"Barnes, please at least sleep peacefully.

　Irina knelt down beside the broken Barnes and prayed to the Goddess of Healing (Larva) with tears streaming down her face.
　With an air of sorrow and reverence.

"Oh, hey, he's ...... himself?
I guess he couldn't stand the guilt over the saint. ......
But the saint is merciful ...... to such sinners.

　The crowd, still buzzing, looked enraptured by Irina's saintly charm (charisma).

　...... She really is a good-looking woman on the outside.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　I can't say I'm proud of that.

　Walking slowly on weak legs, I came to Shea's side.

"To take your own life? Have you repented of your sins after all? ......
No.

　No," Shea murmured, and I shook my head from side to side.

It was Irina's monk magic.
That's...
It's a kind of brainwashing. It's a kind of brainwashing. It enslaves the opponent and makes him kill himself - a forbidden spell that can only be used by high-ranking priests. This means that Irina was able to both shut his mouth and appeal to his own saintly nature all at once.

　With a cool face.
　In front of a huge crowd.

　She killed Barnes with ease.

　Perhaps... but perhaps the man was telling the truth.
　Based on what I've gathered over the last two years, he's probably done a lot of other things to get where he is.
　Scheming, seduction, even assassination...

　The girl I thought I knew was really just an illusion.

"Master Chrom?

　Shea gazes up at me.
　Like she's waiting for my command.

I might as well start here.

　I thought I'd wait and see.
　I was still planning to wait and see. But the commotion earlier had killed many of the holy knights guarding us, and their numbers were dwindling.

　In the event that you've got a lot more than one, you'll be able to get a lot more than one.

　Now... now might be a good time to take advantage.

Come on, Shea.
"Yes, sir. I'll protect you.

　We're moving forward.

　Wind, strong.
　I held my hood up to keep it from falling down, the hem of my cloak flapping in the wind... and we moved on.

　We were facing Irina just 20 meters away.

What the hell are you guys doing?
Don't come any closer to the saint.
As you can see, we've just been attacked by a suspicious man. Anyone who moves suspiciously will be detained.
Move.

　I said quietly.

Approach and you die.
What the ......?

　Keep moving.

　I warned them, but they wouldn't back down.
　They're six meters away.
　Irina's a few meters away.

"Yes, stop!

　One of the guards shouted in frustration.

Master Chrom, I've got this.
Please.

　With my words, the girl knight who was my subordinate jumped out.

　I'm not going to let you down.

I'll show no mercy if you stand against me!

　The sword swung down and cut down Shea.

　No...
　What the guards cut through is her afterimage.

"Gone...
Too late.

　It's as if she moved instantly... with tremendous speed, she gets behind the enemy.
　Dark Skill [Acceleration].

　And then the girl knight flashed her sword.

　Dark skill [Cut].
　The enemy's sword and armor are torn to pieces as if they were paper.

　Furthermore, Shea runs.

　What I saw was a flash of red.
　Her two-sided up flaming red hair fluttered, and her movements created an intense red trail.

　Shea slipped through the ten guarding knights in an instant, and came back to my side.
　At the same time, pieces of severed swords and armor fell to the ground with a clatter.

　Like the first guard knight, the other ten had their swords and armor torn off.

I can't see any movement...
"What the hell is this ......?
"Our swords and armor are ...... stupid ......!
"If you want to save your life, get out of his way.



　As they stood there dumbfounded, Shea calmly told them.

"Next time, it won't be your weapons or armor, but your bodies that will be cut in half.
"Stick with .......

　The knights of the guard retreated as if overwhelmed.

　As expected, unarmed, they were no match for Shea, whose speed and cutting power were beyond human comprehension.
　Well, that would be true even if they were fully armed.

"No, I don't want to die!
We're knights to protect the saint!
"For the sake of her, even if it means dying...

　The guard knights all took a stance at once.
　Are they going to fight with empty hands?

"Master Chrom...

　Shea looked at me.

　What should I do now?
　I pondered.

　At the time of the Riot, the soldiers were also behaving atrociously, so I exterminated them all at once.

　But this time, the knights guarding Irina are only protecting her out of a sense of duty.
　If we get a few more meters closer, we'll have to kill them all...



Please wait.



　Irina called out to stop them.

They're after me, aren't they? Then I'll deal with them.

　She looks straight at me.
　The gaze of a dignified saint.

"Take off your hood.

　I ignored her and continued on my way.

　Irina raised her eyebrows and approached us.

　20 meters to go: ......19 meters: ......18 meters: .......

　I carefully measured the distance.
　If we got too close, we'd do 9999 damage to her.
　It was not my intention to kill her instantly.

"My Master!
You're in danger!
I'm part of a party of heroes.　Don't worry so much.

　Irina smiled at her guards.
　A smile full of holiness and compassion.

　It's the smile of a saint, just for show.

"And I have multiple blessings from the gods. Only a demon lord or his entourage can harm me.
"Two things before you take off your hood.

　I looked at Irina.

"You stop right there, Irina. Don't come any closer to us.

　I'll stop her so she doesn't die instantly.

"And get the guards back to your side. I'm not comfortable with this.
...... is fine.

　Irina did as I said and called the guards back to her.

　They were all staring at me with deadly expressions.

　I confronted Irina at a distance of sixteen meters.