Lying on the bed of his room, Elt listened to the rain hammering on the church's roof. He sorely—and futilely—wished it would stop.
Rain had multiple meanings to the inhabitants of the slums. It meant clean water—at least, as clean as the buckets and pots used to collect it—for as long as it lasted. Yet it also meant the intrusion of moisture into poorly built houses, accompanied by infestations of vermin and mould. It meant that anyone who did have to go outside would be drenched, the rain overcoming any of their crude umbrellas or other protection. During particularly heavy rain, flooding occurred in the low-lying areas, wrecking any objects left on floors and scattering around the filth that normally caked the streets. In short, slum-dwellers could literally die of the consequences of rain.
The current rain wasn't so severe, but Primera had still had to go and fix leaks in the roof and walls three times already. Elt wanted to help, but the half-elf could finish the job before he could even get up to the locations of the leaks.
At least in weather like this, there's no way anyone will be calling on Sasha or Primera to work, Elt thought. And I can stay here with them, too. I guess there's a bright side to everything…
In any case, rain was something Elt and the others had learned to deal with. He turned his thoughts instead to the topic of what lay outside the walls.
Are the monsters still preparing to invade? Or are they staying inside as well?
Come to think of it, what kinds of army camps have they set up? I always thought most monsters lived in huts no better than the slums, or even out in the open—the Order says that monsters don't have the ability to make good buildings, they need human slaves for that. But after seeing Court Alf… I'm not so sure about that.
In the best-case scenario, the rain would merely delay the monsters. And it was becoming increasingly clear that Lescatie had little hope of repelling them.
I wish I could see Mary again… but I don't want to cause trouble for her. People would get suspicious if she was meeting a commoner all the time. And I haven't even seen Fran for years…
Anyway, Mary might be able to fight Druella off. But why didn't Druella sound worried about that?
Perhaps the recent death of the king had something to do with it. Such an act would throw the entire country of Lescatie into chaos. Furthermore, if the monsters were indeed responsible for it, it proved that they had no need to worry about Lescatie's defences.
But I didn't really get the feeling that they'd go so far as to kill the king… After all, why would Druella reveal herself to me and Primera? It just gave us time to prepare…
Elt should never have been having such doubts about a monster's morality, especially since different monsters had altered one of his friend's memories and almost killed another friend. And yet…
Even Primera let that werewolf go… and said that the other werewolves were acting friendly with people. And Mimil didn't seem to hate that baphomet as much as I expected.
After some thought, Elt made up his mind. He'd send—via one of the heroes staying in the church—another message to Mary to explain things in more detail, including his second meeting with Druella. Hopefully, Mary would be able to send a message back explaining just what exactly was happening in the royal palace.
Let's see… what should I write to Mary? And who would be best for sending it?
Only after thinking about this for half a minute did Elt realise just how unusual his situation was. The vast majority of humans—not just those in Lescatie—would be lucky to be on speaking terms with one hero. He was like that with five heroes, three of whom were currently staying in the same place as him.. and one of whom had confessed her feelings to him…
Elt imagined himself and Sasha, the latter in a gorgeous white wedding dress, both of them standing in one of Al Mar's many temples.
N-No! That's not happening! It can't happen!
...She deserves someone better…
Elt sighed and closed his eyes. Romance wasn't something he had much interest in, unlike the other soldiers in the barracks. That didn't mean he lacked desire, but… of the amazing women in his life, all but one was far beyond his status. As for Primera… he didn't want to do anything that might ruin their friendship.
In any case, he had to think about how to answer Sasha's confession. She deserved that, even during the current crisis—
Without warning, Elt was pressed down onto his bed by an incredible force. A dagger had been slammed down into his chest, with only a flickering pink barrier stopping it from impaling his heart.
"Argh!" Elt yelled. "Who are you!?"
The one wielding the dagger was a strange woman with long black hair, long enough to cover half of her face.
-ooo-
Kirsch felt her blood turn cold.
It had taken two days for her to reach this point. One day to find out where her target lived, the other to find a chance to kill him without alerting the three heroes here. But after finding her target in his room, devoid of armour or any other protection, her success should have been guaranteed.
This must be a barrier spell cast by Mimil Miltie's, Kirsch quickly analysed. Her skill is great enough that I failed to notice it—but I cannot afford to fail!
Kirsch pressed a knee on her target's abdomen, preventing him from getting up, and repeatedly stabbed at him with her dagger. She targeted his face, his neck, his solar plexus, yet could not break through even when using both hands. Her target screamed in pain—his barrier didn't protect against all of the impact—yet he still clung to life.
Then someone burst in through the door of the room, forcing Kirsch to turn to face this new threat.
Sasha… Fullmoon…?
Kirsch had naturally been aware of who owned this church, but now was her first time seeing Sasha in the flesh. Until now, Kirsch had monitored the movements of people from outside the church, then snuck in via a path that ensured she wouldn't meet anyone except her target.
However, Kirsch was quite certain that Sasha wasn't supposed to have pink feathery wings or a pink spaded tail.
Sasha Fullmoon is a monster!? No wonder the Sun Priest sent me on this mission—!
There was no more time to process the situation. Kirsch got off of Elt and raised her dagger.
Sasha rushed at Kirsch, pushing her back and through the opposite wall. Even though Kirsch's dagger cut into her left arm, she continued grappling Kirsch with a furious expression on her face.
Get off me, monster!
Kirsch pulled her dagger back and thrust it towards her enemy's face. However, Sasha seemed to be ready for this, releasing her grip on Kirsch and kicking her away.
The two of them were now standing outside the church. The heavy rain meant no one else was around, but Kirsch still had to end this battle quickly. She drew her sword, the same one her master had given her.
Then she bent her upper body to the side to avoid a magic-infused arrow.
Primera Concerto did not say another word as she nocked a second arrow to her bow. The expression on her face told far more than any words could.
Why are so many heroes protecting him!? What does he have that can bend them to his will!? Did he receive some mind-altering power from monsters!?
Kirsch didn't voice her thoughts out loud—she was far too well-trained for that. She instead charged towards Sasha with sword in hand.
They are both long-distance fighters! I was caught by surprise before, but I won't lose at close range now!
Sasha raised both her palms and a barrier of white light appeared all around her. This forced Kirsch to abort her attack.
She can still use divine skills!? Despite being a monster!?
Another arrow shot towards Kirsch, who—not being in a position to dodge again—blocked it using her sword. The arrow exploded on contact, scorching Kirsch's face and left shoulder.
Yet it didn't end there. A third hero left the church and entered the battlefield. This one was short, pink-haired and… had a crown of dried flowers on her head?
However, the staff in Mimil Miltie's hands drew the majority of Kirsch's attention. This staff was now glowing with purple light.
"Seek out my foe… Magic Missiles!"
Eight arrows of purple light shot out from Mimil's staff, all of them hurtling towards Kirsch.
Another hero might have been able to block or intercept those sorcerous arrows. But Kirsch was not that sort of hero, much of her training having focused on stealthy assassination.
Kirsch took the only option available to her—turning and running as fast as possible. She put a shack between herself and the Magic Missiles, hoping it would at least weaken them—but the Magic Missiles bent around the shack to continue pursuing her.
Guh… I must fulfil my mission at all costs!
Kirsch gathered strength in her body and swung her sword. She managed to cut through five of the Magic Missiles, dispersing their energy harmlessly. She held out her right arm to block two more. The last missile struck her body.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Propelled by a trio of purple explosions, Kirsch flew backwards and bounced across the muddy ground. She eventually used her one good arm to stab her sword into the ground, halting her movement.
"Ugh…" she forced herself to stand up, using her sword as support. "I cannot… fail… my mission…"
Two heroes came into sight. Mimil approached along the ground while Primera looked down from the top of a nearby building. The third, Sasha, was presumably staying at the church to defend it.
"Who gave you that mission!?" Mimil demanded. "Who wants my Big Bro dead!?"
"Speak," Primera added, an arrow aimed directly at Kirsch's head.
"You…" Kirsch groaned. "Why are you… helping him… and helping a monster? Just what hold do they have over you…?"
"We're not the ones answering questions here," Mimil shot back. She raised her staff. "Tell us what you know—"
Kirsch clenched her sword's hilt tightly. Now that it had come to this, she could only trust in the hidden ability of this sword.
Grant me power…! Grant me the power to cut down all enemies of Lescatie!
A dense torrent of energy erupted from the sword, surrounding Kirsch in a red and black aura. Kirsch immediately recognised this energy.
It was the demonic energy only possessed by monsters.
"What!?" Kirsch gasped.
The two other heroes attacked, but their spell and arrow were blocked by the demonic aura, doing nothing more than push Kirsch back slightly. However, Kirsch now had something much more important to worry about.
"This is—ah—AAAHHHH!"
Black tendrils, dotted with glints of red, emerged from the sword and pierced into Kirsch's hands. They burrowed through her flesh like a dozen giant worms eating their way through carrion.
"GET—OUT!"
Kirsch tried throwing the sword away, then tried kicking it. Nothing she tried could budge even a finger from the cursed weapon.
"Y-You two!" Kirsch said desperately. "Cut off my arms—urgh!"
The black tendrils burrowed deeper, even entering her very bones. They spread throughout her torso, one of them even reaching up her neck towards her head.
"K-KILL ME!" Kirsch screamed.
"Kuh—Rend all matter, Void Scythe!"
A crescent-shaped distortion appeared in the air and rushed towards Kirsch's arms. It was slowed by the aura of demonic energy but not outright stopped, so it managed to leave a deep gash on Kirsch's left arm.
At the same time, another arrow shot through the air. It pierced through the demonic aura and exploded against Kirsch's head, knocking her back...
But by then, the tendrils already extended throughout Kirsch's body. They threaded through damaged tissue, knitting it back together with more precision than most trained healers.
"Ah…." Kirsch murmured. "This is…"
Mimil and Primera stared at Kirsch in bewilderment. Thanks to the many puddles on the ground, Kirsch could understand their feelings by looking at her own reflection.
Her clothing had been shredded by the tendrils from the cursed sword, the sole exception being the red bow tie in her hair. The underlying body was a mix of soft flesh and midnight-black metal, seemingly harder than any steel. Blood-red orbs were scattered around the surface of her body, looking like the hundred eyes of some hideous abomination. Her sword, too, had changed in appearance, now with the same black and red colour scheme that dominated her body.
"I've… become… a monster…" Kirsch said. "From the sword… the Sun Priest… gave me…"
"You… are you okay?" Primera asked. "That… looks painful…"
It was true that some of the tendrils seemed to be digging into her flesh. However, Kirsch felt not even the slightest discomfort from them, no more then she felt tight due to her own skin.
"Ah… aha… ahaha…"
Kirsch trembled. A whirlwind of emotions was wracking her body.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
The two other heroes flinched.
"I'm a monster now!" Kirsch laughed. "A fallen being! This… is what I deserve for failing in my mission!"
Kirsch lifted her sword and twirled it around a little. It felt incredibly light. All of her injuries and exhaustion seemed to have been healed.
"But… I can still make use of this!" Kirsch continued. "So long as I retain my will, I can kill all enemies of humanity!"
"You're still going through with that!?"
Mimil and Primera attacked again. A fireball and a trio of arrows shot towards Kirsch…
...but now, these seemed to be moving in slow motion.
Kirsch swung her cursed sword, creating a massive arc of red demonic energy. This struck and annihilated her enemies attacks.
Then she advanced. She brought her sword down on Mimil's head, hoping to split the insolent brat in two.
Sadly, white and pink barriers flashed into existence—Sasha must have cast her own protection over her allies. At least Mimil was still knocked down by the impact.
"How dare you!"
Primera shot another arrow. Kirsch prepared to intercept this as well, only for the arrow to strike ground and emit a blinding flash of light.
"This—isn't enough to defeat me!"
Kirsch whirled around in a circle, expecting a follow-up attack. When her vision cleared, she instead spotted Primera running into the distance, carrying Mimil under one arm.
The previous Kirsch would have tried disappearing from view and attacking the church again from a blind spot.
The current Kirsch saw enemies fleeing from her and, feeling exhilarated, she ran off in pursuit.
Ahaha! With this new power, I can kill them with ease! I can easily get to my target and then—
An intense heat welled up in the core of Kirsch's body. It was a sensation she'd never experienced before, so she had no idea how to handle it.
Ah… maybe… maybe I wouldn't have to kill him… After all, he must have something to draw in so many female heroes… Once I've gotten rid of all the disturbances, I'll have him all to myself…
If Kirsch thought about it for even a moment, she'd realise that Wilmarina would certainly count as one of those disturbances. She'd also realise that killing several of Lescatie's top heroes would lead to unprecedented chaos. And of course, she'd realise that not killing her target would wreck the Sun Priest's plans, throwing Lescatie into even more chaos.
But a newly turned monster—moreover, one turned by a weapon they'd entrusted their life to—could not be that rational.
Eventually, Kirsch was forced to a sudden stop when her right leg caught in something. She looked down to see a magic circle on the ground beneath her right foot.
"You… didn't think you'd beaten me already, did you?" Mimil said. She was now standing on her own feet again and holding her glowing staff.
Nearby, Sasha was laying her hands on the back of Primera, who in turn had nocked an arrow glowing with brilliant white light.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Kirsch said. She exerted her newly enhanced strength, shattering the magic circle restraining her leg.
But that was enough time for Primera to release her arrow, which shot through the air like a blazing meteor. Kirsch could only raise her sword to block it—
"GAAAAHHHH!"
The arrow didn't have much physical force behind it, but as soon as it made contact with her sword, Kirsch felt like she'd been hit by a lightning strike. Her body convulsed and fell to the ground, while her sword slipped from her hands.
N-No… I can't lose it…
While laying weakly on her side, Kirsch reached out towards her sword. Tendrils of black metal extended out from her hand.
Then the muddy ground rose up and engulfed that hand, tendrils and all. The same happened to her other three limbs and to her sword.
"As if we'd just let you do that," Mimil said. "Now, you're going to answer our questions. Who sent you to kill Big Brother—to kill Elt?"
"Wait… I recognise her," Sasha said, frowning. "She… well, at least when I last saw her, she was a member of the Order of the Holy Ice Flower."
"The same group as Elt's—as Wilmarina Noscrim?" Primera said, still keeping her bow at the ready. "Why would she be sent here?"
Kirsch started to laugh. This was another thing she'd normally never do, but becoming a monster seemed to have removed her inhibitions.
"What the hell is so funny!?" Primera demanded.
"You might have beaten me," Kirsch said, "and I might have been corrupted into a monster, but you've still lost."
"That sounds very convincing from someone on the ground!" Mimil retorted.
Kirsch didn't respond. She simply waited a few seconds for her enemies to look up in shock.
Primera grabbed Sasha by the shoulder. "Quick, let's get back inside—!"
It's too late, Kirsch thought. You can no longer hide!
Previously, the heavy rain had ensured no one else was outdoors. But the short yet intense battle was impossible to hide. Many of the slum-dwellers would have fled, but a few had stayed to watch from a distance. It was these few who were now approaching.
"Miss Sasha, you're…"
"What happened to you, Miss Sasha!?"
"And… who the hell is this!?"
Kirsch knew that these regular humans were of no threat to even a single hero or monster. However, they'd have to be killed in order to hide Sasha's monsterisation. That, combined with the physical destruction here, would inevitably cause even the leadership of Lescatie to notice. The realisation that monsters had entered Lescatie's capital would galvanise them into taking the war seriously.
...Of course, Kirsch herself would also be killed, now that she was a monster herself. But she was content with that. It would ensure her allegiance to Sun Priest Noscim was never uncovered.
It's a shame that I won't be able to have the target to myself—
W-Wait, what am I thinking!? My goal here was to kill him! I shouldn't be thinking such things!
Kirsch dying would be advantageous in another way. It would prevent her from being consumed by a monster's sinful desires.
Then Sasha's next words brought her thoughts to an abrupt halt.
"I'm sorry for hiding this from all of you," Sasha said, lowering her head. "And for leaving you without my healing services lately. The truth is… three days ago, I was forcibly turned into a monster."
This led to confused muttering amongst the inhabitants of the slums.
"Wait, then why'd another monster just attack you?" asked one man in ragged clothing.
"And why'd other heroes help you?" asked one woman, similarly dressed and also missing several teeth. "Miss Primera I could understand, but isn't that other one…?"
"Because Sasha is still Sasha!" Primera said defensively.
"Anyway, there's no point in us all getting wet…" Mimil added. "Sky Guard—Heat Wave."
Mimil raised her staff. Pink magic circles appeared above almost everyone present—Kirsch excluded—to block the pouring rain. Additionally, a sudden burst of hot air dried off almost everyone present—again excluding Kirsch.
At this moment, the assassin had far better things to worry about than an enemy not taking pity on her.
Those idiots… do they really think it's a good idea to confess everything? Everyone in Lescatie is taught of the inherent evil of monsters—
"I'm fortunate to have people who still believe in me," Sasha said. "This is a lot to ask, but… I would like you to believe in me as well. I promise you that I haven't stopped wanting to help you."
There was a moment of silence, punctuated only by the constant hammering of the rain. Then the slum-dwellers began to respond.
"Of course we believe in you, Miss Sasha!"
"You've helped us more than those bastards in their mansions ever have!"
"There's no way we could be scared of you!"
Kirsch felt anger surge within her heart. These treacherous ingrates weren't just betraying the Chief God, they were also insulting the aristocracy who kept all of Lescatie safe. They were insulting Sun Priest Noscrim, who'd given her a better life…
...who'd had her undergo harsh and painful training to become an effective assassin…
...who'd given her a cursed sword that robbed her of her humanity. While he certainly hadn't known about the curse, it still spoke of negligence on his part…
Kirsch shook her head furiously. She wasn't a useless rat from the slums anymore. She was a blade that served Lescatie, served the only man capable of keeping it safe.
"Thank you..." Sasha said, tears streaming down her cheeks. She might have collapsed to her knees if the two beside her didn't hold her up.
-ooo-
Ten minutes later, everyone was gathered inside the church. This included over thirty of the slum-dwellers who lived outside the church, more having gathered as time passed. The orphan children were not here, having been told quite firmly to stay in their rooms. Finally, the hole in the wall of Elt's bedroom had been boarded up.
"Are you okay, Sasha?" Elt asked for the fifth time today.
"I-I'm fine, Elt," Sasha replied.
It had been maddening to stay inside and listen to others fight for him. But that assassin—Kirsch—had demonstrated right from the start that he'd be useless in a fight between heroes.
"Don't you dare come out until we say so, Big Brother!" Mimil had shouted back then. "Leave this to us!"
Still… what was the point in all that training...? Elt thought in the present. If I can't even protect the people I love, then…
On the topic of Kirsch, she was bound hand and foot with ropes enchanted by Mimil with some help from Sasha. Her cursed sword was kept on the other side of the room from her. And at this moment, she was glaring hatefully at everyone else, especially the twelve-year-old girl standing in front of her.
"Now, it's time you gave us answers," Mimil said. "No doubt you were trained to resist torture…"
Elt winced. A child of her age shouldn't be talking about such things.
"...but we, or rather I, have something much more effective," Mimil continued. She touched the head of her staff to Kirsch's head. "May your mind be as an open book, revealing its secrets for all to peruse… Mental Unlock."
There was a pulse of magic, one that even Elt could sense.
"What did you just do!?" Kirsch shouted. "Either way, I'll never tell you that the Sun Priest—!" She quickly forced her mouth shut, only for it to open again with agonising slowness. "s-sent… me…"
"That's… are you referring to Sun Priest Warran Noscrim?" Sasha asked, her eyes hard.
A middle-aged man with greying hair stood up—it was Old Henley from two streets away. "One of the priests sent you to kill Miss Sasha!?"
"It wasn't for Sasha Fullmoon, but for…" Kirsch replied, her eyes clearly showing she was unwilling. "For… killing… the man known as Elt…"
Then Kirsch stuck out her tongue. This only confused Elt, but a couple of his neighbours looked shocked.
"Quick, stuff something in her mouth, she's trying to—!"
"Relax, she can't bite her tongue off even if she tries," Mimil said. "I planned for that already. Now, why does the Sun Priest want Elt dead? Why send in a hero for that job?"
"Because… he…" Kirsch glared at Elt, "is distorting Lady Wilmarina's path. I don't know how, but the Sun Priest understands his threat to Lescatie's order…"
"Wait a second, Wilmarina Noshcrim?" said Betty from down the street.
"Noscrim," Ellie, Betty's sister, corrected.
"How do you know her, Elt?" Betty asked.
Elt rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well… you know how I only came to the slums eight years ago? Before that, I was actually living in the Noscrim Manor. My parents…" he cast his eyes to the floor, "were servants there…"
"Hang on, so let me get this straight," Betty said. "You don't just live with two heroes, and get trained by a hero, and get visits from another hero," she pointed at Mimil, "you actually grew up around the most famous hero in Lescatie!?"
"Um… yes…?"
Elt's reply caused his neighbours to huddle together in whispered discussion.
"...it'll be a bloodbath."
"...Who's going to win in the end…?"
"...Has the idiot even noticed Miss Sasha's…?"
"H-Hey, we've got more important issues right now!" Primera interrupted, her cheeks red for some reason.
"That's right," Mimil said, turning back to Kirsch. "Here's another question. You seem to be experienced, so how many secret missions have you been doing for the Sun Priest, and what were those about?"
"Fifteen…" Kirsch confessed. "All of them for similar reasons to the one today… to kill anyone who distracted a hero… keeping the heroes of Lescatie on their rightful paths…"
Elt felt terror strike his heart. Fifteen people like him, dead… and he would have been the sixteenth if it wasn't for the protection by those around him.
"...This is the true face of Sun Priest Noscrim, one of the supposed pillars of Lescatie?" Sasha said with disgust. "Now, more than ever, I'm grateful I never agreed to join that sort of world."
"Sun Priest Noscrim only wants what is best for Lescatie!" Kirsch shouted, straining against her ropes.
"He only wants to preserve Lescatie because it means preserving his own power," Sasha retorted. She looked at Elt. "Not even caring if he should hurt his own family in the process…"
"You have no right to criticise him! Not when you're a traitor to humanity, who's accepted becoming a monster—"
"Miss Sasha is more of a hero now than you ever were!" Old Henley shouted back.
"And she's a better priest than that sack of shit you serve!" Betty added.
Kirsch glared at her many enemies and trembled with fury. She looked like she wanted to rip out their throats with her teeth, if that was what it took.
"Speaking of monsters, how'd you become one yourself?" Mimil asked. "It looked like your sword did it, but I doubt even someone like you would just pick up a monster-made sword…"
"I… I'm not sure," Kirsch admitted. "This is the sword the Sun Priest gave me a long time ago. All I know is that it is of good quality and supposedly… has a mysterious power that could only be unleashed in emergencies…"
"I've heard rumours of such swords before," Sasha said. "They are cursed with demonic energy, more than enough to convert a human who picks one up, but it's a well-hidden threat. Such a sword appears ordinary at first, encouraging the user to wield it again and again… until they become one with the sword."
"So even if you hadn't fought us today, you would have turned eventually?" Primera said to Kirsch. "Hmph, looks like your master is an idiot in more ways than one."
Kirsch opened her mouth indignantly yet couldn't say a word. Since Mimil's spell was forcing her to be truthful, it meant she must have been feeling doubts about her master now.
Elt had a question of his own.
"...Wilmarina doesn't know about this, does she?"
"Of course not," Kirsch replied, looking glad for the change in topic. "My assassinations are a secret of the highest order. Otherwise… I'd be met with resistance like today."
Elt breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't really think Wilmarina could know about this and allow it to happen, but…
"Here's two more questions," Mimil said. "First, why on earth are you so loyal to that old geezer? And is there any chance he'll send more assassins after Elt?"
"Sun Priest Noscrim gave me the chance at a better life," Kirsch replied angrily. "Before that, I was living in a shack in these slums, crowded together with five other children, afraid the shack might collapse on us in a storm."
That gave everyone pause. The inhabitants of the slums were there because they had no choice, not because they actually enjoyed this life. Being lifted out of that was certainly a good reason to swear loyalty to someone.
...Of course, this didn't mean any of them would forgive Kirsch for her actions, Elt least of all.
"As for your second question…" Kirsch frowned. "The Sun Priest… could possibly have others, but if so, they'd be a secret even to me."
Mimil nodded and took her staff away from Kirsch's head. Then she put a bag over the assassin's head, a bag with complex-looking magic patterns on it.
"With that on, she won't be able to see or hear us," Mimil said. "So now we've got a question for ourselves… what do we do?"
That was a very good question. Even if Wilmarina's father had no other assassins to send, he'd surely notice that Kirsch had failed to report back. More importantly, Kirsch's colleagues in the Order of the Holy Ice Flower would notice her absence. Finally, while the slums were usually ignored by the rest of Lescatie, a battle of heroes and monsters might be enough to overcome that.
"Miss Sasha…" asked Old Henley. "Will you get called up for service?"
Sasha gulped visibly. "Not yet… but with an army of monsters approaching Lescatie, it is only a matter of time. Oh, come to think of it, since Kirsch can no longer perceive us, I can tell you the full story behind that…"
Over the next few minutes, Sasha explained everything starting from her own assistance of monsters to Druella's current plans for Lescatie. Elt, Primera and Mimil contributed where relevant.
Naturally, the news was met with bewilderment and shock.
"A fucking lilim!? Are you kidding me!? Ah, just makin' it clear, I'm not saying you're lying…"
"And they already turned Miss Sasha into one of them!"
"But the lilim said that part wasn't her fault…"
"You think we can just trust her about that!?"
"But Miss Sasha's been working with monsters for a while… and then there's what Elt and Miss Primera saw…"
"And… can we trust the ones in charge of Lescatie?"
That last question had an obvious answer. Until now, Elt had been hoping Mary could help fix the leadership of Lescatie. That was their only chance of possibly repelling Druella. Now that one of Mary's colleagues turned out to be a secret enforcer of the status quo, and could even meet secretly with Mary's father to take up a mission… it seemed utterly hopeless.
"People are saying that even the king got pushed down stairs because he was getting in their way," Primera said.
"Wait, that's something else we can ask about," Mimil said. She yanked the bag off Kirsch's head and asked, "What is the current status of Lescatie's king?"
Kirsch glared at Mimil but still answered, "According to the last information I heard, he was barely clinging to life. I don't know if it was an accident or an assassination, and I have not heard if the Sun Priest knows anything about it."
Mimil put the bag back on, stifling a protest from Kirsch.
"So, this…. basically changes nothing," Mimil said. "The king's in no condition to rein in those who want to keep Lescatie as it is. And, even on a good day, there's nothing we could do to make a difference. On a day like this…"
It went without saying that Sasha couldn't do anything like appealing to the Senate to focus on the monster threat. Even if she could take on a human disguise—which she had yet to master—she'd constantly be on edge, wondering if somewhat might see through to her true nature. Primera, as a half-elf, had never had any real authority in Lescatie. And Mimil… Elt had always thought she was well-respected, but that would probably change if she tried pushing against the majority.
Maybe they'd start treating her appropriately for her age, Elt thought grimly. Which would actually be a good thing, if it didn't mean they'd ignore her.
"So is there anything we can do?" Primera asked.
No one could respond. Even though they were pinned between enemies, with monsters outside the walls and fellow humans within, they were powerless to resist either.
In a way, that's always been true… people in the slums never had any chance of improving their lives… Elt glanced at the restrained Kirsch. Unless they were chosen as a useful pawn, but can you really call that living? And from what I've heard, the people living out in the country also have a rough time. But none of us can just leave the country, not without risking attack by monsters...
By… monsters…
In recent days, Elt had discovered even more of Lescatie's ugly side than he'd ever imagined. He'd experienced it very personally, as shown by the pain in his body that lingered even after being healed.
As for the monsters… they were hardly flawless, in Elt's experience. Primera had been attacked by monsters in her childhood and also a few days ago. Mimil had lost to a monster and had her memories altered. Sasha had been turned into a monster by force. The same was true of Kirsch, even if she was an enemy.
But then, both Primera and Mimil admit they'd attacked monsters first. That wasn't true when Primera was still a kid, but… We don't treat humans as inherently evil because human criminals exist, do we? There's no reason to treat the monsters who attacked Primera back then as representing all monsters.
These were thoughts that Elt would never have had before. Yet after seeing the society of Court Alf, then seeing Sasha remain herself despite her monsterisation… he simply couldn't hold his old beliefs any longer.
After a great deal of hesitation, Elt decided to speak.
"Do we… have to treat the monsters outside as our enemies?"
This was met with a few shouts of "Of course!", but most appeared to consider Elt's words seriously.
"...Perhaps not," Sasha said. "I've been colluding with them for about five months now, so I'm more familiar with them than anyone else present. Negotiating with them would be… no, is possible. And while some might call this a betrayal of Lescatie… Lescatie, specifically those who hold power in it, has already betrayed us."
Not a single person disputed these words. Many looked at Kirsch, who would undoubtedly try to kill them all if freed from her restraints.
"I actually had to fight Druella, and lost without her even getting serious," Primera said. "Add in that shrimp's—"
"Hey!" Mimil protested.
"—loss to a baphomet, and I can tell you now that there's no way to beat the monsters in a fight," Primera continued. "So… if we can't beat them, we may as well join them."
"Who the hell's a shrimp—ahem," Mimil said. "As crazy as this sounds, I can see your point. Even if it's ironic that the person who sent us down this path got turned into a monster herself."
"Huh? What the hell does 'ironic' mean?" Old Henley said.
"How do you not know what… oh," Mimil said, looking awkward. "Well… it means…"
"It's how you describe something that didn't go as expected," Sasha explained. "More importantly, we must consider that most of Lescatie will not go along with this. Even if they can't win against the monsters in a fight, there would still be many problems if monsters tried to take over."
That was certainly true. Elt reviewed the opinions of the people he knew.
His fellow soldiers were mainly doing their jobs for the money. If shown proof that monsters weren't like in the Order's teachings, and given reassurances that they'd be treated well, they might be convinced to stand down.
His captain, Mersé… She'd been doing a lot to help Elt and Primera, breaking several laws in the process. However, she'd also been fighting against monsters for years. Her position was on the borderline.
I'll try talking to her the next time I get a chance, Elt decided.
Then there were the ordinary civilians of Lescatie, such as the shopkeepers Elt bought goods from. Their levels of faith varied from individual to individual, but a significant proportion was quite devout—as expected from an Order nation as renowned as Lescatie. Convincing them might be quite difficult, not least due to their sheer numbers.
Lastly, there were Mary and other heroes. Not only did they pose the greatest threat to the monsters' plans, they were also more devout than the average citizen. Even Mary, who trusted Elt to an unexpected level and had heard of his recent experiences with monsters, was still resolved to fight.
What can we do about them? I might be able to convince Mary, but what about all the others?
Come to think of it, what does Druella have planned for them? She says she wants to change Lescatie, but what are the details of that?
It wouldn't be an easy puzzle to solve. Perhaps that was why Druella's army hadn't done much yet, despite easily being capable of conquering all of Lescatie.
Still, today they'd made the momentous decision to accept Druella's offer. Many would call them fools and heretics, but this was their only possible route to a better future. A future where the poor of Lescatie didn't have to worry about their next meal, didn't have to feel dread whenever the rain arrived.
-ooo-
Wilmarina slumped in her chair and buried her face in her hands.
"How… How could this have happened?"
"They had it all set up from the start…" Luciana, who was seated nearby, murmured. "They… They wanted there to be only one way it could end…"
"And now, Alameria is going to be executed…" Wilmarina said. "On the absurd charge of being a monster!"
The trial, as Luciana mentioned, had been an utter farce. The only normal aspects of it had been the presence of a judge and jury, and Wilmarina's group being allowed to testify on Alameria's behalf.
But the witnesses…
"That's right, Your Honour," a witness had said confidently. "She pushed me against a wall, said that I would make a tasty meal! If others hadn't happened to pass by, I… I don't know what would have happened…"
Another witness had been more hesitant. "Y-Yes, that's right," he'd said. "Hero Alameria… t-told me to disrobe before her and… w-well, it felt like she was acting like a monster…"
It had all been nonsense. Alameria might be overly friendly at times, but she certainly wouldn't do what these witnesses had described, and she only ever had romantic intentions for her partner. Yet Wilmarina and her companions hadn't been allowed to cross-examine the witnesses, hadn't been allowed to reveal that they were either being bribed or threatened into telling lies.
As the defence, Wilmarina's group had testified on Alameria's behalf. Alameria herself hadn't been able to say anything due to the gag on her mouth, supposedly a countermeasure to stop her enthralling anyone.
"The very argument of the prosecution is absurd," Olivie had said passionately. "Alameria was raised in a church-run shelter, she has been a hero for years, she has killed monsters. She cannot possibly be a monster, nor any agent of monsters!"
"Those are all true," the judge had conceded. "However… we must consider the possibility that she did all that to avoid being suspected. After all, monsters are devoid of morality… they might be willing to slaughter even their own kind for the sake of better harming humans."
"Alameria isn't like that!" Paula had said, struggling against the restraints of her own companions. "Aren't you supposed to be fair!? You're basically helping the other side!"
An astute observation… but at the time, it had just been used to discredit Alameria's defence by suggesting they were too emotionally compromised.
In the end, Alameria had been carted off back to prison to be executed at a later date. Furthermore, thanks to her "disorderly behaviour" during the trial, Paula had been placed on house arrest. The rest of the Order of the Holy Ice Flower were still free to move, but they were all demoralised by the trial's outcome.
And our political foes used precedent against us, the same precedent we set earlier, Wilmarina thought. We had numerous people convicted with barely any time to analyse the evidence, because the approaching monsters mean that there's no time to spare. But thanks to that, we weren't able to question the "evidence" put forward at Alameria's trial, nor is there any chance of appeal…
At this rate, Wilmarina wouldn't be surprised if other members of her knight order were arrested on flimsy grounds. Or perhaps their enemies wouldn't even bother with arrests… Kirsch's disappearance was now becoming increasingly suspicious. Perhaps she'd been murdered and her body dumped in an unmarked grave.
N-No, I can't think that way… I'm sure she can protect herself.
In any case, Wilmarina could not give up. The fall of Lescatie to monsters wouldn't just mean the loss of those she cherished. It would also strike terror in the hearts of humanity, making them—particularly the smaller nations—easy pickings for further monster invasions.
"There is still something we can do," Wilmarina said, trying to inject confidence into her voice. "Lescatie is a country based around the defence of humanity against monsters. If we can distinguish ourselves in battle, our influence will surely rise and—"
"Lady Wilmarina," Luciana said, looking directly at her superior's eyes. "You… need to take a break."
Wilmarina blinked. "What…? At a time like this…?"
"You need it now more than ever, Lady Wilmarina," Luciana insisted. "You've been spending every waking hour on work, if you keep this up, you'll definitely collapse. You have to take a step back and rest."
"But… But I…" Wilmarina said weakly. "It's under my leadership that his happened… It's my fault that Alameria—"
"None of this is your fault!" Luciana shouted. "We didn't go into this because you ordered us, Lady Wilmarina! We went into this because we agree with you! The only ones to blame are those idiots who want to hold onto power!"
Wilmarina hung her head. "Even so… it doesn't change the fact that Alameria is going to be executed…"
"Let us worry about that," Luciana insisted. "You need to do something you actually enjoy, Lady Wilmarina. It might be going for a run, or watching birds, or… anything that takes your mind away from all this."
Wilmarina hesitated. She had been raised to give her utmost as a hero, to work and train and fight until she became a hero who might slay the Demon Lord.
After facing setback after setback… she couldn't help but be weak.
"...Thank you," Wilmarina said. "I'll do just that, Luciana… It shouldn't take too long, I'll be back in a few hours at most."
"Take all the time you need."
Wilmarina stood up, bowed towards her deputy and then left the room.
Elt… I need to confirm that Elt really is alright…
After donning a hooded cloak to hide her identity, Wilmarina left her manor via a back door and began to run. Fortunately, the rain ensured that few people would be out and about to see her.
-ooo-
A short time later, Luciana left the manor and also ran through the city. She had a different destination to her superior, however.
Luciana arrived at a dark alley on the border between the middle-class zone and the slums. On arriving there, a voice called out to her.
"Did you succeed?"
"I did," Luciana replied. "She won't know anything about the plan."
"It will only be seen as a flimsy excuse by others…" muttered a blonde woman dressed in purple. "Still, she doesn't need to sully herself along with us, not after doing so much already. And a break would do wonders for her mental health."
"I could help you, at least, Lady Olivie," Luciana offered.
"No. As much as I appreciate this, Luciana, you need to keep your position so you can support your family," Olivie replied. "Don't worry. I will see to it that Alameria lives."
