The Holy Knight And The Sister's Circumstances

――E-Rank Dungeon【Green Bird Forest】.

――Basement Floor 1.

“【Sacred Moon Slashing Blade (Lunatic Saint)】!”

A blonde beauty in a sister’s habit activated a Holy-attribute spell.

The blade of light launched from the girl’s hand streaked toward the fairy-type monster—the Green Sylph—but instead of a direct hit it struck the side wall.

“Pruuuurrrrrrr!!”

The Green Sylph countered with a ramming attack.

“Kya!?”

“Flo, don’t close your eyes!”

――Slash!

Before the Green Sylph could collide with the sister, a blonde Holy Knight who had leapt between them swept the monster aside with her longsword.

“I-I’m sorry, Lady Sheena.”

“Good grief—if you’re struggling with monsters in an E-Rank Dungeon, I’m worried about what lies ahead…”

“Uuu…”

The pure-white sister’s name was Florence Cuticle.

She was an apprentice Holy Knight of the Holy Church’s vigilante order.

Opposite her, the woman in white armor with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail was Sheena Aytel.

She was a veteran Holy Knight assigned as Florence’s instructor.

They were the pair Sid Ranorus had earlier ridden with on the dungeon patrol carriage.

The two were conducting Florence’s level-up and combat training in the E-Rank Dungeon【Green Bird Forest】.

“You’ve seemed unable to concentrate for a while—what’s the matter? Even if it’s E-Rank, this is still a dungeon; stay alert.”

“I apologize, Lady Sheena… It’s just, I’m worried about that Shikai Tribe adventurer from earlier.”

“I understand what you’re trying to say. You’re concerned a free Shikai Tribe member might do something untoward. I feel the same.”

“No! That’s not it! He seemed to be a solo adventurer. Going into a dungeon alone is far more dangerous than going with a party. I’m worried about him.”

“No one in this country is foolish enough to party with the Shikai Tribe, tainted as they are; it’s only natural they’d act alone. If they would just die namelessly in a dungeon, that would be convenient.”

“Lady Sheena! Why do you hate the Shikai Tribe so much!? You’re usually a kinder person!”

“The College of Cardinals has declared the Shikai Tribe heretical. If so, they are the same as monsters to our knighthood and must be eradicated. Public outcry means there’s no open persecution at present, but for the Holy Church the Shikai Tribe remains a target for removal.”

“The Shikai Tribe are human too! God loves all mankind equally!”

“Don’t say that in front of anyone else. The Shikai Tribe are not human—since the Holy Church has decreed it, if you treat them as human, Flo, you will be considered heretical as well.”

“…!! That’s absurd!!”

“Ha… that stubborn streak must run in the family…”

As if admonishing an unconvinced subordinate—or soothing a sulking little sister—Sheena began to tell a story from the past.

“Ten years ago, under the command of your mother—Lady Frances Cuticle—I took part in the extermination of the Shikai Tribe.

She then added, “Well, Lady Frances opposed attacking the Shikai Tribe’s village to the end…

“They were not so obedient as to be slain without a fight. They took up arms against our Holy Church. I still remember—the one I fought was a Shikai Tribe group, the Ranorus clan.”

“…The Ranorus clan?”

“The Shikai Tribe were cruel—when one of their own died they manipulated the corpse to return to the front lines, and ultimately wrapped bombs around them to make them blow themselves up. They denied the dead peaceful rest, toyed with souls that should have returned to Heaven, and forced them to self-destruct—and they didn’t even question it. In that moment I understood—ah, they are not human…”

“……”

“I don’t care if the Shikai Tribe desecrate the corpses of their own. But if those corpses are decent citizens? Souls defiled and manipulated by them cannot pass through Heaven’s gate. We have a duty, guided by the Lord, to lead virtuous believers to the Kingdom of Heaven. For that reason the Shikai Tribe must be wiped out.”

“…Where in the Scriptures does it say that the dead manipulated by the Shikai Tribe cannot go to Heaven? Isn’t that just because the College of Cardinals finds it convenient—”

“Flo! Don’t you dare say another word!”

“Eek!?”

Sheena shouted down Florence, who had been about to speak the one thing no one in the Holy Church should ever voice.

“Listen. As I said before, never say such things to others. Your late mother—Lady Frances—asked me to look after you after she fell in the fight with the Shikai Tribe. I have a duty to raise you into a proper clergywoman. Now, back to training. Let’s find some monsters!”

Sheena finished speaking with an unquestionable force of will.

“…Yes.”

Florence came from a long line of clergy.

She too was a devout believer who loved the Scriptures, but she could not help but harbor doubts about the Holy Church’s very organization.

“I hope that person… is safe.”

Despite Sheena’s warning, Florence couldn’t get the black-haired young man—who had praised her homemade baked goods with a “They’re delicious, thanks”—out of her head.