The sky to the west was burning.

  The eerie red light was undoubtedly the reflection of some great blaze. Upon closer examination, she noted a number of plumes of smoke splitting the view of the stars above.

  A wildfire?! she wondered at first, then dispelled the notion. What was coming on the ashy wind was the sound of striking metal—and many screams.

  Enemy attack.

  The army of the Dark Territory was attacking Rulid.

  “…Selka!!” she shrieked, racing back to the cabin. But the moment she reached the porch, she suddenly had doubts.

  She had to save her sister and parents at all costs.

  But what about the other villagers?

  If she tried to save as many of them as possible, she’d have to fight the dark army directly. Did she even have the strength to do that anymore?

  The source of Alice’s power as an Integrity Knight was her nearly blind loyalty to the Axiom Church and its pontifex. Now that her faith was lost along with her right eye, could she actually swing the Osmanthus Blade and cast sacred arts anymore?

  Then, while frozen in place, she heard a thunk from inside the cabin.

  Her left eye widened. In the center of the darkened living room, a chair was overturned, and beside it, a young man with black hair was crawling along the floor.

  “…Kirito…”

  Alice entered the cabin with wilting legs. There was still no willpower in Kirito’s eyes, but there was a clear purpose in his sluggish actions. His arm extended straight ahead to the three swords on the wall.

  “Kirito…are you…?”

  Something hot and hard blocked the passage from Alice’s chest to her throat. It took her some time to realize that the cause of her blurring vision was tears.

  “…Ah…aaah…,” he croaked, not stopping his determined crawl toward the swords for an instant. Alice rubbed at her eye and raced straight for the boy, picking his skinny body up from the floor.

  “It’s all right—I’ll go. I’ll save the villagers. Please, don’t worry. Just stay here,” she whispered quickly, clutching Kirito.

  B-bmp. B-bmp. She could feel his heartbeat as their chests met.

  Even if his mind was absent, that sound contained the unstoppable strength of burning will and purpose. Faint though that flame might be, Alice could feel its heat.

  After pressing her cheek to his for a moment, Alice easily lifted him up and put him in the chair.

  “Once I’ve saved everyone, I’ll come right back,” she said again, getting the armor and sword belt she kept in the wardrobe and putting them on over her pajamas. Then she rushed to the eastern wall and grabbed her sword without a second thought.

  The powerful weight of the Osmanthus Blade pushed against her palms for the first time in half a year. She fastened the sheath to her belt, tossed a cloak over her shoulders, and stuck her feet into boots, then raced back outside.

  “Amayori!!” she called toward the dragon’s bed on the eastern end. Instantly, a huge shadow surged forward with its head low. She leaped onto the base of the long neck and commanded, “Go!!”

  Silver wings beat the air, and after a short run, the dragon soared up into the night sky.

  Just gaining a bit of altitude made the state of Rulid very clear. It was mostly the northern end of the village that was burning. The invaders must have come from the Dark Territory through the northern cave.

  Last night, Eldrie had claimed there was nothing wrong with the cave, which had been sealed on Bercouli’s orders. If they had removed all the rubble in a single day, they must have marshaled far more than just ten or twenty soldiers for this raid.

  Since ancient times, it had been common for small groups to infiltrate the three caves in the End Mountains under cover of night so they could work mischief in the human lands. Kirito and Eugeo had said that before they’d come to Centoria, they’d fought goblins in the northern cave. But she’d never heard of such a huge and brazen attack. Perhaps the entire Dark Territory really was preparing for an overall invasion of the realm.

  As Alice pondered this topic, Amayori promptly crossed the thick forest and reached the airspace over the barley fields surrounding Rulid. She didn’t have reins, but a light slap on the dragon’s neck with her palm got her orders across; she told it to hover.

  Alice leaned forward and focused on the village. The northern end of the main road that ran north to south through Rulid was glowing with fire, casting the silhouettes of the attackers into relief. They were goblins, leaping lithely back and forth. A short distance from them, much larger orcs were approaching.

  Just to the north of the center clearing was an impromptu defensive wall made up of furniture and lumber supplies, but the goblins were already there, and she could make out the glinting of blades clashing just beyond the obstacles.

  The village’s men-at-arms were fighting back. But their numbers, gear, and experience were inferior even to the goblins’. When the rumbling orcs marched up to them, the humans would be utterly crushed.

  She kept watching, avoiding the urge to leap directly into the midst of battle. There were a number of fires burning on the east and west edges of the village, too, but the central clearing and south side were unharmed for now. All the villagers aside from the guards—including Selka—must have escaped through the south gate into the forest, she presumed.

  So when she looked more carefully at the central clearing, Alice gasped.

  “Why…?!”

  Surrounding the fountain at the center of the round empty space in front of the church was a tightly packed crowd of figures. There were so many of them that she at first didn’t recognize what she was seeing. It had to be the entire population of Rulid.

  Why weren’t they evacuating the village?

  If the main force of the invaders reached the defense line, the guards would be scattered in an instant. If they didn’t get moving now, they wouldn’t be able to evacuate in time.

  Alice slapped the dragon’s neck again, intending to ride it directly over the clearing. “Amayori, wait here until I call for you!”

  Then she leaped from her mount’s back, dozens of mels off the ground, cloak flapping wildly as she split the cold night air.

  The circular mass of three-hundred-plus villagers had the adult men on the edges bearing farming tools like plows and scythes, indicating their willingness to fight. Alice landed right near two men who seemed to be giving constant orders.

  The paving stones split outward from her landing point with a rumble like thunder. An incredible impact ran from her soles to her crown, indicating some loss of life value.

  The two men—Nigel Barbossa, the farm owner, and Gasfut Zuberg, the elder of Rulid—fell silent in shock at the sudden arrival of a visitor from above.

  Alice felt a tiny twinge of pain in her breast at the sight of her father’s face, but she used the moment of silence that resulted to shout an order to the crowd. “You cannot fight them off here! All of you, take the path south and escape the village at once!!”

  Nigel was the first to recover, however. “Don’t be ridiculous! We can’t leave my mansion—the village behind!!” he bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead.

  Alice shot back, “You have enough time to make a clean escape from the goblins if you move now! What’s more important to you, your riches or your life?!”

  Nigel only mumbled under his breath, so it was Gasfut, the elder, who spoke up next. “It was Chief Man-at-Arms Zink who ordered that we shore up our defenses in a ring at the center of the village. In this situation, even I am at the mercy of his instructions. That is imperial law.”

  Now it was Alice’s turn to be speechless.

  In times of emergency, whoever had the calling of chief man-at-arms gained the right to temporarily issue orders instead of the village or town elder. It was indeed a part of Norlangarth Basic Imperial Laws.

  But Zink was still very young and had just inherited the position from his father. He couldn’t possibly give wise, rational orders in the midst of such an abnormal situation. The anxiety on Gasfut’s pale face made it clear he was thinking the same thing.

  But to the villagers, imperial law was absolute. In order to begin a prompt evacuation, she’d have to grab Zink from the northern defensive line where he was giving orders so he could change his tune—but there clearly wasn’t time for that now.

  What to do? What could she…?

  It was then that a young but strident voice piped up.

  “We should do what Sister says, Father!!”

  Alice gasped and looked at the interior of the circle, where a young apprentice nun was using sacred arts to heal burned villagers.

  “…Selka!”

  Relieved that she was alive and well, Alice started heading for her beloved sister, but Selka stood up and marched through the crowd for the trio first.

  Selka spared only the barest hint of a smile for Alice as she approached Gasfut, all business. “Father, has Sister ever been wrong about anything in her life? Even I can tell that at this rate, we’re all going to be slaughtered!”

  “B-but…,” Gasfut stammered, pained. His graying mustache quivered, and his eyes wandered.

  Nigel Barbossa filled the silence for the elder instead. “Children should mind their tongues! We will protect the village!” he exploded, his bloodshot eyes fixed on his mansion located close to the clearing. Nigel was only thinking of his fresh harvest of barley and the sacks of coins he’d amassed over the years.

  The rich farmer glanced back at Alice and Selka and screeched, “Oh…oh! I understand now! You brought those monsters down upon the village, Alice!! When you crossed the End Mountains years ago, you were despoiled by the power of darkness! You witch…This girl is a witch!”

  He jabbed a fat finger at Alice. She was stunned. The murmuring of the villagers, the sound of battle at the defensive barrier, even the incoming war shouts of the monster army to the north all faded away.

  Since she’d begun living outside the village, Alice had cut down a number of huge trees on Nigel’s behalf. Every single time, he positively writhed with delight and gratitude. And now he was making these accusations out of the pure desire to protect his own wealth.

  The middle-aged man’s expression was as ugly and hateful as an orc’s. Alice looked away from him.

  Then do as you will. And I will do the same. I’ll take Selka, Garitta, my parents, and Kirito and leave this place to find a new home, far, far away.

  She clenched her teeth and closed her eye. But even then, her mind kept working.

  But if Nigel Barbossa and the other villagers seem stupid to me, it is the centuries of the Axiom Church’s rule that made them this way.

  The Taboo Index and the countless other laws and rules beneath it constricted the people, giving them the lukewarm bath of safety, while robbing them of something much more important.

  The power to think independently. The power to resist.

  Over that eternal length of time, where had that invisible power of humanity been collected?

  Into just thirty-one Integrity Knights.

  She sucked in a deep breath, exhaled, then opened her left eye so wide, it was practically audible. When it focused on Nigel, his face went pale with fright.

  But at the same time, Alice felt a strange sense of power welling up from within. It was like a pale flame—quiet but hotter than anything. It was the power she’d thought she’d lost for good at the end of the battle atop Central Cathedral—the power that had helped Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice face off against the greatest ruler of humanity.

  She took a deep breath and said, “I am annulling the order of Chief Man-at-Arms Zink. I order all the people in this clearing to evacuate to the forest south of here, with those of you who are armed in the lead.”

  Her voice was calm and controlled, but Nigel was bowled over, as if struck by invisible hands. It was a credit to his spirit that he even managed the mewling argument he did. “Wh…what authority gives a runaway girl like you the right to—?”

  “My authority as a knight.”

  “Wh…what do you mean, knight?! There is no such calling in this village! You cannot simply call yourself a knight because you can use a sword! If the great knights of Centoria found out, they would…,” he stammered, spraying spittle.

  She stared him right in the face, then moved her left arm across her body to grab the cloak on her right shoulder.

  “I am…My name is Alice. I am third among the Axiom Church’s Integrity Knights in the central district of Centoria: Alice Synthesis Thirty!!” she announced, throwing off her cloak.

  The moment the heavy cloth was free, the blazing fires reflected in a dazzling array off her golden armor and Osmanthus Blade.

  “Wha…? An I-I-Integrity Knight…?!” Nigel shrieked in falsetto, falling to his ample bottom in shock. Gasfut was equally stunned.

  Alice’s introduction could not have been false. There was no one in this entire world who could lie about being an Integrity Knight—and thus defy the very authority of the Axiom Church. If anyone could, it would only be Kirito and Alice, but even having escaped from Centoria, Alice had not abandoned the sword that marked her as a knight.

  The murmuring villagers went utterly silent. Even the shouting and clashing from the battle to the north and the bellowing of the guards and goblins got quieter.

  It was Selka who first broke the silence.

  “Sis…ter…?” she whispered, clutching her hands before her chest. Alice smiled kindly back at her.

  “I’m sorry for hiding this from you for all that time, Selka. This is the true punishment I’ve been given. And…my true duty.”

  Large wet orbs collected in Selka’s eyes. “Sister…I…I believed in you. I knew you weren’t a sinner. You’re so…so beautiful…”

  The next to act was Gasfut. He fell loudly to a kneeling position on the paving stone, and with his head down, he called out, “I hear and obey your order, Lady Integrity Knight!”

  Then he swept to his feet and turned to face the villagers. “On your feet, everyone!” he commanded. “Run to the south gate, with those of you armed at the front! Once out of the village, head into the forest south of the cultivated clearing!”

  An uneasy murmur ran through the crowd. It lasted only a moment, however. They had no possible alternative to obeying the elder’s orders, especially if he was speaking for an Integrity Knight.

  The hardier farmers at the perimeter of the crowd stood and motioned for the women, children, and elderly to get to their feet, too. Before Gasfut could stand at the head of the group, Alice beckoned him over and said quietly, “Father, take care of everyone…and of Selka and Mother.”

  For just an instant, Gasfut’s expression softened, and he replied simply, “Please…do take care, Lady Knight.”

  Alice knew he would never call her his daughter again. That, too, was a price of the power she’d been given. It was with this thought weighing on her that Alice pressed Selka to stand next to Gasfut.

  “Sister…don’t get yourself hurt,” Selka said through teary eyes. Alice favored her with a smile and turned to the north. Behind her, the villagers all began to move.

  “Oh…oh…my…my poor mansion…,” wailed Nigel Barbossa, who was still sitting flat on the ground. He glanced back and forth between the retreating villagers and the fires approaching his home. Alice decided to ignore him and focus on the state of the village as a whole.

  She’d succeeded at moving the villagers, but there were three hundred of them. It would take time for all those people to leave the village. Meanwhile, the defensive line was bound to break soon, and the marching footsteps of the enemy were approaching from the east and west, too.

  Then there was a scream from a young man at the north end of the clearing.

  “It’s no use! Pull back! Run awaaay!!”

  That would be Zink, leader of the guards. The shout seemed to spur Nigel Barbossa on; he leaped to his feet and snapped at Alice, “There…you see? We ought to have stayed here and defended! We’ll be killed! We’ll all be slaughtered!!”

  Alice shrugged and said quietly, “You’ll be fine with the head start you’ve got. I will hold them off here.”

  “You cannot! You cannot possibly do such a thing! Even…even if you are an Integrity Knight, what can one person do against such a numerous horde?!”

  The fearsome sight of goblins was visible to the east and west by now, but Nigel remained, shrieking invectives. Alice ignored him and glanced behind her. The last row of villagers was still in the clearing, but they were a good distance away from the center, where she was standing now.

  Alice grabbed Nigel by the collar and hurled him southward. Then she thrust her hand into the night sky and called her mount.

  “Amayori!”

  Instantly, there came a tremendous bellow from above. As she waved her hand from west to east, she commanded, “Burn them all!!”

  There was a storm of wings beating as Nigel and the inhuman goblins who were racing into the clearing all looked up at the same time. The massive dragon plunged toward them, its shape dark against the fire-reddened sky, and opened its jaws wide. There was a bright flicker in its throat, and—

  Shwoom!!

  Brilliant light shot forth. The beam of heat landed on the street to the west and passed right before Alice’s and Nigel’s eyes, sweeping over to the street east of the clearing.

  After the briefest of pauses, a line of tremendous flames erupted from the ground toward the sky. Engulfed, the goblins shrieked and screamed as the force of the eruption threw them off their feet.

  The dragon’s breath had dispatched over two dozen attackers all at once, simultaneously evaporating the water of the fountain in the center of town and turning it into a cloud of steam. Amayori skimmed over the vapor as Alice gave the order to wait, then glanced behind her.

  Nigel Barbossa was back on the paving stones in terror, his beady eyes bulging. “Wh…wha…? A d…d…d-d-drag…?!”

  The middle-aged man’s pudgy cheeks quivered pathetically. Just then, the steam gave way to reveal Rulid’s men-at-arms sprinting forward, wearing matching leather armor. The timing of the order to retreat had paid off in the end, as while the dozen or so guards had wounds here and there, none of them seemed too serious.

 

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