“Before we arrive, there’s something you all need to know.”
“······?”
The once raucous interior of the carriage fell silent in an instant.
Aintz was rolling on the floor, picking up the spilled magic stones, while Erica was rummaging through her bag, claiming she might have left some luggage behind.
The only ones sitting quietly were Iris and Trie······
Actually, Trie was just asleep.
I turned Trie’s head away from the wall and removed my lips from hers.
“The situation on the battlefield is not good.”
“What, are we in a stalemate?”
“The suppression army has lost 70% of its forces and is retreating. The remaining troops may not be significant by now.”
“Huh······?!”
I unconsciously covered Erica’s mouth.
She was about to inhale sharply as if she would scream at any moment.
Thanks to that, she seemed a little calmer and held my wrist, struggling but not screaming.
I almost woke Trie.
I couldn’t disturb the most distinguished force’s deep sleep in here.
“That means… we’ve pretty much lost. The newspapers haven’t reported anything.”
“That’s the hopeful part. There’s still a chance for a comeback. If we turn the tide, we can avoid any articles about our defeat.”
“But losing 70% means we’re almost annihilated. Is a comeback even possible?”
“That’s what we need to achieve from now on.”
“······.”
Even Aintz looked dumbfounded.
However, Iris had a strange smile, making it hard to tell if she was keeping a poker face or really could see this future.
“Five regular college students? Schlus, are you kidding me?”
“You can consider the Holy Knights as practically our troops. I’m pretty much the master of that order.”
“Oh. The order? How many are there?”
“About ten.”
“······.”
The atmosphere turned icy.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Before even arriving, I had deflated morale.
“No way… I thought we were going into a fight with at least a glimmer of hope. Are we jumping into a suicide mission?”
“If you want, you can back out now.”
“Hey! Schlus!”
“I will definitely win. Trust me.”
In fact, I didn’t trust myself either.
But what could I do?
I couldn’t just say, “I’m freaking anxious too.”
I wondered if this was how the bravest warriors felt when they leaped into seemingly impossible battles.
Perhaps they didn’t genuinely believe they could win either.
No matter how impossible it looked, withdrawing wasn’t an option, so maybe they used a sort of self-hypnosis.
“What are you believing······?”
“I believe in you, Schlus. After all, don’t you have a plan?”
“······.”
Aintz winked at me.
So disgusting······.
As for that plan, it was non-existent this time.
“I believe in Schlus’ plan too.”
“······.”
Iris’s smile was uncomfortably burdensome.
It seemed she noticed my lack of a plan and was mocking me.
But seeing her follow me meant she must have envisioned us somehow winning, right?
I had no choice but to cling tightly to that belief.
“Really, we can win, right? Right?”
“Yes.”
As Erica let out a sigh of relief, Iris covered her mouth with her hand and gave me a sly smirk that only I could see.
She was definitely mocking me.
Damn it. She’s probably going to demand something later as a silencing fee.
That slippery little snake.
“Everyone, take a nap. It’s going to be a long journey.”
“Hey, at least explain the outline of the plan.”
“Do you know the best way to keep a secret, Erica?”
“What?”
“By not telling anyone.”
“Hey!”
I leaned back and closed my eyes.
Regardless of whether Erica was pouting next to me, I needed to sleep.
I had a lot to do early tomorrow morning.
And then, a thought struck me.
How on earth did Erica end up here?
I hadn’t thought to ask because the carriage was about to depart, and now here we were.
“Erica, why are you here?”
“Huh? You called me, so I came. Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?”
“I asked the wrong question. How did you come? It can’t have been easy to get permission from Count Lichtenburg’s representative.”
“Sounds like you really know my mom’s personality well, huh?”
“······.”
I had messed up.
I had only officially met Madam Lichtenburg twice.
Schlus wouldn’t normally know that Madam Lichtenburg was the type to love her daughter dearly and never let her go to the battlefield.
“It was just… a guess.”
“Really? I’ll let that slide for now since there are other kids here.”
“······.”
Erica’s gaze was menacing.
It seemed she was catching on to the nature of my relationship with her mother.
Well, shoot······. I was just going to use her a little before letting her go, but now it’s like this.
To be honest, what I had used up until now was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the cost of her life.
“What? What are you talking about? You and my mom and Schlus······”
“Shut up. That’s none of your business.”
“Why are you talking about something that isn’t relevant to me in front of me? Now that I’ve heard it, it is relevant. What is it? Tell me quickly. I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Will I tell you?”
“Ugh······!”
Damn it.
I should have left one of Aintz and Erica behind.
I had forgotten that the two have chemistry like oil and water and fight at every turn.
“Did the count’s representative give you permission?”
“No. I left without saying anything.”
“······?!”
That was a completely unexpected answer.
Erica, of all people?
The one who couldn’t budge an inch from her mother’s words?
What was going on?
Did Erica suddenly hit puberty late or something?
“Why are you looking at me like that? You need me, right? Then you should just be happy honestly. Don’t worry about other people’s affairs······.”
“I never worried about it.”
“Then why did you ask, huh······.”
It seemed there was a change in Erica’s psyche.
She might be thinking about breaking away from her mother’s shadow.
Or maybe she genuinely wanted to follow me to the battlefield because she found me trustworthy.
Thinking about it, the latter didn’t make sense.
“So what’s the deal between you and Schlus’ mom?”
“I said I wouldn’t tell you.”
“I’ll keep asking until you do.”
I tried to tune out the background noise of their argument and crossed my arms, trying to sleep again.
No, I was trying to.
······It felt like a long struggle before I could finally sleep.
*
“We’ve arrived! You need to get off!”
“Eep?”
With a *thud*, the carriage stopped.
When I opened my eyes, my left shoulder was suddenly stiff, making me frown.
I wondered what was happening and found Trie had her head resting on my shoulder.
“Ouch!”
“······.”
I flicked Trie’s forehead to wake her up and stood up.
Iris was seated quietly, seemingly having not slept a wink, sitting just as she was before I dozed off.
Aintz and Erica······ were both sprawled out on either side of the sofa, still dazed and looking around.
“Did we arrive already, Schlus?”
“We’re stopping at Monarch Principality for a resupply. We’ll leave again in 3 hours. I’ve booked an inn, so you can rest there or follow me.”
“Where are you going?”
“To Sophia Cathedral.”
“······!”
There was a reason I intentionally departed late at night.
I planned to take care of some business during our stop for resupply in Monarch Principality.
I wouldn’t want to have to come back again.
And I could also claim the apparent justification of receiving blessings at the continent’s largest cathedral.
“Hmph. You going to a cathedral? What do you have an appointment with the Pope?”
“Yeah. I’m supposed to meet with him.”
“Huh? Huhhh?”
As Erica got off the carriage, she seemed dazed, losing her center of balance.
I was startled and almost reached out to catch her but—
“I got it.”
“T-thank you······.”
Trie was faster.
With one arm, Trie hoisted Erica up and slowly set her down.
I felt relieved having Trie with us.
If it were just those weak mages, our future would look grim.
“What? You’re really going to meet the Pope? That’s a lie, right? And why is Iris following along so naturally?”
“Well, since we’re going to the cathedral, as a saint, I have to attend, right? There are people I need to greet after a long time.”
“Ah······. But Trie, why are you just following without any doubts?”
“That’s because I’m tasked with guarding the teacher.”
“And Aintz?”
“Huh? I never doubted Schlus to begin with.”
“······.”
There was a moment of dumbfoundedness from Erica, but soon her face took on a somewhat dissatisfied look as she started to dog my heels.
If the claim about meeting the Pope was true or not, she had no choice but to find out for herself.
At this point, Erica would likely realize something.
That she was the only one not trusting Schlus here.
I didn’t need to explain much for public sentiment to sway toward me.
And Erica couldn’t exactly go against that public sentiment.
Especially if Iris was involved in that public sentiment.
“Wow······.”
“Wow······.”
Trie and Aintz’s mouths dropped open.
The center of Monarch Principality.
The Sophia Cathedral appeared as soon as we stepped out of the rest station.
Monarch Principality is officially ruled by a duke, but the Pope holds significant influence over it in reality.
That’s why this place is also referred to as the land of the divine or the Pope’s territory.
Iris was baptized and appointed as a saint here, so this place probably held many memories for her.
When I glanced at Iris, I noticed a slightly melancholic look in her eyes as she surveyed the surroundings.
As we ascended the white staircase, a certain priest came to meet us at the door.
“Is this Schlus Hainkel and his party?”
“Yes.”
“I have heard from His Majesty the Emperor. Please, come in.”
“W-what?! His Majesty the Emperor······!”
It seemed Erica had a lot she wanted to say.
But she seemed to be holding back since we were in the cathedral.
“We don’t have much time. I want to meet the Pope quickly and leave, but is the Pope ready?”
“Hey! Schlus! What do you mean······!”
But I wasn’t particularly devout in this world’s religion, so I really had no desire to show respect to this Aigis god or his representative, the Pope.
That said, I had to maintain at least a minimum decorum to avoid being accused of blasphemy and burned at the stake.
“Hahaha. I’m not sure if the Pope is ready. From here on, I will have the cardinal guide you. That man over there.”
Just then, I caught sight of a man in red robes walking down from the end of the corridor.
If anyone would know whether the Pope was ready, it’d be the cardinal.
That’s who I would have to ask.
But his expression seemed unusual.
It looked like he was filled with emotion.
But why did it seem like his gaze was fixed on me?
“That’s Cardinal Branden Hainkel.”
“H-Hainkel?!”
Hainkel.
Oh, crap.
“Schlus! Long time no see! Do you remember me?”
“······.”
An incredibly annoying event was unfolding.
