﻿\setgamedatatitle("Kiros\nConquest of the Fourth City, Glacstorm")

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Whether it's a battle... or a war, or even just a fight,
there are always enemies you never want to face.
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Especially for the Demon Lord's army, whose policy is to
avoid pointless killing... these people could be called
their natural enemies.
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\text("Follower")
We have Winga-sama on our side... Winga-sama...!
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\text("El")
L-Let's just stop already! Why are we still...
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El slowly backs away. She's already out of arrows.
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By the time the outcome was decided, every last arrow had
been used up.
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Fifteen in total. Every single one was fired at the lone
believer standing before her.
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Shoulder, thigh, arm―riddled with arrows, anyone else would
have lost the will to fight, but the enemy before her still
stands.
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\text("Follower")
We will purify you... the monsters... uoooo!
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\text("El")
Eek...
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El lets out a small scream at the intensity and madness in
their eyes.
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Then, Noro steps between her and the believer―thrusting out
his thick, powerful arm.
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\text("Follower")
Gah...
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\text("El")
Ah...
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\text("Noro")
............
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And this time, the believer finally collapses, unconscious.
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At last, El sinks to the ground where she stands.
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\text("El")
What is with these people...?
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Similar scenes were unfolding everywhere.
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\text("Spacchio")
All for Winga, huh? They're out of their damn minds...
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\text("Agri")
Quit whining and take 'em down! This is a fight for our
lives―if they won't back off, we have to kill them!
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\text("Margaretta")
Tiela, stay back...! Ugh, they're so damn persistent...
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\text("Tiela")
I-I'm fine...! As long as I can just stop their movements...
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If the enemy was being controlled, that would make things
easier.
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But that's not the case. They're standing up on their own
will, no matter how much they're hurt, refusing to back
down.
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It's hardest to fight someone who never gives up... whose
spirit never breaks.
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And yet, with their suicidal charges, it's the Demon Lord's
army that's being pushed to the edge mentally.
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
We will not lose... As long as Winga-sama is with us, we'll
rise again and again! You're the ones who will be destroyed!
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\text("Follower")
Ugh... We'll defeat Winga-sama's enemies... Grant us your
blessing!
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\text("Follower")
We are justice...! For Winga-sama... We'll wipe out the
demons... Wipe them out...!
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\text("Follower")
Purify... I'll purify you... Winga-sama... uoooooo――!
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\text("Risbell")
...
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\text("Risbell")
Agh...!?
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With a grip so strong it creaked, Risbell's ankle was
seized.
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The one grabbing her was a follower so beaten he couldn't
even stand.
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But his eyes alone still burned with intense hostility and
murderous intent.
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\text("Follower")
Kill... demons... kill...
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\text("Risbell")
...
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\text("Beatrice")
You just don't know when to give up, do you?
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\text("Follower")
Ugh... u...
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\text("Beatrice")
Ugh... seriously, this is why I hate fanatics. It's just
faster to kill them, isn't it?
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With an exasperated sigh, Beatrice stomped on the follower
grabbing Risbell.
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It's true―just killing them would end the fight quickly,
just as she said.
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\text("Risbell")
B-but...
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Wondering if that's really okay, Risbell glanced at Caym.
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Caym himself seemed just as fed up with the followers as
Beatrice was.
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\text("Caym")
...Yeah. They're so pathetic, I don't even want to bother
killing them.
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Demon Lord, prepare yourself!!
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\text("Caym")
Shut up. Be quiet.
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Ugh... guh... ka...!
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As if it were nothing, Caym wrapped his five fingers around
the attacking priest's neck and squeezed.
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Watching the priest foam at the mouth with a bored look,
Caym gave his order.
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\text("Caym")
Leave them half-dead. Scare the hell out of them. Show no
mercy.
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\text("Caym")
Make sure they experience a living hell so they'll never
dare defy me again.
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\text("Caym")
...Hurting people is what you monsters do best, isn't it?
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\text("Monsters")
GROOOOAAARRR...!!
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Roars echoed. From here on, the Demon Lord's army would no
longer be an army.
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It would become a horde of beasts.
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Ugh... ha... it's useless... we... will never... break...!
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\text("Caym")
...We'll see about that.
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Caym curled his lips into a smirk. He didn't dislike people
who refused to give up.
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So, Caym let go of the priest.
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Gah... gah... ha... heh, heh...
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The monsters surrounded the priest.
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It was only now that he finally realized. Up until now, what
he'd been fighting weren't beasts, but soldiers.
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―That's why he hadn't felt fear.
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Now, what stood before him was nothing less than a starving
lion, freed from its cage.
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\text("Monster")
Grrrr...
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Ha... heh, come on then... I...
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\text("Monster")
GRROOOOAAARRRRR――!!!
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\text("Priest Glackstorm")
Eek... aaaaaaaaahhh!!!
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....................
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............
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......
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A detention center located a little north of Barat Horn.
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There, Günther was being held.
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\text("Subordinate")
...Commander.
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\text("Günther")
You're back. What happened to those girls?
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\text("Subordinate")
I delivered them safely. I also passed on your message, just
as you ordered.
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\text("Günther")
Well done. And the Demon Lord's army?
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It's been about half a day since he was put in the cell. By
now, the Demon Lord's army must already be on the move.
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\text("Subordinate")
Glackstorm has fallen.
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\text("Günther")
...I see.
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There were things he wanted to discuss, but with the guards
watching, that wasn't possible.
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\text("Subordinate")
...It's shameful. For the soldiers who are supposed to
protect this country to end up like this.
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\text("Günther")
...It's all to defeat our enemy. Use whatever you can, and
win.
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In this case, only these two knew who the real enemy was.
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No more words were needed.
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All that was left was to trust his subordinates and wait.
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\text("Priest 1")
What on earth is going on?! Why are we losing?!
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\text("Priest 2")
That's right! This isn't what we were told! Weren't we
supposed to win if we followed your instructions?!
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Late at night―the priests gathered in the throne room,
venting their frustration over defeat at the spy.
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Right after seizing military authority, they had trembled
with joy.
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Now that Günther had fallen, Kiros was as good as theirs.
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However, the church faction leading the defense of
Glackstorm was defeated afterward.
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And as a result, all of their followers ended up as
prisoners of the Demon Lord's army.
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\text("Spy")
There's no need to panic. You still have Winga-sama...
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\text("Priest 3")
...And what exactly is that 'withered thing' supposed to do
for us?
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\text("Priest 4")
He won't lend us his power unless we give him a woman. It'd
be faster to call for reinforcements from the main temple
than to procure one for him.
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\text("Spy")
No problem. I've already requested reinforcements from the
main Lasfa temple.
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\text("Priest 1")
...You're quick to act.
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\text("Spy")
On top of that, we should make use of Winga's power.
...Isn't that what Her Majesty Glace is for?
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\text("Priest 2")
............
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\text("Spy")
If you're going to throw her away anyway... why not make
good use of her first?
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Perhaps lost in thought, the priests fell silent.
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Comparing the cards left in Kiros' hand to those held by the
Demon Lord's army.
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\text("Spy")
(...The Demon Lord's army is growing stronger, beyond what
we anticipated...)
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\text("Spy")
(...Those demons really can't be underestimated...)
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And inwardly, the spy ground his teeth in frustration.
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In the worst case, they would have to consider what to do
after Kiros fell.
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....................
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............
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......
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One section of the labyrinth beneath Glackstorm was busier
than ever with people coming and going.
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All of them were followers who had defended Glackstorm.
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Every one of them, though gravely wounded, was being healed
by the Demon Lord's army...
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And all of them were trembling in fear.
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\text("Tiela")
Sorry, El. Could you bring me some fresh gauze and
disinfectant?
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\text("El")
Okay~
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The ones treating them were Tiela's Brightleaf group and
Risbell, who could use healing magic.
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\text("Risbell")
Tiela-san, we've finished treating the wounded on our end.
How about over there?
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\text("Tiela")
We're done here as well.
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\text("Brightleaf")
We're finished on our side too.
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Following Caym's orders, the monsters thoroughly brutalized
the followers.
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Basically, as long as they didn't die, anything was allowed.
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Breaking bones, skinning them, tearing off flesh―as long as
they survived, it was fine.
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If they hadn't done that, they'd probably have been forced
to keep fighting them endlessly.
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...Why did the followers go so far to keep fighting?
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That was a big question for the Demon Lord's army...
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\text("Follower 1")
Ugh...
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\text("Tiela")
You're awake? Please stay still and rest for now.
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\text("Follower 1")
Don't touch me... Why did you save me... You should've just
killed me...
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\text("Risbell")
...Because it was Caym-sama's order. Besides, there are
things we want to ask you.
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\text("Follower 1")
I have nothing to say... If it means betraying Winga-sama,
I'd rather fight and die for Winga-sama... ugh...!
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He talked tough, but he couldn't even sit up.
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His tendons had been torn out by monsters, and he'd been
beaten until he lost consciousness.
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No matter how much healing he received, those wounds
wouldn't let him move right away.
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\text("Tiela")
No, you can't. If you move, your wounds will get worse and
really...
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\text("Follower 1")
Fine by me... just like this...
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\text("Tiela")
Winga-sama is the guardian deity of Kiros, right? If you
die, Winga-sama will surely be sad too.
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\text("Tiela")
And your family as well. So, okay? Let's just rest for now.
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\text("Follower 1")
...
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Tiela noticed the follower flinch for a moment at the
mention of 'family.'
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But she didn't say anything about it and continued healing
him.
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\text("Follower 1")
Even so, we...
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\text("Risbell")
Why are you fighting so desperately? Honestly, I just don't
get it.
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\text("Follower 1")
...
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\text("Risbell")
...We know your comrades have been kidnapping girls as
'offerings.'
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\text("Risbell")
Supposedly because Winga wants to rape them? ...What's the
point of protecting a god like that?
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\text("Follower 1")
............
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The follower doesn't answer.
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Just from that reaction, Risbell felt an urge to punch this
follower right now.
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\text("Risbell")
...So you knew, didn't you? Why those girls were taken. And
what happens to the girls who are offered up.
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\text("Follower 2")
W-What are you talking about...? This is the first I've
heard of that...
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\text("Follower 2")
Is it... really true...?
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\text("Follower 1")
...It's true. Winga-sama... that's what he wants... or so
they say.
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\text("Tiela")
...?
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\text("Follower 1")
That's why I have to fight... Otherwise, my daughter...
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\text("Follower 1")
That girl won't be saved... I offered her up, so I...
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\text("Tiela")
...In that case, please tell us everything. Everything you
know.
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\text("Follower 1")
U... ugh...
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Tiela smiled gently and softly took the follower's hand.
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Melted by that warmth, the follower began to speak,
haltingly...
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....................
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............
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...
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\text("Tiela")
Ah... Caym-sama.
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When she left the room, Caym was leaning against the wall
looking bored.
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\text("Caym")
Good work. How are the followers doing?
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\text("Risbell")
...You went too far. I healed their physical wounds, but I
think they'll be traumatized.
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\text("Caym")
That's just about right. People like that need to be thrown
into hell at least once, or they'll stay in la-la land
forever.
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\text("Risbell")
I spoke with them, and there's something about Winga that's
bothering me...
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\text("Caym")
What is it?
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\text("Risbell")
Apparently, the offerings were made regularly. And it was
kept secret from the citizens and some of the followers.
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\text("Tiela")
Once a year, they would gather girls in a big event, but
aside from that... there were other times as well... um...
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Tiela hesitated, finding it hard to say. But even that much
made it clear what she meant.
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\text("Caym")
So the girls gathered separately were just playthings for
Winga, huh.
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\text("Risbell")
To be precise, 'too.' Every single girl offered to Winga was
used as a plaything.
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\text("Risbell")
And apparently, the girls gathered separately were ones
Winga specifically asked for. 'Bring me more women,' he
said.
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\text("Caym")
A spirit did that?
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\text("Tiela")
If it were a demon or a monster, maybe, but I've never heard
of a spirit―especially one like that―demanding sacrifices...
and women, at that.
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\text("Caym")
...Is it possible they're lying?
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\text("Tiela")
It didn't seem that way to me.
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\text("Risbell")
Also, it seems only the upper ranks and a select few
followers knew the girls were being used as Winga's
playthings.
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\text("Risbell")
Most likely, what the church truly worships is...
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\text("Caym")
Not Winga, but the one controlling Winga... huh.
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It all sounded fishy―that was Caym's honest impression.
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And in fact, it probably was. If you put all the information
together, it was obvious.
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A being who wants women just to violate them could never be
some grand 'King of Spirits.'
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Why hide that fact? Because if people found out, they'd stop
following the Church of Winga.
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That would be a problem for the church, no doubt.
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Concealing the truth. And the unnatural way the church
faction had seized control of the military.
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The conclusion drawn from all this was actually quite
simple.
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\text("Caym")
Hmph... So every country rots the same way, huh.
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Caym snorted in disgust.
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A hundred years of lazy peace had bred this corruption.
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But it wasn't Caym's job to clean it up.
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\text("Caym")
We can just leave the church alone. It won't be a problem.
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\text("Risbell")
...Are you sure about that?
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\text("Caym")
Let's just enjoy conquering Kiros our own way.
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With that, Caym gave a wicked grin.






































































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