“So what can we expect as the Demon Realm approaches our world?”
In the royal palace’s grand conference hall, His Highness Prince Osvalt, second-eldest prince of the kingdom of Parnacorta, had gathered experts from all fields and key political and military figures to discuss preparations for a hypothetical Demon Realm encroachment in the near future. I’d been invited to speak at the conference, so I’d brought materials to demonstrate the types of dangers we could potentially face.
Back in Girtonia, I’d come up with some proposals to curb monster activity. But when I tried to bring them up, my father sharply rebuked me, saying, “Don’t be such a meddlesome woman.” Since then, I’d held back from expressing myself in public.
That was why, when I was first approached regarding this conference, I’d declined politely and sent my research to the palace. But when His Highness learned of my decision not to participate, he went out of his way to visit my mansion late one night. Bowing to me, he pleaded with me to attend. “Lady Philia, I would like to hear your honest opinions as a saint. I beg you…please, for the sake of this kingdom, lend me your strength.”
After that, I couldn’t decline a second time. That was how I found myself standing before an audience in the royal conference hall, with His Highness asking for my thoughts.
Speaking a little too quickly in my nervousness, I described major monster incursions of the past and what might happen in the future. “I don’t exactly know the details, but around 400 years ago, the monster population suddenly exploded by ten- to twentyfold. Humanity was decimated. Entire kingdoms were obliterated. I’m attempting to protect the kingdom by erecting Holy Sanctuaries with Pillars of Light, but if large numbers of monster dens spawn within them, even those barriers could be destroyed.”
Of course, this was all uncertain. According to my research, this phenomenon occurred in cycles every few centuries, but there could be deviations from the predicted pattern. It was also possible that nothing would happen at all.
“Ten times the number of monsters, huh?” Prince Osvalt frowned. “This is beyond the level of a national crisis. For now, I say we triple the national defense budget.”
He said he would spare no expense when it came to funding the necessary countermeasures. The Prime Minister, who managed the domestic budget, had an uneasy look on his face, as if he had to say something that His Highness might not want to hear. Still, he managed to call for some restraint on spending.
“Your Highness,” he ventured, “I must say that this year’s budget is already rather tight. Should we really spend so freely on the basis of an uncertainty?”
The Prime Minister was a voice of reason. To take a large amount of money out of the national treasury at the words of an outsider like me… It was perfectly understandable to oppose such a decision.
While hoping that no harm would befall the kingdom, His Highness emphasized the need to do our utmost to avoid regrettable missteps. “You don’t understand. Can’t you see that nothing happening is the best possible outcome? Let’s act now to prevent disaster in the future. We don’t want to wait until it’s too late and cry about how we could’ve done this or that. I’ll take full responsibility for figuring out how to rebalance the budget. But I’m saying this now: I won’t budge on this, especially after Lady Philia put so much work into warning us.”
How could he speak with such easy confidence? Didn’t he fear the consequences? If I was wrong and this turned out to be wasteful spending, not even his royal title would save him from censure.
“That’s settled, then,” His Highness continued. “As a provisional measure, we’ll increase our forces. Lady Philia, do you think this many additional soldiers will help?”
The commander of the Knights of Parnacorta and other military heads hurried over to Prince Osvalt to provide counsel. His Highness jotted down a number of additional troops and their deployments on a map, which he then showed to me. Once again, I was taken aback. This would be too massive a force for all-out war. Something else nagged at me.
“Simply recruiting more infantry won’t solve the problem,” I said. “Countless soldiers could lose their lives for nothing.”
“Unfortunately, this is the best we can do. As it is, we’ll have to dip into next year’s budget to make ends meet.”
If the Holy Sanctuaries were breached, we would be facing more powerful and ferocious monsters than I’d ever encountered. A slapdash, half-trained army, no matter how large, would be crushed. The Knights of Parnacorta were famous around the world for their swordsmanship, but swords could only do so much against hordes of monsters.
Nonetheless, Prince Osvalt impressed me. He’d demonstrated leadership by putting the kingdom’s safety over his political interests. I’d never met anyone like him before.
I was still worried about Mia, and also a bit concerned for my homeland. But I had a kingdom to protect. I was the saint of Parnacorta, and the mandate of heaven decreed that I put its safety first. I made up my mind.
“There is a way. It will be a burden on the kingdom, but it’s the only feasible option I can think of.”
All heads turned to me.
“What are you suggesting?” His Highness asked.
“I will cast a Great Purification Circle over the entire kingdom. If all of Parnacorta is under holy protection, all monsters that dare enter will be severely weakened.”
The Great Purification Circle was the most powerful ritual I’d learned for handling a large influx of monsters. It was a protective circle on a massive scale, capable of exclusively targeting demonic creatures. It couldn’t stop monsters from entering, but its purifying magic would neutralize their powers, making them easy to exterminate.
If I could enclose the kingdom in this circle, soldiers could clear the land of monsters with little or no danger.
There was just one problem.
“To cast this circle over all of Parnacorta, I must be within a radius of ten kilometers from the center of the kingdom at all times. In other words, I would be unable to leave the royal capital.”
This was why I hesitated to use this technique.
Being confined to the capital would severely limit me as a saint. I wouldn’t be able to perform many of my usual duties, such as gathering medicinal herbs and creating fertile ground for crops. Considering how much the kingdom had paid for my services, the people were bound to be displeased if their new saint suddenly stopped working for them.
This also meant I would be unable to visit my homeland, Girtonia. Even if it were plagued by monsters, I couldn’t return home to help. I hoped Mia and the Girtonian army would be able to get by without me, but I couldn’t help but worry.
Still, I was now the saint of Parnacorta, and I had to propose the option that would best protect my kingdom. Surely the council would reject the idea anyway, once it was clear how much the kingdom would lose by keeping me glued to the capital.
But Prince Osvalt nodded thoughtfully. “We could work with that. You’ve already done so much for us, Lady Philia. This could be a chance for you to take a well-earned break. Unless maintaining the circle would be too tiring…”
“No. Once I invoke the ritual, it won’t draw much of my energy. It’s just that my range of movement will be limited to the circle’s core.”
Most rituals were like that. Invocation was the difficult part; after that, it just took a small, steady supply of magic to keep the spell running. At any rate, I didn’t understand why the people of Parnacorta were always telling me to take it easy. I didn’t feel at ease sitting around with nothing to do.
How should I proceed?
If I cast the purification circle, I’d certainly have more free time. But I remained anxious for Mia, the sister I left behind in my homeland.
I had become Parnacorta’s saint. I couldn’t cast barriers for Girtonia. But every time the thought of Mia in danger crossed my mind, I was beside myself with worry…
“Something wrong? Why the long face?” Prince Osvalt asked.
“Oh… I was just thinking of my younger sister back home. She’s a fine saint in her own right, but she doesn’t have any knowledge of ancient rituals. She can’t cast a Great Purification Circle.”
“You’re afraid she won’t be able to handle the approach of the Demon Realm?”
“I apologize, Your Highness. As the saint of Parnacorta, I shouldn’t concern myself with another kingdom’s safety.” Why couldn’t I stop myself from worrying? Once again, I was failing at my duties. I ought to leave Girtonia’s interests to Mia…no, to Prince Julius and the rest of the government, and yet…
“Hey, no need to apologize. Saint Mia is your younger sister, right? What big sister wouldn’t worry about her little sibling?”
“Prince Osvalt…”
“I have an older brother,” said Prince Osvalt. “Royal responsibilities aside, I want to help and support him, as his brother. You’re a human being first, saint second, right? If there’s anything you can do for your sister, go ahead.”
A human being first? Before coming to Parnacorta, I’d never dared think such a thing. Of course, I knew that Prince Osvalt had an older brother, but it was a new relief to learn that he wanted to be a pillar of strength for that brother, just as I wanted to protect my sister.
“I suppose you’re right,” I said. “In that case, may I write her a letter? I’ll share the countermeasures I’ve developed for Parnacorta. Or shall I refrain from sharing information that would benefit another kingdom?”
“Why would you even think that? You said that Lady Mia is a fine saint in her own right. If you share your knowledge with her, I’m sure she’ll be able to come up with her own plans. I know we paid Girtonia handsomely in exchange for you, much as I hate to admit it—but they might have their own ways of dealing with this situation, different from ours.”
“I hope so. If Girtonia acts quickly and with national unity, they should be able to mitigate the potential danger.” I was sure it wasn’t too late, especially if the people rallied around Mia. She had won their love and support as I never had.
With Prince Osvalt’s permission secured, I wrote to Mia, advising her to survey the kingdom and formulate appropriate measures against the rising of the Demon Realm. I sent the letter along with a prayer for her safety.