Demons overwinter.
　This fact brought a sober shock to me.

　Until now, I had always thought that demons only acted in accordance with their programmed patterns. This case proved that there are multiple exceptions to this.

　The obvious exception is Anko. From the moment Anko succeeded in taming, she began to act in a way that could only be thought of as being alive. Up until then, she was definitely just a mere demon following a program.

　She called it a 'divine curse'.

　God - I don't know if that word is appropriate, but I guess that means a higher-dimensional being.
　I don't know if that's the right word, but I'm pretty sure it's a higher-dimensional being, and it's coordinating this world. I'm sure of it.

　But in this case, the ...... adjustment?　It's a delicate point.
　Do demons need to overwinter in the first place?

　Rather than adjustments, this is more of a "staging" to increase the sense of reality, as if the work is trying to fit in with the natural order of things.

　All sorts of unrealistic things that were allowed because it's a game have been changed to adapt to reality.
　It's not all one size fits all. In fact, it is possible to overturn the laws of physics, such as "landing on horseback". However, on the other hand, there are also realistic things like the Wraiths, such as demons that overwinter.

　Suddenly I realized.

　Until now, I had thought that this world was 'reality as close to Mevion as possible', but...
　Could it be that it is "Mevion as close to reality as possible" ......?

　...... It's no good. This is the limit for me, a real elementary school graduate (...). I went to middle and high school, but I was doing Mevion instead of studying. Oh, my head hurts from thinking so much.

　I'm thinking so much that my head hurts.


I'm going to tame you, let's get you down.
You can go to .......

　I refused to say a word and made Eve stand on the ground.

　And then, from among the sleeping demons, I grabbed a toucan monkey by the neck and brought it in front of me and kicked it in the abdomen with a gesture.

　Immediately afterwards, the howler monkey changed its shape. What appeared was a colorless, translucent, jelly-like monster. It was exactly the Wraith I knew.

''It's a bit of a stretch to say this, but I guess it's thanks to Eve's fall.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the next few weeks. It seems that for her, "carelessness" like falling off a cliff is so embarrassing that it makes her blush.

Haha, I'm sorry I made fun of you. Well, let's go home.

　Theime was a success. The purpose has been accomplished, so there's no more need for me to be in this cold place. I repatriate the Wraith and summon the red bean paste.


"...... Ah!　...... of .......


　Then, unusually, Eve let out a not-so-small voice.

　I listened, wondering what was going on.


'Luna-cha ...... also ......iiim ......'


　I want Luna to be able to tame her. She said so.

　That's my answer to that. 'Be my guest.'
　But why did Eve just say that out loud? I'm curious, so I ask.

'I don't mind, but why?'
...... and Yakuni from ......


　Because it will be useful.

　Hearing those words, I huffed.

　Winfiled was using the Eve squad to investigate the area around the Kamel Godland. In other words, the people of the Eve squad knew the inner workings of the Kamel Godland.
　I'm sure they are aware of what I'm trying to do in the Kamel Godland, and that's why Eve's team is the only one who has any inkling of what I'm trying to do in the Kamel Godland.

　The selection of people who will be most useful to me among them. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.

　According to Yukari, Eve's squad is a covert unit. When it comes to the affinity between secrecy and wraiths, it's safe to say that they are very close to the devil. It's certainly a good fit.
　If they're trying to follow that path, they might be willing to help me with my work in the Kamel Godland. In fact, this may even allow things to proceed smoothly without danger.

　I'm sure he's suggesting to me that I should take Luna with me in a wraith-tamed state, taking all of that into account.


　...... Eve looks like this, but she has the idea of being a solid captain, and she's doing her part, right? It's not just a matter of time before you're ready to go.


''I get it. Let's get the key members of Eve's squad to tame the Wraith as much as possible, not just Luna.
'　......?
Yeah, good. And you, too, Eve.
"~~~!

　When I told her what I thought, Eve nodded with a blank expression, still red in the face, but with a somewhat happy feeling.

　Now, once that's decided, good things must be done in a hurry.
　I ordered Anko to summon all of Eve's squad to this place.

　After this, in addition to preparing for the assassination, I have to have a secret meeting with Renko and a meeting with Luna.

　On the eve of the revolution, it's going to be busy: .......



　　* * * *



What?　The Kingdom of Castal is moving troops around the border?
'Yes!　It was confirmed late yesterday. It's about 20,000 in size. We've just received the information.
Now?　It's been over half a day already.
'And yet, given the distance from the border, even a fast horse can go to ......
"Do not clamor. You will know who I am. NEXC!
Ha!

　A soldier who had come to report to Pope Black was cut down by the Kingsguard's nexus without being given a moment to beg for help.

　The soldiers standing on guard just watched the scene in silence. Inwardly, they were sighing, "Not again.


Tell them to fortify the border. You may send reinforcements if necessary.
Ha, awe, sir.

　Satisfied with purging a soldier he didn't like, Pope Black gave his instructions and sat deeper in his chair.

　He thought he had given the right instructions. In fact, it seemed to be the right instruction. If only the revolution hadn't happened tomorrow.


　Previously, the Kamel Divine Kingdom Army had attacked the back of the Castal Kingdom during the civil war in order to take advantage of the fishermen. In that case, they experienced a terrible defeat in a battle that seemed to be advantageous. The commander at that time was rightfully purged, but that bitter experience was still fresh in the memory of many soldiers.

　Hence, Pope Black's instructions this time were both supremely straightforward and wrong at the same time.

　To those who knew what happened that day and that night, the Castal Kingdom Army, especially that man and the woman in black, was nothing but an object of fear.

　Fortify the borders, and if necessary, reinforcements. Excellent instructions indeed. But for those of us who have been traumatized by that trauma, no matter how much we fortify and how many reinforcements we receive, there is no "peace of mind".

　After all, the ...... Pope Black's "leave it to me" instructions will unexpectedly lead the Kamel Divine Army to fortify its borders dozens and dozens of times more than necessary. Otherwise, they would not have been able to overcome their former fears.

　Pope Black should have thought about the minimum number of soldiers he needed to instruct, from the number of soldiers to solidify the border himself to the number of reinforcements. It was a hassle, and it was a stroke of luck that he left it all to the Divine Kingdom Army, which had a traumatic experience with the Castal Kingdom.

　This was Winfiled's aim. By taking advantage of the hellish deeds of the past by Second and Anko, he had stripped the protection of the capital city of Ordojo in a single move by having the Steam Frontier Count conduct a large-scale military exercise near the border.


Tomorrow is the conclave or ......

　Pope Black muttered softly, sipped his hot tea and looked out the window gracefully.
　And it would be good to let him out once in a while, he thought. His thoughts turned to the saint.

　He was convinced that the saint Raspberry Belle was a "real saint", but he only thought of her as a tool to gain faith in himself.

　Why does he think that? The saint Raspberry Belle had a power that could be called a divine power that ordinary people could not imagine.

　A truly holy being. But even that saintly woman could not be a handful before the power of the Pope. Hence his hubris. No one can be a match for me, who is taming the saint, he thought.

　But at the same time, he was afraid of the saint. Because he believes that she is a real saint.
　That's why he locked her up and used her, but never demonized her, giving her a wealthy life, occasionally letting her out in the garden, and taking care of the details so that she is not completely hostile.

　Those who rise above must always be afraid of being overtaken.
　There is no anxiety, etc., a lie. Pope Black lived with anxiety at all times and lived in fear of what was coming from below.

I will not let you defy ......

　The conclave is a very important place for him.
　It is a great demonstration of the Pope's great power to those below him, and he reaps the energy to rebel.

　For this purpose, the presence of a saint is essential. The dictatorship of the Pope can no longer be maintained without faith in saints.

　On the eve of the revolution.
　Pope Black spent his time in an unfathomable state of anxiety.



　　* * * *.



You know, I didn't think I'd get another girl. You're a very soft man.

　It's midnight in the forest. Renko shows up at the secret meeting place and is the first to openly hate her.

　Unlike last time, it was Luna, not Anko, who told her, "I'll see you tonight". Luna used the wraiths to change perfectly, and for all intents and purposes she looked like an ordinary nun to set up an appointment with Renko.

　And as it is, Luna has already infiltrated the interior of the Kamel Church. As if she had become airborne, she blended into the place without any sense of discomfort, and slipped in quite naturally and effortlessly. It was a splendid technique, as expected of an expert.

　On the other hand, Anko, just like last time, has been working behind the scenes to crush the demons in the surrounding forest by springing up and crushing them, so that Renko and I can talk to each other calmly in secret.

'Don't you like soft men?'
You know. At least I don't like you.

　Oops, that took one.

　I opened my mouth to cut to the chase, flushing lightly, "Well," I said.

The revolution is at dawn. The revolution is at dawn," he said, "and at sunrise the anti-church Dizart will strike at Ordrejo. I want you to assassinate Pope Black just before the sun rises. We will infiltrate during the night and assist them in taking back Raspberry Bell and making the revolution a success. That's the plan.
Can I go to ......?
What?
I ask if it's okay for me to do it.
Yeah. But you have to promise me two things.
Tell me.
One, you must be absolutely successful. Two, you must never die.
"Hmm. ...... Copy that.

　Renko sniffed, then said the words he would take over.

　I'm sure Winfiled says that the Black Pope whom Renko wants to kill is a "shadow warrior", but if I tell her that, it won't be a decoy operation. But it would not be a bait-and-switch operation if he told her that. So, although it's a bit of a pain, I'm going to let her fall for it for now.

　But I'm going to make sure that ...... doesn't hurt her. I'm not going to let her die. I won't let you die. Not even by torturing her. And I will not waste any more time when she's willing to give her life for it.


　We want the revolution to go through with the Dizart and take back Raspberry Bell. We must do this without causing any damage to ourselves or giving away our true identity.

　The revolution is about to begin.