"You should get some rest soon. I can take care of the paperwork today."
"I'm fine. As the Arch Knight, I have to ensure stability and safety and try to repair the broken infrastructure before it gets out of hand. With the lack of manpower to maintain the local jobs-"
"You look awful."
The old man studied Mary's exhausted face. The bags underneath her eyes were prominent on her usually stoic face. As a child, she used to be more expressive and emotional at times after her parents' deaths. However, as she grew older, he could count on his hands the number of times she smiled. "She used to beam with childish joy, bouncing on her tippy toes as she watched me show off my blessing. Her eyes would light up as if fireworks were contained in those bright, wide eyes."
The Captain smiled, reminiscing about the times he had taken care of a young Mary. As he stared at her, studying Mary's tired state, he couldn't help but feel his heart squeeze. She prided herself on being a proper leader, well-kept, dignified, and ruthless. Even towards him, she showed no mercy when her stubbornness from her mom kicked in. It was unbefitting of her to have her dress cap off, resting it on the table as she ran her hand through her red hair.
In the Captain's opinion, Mary ran her city like a general, which wasn't terrible. Their crime rate was the lowest out of most of the cities, and since Lydia and Asura's reign of terror, their casualty rate after Jormungandr's death reduced tremendously. However, the pile of work that continuously flowed into her office had beaten down the general, leaving her broken and worn.
Mary sighed and threw herself back in her chair. Her flowing, unrestrained red hair cascaded down her back as she rested her head. She closed her eyes, resting briefly as the stress ate away at her.
"Thanks. I really needed that. It's a great confidence booster."
The Captain heartfully laughed, bringing a smile to Mary's face as she watched her old mentor stroke his beard.
"Go take a nap, rest awhile, and I can take the reigns of the city for a bit. It's why I am here. To help you."
Mary groaned and rubbed her tired eyes.
"You need to leave soon. You have your own town to manage."
"That's why Thomas is there."
Mary accusingly pointed a finger at the Captain while staring at him, her eyes tucked against the top of her eyelids. She slightly tilted her head forward, like a school teacher playfully scolding a student who should be occupied with work,
"And Thomas has his own work he's supposed to work on."
"Thomas also needs a break from time to time."
Mary snorted at the comment,
"Thomas is always on break. It's time he starts working. If you keep talking to me and distracting me, this paperwork will never be completed."
The Captain looked around, studying the mountains of paperwork, somewhat sorted but still chaotically scattered on the top of the grand desk. The once orderly, pristine office was reduced to a pig's den. Books, documents, records, and bills littered every inch of the room and floor. Even the bookshelves couldn't escape the storm that blew through. With most of the books and binders being pulled out, the remaining were left to lay on their side and lean against one another.
"Why can't I have the librarian's blessing... It would make this so much easier..."
"Taking the easy route every time it's offered will lead to laziness and lack of discipline."
"I hate you."
The Captain laughed again at her resemblance to her younger sister.
"You and Mel are just alike, you know."
"Don't, you dare. At least I don't run away from work. I may not like it, but I do it. She runs and hides. She does whatever it takes to get out of it. And you're supposed to be fixing that, but clearly, it was a mistake to send her to you."
"Your mom was exactly the same when she was younger. Give Mel some time, and she will grow out of it."
"Did mom ever grow out of it? Hm? From what I know, you always said even when she was the leading gun dealer in all of The Temple, she had an attitude and refused to produce well-designed guns. She started a revolution where non-holy weapon firearms could finally be made to fight back against demons. Yet, she hated making useful ones. Instead, she toyed around all day making crazy contraptions she tried to sell off as guns."
A smirk tugged at the corner of the Captain's lips.
"And who else would you send her to? Thomas? I could send her to be Thomas's disciple since I am bad at my job."
"In all that is Judex, I'd rather die. She's fine with you."
"Haha, that quickly changed your mind."
"Yes, and on the note of changing, this conversation needs to change back to work. Did you receive Aliza's distress message?"
"I did. Who are you sending?"
"Rose and Mel."
"Send Asura with them."
"What?"
Mary studied the Captain, who sat confidently in his chair. His eyes shifted from a hearty, playful gaze to a serious, determined stare.
"Give me a reason he can't."
"He's an ogre, Captain. We can't just send a monster there. I can't watch him... And neither can you. That meathead could get into trouble. He could kill someone without supervision. I don't like it."
"I think you should show him a little respect after all he's done for you and this city. The Temple still hasn't sent aid, more priests, paladins, or even word from another Archknight. You defend them as if they are saints and yet villanize an ogre who spends his free time digging graves."
"I have received word from The Temple. They are sending replacement teams to fill the spots the priests who fled have left open. We've received a few teams already, and you know this. That makes about a hundred or so priests to help. Four Archknights are investigating Malachi and the Jormungandr incident as we speak.
"Yet, where are the Archknights? Why aren't they here if we can teleport hundreds of miles?"
"They are busy just like I am."
"If everyone is tied up with their responsibilities, then using Asura should be beneficial. He's outside help, a new, fresh pair of hands. He's proven himself, and you can't prove me wrong."
Mary tried to counter his argument but was at a loss for words. As the captain continued, she let out a defeated sigh.
"Name one person who has done more than he has for the civilians who lost their loved ones."
Due to a lack of manpower, the Temple has always been too busy to help with business outside its responsibilities. So, the government hired outside companies to maintain safety regarding mundane problems like fires or medical transportation. Mary never liked ignoring mundane problems because they were still issues that needed to be considered. However, her hands were tied as monsters, cultists, and now Apocalypses were a factor in the forever war of survival.
Mary looked over to her right, where a pile of letters resided on the desk. When they arrived, she expected disgust, resentment, and foul language to be written on the pages. As she read through them, she found only appreciation, kindness, and heartwarming welcomes in each one's content directed toward Asura.
It would be a lie if Mary claimed she still hated the ogre. Initially, it was tense, and she was at war with him over little things. However, he did not disregard her orders to never use his mana outside of sparring with Lydia. After watching him for a few months, she couldn't help but respect his character a little.
After sparring, studying, and daily work, Asura spent his free time digging thousands of graves for the ones who lost their lives during the attack. At first, the civilians watched him with disgust and spewed hateful comments at him. He never used a shovel, using only his four hands to scoop away the soil, and the barbaric sight enraged the people. Although he helped in the battle, they blamed him for their relative's death. However, he never returned their spiteful words and anger. Instead, he continued to dig silently.
Mary watched from afar at times as he continuously dug without a complaint. He was never asked to do such a task but instead took it upon himself. She expected him to use it as a means of escape, a way to disguise a sinister plan to free himself from the grasp of The Temple.
She was baffled by his determination and admired him as she watched him dig through the downpour that drenched him from head to toe. "Why doesn't he quit when it rains? It's just filling with mud," she thought as she watched him continue.
Two months ago, he never returned, and when she woke the next morning, finding the ogre no longer present in her cathedral, she found the Captain with Lydia in one of the halls. Lydia was discussing the city's current condition as Mary approached them.
"You were wrong. He finally ran."
"Haha, I wouldn't be so sure of yourself. Where do you think he's at?"
Mary knew the place he was referring to.
"If he's not at the cemetery, he's dead."
"Let's go then."
When they arrived, she saw him in the distance. The ogre was digging a group of seven graves. The three walked up behind him. Mary angrily exclaimed as she crossed her arms,
"You are supposed to return every night. This was non-negotiable."
The ogre continued to dig, showing no signs of exhaustion as he pulled dirt out. Pushing it into a large pile on the side. She almost ripped him from the hole but stopped as the Captain pushed an arm before her. Her head flicked up to him with an enraged stare.
"Move your hand."
"Wait."
The Captain's voice was soft but filled with authority as if his command was final. Asura continued to dig until the hole was complete. He sat still for a moment and looked up out of the hole. Mary followed his gaze and watched as the sun rose over the horizon, casting a golden glow that began its stretch to them. It felt as if the sun was presenting the thousands of graves neatly lined around the group to her, bathing them in its warm light.
Although he never appeared exhausted as he dug, his voice and demeanor gave it away. Asura's soft, strained voice startled her as he spoke.
"Sorry. Some old lady came and asked me to dig these."
Asura turned around and looked at the group, staring at the three of them. Mary froze as she stared into his empty, sunken eyes. "Was he crying?" Mary thought as she stared down at the monster in a grave. However, there were no signs of wetness around his eyes, so she concluded it must have been the overwhelming exhaustion.
The Captain reached out his arm, assisting Asura as he climbed out of the hole. Lydia stared at the seven holes and asked,
"Who are they for?"
Asura turned back and stared down into the empty pits, waiting to be filled with a life that had ended too soon.
"The old lady said it was her daughter... her son-in-law... and their five children. Couldn't tell her no, so I stayed the night to finish it. I'm headed back now to sleep unless there are some monsters who need to be dealt with. I'm always up for a fight."
Asura gave a slight, almost weak smile to the three who stood silently, watching as he began to walk off towards the cathedral. Mary was left speechless, and the Captain touched her shoulder.
"I believe you owe that young man an apology."
When they all returned, Mary apologized soon after, a leader willing to admit her mistakes. After that, she and the civilians started to look at Asura favorably. The city seemed to accept him, disregarding his monster status and bringing him food as he continuously worked through the nights. When their morale was at its lowest, he uplifted them in the dark time of recovery.
Some still protested his presence, but there were many to defend him whenever needed. As they shouted for his execution on her doorstep, she found multitudes of others flocking to the cemetery to help Asura. Even the Captain and Lydia were nowhere to be found at times, only to be found helping the ogre's pursuit to dig a grave for every life so their families could have peace.
The Captain's voice brought Mary back to the present,
"I believe it is Judex's plan to use him. Uriel chose him, too. That hasn't happened in years. If we can't trust the Archangel of Wisdom's decision, what can we trust?"
"I hate the fact you are always right."
"Well, I am old. I've seen a thing or two. So you are sending him then."
The door to the office slid open enough to let her words be heard outside.
"Yes. I'll send him with Mel and Rose."
"Send who with who?"
Asura barged into the room with Mel right behind him, swinging the door wide as the force slammed it into the wall. A loud thud echoed in the enormous room, leaving an eerie silence afterward.
"Oops."
Asura pulled the door away from the wall to check for damage. Although Mary couldn't see the wall behind the door, Asura's reaction told her everything. He slid the door back against the wall, patting it as if to state it was undamaged behind the door when it clearly wasn't.
Mary stared at the ill-mannered ogre.
"I'll be sending you to a nearby city with Mel and Rose."
"Why?"
Mel groaned and hung her head back.
"Can he go? Or I go? Why the two of us?"
"There's a monster there that's been causing difficulties for Aliza since she's a support Paladin. She specializes in healing and protection, which leaves her with little offensive capabilities to deal with it outright. So, you, you, and Rose will go."
Mel defiantly stated as she put her hands on her hips.
"Okay, so send one or two Paladins. Send Asura and Lydia. They love fighting. Why three? Why me?"
Mary clenched her jaw, and a vein popped out on her forehead.
"Because my dear little sister. You keep avoiding work here while I'm too busy to scold you. So, to force you to do your job, I'll give you the hardest tasks to ensure you have to do it. Who would've thought I'm still babysitting my twenty, I repeat, twenty-five-year-old sister? Lydia is busy, Asura is free, and Rose will lead the two of you."
"You can't-"
As the two sisters fought with one another, Asura turned to the old man and asked,
"When's Wain coming back?'
The old man looked outside the large windows and into the city.
"When did he leave?"
"About a week or two ago."
"I would expect him back in a week."
"How come Ash gets out of work?"
"I'm headed back soon, and I'll take Ash with me. He needs more time to recover after the purity burn."
"Aw. This sucks. He gets out of work, and I'm stuck with Miss Bi-Mel and Rose, then?"
"It should be quick, so I wouldn't worry about it. Aliza is a nice woman and requested some help. There is also a kid named Max there, and you'll find him interesting."
"Does he have a cool blessing?"
"He makes weapons with his limbs."
Asura's eyebrows raised, and he was taken aback,
"What?"
"Oh, speaking of weapons, we should get Asura one. You have a library here, right Mary?"
Mary froze in the middle of the argument and whipped her head to the Captain.
"You can't be seriously considering trying to give him a holy weapon, are you?"
"I don't see why we can't."
"Holy weapons-"
"Yes, I understand. However, it's not a decision you or I can make. It's up to Hephestine. I'm saying to just present him to the door. The angel decides after that."
Both sisters were left speechless, trying to muster up any reason why this was a terrible idea. Giving an ogre a holy weapon had to be against Judex's law. Mel stammered out,
"W-we can't give him a holy weapon, Captain. That's ridiculous! He'd kill us all! That tyrant loves to fight, and you just want to hand him a weapon."
"It would be beneficial to give a Paladin a weapon."
Asura's face lit up with excitement as he heard the title being used to describe him.
"I'M A PALADIN!? WHOOOP!"
"Oh Judex, have mercy on us... Captain, rethink this..."
"Just present the door to him. Before you leave Mel, take him to the library."
"No clue what this door is, but I like it."
The Captain stood up and touched Asura's shoulder. He firmly gazed at the ogre with an apologetic expression as if simultaneously warning and apologizing to him.
"Hopefully, the door likes you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
However, the old man never answered and walked out from the doors Asura entered through. He whipped his head to the two sisters, confused and curious about the warning.
"What does he mean by that?"
Mel looked at Mary with a bewildered expression, trying to find an anchor in her storm of uncertainty. Her mind raced at the thought of him getting his grubby hands on a weapon and the terror that would follow soon after. "We are going to die... We're dead." His sister surely wouldn't let this stand and would reject-
"Take him to the library."
"WHAT!? Have you gone insane too? He's a monster!"
"He's right. A weapon is useful in the hands of a Paladin."
Asura started to do a little jig as he stood next to the two, celebrating and displaying his excitement. He sang out with a terrible rhythm,
"Oh, I get a weapon. Yeah, a cool weapon. An awesome weapon."
He stopped for a moment and asked,
"Do I get to pick?"
"Judex, end me now."
"Mel."
Mary rolled her eyes at Mel's statement. However, she had to admit to herself that this might be one of the worst decisions she's ever made in her life. Her old self would never agree to such a preposterous thought. Maybe it was due to her exhaustion finally winning and taking away her sanity, or maybe her perspective on certain monsters had changed.