Tahara said lazily, “Take it easy, granny. Keep shouting like that, and you’re gonna give yourself a heart attack.” He was completely unaffected by the rage that deepened on Gran’s face, nor by any threat the Tzardom posed. “Tzardom this, big light that... Whatever it is, it’s gonna end in a quick bang.”
“Wh-What are you, anyway?! A kin of the Fallen Angel’s?!” Gran shrieked.
“Kin? I am one of his advisors,” Tahara answered. “Listen up. First of all, the Grand Angel is...” he began bragging about his sister, the apple of his eye.
To the others in the room, his bragging was a mystical tale. Even Queen stole glances now and again, betraying her curiosity. Angels were long gone from this world; the summoning of a Grand Angel was sure to be a momentous occasion that would be sung about for ages to come. If a certain Demon Lord had overheard this conversation, he might have keeled over.
“You mentioned this in the meeting the other day... Will Lord Lucifer really summon the Angel?” White asked.
“Every word the Secretary utters becomes reality... Now I’m just quoting the Madam.” Tahara grinned, as if all this weren’t outlandish.
“But when it comes to summoning the Angel—”
“Grand Angel, White,” Tahara deadpanned. “That’s twice now you’ve messed up her title.” His eyes were steely.
“I-I’m sorry,” White said quickly.
Queen closed her eyes without comment, seemingly withholding judgment on the Grand Angel until she’d seen the deity in person. Even Gran couldn’t object to the summoning of the Angel—a divine ritual. Denounce that, and she’d be going against Holylight’s foundation of angel worship.
While tension rose in the Holy Castle as the summoning approached, the Holy City beyond the castle gates was being rocked by the series of declarations being published.
At Kanpai, crowds were in heated discussion while the sun was still high, swinging their ale in hand.
“Look at these Water Spell Stones. All free. We won’t have to worry about water for a while.”
“That notice was legit?!”
“Did you hear? There was some kind of battle in the west. All the nobles there are gone.”
“I saw Lord Lucifer with my own two eyes. Just like the myth, his wings were wide and...”
Rumors and tall tales jumped from table to table, growing uncontrollably. It was all a natural chain reaction, considering the power structure of the country had been uprooted overnight.
“My husband didn’t make it through the war, but the Holy Maidens sent me such generous condolence money...”
“What a time to live in. With those nobles gone, the kind and generous Holy Maidens are going to lead us.”
“I got this thing called a celebratory sum... With a whole bunch of Water Spell Stones.”
“The bastard Dona had jacked up the prices so bad, I was rationing every drop and that still wasn’t enough.”
Technically, Holylight was in chaos, but with a healthy dose of shock and joy. This was mostly thanks to stacks of Water Spell Stones—essential for survival—being distributed to the masses for free. People were focusing on tangible, financial improvements to their livelihoods, rather than the chaos of the big-picture power structure.
“They’re going to be building these crazy roads.”
“I’ve seen ads all over. Did anyone actually go to the job?”
“Five bronze medallions is great pay...if it’s real.”
“Free salt too.”
“You think I was born yesterday? That’s too good to be true.”
“No, everyone who’s been to Rabbi said you can drink all the water you want there.”
“Women can work by processing tea leaves.”
By setting up one public project after another, Tahara was spreading jobs and cash throughout Holylight. Just as some tyrants on Earth had done, this was a quick and easy way to gain popularity and stimulate the economy...all with the money the central nobles had hoarded. Perhaps this was the correct way to use the moment.
The Demon Lord’s black wings spread all over Holylight, their effects even reaching the far east.
——The Great Canyon, on the border between Holylight and Animania.
A group of about fifty Anima were hiking across a steep mountain under the protection of two female Animadmirals. These were the Bunnies who felt like they had no choice but to leave the village of Rabbi and migrate to Animania. Rumors were circulating that a portion of the Bunnie population had returned to their homeland following the freeing of slaves in Hellion Territory, and now many more were setting out to see for themselves. Animania hadn’t treated them unkindly, but it certainly wasn’t home.
Dangerous animals and monsters roamed the Great Canyon that divided Holylight and Animania, making it far too dangerous to cross on foot. Yet not one of those ferocious beasts had shown themselves, or even so much as made a sound within earshot of the hiking party...for fear of the Black Jaglion that led the hike.
Ordinary Jaglions were the offspring of a male jaguar and female lion, but this specimen had eaten its way up the food chain, elevating itself to a monster in the process. Behind them, as if they were walking their pet chihuahuas, an Animania head-to-toe in tiger stripes and another wearing lamb fur walked leisurely. They had left Animania with the excuse of bringing the Bunnies home, but these ladies had another goal in mind.
“Do you think we’ll see the Dragonborn? I hope we will,” muttered the tiger.
The sheep-hybrid Anima bleated, “There is no Dragonborn. Lolz.”
They had been ordered to investigate the false dragonborn who’d repeatedly appeared in Holylight. One rumor and they might have laughed it off, but now that they’d heard tales of the Dragonborn twice and thrice, there was no ignoring it.
“I’m fine with going and all, but why do we have to follow the snake’s orders?” the tiger grumbled.
The sheep hybrid bleated again. “Nagee’s too sensitive and never gives up. The best thing we can do is get it over with.” She chewed on something.
“You’re chewing on more grass? How can you stomach that green stuff? It looks so gross and horrible for your digestion.”
“Says the tiger who only eats meat all the time. That’s why you’re such a meathead,” the sheep countered.
While the Anima were making the treacherous crossing, the village of Rabbi welcomed two of its prominent members: Luna, the lady of the land, and her servant Eagle.