway.' Gradually, that mindset takes over."
The story of the boy who cried wolf is a cautionary tale about losing trust for momentary pleasure, but I believe this incident is a tactic exploiting that psychology.
"Waiting for the city's residents to get used to being vandalized?""In fact, when it starts affecting work, people will think, 'Let's clean it all up on our day off.' That creates patterns where graffiti is left for days, or even up to a month. Moreover, graffiti in places with little foot traffic might be completely ignored."
Humans are creatures who dislike trouble and seek to minimize effort.Being tasked with unpaid, pointless work every day.Resentment builds, and to relieve it, they learn to cut corners.
"People will start blaming the soldiers too. Some might say, 'Why can't you catch them sooner?' or 'Help us clean.' That begins to affect soldier morale."
The nasty part of this strategy is that the opponents only need to run around and paint to achieve their goal.The scope is the entire city.No matter how strong or numerous the temple knights and soldiers are, constantly covering the whole area is difficult.
Furthermore, the perpetrators don't even need to infiltrate the city.
"When responses to graffiti become delayed, motivation drops, and it becomes a lower priority, they'll stir up similar trouble while planting the real 'seed of the problem.'"
They just keep painting unilaterally from the outside, where they can move freely.There's a risk of getting caught, but with a proper skill build, they can escape well enough.
Moreover, the fact they are dwarves is troublesome.Differences in physique manifest as disparities in strength or stamina if large enough.In this world, physical abilities are determined by level, so that might not be a major concern.However, physical aspects like arm reach and stride length do matter.
At first glance, being a dwarf might seem disadvantageous, but there are areas where being small is advantageous.Harder to hit, easier to lose sight of—this is a significant advantage.When it comes to fleeing, that small physique often proves useful.
"The troublesome thing about these types is they often have the luxury of patience and don't seek immediate results. They don't rush, patiently continuing their challenge until their goal is achieved. Even if it seems wasteful, like a snake, they wait quietly for their prey, watching for the moment their target lets their guard down with a 'it's okay now.'"
In FBO, I often utilized dwarf units for scouting.They had good synergy with scouting skills, and their straightforward development path focused on mobility was appealing due to its simplicity.
"Any idea which organization might do this?"
A graffiti incident by dwarves capable of such tactics... Normally, causing mischief on this scale in a city that's arguably the heart of faith is going too far.It borders on blasphemy against the gods, a malicious act seemingly aimed at the very edge of what avoids divine punishment.
"Only the Heretic Church comes to mind, I'd say."
Only a genuine fool or those hostile to the temple would consider doing this.And as for who holds such hostility, only the Heretic Church fits.That's why I could answer Claudia's question immediately.
"The Heretic Church?""Honestly, it's the only organization I can think of that would devise a plan to attack this place.""I suppose so. Natal, your opinion on that?""I agree. The Heretic Church is the only organization I can think of that would carry out sabotage in this city. They've been periodically attempting various operations even now, so our intelligence division was already investigating to see if this incident was connected."
Both Claudia and Natal seemed aware of that point, nodding in understanding.The issue was which faction of the Heretic Church was behind it.The Heretic Church isn't a monolith.Where people gather, factions form, as they say. Where ideologies gather, disagreement naturally arises.
"It's not the mainstream southern faction, is it? Their methods are too subtle.""Liberta-san, do you have knowledge about the Heretic Church?""I am, after all, an Apostle of the Goddess of Wisdom, so I've studied such matters.""I see. Apostle Kefeli's chosen are indeed wise. You're absolutely right. The methods of the Heretic Church on this continent prioritize destruction. They use covert operations too, but the damage always leans towards 'destruction.' It's hard to imagine the *Julud Faction* being satisfied with mere graffiti like this."
Naturally, disagreements arise even among themselves over the process of destroying the world's mainstream gods.With many holding radical ideologies, such internal disagreements tend to become extreme.
"Indeed. If it were that faction, they'd release monsters or destroy buildings with magic—a group that isn't satisfied unless they break something.""In terms of danger, they're the faction with the most wanted members among leadership and operatives."
One such faction within the Heretic Church is the Julud Faction.They aren't what you'd call combatants; they're more of a terrorist organization specializing in sabotage.Many mages and magic tool users belong to them; they dislike direct confrontation.They carry out sabotage as if hiding and striking is the righteous path—a troublesome group. Due to their danger, members are swiftly issued warrants as soon as their identities are known. It's said they bear a chimera tattoo on their chests as their mark.
"Do you have information on other active factions?""There are several unconfirmed reports. They have their own territories too, so other factions don't easily encroach on this land."
However, Natal seemed to vaguely sense that these actions weren't typical of the Julud Faction.
"Which faction do you think is behind this, Liberta-san? I'd like to borrow your insight, as heard from Senior Claudia."
Therefore, I considered the possibility that a different faction within the Heretic Church had infiltrated the southern continent.I can't say it's absolute, but I also considered that possibility.
"It's not the central mainstream Bend Faction. They're combatants who eliminate opponents and witnesses even if discovered.""Besides, Bend Faction members have chimera tattoos on their faces, so they're recognizable at a glance.""Then, the most likely candidate among the possibilities is the relatively moderate *Ardagón Faction*, a rarity within the Heretic Church."
Among them, the Ardagón Faction has the highest probability.They are the unsung supporters within the Heretic Church, a group specializing in support roles.They often focus entirely on support: healers, buffers, supply transport, intelligence gathering.
Their ideology is radical: "Kill the gods by any means necessary."Therefore, they also lend their strength to other factions with the goal of killing gods. Their actions, accumulated as achievements, play a balancing role within the Heretic Church, preventing its fragmentation amidst intense factional strife.
"The Ardagón Faction... appearing openly?""To be precise, it's better to think that the Ardagón Faction's lower-tier organizations—expendable personnel—are being lent to the Julud Faction to carry out actions incompatible with Julud's ideology. That faction acts completely ignoring profit and loss calculations for the sake of their goal."
In a way, it's a self-sacrificing devotion.Devoid of any calculation of gain or loss, they impose religious indoctrination, demanding believers kill their 'self' entirely for the goal's achievement.That faction's numbers aren't huge, but their influence is high.Their leadership rarely appears openly, and information is hard to come by.
"So, you think this action is Ardagón Faction support to aid the Julud Faction?""It's just a high possibility. But...""But?"
Feeling similarities to the characteristics of when that faction is active, I avoided definitive words and gave a warning to Natal.
"I think it wouldn't hurt to keep that possibility in the back of your mind."