Ch.479Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

# Proof of Existence

Proving existence is the most challenging task given to humanity.

Theism affirming God’s existence, atheism denying it, agnosticism claiming human cognition cannot determine God’s existence due to our inability to perceive the essence of things, and so on.

The struggle for proving existence is vividly displayed in theology and philosophy, and today even the scientific and magical communities are striving for such proof.

Honestly, I personally think it’s a rather meaningless endeavor.

It’s somewhat ironic for me to say this while living in a neighborhood where divine power clearly exists. But whether God exists or not, what does that have to do with me?

Even if an omnipotent being is watching over the world, it doesn’t change the fact that I still have to go to work tomorrow morning.

In that sense, I was an atheist.

To be precise, I believe that God might exist, but not as the omnipotent being that the clergy claim.

This would be quite offensive to anyone from the religious order I’m familiar with… but that’s just how it is.

If there truly were an omnipotent divine being, and if it were the Celestial God the religious order speaks of, lightning would have struck me at least a hundred times when Veronica and I did those things (content not suitable for minors under 19) in the confessional.

Or when Veronica and Lucia were simultaneously holding hands and (again, content not suitable for minors, same as above).

For these reasons, I didn’t believe in God’s existence. I wasn’t a religious person to begin with. My family wasn’t particularly devout either.

However.

Even so. This is just…

Too…

“‘I’m stronger than you’? Sir Knight, do you have no conscience?”

“Is it not true that I won?”

“After beating her up four against one. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“It doesn’t matter as long as I won. What’s important is the fact that I emerged victorious.”

“…Ah. Yes. That’s fucking impressive.”

Watching the angel who maintained a dignified attitude despite having been beaten up by multiple people, I thought:

Nietzsche was right.

God is definitely dead.

## Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

Too stern to be called an angel, yet too unhinged to be a demon.

The armored knight, Ramiel, was most appropriately described as “one who claims to be an angel” or “angel claimant.”

“What’s an angel claimant? Angel claimant. It’s not like I’m disrespecting anyone…”

“Why, does it bother you? Is it blasphemy?”

“No. It’s well-named.”

Veronica surprisingly took the term “angel claimant” positively. More precisely, she liked it.

It was an appropriate reaction from someone who had been betrayed by the knight, met sealed demons, and had a life-or-death battle with an unfamiliar angel. She probably considered Ramiel a fraud by now.

Of course, I wasn’t exactly a saint myself.

After all, hadn’t I stolen items from the repository without permission?

The Papal State had told us to take a few useful holy relics. They never expected us to steal cursed weapons, let alone weapons infused with fragments of demon souls (I’m not sure how it works, but I assume it’s some kind of enhancement like in games).

It was a shameful and petty act for a saint. Truly, it was.

Therefore, I wanted to give her the grand title of “Saint Claimant,” but due to her fierce opposition (she said if I wanted to be dragged around Laterano with a leash around my neck, I should try calling her that), the plan was abandoned. Unfortunately.

Veronica, with a face worn from fatigue, patted her shoulders and sighed in relief.

“Anyway, I’m glad things worked out. But what are you doing?”

“I’m binding her. We don’t know when Nathaniel will wake up.”

The armored knight, commonly known as the angel claimant, Ramiel, answered while rattling iron chains.

He was binding Nathaniel with long iron chains from who knows where. I already knew he could summon weapons from thin air, so it wasn’t particularly surprising, but it was still remarkable nonetheless.

My goodness, an angel binding another angel! What sacrilegious blasphemy!

Even those uninterested in religion have probably heard of Cain and Abel from the Earth’s Bible.

The two brothers each offered tributes to Yahweh, who gave birth to Jesus of Nazareth, a traitor to the Roman Empire. Unlike Cain who was a vegan preferring wellness food, the violent, meat-loving Yahweh only devoured Abel’s premium Korean beef and rejected Cain’s carefully cultivated salad.

Harboring resentment, Cain exhibited psychopathic tendencies and killed his brother Abel with a rock, making it the first murder recorded in the Bible (which only Christians claim to be accurate).

While the Papal State here and the Roman Catholic Papal State have slightly different claims, the context of the first murder recorded in both scriptures is roughly similar: fratricide, killing among one’s own kind.

From a theological perspective, Ramiel’s actions could be considered blasphemy itself.

He called her sister earlier, but now he’s binding her with iron chains after hammering her like a pork cutlet?

“Sir Knight. Weren’t you trying to persuade this person just a moment ago?”

I questioned Ramiel with a puzzled voice. And he nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“That’s right. It’s still the same now. I haven’t given up. I will definitely persuade her.”

“Yet you’re binding her with iron chains. Wrapping them tightly.”

“It would be nice if I could persuade Nathaniel with just words. But she won’t easily change her mind. She will certainly try to escape. So I must prevent that, don’t you think?”

Well, restraining her to prevent escape is fine… but why iron chains? Are you going to sell her as a slave?

If Camilla were here, she might have been reminded of her ancestors who bought and sold slaves.

If she, who handles bright red flames like the Redcoats, symbols of colonial rule, had awakened the national spirit flowing in her veins, she might have changed her profession to slave trader. She might even have “Afghanistaned” the Mauritanian continent.

(As evident from just looking at the map of Africa, Britain, along with France, was a major player in devastating Africa, and nationally supplied African slaves to North America and the West Indies. They also invaded Afghanistan three times during disputes with Imperial Russia. Of course, if you say this in front of Camilla, she’ll get furious—literally on fire—and scold you.)

“My goodness, how could this be!”

I covered my mouth with my palm, hiding my appalled expression while staring directly at Ramiel.

“Binding your sister with iron chains, this is the most unfilial crime I’ve ever witnessed. The religious order speaks of the first murder as the tragedy of a brother stabbing his elder brother’s back with a knife. Now, thousands of years later, you knock her unconscious with a hammer and then bind her with iron chains.”

“Were you a believer?”

“This much is common knowledge, you know.”

One doesn’t have to be religious to memorize scripture.

Even when the Intelligence Command selects staff to send to the Middle East, they test both modern Arabic (Fusha) and regional dialects (Ammiyah), and ask about Islamic content to verify cultural knowledge. As someone who has been on business trips to the Middle East and Israel, I had to memorize both the Quran and the Old Testament to pass the tests.

The habits I developed during my time in the Intelligence Service continue even after joining the Military Intelligence Bureau. I mean I deliberately memorize things even though there’s no exam. There’s nothing more effective with religious people than religious talk.

I implied that it was outrageous for an angel to commit the unfilial act mentioned in scripture, but Ramiel’s attitude remained as dignified as ever.

“I am not committing a sin. I am protecting you all. If Nathaniel rampages again, wouldn’t you also be in danger?”

“That’s quite an eloquent answer for someone who has bound another like a slave with iron chains.”

“Don’t worry. We don’t get hurt by iron chains.”

Ramiel spoke confidently, waving his hand dismissively.

No, the issue isn’t whether she gets hurt, but the fact that you’ve bound her with iron chains! Who binds people with iron chains? Well, she’s not a person but an angel (claimant), but still.

It was a claim with absolutely no persuasive power, but it seemed to be no lie. As he said, Nathaniel regained consciousness not long after.

“……”

The drooping head slowly rises.

With the clanking of iron chains, the angel who has regained consciousness begins to look around.

I still couldn’t see inside the cloak, but I could guess where her gaze was directed. After examining each face as if scrutinizing them, the angel finally cast her gaze upon Ramiel.

“…It seems you have won.”

“That’s right, Nathaniel. I won.”

The other said “you” (plural), but he insisted on saying “I” won, which was quite a spectacle.

Veronica glanced at the knight with a look that said “what kind of idiot is this?” It was a very irreverent gaze.

The angel, who had been looking around proudly, was startled shortly after. After making eye contact with the saint, the angel scratched her helmet awkwardly and opened her mouth as if making an excuse.

“…Right. We won.”

At that, Veronica’s expression softened. Her triangular eyes became round, and her frosty gaze melted like snow.

Seeing her smiling so brightly was so absurd that I couldn’t help but sigh in disbelief.

“So?”

Meanwhile, Nathaniel spoke as if to say “what now?”

To this, the knight replied:

“I have proven my strength through victory.”

As Veronica’s gaze turned back to the knight, he hastily corrected his statement.

“We have proven our strength.”

“Hmm hmm.”

The saint smiled with satisfaction.

With that, the angel finally relaxed. His attitude truly lived up to the name “angel claimant.”

Anyway, the emboldened Ramiel began to assert his rightful authority. Having proven his strength through victory, he now demanded obedience. But Nathaniel seemed to have no intention of yielding.

“You defeated me, so now you want me to follow your orders? Ridiculous.”

“Command authority is the rightful privilege of those who have proven their strength, Nathaniel.”

“That argument only worked when you were the Flaming Sword. Don’t you know, Ramiel, that sinners are not granted any rights?”

“……”

“You are in no position to give any orders. Neither am I. That is the rule set by our Father, the law that you and I have betrayed. Don’t forget that, Ramiel.”

When the angel coldly rebuked him, the knight fell silent. His previous confidence was nowhere to be seen. Ramiel couldn’t say a word.

Amid the uncomfortable silence, a grumpy voice broke through.

“Ah- geez. So noisy with all this chattering.”

Veronica, scratching her head with an unruly attitude, opened her mouth toward the two angel claimants.

“If you’ve lost, just comply. Why so much talk?”

“You speak like an untamed colt. Such vulgarity without a trace of dignity. It’s disturbing to hear, so be quiet.”

“What? Says the fallen angel.”

“Nonsense! Who told you such a thing?”

“Who else? Our mighty Father in heaven.”

The iron chains begin to make a loud noise. Nathaniel glared at Veronica, twisting her bound body.

“You wench! How dare you blaspheme God!”

“I’m just stating what’s clearly written in scripture…”

“To blaspheme God with stories that you humans have rewritten thousands of times! Do you truly wish to die!”

“Enough.”

A stern voice cut off the angry tirade. The iron chains that had been twisting to the breaking point began to tighten.

One word was enough to subdue the raging angel. After calming Nathaniel with words, Ramiel placed his gauntlet on his waist and turned to Veronica.

“I don’t mind whatever you say, but I would appreciate if you refrained from calling us fallen angels.”

“Why? I just stated a fact from scripture.”

“Because it differs from the truth. We have been punished, yes, but we have not fallen. So I hope you will refrain from making statements that don’t align with reason.”

It was quite amusing to hear this from someone who had bound his sister with iron chains. I began whispering to Veronica.

“He’s saying he drank alcohol but didn’t drive drunk.”

If they committed sins and were punished, they’re criminals. If they’re sinners expelled from heaven, aren’t they fallen?

Though I’m not a theologian, I know people well-versed in theology. A saint of a religion would naturally be knowledgeable about theology.

Veronica nodded repeatedly, agreeing with my assertion.

“You’re not wrong. Anyway, setting aside whether they’re fallen angels or not, isn’t it about time you explained things to us?”

The saint urged the knight to reveal the truth.

“What explanation do you want?”

“Everything. Who you are, why you appeared here, what you’ve been doing, and what this blood-drinking tree is…”

“You have quite a lot of questions.”

“If you had been honest from the beginning, I wouldn’t have to ask. Let’s start with this: why you hid the coffin.”

Veronica began to question why the coffin was concealed.

More specifically:

“Why did you hide the coffin in Mauritania?”

She was asking about the circumstances that led to the coffin being hidden here.

She asked:

“Shamir, was it? That man, Akande. I heard he took on that role. And I also heard that the person you entrusted the essence to was also called Shamir.”

“That’s right. Shamir is a kind of title. Just as you are called the Master of Altiora. Akande and his father, and his father’s fathers, have all been called Shamir for generations.”

“And these Shamirs protected the coffin where you were sleeping. Is that right?”

“To be precise, they protected me. It was my request.”

Ramiel revealed the identity of Shamir. He seemed to have nothing left to hide.

He said that Shamir was the man who, at his request, protected the coffin when he began to sleep.

“800 years ago, I met a man called Shamir in this land. I asked him for protection, and he gladly accepted. There was no set time limit.”

Ramiel had asked him to guard the coffin until he awakened. Despite the open-ended promise, Shamir readily agreed.

He also said that if the knight did not awaken by the time his strength waned and his life came to an end, he would entrust the coffin to his most trustworthy child.

“I objected, saying there was no need to burden his children, but his resolve was firm. I tried hard to change his mind but ultimately failed. So I gifted him with power.”

“Is that power the essence that Nathaniel mentioned?”

Ramiel silently nodded in affirmation, with a somewhat apologetic attitude.

“I gifted him with the essence. He, who had been protecting the coffin, later passed the essence to his child and entrusted the coffin to them. This continued generation after generation while I slept, and it’s also why you and Akande met today. He is the current Shamir.”

“You sound quite bitter?”

“How could I not be bitter? Because of my request, his children have had to bear this burden.”

“Hmm….”

Veronica glanced discreetly toward Akande. The half-naked man was sitting in a dusty corner, yawning lazily.

After examining the Shamir, the saint turned her gaze back to the angel. Having heard the circumstances, it was now time to understand the reason.

“I understand that much. Let’s set aside your relationship with Akande. What I really want to know is why you entrusted the coffin to Shamir.”

She was asking why he had entrusted the coffin to Shamir in the first place.

More directly, she was asking why he had entrusted it to an outsider rather than a believer of the religious order.

“But why him specifically? This is the Mauritanian continent. Even 800 years ago, the religion here would have been Al-Yabud. Why did you entrust the coffin to a heretic who follows the Earth Mother Goddess rather than someone who follows the Celestial God? You have nothing to do with Al-Yabud. The god you serve is the Celestial God, not the Earth Mother Goddess, right?”

“……”

“In the same vein, why did you deceive us? I’m asking why you hid the fact that you’re an angel.”

The saint of the religious order asked the servant of the Celestial God why he had hidden his identity as an angel.

If he had revealed his identity, they would have helped him without reservation. She was asking why he had gone so far as to lie.

“The red ring you showed us. That’s a halo, right?”

Veronica placed her hands on her waist and stood with one leg forward.

“A halo. Although it has never been granted to humans since creation, any believer in the religious order knows what it is. It’s the symbol of God’s grace often mentioned in scripture.”

“I know.”

“Honestly, I don’t understand. If you had just shown that, the old fogies at the Papal State would have given you their livers, gallbladders, and hearts. So why did you hide it?”

This was something I was curious about as well.

As Ramiel had shown us, if he had revealed his halo in front of the priests of the religious order, everything would have proceeded smoothly. Proving God’s existence is the age-old task of religion.

The existence of an angel is tantamount to proving God’s existence. If that could be proven, the Papal State would have helped Ramiel even if they had to sell their souls to demons.

But he didn’t do that.

Ramiel maintained his silence despite all the suspicions surrounding him. And even the High Priest, who knew something about the Cedar Coffin Knight, chose silence.

It was strange.

“You said you were looking for angels. If that was your purpose, shouldn’t you have sought help from the religious order? After all, this isn’t someone else’s business.”

Veronica demanded an answer, finding it all very strange, but the angel remained silent. Just as he had hidden his identity, he maintained his silence to the end.

However, he did postpone his answer with a meaningful statement:

“…This is not the appropriate place to reveal that. It’s quite a long story, and it would be better for you to hear it later.”

It was a puzzling response. It sounds like a character from some Chinese game who likes to beat around the bush.

I see… Is that so… You still don’t understand? Then it’s still too early. I won’t give you the answer you want. We’ll talk about this later…

It’s the kind of speech that makes listeners furious. Damn it!

While Veronica glared at the knight with a dissatisfied expression, I changed targets and went on the offensive. The target was Akande, who had inherited the title of Shamir.

He was leisurely munching on dried meat. I approached him as he was gnawing on traditionally made jerky.

“Hey. Muscle pig.”

“…Pig?”

Akande, who was tearing meat with his teeth and chewing vigorously, opened his eyes wide. As if to ask if I was really referring to him.

“I. Not. Pig. That. Unclean animal. I. Not dirty.”

“Put some clothes on before you talk, you punk. You’re about to be arrested for public indecency… Anyway, why were you guarding the coffin?”

“Coff-in?”

“The cedar coffin. The one your tribe had.”

Pointing at the armored knight, Nathaniel, who seemed unwilling to follow any argument, and Ramiel, who was earnestly trying to persuade her, I talked about the coffin, and Akande finally understood.

“Protection. Important. Duty. Must be kept.”

“I know that. So whose orders were you following?”

“Orders? No. Request.”

“Whose request, then?”

He suddenly frowned in the middle of speaking. That expression when you’re speaking a foreign language and suddenly can’t think of a word.

Unable to find the right word, Akande frowned deeply and pondered. After a long period of deep contemplation, an incomprehensible word popped out.

“Umm…. Sr.”

I couldn’t interpret it, but the pronunciation was quite clear.

Sar.

Akande clearly said “Sar.”

“Sar? Who’s that?”

“Sr. Person from above. But. Not human.”

From above but not human? So, an angel?

I pointed at Ramiel and asked “Sar? Sar?” but Akande firmly shook his head. Not an angel? Or is it because Ramiel is an angel claimant?

“Knight. Not. Sr. Comes. Tribe’s land. Regularly.”

“Comes? This Sar person?”

“Not human. Focus on what I say. Don’t ask stupid questions.”

“Hey, you little…”

It’s one thing to come regularly, but why is he mocking me for being stupid? It’s already frustrating enough that Akande doesn’t know the common language, and his pronunciation is awkward too. I’m trying my best to interpret despite that, and he’s picking a fight?

Should I hit him? Though I’d probably get hit back twice as hard.

As the puzzling conversation was becoming difficult to interpret, a gentle voice joined in.

“Sr. It’s a word derived from an ancient language.”

It was Veronica.

Leaning against a pillar in the stone chamber, she began to add an explanation, waving her finger like a conductor’s baton.

“It’s a word meaning a celestial being. In Al-Yabud scripture, it’s usually interpreted as referring to an angel. Since it’s a dead language with no native speakers left, you probably haven’t heard it, Major. It’s a language that most people don’t know unless they’re theologians or archaeologists.”

“Oh….”

At that moment, I instinctively let out an exclamation of admiration. It was genuine admiration.

“That’s the most intellectual you’ve looked so far.”

To this, Veronica proudly smiled and shrugged her shoulders. But soon, a suspicious expression appeared, and her head tilted.

“…Wait a minute. The most intellectual? Are you saying I looked stupid until now?”

She questioned me, asking if I was mocking her for being stupid.

To this, I answered firmly:

“Yes.”

“Hey, you-“

She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at me in protest, but I found it completely unfair.

Logically, hadn’t everything she had shown so far been far from intellectual? Gambling, drinking, smoking, cursing, spying, crime, blasphemy, theft…

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t give a positive assessment of her conduct. Veronica had always been someone far from intellect or dignity. So when I finally complimented her, she acted like a thief caught red-handed.

Veronica, now thoroughly irritated, kept her eyes narrowed and continued to berate me.

Saying she could tolerate blasphemy against God but not insults directed at her. Isn’t it usually the opposite?

“How is this intellectual! All scriptures are written in ancient languages, so anyone studying theology would know this! And besides all that, what do you mean by implying I’m stupid!”

“Implying? Honestly, if you had shown even half the behavior you’re showing now, you wouldn’t have received such harsh criticism from the Papal State. You make mistakes and then get angry at me?”

“You irreverent person!”

Bonk! Veronica struck the top of my head with her fist.

The impact was so strong that my eyes nearly popped out. Akande, who had been chewing on jerky, laughed heartily at the sight.

“Hehe. Ignorance. Not shameful. Pride. Must not lose.”

“You should put some clothes on before saying such- Aargh!”

“Did that hit bone?”

“Ugh, yes…”

“Then take another hit.”

A saint beating a person, a diplomat being assaulted by that saint, and a half-naked muscle pig scratching his belly while eating jerky. Truly a maddening combination.

As the saint beat someone while accusing them of blasphemy, the two angels’ gazes began to pour toward her. Nathaniel, who had been staring blankly at Veronica, asked Ramiel:

“Are these truly the humans you have chosen?”

“Yes.”

“…These pathetic ones?”

“……”

The knight silently averted his gaze.

*

There was an unfortunate incident where a cleric from the Papal State, who advocates love and peace, committed violence against an innocent human, but the incident was amicably resolved through an agreement between the parties involved.

“Ow… My head hurts.”

“Hmph.”

Even as I rubbed my crown to check if my skull was cracked, Veronica continued to make disgruntled nasal sounds.

“Why are you still sulking? I apologized.”

“Is an apology enough? Forgiveness is what matters! Repentance requires sincere remorse and the victim’s forgiveness, don’t you know that, Major?”

“Well… You’ve never apologized either. Have you ever said sorry to the cardinals or bishops who suffered because of you?”

“Apologize? Me? I don’t need to do that.”

What fresh nonsense is this?

“Why on earth not?”

“Because I’m a saint!”

“……”

This was a statement that raised serious concerns about the Papal State’s personnel verification process.

Anyway.

Veronica, Akande, and I sat together, engaging in conversation. The lantern cast a romantic light on the scene.

I didn’t know, but this lantern was also taken from the Papal State’s repository. I heard it was a lantern used by a village bishop 400 years ago when he traversed a forest dominated by evil spirits to summon an exorcist priest.

“The Sar that Mr. Akande met is a word derived from ancient Harenian.”

Veronica brought up the topic while filling the religious order’s holy relic, the “Spectrum Lantern,” with oil.

“As I mentioned earlier, most religious scriptures are written in ancient languages. Since they were written thousands of years ago. All the scriptures circulating today are translations from ancient languages to modern ones.”

That’s why clerics and theologians needed to master ancient languages.

Buddhist monks studying sutras need to know Sanskrit, priests reading the Bible need to learn Latin, and Muslims reading the Quran must learn classical Arabic for the same reason.

“In Al-Yabud scripture, Sar can be interpreted in two main ways. First, as a celestial being. This interpretation aligns with what the religious order calls angels.”

“And the second?”

“A cleric who serves the Earth Mother Goddess. Among them, high-ranking clerics are often called Sar. Angel and high-ranking cleric—these are the two meanings of Sar.”

Hmm. Angel and high-ranking cleric.

We speculated about the being called Sar that Akande mentioned, considering two hypotheses: one, that he met a cleric of Al-Yabud, and two, that it was an angel of Al-Yabud.

“Of the two hypotheses, the former is more likely. The hypothesis that an Al-Yabud cleric regularly visited the tribe.”

“But the latter isn’t completely implausible either.”

Veronica answered while taking out water to drink. It was certainly a reasonable point.

Given the examples of Ramiel and Nathaniel, if angels of the religious order existed, then angels of Al-Yabud could exist as well.

Looking at the lantern, I opened my mouth with my arms crossed.

“That’s true, but realistically, the cleric hypothesis carries more weight. The idea that multiple angels exist is, well…”

Is that even plausible? I silently swallowed the rest of my words.

Veronica stared at me. Then she carefully posed a question, as if she also found it a bit absurd.

“By that logic, the angels right there are implausible too, don’t you think, Major?”

“……”

“Judging by scientific or magical standards, determining the existence of angels is not an easy task. It might be easier than proving God’s existence, but still. It’s funny that I, a saint, am saying this.”

“Still, the idea that there’s a third angel we don’t even know about is less realistic than the idea that a high-ranking cleric visited Akande’s tribe, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

We tried to interrogate Akande to find out who this Sar (Sr) was that he claimed to have met. However, Akande didn’t seem to know Sar’s identity either.

“Sr? Identity. I don’t know either. Probably female. I think.”

“Gender is female. Okay, anything else? Tell me anything you remember.”

“Song. Very excellent. Music. Good at it.”

According to him, Sar is estimated to be a “female with exceptional musical talent.” However, it was still unclear whether this person was human or an angel like Nathaniel.

Naturally, nationality and ethnicity were also unknown. Akande answered that he didn’t know where Sar came from because he had only seen her covered in traditional Mauritanian clothing. However, since the clothing was of a type that only women could wear, he could easily estimate the gender.

“Covered in traditional Mauritanian clothing… Then the possibility of her being a foreigner is low. Foreigners usually don’t go that far.”

“So you think she’s likely a local, Major? Assuming she’s human.”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Let’s summarize the information we’ve confirmed so far…”

The information we obtained through Akande was as follows:

1. A presumed female local.

2. Possessor of excellent singing and musical skills.

3. Visits the tribe approximately every 3 years. No accompanying individuals.

4. Traditional female clothing covering the entire body.

If she was indeed human, this Sar was a very unique person. The full-body covering attire is typically worn by married women, yet she made long-distance outings without her husband. It was behavior that could get her flogged if caught by the religious police.

I murmured in a calm tone:

“Very bold. It’s something even a cleric would find difficult to do.”

“Even a high-ranking cleric?”

“Well… Even high-ranking clerics are bound by laws. It would certainly cause gossip…”

While the nations of the Mauritanian continent are more supportive of women’s social participation than Arab countries due to population issues, it’s still not easy for women to move around alone here.

Setting aside religious issues, Mauritania is a place where you could die from monster attacks or get shot by rebels or government forces while walking down the street.

Free movement within cities is only possible in countries with strong centralized systems and military power to manage national security, like Abas, Kien, or Fatalia. In places where rebels occasionally fire mortar shells at the capital, even travel is often impossible.

Extreme corruption stems from delayed wages, and border guards are among the civil servants with unpaid salaries. So it’s impossible for border guards, who don’t even receive support, to properly fend off monsters.

That’s why Camilla and her group are hunting monsters here instead of government forces.

“Hmm…”

Veronica let out a contemplative sound.

“Whether Sar is human or an angel, it’s clear that Ramiel and Mr. Akande are connected to Al-Yabud. Since both hypotheses are linked to Al-Yabud.”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

“There’s no need for such religiously discriminatory remarks… Actually, thinking about it, such comments are understandable.”

The saint sighed deeply, covering her forehead.

“The Inquisition might have been right. The hypothesis that Al-Yabud is related to the cultists who stole Lucia’s blood.”

That’s right.

During the investigation into the theft of the saint’s blood, the Inquisition had hypothesized that Al-Yabud might be connected to Al-Khair. More precisely, it was a suspicion.

At the time, there was insufficient evidence to support the hypothesis, so both the Inquisition’s superiors and the Papal State were skeptical. But if Akande and Sar had met, the story changes. It means someone related to Al-Yabud had been in regular contact with the tribe that possessed the cedar coffin.

If the cult group Al-Khair received help from Sar in stealing the cedar coffin, this wasn’t an issue that could be dismissed as a mere religious dispute. It could lead the Papal State to draw their swords.

In other words, a crusade.

In today’s world, where holy wars are dismissed as jokes, crusades are topics only discussed by history buffs, but the problem is that the current Pope is a former head of the Inquisition.

“Do you think Raphaello might mobilize a crusade if things go wrong?”

To the diplomat’s question, the saint of the religious order replied with a sarcastic tone:

“He’s more than capable of that. That old fogey.”

“This is maddening.”

We agreed to keep silent about this matter until more definitive information emerged. After all, this Sar person might be a third party with no connection to Al-Yabud.

Even as we conversed with serious expressions, Akande was obliviously stuffing his face with food. The way he heartily devoured jerky and thick bread made him look just like a pig. Despite his insistence that he wasn’t a pig, he resembled someone from England in this aspect.

“I wonder where our angel claimants are.”

“It’s obvious. He’s still trying to persuade her over there.”

Looking in the direction Veronica pointed with her chin, I saw the familiar back of the armored figure.

Ramiel was still trying his best to break Nathaniel’s stubbornness. He was asking her to come along to hunt demons. Of course, Nathaniel’s answer remained consistent.

“I refuse.”

“Nathaniel.”

“Why should I follow your orders? Stop this meaningless persuasion.”

“Don’t be stubborn, sister. No matter how much you refuse like this, I won’t give up.”

“That stubborn attitude remains unchanged even after thousands of years. Go ahead and do as you please. My answer won’t change.”

To think such beings are angels. It truly makes my heart feel petty.

What exactly is God? A black prisoner who passed power to a man under surveillance? Both are still memorable masterpieces, but I can’t recall the actors’ names. It was a movie I really enjoyed.

While watching the bickering angel claimants, I made eye contact with Veronica. We both sighed deeply without prompting.

“They really are angels…?”

“I think they are angels, but honestly, I don’t want to believe it.”

“How can you say that? You’re a cleric.”

“Let’s just not call them angels, but angel claimants as you suggested?”

“But if they are angels, wouldn’t that be blasphemy to refer to such sacred beings that way?”

“Well, I can just make a thorough confession before I die.”

I’m not sure that’s what confession is for.

I desperately wanted to leave all this angel business behind, but we needed Ramiel’s help to get out of here. After tidying up our spot, we walked steadily toward the not-so-reliable angel claimant.

“Let’s stop and get going? No matter how I look at it, she doesn’t seem like she’ll be persuaded today.”

“…Nngh.”

As I tapped the pauldron of the plate armor, a groaning sound emerged.

The voice, which resonated subtly from the helmet, was transmitted directly to my brain, bypassing my eardrums. It’s a voice I still can’t get used to no matter how many times I hear it.

After groaning, Ramiel placed his hands on his waist with a frustrated demeanor. Then, straightening his upper body, he sighed deeply.

“Phew. Alright. As you say, persuasion doesn’t seem to be working.”

“Yes. You’ve thought well.”

“But what are we going to do?”

Veronica asked, pointing at Nathaniel. For now, she’s bound by iron chains and can’t do anything, but if we release her, she looks like she’ll run away immediately.

It seems wrong to just release her like this. But it also seems strange to leave her behind. What should we do with this angel claimant?

I had a brief conversation with Veronica to hear her opinion. No clear solution emerged, but the most prevalent opinion was to take her with us. However, our wishes were betrayed spectacularly.

“Ah, is that what you were worried about? There’s no need to take her. Just leave like this.”

“What? Leave her behind?”

“That’s right.”

No.

Why would you do such a thing…?

“We don’t need food or sleep. Though bound by iron chains, there are no demons here. Even if we leave her behind, nothing will threaten Nathaniel.”

Ramiel very boldly spouted nonsense about leaving Nathaniel behind. It was a 180-degree turn from his earlier talk about sisters and such, a seriously unfilial statement.

I was so dumbfounded that even Veronica, known for her broken character, and Akande, who lacks any sense of tact, were too shocked to speak. Veronica’s eyelids were even trembling.

Despite the pouring gazes, Ramiel placed his hands on his waist and proudly opened his chest. It was an attitude that made me wonder if he had gone senile.

I contemplated whether I should kick his chest and slap his ears.

“……”

The chained angel cast her gaze upon us. With her head tilted to one side, she looked like a younger sibling who didn’t want to associate with her troublesome siblings.

If the angel had a mouth, she might have said, “Get this guy away from me quickly.” In fact, even though she had no mouth, she could speak, but Nathaniel seemed too dumbfounded to say anything.

Veronica seemed to want to have a word with the angel claimant in a quiet place, so she tried to pull him away. However, the shameless angel claimant did not respond to the saint’s call.

And then, as if understanding what she was about to say, he spoke:

“I told you not to worry, didn’t I? It’s really fine. Nathaniel will be safe. Don’t you think so too, sister?”

“…In all my life, I’ve never been so ashamed of you. Don’t call me your sibling anywhere.”

“Ha! Don’t take it to heart. She always says that.”

To Nathaniel’s cold disgust, Ramiel brushed it off, saying to ignore it as it was something she always said. He was consistently idiotic.

The angel turned her head away in disgust, looking elsewhere. It was as if she couldn’t bear to look at him. But to the knight who lacked any sense of tact, it seemed like playfulness.

The knight began to laugh heartily. With one arm on a pillar and his legs crossed, he looked so annoying that I wanted to hit him.

“I failed today, but there will be another opportunity. For now, I must find new brothers and sisters. With them, I’m sure I can persuade Nathaniel.”

“……”

Honestly, I don’t think other angels would particularly like this guy either.

As I was thinking that and sighing deeply, it happened.

Rumble! A sound like something collapsing echoed through one side of the stone chamber. It was the sound of a pillar collapsing. The very pillar the knight had been leaning on.

Whether due to cracks from the battle or accumulated fatigue over the years, the pillar collapsed like dominoes without anyone doing anything. Crash, thud, bang! Quite noisily.

“Cough, cough…!”

“Ah, shit…!”

As a result, we inhaled a full dose of dust and sand.

Affectionate praise and exclamations erupted from the thick dust. Oh, I knew he would cause an accident. Just like an angel claimant. Angels killing people. Did you not wake up properly? Are you senile? Blah blah, this and that.

When the pillar collapsed, the knight, in his panic, grabbed the falling debris to prop it up. Of course, that didn’t stop the collapse, so he just ended up hugging a stone while being covered in stone dust.

“Ahem, ahem…”

The knight, who had quietly put down the debris, opened his mouth with an embarrassed voice.

“I made a mistake. I unintentionally caused trouble.”

He apologized sincerely, but well, from what I could see, the reaction wasn’t very good.

Veronica glaring daggers at him. Akande clutching his throat and coughing uncontrollably. Nathaniel, bound in iron chains, sighing deeply as if the ground would cave in.

“…What are you doing?”

“Tsk. There should be some remaining explosives around here…”

And me, searching for bombs. It was quite a spectacle.

Despite his sincere apology, the reaction was not good, and Ramiel was flustered. He stretched out his hands as if to signal his harmlessness and began to stammer excuses.

“I’m sorry. It was truly a mistake. Fortunately, no one was hurt. And only one pillar collapsed.”

As if to say, surely this place won’t collapse. Just as he was about to continue with such words:

-Rumble….

An ominous sound began to be heard, and something went “sss” and fell from the ceiling. It was stone dust.

The floor was also strangely trembling. The pillars seemed to be swaying left and right. Stone dust was falling from the ceiling, and pebbles on the floor were rolling around, with ominous sounds continuing to be heard.

Ah, really.

Damn angel claimant…

“…Everyone run!”

I shouted, and everyone quickly turned around and started running.

It was a reverse charge.