As it was beginning to lighten outside in the thin air, the interview with Dongahaha was over.
　I was about to transfer him to the dungeon of the church, where he answered all the questions without silence, but Keti and Kefin were there, so I decided to let them take Dongahaha.
'I hope the day will come when you will regret that I betrayed you and the Church,'
　Finally, Dongahaha said this and walked off the airship.

I don't care if you regret it or not. I don't care if you regret it or not, I'll just focus on completing the task at hand.
　Telling myself that, I got on the lift that came back and I decided to go down to the big training ground as well.

　In the large training ground, Master had already started swinging his sword.
'Good morning, Master. You're early.
'Oh, Luciel. If you start moving your body at this time of day, you'll start thinking more clearly.
Well, sure ... could we have a fight?
Yeah, I'll go to as many fights as I can without saying one.
Thank you. Please wait and see if you can untie yourself for a moment.
What's going on?
'I just decided to move my body because sitting still only makes me anxious,'
I see.
Yes, sir.
　He was a master who wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything, he just went along with the mock battle.

　Even when everyone came down, even when Keti and Kefin returned from the dungeons, even when the Knights came for early morning training, the mock battle continued.
　When they used the power of the Thunder Dragon, they lost, but now that they weren't using it, they were fighting a pretty good battle.
　I'm sure that if I use the power of the dragon in between offense and defense, I feel that I can win now.
　But I had a feeling that the bewilderment in my heart wouldn't go away because of that.

　Maybe he sensed that, or maybe he couldn't stand it anymore, and Lionel started to join in midway.
　Once he decided to take on the two of them, he lifted the magic and the relentless attacks began to fly from there.
　As he fights while focusing all his nerves on the two of them, his mind becomes empty. Then I felt that the haze in my mind was slowly clearing.

　I've been rolled on the ground more times than I can count, and I've rolled the two of them to the ground as much as my two hands are enough.
　Apparently I'm making some progress too, considering the old days.
　I began to find myself feeling a little happy about that.
　By dealing with these two, I was creating a new me again in the future.
　That was the feeling I had.

　I avoided Lionel's great sword and cut into his pocket, and then my master swung his sword down to cut Lionel's entire thin skin.
　I spun my body around and kicked my master's sword away from the side.
This time Lionel's great shield was coming at me, and I was blown away.
　It was when he raised his body, which had been rolled to the ground, and was about to raise his sword again.

　A large shadow suddenly appeared and when I turned around, a golem had appeared.
　He immediately looked at the surgeon, Paula, and rubbed his stomach and told her.
'I'm hungry.'
　His voice checked the position of the sun and found that it had already been several hours since the mock battle began.
''Oh, sorry. Then let's all go to breakfast together.
　Then the golem returned to the dirt, and the masters had no choice but to put their weapons back into their sheaths.
　As we were about to move out of the large training ground, we found that the Knights were looking at us, so we decided to apologize just in case.
''We have trained at the large training ground. We apologize for disturbing you all.
　However, the knights of the order only wore a puzzled face and didn't try to say anything, so we went straight to the dining room.
　I never thought that this would cause my impressions to change significantly among the knights.

　A relationship of trust is important.
　And there is no trust between me and the Pope's former handmaids in the dining room.
　That's why I thought about the possibility of being poisoned, so I used Recover and Purification for everyone's meals.
　Because if it was a quick-acting poison, I didn't know if I could help.

'Luciel, don't be too nervous.
　I don't know how my actions appeared in my master's eyes, but he had only that one word to say during the entire meal.
　But I was sure that that word made me feel a little better about myself.

　After leaving the dining hall, I decided to split up with everyone else and head to the Pope's side by myself.
　I was able to easily visit the Pope's room without being attacked by anyone.

　And waiting for me when I entered the room was the Pope with an interesting appearance.
"Good morning, Pope.
Good morning, Luciel.
Something seems a little different from yesterday, what's going on?
Hmm. Forenoire told me to take a bow. If she dwells on the past forever, she will destroy the future that Luciel has opened up for her.

　If you look at Forenoire, the horse is back to his original black coat.
'Forenoir seems to have gone back to normal?'
'No problem. The only reason I'm in this form is so they don't know I'm a spirit.
What do you mean?
''If I stay in that form, I can disappear, but my magic power is drained too much, and I'll be back to spirit crystals soon. You can't call him your partner then, can you?　So if you're going to travel, this is the best way to look at it.'
You mean?
I'm going with Luciel.
"Nice to meet you.
Yeah. Keep up the good work. By the way, can Forenoir fly without fear of the pterodactyl flying around?
'Are you kidding me?　A pterodactyl is no match for a pterodactyl.''
　This bullish statement sounds promising.
I'm counting on it.
I will.
　Apparently, most of the mutual understanding was in place, even when I couldn't speak.
　I turned my consciousness to the Pope and got down to business.
'Before the sun rose, Dongahaha regained consciousness and conducted a hearing. Based on the results, I will head to the Empire. I will leave the matter of the Church to the Pope.
I'll do my best. No more Dongahachas.
''That's right. Come to think of it, Pope, were the wards that covered this holy city created with magical tools?
Yes, that's right. It's all gone.
'Does that mean you disposed of it?　Or is there still some wreckage?
It just doesn't work, but it's there.
If I could make something just like it, or something similar, would the church buy it for me?
What do you mean?　Are you going to fix it?
I don't know yet. But there are technicians who would like to try and fix it. Of course, the reward will be after the magic tool is completed.
All right. Come with me.
　As the Pope said this, he opened the door opposite the room he had transferred to Nerdal, and there was a golden bell.
'This one is not portable,'
'Hmm. I'm going to take it back in my magic bag and wait for it to return to the Holy City again one day.
　With that, the Pope touched the bell and went back to his throne.
'I hadn't imagined anything like this,'

　He let out a sigh and retrieved the bell, and when he returned to his original position, he decided to tell them of his intention to leave Estia in charge.
'Pope, the last thing I wanted to do about Estia, I originally wanted to take her with me, but since I can't leave this place empty, may I ask you to keep her until the battle with the Empire is over?'
Esther would be more than welcome to join us.
Esther, do you mind if I leave this place to you?
I won't say I understand...
　Have you changed your tune?
'Luciel, if you're going to the Empire, take Estia with you.
　It seemed that the dark spirit had taken control of his consciousness.
''Huh?　I thought you finally escaped from the Empire with your memories!
Yes, that's why I want Estia to have a chance to heal in the Empire. That's why I want Estia to have a chance to heal the emotional scars she suffered in the Empire, exactly as she did in the Empire.
　There was a hint of madness in the air.

Luciel, don't worry about the church, you'll be fine, you have your mistress and Rosa.
　The Pope seemed to be aware of that, but he seemed to have decided to send them out.
　It's not a good idea to take them too far, but it's also true that the more people who can fight, the better.
　I decided to take the dark spirit's suggestion.

''I understand. I'll take Estia with me if that's what she wants. It's just that you're really putting your life in danger. Protect her when she's in danger, dark spirit.
I have no mercy on those who hurt Esther. I will do the best I can with Esther.
If you do anything out of line, I'll have the Forenoirs scolding you.
I'll do my best Luciel, please.
　Apparently, she was back.
　However, the returned Estia seemed to have a different determined look in her eyes than the dark spirit, unlike the one from earlier.

''Then I'll let you contact me once with the Demon Ball once you've safely escaped the Empire.
Hmm. I'll defend the Holy City to the death no matter what I have to do. So I beg of you, Luciel.
Ha!
　He propped himself up on one knee and bowed his head.

'Forenoir, then will you join the hermit's stables?'
''No. I'll go back to the spirit crystals and you can call me when you need me.
Okay, okay.
　I'm sure I'll be able to get out of the spirit crystal when I want to.
　I had such a feeling, but I decided to let him do what he wanted.

　Thus, I bowed to the Pope and Rosa-san, and then left the Pope's room with Estia, heading to the large training ground.

''Luciel-sama, if you can make it through the Empire in one piece, will you go to Meratni with me then?''
　Overcoming trauma?
　I don't know what kind of emotions the dark spirits like to feel, but I feel like it weakens them.
　But if that's what they both want, then we'll go out with them.
Are you sure Melatni is all you want?
Yes, just Melatni.
Okay.

　From then on, Esther heard what she felt about the three months she'd spent in the church, and as she came to the entrance to the big training ground, she heard angry shouts and sword fights.
'A battle?　No way.
　He thought that the one that had turned into a demon race was no longer there.
　But maybe the executive branch that had turned into the demon race was still there.
　I hurriedly opened the door of the large training ground, and for some reason the knights were piled up there just like yesterday.

''........What is this?''
''Luciel-sama's master is the one who became level one, right?　Why are the knights losing?
''Yeah. I've decided to assume that Master and Lionel aren't people, they're not people, they're Shura, so people's common sense doesn't apply to them.
Isn't that a terrible idea?
　As he said this, he ran a hand over his mouth and Esther laughed.

　I let out a sigh and went on to treat everyone.