In the center of Rosario, capital of the Holy Kingdom.
Inside the conference room within the enormous temple, a total of eight people stood facing one another, all with grave expressions.
They were Rosario’s seven cardinals and one saint, and with no pope currently present, they were effectively Rosario’s head.
“......What are we to do about this?”
Everyone was sharing their concerns with solemn faces.
The reason was the thing that had recently begun crossing over from the Empire into the Allied Kingdoms—no, spreading beyond the Allied Kingdoms and across the whole—
“Certainly, the situation is not very good.”
“It was called...... the Church of War, was it?”
“Yes.”
“Tch.”
One “religion.”
““.......””
A heavy silence settled over the room.
In truth, if someone were to see this scene filled with concern, they might have found it strange.
After all, the Holy Kingdom had not taken any particular measures even when a new religion had been created right beside it.
Of course, strictly speaking, it was closer to say they had been unable to because of “someone”......
But even so, there were not many here who were greatly dissatisfied with that.
Because no one here failed to understand that the reason the Allied Kingdoms were functioning as a proper nation at all was thanks to Divine Land and the knights who belonged to it.
However, the reason they were reacting so sensitively to this newly spreading Church of War was—
“......Believing in Divine blood, you say.”
“It has not been confirmed as Divine blood. They only say they revere ‘war.’”
“If it were only belief, it would not matter. The problem is that their influence is expanding at an abnormal speed.”
Because that bizarre religion was expanding its following like wildfire.
At a speed beyond the normal category of religion.
As though it were some kind of infection.
“The expansion itself would not be a problem. The problem is the course of action shown by those dyed in the Church of War.”
“.......”
At one cardinal’s words, the others all fell silent at once.
The reason they described the Church of War’s expansion as an infection.
It was because of the behavior shown by those who entered the Church of War.
The outward appearance of those dyed in the Church of War was ordinary.
And yet, strangely, when a certain specific moment came, they lost their reason.
Then, as though caught in mass hypnosis, they turned violent and used violence against everyone who did not believe in the same doctrine, killing them.
As though they had become someone else.
“This is troublesome.”
On top of that, Rosario had currently failed to properly determine how the Church of War was expanding its following.
No, they wondered whether it was even possible to determine that in the first place.
They had noticed the current state of its expansion through the frequent bloody incidents, but they still had not grasped its method of proselytizing at all.
Even though they had directly interrogated believers who had entered the Church of War.
A heavy silence flowed through the gathering.
The cardinals, groaning quietly, looked to one side as though they had made a promise.
Toward the one person who had not spoken a single word in today’s meeting.
And yet who possessed absolute say in this place today.
And then—
“Mm—”
When the cardinals’ gazes gathered, she briefly looked into the air.
Yutia Bloodia—
“Everyone, do not worry.”
—spoke calmly.
“Would it not be better to take some kind of measure?”
A cardinal immediately voiced concern.
In contrast, a composed smile rested on Yutia’s face.
“It’s all right.”
It was a short answer.
She did not explain the reason for it either.
Nor was there any particular hidden meaning in the words themselves.
It was simply a short answer: “It’s all right.”
However.
“If Cardinal Yutia says so, then—”
“Mm—”
The cardinals who had been seriously agonizing over the Church of War just moments ago gave small nods.
As though all their concerns until now had never existed.
As though her words were truth.
Yet not a single one of them expressed any doubt about the situation itself.
“Yes, we should focus on preparing what we were already preparing.”
“Certainly—”
“If only ‘that’ is completed, then Rosario as well—”
And with Yutia watching those cardinals as though satisfied, and with the cardinals agreeing with her words, the meeting in the temple came to an end.
By the time all the cardinals except Yutia had left—
“......Cardinal Yutia.”
Yuman, who had simply been listening without saying anything in the meeting just now, opened his mouth.
“Yes, please speak, Cardinal.”
“......Is it truly all right?”
“Which part are you referring to?”
“I am speaking of the Church of War.”
At Yuman’s words.
Yutia quietly looked at him, then answered.
“Mm—strictly speaking, it could become a problem in many ways.”
Words completely different from what she had said before the cardinals.
“Then why—”
When Yuman asked that, Yutia thought for a moment.
“Because they are friends we would be better off not paying attention to.”
“We would be better off not paying attention......?”
“Yes. Because they are—”
She soon continued.
“......Is that truly so?”
At Yuman’s following question.
“Yes. So do not pay attention to them. The greatest help we can give is not paying attention. And—”
Yutia simply nodded and answered.
“—as ridiculous as it is, I remember things like this rather well, more than the precious things.”
Calmly.
“No, I mean—despite them openly scattering pheromones saying they like you that much?”
At Arculainysis’s innocent words, the expressions of Rine and Penia, who had been staring intently at her, went blank.
Their faces showed that the remark had been so sudden they had no idea how to react for a moment.
But only for a moment.
Naturally, both of their eyes turned toward Alon.
“.......”
Alon quietly looked back at Rine and Penia, then soon looked at Ar and spoke.
“Ar.”
“Hm? What is it, my dear?”
“No matter how much someone likes me, that does not mean they are a concubine.”
“Mm—yes...... is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I thought they were definitely concubines because they travel with you!”
Ar’s cry.
At those words, Penia and Rine unconsciously let out sighs.
But only briefly.
“......Hm?”
“Hm?”
Rine and Penia looked at each other.
For some reason, they felt a strange, peculiar oddness.
So after thinking for a moment.
“Uh......?”
Penia had no trouble catching that oddness.
Naturally, Rine was the same.
“.......”
“.......”
The two looked at each other.
And at the same time, they realized they had the same question.
Why was Alon not surprised?
It was a strange thing to say, but Penia and Rine had believed until now that Alon did not know how the two of them felt.
To begin with, Alon had never once acted as though he had noticed their feelings.
But what about Alon’s reaction now?
He was kindly explaining, as though he had known the two of them liked him.
As though it were nothing particularly important.
Wasn’t Lord Alon supposed to be disgustingly oblivious?
I also thought Master had been castrated when it came to this kind of awareness.
But all of that was a lie, wasn’t it?
At least judging from what we’re hearing, it seems so.
Penia and Rine spoke with their eyes.
The two of them wore subtle expressions, unsure whether they should be pleased or displeased.
But only for a moment.
“Ar, in addition to that, I will tell you one more thing.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“There are many kinds of liking someone.”
“......Many kinds?”
“Yes. Love between lovers is commonly also a form of liking someone, but there is liking between family, and there is liking between comrades as well.”
“Ah.”
Watching Alon continue calmly, the two unconsciously looked at each other again.
I guess it wasn’t that.
I suppose not.
......Should we be happy about this, or sad?
It is subtle.
Right?
Yes.
I think so too.
The two shared another silent conversation.
And after quite some time passed like that.
After finishing even dinner with Ar, Alon was crossing the long garden with Evan to meet Contanias.
“Lord Alon.”
“What is it?”
“Earlier, did you really not understand?”
Evan’s question.
“Earlier......?”
“Yes. When the guardian dragon said something about scattering pheromones that said they liked you.”
“Ah—that time.”
“I was wondering if perhaps you truly did not understand.”
“......Were you not outside then?”
“I was, but I could hear it from outside.”
At the proud declaration that he had not gone outside and wandered around, but had instead been listening to the conversation inside from outside, Alon fell silent for a moment, then lightly scratched his head.
“......I did understand.”
“Oh......”
“Why are you exclaiming in admiration?”
“Ahem—in truth, I had been thinking perhaps Lord Alon had some defect in your masculine body.”
Alon looked at him with an expression that said, This bastard? but soon let out a sigh.
“There is no way.”
“No, then it only looks like you know but pretend not to know and are secretly enjoying it.”
“......When you put it that way, it makes me sound like trash...... but that is not it.”
“Then......?”
At Evan’s question, Alon thought for a moment.
Just as Evan had said, Alon was not especially oblivious.
......Of course, when it came to this kind of thing.
......He was a bit.
......Quite a bit dull, but even so, he could at least be conscious of it.
Even so, the reason Alon deliberately did not react was—
“......There is a problem with your emotions?”
“More precisely, it is a problem that existed from the beginning.”
Because he had realized there was a problem with his emotions.
“Probably.”
It had not been that long since Alon had become aware of his own emotions.
The point when he vaguely realized this problem was when Kalannon had shown him the manifested body from when it awakened.
“.......”
Alon recalled that time.
When he saw that manifested body, one that seemed as though it would inspire fear just by being seen, Alon had certainly felt fear, however faintly.
But strangely, it was not an emotional sensation.
It was literally like text.
It felt as though he was merely recognizing, I have felt fear.
Not recognizing it because he had actually “felt that emotion.”
As though someone were saying that in this situation, “this is what should happen.”
Until now, he had not realized it.
But in that fleeting instant, Alon’s thoughts had caught that strange contradiction, and in the end, he judged it.
That there was some kind of problem with his own emotions.
“Does that mean—”
“To put it simply, I am in a situation where it is difficult to properly judge my own emotions.”
“.......”
“What I need to do first is solve this problem. Only then will I be able to do anything.”
“Is there a solution?”
“......I am investigating, but I still do not know any clear solution.”
“I see......”
Seeing Evan nod as though he understood, Alon let out a sigh.
'I’m sure I wasn’t like this before.'
Alon tilted his head as he recalled his previous world, now a past so distant it had grown faint.
Because though his memories were certainly hazy, he still retained at least the memory of wanting to love someone desperately back then.
'What on earth is it?'
As Alon was thinking, Evan opened his mouth.
“But, Lord Alon.”
“What is it?”
“This is hypothetical, but in the end, judging from your point, you cannot properly grasp your own emotions, correct?”
“Well, yes?”
“Then if there were some external stimulus, could your emotions possibly return to normal?”
“External stimulus?”
“Yes, you know. For example, tremendous joy or a heart-pounding love.”
Evan’s words.
At that, Alon thought for a moment.
“I do not know whether my heart would pound in this state, but if it truly did happen—”
“Would you fall in love immediately......?”
“Hmm...... It is not an impossible possibility.”
If it happened, that is, Alon added and nodded.
Tap—
And in that instant, a small sound suddenly came from behind him.
Alon turned his gaze back at that, but there was nothing there.
“What is it?”
“No, I thought I heard something.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“Is that so?”
Alon soon tilted his head and continued walking.
Without seeing the blue-haired woman who had slipped out from playing with Ar because she had something to tell Alon, now hiding behind a massive pillar.
And.
“Lord Alon.”
“Hm?”
“The brooch and badge. They’re shining especially brightly.”
“Hmm...... Is it because they are catching the moonlight?”
Seeing the red brooch and green badge shining brightly, Evan and Alon continued their conversation.
“Come to think of it, why are you going to meet Contanias?”
“I have something to ask of him.”
“......Something to ask?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of......?”
At Evan’s following question, Alon answered.
“It seems I will need to enter the academy for a while.”

Comments

Loading...