Chapter 8.1 - .

Chapter 8: A Warning, or Perhaps a Kind of Admonition

“I’m very sorry!”

“No, it’s our fault as well. We failed to remember that you’re a civilian.”

“No, I was the one who said I wanted to see it. I never imagined I’d cause so much trouble.”

Angelina had apparently been unconscious for only about ten minutes. She came while being carried in a princess carry, and when she lifted her gaze, she saw Captain Gilberto’s face, pale as a sheet. The surprise nearly made her fall.

“I never thought you’d be affected to the point of losing consciousness.”

“That’s not it, really. I’m completely fine now!”

Angelina hurried to reassure the dejected-looking Gilberto. What had happened wasn’t exposure to magical miasma. If she had to compare it to anything, it was more like a rejection response.

Demon Magic and the power of the Saintess of Warding exist at opposite extremes. Only a Saintess of Warding can interfere with magic. Turn that around, and it also means that only magic can interfere with Angelina.

That had been a warning, something like an admonition telling her not to lay a hand on the Nest of Magic.

No matter how powerful the Saintesses of Warding in the past had been, none had ever been able to erase a magic reservoir. Now that she had seen it with her own eyes, Angelina understood. It was impossible. Touching it would only result in being devoured instead.

“You must be tired. You should rest for a bit.”

He said he would come back for her later. Perhaps sensing her silence, Captain Gilberto gently patted her head. His hand was warm, as always. After spending a month together, she knew. He was strong, kind, and loved by everyone.
Completely unlike her.

As his hand pulled away, Angelina instead reached out and grasped it. Gilberto widened his eyes in surprise.

“Anju?”

“Captain Gilberto, what do you think of the Saintess of Warding of the Centrea Kingdom?”

You’re someone who always stands at the very front. That’s why I want to hear your answer.

Gilberto fell silent for a moment, then finally opened his heavy mouth.

“Two years ago, many soldiers lost their lives. They died fulfilling their duty. Believing that the Saintess of Warding would surely save this country, and that they only needed to hold out until then.”

“…”

“Of course, in normal times, individual wishes should be respected. I understand the excitement of having just become engaged. But while she enjoys her happiness without a care, does she really feel nothing about the soldiers who are dying?”

Certainly, choices and priorities are matters of personal freedom. Even so… He clenched her hand so tightly that it made a faint grinding sound.

“I hate people who don’t fulfill the duty they were given.”

A dark, blazing fire flickered in his eyes. Resentment, hatred, and anger that refused to fade. He let out a deep breath, as if releasing the heat.

“I’m sorry. I spoke ill of someone from your country.”

“No. I feel the same way.”

At that moment, the resolve that had been half-formed within Angelina finally settled. If they despised her so much because they had needed her so desperately, then her power was worth giving. Not as a Saintess of Warding, but as Angelina, she decided to lend this country her strength.

There was only one lingering regret. She closed her lips tightly before the words could escape.

How foolish. What am I even hoping for?

No matter what circumstances she had, they wouldn’t care. The fact remained that she had rejected this country’s request, and because of that, many soldiers had died. Angelina slid off the bed.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest a little longer?”

“No, I’m full of energy already.”

She smiled brightly. Time was precious. She needed to gather as much information as possible, as quickly as possible. As Angelina started walking, Captain Gilberto’s puzzled voice came from behind her.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Of course, to my workplace, the barracks.”

“That’s the wrong direction. The barracks are that way.”

“…”

“More importantly, I don’t believe I’ve even told you where the barracks are yet.”

Without a word, Angelina changed direction.

“It’s good that you switch gears quickly, but your assumptions are excessive.”

“You’re noisy. I just made a small mistake, didn’t I?”

An exasperated voice came down at her, and she snapped back reflexively. Oh no, that was outright disrespect.
A burst of laughter sounded above her, and Captain Gilberto fell into step beside her. Matching pace, they walked slowly down the corridor.

“I can’t tell whether you’re thick-skinned or delicate. You're too dangerous to take my eyes off.”

“Please rest assured. I admit to being thick-skinned, but I’m not delicate.”

“Why admit that? Usually it’s the other way around.”

Casual conversation flowed, a peaceful moment she couldn’t have imagined just a short time ago.

“By the way, may I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Before you collapsed, you said, ‘sooner.’ What did you mean by that?”

You remember that well, she thought. Even though I was already forgetting it. But she couldn’t explain in detail. That would expose her as a Saintess of Warding. Still, at least a warning was necessary.

“My grandmother once told me this. When something moves differently than usual, there’s always a reason, even if you can’t see it.”

“A reason. Such as?”

“Cause and effect, perhaps. According to a story my grandmother heard from a traveler, in a distant foreign land there is a magic reservoir just as large as this one. In that place, an inexplicable phenomenon sometimes occurs where the frequency of magical beasts being born, which had been very active, decreases.”

“…”

“The period of decrease lasts anywhere from a few weeks to about a month. It doesn’t stop completely, so unless you’re watching very carefully, you might not even notice.”

And it doesn’t seem to happen regularly either. There are simply old accounts saying it happened in the past. There’s no guarantee it will occur again.

“However, the traveler also said this. When that dormant period ends, a large-scale magical beast migration always occurs. It’s recorded in documents, apparently. This, at least, can be stated with certainty. That’s why, when signs appear, the surrounding residents prepare to flee as quickly as possible.”

Her grandmother’s knowledge, gathered greedily even from rumors. Combined with Angelina’s intuition after seeing the Nest of Magic herself.

“Recently, haven’t there been days when the appearance rate of magical beasts dropped, like today?”

“…”

“Or conversely, have you received information that the appearance rate has increased in other countries’ magic reservoirs?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“According to texts, magic reservoirs are connected underground like water veins. Just as contamination in one water source affects the entire system, if one location becomes highly active, isn’t it entirely possible that the others are dragged into increased activity as well?”

Captain Gilberto stopped walking, looking stunned. Brushing aside his serious gaze, Angelina let out a small laugh.

“That knowledge, where did it come from?”

“My grandmother’s bag of wisdom!”

Angelina puffed out her chest proudly. Don’t underestimate the ramblings of the elderly. She was praised in the Centrea Kingdom’s temple as a living book of wisdom… though of course, Angelina didn’t say that. Her identity as a Saintess of Warding had to remain secret.

“I won’t deny that it’s secondhand information, and it may include exaggeration. But there’s no smoke without fire.”

“Then…”

“If the appearance rate is declining, there’s a possibility that a large-scale migration will occur within the next month.”

Captain Gilberto fell silent. Naturally so. Within a month was far too soon. But while there was no solid proof that Angelina’s information was correct, there was also no evidence to definitively label it a lie. She had delivered the information and given her warning. What remained was how seriously they would take it.

“By the way, do you know where that traveler came from?”

Angelina named an island nation north of this country. The fact that he didn’t dismiss such an outrageous-sounding story showed why he led the Special Unit. Narrowing his eyes as if assessing her, Captain Gilberto stepped closer. His pressure was intense, but Angelina didn’t back down. She had no reason to.

“Anju… no, Angelina. Just who are you?”

She tilted her head, wondering how to answer, when a soldier turned the corner.

“Captain Gilberto, it’s an emergency!”

“What happened?”

“We’ve received word from the Centrea Kingdom. A massive outbreak of magical beasts and monsters has occurred at their magic reservoir, and large numbers are also pouring into their territory from outside the barrier. They’re urgently requesting reinforcements!”

Captain Gilberto sucked in a sharp breath, as if he had forgotten how to breathe.

See? This is exactly what I meant.

Angelina lifted the corner of her lips. It seemed the Centrea Kingdom couldn’t even hold out until the great migration. That’s why I told them. Being useless is a blessing.

Now then, watch closely as your beloved Saintess falls into uselessness.