"Say, does this town really have such a rule?" Furina asked, her voice filled with curiosity and unease.
Arisawa glanced at her and nodded. "Yeah, the rule states that every married couple must have at least five children."
"That's not common in other countries, right?" Furina exclaimed, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"It might not be," Arisawa admitted, her tone calm and detached. "But this rule is taken directly from their gospel. The rings on their lips symbolize complete trust in their god."
"Do people actually like such a policy?" Furina questioned, lowering her gaze as the weight of such a custom settled in her thoughts.
"Well, from my perspective, no," Arisawa replied bluntly.
Furina frowned. "What do you mean?"
Arisawa pointed at the passersby, her expression calm yet perceptive. "Just look at their eyes."
Furina followed Arisawa's direction, observing the townspeople. At first, they seemed ordinary, but as she looked closer, she noticed the dark bags under their eyes—subtle signs hidden beneath thick layers of makeup.
"It's not immediately obvious because of their makeup," Arisawa explained, her voice quiet and composed. "These marks are from sleepless nights spent in endless prayers."
"Why do they do this? And why would anyone truly believe in such a religion?" Furina asked, lowering her tone as a tinge of discomfort crept into her voice.
"*Fufu*, as I said, they don't. It's actually forced," Arisawa answered, her light chuckle masking the gravity of her words.
The two continued walking through the town, silently gathering information about the peculiar customs of this place.
"What do you mean by 'forced'?" Furina asked after a brief pause.
Arisawa's gaze wandered, her calm demeanor unshaken. "This town is ruled by the Kansas family—the creators of Karvas, the religion these people supposedly follow."
"So, you're saying that to survive and live peacefully here, they have to be nothing but obedient dogs to these royals?" Furina asked, her voice tinged with disgust.
"Exactly. *Fufu*, the world is as dark as always. Anyways isn't this continent were currently in is known as the Sadist Continent, right?" Arisawa remarked with a faint smile.
"Yeah, that's right," Furina muttered, her unease growing.
Arisawa's expression didn't waver as she pulled a small book from her pocket and opened it, thumbing through its pages.
"Um… what's that?" Furina asked curiously.
Arisawa glanced at the book, then hesitated. She let out a soft sigh, closing it and tucking it back into her pocket. Turning to Furina, she replied with her usual cryptic smile, "Just a little journal where I keep details about our current situation. *Fufu*."
"You're so confusing, always one step ahead of everyone. You're just like Master," Furina muttered, crossing her arms.
Arisawa chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I'll explain it to you in due time."
Meanwhile, far across the sea in the Western Lashia continent, Alisha groaned as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head throbbed as she pushed herself up, taking in her surroundings. Dust hung heavily in the air, making it difficult to see.
"Where am I?" she muttered, her voice hoarse. Her memory began piecing itself together. "I remember this country has something called Authority Floors…."
She glanced around, recognizing the structure. "This must be one of them—the floors designated for slaves, villagers, nobles, and royalty. But with all this dust, it's hard to figure out which one I've landed on."
Her eyes widened as a realization struck her. "Wait... the ground collapsed near the shoreline. If this really is one of the lower floors, water will start flooding in as the tide rises. It's already noon, and by midnight, the tide will begin to fill this space. This is basically a death sentence if I don't climb back up to the noble floor in time."
Suddenly, a faint coughing sound broke through the eerie silence. Alisha instinctively reached for her sword, drawing it in one swift motion as she turned toward the noise.
"Who's there?" she shouted, her voice echoing in the dim, dust-filled chamber.
The coughing grew louder, and as the dust began to settle, she spotted a small figure—a young girl trembling in fear. The girl's disheveled appearance and ragged clothing marked her as a slave.
"Please don't kill me…" the girl sobbed, covering her face with her hands.
Alisha narrowed her eyes, studying the girl. "This presence… there's something inside her," she thought, her grip on the sword tightening. "Is she… an X Holder?"
The girl remained crouched on the ground, trembling violently.
"Hey, kid!" Alisha called out, sliding her sword back into its sheath.
The girl flinched but didn't look up. "Please don't kill me! I'll leave you alone, I promise. I'm not a threat—I'm just an ordinary slave…"
"Girl, answer me!" Alisha demanded, her tone sharp.
The girl yelped in fear. "W-What is it? Please don't hurt me!"
"Stand up. Face me when I'm talking to you," Alisha commanded firmly.
Hesitantly, the girl lifted her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. She rose to her feet but kept her eyes lowered, still trembling.
Alisha let out a sigh. "This girl seems so helpless on the outside," she thought. "But I can see it—what no one else does. She's an X Holder. My mother, Queen Shion, taught me how to sense the potential within others. And this girl has it."
Alisha stepped closer and removed her cape, draping it over the girl's trembling shoulders. The girl looked up in shock, clearly not expecting such an act of kindness.
"Eh…" the girl murmured, her sobs quieting for a moment.
"Are you okay?" Alisha asked gently.
"I-I'm fine… Please don't hurt me," the girl stammered, her voice still shaking.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Alisha reassured her. "I know what you've been through. Slavery is cruel and unforgiving, and I can only imagine how hard it's been for you. This… this is why we attacked this country."
The girl's eyes widened. "Wait… you're with those big ships that attacked us?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes," Alisha admitted, her voice soft. "But you have nothing to fear from me. I'll take care of you, so calm down. I know it's been tough." She reached out and patted the girl's head gently, offering her a small measure of comfort.
The girl burst into tears again, crying loudly as she clung to Alisha.
"This girl…" Alisha thought, her mind racing. "She's a good asset—someone who could become a powerful ally. If she learns to control her abilities as an X Holder, she might surpass even a demon lord."
Alisha pulled back slightly and looked the girl in the eyes. "What's your name?" she asked softly.
"I-I'm… Celina," the girl replied between sobs.
Alisha smiled warmly. "Celina. Don't worry. You're safe with me now."