Part 6
Even more reports were brought to Lumachina’s side.
──The Gelmedo Imperial Army appeared at the communication bridge with the First District!
「They’ve already reached a place like that......」
It probably meant that the Imperial Army entered and occupied the First District.
Rem groaned.
「......The surviving fighting power of the Lifelia Kingdom Army should be one the eastern side of the royal capital though.」
「Well, they did come running away since they couldn’t win after all.」
Sylvie shrugged her shoulders.
It meant that the Church soldiers were currently in the middle of fighting back.
In order to treat the injured, Lilitana went down to the relief section that was prepared on the lower layer of the Inner Court. Angeline and Horun went along with her as helpers.
Hostilities had started, and the injured were being carried in one after another.
The priests prayed their miracles, and healed their wounds. They then returned to the war front.
On the front line, the reassurance that "they would be healed as long as they don’t die" was what supported the Church soldiers.
Alicia checked the sword on her waist.
「I shall go forth.」
As if her strange speech and conduct from earlier hadn’t happened, she now displayed a dignified expression.
Lumachina made a surprised looking face.
「Eh? However, excuse me but......Alicia-san, I was told that you weren’t all that specialized at fighting though.」
「Fufu......Indeed, as a Warrior, I am about level 40.」
Even so, she was a fairly powerful person, but not enough to change the war situation.
「There is no mistake that having even just one more ally is for the best. However......」
Alicia had a social position.
The Lifelia Kingdom was in a precarious situation, but even so, she couldn’t ignore it.
Besides, she was a woman who would be reliable even in things other than fighting.
When they were opposing the Church, she had gathered proof of the Cardinal Institute’s crimes in a short time. This time, she chased after Diablo’s group’s movements, and had protected Sylvie and Horun faster than the King’s hands.
That wasn’t something that anyone could do.
Alicia made a thin smile.
「When I confronted the Faltra Feudal Lord, I was unable to do anything. Nor at the time when Edelgart-sama received punishment from the Demonic Beings...... While I am self-aware of my shortcomings, I cannot let things be the same forever.」
「What do you mean by that?」
「Fufu......Even in armed might, there are various kinds of it.」
She seemed to have made some sort of preparation.
Lumachina nodded.
「I understand. I wish you the fortunes of war.」
「Thank you very much, Lumachina-sama.」
Rem also stepped forward.
「......I will go too.」
「Is that alright?」
「......As I am now, I am pretty strong.」
Honestly, she couldn’t exhibit tremendous strength like when she had used the 《Demon King’s Fang》. But even so, as a high leveled Summoner.
Even as a Fistfighter.
She had confidence that she could be some useful fighting power.
Shera raised her hand.
「Then, me too!」
「Denied.」
The one who said that as if to talk over her, was Sylvie who had her arms folded alongside the wall.
Shera pouted her lips.
「Whyー!? Even I have the bow that Krum-chan strengthened, so I can protect everyone.」
Sylvie shook her head sideways.
「It’s unfortunate but......Shera-chan, it’s because it seems like the Greenwood Kingdom will disappear if in the unlikely event that something happens to you. Even if it’s fine for normal adventures, having you stand on the front lines on the battlefield is something I can’t permit.」
「I, had fought in the war against the Demonic Beings, you know!?」
Rem spoke from the side.
「......At that time, we didn’t know that you had those sorts of duties.」
「But, I’m an Adventurer!」
「In that case, please say that after you can protect yourself by yourself. In order to protect you, I had to use up two of my Summoned Beasts.」
「Ugh......」
In the fight against Royal Palace Knight Geibalt, Rem used Summoned Beasts as shields.
Shera had an attacking role.
The division of their roles went well, but putting it in reverse, it meant that Shera needed shields done through Summoned Beasts.
When Rem was alone, she would use all of her Summoned Beasts for attacking. If it was just protecting herself, as a Fistfighter──she would be fine if she used Kikou.
Alicia spoke with a serious voice.
「Shera-sama, please act as Lumachina-sama’s guard. The Church soldiers have gone to the front line, so if even Rem-sama and I go out, then you are the only one who will be able to protect this place.」
「Eh? Ahh, I see.」
「I am a Support Magician after allー. Although I can slow people down, I can’t repel the enemy.」
Sylvie made a wry smile.
Shera nodded.
「Got it! I’ll protect Lumachina-san!」
「Please take care of her.」
The discussion finished up with that.
Alicia headed towards the door.
Rem followed after her, and left the 《Prayer of Fire Room》.
Rem spoke while they walked through the hallways.
「......Thank you for that. Shera is the type that won’t listen once she says something like that, but we can’t let her out onto the battlefield this time.」
「For me, I think it would have been better for you to stay behind as well, Rem-sama.」
「......Do you think I will be a burden?」
「In the unlikely event that something happens to you, Diablo-sama will get mad at me.」
Rem scratched her cheek.
「Do you think......he would get mad?」
「Shall we test it out? Ahh, perhaps......just like how Krum-sama had lost Rem-sama, he might awaken as a True Demon King......」
Alicia said that with a spellbound expression.
Rem made a reluctant looking face.
「......That is quite nasty for a joke. At that time, it seriously hurt.」
In the past, Rem had been nearly killed by Holy Knight Sadraa due to Alicia’s schemes.
More accurately──if the words of the Krum that appeared in her dream (the remains of Demon King Krebskrum) were to be believed, she had been killed once.
Having gone to a place that normally couldn’t be returned from, it seemed that she was pulled back by Shera.
She was revived.
If that were true, then that would mean that Shera had performed a miracle that not even the High Chief Priest Lumachina accomplish.
Being unable to believe it at all, she had not yet talked about it to even Diablo.
Alicia cast her eyes down.
「Rem-sama, your group has said that you forgive me but......I believe that was a sin that should be compensated by risking my life.」
「......You can’t be thinking that......now is the time for that, could you?」
「I have no intention of having a pointless death.」
──She is probably resolved to die if it isn’t pointless.
Rem thought carefully.
And then, she changed the perspective of the topic.
「......Alicia, please listen closely──The Lifelia King has met his demise. Despite several of the influential nobles and staff officer remaining, a majority of the Kingdom Army soldiers that sustain their authority have been lost. The Lifelia Kingdom’s structure has collapsed.」
「............It’s orgasmic?」
「This isn’t that kind of talk! If you hate the vices of the kingdom, creating a nation without those, will start from now on.」
「A nation......」
「......It will surely be difficult to repel the Gelmedo Empire from the current war situation......But, if it is realized, we will have the post-war reconstruction waiting for us. And that is the time where a person like you will be needed. You have the lineage of the old regime and the position, you have the decisiveness and leadership skills, and you can make people and things move. And above all, you have a heart that detests injustice.」
You’re also strong in strategy──is what she added in her mind.
Alicia made a wry smile.
「You say some strange things, Rem-sama......I am, a Demon King Worshipper, you know?」
「......Even now?」
「Right now, I worship Diablo-sama.」
「......Well, true, he does introduce himself as a Demon King.」
Rem folded her arms and groaned.
Alicia asked a question sounding curious.
「Does Diablo-sama......desire the restoration of this country? Does he not think that it would be better if everything just burned up?」
「......If he thought that way, he wouldn’t take the initiative to fight in order to save people.」
「I thought that was for Lumachina-sama’s sake.」
「......No matter what Diablo may say, he loves peace, he values life, and he hates misdeeds.」
「That’s as if......he’s a Hero, isn’t it.」
「......That is what I think.」
Rem didn’t deny it.
Alicia made eyes as if she were looking into the distance.
「The restoration......of this nation......」
「......Your strength, will be necessary at that time.」
「Fufu......I believe you are overestimating me, but if Diablo-sama desires it, I will have no hesitation to offer up this body of mine.」
「......Well then, once this battle is over, you should try asking him about it.」
After Rem said that out loud.
It would be nice if he didn’t say anything that could be misunderstood in a weird way though──is the small apprehension that she ended up having.
A wry smile peeked through.
Before long, Rem left the Inner Court together with Alicia.
There was the sound of an explosion.
She felt a shockwave with her skin.
There was the smell of something burning, and the echoes of gunshots, screams, and sword fights could be heard.
──This is a battlefield.
Alicia broke into a run.
「Let’s go, Rem-sama! We must protect the communication bridge!」
「Yes!!」
Rem tightly grasped a Summoned Beast Crystal.
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