I got a call from the riffs.
Along the way, I joined Quena, Sheila, and Nerim and then went into a large, lavishly decorated tent.
Inside, there were people called Ruina and the Warlord.
You're all gathered here.
The first voice was Ruina. Next, Rif opens his mouth.
"It looks like the Combined Forces are coming together." That's where we hit the forces that are thought to be Daiyuan. "
Where is it?
Luina looked at Quena's question.
I felt like Quenna's eyes had been pushed down for a moment.
Is something wrong?
Leaving such a doubt, Ruina says.
"It's a holy republic."
The sound of your heart bounces.
No one would have noticed that he was upset.
But Riff and Ruina didn't miss a single glance at me.
On the other hand, I only saw it for a moment.
You must be vigilant that you care about me.
Either way, I'm not going to betray the Riffs.
But when I thought about the possibility of fighting Tholia and Phil, I knew my heart was still louder than usual.
◆
The Tholians had already marched from the Holy City, the heart of the Holy Republic.
Tholia's transportation was not like marching, it was like a carriage used by a noble lady. But it's also a sign that Tholia is special.
You've made a fascinating face, haven't you?
The Sword Saint who escorted Tholia---a fewer people call it "real" now--is called out by Phil.
"I thought I was going to fight Master Ruina somehow..."
Tholia is speechless.
Whether underwater or superficial, there were collisions between Ruina and Soria. Not once or twice did Ruina strip the Holy Republic of her fangs.
But what about the current situation? From the Tholians' point of view, there was an inevitable difference in power.
“The Waila Empire is disintegrating, and Ruina is gathering the remaining troops on the periphery. It probably won't reach 20,000. On top of that, countries and organizations on the coup side are expected to gather a total of 150,000 people in less than a month. It's too overwhelming to be scary anymore."
It can be an unprecedented bully to the weak.
I was surprised to see the Tholians.
I wonder if Ruina was such an unreliable empress.
Tholia murmured as if she had forgotten.
"But rumors have it that the guild has helped."
"Hmm..."
In any case, there was little information.
There are many elements of anxiety that move here.
As a Tholian, I thought it was important to look down calmly.
Maybe we shouldn't inadvertently go to war.
But there is a complicated reason for Tholia and Phil to move.
It was the instruction of the Church of True Astaire.
The Holy Republic respects religion at the same time as it has a republican system. Needless to say, the state religion believes in the goddess Astaire.
Tholians are a special class of knights in the Holy Republic, but they basically follow three lines of action.
One is to follow Tholia.
The other is an order from the Holy Republic's upper echelons.
The last is the "request" of True Astheism.
The Knights are paid by the Holy Republic, but the former takes orders as seriously. In other words, Tholia comes first.
However, the Holy Republic still accepts and accepts it. That's because everyone admits that the head of the Tholian sign is one of the factors that make up the Holy Republic.
Thoria's behavior is a lot to be praised for, and it's more unusual to be picky.
On the other hand, what the Holy Republic chronologically called "orders" was, according to the knights, "if Lord Thoria listened to the Holy Republic." Phil is probably the best example of that.
And the "request" of the true Aztec religion, which is the national religion and is believed by the Tholians, has the lowest priority.
It is only the back of the Knights' back, and also the in-laws from the priesthood that Thoria carries.
Thoria is paid a certain amount of salary, but it is basically a relationship with True Astea, to the extent that she is allowed to use her name, even if she is a volunteer.
This would have been different in the old Aztec religion, but now Tholia and True Aztecs are in such a position.
But this time it was different than usual.
True Astheism gave the order.
It wasn't the Knights of Tholia.
against the Holy Republic.
Perhaps some combined armies marched for similar reasons.
And the Holy Republic gave orders to the Tholians. Support the Waila Empire's coup and crush the remnants of Ruina.
The Holy Republic and the True Astheism inspired them to move against the Knights.
In other words, two of the three lines of action have been cleared.
I was in a pretty unusual state, but if I didn't move here, the Tholians wouldn't be standing.
Of course, I am not a person who is bound by status, power, money, etc., but I am not in a situation where I can weigh down my hips.
Excuse me! I just heard from Sufi-sama!
From Sufi-sama?
While riding, the Messenger brought a cube of magic items.
One is a mirror, the other is all covered in black.
There are multicolor buttons on the left and right, with brief explanations.
The size will be bigger than the palm of your hand.
There are many magic items for communication, but perhaps the most famous one is the crystal type.
The advantage of the crystal type is that it is stable and can communicate widely, but it needs to be poured with magic power and it is easy to crack. Not suitable on the battlefield.
The cube-shaped magic items held by the Tholian Knights allow for magical savings and strength.
Therefore, it is suitable for the battlefield, but there are parts that need to be linked to the contact in advance, or there is a slight lack of stability.
Thoria presses the red button on her right hand to open the window.
Can you hear me, Sufi-sama?
"Yes, Master Tholia, thank you for your response."
There was a rushing sight on the other side of the screen. Some believers are checking the materials or carrying them around.
Thoria decides that she has no choice because she is at war with the Waila Empire.
“How can I help you? It's near the border of the Weyra Empire, so I won't be able to take much time....."
"That's right. Try not to make any casualties of this war."
"Casualties?"
Avoid casualties. Naturally.
But I was pushed here just in case. This means no casualties and no casualties.
What it means is to act passively on the battlefield.
We need to make sure it doesn't hurt our allies or our enemies.
This instruction suggests that the enemy may no longer be an enemy.
"... what happened?"
"At present, there are groups that believe in Astaire without my knowledge about this war, Reuters, or my custody."
"Isn't that true Astheism?"
“In this survey, we have a wide variety of members. It is said that it is not necessarily just the people of the Church. What's even more troublesome is that everyone is quite a powerful person. His name is" The Astheian. "
"Impossible. If there is such a thing, I and Sufi-sama won't know it...."
Thoria did not say so, but she always meets with the heads of state. I had that much influence.
That's why I can't hide my surprise that there's a huge organization I don't know. Not to mention Astaire.
"You know that Reuters is very much in charge of this instruction from the church, right?"
"Honestly, I don't believe him very much."
Phil gives an outspoken opinion from the side.
I guess there was also a pride called the Sword Saint.
Tholia doesn't deny it, but she does.
"Since you chose Astaire, you shouldn't be inclined to evil."... but sometimes you do evil with good intentions. "
Sufi brings the story back to square one.
"It seems that Reuters may be the person who conducts the" "Astaire" "."
Neither Tholia nor Phil was surprised by the accusation.
Because I could only read that there was a backdrop to the mainstay of this war that I didn't see.
“So, do you know what they're after?”
Spi shakes his head in response to Phil's question.
"No, but the handlers are conducting an investigation." We'll find out soon enough. ”
“I see. That's why you told me and Phil not to hurt you as much as possible.”
Or the enemy.
None of the three are going to say anything inadvertent.
But everyone expected it.
Reuters disobedience.
Could you try not to make too many casualties?
Yes, I understand.
This series of conversations is about making sure that the other side is not harmed.
Because I don't know which way to lean.
Then a light greeting brings the magic item to a close.
It was at the same time.
The movement of the Knights stopped overall.
It was also a sign of encounter.
Phil puts his face out.
We're keeping Tholia out of danger.
“Why, why are you here!”
Phil's panicked appearance was unusual to Tholia.
A swordsman endowed with such talent was often calm. Especially on the battlefield.
"I wonder why... it's the enemy."
Tholia was familiar with the voice.
He smiles like a flower and comes out of the carriage.
--No wonder Tholia's spine has frozen.
Only Zido, Quena, and Sheila stood at a distance. He looks familiar, and he fights with Zed many times.
I've been in love many times since I was saved.
I had an unusual fear of Zed.
"Zido-san...!"
Unexplained fear, Thoria cries as she goes down the carriage. I stood beside Thoria trying to protect her.
It's been a long time.
Just being called on makes you happy.
But there was an untold fear in Tholia.
Thoria looked distracted to the left and right, and there were knights stretching their bodies vigilantly.
All of them were mighty men who had dived through the Shura, but they were shaken by the presence of one man.
It was the same for Phil.
Phil can wield his sword against Zed at Tholia's command.
I dedicate my loyalty to Tholia.
That's why I imagined that I would lose my life here.
Suddenly, Tholia notices.
(Ahh... this is the creepiness that Zeid feels when he's an [enemy])
Only Tholia regains her composure when she sees the rushing knights. It was something that I could notice because it was Tholia fighting as a rearguard.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please hold the sword." I'm going to talk to Zed. ”
Are you sure?
Phil confirms.
Conversing with the enemy is reproach, but not praise. It is natural to be deceived when it comes to taking lives.
However, Tholia smiled innocently, not making her feel so vigilant.
If you want, Phil can come too.
"Hah, hah..."
Phil returned his sword to its sheath in a poisoned state. At the beginning of it, a frozen air disappeared.
"I'm sorry. It's helpful."
Zeid was holding his head back and saying he was sorry.
He was also a man who wished he did not want to fight.