As I look at the Cathedral Knights, who are sending out their advance troops and gradually advancing their main force deeper into the Great Temple, I say.

"Erdis, give me your hand. What? Just a flick of the finger.

　After watching them for a while, I realized that the Cathedral Knights, despite their grandiose titles, were a very honest and careful group.

　They never acted in isolation, always stepping on the ground in groups of three or four, but never in such a large group that they could not see their surroundings.

　The advance team seems to be walking in the dark inside the Great Temple, but in reality, they are steadily measuring the distance from the main body. The evidence of this is that every step they take is perfectly evenly spaced.

　I honestly thought that they were disgusting. A group of honest people like this will never cause chaos or panic. They just have the ability to swallow things as they fall into place.

　A good soldier-knight is always like that. I put my finger on my chin, squinting unconsciously.

　There are certain steps to take against such people. Cut their throats with a single bite. At the very least, we must destroy them in half so that they can never function as a group again.

　If we only bite one or two of them to death with the trap, they will definitely overcome. If they see something unusual, they will respond immediately and catch sight of the enemy.

　Against such people, reducing their numbers by one or two with Kalia's sword fights or Fialat's thought guidance will not get us anywhere.

　The quickest thing to do would be to throw their flesh and souls into the snow with battlefield magic.

　I'm sure their white armor is equipped to resist magic, but it's still too thin to stand up to Phialat. It's like trying to block a sword blow with a feather. The result is obvious.

　However, that would only be possible if there were no Alueno on the enemy side. Not even Fialaat could be so clever as to let the magic swallow all but one of the enemy's main force.

　Besides, battlefield magic, as the name implies, is not something that can be invoked indoors. If it works, of course, it's good, but if it doesn't, the temple itself will be vaporized before it can involve Alueno.

　That is why it is preferable to use a spear to devour them without relying on magic or military might. This is what spirits and spells are all about.

　He moved his eyes lazily toward Erdis. Erdis held his hat in a small hand and said, trying to choose his words.

Erdis--who is that? I was just a traveling elf, I think.

　What the hell is this guy talking about? My shoulders slumped involuntarily. I felt my shoulders slump, and my eyes naturally shot up.

　To be honest, it took me a few seconds to comprehend what Elddis was saying. The same seemed to be true for Kalia and Fialaat, and I could see silver and black hovering in the air.

　Just as I was about to ask them what they meant, their blue eyes fluttered in the darkness.

This Elf, Erdis, is the one you've been telling me to leave because he's useless to you. Don't you think it's very flattering to rely on such a person now?

　The wind that blows to the east doesn't always blow to the west. Erdis, or rather, Lord Traveling Elf, said this like a little bird chirping. Her cheeks smiled softly.

　Well, it seems that my advice has offended the princess quite a bit. I didn't expect her to retaliate in such a way, though. Rather, I guess it was just a joke to her.

　I couldn't imagine her being so gentle when I thought of the way she had once seemed so violent and frightening. Her eyes narrowed.

　At least I didn't say anything about it being useless," he said, shrugging lightly and sitting back down. Then he took Elddis' cold fingertips.

"I'm sorry I'm not a better knight. Your Highness. Please help me--

　In the temple, where there was almost no wind, the sound of a single wind whipping echoed.

"Of course. If that's what my knights want, I'm happy to oblige.

　Perhaps he was a bit dismayed by our behavior. I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.


　You're late.


　--You're late.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea. The only sound in the silence of the temple was the clicking and clacking of the long hands.

　The three groups that Garrus had sent to search the innermost parts of the temple had not returned.

　It was only a small delay, and it was quite possible that they had wandered off somewhere, or encountered a trap or two that delayed them.

　However, the fact that all three groups were late was still strange. Even if none of this happens, I'm telling them to come back. And so, the Cathedral Knights are loyal to their orders, regardless of what they think in their hearts. That's the way they're raised.

　If they don't come back, it means there's something wrong with them. Garrus' canines clicked once more.

"Commander of the Garrus Inheritance. Shall we return?

　The man who had been appointed second-in-command said in a low, resonant voice. He must have noticed that the advance party was slow to return. He was a man with dull-colored eyes, but he was a man who saw things clearly.

　Garrus paused for a moment, then shook his head.

No, we go on. No, we go on. Whether we seek out the lost, or the Diva's purpose, it's all ahead. If any of you are getting pale, you can leave them.

　But don't send out any more advance troops. When Garrus said that, the XO nodded without much objection and retracted the words into his throat.



　Garrus sniffs lightly. He's not so much a prudent man as he is a man who dares to say the opposite of what he thinks. He is a disciplined man to a fault.

　He used to say that if all the chiefs thought the same way, it would be the end of the group.

　But as he said, he would not turn on his heel at this moment.

　The revelation that Alueno, the diva, is pointing to is a place deep within the temple. If we turn back because someone doesn't come back on time without reaching there, we are no better than a carrier pigeon.

　Therefore, there is no choice for the Cathedral Knights but to move forward. If the advance men were caught in a trap or something, they could not retreat in order to save them.

　With that in mind, Garrus opened his mouth. It was at that moment.

　--Right in front of him, the figure of his second-in-command disappeared. Not even a shadow's tail could touch him.

　He didn't suddenly fall down with a traumatic injury, nor did he smell like he'd been poisoned by an illusion.

　Even if he had been wrapped up in magic, it was too easy. The armor that the knights of the temple wear is not soft enough to be easily knocked down by a single spell. So what's left?

　In Garrus's brain, one option after another disappeared in an instant. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw not only his second-in-command, but also a number of knights vanishing. I reflexively drive my hips and snap my ankles.

　The fierce skull did not wait for a single conclusion, and swung its crimson spear. The air ripped apart and a hole could be heard in space. All in the blink of an eye.

　--Gah, ding!

　Iron and steel joined together, biting each other and using each other's bodies as instruments.

　Sparks jumped in the dim darkness of the temple, flickering through space. It happened several times. Three or four times, the sounds of sword fights were repeated during the act that made it difficult to breathe.

　The sparks and sounds finally ceased after the sixth time.

　By then, Garrus could no longer see anyone around him. Neither the knights under his command nor the girl he had called a saint.

　On the contrary, the surroundings were completely dark, and all that could be seen was a single silver. Even so, Garrus says, without the slightest hint of irritation.

"This is no illusion. Even for an elven spell, it's strange. You can do this kind of thing, can't you?

　Garrus said, quite casually. But neither his eyes, nor the crimson spear he held out, were worthy of the words he spat out. All the signs emanating from Garrus's body told of a ferocious will to fight.

　Silver shakes her light, thread-like hair and speaks.

"Pull me out. I told you I'm no longer a knight.

　Kalia's eyes widened like a lion's as she said this, and her beloved silver sword tore straight through the darkness. Unlike Garrus, his every word oozed with the will to fight.

　Two ferocious wills bite into each other and wind their way through the space. The pressure was unbearable, and even a creak could be heard in the air.

　Kalia took a step forward.

"I will let you choose, Cathedral Knight Garrus Gargantia.

　Kalia's lips rippled, and then she said, as if it were nothing.

I'll let you choose. Which would you prefer?