Protector Jace Brackenbury took a small breath and let the cool air into his lungs. Then, without changing his expression, he looked at the woman in front of him.

　Naturally, Olivia Belch's loosely curled hair caught his eye. She was staring at me with a calm, elegant smile on her face. Brackenbury couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at the sight of her.

　She was still young, but her face showed no sign of it. She was not what one would call mature. If anything, I would describe her as sophisticated.

　She had an air of being strangely accustomed to the situation. I wonder if it is because she has been through so much, or if she has always been that way. At least I didn't get this impression when I met her father, that's for sure.

　Olivia's lips open in a gentle line.

"I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. Protector Brackenbury. There's something I really need to talk to you about.

　Brackenbury responds to Olivia's reverent words with a slight tug of his chin.

　There is no trace of emotion on his white face. The frustration and annoyance in his chest was not evident.

　But only his fingertips bounced slightly. Brackenbury felt as if his mind had become sensitive.

I don't care. But there's no time. I'm sorry to be rude, but I need to ask you a question. I'm sure it's important enough for you to come yourself.

　Although the color of his voice and his demeanor did not show it, Brackenbury's mind was filled with a clear sense of alarm. Yes, this is a warning.

　The sharpness of his gaze occasionally pierced Olivia's cheek.

　--Oddly, the pauses were bad.

　Brackenbury is not usually a believer in fatalism. Rather, he abhors the words of fortune tellers who tell him that every time something happens, it is an omen of bad luck or good fortune.

　Many soldiers like to believe in the luck and misfortune of fate, but Brackenbury has avoided such things whenever possible.

　Because a commander does not move his men in a dream. It is a matter of certainty and reality.

　A soldier has a family, parents, children. There are people to love. Only when the commander accepts that does he have the right to give orders to them. Brackenbury believes that anyone who is influenced by fortune and misfortune cannot be a commander.

　But today, Brackenbury was inclined to believe in such signs. The woman in front of him was bringing something bad with her. He had a hunch.

　He felt a loose tickle in the pit of his stomach.

　It was the same as before at the Council of Political Machines. Olivia's words had turned the tide in favor of Brackenbury's idea.

　Even though it was the king who made the final declaration, it was undoubtedly she who broke the ice. And so it is now. She came to me just before I was about to go to the king.

　Even if you are a Protector, if you are visited by a senior nobleman, even if it's not desirable, you can't afford not to take the time. I am in a different position than a priest.

　Right now I'm more concerned with time than anything else. It's really not a good time.

　Even with Brackenbury's gaze on her, Olivia still struts her stuff and rolls out her words.

It's about the Zebraelis, sir. I've been told that the Protectorate's first priority is to deal with his hexenbiest.

　Brackenbury said without letting his emotions show. His eyelids fluttered slightly.

It's only natural. A nobleman who does not move against his country's enemies is not a nobleman, and a man who does not stand in front of his enemies is not a soldier.

　What did this woman come to ask? These words unintentionally caressed Brackenbury's heart.

　If you think she's asking about her heraldry or the fact that she sent emissaries to various countries, she's not. If she's talking about politics, she's not. I don't understand. I don't know.

　She's a highborn noblewoman, no doubt about it. If she's going to make a move, there can't be too many reasons. Maybe it's for the good of the Belch family. Or... when someone higher than her is involved.

　Brackenbury's caution was evident in his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, Olivia smiles and says.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave this matter alone. Zebraeliris has been identified as an undeniable demon. Then it must be an enemy of the Great Sacred Church. Its jurisdiction is the cathedral.

　This is what His Holiness the Pope and the saints want, Olivia said. Brackenbury could see the round eyes piercing straight through him.

　A moment, a pause. There was a breathtaking void in the office.

　It was at this moment that Brackenbury realized. Not that he was sure. Not that he had anything to back it up.

　But he was sure he had picked up the thought with his fingertips.

　--This woman is the enemy. She wears the skin of a woman and the heart of a cunning scorpion.



　As Olivia said, the Great Satan is an entity that the Great Satanic Church has appointed and will destroy. This agreement has been in place since the time when Altius, the God of Salvation, destroyed the Great Demon.

　There is no law that binds nations to follow the covenant, but nations affected by the Daishonin have sworn to follow its doctrine. Therefore, it will have a certain binding power.

　But that doesn't mean that we should back down now, in the face of such a disaster. How can we entrust the future of our country to a cathedral that is so reluctant to act?

　I already know what the Cathedral wants. They probably want to use this opportunity to increase their influence over the Garlist Kingdom. Olivia also benefits from the influence of the High Priestess. It's understandable that she would want to be a part of that.

　But that's no longer the behavior of a Garristian nobleman. It's the behavior of a traitor.

　The first thing you need to do is to look at your eyes. The first thing you should do is to make sure that you're in the right place at the right time.

It is only nominal. Neither the Lord nor the Cathedral is in authority to give me orders - be it His Holiness the Pope or the Holy Father. Only His Majesty the King can give me orders.

　Besides," Brackenbury continued, his lips parted wide.

I said that I would listen to the words of the Garristian noblewoman Olivia Belch, but I don't remember listening to the words of the cathedral envoy. I don't have that much time on my hands.

　With that, Brackenbury stood up, hardly making a sound. His demeanor told me that this was the end of the conversation.

　His gaze became icy and cold, and the atmosphere he gave off was hostile to no end. It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your money.

　Olivia said, lowering her eyebrows slightly.

I'm sure His Majesty the King will approve. I'm sure he'll agree.

　Hearing such a voice behind his back, Brackenbury opened his eyes for a moment. That's impossible. There is no way a king would make such a decision.

　What we're facing now is an undeniable national crisis, and the state has a duty to protect its people. The nobles have a responsibility to do their part.

　Brackenbury knows that King Amelites was once a wise man, and wiser than most. Even in his old age, Brackenbury is convinced that his king is not a fool.

　But there was something in his chest, something that stirred in the depths of his guts. Something inexplicably creepy. He had a strange feeling that he had just lost an irretrievable amount of time to that woman.

　I hurried my legs.