episode_0025

Episode 25

Since Edward arrived, Maria seemed to be constantly dreaming.

Feeling fear in the starkly changed life, she hoped it was not a dream and pinched her thigh several times.

Due to pinching too hard, blood trickled down, and despite being scolded by Edward, she wanted to confirm that all of this was reality.

“Well, it’s such a fortunate story.”

Ever since becoming a saint as a child, she was ignored from above and revered from below.

Being a woman in her prime, she had an interest in romantic relationships, but due to her timid nature, she had never properly conversed with a man.

At such a time, a wonderful man appeared from a foreign country, saved her, and changed her life.

Except for the somewhat reversed roles between men and women, it was truly a classic fairy tale story of a princess riding a white horse, so it was not strange that her mind was often confused.

“Moreover, if I just listen to what Edward says, everything will work out well.”

Watching Edward beside her as they rode in the carriage, Maria blushed while stealing glances at him.

Initially feeling somewhat different from the man she knew, he gradually became someone she couldn’t get out of her mind.

Everything about him was great. From his physique and face to his voice, gentle touch, and occasionally stern gaze, everything was perfect.

“If there is one worrisome point, it’s that Edward has a place to return to someday.”

Lately, the biggest problem keeping Maria awake at night was the unchanging fact that he was a married man.

She even considered delaying treatment methods for fear that once his horns were removed, he would leave immediately.

Fortunately, there were still many mysteries surrounding his horns, so she could rest assured about that part.

However, she couldn’t hold onto him forever.

“Uh, wh-what should I do? I don’t want Edward to disappear…”

If she knew the method, she would use any means necessary, and she would do anything he wanted. Being like a maiden was natural, and she had already resolved to follow his every whim, even if he had strange preferences.

But she didn’t know the method. She had no idea how to keep him.

While contemplating whether she should accept being a slave, Edward spoke to Maria.

“The carriage has stopped. Have we arrived?”

“Oh, yes. Uh, this should be the place.”

The moment she heard the questioning voice, Maria’s thoughts halted.

In the eyes of Maria, who had become the center of the world for Edward rather than some godlike figure forcing faith without proof, nothing in this world was more important than fulfilling his demands.

“Hmm.”

With a short exclamation that seemed almost mocking, Maria got off the carriage with him and walked towards the building they had arrived at.

A building with a nameplate that read ‘St. Orphanage No. 13.’

—

Regardless of the true nature of the higher-ups, the Law Kingdom is a country that proclaims the mercy and compassion of the gods.

Although it is generally known that the powers they possess are products of evolution for survival, in the Law Kingdom itself, they teach that these powers are miracles bestowed by the god of light, Yubar.

The existence of the Law King also seems to be some kind of representative sent by Yubar to save and educate humanity, but from my perspective, it seems like a comical farce.

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, the Law Kingdom, whether due to its proclamation of mercy and compassion or for other reasons, has many places like orphanages.

Roughly speaking, it seems that one of them is being used as a laboratory and research institute.

The inn where I am being treated and staying is similar, but it seems that disguises like this are a specialty of the Law Kingdom.

With that in mind, as I walked towards the door with Maria, a large number of women from the orphanage gathered and blocked our path.

“Stop. This is a restricted area.”

“Wasn’t this an orphanage?”

“That’s correct, but we are cautious due to many sensitive and meticulous children. Please turn back.”

It would have been fine to push them away by force, but it seemed troublesome if colleagues came and interfered while I was looking around for a while.

Whether she read my mind or not, Maria stepped forward instead.

“It is you who should step back. I am Maria, the holy maiden of the Kingdom of Law. I heard there are children in need of help here, so please move aside.”

Oh, it was completely different from before. She was now composed, unlike the trembling figure clinging to me. She seemed quite confident now.

The guards were visibly taken aback when Maria stepped forward, but instead of backing down, they became even more assertive.

“Even if you are a holy maiden, you cannot enter here. This place is directly managed by His Majesty the King of Law.”

Well, this was bound to happen. It wasn’t Maria’s fault. I had vaguely anticipated something like this.

Thanks to this, I felt like I could move my body a bit after a long time, but suddenly Maria grabbed my arm and told me there was no need for that.

“Why is there no need for that?”

“Oh, I prepared in advance so as not to bother you, Edward.”

She shyly whispered and flicked her fingers into the air. It wasn’t just a casual finger flick; it seemed like she used some kind of technique imbued with magic. That seemed to be the signal.

As the sound of what seemed like an earthquake echoed from afar after she flicked her fingers, knights on horseback rushed towards us.

Knights appearing in the middle of the city, especially heavily armored cavalry, made the guards flustered.

While the knights exuded a sense of urgency as if they would rush at the guards immediately, Maria, who left the knights behind, asked again.

“I’ll ask you again. Will you step aside?”

The guards quickly split apart. Maria directed the guards to contain the knights and then led me inside the building.

As soon as we entered, we had to cover our noses.

“Ugh.”

“T-This is unbelievable!”

An academy. The dog must be laughing. Seriously.

Just the smell of medicine made me feel nauseous, but what was more serious was the strong smell of blood.

Despite the seemingly clean appearance, they must have been cleaning, but how could the entire building be filled with such a strong odor…

“Perhaps they noticed the commotion at the entrance; there seems to be no one upstairs.”

“N-No need to worry about missing anything, Edward. Priests are stationed all around the building for surveillance.”

Realizing the sense of being watched since getting off the carriage, I nodded and continued the search.

As mentioned earlier, there were no human shadows visible on the upper floor. All we saw were the sturdy iron gate at the entrance and the horrifying and gruesome scenes beyond it.

“How can this…!”

Every time she witnessed the gruesome scenes, Maria became furious. Even to an outsider like me, it was shocking, let alone for Maria, the holy maiden of the Kingdom of Law. It must have been an indescribable feeling for her.

I knew it existed, but I couldn’t have imagined it would be this severe.

After thoroughly checking above, we were confident there would be a way down below, so we carefully surveyed the surroundings.

Thinking that the search might take too long for just the two of us, I called on some knights to help, and finding the door was easy.

“It’s blocked by a barrier. I’ll remove it right away.”

“No, it’s okay, Maria. This will do.”

I knelt down on one knee and struck the floor with my fist, which seemed to be the entrance to the underground. As a result, the barrier shattered with a loud noise, revealing a staircase leading downward.

Simultaneously, a stronger smell of blood, including my own decay, assaulted my sense of smell more than from above.

Even the knights who witnessed the spectacle could not contain their emotions, breaking down to the point of cursing.

“Let’s go down. Knights, please protect Maria just in case.”

Anticipating what horrific sight might await us, we cautiously descended while mentally preparing ourselves.

However, when we reached the end of the stairs, the scene before us was simply a clean, spacious, white area.

No, perhaps that made it even more horrifying. It seemed like something terrible had happened here.

Apart from that, there was only one girl who looked like Maria and… numerous corpses.

“Lady Saint! What is the meaning of this! This place belongs to His Majesty the Law King…!”

I didn’t bother listening to the babbling. It was pointless.

Not only me but Maria and the knights seemed unwilling to engage in conversation as they stepped forward to apprehend them.

Wait, we shouldn’t arrest them.

“Maria.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t capture them, just kill them all.”

“What?! B-but if we do that, how will people know of their misdeeds…!”

“That’s why I’m telling you to kill them.”

Unless the intention is to completely ruin the Law Kingdom, revealing the truth is meaningless.

Criticizing and punishing the mastermind beyond the law king is futile. Instead of such actions, it was much better to kill off the annoying ones and expose the law king.

The most important person here was the girl marked as Maria’s rival.

The rest were unnecessary.

“St. Orphanage No. 13 never existed from the beginning. This wicked organization dared to disguise itself as an orphanage under the Law King’s name in the Law Kingdom and conducted experiments that should not have been done. In the end, they got caught by you… and fiercely resisted until they all died. It should be neatly resolved.”

Now, the trash, including the knights and Maria, who did not immediately understand what I was saying, blinked their eyes and commanded the knights seconds later.

“Did you hear? Their resistance is so strong that we have no choice but to kill them all.”

“L-Lady Saint?!”

“You didn’t hear me?”

“N-No! We heard you!”

The knights drew their swords. Only when the situation became clear did the dying trash cry out towards us.

“T-This can’t be! Trial! Y-yes, give us a trial!”

“I’ll tell you everything! I didn’t want to do this kind of thing in reality!”

“Oh, Law King! We only committed sins as instructed by the Law King…!”

The trash were being slaughtered by the knights’ swords. I approached the girl who was still staring blankly into space in front of the dying ones and asked her.

“What’s your name?”

“…93.”

I see. I guess I should give her a name first.

It doesn’t make sense for a hero to have no name.