It was a cold and snowy winter day, but the windows of a room in a guest house in the capital of Agartha were open. At the window, there was a man. It was Linos, the king. He is staring at the silver world seen through the window, eating something. Behind him, a figure is seen.
"...Aren't you cold?
It was Matkal who was speaking to him. Linos glanced at Matkal. However, he is still eating something.
"I've put up wards. No problem. Basically, we adjust the temperature to be at its optimum inside the warding. Huh? Didn't we have wards on the mato?"
"I had them put up wards to keep them from being attacked... but not the temperature..."
"Oh, I see. Then let's rewire. There you go.
"...warm. That's convenient, Master Linos' warding. ...I'm getting weaker and weaker with you..."
Linos glances at Matocal, who mutters in confusion, and smiles. He reaches for a box on the desk, takes something, and throws it into his mouth.
At that moment, several faerie dragons appear outside the window. Linos stands at the window, facing them with a cold wind blowing in.
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With that, I throw the buns that the little girl brought as a souvenir into the mouths of the faerie dragons. They disappeared with their tails wagging. After watching them, I close the window and look back in the direction of Matkal.
"Mat, deploy the army to the border of Niza. The followers of Klimiana are coming.
"Are they coming from Niza too? Are they ... to be turned away at the border?"
"No, let them in. Without a certain number of people, the little girls won't be able to create a paradise.
I grin.
"And Mat, call Knogen. As soon as possible."
"Okay."
A few moments later, accompanied by Matkal, Knogen arrived.
"Knogen, head for Garbee immediately. It seems that Klimiana's ship, which was anchored offshore, is starting to come alongside."
"Yes, sir. I will go immediately and prevent them from coming ashore."
No, I don't care if you bring them ashore.
What do you mean?
You may land, but I forbid you to go to Agartha. They must never leave Garbee!
"Master Linos, in that case, I think it would be better to prevent them from coming ashore..."
No, let them go ashore. And delay our departure for Agartha for three days! If he says anything else tell him that the oracle of Krimeana has sent me! And leave those who still try to force my departure alone! Knogen, delay Crimiana's departure for three days. That's all I ask. Tell them that if they don't, they'll be punished.
"Ha. You're up to something very bad again, aren't you? I understand. I will do so.
I'm sorry. Knogen and Mato, don't be too hard on yourself. Mato, as soon as you see that Crimiana's people are safely in Agartha, come back to me.
"Okay. You'll just keep an eye on him, right?
"Yes. But if they harm our troops or talk nonsense, feel free to turn them away. If you get into a fight with them, they will become soldiers who do not fear death. Be prepared for that, okay? I'm hoping it won't come to that, but... can you do that?"
I'm on it. You'll keep them quiet and bring them to Agartha, won't you? No problem."
"Good. Be careful out there in the cold, okay? I'll warm you back up when you get back."
"I'm not cold thanks to Rinos-sama's warding earlier. I'm fine.
Matkal then left the room. Knogen saw him and laughed.
"Your face was red, wasn't it?"
"Mato is not immune to this kind of talk. He just gets carried away."
"Don't take it too far, or Mr. Ricolet will be angry with you."
"Oh! That's not good. I'll try not to let that happen.
Knogen and I laughed out loud together. Then, Knogen moved to the city of Garbee.
"Well... I guess I'd better get going."
I saw Knogen off, stood up tall, and left the office.
That evening, the port of Garbee was in chaos. There was a skirmish between the hundreds of believers who had landed from a ship that had come alongside and the soldiers of Agartha.
What are you people! Why are you blocking our path!"
"We are here to make this Agartha a paradise! Why do you stand in our way?
We are the followers of the Lady Klimiana. If you interfere with our path, you will be punished!
Words of abuse are hurled at the soldiers. The soldiers of Agartha, however, are not provoked in any way, and all of them push back the onrushing congregation of the Crimiana without any change of expression on their faces. Some of the faithful were able to get through, but the soldiers showed no interest in them and were focused on pushing back the onrushing congregation.
At that moment, several bishops separated the crowd and stepped forward in front of the soldiers, shouting angrily.
I am Kári, the chief priest of the Crimean community. Bring out your commander! By whose orders are you doing this! Your king, King Agartha, has permitted us, the Krimianas, to enter your country! Why do you prevent us from moving? Send out the commander! I need a commander... oh my God!"
The chief priest, who identified himself as Kahli, was grabbed by the chest by a hand that reached out from among the soldiers and pulled him down. He searches for the owner of the hand that grabbed him, breathing hard.
I am Knogen, second-in-command of the Agartha army.
The voice came from above me. I lifted my head, and there stood a small, well-built man with a good-looking face.
"Are you the commander? What in the world...?"
"An oracle has come down to me."
"What?"
"My king, Rinos, has just received an oracle from the Lady Klimiana."
"What? No way..."
I don't know if it's true or not. After all, I am not a follower of Klimiana. My king had a dream like this. She said that the Lord Krimeana must not gather the faithful... She said in a very sad voice. She was sobbing, too...? Anyway, Klimiana said that the congregation should not be gathered.
Knogen nodded more curtly and spoke to Carli as if to admonish her.
"But there are already more than a dozen ships here in Garbee. If we continue like this, we will be going against the will of Lady Klimiana, won't we? We would have informed each and every ship, but there is no time. Therefore, our Lord Rinos has ordered that the people of Klimiana should take refuge in their boats for the next three days. That is why we are not leaving Garbee.
"Evacuation? What do you mean!"
"You see, there is a possibility of d*mnation, right?"
"d*mnation? What are you talking about? We are devout members of the Klimiana faith. In the eyes of the Lord Goddess Krimeana, we are like her own children. Why should we be punished?
Carli smiles broadly. An unfamiliar sound comes out of nowhere. The sound gradually gets louder and louder.
"What is that sound?
"Huh. The punishment is coming sooner than expected, isn't it?"
Knogen looks to the sky and grins. Carly glared at that smile with an abhorrent look on her face. At that moment, his eyes widened and he froze.
What he saw was a huge flash flood from the upper reaches of the Irbezi River, swallowing the congregation of Klimiana who had broken through the Agartha soldiers' checks.