199. Holy Empire
199. Holy Empire
"I, I didn't think getting into the country would be this easy."
"That's what the IDs we got are for."
Stella, who had been diligently polishing her platinum-glinting ID—squeak, squeak—swallowed hard.
Then, as if it were a treasure, she hugged it preciously to her chest and spoke with a fluttering expression.
"So, what do we do now? Information gathering? A tavern's the best for information gathering, right? We can get into a tavern with just this ID, right?!"
"What is this crazy bitch on about? A tavern? Are you insane? Stop with the nonsense and unpack. We're resting today."
"Huh? Why? Aren't we short on time? We should move fast!"
"There was no trouble when we came in. We've got plenty of time."
Of the five scenarios I'd had in mind, the best possible outcome had come to pass.
The knight handling entry into the Holy Kingdom wasn't from the Blood Heaven Knight Order, wasn't a commander, there hadn't been a single suspicious glance all the way to our lodgings, and even the owner of the lodgings hadn't recognized us.
It wasn't that they were hiding such signs.
There simply weren't any. To a perfect degree.
If there was one thing that nagged at me, it was the existence of the Anti-Magic Barrier... but just as the kids had said, there was no Anti-Magic Barrier spread over the Holy Kingdom right now.
Even I, who had no connection to Holy Power, had clearly felt the presence of the Anti-Magic Barrier back then.
But now it was gone.
Why in the world? Because it's an era of peace? To do business with Monsters?
How were they planning to deal with the insane Demons and Monsters crossing over from the border region after removing the Anti-Magic Barrier?
Had the Blood Heaven Knight Order grown strong enough to handle all that danger?
I didn't know.
But there was no need to rack my brain over it right now.
There would be plenty of chances to find out.
And maybe, I could even ask someone.
So for now.
"Let's get some good rest."
"Hee-hee!"
[I saw there's something called a spa tub in the bathroom. How about we all use it together?]
"Spa tub? What's that?"
Stella, who had been pouting at me, lit up at the words "spa tub."
[I read the description here, and it says the bubbling jet spray function massages your body to relieve fatigue, and you can even adjust the temperature, so you can rest exactly to your personal taste!]
"Wow... but can we all get in together? Is the tub that big?"
"Hee!"
[It's this big!]
Stella laughed softly as she watched Pina stretch her short arms out wide—straining—and bounce in place.
"Hmm... so it's big. So, where can I read the description?"
"Hee!"
"Ah, thanks. Hm. Hmm... enchantments on the tub... huh? How many spells are in this...? Wait, spa tubs of different sizes are installed in every unit?"
Stella, who had been reading the spa tub description Pina showed her with her mouth hanging open, tilted her head.
"Is the Holy Kingdom... rich?"
"Of course they're rich. Not just the money the temples hold—even the money they earn compared to the effort they put in is overwhelmingly greater than the imperial family's."
"...Why? How is that possible? The Holy Kingdom doesn't... churn out weapons or run all sorts of businesses like the Empire."
"The Empire does the earning, and the Holy Kingdom does the spending. No, it's not even spending in the first place. Offerings, consecrations, thanksgiving donations, building funds, this and that and everything else—people bring in staggering amounts. And that's not all. When they need labor, they call it volunteer service and use believers for free, and even the knight orders move on faith. So from the Holy Kingdom's perspective, there's nowhere to spend money, so they invest it in welfare like this."
Through that, the quality of life rises, and naturally even faith grows stronger.
One could ask, then isn't that faith born of capital rather than true faith? But either way, faith is faith.
They hold the belief that if you become a follower of the Yurphia faith and hold devout faith, you will come to harbor Holy Power.
And if that Holy Power grows mighty, you can occupy a fairly high position within the Holy Kingdom, so faith inevitably takes root whether you like it or not.
There are believers who argue, "I've become a fanatic in anyone's eyes, yet my Holy Power is still feeble." But to the Holy Kingdom, that's not even worth a hangover cure.
If they say, "Your faith is lacking, believer," the person just goes, "Ah! I see!" and accepts it.
"That definitely makes sense... You really are unexpectedly smart, Eliarnes."
"Unexpectedly?"
"Since you always lead with your fists the moment anything happens, there are plenty of times I wonder if you're a person or a goril—oww!"
I pinched Stella's lips with all my strength.
Then I wiped the spit from Stella's lips onto Pina's clothes—rub, rub—and shook my hand out.
"Anyway, you two use it first. I'm going out for a bit."
"Hee?"
[May I ask where you're going?]
Pina asked in place of Stella, who was clutching her lips and squirming.
"There's something I need to buy."
At that, Stella, who had been squirming on the floor, pinched my toe—squeeze—and grumbled.
"You're going shopping? Can you even go out in the first place? Weren't we supposed to avoid being spotted?"
"It's not exactly shopping. I'm just going out to pick a gift. And going out is fine. As long as I wrap my cloak around me properly, it's okay."
Wriggle, wriggle—I moved my toes to push Stella's fingers away and got up from my spot.
"...A gift?"
Stella's head tilted—curiously. Pina, who had been watching Stella's reaction, tilted her head too—curiously.
It was only for a moment before a peculiar smile rose on Stella's face.
"Aha. It's a birthday present for Eurasia, isn't it?"
"...Well, that's part of it. While I'm at it."
"Heh. I see. Got it. Then let's go together."
"Is there any need to go together? Just rest inside."
"I need to buy Eurasia a present too. Pina's going to buy one as well. Right, Pina?"
"Hee!"
Stella and Pina, who had been excitedly insisting on getting into the spa tub just moments ago, immediately began gathering their cloaks and wrapping themselves up.
"...Fine. Since we're going anyway, it's better to go together."
They'd probably have a better eye for picking gifts than me, anyway.
I smiled wryly, bundled myself tightly in my cloak, and started walking.
"Since we're out, let's eat outside too. What's good in the Holy Kingdom?"
"Hee!"
[They say flower-crown noodles and cloud-egg fried rice are famous in the Holy Kingdom! Especially the cloud-egg fried rice—they say the texture of the egg is incredible!!]
"Ah! I saw that too! The egg really looked like a cloud, right? That's the one!"
"Hee!"
"Then let's eat that."
"Not at a branch location—it has to be the main store!"
[We must eat at the main store!]
Watching the two of them beaming with sparkling eyes and bright smiles, I found myself smiling along.
"...Fine. Do whatever you two want."
*****
"Judging by the atmosphere, it seems you've reached a conclusion."
Click— click—
Deep in the quiet mountains.
The sound of shoe heels that shouldn't have been audible on the damp, moisture-laden dirt floor rang out.
Click—
"It really was down to the wire. You have no idea how much I sweated trying to buy time."
The woman, laughing—heh heh—wore an alluring smile as she came to a stop right in front of the blonde girl.
"I couldn't even keep my promise with Miss Eliarnes, and I was only watching Miss Eurasia's back, you know?"
Adelia Baros.
She revealed herself before Eurasia.
"So, may I hear Miss Eurasia's decision today?"
This wasn't out of the blue.
At the scene of the accident that had erupted during the final exam held in the Anketin Mountains, Adelia had already spoken with Eurasia and made a promise to meet again.
-You seem to be in a difficult spot.
-Those horns and the Demonic Energy inside your body. It'd be troublesome if you were found out, wouldn't it?
-My eyes are quite special, you see. Heh heh.
Adelia had seen through Eurasia's situation.
Red eyes that gleamed with an uncanny sheen.
Meeting those eyes, Eurasia recalled Shadowless, the commander of Nameless who wore a white mask—the one who had handed her the sword of Eustetia in the past.
She didn't know why.
There was no basis for it.
It was simply a thought that came to her because Shadowless in the past had also recognized at a glance that she was Half-Human Half-Demon.
-Aren't you curious why the seal suddenly broke?
-There's a barrier around this area that amplifies dormant Demonic Energy. It's a barrier that priests dispatched from the Holy Kingdom set up over the course of a week. I tampered with it a little. The backlash made the Remnant of Gluttony rampage, but still, what I wanted was achieved.
-Hmm... that's not what you should be asking right now, is it? Why did the Holy Kingdom's priests set up this barrier? Shouldn't you be questioning that part?
-That's right. It was aimed at Miss Eurasia.
-Why, you ask? Heh, Miss Eurasia should be able to think of the reason well enough.
-You're smart, as expected of the top student of your year. That's right. Right now, there are people around Miss Eliarnes who can't be touched easily. But Miss Eurasia has no one to protect her. So they tried to frame Miss Eurasia as an advance agent of the Demons and drag down Miss Eliarnes, drag down Eustetia.
-And as if that weren't enough, Executors are converging on this location right now. Even if Miss Eurasia runs, you'll inevitably be caught.
-So I'll help you. With my magic, I can even deceive the senses of spirits.
-It's only natural for a professor to protect her student, isn't it?
-In exchange, Miss Eurasia will have to make a choice before long. You probably know this best yourself.
-To leave, or to stay. If you leave, everyone around you, including Miss Eliarnes, will be safe. But if you stay, things will certainly become dangerous.
-Still, I am a professor, so as a professor, I'll give Miss Eurasia some advice.
-Of course, just because I give advice doesn't mean you must follow my words unconditionally. Naturally, I'd be pleased if you did, but in any case, the final decision is Miss Eurasia's to make.
-Now, so. My advice is—
She had received help from Adelia.
She had had no choice but to receive help.
Just as Adelia had said.
If she had been exposed as Half-Human Half-Demon in that place, if she had been framed as an advance agent of the Demons, there was a high chance that everyone around her would have been branded as heretics.
How in the world did she know?
Since when had she known?
What was the reason for offering such help and advice?
And why in the world were they targeting the young lady and Eustetia?
Without resolving a single one of those questions, Eurasia had welcomed the vacation and returned to her family home.
And now.
She had met Adelia again.
"Seeing that you're dressed lightly, it seems you've accepted my advi—"
"No."
Cutting off Adelia's words, Eurasia shook her head heavily.
"I'm grateful for your advice, Professor, but I won't accept it."
At those words, Adelia's eyes went round.
"...This is quite unexpected. May I hear the reason?"
"Because the young lady... believed in me."
"Oh my...?"
Adelia blinked quietly a couple of times, then licked her lips and smiled.
"What a complicated emotion."
"It's not a simple emotion... I think."
"You won't regret it?"
Adelia had always maintained a glib attitude, but now, unlike before, she lowered her voice.
"I don't know what will happen even right now, but thinking about the future, this seems like it could be the worst possible choice."
Listening to that voice, Eurasia sank into thought.
Eliarnes—her master, the person who gave her blind trust.
She recalled the night she had spent with her.
The slanted moon and the flower garden where the scent of rosemary had drifted.
The times they had laughed and chattered in front of it, shoveling down ice cream. The things she had said then.
-Just look at me. Raise your sword only for me, swing your sword only for me, and kill my enemies only for me.
-Then I'll look at you too.
-Don't worry about useless things. No matter what others spout, to me you're just Eurasia.
The smile that had been so gentle was vivid before her eyes.
That warmth, that scent, that voice—all still clear.
And so Eurasia could smile brightly.
"Thank you for your concern. But my choice won't change. I am... a knight who protects the young lady, after all."
Therefore.
"I, as expected—"