Does the mechanical girl dream of the Messiah?

"Well, that's it. I don't know what to do."

"Oh!—you mean you don't know, either?"

"You're right, I really don't know."

Of course, everyone knows that this statement is definitely not convincing. My readers will not accept it, I personally will not accept it, and Ms. Rusa Efayeret will naturally not accept it either.

"Then you must tell me in detail, otherwise why should I follow you like this?"

Of course, this is not what she said. If Lunicia came to ask her for help alone, she would never let Lunicia lead her away just because "it's on the way for everyone", but the current situation is different after all. On the left is the construct with a short knife against her lower back, and on the right is the curse swordsman with a long sword against her neck. She has no ability to stay away even if she wants to.

"Um……"

Now it was Lunicia's turn to be troubled.

"Are you causing trouble to Lady Luna?"

"No matter how you look at it, this responsibility shouldn't be on me - so?"

"Although I was the first to help, and I didn't ask you for help, you did help me and my companions."

"That was because I was coerced—"

"You are just saying you are not happy about it, but you will still do it, right?"

"This is a kind gesture imposed on others—"

"Although I don't know why you, Sister Systine, or Iron Leviathan care so much about me... Previously, the lady called Hunter and I had a good fight, and both sides did not hold back from beginning to end. But I can also see what kind of inclinations you and your companions have."

"Oh, that's right... You think too highly of yourself!"

This statement is a bit lacking in confidence.

Lunicia didn't care and continued, "You seem to prefer to have some fun for yourself. If your mission is the most important, and the mission requires taking my life, you will have many opportunities to do so."

“…This judgment is correct.”

This was a compliment in disguise, and Lusa Ephayet would not be hypocritical or avoid talking about such things.

"And, most importantly..."

Lunicia smiled faintly.

“You have a good expression, so I trust you.”

"W-what, this..."

"She is such a weird person."

Looking down at her feet, Lunicia's smile did not change because of Leah's words. She did not express her feelings directly, nor did she feel that such feelings were suitable to be shared with the "Opera House": she felt that her expression when she talked about her subordinates, her expression to her sister, her expression of complacency and over-cheerfulness, her narcissistic and intoxicated expression, were all expressions that made people feel happy and lovable.

"That's why I'm so conflicted. You helped me, and I have no ill feelings towards you, but you led the Iron Leviathan to attack Tweek. There are still people alive in Tweek, at least it seems that there are no more in the city. In this case, I can't just let you go because of my likes and dislikes..."

“This has nothing to do with me!”

"But you participated after all..."

Lunicia put away her smile and shook her head in distress.

"So I don't know what to do. I can only take you with me first."

"you……"

Leah was about to explode, but Lusa calmed her down with a gesture. She turned around and asked, "If that's what you think, then what are you going to do next? The undead outside are leaderless. Although they are out of control, the extras have become even more manic and chaotic, but they can't defeat the organized Principality Army after all. Besides, there should be another group of people rushing back. Do you plan to hand me over to them after they solve the problem?"

"What if I say that your prediction is correct?"

"Then I have to fight back with all my might!"

"I won't do that... Um... The guards outside the city wall, they did nothing wrong, but they seem to be too hot-blooded now, and I don't know if they can make the right judgment... Anyway, I won't hand you over to them."

"Oh, oh, that's what you said."

"That's what I said."

"Luna, this is so troublesome."

“Is it troublesome?!”

"If Lady Luna expresses any dissatisfaction with this lady, I can chop off her head right now and present it to Lady Luna."

"Then I'll have to fight back with all my might!"

"I didn't say that—"

"That's exactly what Luna-sama said. Since Luna-sama herself doesn't know what to do, I won't do anything rash, so please rest assured, okay?"

"You can't feel at ease!"

"Sister Lusa, you are being played by them..."

"I'm not kidding! - So after all this talk, have you finally decided what to do with me?"

"To the north is ..."

"Muirand."

"That is the core of the Red Divine Court in the west of Mu Continent."

“One of the core ones.”

"I feel very sad if you keep interrupting me like this..."

"Oh, sorry, sorry, please continue."

"It is the site of the largest court in the entire continent and the core of the Alexandrian faith."

After hearing what Lunicia said, Ella looked happy and proud - after all, it was she who later taught Lunicia such basic common sense about the Mu Continent.

"I intend to take you there and let the greatest court in the entire continent judge and decide how to deal with you."

"That means going to trial."

"You're right."

"Wow, judging a construct, the mercenary puppet of the Iron Leviathan, is this really the first time in the world?"

“That’s what’s recorded in my mind, too!”

"There is no record of the keyword 'judgment' in Ashe's mind."

As for Ella, she simply tilted her head in confusion.

"That sounds better than the previous option."

"...Because you have done me a favor, I will testify for you in court and stand on the side that is favorable to you. In this way, even if it is..."

"——I'm just running away."

No matter who it was, they couldn't help but stop at this moment.

Yes, until this moment, everyone remembered a fact that they had forgotten because they were too engrossed in the conversation -

I don't know when it started, but the surroundings have once again returned to the silent darkness. The roar disappeared, the shaking disappeared, and even the chill, hatred, sharpness and terror in the atmosphere disappeared. Only the lightless and silent ruins of Twick remained.

He raised his head and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

There, the swelling flesh and blood piled up into a small hill. They might have originally belonged to an unknown entity, but were later cut into pieces. If these pieces of flesh were piled together, they would probably form a giant object that reached the sky. From the pieces of flesh, one could vaguely see some of the elements that they originally possessed. For example, one could see the claws and wings of a legendary giant dragon, a tail that looked like a giant snake, pure white wings that looked like the legendary Seraphim, broken wings that looked like a demon, the head of a golden lion, and the huge palm of a monster.

They clearly appear to belong to many different entities, yet one would intuitively believe that they belong to the same entity. They are filled with deformed human features, crooked, pus-filled eye sockets, strange noses and ears, and a mouth with eighty teeth. Where a face should have been, there is nothing but a dark void.

On the hill of corpses, someone is standing there.

He thrust the huge black sword into the mountain of corpses and stood at the peak of victory with the sword in his hand.

The black knight's cold golden eyes were fixed on the girl named Lunicia.

There was no cold moon in the sky, only Systine Perancine.

Chapter 38: The Road Before Dawn (Part 2)

"Sister Sestin..."

I don’t know how many emotions are contained in such a small and soft voice.

Joy, happiness, excitement, tension, hostility, loss, hesitation, confusion... We were only separated for less than a month, but when we met again, the emotions had already brewed and expanded, becoming so complicated.

You are my teacher, my friend, my sister, and my mother. Where are you going to leave me behind, my dear Sestine Perancine?

"What have I to say to an escapist?—Opera House, why are you there?"

With a swing of the sword, the entire mountain of flesh and blood was split in half from the middle, and the dark figure slowly descended, landing on the ground steadily and silently. The paladin wielding a heavy sword and wearing black armor occasionally gives people a somewhat rude and careless impression, and swinging the sword in a bold and open manner. It seems that the blood on her face and the ferocious and confident smile on her face are more suitable for her. However, most people also subconsciously ignore that her behavior is also elegant and self-respecting. The mixture of two completely different styles makes her more noticeable.

"Why do you think that is why?"

Opera shrugged.

"…Then we'll talk about it later."

The words stopped, and Setin's golden eyes glanced at Lunicia's face again. The latter still said nothing. This small world between the two became silent and quiet, and they started a strange game. Whoever spoke first would lose. It only tested the tacit understanding between the two people.

Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and shook it firmly.

"It's not a good habit to attack by surprise, little girl."

She didn't smile - if it was before, she would have smiled a little when she said this, no matter how she felt at the time, like a fake gentleman. But now, she just held the black blade tightly, letting the sharp edge cut through her gauntlet and flesh, letting the blood flow down the blade and drip onto the ground.

Her arms did not tremble, but Ella Hepper's hands, which were holding the sword, were shaking because she exerted too much force, but she still could not make the sword penetrate any further.

"Ella?!"

Before Lunicia could do anything, Ashlee also condensed a black steel crossbow and aimed the crossbow arrow at Sesteen's face. Like Ella, she said nothing, but used actions instead of words.

"Ashe, you..."

As for the "Opera House" Lusa Efayeret, and the "Arbitrator" Leah Efayeret in her arms... one of them couldn't move, and the other simply did nothing, with an excited look on her face, just like a person who came to watch a play. She was completely out of the matter, as if no matter how the situation developed, it would have nothing to do with her as an audience.

"So? Is this enough?"

She pushed the black blade in her hand down suddenly, and Ella's center of gravity became unstable. She pushed forward again, and she had to stumble into Lunicia's arms. If she wanted to take the cut on Sestin's palm as a trophy, it would be too shabby - the wound that was deep enough to see the bone regenerated in just a moment, and there was no sign of any injury.

"The one with the wimpy look on his face is... the paladin named Lunicea over there. Is she so out of control for such a reason that she can't even hold her sword steady? She's even swinging her sword at me. Is it because there's something wrong with what I said, or is she taking her mistake out on me?"

Sestine's expression remained unchanged. She showed neither anger nor dissatisfaction. She was expressionless. She was not cold, but she had no temperature at all. There was no arc at the corner of her mouth, and her eyebrows did not wrinkle. Only her golden pupils were filled with indifference and contempt, as if she was looking down from a high place, which made her golden pupils even sharper.

“You…!”

"Stop."

Systine uttered only one syllable.

The next second, without any sound or movement, and without anyone being able to see clearly, the blade of the giant black sword was pressed tightly against Ella's neck, as if the white neck would be torn into pieces if she moved even a little bit.

"Although I don't intend to admit that I have any relationship with... that coward, I will still spare you this time for the sake of our past friendship - you are her companion? But there won't be a next time, I will kill you next time."

"Okay, Ella, let me do this, okay?"

Pulling Ella back into her arms, Lunicia spoke softly to her.

"But……"

"Okay, no problem."

Although it was very reluctant, Lunicia still forced a smile at her.

"I'm fine...I'm really fine."

"……Um."

"Ashe too, leave this to me, okay?"

"If that's what Luna wants."

Ashlee let the crossbow re-embed into her arm, and she did not bother to argue any more. As for Lusa Efayeret behind her, she spread her hands, as if there was nothing more fun to watch.

"Sister Sestin..."

"..."

"If... if Sister Sestine thinks I did something wrong, just tell me directly. Don't be violent with my friends."

"Oh - who was the first to use violence?"

He raised the huge black sword once again, but this time, the tip of the sword was placed directly on Lunicia's shoulder.

Based on previous experience, Lunicia should have raised her white blade at this time, letting the two giant swords of black and pure white touch each other as the opening remarks of another duel - but she did not do so. Instead, she took another step forward, letting the black blade get closer to her shoulder, cutting open the shoulder and neck that were not covered by armor, and blood gushed out.