was doing? Kaito had assumed they had been the deeds of someone consumed by madness, but this notion was dozens of times more horrifying. Then a sharp noise sliced through the air. Kaito frantically looked up. When he did, he saw the tip of Lute's sword resting on the Grave Keeper's forehead from where he'd swung it. It looked capable of splitting her head open at any moment. However, the only response the Grave Keeper gave was a few blinks. When he spoke, Lute's voice was full of loathing. "Just what business does the rotting flesh of the Church have with us?" "I'm rather disappointed. You seemed so magnanimous, yet your actions are most deplorable. Have you perhaps forgotten about the third peace treaty? Normally, we would not be so lenient toward pagans such as yourselves. But the beastfolk are not our people, nor are they even human. So the Church overlooks your sins and strives constantly to be good neighbors to you. Ah, but alas! Alas, you repay me with violence!" "Don't take me for a fool, girl!" Lute howled. The pelts that made up the portable dwelling's walls shook from the vibrations. Kaito swallowed and looked back at Lute's sword. Fortunately, it hadn't broken the Grave Keeper's skin yet. In an impressive display of rationality, Lute had carefully maintained the sword's position. "We know all about what you did to our people, how you slaughtered them! Our people place much higher pride in repaying debts than humans do! That, and because a friend of mine put in a good word for you, I have no desire to decry humanity as evil! But betrayal must be repaid with fangs! If you are the Grave Keeper, then you will not leave this place alive!" "...Wherefore?" "Whâ€”?" "What right hath the likes of the third imperial princess's private army to bellow at me?" Her voice had a terrifyingly calm ring to it. She focused her clear, hollow gaze on Lute. Upon seeing her apparent transformation, Kaito let a breath catch in his throat. Elisabeth gave a light scoff. Lute, like Kaito, had shock spread across his face. The Grave Keeper continued her diatribe dispassionately in a strangely old-fashioned tone. "Thou hast no right to take such a tone with me. What evidence doth thou hast of such killings? Didst thou misconstrue the testimony of a demon's contractor and the Torture Princess as valid, perchance? Thou showest thy naÃ¯vetÃ©, knave." "You would treat me as a child?!" "As such befits an immature mutt as thyself. A lesson, perhaps, for thee. If thou wishest to turn thy sword on the Grave Keeper, do come up with a better excuse. Vyade would surely do as such." "What do you know of Lady Vyade Ula Forstlast?!" "Will it require an order ere thou understand? What an insufferable simpleton. Now, stand down." "Grrrâ€”" "Stand down, I did say!" When Lute heard the Grave Keeper's arrogant tone, his face contorted. His hands trembled in humiliation. A scratch appeared on the Grave Keeper's forehead, and blood began to drip forth. Wholly unperturbed by that fact, she began speaking in another tone altogether. "Well, if you really wanna take my head...then go onâ€”go for it! Seeing one of the three kings have to take responsibility? Now, that sounds like a good time! And hey, don't worry! The restructuring will be a grand repentance, a rite of absolute destruction where all sins get forgiven! Watching our races carve each other up in the meantime sounds like a blast! Everyone's gonna die anyway, so hey, memento mori!" This time, she spoke like a young punk, and an energetic smile spread across her face. Kaito was astounded all over again. What the hell is wrong with her? The Grave Keeper's speech patterns were abnormal, and in a different way than Jeanne's. Hers were incongruous, as though several different people were all mixed together. The tip of Lute's sword shook a little. The trail of blood had dripped all the way down to the Grave Keeper's lips. In spite of that, though, her smile remained the same. Grinding his teeth, Lute raised his sword overhead. "Hrgh!" "Lute, no!" Kaito called out to stop him. Killing the Grave Keeper could easily have drastic consequences. Instead of stopping, though, Lute returned his sword to its sheath. Then he collapsed cross-legged onto the pelt floor. Kaito breathed a sigh of relief. The Grave Keeper sloppily licked at her blood. After cleaning the area around her mouth in the same manner a cat would, she spoke. "Ah, how lovely. And the Church is quite magnanimous toward its neighbors. We will overlook your discourtesy this time." Man, there's gotta be a limit to how shameless you can be. Kaito frowned. Lute grimaced as well, but he looked around the room, seemingly having returned to his senses. His subordinates had been directing murderous rage toward the Grave Keeper as well. Even now, they still seemed poised to spring forward and go for her throat. Lute took a deep breath. Then, having stiffened his resolve, he bowed to the Grave Keeper. "I thank you for your generosity." His subordinates ground their teeth in unison. Their commanding officer had apologized, and they couldn't let that apology go to waste. They forcibly choked back their rage. But Lute then continued, his voice practically a growl. "But make certain you do not forget. This is the World's End, a land that belongs to no race. If we all seek the same thing, then conflict is inevitable. And the battlefield is a place of many surprises. You may be influential, but I can make no guarantees for your safety. So take care. Remember, any old blackguard might fire the arrow that takes your head." "Oh yes, I've been aware of that for quite a long while. Why, I've seen it myself. That's simply the kind of place that a battlefield is. Anyone and everyone might find themselves among the ranks of the fallen. The dead will form circles and dance among the skulls, waiting patiently atop God's palm for the day when all returns to nothing. Such tranquility, such delight! But we are not yet on a battlefield, and I am but a simple messenger." The Grave Keeper gently laid her hand atop her chest. Then, at long last, she displayed an innocent, age-appropriate smile. "Now, let's have a chat! Let's talk peacefully and pastorally so that all God's creatures can come to an understanding." "Have a...chat?" Kaito let out a dumbfounded murmur. The Grave Keeper's proposal seemed completely reasonable. But that was what made it seem so completely and utterly surreal. After all, their two camps were working under diametrically opposed goals and beliefs. Jeanne, Kaito, and the others were trying to protect and preserve the world as it was. That was the salvation they were trying to attain. The Grave Keeper and the rest of the fanatics, on the other hand, were trying to bring about the world's restructuring. That was the salvation they were trying to attain. Most conflicts had some sort of common ground the two sides could agree on. But here, no such thing existed. There was no way for them to meet halfway. The chasm that lay between them was vast and deep. Given the situation, then, what could there be to talk about? "'Twould be meaningless. And surely you know that, Grave Keeper. Exchanging words would amount to naught but a waste of time." "Oh my, you state that so assertively. It saddens my heart, it does." "You lot endorse the restructuring, and we seek survival. The world will either perish or not perish. The two options leave no room for compromise, which presents us with a rare instance of pure, unadulterated opposition." Elisabeth gave voice to the same thoughts that had been going through Kaito's head. Still languidly resting her chin atop her palms and crossed legs, she bluntly continued. "Mutual understanding is impossible for us. One or the other shall have to die." "Oh my, I should hope not. We at least have room to talk things over. Elisabeth Le Fanu, you especially should have little reason to want the world to continue." The Grave Keeper smiled. Elisabeth sullenly arched an eyebrow. Kaito immediately picked up on what the Grave Keeper was trying to say. Elisabeth's going to be burned at the stake. So it shouldn't really matter to her whether or not the world goes on... But wait. If we manage to prevent the world from being restructured and show everyone how corrupt the Church is, could we maybe get her sentence reduced? It was the first time that Kaito had considered that possibility. But the Grave Keeper wasn't finished yet. "Let us assume for a moment that the restructuring fails to occur and that you are all successful in borrowing Vyade Ula Forstlast's wisdom and denounce the Church. A purge would take place within it, to be certain. And Godd Deos's equilibrium sect would rise to power once more. Even so, the first demon's existence would still be hidden from the public, and the truth would be concealed once more. Why, I would bet on it. You all would choose to remain silent, and Vyade would, as well." Elisabeth offered no response to the Grave Keeper's bold declaration. Although he was about to vehemently object, Kaito ultimately held his tongue. The Grave Keeper was right. She's right... I won't say anything. And Elisabeth's probably the same. After all, what would happen if he talked? If he publicly announced the existence of the first demon, the world would descend into chaos. Destroying the very foundation of one of the world's most prominent religions tended to have that effect. The Church, its followers, some of the aristocrats, and even the royal family would become the subjects of intense hate and distrust. History would be marked by an age of executions and torture. The will of the masses could transform into a ruthless killing machine. Who knows just how many would hang? Furthermore, the war against the demons had dealt a grave blow to the world's economy. If society lost their leaders as well, it would plunge into an unprecedented state of disorder. And if a famine or plague hit, the disaster would be inconceivable. It was all too easy to imagine. Which left them with but a single choice. They couldn't say anything. "In short, even if your actions allow the world to persist, no grand accolades await you. For you yourselves will be the ones covering it up. Which all comes to mean that Torture Princess's fate will be unchanged." If we made some sort of backroom deal with the Church... No, that wouldn't work. Elisabeth herself doesn't want amnesty, and the masses would call relentlessly for the Torture Princess's head. The sheep would come to a stop right before plunging into the flames. But then, unknowingly, they would burn their own savior to death. Kaito clenched his fists. If that was the case, then the issue became which end was more honorable: the world's restructuring or burning at the stake. "As I said but moments ago, the restructuring will be a grand repentance. When the end arrives, all your sins will be forgiven. The time has come to 'pray that God will be your salvation.' Doesn't that sound pleasant? It's a more beautiful end than burning to death, at any rate. The Lord will finally reward you for your efforts." The Grave Keeper smiled, as though giving Elisabeth her blessings. As she did, Kaito was assailed by a particular doubt. True, the Torture Princess is a grand sinner. But... The masses had no clue how much good she'd done, nor did they even try to learn. That was simply the kind of creatures they were. They listened only to what they wanted to hear and saw only what they wanted to see. Flocks of sheep were, fundamentally, stupid. And that was the way