A chapel is a facility that comes with the residence of a nobleman.
　It was not reasonable to leave the castle to go to the temple every time to offer daily prayers, and it was better to hold various religious ceremonies in a private space without fear of anyone. Above all, having a proper chapel was a status symbol and a proof of being a devout apostle of God.

　Even though Ciel-Teirah is a small country, the lords enclosed in various places have the power to build a magnificent chapel in their own castle. The castle of the Marquess of Edfelt was no exception, and the chapel existed as a place of prayer for the lord's family and the people who worked at the castle.

　The serene and holy place of prayer was now crowded with people whispering anxiously to each other.
　Most of the people were dressed neatly. "They were the families of the knights living in the castle, who had evacuated in response to the movement of the Rose Princess of Hell. There were also some castle servants in the mix. There are no ordinary citizens here, as expected.

"O God, do not abandon your servants. God, do not forsake your servants. ......

　An old woman with her hands clasped tightly together was praying at the altar.

　It is relatively safe inside the castle and even safer in the holy chapel since you are dealing with the undead. ...... Everyone was thinking this, and people were gathering in the chapel even though they had not been specifically instructed to do so.
　Some were praying, some were dismayed with anxiety, some were engaged in noble deeds.

"Do you know, ma'am?　There's a beauty treatment that's becoming popular now, where you apply powdered pearls to your skin. I forced my husband to order it, and he's doing very well. ......
"Oh my god, I'm getting Fresverg's claws all the time. I'm getting more and more Fresverg's claws. I've been taking some kind of ...... concoction that my concoctor has made into a potion that I take every night.
You should be more careful with what you wear than with your skin. You should be more concerned about what you wear than your skin.　This is my latest mode of Federation .......
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with that.　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. Our behavior is also important to win the battle. Look at my necklace at .......

　The ladies sat on the couches of poverty, vainly playing with each other's scabbards.
　Catherine stood in the corner of the chapel, somehow not wanting to be near such an atmosphere.

　If I had to give a name to Catherine's bewildered feelings, I'd say it was "separation.
　In this place, Catherine could not pray or be anxious. She felt that she was different from anyone else here ...... and all she could do was mope around by the wall, out of sight.

　Of course, she was worried about her father, her brothers, her sister, and even herself. But I'm sure that Catherine's feelings are somehow slightly off. She's not like other people.
　Because we see things differently. Because we see the world differently.
　Catherine's feelings were darkened by the thought that she was being thrown into a tragedy where no one could be saved.

　--I can't ...... do anything ...... now, can I ...... do anything?

　As if led astray, she took a step off the hall toward a corridor lined with what appeared to be storage rooms.

　--What ......?

　I felt a horrible sensation.
　It felt like a cold, wavy lump of sand had ripped through Catherine's back and plunged into her body.
　Catherine's body shuddered as if she had been hit by lightning.

　A sweet premonition of death shook her brain.
　A darkness flickered behind her eyes, and she thought she saw a black smile.
　And then, like a murky ...... storm of emotions rushing from the depths of her mind.

　--Oh, oh, oh,......!　Grim, sad, painful!　My heart is burning ......!

　And then, as it entered Catherine, it was ejected.

I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what to do.　Huh. ......

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Panting, Catherine turned around and ...... felt her hair stand on end. Whether it was fear or emotion, Katherine no longer knew.
　The silver moon shone in the darkness. The spirit of a girl with silver hair and eyes. Like Katherine, she too had a startled look on her face.
　Light flashed on the surface of the spirit's body. The holy air that filled the chapel was damaging the evil spirit.

"You ......!
"......!!!

　The moment Catherine called her name, Rene's face became what can only be described as 'very angry and about to cry'.
　Then she turned herself around and disappeared, flying faster than the wind.

"Oh, wait!

　Catherine's outstretched hand just grabbed the sky, but instead something fell and made a rumbling sound.
　It looked like a sheet of metal that sent up a cloud of white smoke. It was the talisman that Katherine had received from Bertil. She wore it as a sash over her clothes and held it there.
　The supposedly golden talisman was 80% blackened, as if it had been dipped in ink, and it was smoking white like firewood from a cinder block.

What the heck is this ......?

　Putting her hand on her throbbing heart, Catherine tried to breathe.
　It was as if the residue of the passion that had flowed into her was still burning inside her chest.

　* * *

"Geisha!
Ah!



　He stepped in and was hit with a weight-bearing slash.
　Chauncey couldn't dodge it, and barely managed to catch it with his basket hand.
　Udanosuke did not miss it.

"HARA!

　A slash across the body rips open his jacket!

"Kili!

　A vertical cut rips through his jacket!

"SMAAAAAAAAAASH!

　Kesa-slash with all his might!
　Udanosuke crosses Chenshi and runs past her, sheathing his katana with a popping sound.

"ZANZASHI GOMEN!

　And...
　A nearby tiger-shaped holy beast was blown apart in a spray of blood and guts.

"......?
Hi!
Nooo!

　Chen Shi's jumping kick pierced the back of Udanosuke's head. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

I thought I was going to ...... die.

　Chancey looked pale and drawn.
　She tore a long, ribbon-like tasseled cord from her clothing and tied it over the chest of her body suit, which had been ripped open by a harakiri smash.
　The smooth, white skin peeking out from under the robe remains unharmed. Not a single drop of blood was spilled.

"Fascinating!　What kind of fu is that?

　Udanosuke swore incomprehensibly.

　The wounds that Chenshi should have received were all taken care of by a nearby tiger-shaped holy beast.
　It was a Sacrifice, an optional ability given to Holy Beasts. It takes the damage that should have been taken by nearby allies.
　This ability can be used to its fullest if it is accompanied by a single combatant as an assistant. So, for example, what if the "spear" does not die even if it is killed ten times?

"......, but it looks like we'll have to take care of that Holy Beast too.
You think that's gonna work?
I don't think so.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

"What?

　Udanosuke took one hand off his katana. Between the fingers of his left hand was something that looked like a throwing knife.

　--What the hell did he just do?

　Did he just throw that throwing weapon?
　It seems to be some kind of magic item with some kind of magic in it, but even so, it's hard to believe that it can kill a Holy Beast with a single blow.
　The bird-shaped holy beast cried out in alarm, and as if on cue, the surrounding holy beasts distanced themselves from Udanosuke.

I won't let you!

　I'm not going to let you!" Chen Shi kicked the ground and charged forward as if she was sliding. But...

"Aaaaah!

　A scream came from behind, and Chancy braked.

"Behind you!
"Geez! Aah! Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no!

　By the time he heard a series of screams and turned around, it was too late.
　"The low-level adventurers who had followed the spear and were fighting against the undead soldiers. They were being killed like ears of wheat being cut down.
　In a matter of seconds, half of them were dead. The rest retreated as if pushed by an invisible wall and fled to the spear.

　Stepping over the sea of blood and piles of corpses, two undead emerged.
　One was a ghoul, a fighter in red dragonscale armor. The other is an earthy-skinned muscle man whose body has been replaced by a brass-colored machine.

What the hell, I'm getting no response at all.
"These five look pretty interesting. May I take their prey?　Lord Udanosuke.

　Two undead are coming with bloody swords.
　As easy as a stroll through the neighborhood, but be on your guard.

"You're late, Master Coxsone. But we welcome your help.

　--Fushigi ......!　Two more ...... undead equal to this samurai?　I'm not sure what to say.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I didn't think they'd still be hiding this much power.
　It was a pincer attack. The adventurers, who were supposed to have cut into the undead camp, were surrounded before they knew it. In front of and behind the adventurers and the holy beasts were three mighty undead. Surrounding them were a small army of undead.

　Further back was a giant of a corpse.
　On the shoulders of the giant, who had stabilized himself on his knees and hands, a magic circle was deployed in the form of a bell.
　Zupon!　With a unique gliding sound, the rock masses propelled by the magic power projectile shoot out from the cannon. A few of them were destroyed before they landed by the magicians on the city walls, but the rest crashed through the city walls.

"Stick to ......!



　This is what it means to be trapped.
　In addition, I've lost many of the adventurers who came with me. If so many people die at once, I won't be able to revive them.

　--No, this is no time for regrets. The first thing we need to do now is wound the giants. If we can do that, we'll have a chance at winning. ......!

　But the situation is grim.
　The enemy is strong. But the enemy is stronger than ever. And they've prepared a suicide weapon for the holy beast that was supposed to be their trump card.
　On the other hand, the surviving adventurers are too upset to fight properly. Even the holy beasts seem to be upset and are glancing around.

"Holy Beasts are ...... upset?　No. ......

　Zeft denied his emotional thoughts. We already know that the holy beasts (these guys) don't have the emotional capacity to be 'upset'. If that's the case, then there's something that the Holy Beast has to react to: ......

　--What is it?　What's going on?

　The holy beasts were constantly looking towards the city and making low cries as if they were appealing to Zeft for something. They seemed to want to fly over there right now.