Olivia Belch dipped her lips into the tea in one of the private rooms in the cathedral.

　As the tea went down her throat, a warm feeling spread through her guts, and she felt like she could finally catch her breath. Her skin, which had been tense, regained its softness.

　Yes, the past few days had been a series of tensions. There had never been a day when she could relax.

　The act at the Political Academy, the chance encounter with Protector Jace Brackenbury. He made many other moves, some successful, some unsuccessful.

　However, there is no doubt that all of them tightened Olivia's spirit. There were nights when she could barely sleep. And somehow, she got through it.

　She's a strong woman. She has a core in her body that makes her worthy of being called a noblewoman.

　But that doesn't mean she doesn't feel fear or tension. I'm sure those sensibilities are the same for the strong and the ordinary.

　The many things he has accomplished are all for the purpose of consolidating his position in the cathedral, and at the same time, to link the hands of the Garlist Kingdom and the Great Holy Church. All of this was for the benefit of House Belch.

　The connection between the Cathedral and the Belch family is much stronger than other noble families.

　The Cathedral wanted to strengthen its influence on the Garlist Kingdom through the Belch family, and the Belch family wanted to expand its commercial interests in the territory directly under the Cathedral.

　The stronger the influence of the Cathedral, the more prosperous the Belch family would become.

　That is why Olivia took advantage of this disaster. She wanted to use this disaster to increase the influence of the Cathedral on the Garlist Kingdom.

　If you say it was a betrayal of the motherland, then so be it. Self-interest, yes. I'm not trying to deny it. A nobleman is a pariah whose ambition for self-expansion is always burning.

　And perhaps this will satisfy her. As soon as Olivia put the cup in the saucer, she opened the door to reveal herself.

　She had brought two guards with her, but that should have been seen as a matter of course in the cathedral rather than a lack of trust in Olivia.

　Olivia gave a friendly smile and opened her mouth.

It's been a long time. I suppose things have worked out as they should.

　She peeked out of the door, and the saintly Alueno gave her a broken smile. The way she smiles is the same as in the past.

"Yes, Olivia. His Majesty the King of the Amerites has graciously entrusted the Great Sacred Church with the task of dealing with the Great Demon Zebraeliris.

　Alueno sat down facing her with a smile on his face, and smiled at Olivia.

　It's really just an innocent smile. She seems to be saying that it is nothing that she has pressured a country with the title of saint.

　Of course, Alueno is still a candidate for sainthood, but even so, when she was selected by God, she was almost a saint. The words are far more serious than those of an ordinary senior nobleman.

　This will make it difficult for the Garlist Kingdom to take aggressive action against the Great Demon Zebre Lilith. Of course, they will take measures to defend themselves, but the Protector Brackenbury will not be able to come out in front.

　Of course, the great demon Zebraeliris would continue to roar with its huge body.

　Olivia said, tensing her shoulders.

What will you do with the cathedral now - or rather, you?

　She asks as if asking a question.

　To be honest, Olivia believed that the sovereignty of the cathedral was already in the hands of the saint in front of her.

　It's not that the Pope is a geezer, but he is a true devotee of the High Holy Church. He is a true devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

　It must be a great honor for the Pope just to be in front of a saint. Olivia once saw him with the same expression on his face as when he was in front of a myth.

　Therefore, if Alueno wanted something, the Pope would take action to make it happen. If so, there is no one in the cathedral who can oppose Alueno anymore.

　In response to the question, Alueno sipped his tea and said.

"Yes. The Great Demon is the one who leads the demons. As a higher species of Hexenbiest, they will also bring damage to the Garleist Kingdom and other countries. I'll finish my pilgrimage to the West while I'm at it.

　That's why the influence of the Great Saints will be strengthened. The cathedral's position will be more secure than ever. She said it would lead to the ideal world of the Faith.

　There was a madness of faith in her eyes, as if she really believed it.

　One of her guards, the Cathedral Knight Garrus-Gargantia, listened to her words with a slightly stiffened expression. In no small part, he must have been thinking about the saint's words.

"You're a demon. It's a myth, really. It's a fairy tale, if you want to call it that, but ...... are there any other countries?

　Olivia's long eyelashes fluttered at the words.

　It's not surprising that the Great Satan, and thus the demons, have taken a toll on the Garleist Kingdom, but what does it mean that the surrounding countries have also suffered?

　Are demons something that comes up from the bottom of the earth?

Because that's what a demon is. The right person is chosen and made, Olivia. It doesn't matter how close or far you are from the demon.

　Alueno says this as if it were obvious. It seems to be something that is written down in a divine book or something like that.

　Olivia gave a small nod and looked into Alueno's large eyes. Those golden eyes stared at her without a trace of evil in them. There was even a hint of familiarity in them. It was as if he had forgotten what he had just said.

　Olivia and Alueno had spent their days together as nuns in the cathedral. There had been some quarrels and disturbances there, but...



　After a while, Alueno began to call her Olivia affectionately, and Olivia did the same.

　But that's why Olivia had her own thoughts. As she wet her lips, a suspicion came to the edge of her thoughts.

　--But who was it, anyway? This woman in the form of Alueno.

　She never speaks. Olivia does not have that kind of thoughtlessness. She smiles softly and laughs.

　But it still makes me wonder. The Alueno that Olivia knew was a healthy girl who always wanted the best for herself, and yet she had a strong core.

　It's not that she has disappeared. But from time to time, Alueno becomes the way she is now.

　Sometimes Olivia would see her letting out words as if she were acting, as if she were looking very far away.

　It was as if there were two souls living together in the body of Alueno.

　Is this what it means to be a saint? A saint is said to hold God in her body. If the one who becomes a god is called a saint, then this may be the right form.

　Although there is some skepticism and concern about that. Still, Olivia did not want to stop her relationship with Alueno.

　The fact that Olivia was now able to build a friendly relationship with the cathedral was undoubtedly due to her relationship, and Olivia herself liked Alueno. I like her eyes, her voice, and her true nature more than anything.

　That's why I'm a little uneasy about the current situation. I'm sure it won't get any stranger with the guards.

　So, Olivia looked up. Alueno's bodyguards were always the same people. Garrus Gargantua, a knight of the temple, and a man who looked like his second-in-command.

　But today, Garrus is accompanied by an unfamiliar person. Aside from not saying a word, he had a very cold expression and eyes. It was as if he had no heat at all. If I say he looked resolute, he certainly did.

　Something a little uncomfortable tickled Olivia's throat. But she didn't say a word.

　--The guard was the same as Alueno. He had golden eyes and a head of hair.