It was the day after the previous autopsy that Fjord reported the incident to the new rulers of the country, the Holy Maidens.
That he had managed to borrow time from these saints—women whose schedules were consumed by matters of state, various ceremonies, and meetings with dignitaries—could only be called a miracle.
That said, only Fenne appeared before him. Unfortunately, Soarina, the Holy Maiden of the Solemn Funeral, could not be granted an audience. The only other person present was Erakino, who had materialized from who-knows-where with a transparent excuse of having nothing better to do and a clear hint of voyeuristic curiosity.
Naturally, Fjord welcomed Erakino's participation as well.
Her unknown powers and discernment exceeded those of the Holy Knights, and it was precisely with her assistance that they had been able to uncover numerous irregularities.
But this time alone, he could not borrow her strength.
"What!? A Holy Knight was murdered? By whom?"
Watching Erakino widen her eyes in surprise, Fjord quietly steeled his resolve.
"That remains unknown. However, given that the perpetrator has infiltrated this sacred city, the Order has tightened its guard. I will be assigning additional security to both of you as well, including Lady Soarina who is absent. I understand it may feel suffocating, but I humbly ask for your understanding."
He bowed deeply, reporting his decision as Commander of the Holy Knights.
This was not a suggestion but a conclusion. During this most critical period, as the nation reborn as the Renea Divine Light Kingdom took its first steps, he could not afford to expose the Holy Maidens to danger.
This country could never stand without them.
Fjord feared the prospect of unknown threats reaching them, and he intended to take every possible measure to prevent it.
"Strengthening security. Of course. But honestly, I'm more worried about you—all this strain you're putting on yourselves during such a busy time."
"Please do not concern yourselves. The Order exists to protect what must be protected."
The veiled Holy Maiden Fenne spoke quietly, offering considerate words while still affirming his decision. There was a certain dependability in her unwavering voice—no trace of agitation or shock—and Fjord took her words as proof that there was no need to worry.
The Holy Knights were not so fragile. If anything, the ones he truly worried about were the Holy Maidens themselves.
Even a Holy Maiden who surpassed individual Holy Knights in combat capability still had openings. There was no human being anywhere who could maintain constant vigilance forever.
That was precisely why the Holy Knights wagered their very lives to fill the gaps in their defenses and protect them.
Separate from Fjord's resolve, Fenne's thoughts had turned in an entirely different direction.
"So then... who died this time? I shall draft a condolence letter for the family. Even from an unsaintly saint, it might serve as a momentary diversion."
Contrary to the decisiveness she had shown moments before, Fjord clamped his mouth shut.
"Absolutely not. The bereaved would be touched by the Holy Lady's tender mercy, and it would heal the wounds in their hearts."
That was how he should have answered. In principle, those would have been the expected words.
But...
"...My apologies. The knight who fell this time has not yet been identified."
The words that came from Fjord were something else entirely.
He neither denied nor rebuked Fenne's self-punishing manner of speaking—he offered only an apology.
An answer unbecoming of the Holy Knight Commander, and the faint creaking sound from his clenched jaw, laid bare the anguish of his emotions.
At his words, Fenne furrowed her brow slightly beneath her veil.
"...I can understand the culprit being unknown. But why is the victim's identity a mystery? I understand the state of the corpse, but it was established that they were a Holy Knight, was it not?"
"You are correct. However, in the current Holy Knights, we assign various missions to each member, and some have been dispatched from this city to others throughout the nation. We are attempting to reach them by every means available, but the truth is, it is not functioning well. It is humiliating."
"Indeed. After all, it's only death."
The Holy Knights were never meant to be clerks. Their work was maintaining order within their assigned dioceses, responding with force to problems arising both within and outside cities, protecting VIPs, and standing sentinel against threats that might come from the outside world.
And yet, of late, the Holy Knights had become primarily occupied with clerical work, and their original duties—such as patrolling the territory—had been neglected and left haphazard.
He understood the reason.
His bold decisions had, at the same time, created enormous distortions.
No... Perhaps it was precisely because the distortions had grown so large over the years that they were now struggling desperately to set things right.
The purge of the many corrupt clergy meant the simultaneous loss of personnel who would have handled administrative work, while the verification and reform of that corruption generated still more labor.
It was indeed regarding financial calculations and bookkeeping that those who would now be passing judgment from heaven had been competent.
That was not all.
Leanea Sacred Light Nation had been too greedy. In its initial pursuit of a perfect state administration, it failed to anticipate the chaos and problems that would ensue.
Omissions in communication, procedural errors, and even simple forgetfulness by those responsible.
What should have been handled by the system itself became impossible during a reform period where numerous changes were enacted simultaneously.
That was precisely why they couldn't manage the most basic of situational awareness—knowing where everyone was and in what circumstances they were carrying out their tasks.
If... the perpetrator of that murder case had committed the crime knowing this fact.
They must be a terrifyingly sharp-witted individual.
As Fenne pondered whether there was anything they themselves could do, help arrived from an unexpected quarter.
"Well then! Erakino will just solve it with a single strike, okay? The Knight Commander probably knows, but actually, Erakino is extremely good at this kind of investigation! It's like she already knows the answer, she solves things in a flash ♪"
It was a brilliant move.
Fenne let a thin smile cross her face as she recalled the ferocity of the cards her own faction held.
Yes, it was precisely because of this that they, Leanea Sacred Light Nation, could hope to realize this reckless dream.
The ability to forcibly manipulate the outcomes of all events as desired.
The power wielded by the person Erakino called Game Master was nothing less than a divine act.
At the very least, even all the saints working together would have to kneel before that power.
That was precisely why... they were invincible.
This case, too, would be resolved without bringing a single blow upon Leanea.
And yet.
"I must apologize. I must respectfully decline that request, Lord Erakino."
"Huh!? Wh-why not? Don't you want to know the answer?"
Erakino blinked, his face a picture of surprise.
Fenne agreed with his sentiment. Not seizing a viable opportunity was foolish in the extreme.
But from Fjord's demeanor, it was clear he was not speaking out of mere idiosyncrasy or obstinacy.
"Lord Erakino. For the Holy Knights, our comrades are special beings who have sworn oaths of justice together under the radiance of the gods."
Fjord began to speak, his expression deadly serious.
Within the depths of his eyes, a tangle of conflicting emotions could be discerned.
"We are the sword of the gods and the shield of the people. That pride has been wounded by this incident. This is not solely a problem for my Renea Holy Knights. It is a rebellion against the gods, born of our own unworthiness."
Erakino and Fenne fell silent.
This nation, with the Holy God Aros at its helm, had accumulated its history through the ages since the Quolia era as a state founded on religion.
It was a history of battling the forces of evil, and also a history of continuous prayer offered in devotion to the divine.
Therefore, an unprovoked attack upon a holy person was, by extension, considered an attack upon the gods themselves.
Fjord's wish was simple: to resolve this matter within the Holy Knights.
It was fueled by a desire to avoid burdening the Saintesses any further, by the fury over his comrade's brutal murder, and above all, by a surging sense of justice at the shameful fact that, despite calling themselves the "sword of the gods," they had been left behind by the forces of evil.
Faith in the gods. And the pride of a Holy Knight.
Both of these had clouded the vision of Fjord, the senior knight once hailed throughout the southern provinces, leaving him blinded to all else.
"If anything happens to a member, we of the Holy Knights must wash away that dishonor under the wrath of the gods. That is our duty to our comrades... Of course, I do not mean to imply that you, Lord Erakino, are not a comrade. However, this is our battle."
He bowed his head deeply.
It was not advisable for someone of such high rank to make such a gesture lightly, but conversely, it only underscored how vitally important his plea truly was.
Fjord, still bowing low, stated, "I humbly ask that you accept my wish," and then fell silent.
Pride and passion can overturn reason... love is at times foolish yet unshakable.
The words of a poem heard somewhere long ago briefly flickered through Fenne's mind.
Here, it might be called camaraderie among companions. Fenne quietly closed her eyes and relented.
"Hmm..."
But Erakino was the one who was displeased with this.
She was somewhat annoyed that he had so bluntly refused her offer of assistance, which she had taken the trouble to make.
She more or less understood their feelings, and Erakino knew that if Soarina had suffered the same fate, she would certainly wish to exact revenge with her own hands.
But whether that was possible was another matter.
Judging from the way he spoke, they still couldn't even guess the identity of their opponent. Could such bold words truly be made a reality?
The Holy Knight who was victimized might even be someone Erakino knew or had spoken to.
That alone was deeply unsettling, but if the harm were to spread even further by some chance...
In short, she was worried about the Holy Knight Order.
"What a shame, Erakino. Let him have his way here. He's your favorite, isn't he?"
Fenne interjected from the side.
She didn't know what her true feelings were, but she could sense, at least vaguely, that Erakino wanted to cut this conversation short.
Surely, adding any more complaints of her own wouldn't change anything.
Over the course of their association, she had come to understand that both this Saint and the Holy Knight Commander were exceedingly stubborn individuals...
Erakino, as if to concede that it was hopeless, exaggeratedly sighed and then spread her hands with a playful attitude.
"Oh, fine then! But if you think things are going badly, you come ask Erakino for help right away, okay? Everyone still has work to do, after all. No more of your knights getting into dangerous situations—understood?"
"Thank you very much, Lord Erakino."
In the end, the meeting left only a lump-like unease lingering.
Erakino thought it should be resolved swiftly, and that was his intention.
Yet he could also sympathize with Fjord's wish.
Caught between those feelings, she—who still had little life experience—wavered, feeling a frustrating sense of helplessness.
"I will provide the details of the security detail later. And this incident—I will surely resolve it. On the honor of the Holy Knights... Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Yes, may God's blessing be upon you."
"Bye-bye!"
After Fjord withdrew with a bow of impeccable grace and formality, Erakino went out of his way to approach the sofa where Fenne sat and struck a playful pose.
He somehow felt the need to talk to someone.
In fact, he even felt an indescribable something crawling closer and closer.
"Oh, it's like a complete mystery, Fenne! Ah, you might not get 'mystery'? It's a riddle, a riddle! Who on earth is the culprit?!"
"Hate to interrupt, but could you ask your Master for the answer?"
"Huh? Wha—?!"
A scream echoed through the reception room, which he quickly stifled.
He'd been completely blindsided. What had that exchange just been about?
More importantly, Fenne herself was supposed to have accepted Fjord's words and been trying to persuade Erakino.
The girl known as the Witch of Sips had reached the pinnacle of confusion here.
"Oh? Didn't you hear? I said, ask your Master for the answer."
"No! Wait, wait, stop, stop! What about the Captain's and the Knights' feelings?! And what was that exchange just now? You seemed really convinced! You said you'd resolve the incident on the honor of the Holy Knights!"
While Erakino fretted and complained in a flurry, Fenne let out a short, exasperated sigh before quietly explaining her true thoughts, a stark contrast to the noisy witch.
"Pride, you say. It's a beautiful word that sounds lovely in the ear. However, we cannot resort to such dangerous methods for the sake of ideals or wishes. If he were to fail—even once—the cost might be the lives of the people."
Rationally, Erakino understood this line of reasoning. After all, she had initially felt the same way.
But now, her emotions weren't convinced. Was it truly right to so easily dismiss such a profound resolve?
Whose argument should she ultimately accept?
Seizing on the fact that Fenne was giving her time to think, she immediately sought her Master's opinion.
"Um, Master! Which one is right, really? Actually, I just don't get it! Who's side are you on? Final answer!"
An answer came back before long.
But he, too, sided with Fenne. This only amplified her sense of loneliness, leaving her with a complicated, indescribable feeling.
It felt like she was dismissing and betraying the feelings of the Holy Knights, of Fjord.
To her, the members of the Holy Knight Order had now become splendid comrades, just like Soarina and Fenne. Could she really be so dishonest, so calculating, toward these comrades? Weren't comrades supposed to never betray each other, to never abandon one another, and to remain sincere to the very end?
If only Soarina were here, she would surely side with me. As this childish, selfish thought flitted through her mind, Fenne spoke to Erakino as if gently explaining something to a young child.
"It's all right. Sometimes, such lies are necessary. We'll know the truth, and we'll keep it from him. Just in case, you know."
"But... I still don't feel good about it..."
"You're so pure, aren't you? Alright, then let's do this. I'm terribly curious. I want to know the answer right now. So I'm going to make an unreasonable request of you. Understand, this is entirely my selfishness. You've done nothing wrong."
Her tone was rather forceful.
It was a somewhat rare attitude for Fenne, who rarely pushed her own opinions so aggressively.
It only underscored how much of a crisis she perceived in this dilemma.
It's true that not understanding anything at all is a situation far too dangerous.
Even if our own abilities are absolute, and we can say we've already crushed a player faction like Mynoghra, the possibility of an unknown force emerging is entirely plausible.
And having a surely powerful opponent seize the initiative first could indeed be fatal.
My dominance as Game Master is incomparably powerful, allowing no rivals.
Yet, for all that, there was nowhere to find a reason to let my guard down.
The persuasion came not only from Fenne but also from the Game Master himself.
While he had put on an air of wanting to respect Erakino's opinion, it was easy to see his true heart was in favor of learning the answer.
It seemed she had no allies here.
"Please, Erakino. Your and the Master's power are necessary for us. For Soarina to continue living peacefully."
To be told that put her in a difficult position; mentioning her name was unfair.
The fact that certain concessions had been made was also a factor in persuading Erakino.
Though it felt like she was being smoothly maneuvered, it was probably fine to go along with this well-laid plan.
After all, it was clear that everyone was acting out of a mutual wish for each other's safety and peace.
And so Erakino made her decision.
To ask the Master, and exercise an unparalleled, peerless power that none could match.
"Ugh... Fine, I guess. Really, fine! It's fine, okay!! Then Master! My Game Master! Hurry up and do it! With a cheat, with a secret trick, give us the perfect answer! Be a good support and let me cheat by knowing from the very start! Divination!!"
=Message===
Erakino's Divination Check
1d100 = [78] Result: Success
―――
=GM: Message===
Exercising Game Master authority.
Forgoing the dice roll; declaring a definite success.
Result: Critical
―――
Everything is laid bare.
The perpetrator of the knight's murder, and their intent.
No scheme, however elaborate, can escape before their absolute power.
Erakino focused their consciousness, aiming to verify the answer, driven by a touch of guilt, the thrill of being an absolute, and a strong curiosity about what secret could possibly lie there――.
=Message===
Result: The perpetrator of the knight's murder is unknown.
―――
"...Huh?"
Upon hearing this result, she could only let out a cry of sheer, idiotic surprise.
"...? What's wrong, Erakino? Was it someone unexpected?"
Impossible. That couldn't be. It shouldn't be.
Confusion churned in her mind, devoid of meaning. Only the unanswered question of "What happened?" echoed within. Could it be that they had made a mistake? A hint of doubt began to creep in.
"Th-then who died? You should at least be able to tell me that much, right? M-Master!"
She screamed, and before her voice had even faded, her master delivered the verdict.
=GM: Message===
Game Master authority invoked.
Requesting forced disclosure of quest information.
Display the name of the victim in the knight order member murder case.
---
=Message===
Result: The murdered knight order member is unknown
---
The dark, dark abyss was already upon them.