Volume 9, Chapter 42 – Before the Arrival

It was autumn. Cool, dry air swept across the fields, turning forests and wheat fields a golden hue. Standing on high ground and taking a deep breath at this moment would surely feel invigorating. Unlike the northern part of the continent with its more drastic climate changes, the Duchy of Chloe, located in the central region, while not having spring all year round, didn’t experience an annual temperature difference exceeding thirty degrees. Summers weren’t too hot, and winters weren’t so cold that one couldn’t go outside. If not for the impending Imperial attack, now would surely be the perfect season for fieldwork and harvesting crops.

Facing the cool morning sun, Yisi, walking down the street with Camilla, slowly exhaled a puff of white mist. The cold late-autumn air turned her breath white. Residents kept their doors and windows tightly shut, presenting a desolate and deserted street scene, a far cry from its usual liveliness.

It all began ten days ago, with a declaration of war sent by the Norta Empire to the Duchy of Chloe.

Years ago, the Eldest Princess of the Norta Empire, Ailis Carol Gloria, died in an unforeseen disaster. The person responsible for this disaster was Lin, who was currently under the protection of the Duchy of Chloe and hailed by the Divine Religion as the Hero and Savior. To proclaim to the world that anyone who harmed the royal family would face severe punishment from the Empire, the Norta Empire issued a harshly worded document demanding the immediate handover of Lin.

The Duchy of Chloe naturally refused this unreasonable demand. Now controlled by the Divine Religion, they couldn’t possibly hand over Lin. Besides, anyone with a bit of sense could see that the demand was merely a fabricated pretext for war.

The Hero was only 16 years old. Decades ago, she was just a powerless child, making it impossible for her to have killed the Eldest Princess. The Empire fabricated this reason for war simply to sow discord within the Duchy during wartime, hoping those afraid of war would think that handing over Lin could avert the disaster, thus dividing the populace. Regarding this, the surrounding nations merely offered sympathy to the Duchy of Chloe, without taking any action.

Tightening the red scarf around her neck, Camilla followed Yisi around the street corner onto the King’s Avenue and frowned. Unlike the deserted street earlier, the King’s Avenue was crowded with residents. However, these people were either pushing carts or carrying large and small bundles, accompanied by children and women in heavily patched cotton clothes. Occasionally, squads of soldiers could be seen hurrying past. Almost all the refugees kept their heads down, their tense faces grim, as if awaiting judgment. The entire city was shrouded in the atmosphere of impending war.

“This must be the last group leaving the city.”

“Yes. After today, ordinary citizens will be forbidden from entering or exiting the Ducal Capital. Only the military and those with special permits can approach.”

Due to its small territory, the Duchy of Chloe’s capital was quite close to the border. The Imperial army could reach its gates with little difficulty. Therefore, if preparations weren’t made early, and the declaration of war was only issued when the Imperial army was at the gates, it was likely that not a single ordinary person would be able to escape.

“Onee-sama, aren’t we leaving with them?”

“I want to wait for Red and Purple to return before leaving. Staying until the war starts counts as fulfilling my promise to Atwood. I no longer have any intention of taking the Gospel. I already know what I need to know. To me, the Gospel is just an ordinary item, too heavy even to use as scratch paper.”

If she had to find a reason to take the Gospel, it would probably be that she had fulfilled her promise to Atwood and was taking it as payment. But that was completely unnecessary.

While dodging the ox carts and crowds on the street, Camilla asked with a puzzled expression, “Wait until Red and Purple return… Didn’t Onee-sama say it’s highly likely they won’t come back?”

First blowing on her hands, which were numb from the cold, then rubbing them together, Yisi felt a slight warmth spread through her frozen fingertips. She nodded, answering Camilla who was half a step behind her.

“Yes, normally that would be the case. But I don’t intend to watch them be manipulated by the Gospel.”

“They’re already broken, Onee-sama. If you stop their assassination, they’ll resent and curse you instead. On this point alone, Edith and I agree: the people of the Divine Religion are lunatics.”

“No… I don’t plan on stopping them. Since they’ve made their resolve, stopping them would be meddling, wouldn’t it? I understand your concern, Camilla, but from the beginning, I only wanted to bring the two of them back safely. That is to say, on the day of the assassination, I will follow behind them. Regardless of their success or failure, I will bring them out at the last moment, just like when I rescued Refina who wanted to assassinate Hetty. But it’s slightly different this time. I won’t use illusions. Instead, I will appear directly before the Imperials as ‘Viel’ and let them know that such a dangerous individual exists on the continent. That way, they should restrain themselves somewhat. The best-case scenario is that the Empire gives up.”

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“Are you going to use wide-area annihilation magic? If you raze the Imperial capital, I think the war will end.”

Camilla really does have a talent for being a demon.

Yisi couldn’t help but smile wryly. Camilla’s indifference to human life was just like Pepe’s, perhaps even more so. Maybe Camilla, rather than Tina, should have become the Demon Lord.

As this thought crossed her mind, Yisi suddenly felt a soft, warm touch in her palm. Tilting her head curiously, she found Camilla holding her hand and tucking it inside her red scarf, a slightly pleased smile on her face.

“This way, you won’t be cold.”

“Won’t you be cold then, Camilla?”

It was like suddenly sticking a cold hand down someone’s back in winter.

But Camilla just gently rubbed her cheek against Yisi’s hand, her red eyes showing a look of intoxication and trance as she gazed at Yisi.

“As long as I’m with Onee-sama, I won’t feel cold… This reminds me of when Onee-sama took me camping in the forest back in the Niru Diocese. Even though we slept outdoors that day, it was warmer than any other day I’d ever spent.”

“Alright, alright, this will freeze you, Camilla. Besides, people around will definitely think we’re weird.” Yisi wryly pulled her hand out. As Camilla looked crestfallen, Yisi proactively took her hand again and put it into Camilla’s coat pocket. “This is better.”

Although walking side-by-side might inconvenience the fleeing refugees, such unromantic concerns should be put aside for now.

Feeling Camilla gently squeeze back, the warmth spreading from her palm, Yisi subtly averted her head, continuing their earlier conversation.

“Umm, I didn’t think about using wide-area annihilation magic. At least, the ordinary people of the Norta Empire are innocent. Besides, my main goal isn’t to stop the war, but to bring Red and Purple back.”

This way, her actions wouldn’t conflict with the Gospel’s instructions. Lin wouldn’t be able to fault her from any angle. She would only act after Red and Purple’s mission ended, without hindering their assassination. Even if faced with arguments like ‘Maybe the Gospel wanted the Imperials to see Red and Purple’s bodies,’ the Gospel’s condition was ‘forbid members of the Divine Religion other than Red and Purple from participating.’ Since she wasn’t a member, rescuing Red and Purple didn’t violate the Gospel’s will. Therefore, even if they tried to hold her responsible using other arguments, she could counter with ‘Perhaps the Gospel predicted that I would rescue Red and Purple.’ What had troubled her before had now become a usable argument. Yisi couldn’t help but find it amusing.

While tightly clasping Yisi’s fingers, Camilla looked thoughtful.

“But I feel something isn’t right. The Gospel could have clearly said ‘Forbid everyone from helping Red and Purple,’ yet it limited the prohibition to members of the Divine Religion. It’s almost like it’s deliberately guiding Onee-sama. Isn’t the Gospel unable to perceive you, Onee-sama? With your strength, could the Gospel want you to become the savior?”

“Ah, I’ve considered that. But I can definitively say, absolutely not. If the Gospel made me the savior, my reaction would be one of two things: either ignore it completely, or tear it up and burn it. Unless the Gospel has gone mad, it wouldn’t make me the savior.”

The only person who could control Yisi Enya’s will was Yisi Enya herself. As Laxy had said, the Gospel was just a tool. People should control tools, not the other way around.

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“I see… Then I’m relieved.”

Sighing in relief, Camilla patted her chest thankfully.

“Why do you say that?”

“I was worried Onee-sama would become like Lin. If Onee-sama believed in the Gospel, I would have thrown it away no matter what. Otherwise, Onee-sama wouldn’t be Onee-sama anymore.”

“Puhaha, I won’t believe in the Gospel. Besides, I can’t even see the words on it. Oh, right, speaking of which, having lived in the Duchy of Chloe for a while now, I just realized… Camilla, do you ever think you might be from the Norta Empire? That pure golden hair without any impurities, and skin paler than average, are very characteristic of people from the Norta Empire.”

Saying this, Yisi picked up a strand of Camilla’s golden hair. Under the morning sun, it shone dazzlingly bright.

She had said she would help Camilla find her biological parents, but due to a lack of clues, there had been no progress. Coupled with Camilla’s lack of interest in them, over time, the matter had faded into the corners of her memory. It was only when General Gore came looking for her and mentioned Camilla that she suddenly recalled: according to Camilla’s account back then, her biological parents might still be alive.

“Although Onee-sama’s reasoning makes sense, I don’t think I’m from the Norta Empire. Before Father found me, I was always in the Hels Kingdom.”

“But your physical features strongly resemble those of someone from the Norta Empire.”

“Hmm… If Onee-sama is interested, I think we could start searching for clues among the Norta Empire citizens living in the Hels Kingdom. That would narrow down the scope considerably.”

Why does she sound like she’s talking about someone else?

Yisi exhaled another puff of white mist.

Camilla truly had no interest in her biological parents. Probably, even if Yisi found them and brought them before her, Camilla would act as if it didn’t concern her. Yisi could even imagine the cold, detached expression Camilla would wear upon meeting them, like facing strangers.

Of course, Yisi wouldn’t sympathize with Camilla’s parents either. Treating their own flesh and blood like a doll, stripping away her emotions from birth—such beings didn’t deserve Camilla’s respect. The only reason she wanted to find them was purely for Camilla’s sake—no, wait. For Camilla’s sake? If she truly cared for Camilla, she shouldn’t be doing such unnecessary things. Then why did she have such thoughts?

A thought that made Yisi click her tongue flashed through her mind.

It’s all just for my own self-satisfaction.

Damn it.

Maybe I shouldn’t bring up Camilla’s biological parents anymore. Camilla already had a real family now. Thinking this, Yisi couldn’t help but squeeze Camilla’s hand slightly harder. Camilla first widened her ruby-like eyes slightly in surprise, then smiled, silently following Yisi without a word.

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After walking a little further, the two arrived at their destination.

A two-story stone house, plain beyond measure. At first glance, it looked no different from an ordinary residence.

On the blackened, decaying wooden door, which looked like it could be blown off by the wind at any moment, were written the words ‘Ymir Temple.’ This was the residence of the elderly priests who had previously requested Yisi’s help. Although Yisi believed they must have already known about the impending war, since her [Omniscient Map] showed they hadn’t left, she had come specifically to inform them. Besides, Evelyn’s reply letter had arrived yesterday.

She knocked lightly. The door wasn’t locked. After exchanging a glance with Camilla, Yisi pushed it open. Unlike all other temples, due to lack of funding, the interior was dim and impoverished. The walls were peeling off in patches from neglect, resembling diseased skin. The main hall was filled with floor mats for patients to rest on, leaving only a central aisle wide enough for two people abreast. The statue at the far end of the room also showed signs of wear. The only commendable aspect of the entire house was that it was relatively clean.

An old man, wiping a small statue with a rag, turned around. Upon seeing Yisi, his expression instantly became vivid. His mouth opened and closed, as if wanting to say something, but too shocked to utter a word. Finally, frustrated by his own inability to speak, he anxiously beat his chest and stomped his feet, waving his hand to gesture for Yisi to sit down. Then he immediately ran to the other rooms to inform the other priests.

Yisi watched the elderly priest go, torn between laughter and tears. Camilla wore a similar wry smile.

“He seems very happy.”

“He probably didn’t expect me to come here, especially since the city is about to be sealed.”

“Y-Your Eminence the Cardinal! Why haven’t you left yet! If you wait another day, you won’t be able to get out!”

While they were talking, the gathered elderly priests hurried over to Yisi. Just as they were about to kneel in reverence, Yisi quickly supported them. She truly couldn’t accept such a grand gesture. Compared to her, they were the true clergy.

“Don’t worry. I came to inform you about the impending war. Today is the last day. Aren’t you planning to leave?”

Yisi glanced around the poor yet orderly room. There was no sign that these elders intended to leave the Ducal Capital of Chloe.

One elder smiled awkwardly, rubbing his nose sheepishly.

“Your Eminence, we’ve grown attached to this land. Besides, at our age, where else could we go? It’s better to stay behind and treat the injured who will appear later. This is our collective decision. Since we decided in our youth to become priests who save all beings, now that war is coming, there’s even less reason to flee. It’s just…”

The elderly priest looked troubled.

Yisi prompted, “Just?”

“Just that Your Eminence is still young and shouldn’t stay here with us old bones. This place will sooner or later be overrun by Imperial soldiers. Even with your status as Cardinal, I worry those rough soldiers might give you trouble… This is a place without hope. Please, Your Eminence, don’t mind us. Leave here quickly.”

“No, it’s not that you have nowhere to go. Yesterday, I received a letter from Her Holiness the Pope. She invites you to the Ymir territory to become church preachers and intends to personally bestow honors upon you. Isn’t this your lifelong dream? Now, not only have you become members of the church, but you will also be personally recognized by Her Holiness under the watchful eyes of many.”

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As she spoke, Yisi handed the prepared letter to one of the elders. Everyone immediately crowded around, urging him to open it.

When the elders finished reading the entire letter and saw Evelyn’s signature and the papal seal at the end, they each reacted differently.

Some trembled all over, some pressed their lips together with reddened eyes, some wept tears of joy, some embraced their companions. For a time, the room was filled with a mixture of crying and laughing. Only when Camilla felt too much time had passed and cleared her throat to remind them did they finally come back to their senses. They tremblingly folded the letter, treating it like a precious treasure, carefully put it away, then bowed deeply to Yisi, their sincerity beyond words.

“Our wish has finally been fulfilled! Thank you, Your Eminence! We will never forget your kindness for the rest of our lives!”

“I only did what needed to be done. Now, you should agree to leave here, right? Don’t worry about the carriage; I will arrange everything.”

“Uh…”

The elders looked at each other for a moment, then gritted their teeth and bowed their heads even lower.

“Forgive us, Your Eminence. Although receiving recognition from Her Holiness the Pope is the honor of a lifetime—no, of eternity—and we are very grateful for your kindness, we wish to go to the Ymir territory only after the war ends. The coming war will likely be exceptionally brutal. While we may not be able to turn the tide of battle, we can at least ensure the injured receive the treatment they deserve. We came here with ideals, and now we must do our best for those ideals. If we were to abandon these injured people and go to the Ymir territory, I think we would not only be ashamed to accept the honor from Her Holiness but also unable to face you, who helped us fulfill our wish. Now is the time when we are needed most. We cannot abandon the cause we’ve upheld our entire lives for the sake of fame. We hope Your Eminence can understand and allow us to stay here.”

“If you die in this war, you’ll miss the investiture by Her Holiness, won’t you? Then your wish cannot be fulfilled.”

“…No, Your Eminence. From the moment we saw this letter from Her Holiness, our wish was already fulfilled. I think even at the moment of death, I will surely die smiling. The kind of smile where even walking the path to the underworld, I would laugh heartily, with no regrets.”

At this, the elder puffed out his chest, subconsciously touching the breast pocket where the letter was kept. The other elders around him all nodded repeatedly in agreement.

A light Yisi didn’t possess shone in those cloudy eyes, making her feel a bit dazzled.

After hesitating for a moment, Yisi chuckled lightly at her own inadequacy.

“Alright. If you change your minds, come find me immediately in the noble district. My residence can be found with just a little inquiry.”

“The noble district… Your Eminence, does that mean you are not leaving? Please, you must leave the Duchy of Chloe! We cannot let our benefactor stay in a dangerous place!”

“You have people you wish to treat, and I have people I wish to help. On this point, we are tentatively the same. So let’s leave it at that. I also have things to do—” Yisi glanced at her [Omniscient Map]. “There isn’t much time left.”

Without further hesitation, Yisi turned around, waved goodbye to the elders with her back to them, and left this poor, dilapidated Ymir Temple.