Everyone sat inside Midgard, the sturdy, modified cart creaking gently as it moved forward along the rugged path. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, scorched earth, and the remnants of magic from their recent battle. Tenko rested lazily on Rei's shoulders, his warm fur offering a faint comfort against the cool breeze that slipped through the windows. Their spoils from the fallen Paladin lay spread out on a rough-hewn wooden table between them: a detailed map marked with all the known headquarters of the Mystic Church, a compass, a sentient sword humming faintly with residual power, and a set of ominous-looking plans sketched hastily on parchment.
Rei's fingers hovered over the map, tracing the intricate routes and symbols that seemed to dance beneath his touch. "So," he asked, breaking the tense silence, "what does the Mystic Church plan to do?"
Levi, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed, gave a grim nod. "It looks like they already know about your presence here, Rei. They were trying to disable you."
"Disable me?" Rei's brows furrowed in confusion. "Not… kill me?"
Luc, ever the silent observer, spoke up from the shadowed corner. "No. They can't kill you—not yet."
Rei turned to him, eyes narrowing. "Why?"
Luc's gaze met his, cold and steady. "Because that job doesn't belong to them. It belongs to someone else."
A chill slid down Rei's spine. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Someone else? Who?"
Luc's reply was a quiet dagger. "Your sister. Hanna."
The weight of the revelation slammed into Rei's chest. His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, it was as if the air had been sucked out of Midgard.
"You mean," Rei whispered, his voice cracking, "it's my sister's job to kill me?"
Luc nodded solemnly. "Yes. It's always been."
The tension in the air shattered as Emilia surged forward, grabbing Luc by the collar of his cloak. "We need to save her," she demanded, her voice raw with desperation. "Where is she? Where can we find her?"
But before Luc could respond, Rei reached out and gently pulled Emilia back. His hand lingered on her shoulder, trembling faintly. "No," he said softly, yet with a resolve that silenced everyone. "It's not the time, Emilia."
"What do you mean, Rei?" Emilia's voice wavered with emotion. "It's your sister we're talking about. She's in danger, and you don't want to do anything?"
Ben, leaning forward, his voice sharp, intervened. "Emilia! Think about what you're saying. Do you think Rei likes this? Do you think this is easy for him?"
Emilia's fiery glare softened as she looked into Rei's downcast eyes. Her lips trembled. "I… I'm sorry."
Rei shook his head. "It's okay."
Arizona, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, his deep voice grounding them. "Rei is our leader, Emilia. He can't make rash decisions like this. It affects all of us too."
Alya stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Rei's shoulder. "Don't worry, Rei. Tell us what we should do. You're our leader after all."
Rei exhaled deeply, drawing in the strength to speak. "Hanna… she'll have to wait."
Everyone turned to face him, a collective silence settling like a heavy cloak.
"She's inside the main headquarters," Rei continued, his voice tightening with each word. "We're not strong enough to take her out." His fists clenched as his gaze fell to the floor, frustration and sorrow mingling in his eyes.
Arizona leaned forward, his tone teasing yet full of loyalty. "Rei, you just have to give the order, and we'll go take over the world."
Rei forced a small, bitter smile. "Yes. But we need to wait. Wait for the right time to strike. Even if it costs me my life."
A resolute determination filled the air, hardening the expressions of everyone in Midgard.
Rei straightened up, his voice now calm and deliberate. "For now, we'll head to Betal Town as planned. And as for him,"—he gestured toward the lifeless body of the Paladin lying in the corner—"we'll use him."
Levi's brows shot up. "Use him? How?"
Rei turned to Ben. "Ben, you said you needed to defeat your sister, Sena. Tell us—who's her biggest supporter?"
A slow, understanding smile spread across Ben's face. "I see," he murmured.
Their journey led them to Bernant Town, where they stopped for supplies and scheming. Under the cover of night, Luc slipped silently into the house of the noble who was known to be Sena's staunchest ally. His gloved hands worked quickly, placing evidence of murder near the noble's bedchamber and then dragging the Paladin's body into the house. His steps were quiet, calculated, as if he were merely a shadow passing through.
Once the grisly deed was done, Luc made his way to the local church, where a priest greeted him with an oily smile. "Hello, kind sir. What brings you here today?"
Luc bowed his head respectfully. "Sir, I've been hearing strange rumors that our lord has killed a Paladin of the church. Today, I even saw blood on the window of his chambers."
The priest laughed dismissively, his voice thick with condescension. "Oh, it might just be your imagination. Perhaps you have not served the gods well enough, and now they plague you with such ill-suited dreams. Please, offer a donation and pray for the gods to relieve you of your worries."
Luc handed over a few coins, his lips curling into a semblance of a smile as he bowed again. But inside, his thoughts were venomous. You damned gods… Look at your priest now, reveling in corruption and greed. But don't worry. We'll bring justice to this world, and we'll tear down your corrupted order piece by piece.
The next morning, the noble was arrested by the church guards, accused of murdering a Paladin. His lands were seized, claimed in the name of the church.
Ben smirked as the news spread through the town. "So, how are we going to handle the land going to the church?"
Rei's eyes glinted with a calculated gleam. "We'll just have to take the land by trapping them too."
Ben's smirk widened. "Now that Sena's biggest supporter is gone, she's going to face innumerable problems."
Rei's voice was cold and resolute as he concluded, "And we'll be there to kick her when she's down."