The public exercise had just finished, and for now, I called out to Drake and Jessica, who was talking to Alisa in the waiting room, and together we headed to the entrance of the city.

''At this time of year, are you an Imperial emissary?　I don't see the purpose....

It saves us the trouble of declaring war. If you want, I'll send the messenger's head back in a bowl of salt.

The idea of you scares me, Drake.

　As expected, that would incur the wrath of the Empire.
　Besides, having already dropped the city of Rafas, it's like the declaration of war is over. In the first place, mercenaries have been dispatched to the front lines of the Kingdom of Olvance, so from the Empire's point of view, it's like an ongoing battle with my country.
　In other words, my country and the Empire are currently in an adversarial relationship. I can't understand the Empire's idea of sending an emissary to such a hostile country.
　No wonder Jessica is troubled by the fact that she can't see the purpose of it.

''If it was a peace proposal, what would you do?　Master Noah.

No. Over.

The Messenger's head.

I won't kill you. It's not like we're in a battlefield. There's no such thing as bloody.

　Drake, you don't have to be so concerned about the messenger's head.
　While we were talking like that, the entrance to the city came into view. Naturally, there was one large, strangely luxurious carriage with a dozen or so full-body armor with a ride on it. And then there was the gate keeper, an elf and an ogre, Chappie.
　Come to think of it, I didn't see Chappie, but he was in charge of the gatekeeping today.

'Master Noah!'

Go, go, go, go, go...!

Here you go. I'll take it from here.

　The cavalrymen, clad in the armor of imperial knights.
　When they are not dismounting from their horses, you can tell that they have no intention of responding to you in a friendly manner at all. At all, what did they come all the way here for?
　Also, the lead is still a familiar figure.

'It's been a while, Noah.'

I knew it, big brother. What do you want?

　The captain of the cavalry at the head of the group - that was my brother Ray Whitefield.
　He used to proclaim nonsense like "Kill all the demons under your command and surrender to the Empire and I'll save you alone". There's no way I would have accepted it.
　I won't even consider you my brother anymore if you come up with that kind of nonsense again. I will only fight the Empire to protect my country.

"If you want to fight in here, I'll be fine. I don't think of you as my blood family anymore.

Don't jump to conclusions. I didn't come here to fight you.

What?

In the first place, I'm not the messenger of the Empire today.

　I raise an eyebrow at Brother Lei's words.
　Brother Lei belongs to the Draukos Empire. And he is in the position of a Knight Commander. According to his own words, he is protecting Hydra's guards.
　I don't know what you're talking about, that such a brother is not a messenger of the Empire.

''I'm a messenger of the Mullerian religion today.

"Mullerianism?

'Ah. I come in the name of Archbishop Lucudia Rhinophallus.

....

　What does Mullerianism have to do with me?
　I don't have any concept of religion in my country. I don't know much about the Mullerian religion, I don't know much about it.
　I don't know much about the Mullerian religion, but I wonder if it's a religion that accepts demonic believers or something like that. That's why we're talking about building a church so that the people of Grandizia - demons can also accept the religion, right?
　To be honest, I don't think demons believe in religion.

'Come with me. The Grand Pope wants to see you.

Oh no. The High Pope is in the Imperial City, right? I'm in a state of hostility with the Empire right now.

'I'm aware of that too. On top of that, the Archbishop wants to talk to you.

Well.....

　Maybe you're right and the Archbishop is really calling me.
　But that doesn't mean that I have to follow him, does it?
　In fact, if you have something to do, you can come by yourself. He can come here by himself without calling me.
　That being the case, calling me all the way to the imperial capital is a sign that he is looking down on me.

''As expected, don't you think that's too rude, Imperial Knight?''

'I can hear the redneck Olvans accent.

Then please cover your ears. I am only speaking for the Lord Noah.

　Making fun of Jessica, as usual, is also my brother's bad habit.
　It's this kind of attitude that makes me feel like an idiot for talking seriously, too.

'If the Archbishop has a request for Noah-sama, it would be polite to come from him. Please tell the Archbishop. If he has something to do, come from there,

'....Ho. That's quite an irreverent thing to say to the Archbishop of Mullerianism.

We do not follow the Müllerian religion in our country. Neither in my country nor in this country.

I wish I could, but I'm afraid I can't.

"Circumstances?

　I ask my brother that.
　I'm sure my brother doesn't really want to tell me that. But that doesn't mean I have to accept it all.

"Noah,

Yeah.

Your father, your mother, and your brother are alive.

What--?

　I opened my eyes.
　It was the exact opposite of what I had heard from Feliana. I had heard that my father, mother, and brother Hal had all been executed. So I was going to destroy the Empire.
　And yet.
　My family - they are all alive.

Brother, it's...!

The entire compound is housed in the Grand Temple of St. Adrianna, the headquarters of the Müllerian religion. I met them before I came here, too. Although they were exhausted, they are all alive. I'm sure of that.

Well...!

But he said he would kill you if you didn't show up, and that's what he said.

-Oh!

'Come. This is not a word I say as an emissary of the High Pope. As your brother, as the son of your parents, this is my request.

　I can see my brother holding the reins with a shuddering force.
　Then, without looking back, he indicates behind him with just a glance. That's probably indicating to me that the knights around me are of the Archbishop's hand.
　So I can't be bypassed. If it's true, it's a given that even my brother wants to save his family.

"Master Noah........

"Jessica, Drake...

We'll leave it to Master Noah to decide.

　Yes, you have my back, Drake.
　I'm going to--

I'm sorry, both of you, but I need you to come with me.

Yes, Master Noah. I will follow you to the end of the line, my dear Drake.

"I have not yet attained my full potential, but I have given my wisdom to Master Noah.

　Really, it's my personal situation.
　There is no quarrel between countries. That's why I shouldn't accept such an invitation - I know that.
　I know that.
　But, you know.
　If my family is still alive...

Okay, brother. You're coming with me.

I'm sorry, Noah.

　We hadn't seen each other in the five years we'd been away from your brother.
　And when he had come before, he had come as the emperor's representative. The words were not from my brother, but just the words of the emperor.
　So, somehow.
　It was as if I hadn't heard my brother's words for the first time in a very long time - I felt like that.