A week later, I was in the plaza of the Agartha army headquarters. This place is basically used for soldiers' training, but on this day, there was not a soul in sight.
I looked at the sky. The sky is clear and cloudless. But my mind was not clear.
I regain my composure and turn my eyes to the square again.
"Sadakichi!"
A moment later, Sadakichi the Fairy Dragon appears. Immediately after, dozens of other faerie dragons appear behind him.
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I point my right hand at the ground and set up a transfer ward. Then dozens of friendly flowers appeared.
At my words, the Fairy Dragons grasped the flowers in their hands. They are very close to me, but since they can travel at the speed of light, I think they should just fly away, but they walk to get the flowers, their footsteps making a fluttering sound. They are kind of cute, like penguins. The air around me is relaxed.
They line up back to where they were, still clapping their feet. If dragon-loving Alyria could see this, she'd probably swoon in agony.
Just as I was relaxing, I heard Sadakichi's voice. I come to my senses.
...... What? The faerie dragons are all staring at me. Oh, shit. Was that too hard to say? I cough once more and open my mouth to them.
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<<< Okay. Good then. But you don't have to go overboard. Take the time you need to complete the operation.
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He said three minutes. I was trying to be very careful, but I guess they didn't need it. I think it's a rather difficult mission. Sadakichi was very bold to give them three minutes. Well. Let's see how he does. No, I don't care if it takes a long time. Don't blame me or get mad at me if you couldn't complete it in three minutes. What's more important is that everyone comes back alive without failure. That's why ...... what's that?
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He called my meticulous plan a work in progress. ....... No, we can't let them know we're upset. We've got to get our heads in the game.
I straighten my back and open my mouth a little louder to the faerie dragons who are standing in line.
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At my words, the faerie dragons disappeared in an instant.
"Well, what's going to happen now?"
I look up at the sky. The sky was as clear and beautiful as before.
Two weeks after Linos' mission, Vieille was looking over a report in the Papal Temple of Aphrodite. It was from a cardinal who had been dispatched to the Grand Duchy of Foal.
It stated that Grand Duke Taste had recovered from his illness and that the Grand Duchy had declared the severance of diplomatic relations with the New Crimiana.
Vieille looked at the report with narrowed eyes. If the Church of the Crimianas did its best, the Grand Duchy of Foal would lose everything in two days. And yet, where did he get the courage to declare the breakup of diplomatic relations with the Church? The answer was quickly found.
...... Foral and Agartha joined hands?
Vieille took her eyes off the report and looked out the window. The sun was shining softly. The ocean stretching out there is magnificent. The waves are calm and the scene is peaceful.
However, Vieille's heart was beating fast. I have a bad feeling. She looks at the huge map of the world hanging on the wall.
If the Foral had followed Agartha, this Aphrodite would be surrounded from three sides. The capital of the Church would be on the front line in the midst of the enemy.
The Sandanjian army on the east moves northward across the sea to check the forces from the north. Meanwhile, the Subcliner army led by Rucker on the western side heads for Aphrodite. We will do our utmost to intercept Rucker. In the meantime, the main army of Agartha will attack the capital. ....... If that happens, we will not stand a chance.
Vieille thinks about this, and lets out a laugh. Nonsense. It can't be true. At that moment, a cardinal came rolling into Vieille's office.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha ......"
"What's ...... going on, Cardinal Ermoyle? Please calm down."
He was pale. It was enough to know that something terrible had happened. But we must not be dismayed here. Vieille reminded himself strongly and stretched his shoulders to look as relaxed as possible.
"I also have an offer..."
When he said that, his eyes moved violently from side to side, and then he mouthed something and hung his head.
"What's wrong?"
I tried to smile and used gentle phrases to encourage him to report back to me. The young cardinal, his shoulders shifting as he caught his breath, looked up as if he had made up his mind.
"There are flowers of friendship growing everywhere in Aphrodite."
"...... what?"
"There are flowers of friendship growing everywhere in Aphrodite. And not just in one or two places. We have now confirmed that friendly flowers are growing in about 12 places. We are still investigating, but we expect that the number of flowers will increase.
"Why are these flowers of friendship here in Aphrodite? Could it have been scattered from the institute?"
"We don't know what caused it. That is also under investigation.
"Okay. Please determine where the flowers of friendship are growing and the cause of the spill."
"Ha ...... haha."
"And ...... call Grand Mage Orphalez. ...... No, please tell Grand Mage Orphalez to exterminate the Friendship Blossom immediately."
"Yes, sir. ......
The cardinal jumped up and left Vieille. His footsteps were trailing off in the distance.
"Vieille, ......, His Holiness the Pope, ......."
The woman who takes care of Vieille's personal belongings looks at him anxiously. Vieille smiles and slowly opens his mouth for her.
"There is nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine. Nothing to worry about.
She nodded her head repeatedly, as if to herself. Then she got up from her chair and opened the window with great energy. A nice breeze with the scent of the sea enveloped her body.
"It's a nice breeze!"
Vieille was seized at this moment with the feeling that her fate was coming to an end. .......