[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 17 - 3 Part 2

17-3 Part 2

The Abyss and the Cursed Child

- The Girl Born with Calamity -

Translator : PolterGlast

「Certainly, if the Empire falls into a civil war, the surrounding countries will be put in a difficult position. However, it doesn't directly affect us living at the Farthest End.」

「So you have no reason to cooperate.」

「Nn... I want to lend a hand, but it would be correct to say that I cannot. Haa... I see Sigrun hasn't told you anything...」

「Again, my deepest apologies. But do you think that would tell us the detailed circumstances?」

「She wouldn't... Then I will explain in order. This is not just a village. We are the people who guard the Ark. That is why we do not want to take risks.」

Ark. That's a word that appears in stories from the other world too. It's mostly a stage device, and I haven't really seen developments where it's actually used, though.

「The Ark, huh. As if this world is going to be destroyed someday?」

「I don't know about that. The Ark is like insurance for the world. In the event the world is destroyed by some trigger, the Ark's role is to sprout seeds on the new earth. And it is us who guard that Ark.」

Non-interference with the world. That exactly is correct, Plea says. The logic is sound. It's not wrong either. The system called the Ark won't save the present, but it will probably save some future.

「Don't be stupid, there are guys from the Abyss behind the enemies!! Is there an idiot who would just shut themselves up in here without fighting back!!」

「I'm fine with being an idiot. We only uphold the ancient covenant. In case of emergency, use the technology of the Horned race to preserve every species. Since Yulan-sama ordered us so, that is absolute.」

Suddenly, unexpected words jumped out. Is that referring to that Dragon God Yulan, who is frequently compared to Zirant and irritates her?

「Then I'll say it again, you idiot!! Yulan does not desire such a thing, he would surely say to lend a hand to A-Zir, without fail!!」

「Sigrun, we are different from ungrateful humans. Even if eternal time flows, Yulan-sama's words must be absolutely obeyed.」

「This is a crisis of the A-Zir Empire that Yulan created, you know!」

I'm starting to not understand what they're talking about. Neither opinion is wrong. That's why persuasion is difficult. It even seemed impossible.

「Kukuku... Yulan, huh. Then, how about if it's Wagahai's request?」

The last resort is only Zirant. That last resort manifested with light right above the study desk and landed on top of the documents. Zirant, why do you always want to specifically appear in conspicuous, high places... I won't be held responsible if your feet get pitch black with ink.

Ignoring my thoughts, Village Chief Plea opened her eyes wide, surprised by the young girl with dragon characteristics, and jumped up from her chair.

「That appearance, could it be, Yulan-sama...!?」

「Incorrect... My name is Zirant. As for Yulan—well, you can think of him as something like a relative.」

Zirant didn't try to get down from the desk. I'd like to pull her down saying it's bad manners, but I stopped because I felt like I'd get kicked.

「Fuhaha, look, does this dragon not enter your eyes!!」

「Uwa, I'm flabbergasted...」

During the journey, Zirant had hidden her figure. For that Zirant to suddenly reign divinely, the old man's surprise is natural. On the other hand, Village Chief Plea pondered deeply about something, and after a while, she raised her face.

「Zirant-sama, in that case, I have a condition for an exchange.」

「Very well, the magnanimous Wagahai shall at least listen.」

「Yes. It is embarrassing to say, but one concern remains in the depths of the Ark's land. If you remove that problem.」

「Umu, and then you will prostrate yourself before Wagahai's majesty, correct?」

「To Prince Ashley, whom you favor, we shall provide the elites of the Horned race, technical advisors, and put in a good word with our brethren scattered across the world.」

She completely changed her attitude just for Zirant. To me, she's nothing but a gluttonous young girl who tends to overstretch herself, but Plea seems to be another one who feels divinity in Zirant. I don't understand...

「If you had joined the seat from the beginning, the talk wouldn't have gotten so complicated.」

「Kukuku, there is such a thing as timing in matters.」

When I held out my hand asking her to get down already, Zirant jumped down towards me. When I caught that light body, unbelievable for a dragon, and stood her on the floor, Kachua was looking this way enviously. It seems Kachua is still at an age where she wants to play.

「So, what should we do?」

「If it is an existence of the same rank as Yulan-sama, you might be able to seal that.」

「What is that, that's the first I've heard of it!? Why didn't you rely on me back then!?」

「...Eeeeh~? Cause like~, if I said it, it's Sigrun we're talking about~. I could see you charging right into the Ark's land~, so why would I say it~? Y'know?」

「Eeei, having your character changed suddenly seriously pisses me off, so stop it!! I've been telling you since the old days, next time I'll hack you to pieces!!」

Sorry, but I agree with Sigrun. While holding down the hilt of Sigrun's sword, I let out a sigh at the village chief who throws off my pace. Being good friends with Sigrun, her personality is even thicker than her makeup...

「I'll ask again. What should we do?」

「Before that, I will explain the circumstances. ...Once upon a time, in a very distant past, our ancestors were about to be destroyed by the hands of the evil god Samael. Because Yulan-sama betrayed Samael and sealed him in the heavenly prison, we were no longer hunted by angels, but—due to certain circumstances, our ancestors had no choice but to flee to this Farthest End.」

The woman with black horns gazed at the village from by the window. This is a beautiful village, but looking at it another way, it resembles a birdcage. The ancient promise became a cage, confining them here. I felt a little sympathy—no, something akin to empathy.

「Umu, it is a fact. The Creator Samael was a god who trifled with life. That is why Yulan, finally unable to bear watching it, betrayed his precious friend Samael.」

Zirant added that matter-of-factly.

「Among the numerous races, we, the Horned race, were the species that excelled most in intelligence. In order to ensure the survival of the species, our ancestors poured their technology into this land, and at the same time—seeking a way to retaliate against the evil god and humans, they created numerous hidden treasures. One of them is currently in a somewhat bad state.」

「Eeei, how roundabout! In short, what should we do!?」

「In the land of the Ark. Please close the Great Gate of the Abyss located in its underground.」

「Mu, what is that? Is it connected to the Abyss or something?」

「Yes.」

「Wahahaha, were our ancestors idiots? What's the point of creating such a thing, were they planning to invade the Abyss or something!?」

Invade the Abyss. Sigrun is probably the only one who could come up with such an idea. In the first place, that there is a gate leading to the Abyss, that it is normally open, and that it is still left unchecked now, is very hard for us to believe.

「Our ancestors tried to take the world itself hostage. If you intend to seriously destroy us, we will unleash this gate, they said.」

「Taking them down with you, huh... A terrifying method, but the effect would be certain. Understood, I'll go close that gate as requested.」

In Ratatosk, I was able to gouge out and destroy the Abyss Gate with the Shovel's power to pierce everything. I'm sure we can manage somehow this time too.

「Umu, there is no need for Wagahai to take action. This Prince Ashley will manage something of that level.」

「Please. The likes of Abyss entities cannot cross the barrier of the Ark, but I want to remove the unease just in case.」

And so it was decided. After preparing ourselves and undergoing a troublesome ceremony, we entered the world of the Ark guarded by the Horned race at the Farthest End.

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

・The Black Horn

That year, the village of the Horned race was struck by strange phenomena. Wells boiled, a white rainbow considered an omen of misfortune floated in the sky, and livestock birthed half-human half-beast offspring. That was not all. All the babies born that year were stillborn.

The people of the village trembled in fear at these terrifying omens of misfortune, and gasped at the tragedy of their beloved children dying one after another. In such a year of calamity, a single baby received life. From the womb of a mother who died of illness, that child appeared in the world as if crawling out on her own, becoming the only living baby that year.

The people of the village feared that baby as a cursed child, and the mothers whose children were stillborn were especially harsh towards her. You killed my child, it would have been better if you had never been born, they said.

Even so, the baby grew up rapidly and energetically, or rather, she grew up too energetically, and despite her unfortunate birth and environment, she developed an extremely bold, audacious, and highly troublesome disposition. But perhaps that disposition also made her incompatible with the people of this land. The cursed child, with martial arts talent bestowed by heaven, defeated the strongest man in the village at just 13 years old, and flew out of the village at 16. Her name is Sigrun.

Even so, I'm glad she came back. I'm truly glad to be able to see her safe and sound. No matter how badly the people of the village speak of her, because I am the only one who is Sigrun's friend――――like, you know? Seriously, her personality hasn't changed at all~, it's super hilarious~♪

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[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 17 - 3 Part 1

17-3 Part 1

The Abyss and the Cursed Child

- Gyaru -

Translator : PolterGlast

There was a visible boundary line between the hidden village of the Horned race and the desert of the Farthest End. It's a strange expression, but as if to say 'this is the boundary line', the color of the air was different inside and outside. The outside world was dyed light yellow with dust, while the inside of the village was enveloped in pale blue, pure air. The climate was also so mild it was hard to believe it was a desert; if I were to compare it, it was a strange space as if a forest from somewhere had moved into this desert.

「Oi oi, somehow it ain't peaceful...?」

「Nn, is that so? Well, this place is just like this, wahahaha, guys, I'm hoooome!」

The figures of the residents could also be confirmed. Just as the middle-aged man Aureus said, their attitude towards us was not very peaceful. Bewilderment, distrust, fear, and anger, I suppose. There were even some who directed blatant hostility, but we gradually came to realize it. The one being glared at was the hero, Sigrun. Even though Sigrun cheerfully greeted them, not a single one of them rejoiced at her homecoming.

「You're being ignored...」

「Nn, it's not being ignored. They are in awe of me.」

「Awe... Sigrun-sama, what did you mess up here...」

Sigrun is a troublemaker. From the perspective of her hometown folks, it was the homecoming of a nuisance, huh. No, even so, just how much did she have to mess up to be feared this much... While gathering the attention of men and women of all ages with black horns, we proceeded down the street surrounded by trees.

「Rest assured, the folks further in are just a little bit more reasonable! Ah, but Shinza, don't think about saying a word out of worry for me, that's what you call none of your business.」

「Is it no good?」

「It's useless even if you say it. Because, after all, it's something that can't be helped with words!」

「Yeah, yeah, this old man understands that~.」

Coming out to the lakeside, fishermen were floating small boats and fishing. It's a strange land. It's very hard to believe this is in the middle of a desert. Also, I could see a large building far across the lakeside. Most likely, the village chief is over there.

「How is it, Shinza, my village. It's beautiful, isn't it!」

「Yeah, I'm glad I let you talk me into it. This is exactly the outside of the Empire I yearned for.」

While gazing at the blue lake and the Horned people, I proceeded just as Sigrun guided me. Now that I've reached the farthest end of the west like this, is the next the Coastal Provinces, and then even further beyond that? According to legend, there is a land inhabited by a giant desert snake called a Sandworm, and beyond that spreads an unseen world. If I go that far, even pursuers won't be able to reach me. It seems like the best place for exile in the event of falling into the worst situation, but the problem is that no one knows the world across the sea. There were many unreachable places in this world.

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

The village chief's mansion was a splendid wooden structure. I had imagined a luxurious mansion belonging to a petty dictator. However, it was a place more suitably called a large community center than a mansion.

「Kuhihi... No waaaay, you're kidding~. Sigrun seriously came baaack~, uha, that's hilarious~♪」

We barged into the village chief's office. I wanted to go through the proper procedures, but Sigrun rejected the proposal. And there, was a woman who spoke in a strange manner without a shred of dignity.

「Wahahaha, it's been a while, Plea! I'm relieved by your irritating way of speaking as always!」

「So meaaan~? Even like thiiis, Plea-chan is~ doing her best as the new village chief, you knoow~?」

Did I mishear? This is the village chief? Surely that's a lie... Village Chief Plea was slender and youthful, but she was a woman who preferred a gaudy appearance. She wore a full set of every conceivable accessory, and was dressed in semi-naked clothing. And sorry. This is not a very praiseworthy expression, but I can't find any other suitable words. To me, Village Chief Plea looked like a prostitute...

「Ah, are those guests by any chance? The 'humans came to the village' type of thing? No waay~~」

「He's not just a guest! This man's name is Ashley, a Prince of the A-Zir Empire!」

「Ah...? About that, was it okay to reveal that in front of me...?」

It's as good as exposed already. There's no point in hiding it from Aureus. He accompanied us on the adventure to the Farthest End without running away. His resolve must be genuine.

「No waay~, this dirty old man is~? Uha, hilarious~♪」

「Calling me dirty, miss, um... Let's be a little kinder to old men...」

She's definitely doing it on purpose. Plea was looking over here as if stealing glances. It's too much of a bother to retort, so leaving her alone is fine.

「Ah, are you mad? Sorry~, Prince-sama♪ Kyaa, Prince-sama has a nice ring to it~♪」

「Muu... I'm happy we've reunited, but you're starting to get so annoying that I'm getting the urge to hack you to pieces. Besides! Ashley is Ashley, but he's not Ashley! This is the man of righteousness, Shinza!!」

Sigrun tried to draw her sword, so I held down the hilt and stopped her. However, a 'man of righteousness', huh. Sigrun's introductions are always exaggerated. This might instead give off a suspicious impression.

「I am the adventurer Shinza, and the youngest child of the A-Zir Emperor, Ashley. The reason we came here is none other than to ask you—」

「Listen, Plea!! We have created a certain secret society, named after the frost giant, called the [Shadows of Bergelmir]!! To clear the dark clouds of the Empire, we joined hands! Now, if you understand, lend us your strength!!」

I feel like my completely troubled face was laughed at by Aureus and Village Chief Plea... Sigrun completely destroyed the arrangements once again...

「Nn, I refuse.」

「I mean, of course you would...!」

「Sigrun-sama, come here for a sec, over here!」

Kachua dragged Sigrun away to the corner of the room. When I turned my eyes back, the village chief who had been sloppy until just now straightened her back and suddenly started behaving well.

「Sorry...」

「It is fine, rather, we are the ones who should apologize. When I think of the trouble that must have caused everyone, I can only feel apologetic.」

Suddenly changing even her way of speaking, Plea showed the dignity of a village chief. Moreover, unlike the other Horned race, she seemed to have opened her heart to Sigrun to a considerable extent.

「Why don't you proceed with the talk before that interrupts, bro.」

「That is true too. That being said, Sigrun already said all the main points. ...We are seriously worried about the future of the Empire. Instead of aiming for the Imperial throne, we decided to join forces to protect the Empire from chaos. Please, I ask of you, lend us the power of the great Horned race.」

When I pleaded with her, Plea used a brief moment for consideration. During that time, without averting my gaze, I simply waited for her reply.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 366

Chapter 366

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Northern Front ⑤ – The Ruined Capital of Lorelei

Translator : PolterGlast

The Roland Kingdom, which had once flourished through its amicable ties with both the Kyle Kingdom and the Gryphonia Empire, had established the city of Lorelei as its Royal Capital, housing the royal palace and the major facilities. Later, Lorelei was completely encircled by the blitzkrieg operations of the Empire army, and through a bloodless capitulation, the Roland Kingdom was permanently annihilated.

Today, the city of Lorelei, which once thrived as a proud Royal Capital, retains absolutely no trace of its former grandeur. Some whispered that the Second Princess, who subsequently became the Empress of the Gryphonia Empire, deeply loathed and avoided the former capital; regardless, the majestic royal palace was completely dismantled. Its stone and timber were repurposed to construct cities ruled by the new lords who had been granted segments of the former kingdom's territory, and the massive city walls that once protected the Royal Capital suffered the exact same tragic fate.

The merchants and common citizens who had long made their homes in the former Royal Capital gradually migrated away under the rule of their new lords. Consequently, the city had suffered a catastrophic regression, tumbling into a mere regional town with a population of barely ten thousand souls. The citizens who still resided there routinely referred to Lorelei as the 'Ruined Capital,' bitterly reminiscing over the vanished glory of its yesteryears.

Yet, there remained one singular entity that existed now exactly as it had in the ancient past, standing completely unchanged by the passage of time. It was a church that had been physically relocated from the Kyle Kingdom centuries ago, accompanying a Princess when she married into the family. Though that church had its overall scale aggressively downsized across the shifting tides of history—and had plunged into a rapid, severe decline after becoming Empire territory—its profound intrinsic value had been massively re-evaluated over the past few years, transforming to once again boast an immense, thriving prosperity.

The primary catalyst for this renaissance was Sieghart. Acting on vital intelligence secured through a series of transactional dealings with the rebel factions who had fled the Kyle Kingdom following the internal conflict, he had extended a firm mantle of protection over the church. As a result, the church was actively utilized within the Empire as a vital conduit to produce and train Mages, even successfully bringing several capable Mages to Sieghart's own camp.

※

Now, the narrative shifts back slightly in time. This specific event unfolded immediately after Alexis officially activated the Messengers of Arrows.

「 General Commander, Honorary Bishop Rosa has arrived and requests a personal audience with you. 」

「 I have no objections. Please let her through at once. 」

At this particular juncture, Rosa had taken the vanguard alongside her dedicated corps of Holy Mages, acting directly under Alexis who was entrusted with the remaining unit. Entrusted with an incredibly high rank by the Central Church, even her lord, Takuhir, treated her with an immense degree of respect and acknowledgment. While Alexis held the peerage of a Viscount and she held that of a Baron, her standing within the church granted her a status equivalent to a Count. This unique positioning afforded her a substantial degree of independent discretion and autonomous authority, even upon the deadly fields of war.

「 Allow me to extend my deepest gratitude for granting me the opportunity for a meeting amidst your incredibly hectic schedule, General Commander. I have come before you today because I have a vital request. 」

「 No, there is no problem. If it is something I can be of use for, I would be more than happy to help, but…… 」

Answering so, he could understand at a glance that she had visited with an extraordinary, unyielding resolve. Beneath her beautiful, dignified features, her eyes burned with a fierce, brilliant intensity, radiating the absolute determination of someone who had finalized a monumental choice.

「 As I have no desire to squander your precious time, I shall state the conclusion first. I have come to request your official permission to personally depart for Lorelei. 」

!!! Alexis was struck by an immense wave of bewilderment.

「 May I ask the reason? Even though Lorelei is far removed from the immediate front lines, there remains a distinct possibility that it could transform into an active warzone as this campaign bleeds forward. If by any chance a catastrophic misfortune were to befall you, Rosa-san, I would have absolutely no way to explain it to Takuhir-sama. 」

「 Your calculations are exactly in accordance with my own, General Commander. After all, I have already received detailed updates regarding the evacuation status over there from the people of our espionage unit. 」

「 …… 」

『 I knew it was about that. 』

Thinking so, Alexis found himself entirely at a loss for words. Within Lorelei, there existed a certain stubborn faction that had completely refused to comply with the official evacuation orders. While their exact motives remained shrouded in mystery, the leadership of the local church firmly and unyieldingly rejected any notion of abandoning Lorelei. Had it been a simple matter of the clergy choosing to face destruction entirely of their own volition, it could easily be brushed aside as their personal choice. However, the severe, glaring issue lay in the fact that the orphanage attached to the church was forced to completely submit to the clergy's executive decisions, pinning the innocent children to the exact same fate.

「 This is to safeguard the ultimate future of the children. There are nearly two hundred young souls residing within that land. A portion of the ultimate catalyst that placed them there rests upon our shoulders, and I consider it my sacred mission to fulfill that responsibility. 」

Having relocated to this territory a mere two years prior, Alexis possessed a reasonable baseline understanding of these grim circumstances. The vast majority of the children taken in by that orphanage were war orphans—children who had lost their families as a direct consequence of the brutal wars fought against their own forces (Kyle Kingdom) in the past……

「 But that local church is notoriously obstinate. Tell me, Rosa-san, do you possess a definitive winning play? Without one, I cannot grant you permission. You are a completely irreplaceable existence for us…… 」

『 What a cowardly and thoroughly disagreeable way to speak…… 』 Thinking to himself, Alexis intentionally erased all traces of emotion from his features, staring directly into Rosa's eyes.

Rosa, however, let out a soft, elegant chuckle, instantly dispelling the suffocating weight of the heavy atmosphere.

「 It so happens that I have been uniquely blessed with numerous opportunities to interact closely with those individuals. Consequently, I believe I possess a thorough comprehension of exactly what that church is calculating, and precisely why they have become so unyieldingly stubborn. 」

「 Is it possible for you to share those details with me? 」

「 Hmm, I am troubled. The underlying circumstances constitute a sacred secret of the Kingdom, known within the Dukedom solely by Takuhir-sama himself. It is a story not known by anyone other than royalty within the Kingdom either, except for the absolute highest echelons of the church…… 」

Saying this, Rosa wore a slightly troubled, innocent expression, gently resting a finger against her cheek. Conversely, Alexis instantly comprehended the underlying reality. There existed a hidden depth here that a mere Viscount like himself had absolutely zero right to trespass upon……

「 Then allow me to verify a single, definitive point: Are you entirely certain that you, Rosa-san, can resolve this issue? 」

「 While I cannot boldly claim it will be absolute perfection…… I can completely eliminate their anxiety. And to phrase it in a somewhat disagreeable manner: within the hierarchy of the church, I hold a position that is senior to theirs…… 」

Hearing this, Alexis let out a massive, sweeping sigh of relief. He realized he had no other choice but to place his absolute faith in her words.

「 Then I must ask you to make a single, ironclad promise: Under all circumstances, you must prioritize your personal safety above all else. If by any chance a shadow of immediate danger approaches, you must execute an instantaneous retreat. Even if…… that specific scenario dictates a reality where the children might be sacrificed. 」

As he delivered this heavy, unyielding condition, Rosa answered with an expression of profound, infinite benevolence.

「 I will never abandon the children; I shall save every last one of them without fail. However, I completely agree to safeguard my own personal safety. 」

Confronted by her absolute, unshakeable conviction, Alexis had zero choice but to grant his total consent. He attached a strict condition of having one hundred elite knights accompany her as escorts, privately resolving to rigorously instruct the knights regarding their absolute priorities afterwards.

※

Through this precise sequence of events, Rosa, accompanied by her knightly escorts, successfully arrived at the ancient church of Lorelei.

「 So, tell me: regardless of the circumstances, you truly intend to refuse our official evacuation directive? 」

「 Indeed. Even if we are destined to perish, that too is merely the divine will of God; we shall do nothing more than humbly embrace His decree. If we were to lose this sacred ground, we would forfeit the very meaning of our existence. 」

The elderly man acting as the Bishop overseeing the local church remained completely unyielding, staring stubbornly right back at Rosa.

「 Then I demand that you at least separate the orphanage from your decree. Furthermore, you must release the young priests, the nuns, and the apprentices. 」

「 That matters not to me. You are perfectly welcome to take any of the children who wish to comply with your evacuation. However, those who have officially taken their sacred vows within this church shall share our ultimate fate. 」

Saying this, the Bishop offered a thoroughly shallow, calculating smile.

『 I see. The individuals in weak positions are entirely incapable of defying the executive decisions of their superiors. So that is what it means…… How thoroughly despicable. 』

Rosa, who superficially never ceased maintaining a flawless, radiant smile, was also thoroughly appalled in her heart. In all likelihood, these corrupt clergymen were actively utilizing the lives of the innocent children as a hostage chip, desperately hoping to compel the high command to dispatch a military detachment to safeguard their private sanctuary. They were entirely oblivious to the fact that the situation possessed no such leeway.

Having completely deduced their true nature, Rosa steeled her soul to unleash the precise tactical card she had prepared.

「 I believe I possess a thorough comprehension of the fact that you are risking your very lives to safeguard the Sacred Orb. I understand perfectly that the Sacred Orb is an absolutely irreplaceable treasure to this church, and that the concealed Sacred Orb is an artifact that cannot be relocated with ease…… 」

The exact instant the words left Rosa’s lips, the Bishop’s face flashed with a fleeting moment of sheer, unadulterated shock. Yet, he instantly masked it, staring back at Rosa with a sullen, defiant scowl—as if silently demanding: Then dispatch soldiers!

「 Allow me to speak with absolute candor: We possess zero luxury to dispatch soldiers to this location. The enemy's total manpower vastly doubles our own; we are currently locked in an incredibly brutal, uphill struggle. 」

「 Wh-What?! S-Such a thing…… 」

The Bishop instantly realized the sheer, catastrophic folly of his naive, soft assumptions. The stark reality of the campaign was considerably more severe for themselves than his sheltered mind had imagined.

「 Furthermore, I must add: we shall emerge absolutely victorious in the end, regardless. However, to guarantee that ultimate triumph, everyone's immediate evacuation is an absolute, non-negotiable prerequisite. 」

「 And how exactly does our victory correlate to a hasty retreat, if I may ask? 」

「 Because as long as you continue to hold the lives of those innocent children hostage—exactly as you are doing this very second—our forces will be entirely incapable of launching effective counter-attacks or defensive bombardments. If you could expand the horizons of your imagination to comprehend that basic tactical reality, it would be immensely helpful. 」

「 Wh…… 」

The Bishop trembled, completely shaken by the realization that his innermost, ugly calculations had been exposed. Seizing the absolute momentum of his hesitation, Rosa aggressively drove her point home.

「 Therefore, acting in my official capacity as a Bishop of the Central Church, I hereby issue an absolute command to the Bishop of this affiliated church! 」

The exact instant the words resonated through the chapel, Rosa completely shed her soft, gentle demeanor, transitioning her voice into a crisp, authoritative tone of ironclad severity.

「 First: This church shall immediately mobilize every single member of its clergy, staff, and dependents, executing a total evacuation to Kusanagi this instant. Second: In the unlikely event that the Sacred Orb is lost or destroyed, I shall personally assume the total responsibility to procure and assign a brand-new Sacred Orb to this parish. 」

「 No…… I-Is such a thing possible?! 」

「 It is possible with absolute ease. The Central Church within the Royal Capital possesses multiple spare artifacts, and there are understanding individuals among the Cardinals as well…… 」

「 You honestly possess that level of executive authority?! 」

Rosa had been personally present at the fierce chess matches between Takuhir and the high clergy that took place in the Royal Capital. The classified, covert pacts hammered out between her lord and the Central Church, alongside the raw, vaulting ambitions of the Cardinals, were meticulously engraved inside her mind.

『 Well, worst-case scenario: even if I can't compensate with a spare, I can easily pull strings to have them locally hired and integrated into a newly established church within the new territory or the Empire domains…… That should be completely fine, I guess? 』

Rosa’s supreme, unshakeable confidence originated from that exact mental calculus. Conversely, the Bishop was utterly paralyzed with astonishment, staring at this young maiden who could confidently guarantee such a monumental miracle without a single flicker of hesitation.

『 Even if she is a legendary Holy Mage…… how can a mere little girl possess such terrifying authority……? 』

After dozens of seconds of heavy, suffocating silence, the Bishop finally opened his heavy mouth.

「 The very fact that your footsteps have graced this sanctuary must itself be the divine will of God. If that is His decree, we have zero alternative but to submit to His sacred heart. However, as servants of the Lord, it is an absolute premise that we must carry out our bare minimum of sacred relics and holy implements. 」

「 Yes! The bare minimum of your sacred relics…… that is perfectly fine. Then I ask you to commence your preparations at once! 」

Saying this, Rosa graced the old Bishop with the most radiant, brilliant smile she had unleashed all day.

『 Now, it's a pure race against time. I might have to relentlessly smack this old raccoon's backside to hurry him up. By some chance, before this ground accidentally transforms into an active warzone…… 』

Concealing those fierce words deep within her heart, she oversaw the transition. Beholding the sight of the local church entering a state of absolute, chaotic frenzy to pack their bags, there was no end to the people of the city—who had stubbornly clung to their homes and aggressively delayed their own departures—coming forward to accompany the evacuation convoy.

Yet, the unfolding situation was already accelerating into a sudden, explosive crisis that vastly outpaced the imaginations of both Rosa and Alexis.

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