rather aberrant for a man who could relax after only so barely fleeing danger." Hearing Kaito's whisper, Elisabeth nodded. Eventually, the two of them made it to the middle of the square. Seeing something strange there, Kaito narrowed his eyes. "...What's up with that?" "That's a statue of the Saint. Hardly an oddity." "No, but, like, what's it doing here?" A bronze statue of an upside-down saint shedding tears of blood stood before them. In front of her was another statue, a kneeling apostle wrapped from the head down in tattered rags. Surprisingly, the apostle was a demi-human. Legs with scales engraved in them and sharp claws peeked out from the bottom edge of the rags. He looked as though he was both rejoicing and lamenting at the Saint's suffering. The scene called to mind torture, making it a strange choice to decorate a beloved plaza. "It's a little grim for a plaza decoration, don't you think?" "Perhaps, but according to the Church's legends, humanity's current society is built on the foundation of the Suffering Saint's sacrifice. In short, the scene signifies the sins man forced the Saint to bear. People must live proper lives, constantly recalling their sins as they sing prayers of gratitude. The statue is situated in an everyday place to remind them of that. It serves as something akin to a warning." "...I see." Her explanation was blunt, nearly to the point of heresy, but it inspired a vague sort of understanding in Kaito. He shifted his gaze from the bronze statue and the tent beside it. It was placed just off the statue and was a good deal narrower and longer than the ones holding the injured. The female paladin stopped directly in front of it. Raising her left arm, she gestured for the two of them to enter. "This way." Feeling the hostile gazes of the Royal Knights standing guard bearing down on them, Kaito and Elisabeth went inside. As they did, they were assailed by bright lights, forcing Kaito to squint. "...Whâ€”?" "Not bad. Impressive even, being able to assemble so many." Elisabeth's voice was full of admiration. Kaito looked and discovered that an entire wall was covered in active magical communication devices. Civil officials were frantically setting them into motion, trading messages with partners that were removed from there by great distances. Tense, angry voices filled through the air, and the female paladin called out to the two of them again. "Please keep walking. Our destination lies farther in." Prompted on by her words, Kaito and Elisabeth continued on. The air was hot and muddy, but the farther in they went, the cooler it got. Upon reaching the inner depths of the tent, they could hear new voices going back and forth, voices possessing a different kind of gravity than the ones from before. There was a desk placed directly on the stone ground, and a map of the capital was spread atop it. Paladins were pointing at it and exchanging arguments with stern expressions. "For La Mules's bombardment, we should..." "We've received authorization for tomorrow afternoon..." "Considering the angle and the effective range, the hill in the graveyard is..." "The people we'll need to secure it are..." Whatever they were discussing, it was going completely over Kaito's head. A man was floating in front of them. Upon seeing the man's strangely blurry back, Kaito began doubting his own eyes. Wait, why is that guy's back blurry? The man was dressed in a simple yet high-quality vestment. He was probably affiliated with the Church. Wondering who it was, Kaito frowned. Beside him, Elisabeth muttered in a strained voice. "...Godot Deus?" "Godot Deus?!" Kaito reflexively let out a hysterical cry. That shouldn't have been possible. Didn't Godot Deus die? Godot Deus was supposed to have lost his life in the initial attack, when the three demons had explosively begun their expansion. However, upon being called a dead man's name, the man turned to face them. "Elisabeth, I see. You did well to make it here." Aside from through communication devices, this was the first time Kaito had ever seen Godot Deus. In contrast to his expectations, Godot Deus's appearance was nothing more than that of a thin, wrinkled old manâ€”the kind you could find just about anywhere. But given the fact that his supposed death hadn't stopped him from appearing before them, he was clearly no ordinary man. Kaito narrowed his eyes and looked over Godot Deus again. Upon closer inspection, he was partially transparent. A silver bowl sat at his feet, a jewel resting in a sparkling pool of water. As Kaito stared at it, the stone in his pocket squirmed. At the same time, Kaito realized something. I see. Godot Deus really did die. The Godot Deus floating in front of him was nothing more than a reproduction of his soul, the same as Vlad was. Supplied with mana from the holy water the Church had prepared, he was commanding the troops from beyond the grave. The stone squirmed again. It seemed that Vlad wanted to talk to the man, perhaps due to them both being reproductions. But if Kaito did as Vlad wanted and materialized him, there was a solid chance the paladins would strike him down on the spot. As Kaito ignored the stone, to his surprise, Godot Deus spoke up. "Do you have Vlad in there?" "Wait, you could tell?" Completely exposed, Kaito responded in surprise. At the sudden mention of the Kaiser's former contractor's name, tension filled the room. Elisabeth stared off into space. Godot Deus calmly shook his head. "Your left arm is that of the Kaiser's and proof that one lacking knowledge of summoning was encouraged by a third party to form a contract. When you told me not to have any regrets, you were warning me that this was the choice you had made. Servant of Elisabeth's...what a fool you are, forming a contract with a demon." "Yeah, I agree with you there. But I haven't hurt anyone, and I plan to keep it that way. The minute I tried to harm an innocent, my master Elisabeth will probably immediately behead me anyway. I haven't given you guys any reason to criticize me or give me orders...and you don't have any grounds to punish me." "Strong words. However, it is true that we lack pieces to play. If you intend to fight alongside Elisabeth, I shall allow it. However, there is one thing I wish to confirm." Godot Deus extended a bony hand. Then he spoke in a low, husky voice. "Would you mind letting Vlad out?" In response to his request, Kaito gently ran mana through the stone in his pocket. Suddenly, azure rose petals and darkness whirled up within the tent. The paladins let out frantic cries. As he basked in their reactions, Vlad's phantasmal body knit itself together in the air. Overflowing with androgynous beauty, he crossed his legs and lorded over his surroundings. "Hey there, Godot Deus. Long time no see." "What are you putting on airs for, you buffoon?" "You're trying to make it sound like you showed up after being called for, but you were literally just begging to be let out." Elisabeth and Kaito interjected at the same time. The paladins gripped the handles of their swords in unison. However, after realizing that it was just a phantom, they lowered their guards. Vlad's black hair fluttered as he smiled at Godot Deus. "The last time was the inquisitionâ€”no, it was the time when you spared no pains in tormenting me? To see one of the Church's high priests reduced to the same state as me... I never realized the Church was so fond of twisting the natural order. For the first time, I find myself intrigued in you fellows." "I suspected that the dregs of your soul were still present in the world. How deplorable. After the Torture Princess's execution, we'll have to destroy you posthaste." "Oh, you needn't worry about that. I hear Elisabeth intends to do me in herself before then." "Even so, Elisabeth's servant's arm aside, things exceeding our expectations seem to be appearing left and right... This, too, must be one of God's trials." Half ignoring what Vlad had to say, Godot Deus shook his head again. After listening to their exchange, Elisabeth suddenly piped up. "Aye, I was surprised as well. Does the Church not oppose defying death in such a manner?" "It is as you say. With my soul currently residing with God, by all rights, Godot Deus should cease existing in this world as quickly as possible. However, the people are in a panic. After all, I am the one among the high priests with the authority to command both the Torture Princess and the paladins. A man entrusted with a blade must not be put to his rest alone." Godot Deus spoke as though it were a matter that didn't concern him. Kaito knew next to nothing about the power structure governing this society. But he'd been able to piece together that command of the Holy Knights, an organization ranked higher than the Royal Knights, rested not with the king but with the Church and that they were an organization specializing in fighting demons. I guess I'll have to ask Elisabeth about the specifics later. As Kaito pondered that, Godot Deus made yet another astonishing proclamation. "I am not the only Godot Deus who currently exists. Others are stationed all over the capital. All in all, from the shelters scattered about to the escape routes to the places connecting them, the sum total count of me's in operation comes to twenty." "...What?" Kaito let out a dumbfounded exclamation. He couldn't help but picture twenty Godot Deuses all gathered in the same room. Filled with instinctive revulsion, he furrowed his brows. The prospect of having multiple reproductions of the same soul at once was twisted beyond belief. From beside him, Elisabeth loudly laughed. "Ha-ha, what a lark! To think of the Church's head priest sullying providence in such a manner! You lot truly do have your backs against the wall!" "Watch your mouth, woman!" One of the paladins launched a sharp rebuke. However, the woman who'd guided Kaito and Elisabeth there lifted a hand to admonish him. After nodding to the woman, Godot Deus turned back toward Elisabeth. "Once more, the Church calls upon the Torture Princess. Fight alongside the paladins and defeat the demon that invades the capital. Your foe is the final three of the fourteen demons. This shall be your final order." With that, Godot Deus paused for a beat. His gaze pierced Elisabeth with the intensity of a hawk's. "Until the day of your death, try to do some good, at least." "I'd have done all that had you told me to or not, you senile old man!" The Torture Princess replied loudly to the Church's command. Her answer was accompanied by a truly fiendish smile. Godot Deus nodded, satisfied. Elisabeth scoffed, then tapped the map of the capital with her black-polished index fingernail. "Now, this battle shall take place in an urban environment, so on the matter of how much I'm allowed to destroy..." "If I may, we don't need the Torture Princess's assistance." A clear voice rang out and interrupted Elisabeth's question. Elisabeth narrowed her eyes in annoyance. Kaito turned to look at the speaker. It was the female paladin, the one who'd just stopped her underling from chewing out the Torture Princess. He tilted his head to the side at the unforeseen opposition. On the other side, Elisabeth sneered provocatively. "That reminds me, we've yet to hear your name. Who are you? What gives you the right?" "My name is Izabella Vicker, commander of the Holy Knights. Godot Deus, please know that I speak with utmost respect. We mustn't borrow the Torture Princess's strength. We mustn't rely on a sinner." "Skip the sentimentality. State why you feel she is unnecessary." "Yes, forgive me.