The dark machinations carried out at midnight by Vittorio.
Several days had passed since that incident. Kree maintained a facade of composure.
The situation remained dire. Though they continued saving people through the power of the Holy Maiden Ritrain from the diary, the games proposed and carried out by Vittorio and the Ira faith had produced results overwhelmingly unfavorable to the holy ones.
"The situation in Amrita has already surpassed what we can handle."
"Nine-tenths of the residents have converted to the detestable Ira faith, abandoning our God."
"How... how could this have come to pass..."
The council in the command tent. Before, the area outside would have been packed with people waiting for treatment and seeking the holy teachings, but now it was silent as though the clamor had never existed.
Of course, that did not mean they were sitting idle.
Holy knights and believers alike were vigorously preaching and instructing the people, while the handful of remaining clergy worked alongside Nerim to treat the sick.
Viewing the situation from a detached, third-party perspective, one could judge that they were doing more than adequately.
But... the Ira faith had moved even faster.
For every ten teachings they spread, the opposition spread a hundred. For every ten people they healed, the opposition healed a thousand.
The methods they employed were incomprehensible, yet they were undeniably saving people—and those saved in turn displayed their allegiance to the Ira faith.
This applied even to those they had desperately tried to recall to their faith. It meant that capable individuals essential for Amrita's future reconstruction—including Ceanmach the Medical Priest—were departing of their own free will.
Defeat was inevitable.
Yet they had managed to evacuate a certain number of citizens northward.
It was not as though those who had been converted to the Ira faith in this city were being subjected to mistreatment either.
In that regard, whatever might be said of Vittorio, the acting pontiff Yonayona had not broken her word.
No one was suffering.
The situation could only be described as the worst, but in that one aspect alone, Kree believed there was hope.
However, it was not certain that the Holy Knights shared her thinking. On the contrary, their thoughts lay somewhere else entirely.
"We have no choice but to rely upon the Holy Maiden's power."
"That is not acceptable. Nerim—the Holy Maiden's power places an enormous burden upon her. If we were to demand enough force to turn the tide of this battle, what kind of consequences would that bring?"
Kree shot to her feet in protest at the sudden words. She had assumed that, even if it was not a given they would escape unscathed, they would ultimately resort to the strategy of abandoning Amrita. Under these circumstances, she had believed the Holy Knights would accept it—that they would withdraw to the central territories, regroup, and gather strength alongside the Holy Maiden who served as their vessel. That reasoning, she now realized with regret, had been naïvely optimistic.
"Inquisitor Imreis. We have reservations about your stance toward evil. Do not display such spinelessness. The office of Inquisitor is not merely for flexing authority over one's own, is it?"
"Precisely so. Your response this time can only be described as somewhat timid. God's trials are at times heavy and bitter—but they are never insurmountable. We understand that the Holy Maiden was sent to this land for precisely that purpose."
Kree was struck with innermost shock. She had never imagined the Holy Knights would twist their hearts and minds to such a degree, becoming this fixated on confronting evil. They had been threatened by Vittorio into harming their own, unable to utter a word and reduced to silence—so what was the point of them posturing with bluster now? And they would do it not by settling matters themselves, but by borrowing another's strength. In recent times, Kree had been inclined toward a more accommodating posture given her current standing, but she could no longer hold her tongue. She could not allow Nerim to be sacrificed as they proposed.
"So because you cannot resolve it yourselves, you would place your hopes on the Holy Maiden's power? Dumping every last responsibility onto a young girl—and you still call yourselves Holy Knights?"
"Because we are Holy Knights, there are times when merciless judgment is required. —Inquisitor Imreis, you seem somewhat fatigued. You would benefit from time to clear your head. We shall proceed with the remaining agenda items among ourselves, so please—take your rest."
She looked around the room. Sharp gazes brimming with anger and suspicion pierced her all at once. They reacted with uniformity, as though fevered, and no words came to her in return.
I understood that I had become a target of criticism, but I never imagined it would go this far.
There was no one here who would help her.
"...Understood. I will take my leave for now."
As my words indicated, I made to withdraw. A convenient way to dispose of me, indeed. I would likely never be permitted to attend these meetings again.
From behind me, as I exited the tent, came the cheerful laughter of men...
………
……
…
"Ah, Inquisitor Imreis."
"Nerim... you were here. I've also been given a brief respite. Would you mind if I join you?"
Wandering aimlessly, I found Nerim in a corner of the squad's rest area, writing in her diary.
This place, usually bustling with all manner of people, was now empty of anyone else, which was how we managed to find each other.
Quietly, I sat down beside Nerim.
I was no longer part of the main force. Future policy would be decided by the remaining Holy Knights, but I had no idea what impact that would have on Saint Ritrain.
No... let me stop pretending. They would inevitably demand it.
That she sacrifice all of her memories to God, to overturn this dire situation.
An overwhelming miracle...
"Inquisitor Imreis. It's alright. I'll do that."
"What are you talking about?"
I asked, even though I knew. I wished, if possible, she wouldn't say any more.
She didn't want to hear such words from her mouth.
"To use my power. I believe my strength was given by God for precisely this moment."
"You should... you should be thinking more about your own happiness. Having suffered so much, serving others, and casting everything to God, you deserve to be repaid."
Even with Kree's persuasion, Ritrain shook her head firmly.
"Lady Nerim. Beyond that final line, you will no longer exist. Please do not make me make such a decision."
She spoke with all her might, words failing her. Never had she cursed her own ineloquence more than in this moment.
She would handle it somehow—just please don't make that decision.
It was easy to say, but how much dialogue would it take for the other person to accept it...
Nerim's will seemed unshakable, but it felt more like resignation than anything else.
"Imreis Inquisitor... do you think my father is still alive?"
"..."
"There's nothing left now. He's gone. Is there any need for me to keep living?"
She wanted him to live. She wanted him to live and be happy. That was her only wish.
But was even that just her own selfishness?
Was there nothing more she could do? Helplessness alone gripped Kree.
There was no hope... at least not here.
"I believe that because I did good deeds, I will surely meet my father on the other side... that's what I think..."
Several hours later.
Greeted by holy knights and believers, Nerim declared she would perform a miracle.
And so the people beamed, praising her devotion in one voice.
………
……
…
"Why! Why, God!"
Kree's room was in utter disarray.
The once-neat and tidy space, a reflection of her meticulous nature, now lay wrecked as if its previous order had been a lie. Every piece of furniture was smashed, and documents littered the floor.
In its center, a wretched girl who had been denied even a single wish wept in anguish.
A foolish, powerless girl who couldn't protect even one precious friend.
The god she clung to would not answer.
The god she clung to would offer her no salvation.
Then the path left for the forsaken was...
"God, forgive me. You did nothing..."
With a spectral sway, Kree rose to her feet.
She drifted out of the room, and never returned.