Monsters hibernate.
That fact came as a somber shock to me.
Until now, I had always thought that monsters only acted according to programmed patterns. But with this case, it was proven that there are multiple "exceptions" to this rule.
The obvious exception is Anko. From the moment she was successfully tamed, Anko began to act as if she were actually alive. Up until that moment, she was, without a doubt, a mere monster just following a program.
She called it "God's binding curse".
God――I don't know if that's an appropriate word to use, but I guess it refers to a higher-dimensional being.
He's the one who controls and adjusts the world, I'm sure.
But in this case, what is it? ...An adjustment? It's a delicate point.
In the first place, why would a monster need to hibernate?
It's more of a "staging" as if to increase the sense of reality. As if deliberately trying to adapt to the providence of nature rather than an adjustment.
Unrealistic aspects that were allowed in a game had been changed in a way that adapts to reality.
But it's not all the same. In fact, it's possible to do crazy things that defied the laws of physics, such as Horse Riding Landing. On the other side, there are also realistic monsters, such as the Wraith, that hibernate over winter.
Then, I noticed just by chance.
Until now, I've thought of this world as "a reality that's as close to what Mobius was".
But perhaps I should change that view to "A Mobius that is a close as to what reality was"...?
...Ahh, I can't. In fact, I'm just an elementary school graduate at most, that's my limit. Well, I did go to junior high and high school, but I was playing Mobius all that time, not studying at all. Thinking this much is starting to get me a headache.
Let's keep those thoughts aside for now and just focus on what's in front.
"I'll tame that, so for now I'll put you down."
"O...y."
After saying so, I put down Yve, letting her stand on her own.
I then grabbed one of the sleeping monsters, an ookaratezaru, by the neck and brought it in front of me, then kicked it in the abdomen.
Immediately after, the ookaratezaru changed its appearance. What appeared in its place was a colorless, translucent, jelly-like monster. Exactly the wraith that I knew of.
"I really hate to put it this way, but it's all thanks to you falling off the cliff, Yve."
I activated "Tame" on the wraith that was on the brink of death from a single kick, and after turning around to thank Yve with a smile, she turned red and looked down. Seems like her "carelessness" of falling off a cliff is truly making her embarrassed to the point she's turning tomato red.
"Haha, sorry for teasing you. Well then, shall we go home?"
The taming was successful. Now that I've accomplished my purpose here, I do not need to be in such a cold place. I used "Unsummon" to send the wraith back and "Monster Summoning" to call for Anko.
"...o! ...er..."
Then, very different from her usual self, Yve uttered a voice that was by no means quiet.
I listened, wondering what she wanted to tell.
"Luna-chan...also...et..."
I want Luna-chan to also get one tamed. That is what she said.
My answer to that question was quickly decided. "Be my guest."
Still, why was it that Yve decided to speak up loudly now? I was curious so I asked her.
"I don't mind, but why did you ask?"
"...Ure, soon...be us…"
I'm sure soon it'll be useful.
I was aghast when I heard those words.
Windfield had been using the Yve Squad to conduct her research on the area surrounding the Sacred Country of Kamel. In other words, the Yve Squad members know the inner working of the Sacred Country.
Therefore, I guess it's only the Yve Squad that is aware of what I'm trying to do in Kamel.
Among all of them, the one who would be most useful to me was chosen. And it was none other than Luna, with the recommendation from her captain with zero hesitation.
According to Yukari, the Yve Squad is a unit for covert operations. And if we speak about the match between covert operations and a wraith, it can easily be called a match made in heaven. It certainly fits.
If it's these women, who are masters of their craft, I might be able to have them assist me in my work in the Sacred Country of Kamel. In fact, that might make it all go even smoother and without danger.
Based on all that, I guess she's asking me to take Luna, who would have tamed a wraith.
...Even though Yve looks like this, she has a firm idea of what it means to be a captain and is properly fulfilling that role. It kind of touched my heart.
"I understand. Then, not only Luna but let's get all the main members of the Yve Squad to tame a wraith."
"U! ...too?"
"Yeah, it's fine, you too get one, Yve."
"～～y!"
When I told her what I thought, Yve nodded with a blank expression, but she someone looked happy. Her face was still bright red though.
Well then, if that's decided let's quickly settle this.
I ordered Anko to summon all the members of the Yve Squad here.
After this, in addition to preparing for the assassination, I need to have a secret meeting with Renko and a meeting with Luna.
Seems like the eve of the revolution is going to be busy...
＊ ＊ ＊
"What? The Castall Kingdom is moving soldiers to the border?"
"Yes! It was confirmed late yesterday. The size seems to be about 20,000. We just got confirmation."
"Just now? It's been more than half a day."
"H-However, considering the distance from the border, even using a fast horse takes..."
"Don't talk back. Who do you think I am? Nex!"
"Haaa."
The soldier who came to report to Pope Black was cut down by his personal guard, Nex, even without being given time to beg for help.
The soldiers standing guard simply watched in silence. Inwardly they were sighing deeply thinking 'Not again!".
"Tell them to fortify the border defenses. You may send reinforcements if necessary."
"Right away, sir."
Seemingly satisfied after purging the soldier that he didn't like, Pope Black gave instructions and sat down on his chair.
He thought he had given the right instructions. In fact, that would seem to be the correct direction to take. That is unless a revolution were to take place tomorrow.
In the past, the Sacred Country's army had attacked the Castall Kamel, which at the time was in the midst of a civil war, with the aim to profit while others fought. At that time, they experienced a terrible defeat in a battle that at first seemed advantageous. The commander from that time had been obviously purged, but the bitter experience was still fresh in the mind of many soldiers.
Hence, it could be said that Pope Black's instructions this time were quite correct and extremely wrong at the same time.
For those who knew what had transpired that day and night, the Kingdom's army, and especially that man and the woman in black, were nothing less than objects of fear.
Fortify the borders and send in reinforcements if necessary. Excellent instructions indeed. However, from the perspective of those who had been through the trauma, no matter how much they fortified the border, or how many reinforcements came, they simply had no "peace of mind".
In the end...Pope Black's instructions, which could be interpreted as "I leave it to your discretion", caused the Sacred Country's army to fortify its borders way too much, dozens of times more than necessary. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to triumph over the horrors of the past.
Pope Black should've given specific instructions himself, from the number of soldiers needed to fortify the borders, to the number of reinforcements allowed to be sent. It was a stroke of luck that he left everything to the Sacred Country's army, which had been through a lot of trouble and had been traumatized by the Castall Kingdom.
This was Windfield's aim. By taking advantage of the hellish past deeds of Second and Anko, and having Margrave Steam conduct a large-scale military exercise near the border, she had stripped the capital, Old Joh, from its protection in a single move.
"Tomorrow is the conclave, huh..."
Pope Black muttered softly, sipping from his hot tea, and elegantly looking at the scenery outside the window.
It would be fine to let her go outside once in a while. He thought while having the saint in his mind.
Although he was convinced that Raspberry Bell was a genuine saint, he only thought of her as a tool to help him gather faith.
Why would he think so? Because Saint Raspberry Bell possessed a power that could only be called divine, one that normal people would never hope to possess.
A truly holy being. But even the saint was helpless before the power of the Pope. And that was part of his presumptuous attitude. There was nobody who could stand against him, who kept the saint on a short leash.
However, at the same time, he was afraid of the saint. Because he believed that she was a genuine saint.
That's why, while he confine her and used her, he never did anything too brutal and instead gave her a wealthy life, occasionally letting her out to the garden, taking meticulous care not to antagonize her completely.
Those who rose to the top always had the fear of being overtaken.
It would be a lie to say he had no anxiety. Pope Black lived with worry at all times, in fear of that loomed below.
"...I won't let anyone go against me."
The conclave was a very important place for him.
It was a massive exhibit of the Pope's great power to those below, pruning the will to rebel.
And for that, the existence of the saint was essential. The Pope's dictatorship could no longer be maintained if he lost the saint and the faith that came with her.
On the eve of the revolution.
Pope Black spent this time with unfathomable anxiety.
＊ ＊ ＊
"――I never expected you to bring in a different woman. You sure are a playboy."
Right at midnight in the forest. Renko showed up at the secret meeting place and the first thing that left her mouth was a hateful comment.
Unlike last time, it was Luna, and not Anko, who told her they would be meeting tonight. Luna used the wraith to Morph her appearance perfectly, and she now looked like the run-of-the-mill nun that you could see anywhere. It was during her infiltration that she made the appointment with Renko.
As easy as that, Luna had infiltrated the insides of the Kamel Church. As if she had become air, she blended in without raising any alarms and slipped in very naturally, effortless one might say. It was a brilliant technique as one would expect from a specialist.
Anko, on the other hand, was working behind the scenes to make sure that Renko and I are able to have a calm and confidential conversation, as she had done in the past.
"Do you hate playboys?"
"Who knows? At least I don't like you."
Hmm, I guess that one's on me.
I lightly brushed it off with an "I see," and then spoke up, getting to the main point.
"The revolution is at dawn. At sunrise, Dizart, the antichurch forces, will launch a surprise attack on Old Joh. I want you to assassinate Pope Black just before the sun rises. We'll infiltrate during the night and get hold of Raspberry Bell, then assist with the success of the revolution. That's basically the plan."
"...Is that okay?"
"What is?"
"I'm asking if you're okay with me killing him."
"It's fine, but you have to promise me two things."
"Say it."
"First, you have to make sure you succeed. And second, you have to make sure you do not die."
"Hmph...Got it."
Renko snorted and then uttered words of understanding.
According to Windfield, the Pope Black that Renko is trying to kill is a body double. However, if I tell her that at this point, it will no longer work as bait. Therefore, although it pains me a little, I will have to let her be fooled for the time being.
But in return... I will definitely help her. I'll take full responsibility. I won't let her die. I will not even let her be tortured. I will not waste the opportunity that she'll be betting her life on to create.
Our goal is to make the revolution started by Dizart succeed and rescue Raspberry Bell. Without taking any damage and without getting out identities exposed.
So finally, the revolution begins.