“What do the staff officers have to say? Tell me about our plan to counter Jaldabaoth, Kelart.”
The Holy Lady had been visiting the base to raise the soldiers’ morale, so she missed the war planning meeting. The Sacred Kingdom’s soldiers had better training than those of other countries, but they were still a levy army. Maintaining morale was crucial.
“Yes, Your Holy Majesty. There’s a debate about the various scenarios we can envision—if the subhumans surrounded the city, if they pass us by, if they veer south, if they split their forces into two or three groups to go after multiple objectives, and so on.”
This was the sort of moment where Calca recognized that although the sisters resembled each other, they were quite different. If she had asked the elder of the two, she would only have been able to get a frustratingly meandering report that never got to the point.
“I see… And which scenario do they believe to be most likely?”
“Given the way the subhumans tend to conduct raids and what has happened so far, they feel that an encirclement is most likely. But there’s one problem this time.”
“Yes, there is, isn’t there?”
“What’s that?”
Remedios had been escorting Calca, so she hadn’t attended the planning meeting, either. But the fact that the Holy Lady understood immediately and she didn’t stemmed from different issues.
“…Honored sister. The demon who rampaged in the capital—Jaldabaoth. I don’t know what kind of intellect he possesses, but demons tend to be quite crafty. He may have some stratagem we’re not prepared for.”
“Oh… That makes it tough for the staff officers who have to plan the operation, then, huh?”
Calca had a thing or two she would have liked to say to the commander of the paladins, but she held her tongue.
“…This is a real pickle we’re in. So what will we do if the subhumans surround us? We have plenty of provisions, but what I’m scared of is what happens if morale falls among the defenders. The planners took that into account, right?”
“Yes, Your Holy Majesty. Normally we would only have to hold out until reinforcements from the south arrived, but there are reports that Jaldabaoth uses mysterious powers and is capable of breaching our wall with a single attack. That’s making everyone rather nervous…”
All three of them furrowed their brows.
Considering what had happened at the border wall, anyone’s face would go cloudy. But Calca knew better. Remedios was only imitating her and Kelart.
Remedios didn’t use her head. And she was stubborn. If it were only that, they would merely be personality flaws, but those qualities were also what made her capable of dispensing absolute justice.
Thinking about what justice actually is complicates things significantly. For instance, say there are two children. One is human; one is subhuman. Since they are both pure and innocent, they become friends, but adults discover the subhuman and capture the child. The human child begs them to have mercy. But if they let the subhuman go, the child could grow up and one day return to take revenge on them. Would killing the subhuman child be just or not? There is no easy answer to the question.
Calca would hesitate to take a life in such a situation.
But Remedios would kill without a second thought. She had the unwavering belief that it was the right thing to do. Anything that could give the people of her country joy was something she agreed with.
When she assumed the throne, Calca told her two friends that she would “bring joy to the weak and make this a country where no one cries,” and in response, Remedios swore to “uphold justice” as her ardent supporter.
She had taken that vow further than anyone, and the fire in her eyes was similar to fanaticism.
If that was all there was to the woman named Remedios, she would have been a dangerous individual. However, Calca had never felt the need to steer clear of her. It made sense to be fond of goodness that loved people, loved peace, hated evil, and wanted to help the helpless.
And due to that personality, she had no hidden motives. Since she never used her head all that much, it was clear that everything she said and did came from the heart.
Organizations, especially those that had existed for many years, often grew inflexible over time as obligation and ceremony mounted. And in the same way, blood grew cloudy.
It was only natural that siblings should quarrel over ascension to the sole seat that rested at the pinnacle of authority. And the race continued out of suspicion, envy, fear—right up until a life was taken.
Calca had been freed from that fate early on—because she had been able to acquire the most powerful magic of any holy king in history. Once people obtained something to be proud of, they usually rested easier. Thus, Calca had been prepared to give up on becoming holy king. Her siblings, however, were not.
The only blood relative she could trust now was an older brother, Caspond.
Because she’d lived in such a simple way, Remedios was an oasis for Calca’s heart.
“Hmm. That’s unbelievable power. It reminds me of the evil spirits that show up in stories.”
“Honored sister. Not even the evil spirits were that powerful. It’s possible that Jaldabaoth is superior to them!”
“…Well, that’s no good. How can we beat him?”
“What are you worried for, Your Holy Majesty? I hear that in the Re-Estize Kingdom, an adamantite adventurer drove him off. Don’t you think we should be able to handle him?”
“…Hmm. Yes, if an adventurer on par with us was able to, then… The question is whether Jaldabaoth can use that wall-crumbling power multiple times in quick succession.”
“The staff officers feel that since he only used it once when he struck the wall, he must not be able to use it again immediately.”
“That makes sense. If he could cast it often, that was an opportune time to do so. If he didn’t, that means he can probably only use it once.”
Calca and Remedios agreed. There was little apparent reason for him not to continue blasting the wall apart if he was capable of it.
Calca was of the same mind. She lightly touched the crown on her head; it was a magic item, the focal device of the hereditary great ritual spell of the Sacred Kingdom, Last Holy War.
“Well, high-ranking adventurers familiar with hunting down monsters have obeyed the National Mobilization Order and joined the military. I’m sure if we bring all our power to bear, Jaldabaoth wouldn’t be impossible to defeat. After all, we have the precedent of him being driven off at least once.”
The Adventurers Guild had vehemently protested the drafting of adventurers as soldiers, but Calca refused to make exceptions to the order. Of course she didn’t. It would be the height of folly to divide their strength during a national emergency. And the Adventurers Guild in the Sacred Kingdom didn’t have the influence it did in the neighboring kingdom. Forcing it to obey was a simple matter.
“Right. But not getting the details about what happened with him in the kingdom was a screwup.”
“My apologies.”
“Oh no, Kelart. I don’t blame you. I should have prioritized gathering information from abroad.”
“No, Your Holy Majesty. It’s actually Kelart’s bad.”
“Honored sister…”
“Hey! It’s definitely not my fault! I was busy guarding Her Holy Majesty Calca and exterminating monsters! I did my job! I do what I’m best at!” Heh-heh. Remedios puffed her chest out.
She was right. What she said was correct, but there was something wrong with it.
“…Could the people vanishing from their villages be related to Jaldabaoth somehow?”
“Maybe…”
It had happened a while ago; all of a sudden the population of several villages simply disappeared. They weren’t able to find any clues to lead them to a perpetrator, but maybe Jaldabaoth was the one behind the incident.
“Then before we kill him, should we interrogate him about that? But if that’s the
case…dang. If only the Kingdom had slain him when they had the chance. Gazef Stronoff didn’t fight him?”
Kelart shot a quizzical look at Calca.
It must have meant, You haven’t told her yet? So Calca replied perfectly with a tired smile.
In words, it probably would have been something like, Of course I did. I told her how Jaldabaoth attacked the capital, how he was repelled by the adventurer, and how other demons showed up, and how the captain of the Royal Select drove them off… It either went in one ear and out the other or was pushed out by newer information…
“…I feel bad for your deputy commanders, honored sister.”
“Huh? What do they have to do with anything?”
Kelart massaged her temples with her fingers instead of answering.
Since Remedios didn’t use her brain, she needed people to clean up after her—her two deputies.
Kelart understood their pain all too well. But because Remedios was so naive—or to be blunt, rather stupid—she was a healing presence for a tired heart, so things more or less balanced out.
“…Sigh. I don’t know all the details, but apparently, he was fighting other demons, ones with scales.”
“Ah. None of this would have happened if he could have just defeated him for us. I can’t imagine that adamantite adventurer is stronger than Gazef.”
“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Remedios made a sour face.
She must have been displeased at the idea that someone she considered strong could be inferior to a stranger.
“Well, yeah, he can only wield a sword. If he had attacks for countering demons like I do, it might be a different story.”
In terms of pure combat ability, paladins were a notch below warriors, but against evil beings, they performed extremely well. What Remedios said was right, but Kelart emitted a little sigh.
Just then, Calca thought she heard the faint ringing of a bell.
Remedios leaped into action. She was always the one to move first in these situations.
She pushed the window open.
An early autumn breeze rushed in, forcing out the air inside that had been somewhat warmed by the trio’s body heat.
Carried on that bracing gust was indeed the sound of a bell—proof that the earlier noise hadn’t been her ears playing tricks on her. How much she would have preferred it to have been a figment of her imagination…
At the same time, a set of footsteps could be heard as several people pounded down the hallway.
“Holy Lady Calca, get behind me.”
Remedios stepped forward, drawing Sacred Sword Safarlissia, and took up a position between Calca and the door.
The door banged open.
“Your Holy Majesty!”
She recognized the man who was first through the door—the chief of staff.
“What is it? What a racket you’re kicking up!”
Scolded by Remedios, the man answered as he tried to catch his breath. “There was no time to leisurely stroll over! Your Holy Majesty! It’s Jaldabaoth! He’s inside the city! And multiple demons are tearing through the streets! The subhumans are also on the move—they’re probably advancing on us!”
“What?!”
“The subhuman army was spotted on the outskirts of town. I have no idea how they slipped past the patrols, but we had the wrong info! I have no doubt they’ll mount an attack in no time!”
It was so much news at once Calca couldn’t take it all in, but that hesitation only lasted a moment. With the face of a queen, she gave orders. “This is not what we anticipated, but the fight against Jaldabaoth starts now! Prepare to battle the subhumans while we keep Jaldabaoth busy! Pass on my orders to the adventurers, too!”
As she listened to her subordinates acknowledge, her doubts returned: Are we sure we’re not underestimating him?
She certainly didn’t mean to underestimate a demon who had broken their nation’s great wall. But was it a mistake to even think they could win? Would it be better to flee until they gathered more intelligence?
No, thought Calca, crushing the apprehension that had sprouted inside her.
If they didn’t fight now, then when? Intelligence was important certainly, but there was no better chance to bring their powers into play. As the war went on and resources dwindled, it would only become more difficult for the Scared Kingdom to muster its full strength.
And fleeing while collecting intelligence would mean allowing the people and land of the kingdom to be ravaged.
There was no telling how many of her subjects would be harmed if that happened.
“…Bring joy to the weak and make this a country where no one cries, right?”
“Yes, Holy Lady Calca!”
Remedios met her private comment with a resounding reply.
Boy, I was naive when I was younger. I could hardly have set more impossible goals for myself…
“Hmph! He’s all full of himself because they got past the big wall! He even waltzed right into our midst completely alone!” Remedios barked in anticipation.
But is that true? Well, it’s what I’ll have to believe. But she couldn’t get the feeling that they were making a serious mistake out of her head.
“…Still, don’t let your guard down. You should approach him with the understanding that he’s more than powerful enough to do terrifying things on his own.”
“Of course, Holy Lady Calca. Please consider me fully guarded! I’ll present you with his head after I cut it off with the Sacred Sword Safarlissia!”
It’s no good. Getting her to calm down is beyond my power. Despite that thought, Calca wasn’t worried. Remedios was like a completely different person in combat.
“Ahhh, a severed head doesn’t do much for me, but I’m very glad to have your loyalty. Chief of staff, please work according to the plan to defeat him and…buy us time?”
“Of course. I’ve already sent out a vanguard.”
Calca felt a dull pain in her heart. The order just now essentially meant Send them to die. She was telling him, Take soldiers who have no chance of winning and throw them at Jaldabaoth to slow him down.
A ruler’s job was to abandon a minority to save the majority.
She had no right to complain. Soldiers would die as a result of her order, so to honor them, she had to play her role to perfection.
She had to act the part of the supreme ruler, Holy Lady adored by all.
“All right, everyone! Let’s go!”
The moment she clapped her hands, everyone leaped into motion.
4
Clutching her holy sword, Remedios cut down a demon; one of her deputies had told her what they were called, but she couldn’t remember. Imbued with holy energy, the sword delivered terrible damage to evil beings—an effect worthy of its name.
The rampaging demon tumbled to the ground emitting something like steam from its wounds and disappeared.
After only a few seconds, there was no trace that a demon had been there at all. But the victims of its violence remained.
“What have they done?!” Remedios exclaimed upon seeing the soldiers—not the vanguard but ones who had been patrolling the city—strewn upon the ground.
One’s leather armor was split, and the hand pressed desperately against his abdomen was stained bright red; pink intestines peeked out from beneath it. His face had gone past pale to bone white.
Remedios didn’t have any medical training, but she knew from experience: There was no time to take him to a surgeon. He needed immediate magical healing.
The reason this man wasn’t dead was neither a coincidence nor due to superior skills. It had to be exactly what the demon intended to do. Not that Remedios had any idea why.
Still, that didn’t mean not saving these soldiers—abandoning them—was an option. Who could forsake those brave troops who were out there fighting for their country to buy their comrades time? Above all, she was a holy knight of justice.
“Treat him!”
She was working with a team of elite paladins, but they also had a few priests with them. The order was directed at the latter.
A deputy was in her ear whispering immediately. “I think it might be better to take him to a surgeon in the rear. If the priests use their powers now, they might run out of mana in the fight against Jaldabaoth. That might be why the demo—”
“You talk too much! My order stands! Heal him to the point that he can move on his own! And—” She looked at her deputy. “I can’t hear you mumbling through your helmet! Speak clearly!”
“Uh, er, never mind…”
“Good!”
Healing magic patched the soldiers up instantly. Of course, they weren’t completely mended. It was tier-one magic—it couldn’t bring half-dead soldiers back to full health. But it helped them enough so they could move. If they were no longer on the brink of death, there wasn’t any more magic to spare for them. Remedios remembered how insistent her little sister had been about the judicious use of resources.
“Brave soldiers, listen to me. Your wounds should have been healed the minimum amount necessary. Fall back and have a surgeon take a good look at you.”
The pain of walking would surely bring tears to their eyes. But she didn’t have time to listen to whining like that. She had to reach Jaldabaoth within the allotted time.
The troops must have grasped the meaning in her gaze, because they agreed with no objections.
“Good! Then farewell!”
Remedios sprinted off in the lead. Her metal armor was lighter and easier to move in than it looked. That plus her muscular strength meant she could run faster than anyone else, but her sister, Calca, and her deputies had told her over and over not to go charging into a fight on her own, so she slowed her pace to match the others—suppressing the feeling that they had to hurry to make up for lost time.
Before too long, they arrived at their destination, a certain corner of the city.
The streets looked utterly normal, but they had already been evacuated, so there wasn’t a single soul to be seen.
The Paladin of the Sacred Kingdom Part I Page 5
