﻿\setgamedatatitle("The Inner Workings of Kiros 3")

\text("Glace")
So with this battle, the Demon Lord has taken sixty percent
of Lusario's territory.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
That's correct. At this point, it's safe to say the Demon
Lord's army has all but secured victory.
\endtext

\text
From an organizational standpoint, this is far beyond just a
matter of fighting.
\endtext

\text
And when it comes to something as large as a nation, the
impact is immeasurable.
\endtext

\text
Having your land taken―being ruled over―brings deep despair
to both morale and the people themselves.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...It's only a matter of time, then.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
............
\endtext

\text("Glace")
What's the situation inside the country?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
...Food shortages continue, and there's still no hope for
the weather to improve.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
The people's dissatisfaction hasn't been resolved, and while
it's sporadic, there have even been clashes with the
military.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
...We're taking measures, but if left unchecked, it could
escalate into riots.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
I see...
\endtext

\text
And it's having a major effect on the surrounding countries
as well.
\endtext

\text
Right now, both inside and outside Kiros, anxiety and fear
are swirling.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...At this rate, it seems like we'll collapse from within
before anything else.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
............
\endtext

\text("Glace")
My life exists only for the prosperity of Kiros... but like
this, it means nothing...
\endtext

\text("Glace")
I don't even know why I was born anymore...
\endtext

\text("Günther")
That won't happen.
\endtext

\text
As Glace lowered her gaze, Günther spoke with firm
conviction.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Right now, everyone is just afraid. They simply want to
escape from that fear.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
And we are here to take that fear away.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
...We won't let the Demon Lord's army do as they please with
Kiros. We will protect it to the end.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...Really?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
I swear it on my pride. ...So you don't need to worry about
anything.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Glace-dono, please fulfill your role without worry. That is
my wish.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
..................
\endtext

\text
Günther gave Glace a gentle smile, trying to reassure her.
\endtext

\text
But for some reason, that expression looked pained in
Glace's eyes.
\endtext

\text
....................
\endtext

\text
............
\endtext

\text
......
\endtext

\text
――This is not a good atmosphere.
\endtext

\text
Günther was patrolling with his subordinates, all while
receiving hostile and suspicious looks from the citizens.
\endtext

\text
He could feel the frustration in the air, so thick it seemed
ready to burst at the slightest provocation.
\endtext

\text
Is the only way to resolve this to offer up a daughter to
Winga?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
(...But not a single girl offered to Winga has ever come
back.)
\endtext

\text
Where Winga is supposedly enshrined... 'Winga's Throat.'
\endtext

\text
There have been dozens, even hundreds of girls who entered
that cave with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
\endtext

\text
――But no one knows what happens after that.
\endtext

\text
As the years pass, the Winga faith simply treats it as an
honorable death.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
(Fulfill your duty, huh...)
\endtext

\text
Günther had indeed said those words to Glace.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
It's basically the same as telling her to die...
\endtext

\text("Adolf")
...Commander? Is something wrong?
\endtext

\text("Günther")
No, just talking to myself.
\endtext

\text
The number of girls being offered has increased year by
year. And yet, there's no sign of the weather improving.
\endtext

\text
And now, as if in sync with the appearance of the Demon
Lord's army, the Winga faith is gaining more power.
\endtext

\text
In this situation, they have to fight the Demon Lord's army
too.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
(Which problem should I tackle first...? There are so many.)
\endtext

\text("Priest")
There is no longer any choice!
\endtext

\text
That voice echoed through the deserted city streets.
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Now is the time to rise up together with us, the followers
of Winga!
\endtext

\text("Priest")
As long as there are soldiers who disrespect Lord Winga, we
cannot receive Lord Winga's blessing!
\endtext

\text("Adolf")
...Commander, look at that.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
Hmm...
\endtext

\text("Priest")
They are deceiving Her Majesty Glace and trying to pull her
away from Lord Winga! That is unforgivable!
\endtext

\text("Priest")
Let us protect Her Majesty Glace together! And let us judge
these soldiers with our own hands! Justice is on our side!
\endtext

\text("Günther")
(I see... So this conflict with the people is the work of
the Winga faith.)
\endtext

\text
He didn't know what their goal was, but it was clear the
Winga faith wanted to get rid of the military.
\endtext

\text
That's why they're stirring up the citizens―
\endtext

\text("Günther")
(We must really be in their way... Just what are they
planning...?)
\endtext

\text("Adolf")
Commander, let's detain those guys! We can charge them with
treason right now...!
\endtext

\text("Günther")
If we act here and now, that'll play right into the Winga
faith's hands.
\endtext

\text("Citizen 1")
The priest is right... They're the only ones eating well and
living easy. The military is just in the way.
\endtext

\text("Citizen 2")
Yeah, let's drive them out for Lord Winga and Lady Glace!
\endtext

\text("Citizen 3")
B-but, if the Demon Lord's army comes, who's going to
protect us...?
\endtext

\text
Günther and the others watched the citizens, some agreeing
and some hesitating, from the shadows of a building with
stern expressions.
\endtext

\text("Günther")
...If we don't handle this the right way, we'll end up
tightening our own noose. For now, we endure.
\endtext

\text
Adolf was right―the priest should be captured, and it's not
impossible to do so.
\endtext

\text
The problem is, what will the citizens think and how will
they react when they see it?
\endtext

\text
It's not that we're doing nothing. But now is not the time.
\endtext

\text
It might already be too late―swallowing that anxiety,
Günther turned on his heel.




















\endtext