Schmerz, the Holy City of Peter, where the "God of Light" once taught and guided the people.
　This is the city where the "God of Light" taught and guided the people in the past.
　It is also said to be the place where "Holy Light God" Melt defeated the armies of the "Fallen Light God" Hadeer from the Holy Mountain.
　Today, Schmelz is the capital of this church.

　Protected on all sides by the Great Sacred Gate, Schmelz is very large.
　For this reason, it is divided into several sections.
　The most important of these compartments is the "Holy Light District".

　Churchland, and the Cathedral Knights, which was formed to save the suffering people.
　The headquarters of the Order, which is made up of four corps, is in the 'Holy Light District'.

　The Order of Melt exists to worship the "Holy Light God" Melt and spread his teachings throughout the world.
　The headquarters of the MELT cult, which is extremely powerful in the Church State, is also located in the Holy Light District.

　These two organizations are naturally closely related.
　It's not uncommon for political marriages to take place in order to consolidate their positions within the Order and within the Knights of the Order.

　Leo William Disfrender's childhood friend - Kirie Ursula Avern.
　Her engagement to Marcus is also a political marriage to consolidate her position.

　The Order of Melt is there to spread God's teachings to the world, but its inner workings are corrupt.
　They use God's prestige as a shield to enrich their own pockets and disobey God's teachings in order to gain a position.
　Such people are increasing.

　Kirie's parents are members of the Order of Melt.
　Her daughter, Kirie herself, is also a member of the Melt Order.

　In the past, Kirie's parents' position in the cult was terribly fragile.
　Her family background was not that good, she had no backing, and her position was only to the extent that she was crushed to the point of being dismayed by faction fighting.
　However, that had changed dramatically with the birth of Kirie.

　In the past, the "Holy Light God" Melt used the holy great magic that is said to have been used by the "Holy Light God".
　In the Church, it is called "holy chanting magic".
　It is a kind of lost magic that enables all kinds of blessings and miracles through holy magic and is impossible to reproduce.

　When Kirie was ten years old, she was suddenly able to use "holy magic".
　He performed a miraculous spell in a temple.
　Since then, Kirie's parents' status in the cult has risen dramatically.

　Currently, they are probably at the upper and lower levels of power in the Melt Order.
　However, there is no limit to human greed.
　Kirie's parents wanted to further improve their status and planned to use Kirie to arrange a political marriage.
　That partner is Marcus Pietro Sandalphon, captain of the Cathedral Knights Second Squadron.

　This kind of thing is all over the place.
　It's not a particularly unusual, commonplace political marriage.
　Fewer people in the Order would be able to marry someone they liked.

　But there was a man who was in love with his childhood friend.
　That's all there was to it.


◆.

　After leaving Marx's private room, Leo headed to his childhood friend's house.

'...... Why didn't you say anything to me?'

　In an accusatory tone, he threw a few words at his childhood friend sitting across the desk.
　She was a woman of Leo's age, with long indigo hair tied up in a string.
　Her slender body looked like it would snap if held tightly, and her uncovered skin was as clear as snow.

　Kirie Ursula Avern.
　A childhood friend of Leo's, she is engaged to the captain, Marcus.
　She is a member of the Order of Melt, and is one of the few users of "holy magic".

　They met when they were young and have been walking in the same direction ever since.
　He knew that she was engaged to be married.
　But it was a shock to Leo that she hadn't discussed it with him.

'Leo-kun. Its ...... me.

　Killier looked down at his desk with a dark expression on his face and choked on his words.
　Without waiting for her words, Leo continued to ask arrow after arrow.

'Are you really going to marry Captain Marx?　He belongs to the sub-human exclusionary group. You were supposed to be in a position to accept subhumans.
...... Right.
If you marry the captain, you'll have no choice but to join the exclusionary party.

　Kirie's parents belong to the anti-Ajin faction.
　Until now, Kirie has used her ability to use "holy magic" as a shield to muddy her own faction.
　But if you marry, that won't be the case.

Yeah ...... I know.
If so, go to ......!
Still, I've made up my mind.

　The words were crisp, but determined.
　Leo knows.
　He knows that when he has this kind of attitude, Killian will never change his opinion.

'Why ......!　Is it to solidify your parents' position in the cult? ......?
That's part of it. But, you know, ...... it's also for you, Leo.
"My, for ......?

　Clearly, Killier uttered that while looking at Leo.
　At Kirie's words, Leo involuntarily closed his mouth.
　Kirie's hair shook a little as he nodded.

''If my status rises, I can help Leo-kun with a lot of things ...... and then he can get closer to his dream, right?
My dream.
Yeah. I told you, I'm rooting for your dream, Leo!

　Kirie smiles cheerfully as she says this quickly.
　It's true that she sincerely supports Leo's dream, but right now Kirie's eyes are not looking at Leo.

'Yeah. I've finally made it to the rank of second-in-command. It's just one step away. That's why I wanted to help you with your dream--
......

　With a thump, the desk shook with a loud bang.　
　Killier shakes his body and looks at Leo, who bumps his fist on the desk.

'Leo, you ......'
'What's in it for me without consulting you? When did I ever ask you to do that?
I mean, he didn't ask you to do this, but you promised. You said you would support Leo. So I'm .......

　Enough, Leo said, sitting up.
　The blood was in his head now.
　Any more conversation would only hurt each other.

'Leo, you can go to ......!'

　Ignoring Killier's call, Leo left the house.
　Stepping outside, Leo exhaled.
　Removing the ring he was wearing and gripping it tightly, Leo looked up to the heavens.

'For ...... you. I'm ...... I'm ......ssh.

You're not going to be able to do that.

　It was the day after I watched the exchange between Leo and Marx from the attic.
　We had crept into the second squad's quarters again.
　Since it was the quarters of the Saint's Hall Knights, there were many knights on guard, not to mention magical surveillance.

　On the way to Marx's private quarters, I gathered information about the type of magic, the number of people on guard, and so on.
　Using Elfi's magic eye and my "Spell Divouer", I was able to quickly grasp the magic in the quarters.
　As for the knights on guard, there are too many of them, so I couldn't gather all the information in two days.
　Two more days would give us a complete grasp of the situation.

　It might seem like Zal, but this is still a pretty tightly controlled one.
　It took us quite a while to sneak in on the first day.
　A temple of the Melt Order would be several times more secure than this.
　I just hope you can't do anything to sneak in.

Hm. ....... Then I guess we'll have to postpone our defeat of the labyrinth for a few days.

　Currently, we were watching the conversation between Marcus and the other knights from the attic.
　They seemed to be talking about the defeat of the labyrinth that the Church State had planned.

''The defeat of the labyrinth has been postponed, huh?
I hear it's all about that thing with Lily and her friends.

　I replied in a whisper to Elfi's mutterings.

　As other countries are succeeding in defeating the labyrinth one after another, the Church State is in a hurry.
　That's why they are trying to gather their forces here in Schmelz to defeat the labyrinth.
　The fact that the weapons and armor from the armor shop I went to before were bought up must be in preparation for the defeat of the labyrinth.

　It was because of the one incident at the orphanage that they had to capture Lily and the others as soon as possible.
　The second squad was in a great hurry to search, and now the third squad seemed to be helping in the search.

''Wasn't the Order made up of four squads?''

　He nodded at Elfi's question and lightly explained the composition of the Order of the Cathedral Knights.

　Protecting the temple of the Melt Order, the first squad.
　The second squad, which protects the capital.
　The third and fourth squads, which protect the entire church country.

　The Knights of the Holy Hall is made up of these four squads.

I see. So, a few decades ago, I fought in the third or fourth squadron?
Yeah, maybe.
"They're like, 'Let's destroy the enemy of God! And then he came at me with a devilish look on his face, and it was creepy.

　Elfie shuddered as he remembered something.
　I don't know about now, but there were a lot of pretty pompous (...) followers in the past.
　There were probably many knights who spared their lives to make a suicide attack.

　It seems that the defeat of the labyrinth is mainly carried out by the third squad, which is said to have the most experience in fighting demons.
　Since that third squad is searching for Lily and the others, it's only natural that the defeat of the labyrinth is delayed.

　They will do their best to defeat the labyrinth to keep up with other countries.
　The time it takes and the number of people it takes to mobilize are orders of magnitude different from those of recruiting adventurers to defeat the labyrinth.
　If you're willing to sacrifice your knights, then your country might be able to defeat the maze.

''You're lucky this time, since it's .......
Hmm. It's going to be a pain in the ass to outwit those knights. Then it would be much easier if we just went by ourselves.

　Elfi nodded while eating his munchies and apple pie.

　I thought about using the Seido Knight to defeat the labyrinth, but considering the number of people that would be mobilized, it would take quite a bit of work.
　Like Elfi said, it would be easier and better if the two of us set out to defeat it together.

''Hmmmm.''

　He takes one apple pie after another out of his head, and Elfie chews on it with relish.
　This guy is too relaxed.

Hm. Someone's coming back.

　As I was dismayed by Elfi's unbridled enthusiasm, I had a visitor in Marx's room.
　A woman with indigo hair walks into the room by herself.
　From the way she was dressed, she must be from the Order of Melt.

''You're very welcome, Kirie-kun.

　Markus smiled a disgusted smile on his greasy face and ordered the woman to sit on the couch.
　The woman obeyed with a nonchalant expression on her face.

'Kirie-kun. Thank you for formally accepting our engagement,''
...... Yes.

　Engagement: .......
　You mean the person you were telling Leo yesterday.

'I'm sure Mr. Disfrender would be very pleased to hear that.
............

　The sticky tone contained a hint of pleasure, and Marcus didn't even try to hide it.
　The other woman seems to have noticed it too, but she didn't say anything while looking down.

'It hasn't been officially announced yet, but it has been decided that I will be going to the First Squad soon. I'm going to be the captain of the first squad, based on the recommendation of the Order's retainers.

　The First Squad ...... is the squad that guards the Temple.
　Unlike the other squads, the first squad is less dangerous and more involved in the depths of the Order.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

''If that happens, they will be able to participate in the council meetings held in the temple.
Yeah, right.
''So I'll be able to make some decisions about the advancement and regression of my knights. For example, I'll be able to promote the second-in-command of the second squadron to captain ...... or transfer him to the second-in-command around the third squadron.

　Marx's words caused the woman to jump and shake.　

　...... Oh.
　That's what it is.

'On the contrary, I suppose we could finally get them discharged from the army if we spread the story that 'whoever they are is a chivalrous and despicable man'.
'Yes ....... I understand.
I'm told you have a worthy goal in mind, Disfrender. Captain of the Second Squad, wasn't it? I'm impressed. You're still young, but you've come one step closer to your goal.

　Marx stood up and sat down next to the woman.
　Then he crawled his fingers on her shoulder.

'.......'
He lost his dream over a trivial matter: ....... This should not be happening. Isn't that right, Mr. Kirie?
Yes, yes, .......

　Marx put his face close to the woman's ear and said as he exhaled.

'Come to my mansion tonight, when you are finished with your duties.

　You know that, right?
　After reminding him of this in his ear, Marcus returned the woman from the room.

'Oh, now it's going to be copious. I've got to get ready for it. ...... all sorts of things.

　Marx's sticky muttering echoed in the quiet room.