Ch.479Look at this

Beyond the horizon where snow drifts evoked the northern tundra, a golden wave approached Arad.

I stood on the castle wall, watching the approaching army of order while lighting a thin smoke like a signal fire.

They had finally arrived. The Holy Corps of Astraea.

About two thousand troops, with more than half being paladins—it seemed they had brought their entire main force.

…It wouldn’t be easy to win in a head-on battle.

Perhaps if I were at full strength, but in my current condition, victory seemed uncertain.

Ordinary paladins were nothing special, and even high-ranking paladins were manageable… but their elite core force, the Inquisitors, were troublesome opponents.

One-on-one might be possible, but against such an army, even I would tire before defeating them all.

That would be the end. I’d be hunted down like an exhausted beast.

Their miracles might not affect me much, but their swords would still hurt.

And with Ceylon, who seemed to be at least a semi-hero class…

Indeed, rushing into battle didn’t seem wise.

Normally, I would have had to risk a bloody conflict, but by fate’s joke or divine intervention, I now had a means to resolve this without fighting.

I glared at my bandaged chest with a mix of emotions, then tossed away my finished cigarette over the wall and descended.

I had already spent the past six days contemplating what to say.

—-

Astraea’s main force approaching Arad established their camp at a considerable distance from the walls.

Were they not planning to attack immediately?

Perhaps they were letting their troops rest after the march, or maybe they were wary of me.

At least this was better than them attacking without warning.

They must have already heard I was here from the reports of their defeated soldiers. That much was certain.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have set up camp just beyond the range of my arrows and javelins.

The situation had changed completely from the planned suppression of a rebellion.

Whether they had decided to eliminate me like Wilhelm had, or were considering other options, remained to be seen.

So it was time to find out.

I mounted a warhorse borrowed from Kranus’s cathedral.

Though its heavy armor and the snow would make galloping difficult, it added to my dignity and could serve as a shield or jumping platform if needed.

“Neeeigh!”

The warhorse shook its head and whinnied, as if sensing something ominous.

“Whoa, easy. Don’t act up. It’s troublesome.”

I grabbed the horse’s neck to calm it, then took the reins and headed beyond Arad’s gate.

On my back were a bow and two javelins. Inside my clothes, twenty daggers. At my waist, Durandal. With a shield hanging from the saddle, I was fully armed like a warrior prepared for war.

Necessary armaments.

Though I was going for “dialogue,” if they attacked me on sight, I would have to respond.

I lightly struck the reins, and the warhorse snorted before trampling through the snow and moving forward.

—-

“It’s Aishan-Gioro! Aishan-Gioro Haschal is coming!”

“Could she be planning a frontal attack…?”

“Alert the Inquisitors! Aishan-Gioro has appeared!”

As the distance narrowed, they seemed to spot me, shouting urgently and moving busily.

Paladins with spears and shields formed a defensive formation while priests deployed barriers.

The faces of archers drawing their bows were filled with tension and fear.

I approached to a distance just beyond their arrow range and pulled the reins to stop.

Breaking through their hastily formed formation wouldn’t be difficult, but that wasn’t why I had come.

“Aishan-Gioro Haschal! Do you truly intend to face us all alone? Such arrogance will bring your death!”

A man at the center of the formation threatened me, pointing a long spear.

With a presence rivaling the Sword of Landenburg, he was likely one of the Inquisitors.

I calmed my horse, startled by the holy light, and responded to him.

“Ha, you’re overreacting. I haven’t come to shed blood. Not this time.”

Perhaps my words were too unexpected, as the paladins stirred in surprise.

They looked at me like I was a tiger suddenly declaring vegetarianism.

“Your leader… Ceylon, I presume? I have matters to discuss with him. So clear the way. I swear not to spill a single drop of blood as long as I’m not attacked.”

“You expect us to believe that!”

The Inquisitor naturally objected.

Fair enough, I wouldn’t believe me either. But you have to.

“Isn’t believing your specialty?”

I raised both hands in the air to show I had no hostile intent.

Though with spear shafts protruding from my back, I could quickly draw one to respond if they attacked.

“……”

A long silence followed. The Inquisitor neither ordered an attack nor cleared the way, just glaring at me silently.

Well, his reaction was reasonable enough. He was probably waiting for Ceylon to arrive after receiving the report.

“No answer? Fine. I’ll wait about a minute.”

Since they showed no signs of trying to surround me or preparing large-scale miracles—no backstabbing attempts—I took out a cigarette and waited for Ceylon to arrive.

The paladins maintained their formation without moving, casting glances at me that might have been admiration or disgust at my composure in the face of their army.

“You asked for me.”

The familiar face of the blond Inquisitor arrived when my cigarette was about half burned.

—-

“Has it been two weeks? You’ve become quite rude in our time apart.”

I exhaled cigarette smoke and smirked at him.

He had glared at me before too, but at least his words had been polite… now he was openly informal.

“Should I call you Count Median if that displeases you? In that case, I would have to hold an imperial count responsible for invading his home country… but if that’s what you want.”

…In other words, as long as I didn’t emphasize my imperial status, he had no intention of making this an international issue.

His flexibility was quite surprising compared to Wilhelm. I had thought him more rigid.

“You’re more silver-tongued than I expected. Fine, I’ll overlook this rudeness. I didn’t come here to argue about titles anyway.”

“Then what did you come for? You said you had something to discuss with me, but I doubt you’re here to surrender.”

Would you surrender in my place?

I snorted in response and surveyed the increasing number of paladins.

Were they all gathering here? I wonder what they’d do if I were executing a feint.

“This isn’t the place to discuss it. I’d like a private setting with no listening ears… surely the Inquisitor known as Astraea’s Golden Seal wouldn’t refuse a private audience out of fear?”

“What if I do refuse?”

Then we’d have to fight.

“Blood would flow like a river. I won’t show mercy like last time. If you want your order to plummet to being the weakest in the Holy State, come at me.”

“……”

“How dare you speak such blasphemy!”

Ceylon fell silent at the reality in my words, but the other paladins flared up angrily.

The ignorant ones always bark the loudest.

If I had decided to slaughter you, you would all have died before reaching Arad, you bastards.

How would you catch me if I kept hitting and running from outside the city?

“…Open the formation. I need to hear what she has to say.”

When Ceylon quietly ordered, another Inquisitor beside him looked startled.

“Are you serious, Lord Ceylon?”

“Yes. This woman spared the lives of Arad’s paladins during combat. So in return, it’s only fair that we hear her out.”

“…It could be a trap targeting you.”

The Inquisitor lowered his voice in concern, but Ceylon seemed to have already decided.

To at least talk with me.

Indeed, I was right not to kill the paladins.

If I had, we would have had no choice but to wage war.

“Ambushing me under the pretext of a private meeting? Pointless. We would only destroy each other.”

Ceylon shook his head and ordered the paladins again, who despite their obvious suspicion, followed his command and opened a path.

—-

I was guided to Ceylon’s personal tent.

Apparently, there was no better place for a private audience.

Being in the center of their formation, it was the perfect place to be surrounded and killed if fighting broke out.

Well, they wouldn’t have agreed to a private meeting anywhere else, so I had to accept it.

“I’ve arranged a quiet place as requested. Now, may I hear why you came all this way seeking a private audience with me?”

“I wanted to negotiate. Wilhelm was unreasonable, but you seem different.”

“Negotiate?”

“Yes. If you refuse, we’ll have to fight… but if we can resolve this with words, that would be best.”

I sat down in a chair in the tent, lit a cigarette, and explained why I had come.

“You must have had a difficult journey, but Arad’s rebellion has already been quelled, so I’d like you to leave. If you enter, the embers we’ve barely extinguished will blaze again.”

“…You call that a proposal?”

Ceylon looked at me incredulously.

Fair enough, it’s like a burglar cleaning your house and then claiming it’s theirs and asking you to leave.

“Hear me out. So…”

I told Ceylon that Valkers was behind the events in Arad.

While an extremist like Wilhelm wouldn’t have listened, Ceylon seemed less stubborn from our conversation.

His hostility remained, but there was confusion mixed in.

I could guess why. He must have heard that the Light of Judgment had no effect on me.

He couldn’t help but be confused.

I hadn’t defended with scales or carapace like sturdy monsters, nor had I regenerated after being wounded.

I had simply endured the blows with my bare body without major damage.

That was essentially proof of my innocence from Astraea herself.

“Valkers… Valkers. Such an unexpected name that it’s almost believable… So you’re saying Valkers was behind Arad’s unrest? And our order’s suppression was also his intention?”

“That’s right. Archbishop Ladenis is investigating the residents to identify those involved. In other words, if we clash, only Valkers will benefit. Well, interested?”

Instead of answering, Ceylon sat down heavily in his chair with a rigid expression and sighed.

His face clearly showed the hardship of being caught in the middle.

“…Even so, nothing changes. Governing Arad is our order’s duty. You remain an enemy occupying our jurisdiction by force. If you withdraw now, we can take your previous losses into consideration… but if you don’t retreat, we must pass judgment.”

“Shouldn’t you call it a massacre rather than governance? After I leave, you’ll try to kill all the residents who participated in the protests. Like Wilhelm.”

“If they rebel again… regrettably, we must. The Cardinal has commanded it. While Bishop Wilhelm’s governance may have been the cause, we cannot ignore those who, incited by a demon, oppose our order.”

And if they entered Arad, it was only a matter of time before the residents resisted again.

Once conflict had occurred, this had long since transformed into a feud entangled with grudges.

“Why not go to another city? If you just step back, there won’t be any problems.”

“His Eminence does not know retreat.”

A response as unyielding as a blade, with no room for compromise.

This was the moment it was proven that invoking Valkers’ name alone would not resolve this situation.

“Haah… stubborn bastards.”

I let out a long sigh.

I hadn’t expected much from the start, but… is this the only way?

“Then how about this?”

I put down my cigarette in the ashtray, removed my top, and placed my finger on the bandage covering my upper chest.

If I fought them now, I couldn’t let them live.

Rather than slaughtering these men who were like threshing machines for monsters, it would be better if I became a bit tired instead.

Even if these stubborn men wouldn’t follow a foreign noble’s words, if it was a holy maiden candidate’s claim, things would be different—

“What are you doing?!”

Ceylon jumped up, his face reddening as he pointed at me.

What the hell? Why is he suddenly having a fit?

“To think you would try to seduce me with your body, truly as vulgar as the rumors say! Did you think an Inquisitor of Astraea would fall for such carnal desires…!”

“W-what are you saying? That’s not it, you bastard!”

What the hell is in this guy’s head to make such an accusation!

I felt my cheeks burning.

“Look at this!”

To prove my innocence, I quickly lowered the bandage, showing him the scale symbol engraved on my upper chest.

“Are you mad! What are you showing…!”

Ceylon’s angry gaze fixed on my upper chest.

“Huh? Uh, what?”

Ceylon, suddenly regressed to a primate, stared at Astraea’s stigmata with his mouth wide open, uttering monkey-like sounds.

“This is, no, it can’t be?”

As if seeing an impossible hallucination, he rubbed his eyes and looked again.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, denying reality, and then looked again.

Of course, no matter how much he denied it, the symbol on my chest wouldn’t disappear.

“A stigmata…? Impossible. It can’t be. A hallucination… no, it must be fake. Painted with pigment…!”

His trembling right hand moved toward my stigmata.

With his thumb extended as if to rub away what he was seeing.

“Where do you think you’re touching, bastard!”

I knocked away Ceylon’s hand approaching my chest, then rubbed it myself to show it wasn’t paint.

“Astraea preserve us, what is this…?”

Finally understanding reality, Ceylon collapsed to his knees before me as if his legs had given out.

“Lord Ceylon! Are you alright!”

“So she was planning an ambush! Vile barbarian!”

The paladins who came running at Ceylon’s shout threw open the tent door at that very moment.

—-

They probably thought I had attacked Ceylon.

What they actually witnessed was something completely different.

“Uh, what…?”

“What is this…?!”

The paladins who rushed in with drawn swords were so shocked by the scene that they dropped their weapons.

Not because they saw my stigmata—I had my back turned to them.

What they saw was my back view with my top removed and chest partially exposed, and Ceylon kneeling before me.

Of course, I couldn’t consider this fortunate.

The distance between Ceylon and me was too close, and due to the chair’s height, Ceylon’s head was positioned right around my thigh.

How would that look from behind?

“Kuh…!”

I quickly pulled up the bandage to cover the stigmata on my chest.

I had no intention of advertising that I had been chosen as a holy maiden candidate. At least not yet.

Of course, to the paladins, it looked like a woman hastily covering herself after being caught in the act. Damn it.

“Lord Ceylon, what on earth are you doing?! Such acts with an enemy of the order…!”

“So this is why you showed such an uncharacteristically conciliatory attitude…!”

“N-no. This is a misunderstanding!”

Ceylon jumped up and frantically protested, but the paladins only backed away with faces full of disbelief.

…This is a complete mess.