When the bird flew into the sky, the priests standing around the altar clasped their hands and began to chant the prayer.

“Illa ha gemento tala man....”

“Enes-ropelta remen....”

The words went roughly like this:

“Begone, evil ones.

The gods protect us, so we gather our hands in praise.

The gods set the law; where my burning eye rests, it is day, and where my tranquil eye rests, it is night.

But Father, who loves us deeply, you will guard us with breath, with tears, and with warmth.

O our Father, who tends all things and gives them life, we who have been freed from death’s threshold cannot be harmed.

Begone, evil ones.

Begone, evil ones.

Begone, evil ones....”

“Huh?”

I stared at the priests. This was the prayer I’d heard every No-Moon Rite. Yet this time it felt... different.

“Because in antiquity, I heard it once before!”

On the day when ancient monsters and dragons attacked humanity, this was the prayer spoken by the “created ones.”

“How strange.”

The No-Moon Rite is supposed to be a day of communion with the gods—so why recite, “Begone, evil ones,” at the top of one’s lungs?

“If the evil ones are the monsters... then...”

I snapped my head up. Interpreted literally:

A burning eye is the sun. A tranquil eye is the moon. A day without sun or moon is a day beyond the gods’ sight.

That meant...

“The No-Moon Rite is not a day of communion with the gods!”

On a day the gods cannot watch, the gods had once bound ancient spirits, turning them into guardians. If the gods cannot see, those guardians might break free.

“Of course.”

That was why Grimie had tried to keep me from ascending the altar—he feared I might summon Seiron, the ancient priest-king, into being!

Just then, the Chief Priest met my dazed gaze with a puzzled look.

“High Priestess?”

“Ah... I’m sorry. I was distracted.”

Beneath the ceremonial canopy, dukes nearby stifled amused chuckles. The Chief Priest gestured toward the sword.

“Hand over the blade.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

The eclipse’s darkest moment was at hand: the moon would be fully obscured, and the Emperor would slay the sacrifice and offer it to the gods. My role was to present him with the sword.

The Emperor slowly climbed the steps onto the platform. I looked up at the sky.

“Ten minutes—or so—until totality.”

Seiron had vanished for breaking the gods’ law. At this No-Moon Rite, at this altar bursting with divine power, he could be called back.

The Emperor approached the altar placed at the center of the steps. He would kill the sacrifice, then ascend to present it to the gods.

“High Priestess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I held the sword aloft with both hands. The Emperor took it, and the priests moved a great box forward. I knew its contents. Though lambs were usual, this time they’d decided on a young white-stem tree—sparing blood loss was the reasoning, in light of recent plagues.

“Well... not an animal, but a ‘divine tree’ doesn’t make for a bad sacrifice...”

It felt odd. From inside the box came a faint rustling, as if an animal lay within. I looked to the priests; they seemed oblivious.

“Is there really a white-stem tree inside?” I whispered.

They glanced at me in surprise.

“Excuse us?”

“The sacrifice. I asked if it’s a white-stem tree.”

“Well... did you not send word this afternoon that you would substitute another sacrifice?”

“...I did?”

“We thought you decided a lamb would be better, so we—”

“What?”

I peered down the steps. Grimie stood there, wearing a chilling smile.

“Impossible...”

“Your Majesty!”

As I shouted, the sacrifice box sprang open.

“Kyeeeeeek—!”

“Gah!”

A monster burst forth—a creature fused with man.

“Grimie’s artificial beast!”

Its writhing tentacles wrapped swiftly around the Emperor’s neck.

“Kyahhhhh!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty—!”

“It’s a monster!”

Chaos erupted at the altar. The Emperor’s White Knights—his personal guard—leapt up the steps. Their captain, Pierre, was first; he drew his blade and sliced the tentacles choking the Emperor.

But...

“...!”

“...!!”

From the severed tentacles another monster emerged.

“Grrr...!”

The Emperor’s face drained of color; he looked as if he would suffocate at any moment. Cut after cut, tentacle after tentacle, new beasts formed from the severed limbs.

I glared at Grimie.

“Bastard!”

He’d implanted the ancient monster Void’s ultimate skill, “Duplication,” into his creation. No matter how many times you cut it, it kept regenerating.

“Archers!”

Kajin, one of the White Knights, bellowed. The bowmen posted to guard the Emperor and the priests revealed themselves. Arrows rained down—but to no effect.

“It absorbs them...!”

It was the despair ability, Absorption.

“Kyeeek!”

The arrow-struck beasts opened cross-shaped maws, and the arrows rebounded at the same speed.

“Gah!”

“Gah...”

One knight shouted,

“Wizards! Fire is our only hope—burn them!”

“No! They’ll burn the Emperor too!”

“What are you doing—! Protect His Majesty!”

“Queen Ocelia’s palace!”

Up on the platform and below, pandemonium reigned.

“Priests, get down!”

“High Priestess, move away!”

I gritted my teeth.

‘Grimie—how dare he attack the Emperor with a monster I was supposed to sacrifice!’

He’d lost his mind.

‘But of course someone who could do that wasn’t sane to begin with.’

Sir Jowick, another White Knight, roared,

“High Priestess! Get to safety!”

Below, nobles armed with protective wards began to move. One noble’s ward caught my eye.

‘Duke Biferi!’

His ward was “Epicenter,” the power to cause earthquakes.

“I will destroy the entire altar! Chronos Astra—use Gravity Control to suspend only His Majesty in midair!”

Grimie smiled serenely, as if he’d planned this moment. Dahlia, wrapped in her father’s arm, giggled too.

I shouted again,

“High Priestess! Get away!”

“Before Duke Biferi’s ward strikes—!”

Yet somehow, my heart stilled.

‘I’m honestly surprised.’

I never imagined he would attack the Emperor. I thought he might target me, or sabotage the ceremony—but not this.

I stared at Grimie and Dahlia. Then...

‘What’s so funny?’

Dahlia’s face contorted in anger.

“Father, are you laughing right now?”

“...”

“Hmph. The one who commended the ceremony is going mad, I suppose.”

Grimie regarded me silently. Then, flying about his head, Inorax resumed its mocking laughter.

[Well, perhaps this turns to my advantage.]

Grimie glared at it.

[Don’t look at me like that, cute Grimie. Everything’s going according to your plan, isn’t it?]

Inorax coiled around Grimie’s neck and chuckled.

[I wish that woman would call Seiron forth, but she’s holding back, right?]

“...”

[So you must keep your promise. Her body is yours, but her soul belongs to me. And Seiron, bound by chains to that soul... is mine as well.]

“Shut up; I know already.”

“F-Father...?”

Dahlia stared at Grimie in shock.

“Did I—do anything to offend you?”

“Don’t mind him. He’s not speaking to you.”

“But—”

Just then, robed men parted the crowd and approached.

“What is this madness?”

A tall man, voice low, scooped Dahlia into his arms and growled at Grimie.

“Little Mashitabuva?”

Dahlia’s eyes went wide. The newcomers were her Guardians: Paviel, Urgula, Girtav, and others.

Mashitabuva’s elder brother snarled at Grimie,

“How could you do this when Lady Dahlia might get caught up in it?”

“Don’t you know they’re tame to me? They would never harm my daughter.”

“And you know well how tainted you are! If your corruption spreads to Lady Dahlia, we will never forgive you.”

Not only Mashitabuva’s brother but also Urgula, who usually laughed heartily, and timid Girtav glared at Grimie.

“Messenger—No, Lady Dahlia, let us escort you.”

“P-Please, do. Lady Dahlia’s safety—”

Even kindly Paviel could not hide his hostility.

“She’s an awakening vessel. Who knows what happens if it’s tainted by that magic.”

“I knew you would risk your lives to protect her.”

“Lord Grimie...!”

Other Guardians, disguised among the nobles, flocked forward.

“If you truly care for Lady Dahlia’s safety, how could you—!”

At that moment, Hera and Mashitabuva’s brother glared at Grimie.

“I’m sure the Guardians’ decision has been conveyed: we proceed as planned.”

“You must answer why you halted the High Priestess.”

They’d lost the chance to prove who the real Messiah was. Their doubt only deepened.

Givaannah, disguised as an old crone, said,

“Children, escort Lady Dahlia out.”

Dahlia cried,

“Y-Yes! Let’s go! Right?”

Surrounded by Guardians, she could not let it be revealed here that Erilot was the true Messiah.

‘So Father brought me here for that.’

To the Guardians, themselves came first. If a tainted monster lurked, they would extract their charge at all costs. There was no time to watch over Erilot. Erilot’s Messiah status was only a theory; until it was proven, the being who appeared ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ with the Messiah’s light—Dahlia—was their priority.

Hera said,

“Take Erilot Astra with us.”

Mashitabuva’s brother cried out,

“Are you still saying that?! The moon is fully eclipsed now, yet nothing happens!”

“The No-Moon has just begun.”

“Lady Dahlia is our first concern.”

“As long as Erilot Astra might be our Lady, we guard her.”

“Even you...!”

Dahlia scowled.

“What is this—?”

“I am the true one! The real one is here—why prioritize the fake?”

“We...”

“You two love Erilot so much? Then what about me?”

Hera and Mashitabuva’s brother fell silent. Dahlia’s tears fell freely.

“If you love Erilot so much, I don’t want to be here. I want to go back to the world I came from!”

“L-Lady Dahlia...”

“Lady Dahlia!”

Girtav and Urgula were stunned. Paviel sighed and approached.

“Please do not speak in such distressing terms. This is your world, Lady Dahlia—your home is where your Guardians are.”

“But you hate me!”

“Not at all. And anyway, there is no way back to your previous world.”

“Then I’ll just die!”

“...!”

“...!!”

The Guardians froze.

Just as Dahlia felt satisfaction at their consternation, she glared at Hera and Mashitabuva’s brother through her tears.

“Should I really die?”

“Lady Dahlia—”

“Please don’t say that.”

The most likely Messiah was still Dahlia herself. Like Erilot, if there was any chance she was the true one, she could not be lost.

Dahlia snorted and turned away.

“If you hate me so much, I have no reason to stay here.”

“We don’t hate you. We just—”

“Hate it, hate it! I won’t listen!”

“...”

“Take me somewhere safe... okay?”

Mashitabuva’s brother swallowed hard.

“I will.”

“No. Take Hera too!”

The Guardians glared at Hera. She clicked her tongue.

“Let us hurry.”

At last Dahlia smiled in satisfaction and linked arms with Hera and Mashitabuva’s brother. Hera, with her free hand, quietly manipulated her communication stone.

[Protect Erilot Astra.]

It vibrated twice. The order was accepted.

Encircled by her Guardians, Dahlia left the altar. They had just passed the boundary when cheers erupted behind them.

“Waaaaaah—!”

“Waaaah—!”

‘What is this?’

Dahlia froze. The Guardians looked back, then stood motionless.

“Hera? Mashitabuva?”

No answer.

‘What on earth...’

Dahlia slowly turned her head. On the dais stood...

[At last, we meet.]

“Long time coming.”

Erilot beamed at the man whose brilliance made her eyes ache.

‘What... is that?’

What had happened while she left? Hera and Mashitabuva’s brother stood rigid, unable even to release her arm.

Dahlia reached out and shook the one person she trusted most.

“Lit—”

“High Priest—”

“Huh?”

“Lord Seiron—”

“Li— Seiron—”

“Messiah—!!”