But if Alice and I plunged to our deaths, that would only make the coming tragedy worse. If the “final stress test”—an invasion from the Dark Territory—happened without Cardinal having control, the Integrity Knights and Administrator would fall in battle, and every last human being would be agonizingly slaughtered.
The worst part of all was knowing that if I died here, I would simply wake up in a Soul Translator somewhere in the real world. The Underworldians would perish in a hell of suffering, and I would be perfectly fine back in reality. An unthinkable conclusion.
“I’m…”
With the little time I had left, what could I possibly say that would convince the protector of the church and its dedication to order? But no matter how futile, there was nothing else I could do in this situation.
“Eugeo and I attacked Raios Antinous and Humbert Zizek at the academy because the Axiom Church and Taboo Index are wrong. Deep down, you know that’s true, don’t you? Just because the Taboo Index doesn’t outlaw it, should higher nobles be allowed to torment and defile completely innocent girls like Ronie and Tiese…? Is that what you believe?!”
My body shook as my mind flashed back to the scene I witnessed two years ago in the student dorm—the girls mercilessly trussed up with tears in their eyes. The tip of the sword creaked in the wall again, but I barely noticed it.
“Well?! Answer me, Integrity Knight!!”
My raging emotions manifested in a hot droplet that spilled from my eye to Alice’s forehead below. The golden knight sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes gaping. When her trembling lips opened again, it seemed as though the harshness of her attitude had given way to something else.
“The law…is the law. Sin…is sin. If the people are allowed to define the law by their own needs, then how are we to uphold order in the world?”
“And who decides if Administrator was right to create the law that way? The god of the celestial realm? Why aren’t I being fried by a bolt of lightning from above, then?!”
“Because Stacia’s will is made clear through the actions of us, her servants!”
“And Eugeo and I came up all this way hoping to clear that up! We want to defeat Administrator and prove that it’s a mistake! And for the exact same reason…”
I glanced up briefly at the sword wedged into the wall and saw that it was nearly out. One move from Alice, one tiny little gust of wind, and the tip would either break or fall out, sending us plunging below.
“…I refuse to let you die right now!!”
I sucked in the biggest breath I could, tensed my stomach, and summoned all my remaining willpower.
“Yaaaah!!” I bellowed, yanking my left arm up to lift Alice. Both arms and shoulders screamed with pain, but I managed to bring her up to my level and use the last bits of my strength to shout, “Stick your sword in that seam! I can’t hold out…please!”
Up close, her features were twisted with emotion. A moment later, she lifted her arm and loudly, deeply thrust her Osmanthus Blade into the seam between marble blocks. At nearly the same second, my black sword slipped out of the stone, and my other hand lost the grip holding Alice.
In a single, vivid instant of panic from head to toe, I envisioned my long, long fall to the ground, and the oblivion that awaited.
But all I actually felt was a split second of floating, then a fierce tugging shock. Alice’s hand had shot out and grabbed the back of my shirt collar. Once I was sure she was supporting all my weight with her sword and arms, I let out a deep breath. My pounding heart gradually eased to a state less than sheer panic.
“…”
I looked up at her. In the span of a single second, we had switched positions both physically and mentally. The golden Integrity Knight clenched her jaw, as if grappling with every possible kind of conflicting emotion. I felt her fingers loosen and tighten over and over, shifting pressure on the back of my collar.
Eugeo was the only Underworldian I knew who could be uncertain under such extreme circumstances. The other artificial fluctlights, for better or for worse, were blindly faithful to a certain set of behaviors, and did not need to grapple with huge, difficult choices. Put another way, all the truly important decisions were always handed down to them by something or someone else.
In other words, Alice the Integrity Knight’s mind had a more “human” quality than many of her fellow Underworldians—even after her soul had been altered by Administrator.
I had no way of knowing what sort of inner debate she housed. But after several seconds that felt like an unfathomable eternity, she easily lifted my body up to its former level.
Unlike her, I had no reason to hesitate. I instantly thrust my sword into the seam once more, exhaling. Once I was stable again, Alice withdrew her hand from my collar and turned her face away. Despite the sternness of her words, her voice itself was weak and small.
“…I did not save you, only repaid what you did for me. Besides…we have not finished our duel.”
“Ah, I see…In that case, we’re even now,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “Here’s a suggestion. Both of us need to find a way to get back into the tower. So why don’t we call a truce until then?”
“…A truce?” she asked, turning to throw me a truly mistrustful glance.
“Yes. I doubt we can manage to destroy the cathedral’s wall again, and it won’t be easy to climb it. If we work together, it will raise our chances of survival. Of course, if you’ve got any easy ways back inside, I’m all ears.”
“…”
She bit her lip in frustration. “If such a method existed, I would have done it already.”
“Yeah. Obviously. So may I assume we’re in agreement on a truce and cooperation?”
“Before I say yes…what exactly do you mean by cooperation?”
“If one of us seems likely to fall, the other helps. If we had a rope, it would make it easier for us to maintain our position, but I suppose that’s asking too much.”
The knight did not answer or look at me for a long time, then bobbed her head almost imperceptibly. “It is a logical suggestion…I must admit. I suppose I have no better choice,” she said, turning to glare at me. “But the instant we return to the tower interior, I will cut you down. Do not forget this inevitable outcome.”
“I’ll…keep it in mind.”