Chapter 93: One Sword of Benevolence, One Sword of Justice!
Carlotta took a deep breath, steadying her emotions, trying not to appear too agitated.
Smack!
"So where exactly did that guy run off to at a time like this!"
Carlotta slapped her palm against the hardwood table, producing a sharp sound as she vented her frustration toward the absent Aeron.
Just what was that guy thinking, going wherever he pleased whenever he wanted? No matter how you looked at it, this was taking freedom too far!
Zani: "Well... he probably set off on his own already. That's just how he is."
Ciaccona: "Our partner is such a man of action~"
Phoebe: "Senior must be doing something dangerous again..."
Cartethyia: "He'll be fine, Phoebe. You should relax a little."
Cantarella: "Hehe, after all, he's someone I've taken a liking to."
Rover: "..." (staring blankly at the sword in hand, wondering where that previous Resonance Power came from)
"...You're all defending him so much it's making me uncomfortable."
Carlotta sighed helplessly but quickly moved on to serious matters.
"Anyway, let's first sort out our current situation."
Everyone's faces showed varying degrees of exhaustion, yet they all knew this wasn't the time to let their guard down.
"Carnevale has concluded. While we can't say whether it was perfectly successful, it appears... acceptable for now."
Carlotta turned to Zani beside her, who nodded and stepped forward to brief everyone present.
"From the attitude of Ragunna's citizens, Montelli's position has been consolidated, Fisalia's rumors have been largely dispelled, the Order has been mostly taken over by Miss Phoebe, that Overseer from the Fractsidus has been detained, and also..."
Here, Zani paused, shifting her gaze to Rover standing awkwardly nearby.
"...the 'new king' someone pushed into the spotlight has proven far more popular than expected."
"Urk..."
Hearing Zani's words, Rover covered their face with both hands, recalling Aeron's speech before all of Ragunna.
It wasn't exactly resistance, but... what that guy said was so cringey that even Rover felt too embarrassed to remember it.
"Well, that's my partner for you!"
"What are you so proud of..."
Carlotta weakly complained about Ciaccona before turning to Phoebe.
"About the Order..."
"Yes, please don't worry everyone! I'll do my best! I've learned so much from Senior. To avoid bringing shame to Senior, I'll work hard!"
"Well... you really don't need to worry about that..."
After all, from Carlotta's perspective, a certain someone didn't have much face left for Phoebe to lose anyway.
Among those present, aside from Rover, Phoebe had undergone the biggest change in circumstances. But she seemed to be adapting well, which put Carlotta's mind at ease.
"When Senior returns... I'll be able to keep him by my side... and stop him from doing dangerous things..."
...Was she really at ease?
"But... as you can all see, the Avinoleum that vanished after the Dark Tide outbreak twenty years ago... is now falling for unknown reasons."
Cantarella promptly steered the conversation back on track while casting her gaze toward Cartethyia.
Ultimately, the fundamental reason they were all gathered here now lay with this "Blessed Maiden" whom Aeron had brought to Montelli.
Cantarella would never doubt the judgment of the person she had chosen to follow.
Yet she had personally witnessed both the Dark Tide's eruption and that "Blessed Maiden's" sacrifice back then. Now, appearing before Aeron in this form and willingly allowing herself to be used by him...
Even if it required extreme measures, she needed to confirm this wasn't a Threnodian scheme to infiltrate Ragunna.
When Cartethyia felt Cantarella's gaze, she immediately understood her intention.
However, she had long been mentally prepared for this. Though she had enjoyed her time with everyone these past days, this was something she absolutely had to face.
"I am not the complete Blessed Maiden... just a fragment of consciousness separated from Fleurdelys."
The coronation incident twenty years ago, the Avinoleum's inversion, the Dark Tide's outbreak, and the reason for her own existence here.
"Now Avinoleum's descent likely relates to my trapped true self and Threnodian power. This is my responsibility, I—"
Cartethyia kept her head lowered, afraid to meet everyone's eyes, fearful of seeing doubt in them.
"So the current situation involves both the Threnodian and Dark Tide, requiring someone to go to Avinoleum for resolution... is that correct?"
Carlotta quickly synthesized Cartethyia's explanation, pinpointing the solution with sharp clarity.
Cartethyia wanted to say "that's right," but she couldn't guarantee the specifics. She didn't want others harmed because of her.
Ultimately, this was her burden. It had already entangled countless people, and now it involved all of Ragunna.
Taking a deep breath, Cartethyia nodded firmly: "Yes, this is my responsibility. Let me go alone—"
"I'll accompany you."
Before Cartethyia could finish, Rover cut her off.
"Since that guy elevated me to this position, it's my duty to look after you. Moreover..."
Rover paused here, her tone turning slightly nuanced.
"This is also my mission."
"Oh..."
"Don't worry. Since he chose you, we naturally won't abandon you now."
While Cartethyia was still processing Rover's words, another voice joined in.
"That guy went through such trouble to place you in Montelli and protect you until now—he must have had his reasons."
Zani's tone remained flat, but her meaning was direct.
"Zani's right. Though that guy makes you want to drown him in the sea, every decision he makes has underlying logic. He chose to trust you, even staging that carnival spectacle to pave your way. We've no grounds to question his judgment now."
Carlotta voiced her agreement with Zani's words.
Phoebe nodded vigorously, running up to Cartethyia and grasping her hand. "Miss Cartethyia, please trust our senior, and please trust us too."
"After all, our partner entrusted both 'truth' and 'hope' to us. Miss Cartethyia, you are part of the 'truth' he discovered, while we are all people he believed could carry 'hope.' So please don't say things like 'going alone' anymore~"
Hearing everyone's words, a wave of bittersweet emotion surged in Cartethyia's heart.
"...Thank you..."
Cartethyia looked at the people before her who placed their trust in her. Because they trusted that person, they consequently believed in her—the one he had chosen and protected.
"Well... enough of this sentimental moment."
Carlotta clapped her hands and began organizing their current situation.
"Zani, please guide the civilians to evacuate and prepare for the worst-case scenario."
"Understood."
"Ciaccona, you need to spread accurate information and hope throughout Ragunna. People need to hear voices, especially now."
"Leave it to me~"
"Priestess Phoebe, please organize the clergy to comfort the people."
"Yes, I'll handle it."
"We'll take care of matters on the ground," Carlotta concluded, her gaze finally settling on Cantarella, Rover, and Cartethyia. "We'll rely on you all to handle the troubles in the sky."
Cantarella had been listening quietly, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of her chair. Seeing everyone's eyes on her, she nodded slightly.
"Then it's time to bring out that thing."
Snap!
With a light clap from Cantarella, the meeting room door opened. Several members of the Fisalia Family carried in a sword entirely golden in color... along with its base.
"The Sword of Divinity, Tyrvine—forged by the Sentinels themselves to oppose the Threnodian. Only a Blessed Maiden capable of responding to the Sentinels can draw it."
"Uh... so you brought it along with its base?"
"After all, those who charge forward shouldn't be defined by a sword that remains stagnant~"
"Shouldn't that phrase be used in a different context...?"
Ignoring Carlotta's remark, Cantarella's eyes swept over the sword before settling on Cartethyia.
Cartethyia had held her breath the moment the sacred sword appeared. An indescribable feeling washed over her.
Fragmented images flooded her mind—some felt familiar, like a maiden brandishing the sword against tidal waves, battling giant fish lurking within.
But others were completely opposite to her memories.
There were no hymns or praises, no encouragement or songs of joy. Instead, they were replaced by a chilling sense of despair.
And the hovering Tyrvine remained as silent as ever.
It didn't hum at the Blessed Maiden's approach, didn't radiate any welcoming glow, and even its faint resonance showed no change.
Cartethyia's hand froze mid-air, her face slightly pale.
What were those just now...?
Cantarella simply watched Cartethyia before her, not uttering a word.
It seemed things had indeed unfolded as she expected.
So, before things get complicated...?
Just as Cantarella was about to speak to help Cartethyia out of the awkward situation, Tyrvine suddenly emitted a golden glow.
It wasn't directed at Cartethyia.
The direction of the sword's faint tremor was toward Rover who stood watching nearby.
Before the cat-eared girl could react, Tyrvine's vibrations grew increasingly intense, even lifting itself from its pedestal autonomously!
"Huh?!"
Rover instinctively drew her blade to block, but what followed was an unexpectedly gentle sensation.
"...?"
By the time she processed what happened, she saw the Sword of Divinity Tyrvine hovering quietly before her, accompanied by the astonished gazes of everyone in the room.
"Rover... is the Blessed Maiden?"
"Surely not... probably?"
Unaware of the truth, Carlotta and the amnesiac Rover perfectly arrived at the wrong conclusion together.
Facing this scene, Cantarella merely smiled faintly and took control of the chaotic situation.
"...It seems our 'new king' is even more special than anticipated."
Cantarella glanced around the room, her gaze lingering momentarily on Cartethyia's pale face before settling on the flustered Rover.
"The Sentinels forged it to combat the Threnodian and seek 'resolute Resonators.' Being the 'Blessed Maiden' is just one possible identity."
Then she rose and deliberately walked over to Cartethyia, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder while keeping her eyes fixed on Rover.
"And it chose Rover... perhaps because it sensed some deeper connection none of us perceived."
She stepped before Rover, meeting her gaze directly: "But that's irrelevant now. What matters is that Tyrvine has chosen the power it deems worthy at this moment... May we count on you?"
"Mm, don't worry. I'm strong."
True to form, Rover gave her reassuring response.
In her left hand was the Bloodpact's Pledge enhanced by Aeron's unknown buffs, in her right hand was Tyrvine containing the Sentinels' power.
Having been entrusted with such expectations, she naturally wouldn't shirk this responsibility.
Though of course, she'd still have to go give Aeron trouble about this later.
Cantarella's lips curved slightly, "Then we shouldn't delay. Carlotta, we'll rely on you for evacuation and stabilization on the surface."
Carlotta nodded: "Understood."
"As for us..." Cantarella's gaze swept over Cartethyia and Rover, "...it's time to depart. The Fisalia Family still maintains the path to the Avinoleum ruins—"
BOOM!
Before Cantarella could finish, a tremendous noise erupted outside. The roar of some colossal entity striking through air, carrying deep draconic echoes, even made Montelli's reinforced conference windows vibrate.
A rare ripple of emotion crossed Cantarella's usually calm demeanor—were there really this many unexpected developments?
"At a time like this, what else could—"
Before Carlotta could finish speaking, the massive stained glass window on one side of the conference room groaned under unbearable pressure. It wasn't an attack, but rather the wind pressure and shadow cast by some enormous entity slowly descending, enveloping the building.
Everyone immediately went on alert. Zani instantly positioned herself in front of Carlotta, Ciaccona's fingers pressed against her instrument strings, and Phoebe subconsciously moved closer to Cartethyia.
Rover, however, gripped Tyrvine with excitement, the sword's blade shimmering with faint light, already prepared to test the new weapon's DPS.
When the group stepped outside, they saw a massive, skeletal ancient dragon folding its wings as it steadily landed. Flickering azure soulfire danced in its eye sockets, its head slightly lowered as it gazed down at the gathered humans below.
"...Gehinnom?"
The moment she saw the ancient dragon, Cartethyia recalled its name from her memories.
Cantarella seemed to understand something, her tone carrying a hint of realization and faint resignation: "It appears someone has beaten us to it, even arranging transportation for us... Really, did they have to steal the spotlight with such a dramatic entrance too."
Gehinnom's azure soulfire flickered slightly as the massive head lowered, emitting a deep, almost docile purring sound. Its gaze swept over the three figures, finally resting with particular "gentleness" on Cartethyia.
"Is it waiting for us to climb aboard?" Rover blinked at the broad skeletal spine, quietly sheathing the sword in hand.
Cartethyia took a deep breath and approached. Gehinnom cooperatively lowered its body, bringing a relatively smooth section of spine closer. As she reached out to touch the cold bone armor, vague fragments flashed through her mind.
"Gehinnom will definitely deliver the truth."
Even if she couldn't remember the specific circumstances, there was no doubt these were words Cartethyia had spoken herself.
...Right, now isn't the time for doubts.
Aeron, who had always been helping her, must also be working to resolve this matter.
At the very least, Cartethyia didn't want to become a burden to him.
Finally turning back to look at Rover and Cantarella, her tone was resolute.
"Let's go."
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