The Witch and the Doll Swear

call--

Long breath.

There was not even the slightest ripple on the tea surface, but the misty mist had been blown away. It was not until the knight took a sip of the fragrant tea and put the white porcelain teacup back on the table that the rippling tea made the girl nervous. His expression fluctuated.

"We meet again, Miss Von Sia."

While inheriting the patrician surname of the previous archbishop, Williams also inherited impeccable decorum. Even though he was still wearing the light armor for battle, his upright posture and expression matched the Fukaya black tea from the Eastern Peninsula.

Afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, making his curls glisten like gold.

This scene is as if the knight is really at the tea table of the afternoon tea, and is about to tell the girl in front of him about his heroic deeds.

—if it wasn't for sitting on such a shabby table and chair in such an unsightly prison.

"..."

Opposite the knight, the girl silently stared at his face.

Now, Tina is on the airship of the Church of the Holy Church.

The ominous premonition turned into reality. The first time Tina met their eyes, she knew that these templar knights who stopped the airship under the banner of "routine inspection" were coming for her.

They glanced at everyone's face through the love gap in the mask, with a sense of mission and justice burning in their eyes, praying to the Holy Light to reveal evil prayers and chanting continuously, like a group of hunters rounding up in an orderly manner.

The airship flying hundreds of meters high is their hunting ground, the isolated island in the sky, and Tina is the prey without wings, unable to avoid or escape.

Of course, there is no way to resist, and resistance is meaningless.

After yesterday's berserk, the Shadow Demon returned to silence. Even if she hadn't, Tina didn't think she could defeat a treasure-level figure, and she wasn't the protagonist of an adventure novel. Even Alice hardly fought back under the despicable treasure of the knight. The force of power was cut into pieces.

The girl can only be caught when their magic spell triggers a bright red light on her body.

The only consolation is that these knights are at least worthy of the etiquette of knights, and they have not used violence against themselves who have never resisted.

"What exactly do you want?"

The black tea in front of her was getting cold gradually, but she didn't intend to move at all.

Tina complained indifferently.

The knight saw anger and uneasiness in her sea-blue pupils, and her bandaged fingers were trembling, revealing the deepest fear in her heart.

"Please don't look at me like that, there is no poison in black tea, we don't want to hurt you..."

Tingna raised her left hand wordlessly, and curled the corner of her mouth sarcastically.

"...At least, we will never endanger your life."

Williams had to change his tune.

"In fact, if you are willing to cooperate with us, we will not do such a thing at all. We are the holy and righteous Church of Light, not those dangerous heretics."

"From the first era, in order to fight against the blood clan's Eternal Night Court, the dwarves and orcs were drawn into the alliance, but after the brave of light sealed the three true ancestors to end the war, they were expelled to the mines and the northern wilderness. Sacred? After establishing a church alliance that integrates politics and religion, persecute the justice of races other than humans?"

Tina laughed dryly twice.

Up to now, the fingers whose nails have been pulled out are still aching. For this so-called "noble church that protects mankind and the world under the sacred light", Tina has no good impressions. The black history that Alice once said is from memory. Emerge from her mouth, with resentment flowing from the tip of her tongue.

"Or was it 'surprised' during the 13th Jihad to discover that the Church of Light, from the Pope to the College of Cardinals, is all cultists?"

"...Did that magician teach you these too?"

"It's a well-known fact, isn't it?"

"..."

Williams' face was not particularly pretty.

But Tina looked at him fearlessly, she knew that this knight couldn't find words to refute.

Three hundred years ago, one of the causes of the war that swept across the mainland due to the intensification of the conflicts in the teachings of various churches in the mainland was that the cultists occupied all the high-level members of the Church of the Holy Church from the Pope down to the Cardinal and up, using sharp and radical His teachings provoked religious contradictions.

Although there are many other churches like this, no one has been eroded so thoroughly by the Church of the Holy Church, and the tragedies it has brought about have been so serious, which directly caused the belief in the Holy Light, which has been the number one belief in the mainland for thousands of years, to be brought by the true God. Belief in the virtues to come takes its place.

Forget about the previous few things, but this one, as Ting Na said, is known to everyone in the mainland.

This is the biggest stain in the history of the Holy Church, and it will never be erased.

"...In short, we will go to Noi River City, where there will be special priests to inspect you. If Miss Feng Xia is really as harmless as the information that the magician gave us, you You can return to your daily life...of course, in the church in Noi River City."

Faced with this utter contempt and unwillingness to continue the conversation, no matter how polite Williams was, he couldn't continue the conversation. He sighed in a regretful tone and walked past Tina.

At the door of this unsightly room, the knight stopped again and turned his head away.

"I know that Miss Von Sia has a lot of misunderstandings about us. We will arrive in Noi River City tomorrow. I hope we can resolve these misunderstandings there. Please believe that we sincerely want to protect you and keep you Saved from those dangerous magicians..."

"Your salvation is to throw innocent people who have done nothing into the heresy interrogation room, send them to the cradle of Judas and pull out a nail or two?"

"Severe pain can relieve the hypnosis and brainwashing imposed by most magicians..."

"--roll!"

The conversation is completely cut off.

The girl's tone was like chasing away a dog that was chasing after her side.

She didn't even look back at the expression Williams would have made at that statement.

When the clatter of the armor and the sound of the steel door being slammed shut disappeared along with the footsteps of the knight, the girl hugged her knees and curled up in a ball on the hard chair.

——Although he always says "life is the most important thing" on his lips, but when he is really frustrated, he doesn't think about the consequences and safety at all——

Maybe the friends in the academy are really right in their evaluation of themselves.

Tina couldn't think that maintaining a tough attitude now would bring her any benefits. Maybe, showing obedience and cooperation now would make her life easier in the future, but the spontaneous anger and disgust made her feel like Like a hedgehog facing the enemy, it adopts the most hostile posture that has no room for it.

No, maybe it's not accurate enough to describe it as a hedgehog.

It's like an enraged porcupine, baring its hard bristles, roaring and rushing towards the enemy. That Williams just slammed the door shut is a perfect example of temperance, and God should have given him a gift of temperance.

But so what?

Could it be any worse than this?

Even if he is really harmless, what he will face is a life of imprisonment. Under the supervision of the Holy Church, maybe even walking out of the church will become a luxury.

What if it is harmful?

Will he be sent to that dark underground again, and all the remaining nails will be pulled out?

——it can't get any worse.

The girl closed her eyes, unstoppable tears rolled down, and she swallowed sobs.

Already, there is no way to return to Yansha City, to return to his warm home.

I no longer see my father and mother who don't know their safety and say "I'm back" and "Welcome back" to them.

Tina has never missed the salty wind and the white sand by the sea so much, the neat rows of coconut trees and the leisurely paced seagulls.

She misses the sunset falling into the blue sea like a child returning home at dusk. The velvety night is shining with countless stars. Fish and hot dogs always with lots of hot sauce.

She misses the undulating grass waves on the hills outside the city, and in the middle of the sky and the bright green, there is a black castle standing.

It seemed that as long as they stretched out their hands and pushed open the door where the angel fell from the sky, and walked through the already familiar corridor, Liliana and Alice would raise their heads there and say to themselves that it was really late today.

Like a gushing spring, scenes of memories flashed in the darkness in front of my eyes.

It is said that at the end of life, the scenery of this life keeps turning around like a marquee, and the more it appears at the end, it represents the heaviest weight in life.

...Ah, yes.

And already, I will never see Liliana and Alice again.

This time, they won't be there to save him.

Will they still remember their existence during their travels in the future?

Will the silent and beautiful witch know that there is a foolish girl who likes her so much that she can't help but dare not confess to her again for various reasons?

"Liliana...Alice..."

Tina Von Sia, understands that death is not the only end of life.

Therefore, the girl wept silently.

………………………………………………………………………………………

When Williams entered the room for the second time, the girl curled up on the small bed raised her head slightly because of the strong light.

"Miss Von Sia, I hope you don't blame us for detaining you in such a place, and please be aware of it."

The knight looked at the girl with bloodshot eyes, and announced the arrival of their journey in a calm manner.

"For other people, you, the existence in your shadow, are so dangerous."

"...I'm sorry about the interrogator, but, is it dangerous?"

Dry lips, chapped and bleeding when moved. Although she said apologetic words, the girl's attitude did not soften in the slightest. "Is that defined by you?"

"Miss Von Sia, please speak this sentence to Melofarat's children and husband."

Williams said lightly.

He didn't come to chat with her. After the knight announced his arrival in Noi River City as a matter of routine, he turned and walked towards the corridor outside the door.

Melo Farrat... is it...

Is this the name of the Inquisitor?

Indeed, she seems to have said that she is a mother, and it doesn't matter if she does this kind of thing for her own children.

Chewing the name in her thirsty throat, praying in a low voice to the true God who almost never answered the prayers of believers, Tina walked out.

The stairs at the end of the corridor lead to the deck of the airship. Today seems to be a bright sunny day, the sun shining from the sky is extraordinarily dazzling, the stairs are submerged in such bright light, like a door leading from darkness to light.

The two knights standing by the door as guards followed the girl from left to right. If I refused to come out just now, they would have dragged me out. No matter how much I struggled and refused, they would be merciless dragged her into the blinding light.

——Speaking of which, light always seems to be associated with hope, a bright future, and liberation.

The ridiculous thing is that the more you step towards this door of light, the farther you are from freedom.

——Ah, this is my first time, like this.

Tina closed her eyes as she walked up the stairs.

— Hate the light.

The wind blows through the girl's short hair, bringing the breath of a strange city.

The airport of the airship is always at a relatively high position in the city, but the girl did not open her eyes.

She didn't want to look at this city, it might be a beautiful city-state, but the more beautiful it was, the more pain Tina would feel, and the more she hated the light entrenched here.

If he stumbled and fell down, maybe it would be a good ending, but even such a thing, at this moment, he couldn't do it.

just go.

When you open your eyes, there is hell in front of you. It seems that it is also an ending that you can be proud of.

But.

Even such a little extravagant hope, the knights will deprive it.

At the end of the steps, stepping on the deck, the girl hadn't even taken a step, and they stretched out their hands from left to right to restrain themselves.

The knights didn't let Tina open her eyes, and didn't open her mouth to explain where she was going next. They just stood nervously for some reason, and their hands could feel like trembling poisonous snakes through thick sweaters and windbreakers.

"……what happened……"

Finally, Williams' voice sounded.

With disbelief and horror.

"Johnson Cavaliers, I need an explanation!"

With disbelief, as if to suppress the anger, there was hatred or other flames burning in the words.

"Williams Cavaliers, I will explain this matter, but before that."

The airship has come to a complete stop, and another strange male voice can be heard clearly under the clear sky.

"Please let Miss Tina von Shea go."

"?!"

The girl opened her eyes abruptly.

— What are you talking about...?

She could hardly believe her ears,

——What is this strange man talking about?

Let go of yourself?

Is he saying, let go of yourself? !

It was unbelievable, unimaginable, but the moment the girl opened her eyes, a thought that could be defined as absurd rolled in her mind, turning the unimaginable joy and gratitude into trembling of the girl's whole body.

——But, how come!

But on the other hand, the girl herself was terrified because of such joy.

What if not?

According to common sense, security does not make sense! I was taken away from the airship a day after I was far away from Bike City, over the grassland! No matter what kind of magic has such a long perception distance, as far as she knows, ultra-long-distance surveillance and communication are still miracles that are difficult to achieve in magic science!

But whether it was joy or fear, it was too late by the time such complex emotions emerged in the girl's heart.

The opened eyes got used to the sun shining from the center of the sky without any cloud blocking.

After the blinding that made it impossible to see anything faded away, what the girl saw was a circle of knights.

Dressed in silver armor and stationed on a silver tower shield with the cross of the Holy Light painted on it, the templar knights surrounded the place, ready for battle.

A knight who was about as tall as Williams stood in the center of the semi-circular encirclement. The voice just now seemed to be made by him, right beside him.

"..."

A silly voice came from the girl's mouth.

The lips that hadn't dripped water since yesterday were chapped and bleeding because of the unconscious grin.

He wanted to call out the name that he thought he would never see again, but his hoarse throat was choked up, and all he could say was crying.

——Right now, my appearance must be very, very ridiculous.

But the witch holding the doll just nodded calmly, and then.

"... Tina, we're here to pick you up."

With an unwavering voice, he called his name.

Strength sprang out from nowhere, and tears welled up in my eyes. The lacrimal glands that have been crying dry now seem to want to squeeze out all the last water in this body.

"Liliana!!"

Tingna broke free from the knight's restraint, and ran towards the two standing there desperately.

"Alice!"

She ran desperately, and the whole world was left behind. Her tired body from hunger and thirst squeezed out all the energy to drive her legs. As long as she could go to their side, even the power of demons would With help!

Only by that petite girl's side, only there!

As long as it is there, there is nothing to be afraid of.

The girl ran desperately, running, so that when she was only a little away from the two of them, her flustered footsteps intertwined with each other, causing her to lose her balance.

"Ouch!"

But the long whip of light swung by the little puppet delayed this process, and then.

"...It's all right now."

And Liliana gently stretched out her hand, hugging the girl's unbalanced body. Gently stroking Tina's blond hair that was messy because she didn't take care of it, whispering in Tina's ear.

Comforting the girl who was forgiven by God.

The witch was wearing a cloak with the Holy Cross of Light on it. These words were more effective than any magic to soothe her emotions. The girl finally stopped suppressing her grievances and fears. In the arms of the witch, in this world, perhaps The only truly safe place on the planet.

Tina burst into tears.

"...It's okay, already, don't worry anymore."

The words mixed in with the crying were intermittent and fragmented, and she couldn't even spell out a complete sentence. Liliana stroked Tina's hair awkwardly.

This time, she didn't plan to apply [Mechanized Mind] to the girl to stabilize her emotions.

Letting the girl cry loudly on her chest, Liliana and Alice looked at Williams who hadn't stepped off the airship.

"This time it will be completely resolved, absolutely."

so declared.

………………………………………………………………………………………

"Knight Johnson, please tell me what's going on!"

When she saw the magician and the doll on her shoulder, Williams' expression twisted. When Liliana raised her head and stared at her with those incandescent eyes, the distortion turned into danger. doubts.

"Why are you with a magician, a magician with a living doll!"

"Calm down, Williams Knight, I know you are confused now, I will explain these confusions to you one by one, as long as..."

"Just what?"

A bad premonition made Williams interrupt the words of the strongest knight of the Holy Church in Noy River City.

Don't even care about etiquette.

"As long as you can prove you're a Williams Cavalier."

"……What did you say?"

Williams froze.

This sentence surpassed all his expectations, more like a stark question than a statement, he finally noticed that the brave and upright knight was talking to himself without opening his visor, holding a shield in one hand and pressing it with the other. With the sword at his waist, he maintained a guarded posture.

This is so absurd, even more absurd than the magician with the living doll standing beside him and he is indifferent!

"Master Johnson, what are you kidding, Knight Williams is Knight Williams!"

"He is the guardian of Bike City, a righteous and noble knight! Don't you know that, Commander Johnson?! Knight Williams was picked up by the former archbishop, and he was trained as a righteous man with a heart of justice. about the Templars!"

Instead, the knights around Williams reacted, and they refuted loudly, shocked by this absurd argument.

"Of course I know."

Johnson's muffled voice came from under the visor.

"Of course I know these things. I watched you grow up. Of course I know that Knight Williams is a heroic knight who dedicated himself to the Holy Light and has been active in the front line against evil in order to protect people. Of course I know! I also Can't believe this kind of thing, but!"

He turned his head to look at the girl standing beside him.

Liliana just stood there expressionless, hugging the girl who was unfortunately parasitized by the shadow demon, and the treasure did not appear anywhere.

After confirming this, Johnson, the man who was called the Knight Commander among the knights in this city, panted and spoke the next words.

"But there is evidence."

"..."

Williams didn't know what expression he should make now.

--evidence?

he asks.

—Evidence that I'm a cultist? By this magician who plays with human souls? !

In any case, he never thought that Knight Johnson, who was his predecessor among the Templars, would actually say such words.

But Johnson shook his head.

He gave Williams a deep, deep look, and raised his hand.

Behind him, the templars holding up their shields and waiting solemnly dispersed slowly.

It was there.

"It was your wife and daughter who found it."

Williams is all too familiar with the two.

The duck that was quacking was strangled by the neck-this sentence could not be used to describe the few knights around Williams at this moment. They were dumbfounded for a moment, and Williams himself.

"……What did you say."

Looking at his wife and daughter who were supposed to wait for him to complete the mission and go back to the Holy Kingdom in Bike City, he showed a dazed expression.

Never thought this would happen.

Now, Mary, why, hiding in mother's arms?

Jielin too, why, she has such an expression, why, she doesn't want to look at me?

"Let me explain it to you from the beginning, Williams Knight, but please don't make any radical reactions, and please don't take out the Noble Phantasm anyway, your wife and daughter are now in the Noi River The Church of the Holy Church in the city, together with Archbishop Setsan, originally, you planned to take them to travel to the Holy Church after completing this mission, right?"

"...Nothing wrong. But why are they here?!"

Williams clenched his fists tightly, staring at Liliana who was standing there staring at him.

The anger and sense of ridiculous unreality just now coming from the bottom of my heart is ridiculous.

What happened today was too absurd!

"In order to prepare for the trip, your wife and daughter have cleaned up at home. Let me make sure first. Is this normal behavior?"

"That's right, Jielin and Mary both love cleanliness. In the past few trips, they would clean up before departure."

"And according to your daughter, you cleaned your own room by yourself."

"Because there are some church documents in my room, although they are not necessarily confidential, they are not suitable to be seen, so they never enter my room."

"But this time, because of your broken promise, your daughter Mary was very unhappy. With some emotions of rebelling against her father, she took it upon herself to clean your room when your wife went out to buy groceries, and then."

Johnson took out a transparent bag.

"In a drawer you forgot to lock, some letters were found."

"—?!"

The knight's blue eyes widened.

Johnson continued.

The clever little girl, perhaps really angry at her father's breaking of her promise, took out the unpacked letters and read them, intending to give her father a little revenge.

The first few letters were about ordinary temple affairs, the movement of monsters near Bike City, the monitoring of a certain seal... She didn't understand all of these letters, and the signatures of these letters were all knights and bishops of the church , she knows most of them. But as she read it, she realized something was wrong.

As the father of a templar, he was communicating with some unidentified people who only used letters as signatures.

The content of the letter includes information about members of the Holy Church, priests, channels for knight promotion, and the route and time of some routine secret inspections of the Holy Church.

What frightened the little girl even more was a badge found at the bottom of that drawer.

On the badge, it is etched with his father's name when he was in the slums before being picked up by the archbishop, and the prefix is ​​"a servant who serves the great holy snake".

"What did you say."

That badge was held by Johnson and displayed in front of everyone together with those letters.

Even Tingna, whose eyes were blurred from crying, recognized what it was.

The long snake is connected end to end, stretching its twelve wings——

This is the emblem of the famous cult on the mainland, the symbol of the Twelve-winged Sky Serpent.

"Mary couldn't believe such a thing, so she told her mother when she came back from grocery shopping."

Johnson could see Williams' shock. The heroic knight was looking at his daughter in disbelief, but the little girl was just trembling helplessly in her mother's arms.

Jielin also couldn't believe that the husband she shared the bed with was actually a cultist trying to get promoted to the top of the church. The mother and daughter agreed that this was a false accusation made by someone who wanted to take advantage of Williams' absence, so they brought these things, They came to the Holy Church in Bike City and met the Archbishop directly.

Johnson still remembers the girl's heartrending wailing when he corresponded with the Sept.

"My father can't be a cult member no matter what! Someone must frame my father, Uncle Danhe, Grandpa Ormos, please check it out, my father is definitely not a cult member!!!"

The same judgment was initially made by Bike City.

However, the hideouts of the cultists mentioned in the letter in Bike City and Noi River City attracted the knights' attention, and some Templars headed to that location just in case.

"It turned out that it was indeed a den of the Twelve-winged Serpentians. They ran a casino there, secretly selling ash leaves and high-purity moon sugar. Their stockpile was enough to make everyone in Bike City deeply addicted to drugs. Addiction is the source of goods for all drug dealers. After interrogation, they confessed that the eyeliner who repeatedly helped them escape in the Holy Church is—"

Johnson shook his head in pain, but didn't say that word.

But it was enough. He saw Williams' face livid, and he didn't know if it was anger or something else.

"So, the newsletter from Bike City was sent to Noi River City, and we raided that den last night. They issued usury loans, had a great reputation among the nobles, and secretly held evil masses—we wiped them all out. , They also confessed the asylum in Noi River City, a nun next to the archbishop, she endured the interrogation and did not confess to other companions, but in her residence, we found a photo that was too late to destroy, it is you Your wife and daughter, you wrote on the back of the photo, 'For them, I will do anything', your wife and daughter have confirmed that the photo was taken by you with a magic imager, and the handwriting is also... ..."

Too much of a coincidence?

Maybe.

It is possible to use two strongholds and some spies to frame the only Noble Phantasm-level powerhouse in the vicinity.

But these evidences are enough to shake the trust in this knight.

But the deadliest accusation came at this time.

Speaking from a population that no one expected.

...A lot of times, my father would really go mysteriously and didn't know where he was going. When he came back, he would always bring some gifts for my mother and me.

Mary's memory was confirmed by Jielin.

Through those gifts, the Templars of Bike City quickly locked a gift shop, and after a raid, it was there.

It is also the stronghold of the twelve-winged sky snake, a very small but hidden stronghold that has been rooted in the city for decades, from the documents seized there.

There is the oath that Williams joined, and it is a little different from other oaths. In this oath, Williams mentioned that he would do anything as long as he was willing to do anything for his wife and daughter, and at that time, Mary remembered, At that time, she was seriously ill, saw a lot of doctors, took a lot of medicine, but when she recovered, everyone called it the divine grace brought by her father's piety.

"What are you kidding, how is this possible!"

Williams can no longer keep calm, when such absurd things become reality and hit people's heads, and the safety of their families is also involved, the unnatural feeling revealed everywhere-no one can wait calmly.

Of course he knows whether he is a cult member, he can be 100% sure that this is definitely the slander of this teenage magician!

"Liliana Einsteins! You evil witch, what did you do to Jielin and Mary?!"

He yelled at Liliana, stepped off the airship, and was about to pounce on the petite girl and tear her to pieces with his treasure!

"Knight Williams, please calm down! Miss Einstein is here just by chance! You are the only Noble Phantasm on the border of this kingdom. Ms. Einstein, who is an honorary adventurer, made the commission. She didn't know about it until an hour before you came here. Before that, she hadn't left the hotel. This order was issued by Knight Williams, didn't you? !?"

"That's right, but, damn it, how could there be such a ridiculous thing! You say she has nothing to do with this matter, how is it possible!"

"But the truth..."

Johnson gritted his teeth, feeling his teeth shaking.

But it is what it is.

The whole thing reveals an unnatural sense of disobedience, it's too coincidental, it's almost like the author of the novel has set up a clumsy dead end and can't think of a solution, so he just resorted to metropolitanism and mechanical seance No matter how you look at it, this ending is too coincidental.

But reality is not fiction.

Only the sense of violation cannot become a decisive counterargument.

If this is a false accusation, when did the plan start? Before Williams became Noble Phantasm? , How much money and manpower will be invested... This is almost, no, completely impossible.

"Regarding this matter, Ms. Einsteins has also lodged a protest in the double name of the Association of Magicians and the Association of Adventurers. Moreover, after meeting Mary and Jielin, she proposed that Knight Williams, you are being coerced. trying to do these things...tell me, Williams...now, your wife and daughter are well protected, so tell me? Is it true...it's really because you protect your wife and daughter Did you do that?!"

"Are you kidding me!"

Williams staggered back two steps, what happened? What the hell is going on in this world! ?

"Liliana Einsteins!!!!!!"

He roared, and he couldn't do anything except roar, he didn't understand what happened, even the knight behind him hesitated to retreat.

In the end, what happened.

Just a moment ago, he was a knight guarding the border of the kingdom. In order to protect his family, he brought a dangerous girl parasitized by shadow demons to this city. A moment later, he was surrounded by a large shield set up by his former colleagues. The Church of "Doing Stupid Things" even invited a magician, a magician with a girl parasitized by a shadow demon and a living doll!

The treasure appeared faintly on his wrist, and the invisible blade seemed to be crying. He staggered and approached step by step. One step at a time towards the girl who was standing next to his wife and daughter, hugging the girl and protecting them with her body.

"Knight Williams, don't get any closer!"

He also turned a deaf ear to the cries of the knight who was both his teacher and his friend.

He was just, shaking, under the blindingly pale light.

"What the hell did you do!!!!"

Charged towards Liliana.

Tina, who had stopped crying, turned her head in Liliana's arms. Miss Witch looked at Williams without saying a word. Alice was on her shoulder, brushing the front end of her leather boots over the girl's lips intentionally or unintentionally.

—Crack.

There seemed to be a clear and faint voice.

"dad----!!!!!!!"

The immature girl cried out as if she was about to tear her throat.

"Dad...it's not like this. Dad is a knight of justice. He was just, just deceived for a while, because I was sick, and because I was a bad boy, that's why I did this. Is it like this..." With such sadness with painful eyes.

The knight stopped in his tracks.

He stared blankly at his daughter who had turned his head from his wife's arms, and closed his eyes in pain, with tears streaming down his face.

The treasure disappeared from his hand.

"...Ahh..."

The girl felt that he seemed to have aged a lot in an instant.

"... Ah, yes... In the end, it was exposed..."

The knight grinned bitterly, knelt down on both knees, and raised his hands above his head.

"...Mr. Johnson, it seems that I don't need to take action."

Liliana didn't look at the distraught knight, she pulled the girl up and walked through the encirclement of the Templars, talking expressionlessly.

"Well, still, thank you for your assistance, Ms. Einstein, the reward for the entrustment will be handed over to you by the Adventurer's Association soon, really..."

Looking at Williams who was carefully tied up by the knights and passed out after being fed the sleeping potion, Johnson let out a long sigh.

"I watched this child change from being unable to hold the sword firmly to a powerful treasure holder. Now I still can't accept that he actually works for the cult."

"...The situation is compelling. I believe that the Cardinals of the Holy Church will make a fair trial."

"The situation is forcing, yes, the situation is forcing. If an important family member is placed in front of him as a coercion chip, probably anyone will be shaken. This is the most common method used by cultists. He just took the wrong path for a while. It can be redeemed... it can be redeemed..."

"...I sincerely hope that before he is sent to the church court, he can avenge those damn cultists."

After finishing speaking expressionlessly, Liliana, who never met the knight's eyes, pulled Tingna away from here.

A corner of the airport pier.

Liliana turned around, slightly raised her deep eyes like the night sky, and looked at the girl.

"Am I dreaming……"

The girl squeezed her face hard, and as a result, her fingers ached before her face healed.

This pain is the proof that being here is reality. Liliana and Alice looked at the crying and laughing girl like that, stretched out their hands, and wiped away the tears from their eyes.

"Alice knows that the things that Miss Tina wants to ask now are probably piled higher than mountains, but it's not convenient to talk here, and it's a long story."

"...We also have something to tell Miss Tingna."

When the girl stopped whimpering, Liliana took out a letter from the snow-white cloak with the Holy Cross painted on it. Liliana looked at the haggard girl, stretched out her fingers, and stroked the blood-scrubbed skin. lips.

After receiving the snow-white envelope, the girl felt dazed, as if her brain couldn't function properly, and she stared blankly at the witch and the puppet.

"this is……?"

"Yesterday, the morning after Miss Tingna boarded the airship, Snow Pigeon brought it. Don't rush to open it. Miss Tingna should be hungry and thirsty now, and the wound hasn't healed yet. Lily is at the restaurant in the city. I have ordered a meal, now, let's take a good rest first, and the next thing."

"Um……"

Ting Na nodded, at this moment she finally realized that she was dizzy and dizzy from hunger. Even if it was a whole cow, she felt as if she could eat it all.

As for the future... Now that I have returned to Liliana and Alice, I don't have to worry about anything, so.

The girl put the envelope in her pocket.

——Let’s talk about it later.

"...Then, Miss Tina."

The witch and the puppet looked at each other and smiled, and stretched out their hands to the exhausted girl.

"Welcome back."

……………………………………………………………………………………

Letters from afar:

Sincerely,

Miss Tina Von Sia. After noticing that this snow pigeon was standing still on the mailbox outside your house, I got the letter in it on my own initiative and wrote this reply letter. For this matter, I would like to apologize to you here, and I hope you can Forgive this last resort.

As far as the conclusion is concerned, your parents survived the trip to the Glory City unscathed. To them, the incident that caused many casualties was like "an extraordinarily exciting episode", and they even saved their lives. I bought an orc trader, these are their words at the end of the trip when they invited me to several dinners, and in my opinion, they were basically unaffected. They miss you very much. After your long journey, they often say that, but not long ago, they accepted the businessman who was rescued by them, and now, he is traveling to the far north, and the estimated travel time is until the month of Advent. So even if you don't see them when you come back, they leave me a message and hope that if you write, it will be conveyed like this.

——Sure enough, you will know that the trip is very happy after you have experienced it. Remember to come back for the New Year in the Advent month.

above.

——Ai Lifu

calendar

Year of the Black Flower, Moon of Frost, 22nd

"...Miss Tina, are your fingers hurting? Are you shaking..."

"...Heh, heh, it made me so worried, but in the end, I turned around and went on a trip again, right, heh, heh..."

"Ah, torn off."

"...Miss Tingna, is this really okay?"

"Who cares about them, you stupid couple!"