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Diere Clan.

It might be a bit of a stretch to call it a clan, but if a single family name has endured for five hundred years, it wouldn’t be odd to refer to it as such.

Unlike common last names like Jackson or Simpson, the name “Diere” is somewhat special.

A lineage producing Saintesses.

It may be that their bloodline itself is blessed by the gods, but the women of the Diere family were famously known for receiving the most love from the Moon Goddess.

Take the current Saintess Yan Diere, for example—she’s not the only one. The long-ago Saintess “Tsun Diere” was also the same.

It was something I didn’t expect because her personality was so different, but Tsun Diere was a woman who could be called the textbook example of a Saintess for a Hero Party.

“A typical girl of poise.”

She wasn’t exactly someone to directly help me or anything.

However, she was the woman who cared the most for humanity, who had surrendered to the Demon King’s army.

– “These people have certainly succumbed to the Demon King! But did the Goddess truly wish for them to prove their faith through death? No! Rather, the Goddess would hope for them to survive even under such circumstances! The Moon Goddess is a merciful being!”

After the downfall of the Demon King’s army.

Even though she was a Saintess of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, she had made remarkable achievements in saving those humans who betrayed their faith.

After my death.

Perhaps the ones most frightened were not the demons following the Demon King, but those who had chosen to become slaves under him.

And of course, they were none other than those who had knelt before the Demon King.

It wasn’t just that they knelt down; they had forsaken their faith in the Moon Goddess and chose to believe in the Demon King.

– “How could they be human while betraying the Moon Goddess and siding with the demons!”

– “They are not human! We must kill them all and make an example to appease the Moon Goddess’s wrath!!”

– “Let’s carry out bloody revenge by killing the betraying humans! We’ll show the nobility and royalty the superiority of our blood by taking theirs and fattening ourselves up with it!!”

The victorious humans were enraged.

They had believed themselves to be living in slavery, oppressed by the demons, when in fact they were living a much more lavish life in the territories of nobles and royals.

– “Was sucking at the Demon King’s warm teats really that enjoyable?!”

The upper classes who lost their wealth and assets to the Demon King’s army were not the only ones; even ordinary people who were tormented and lived in fear of death rose up to denounce them.

Originally, humans were beings that could not tolerate seeing others enjoying themselves while they suffered.

Just the justification of betraying humanity would warrant a spit in the face, let alone betraying the faith in the Moon Goddess.

Some wanted to take the wealth of the traitors to accumulate riches once more.

Some wanted to punish those who had forsaken their faith.

Some were driven by pure rage at the betrayal.

During that time, when a so-called large-scale witch hunt was about to erupt, the Saintess of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, “Tsun Diere,” actively sought to persuade them.

To not kill.

She articulated that indiscriminate slaughter would lead them down the same path as the demons.

And what if, upon dying and standing before the Moon Goddess, she would hear, “Only those with the courage to forgive may enter heaven”?

Thus, it is said she quelled humanity’s anger.

At least, on the surface.

At least, according to the historical records.

“Saintess, do you know of ‘Tsun Diere’?”

I could only find fragmented records about this woman through the documents following the demise of the Demon King’s army.

“I do. She is a distant ancestor of mine and the one who taught the mercy and compassion of the Moon Goddess. At the same time… she is someone whose name should not be mentioned carelessly in the church.”

“Why is that?”

“…The Sage is from five centuries ago, so I say this— the Order of the Goddess has many secrets. I’m here to talk about that.”

“I understand. Please tell me. I’ll be cautious.”

“…We refer to them as ‘Traitors.’ It’s a term that refers to those who served under the Demon King’s army five hundred years ago. In other words, human traitors, Pro-Demon King faction. If you’ve looked into history, you’d know that their actual circumstances have never been revealed, right?”

“…I’ve found it puzzling. And I had a rough idea. I was unaware of the events following the death of the Demon King due to the sealing process, but I found out through historical records that the Human Alliance divided.”

The division among humanity regarding the handling of the “Pro-Demon King faction” was spoken of in the church’s terms.

Should they be left alive?

Should they be killed?

“My ancestor, Tsun Diere, aimed to thoroughly judge the Pro-Demon King faction through trial. Those directly involved in attacking humanity alongside the Demon King’s army were sentenced to death according to the Union Laws, and all others were exiled.”

“Exile, huh.”

“Yes. Far away, to the distant north. They were chased into the snowfields of the North, laden with ice walls. Some argued that sending them to freeze to death is no different from killing them, but considering the public sentiment at the time, that was probably the best option for my ancestor.”

Yan calmly sipped her tea.

“What kind of person was your ancestor? Have you met her in person?”

“…I met her quite often. In battle, she was clear about public and private matters, but in private, even if she seemed to grumble, she truly had a kind and gentle heart.”

– “What the hell are you doing?! Do you think that acting like this will make me go easy on you?! Don’t joke around and get lost! I don’t need these kinds of remedies!… Ugh, no. I’ll take it for now. Don’t get the wrong idea! This is for the injured people!”

– “What? I appreciate it, but is there poison in this or something? Are you crazy?! You can die, but the people under your rule can’t!! I brought this so I could save them! Just try to eat one! …Ah, no. You’re not just throwing it all away because I told you not to eat it, right…? Right? Surely it’s okay to eat a little, but this absolutely has to go to the suffering people!”

– “…What’s this? Not sending reinforcements on purpose? Are you mocking us? You could easily annihilate us with pursuit squads? Ha, such pity and sympathy aren’t worth a damn… Just wait. I’ll repay this humiliation someday.”

Ahh.

She was truly a woman I encountered a lot on the battlefield.

Not a hero, but just as strong as one.

Despite fighting me several times and losing, she never lost her fighting spirit, yet took care of those who were subdued by me, too.

The woman before me was her descendant.

“After five hundred years, could she look a bit different?”

Five hundred years is a long time.

But what remains unchanged is the strength attached to the name “Diere.”

“The Saintess Tsun Diere was strong enough to wield power equivalent to a Hero without the Holy Sword. Especially against demons, even more so. What about Saintess Yan Diere?”

“Well, despite how I appear, I’m quite strong too?”

Yan Diere took pride in her abilities.

“Even if Liriez awakened her Spirit Device, I’d win in a one-on-one fight without a Spirit Device. The stronger the faith in the Moon Goddess is, the stronger I become.”

That is true.

The power of a Saintess is her faith in the Moon Goddess itself.

While Tsun Diere’s divine power diminished as she faced defeat upon defeat, the divine power that Yan Diere holds today—filled with faith in the Moon Goddess—is on par or even greater than when she first encountered Tsun Diere.

Unless humanity were to be defeated by the Demon King’s army and faith in the Moon Goddess were to gradually fade, it’s no exaggeration to say Yan Diere is one of humanity’s strongest fighters.

“As a force, it poses no problem, and the Hero wouldn’t mind gaining a strong ally. Even if the Hero were to refuse, it would get through if the Sage approves.”

“Not really…”

“It’s okay. I can understand. Ultimately, everything will be achieved through the Witch. To speak specifically… it’s about where the Hero Party will go next after leaving Count Odrone’s Territory.”

“……That is my role.”

Determining where the Hero Party will go next is my identity.

Therefore.

“It may be somewhat displeasing for the Saintess, but would that be alright?”

“Yes. I’ll follow anywhere. Even if it is….”

Perhaps Yan Diere had sensed the next destination.

“Even if it is a place forbidden by the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess. Wouldn’t it be possible to go there since I’m the Saintess?”

To the north of the continent.

“To the land of the apostates.”

*

At that time, in Count Odrone’s Territory, in the lord’s office of the Ligret Castle.

“So, you intend to go north with my daughter?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Count Odrone stroked his beard with a deep rumble at Lucius’s words.

“Do you realize where the north is when you talk like that?”

“I understand. It is the place where human traitors who served the Demon King’s army were exiled five hundred years ago.”

“Indeed. And you understand… that they are still alive?”

“Yes. They are called ‘Snowmen.'”

Five hundred years ago.

By the strong assertion of Saintess Tsun Diere, most of the Pro-Demon King faction were banished to the snowfields.

It was a place where anyone could freeze to death without a second thought, and it was expected that most would perish, but surprisingly, they survived the cold.

The demons, the dark beings, became “Snowmen.”

With skin as white as snow and hair turned white, they completely lost the vitality of being human and became the enemies of humanity.

Thus, humanity built an enormous barrier in the northern part of the continent, ensuring they would remain unable to come over, while continuing to monitor the Snowmen.

“You might freeze to death on the way. My daughter could suffer terrible misfortune there. And yet, you must take her with you?”

“This is a decision made by Droniel, and I respect Droniel’s choice. Moreover…”

Lucius stood and bowed deeply.

“I will take full responsibility to bring back Droniel safely, without harm. Definitely.”

“…Now.”

Count Odrone’s eyes sparkled.

“You said you’d take responsibility?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then you shall take full responsibility till the end.”

“…Huh?”

Count Odrone twisted the corners of his mouth.

“Even if she’s not the main consort, even as a concubine, please be sure to take her.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“That girl has declared that she’ll even give up the name Odrone to live just for you. Since you’ve decided to take responsibility, now… um… what’s your last name?”

“……It won’t be Droniel Arthur or Droniel Lucius. Droniel will always be an Odrone.”

Lucius shook his head firmly.

“I have no last name.”

“Huh, is that so…?”

“Yes. That’s why I am waiting.”

With a calm expression, Lucius gazed out the window.

“After the journey is over, I’ll take the last name of the one who will be my wife.”

Over there.

Members of Lucius’s party, including the red-haired witch, were taking a stroll in the garden.

“Is that so… then what shall your name be—”

“It is Lucius.”

Lucius said, thumping his chest.

“I might have lived as Arthur in the village, but now I am Lucius.”

 

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