Episode 26: A Distorted Doctrine and the Faith of the Saint③ ～ Faith and Calamity, Mother and Child ～

Looking back, the girl who called herself the Queen of Ice and Snow――――The girl Irene called Setsu was staring at the Devil.

"The Queen of Ice and Snow is strong. I froze the soldiers in an instant. Even the Devil can be frozen with a single look."

"Oh, scary, scary. Celestial Knight-sama～, please help me～."

　Setsu-chan looked very annoyed as the Devil responded to her words in a mocking way.
　……Even the Devil (probably) shouldn't get so serious with a kid. I thought it was childish, so I silently threw my shield behind me (with a shield swipe). The Devil was making a squelching sound like a frog being crushed from behind, but at this distance I could accurately throw it at her face without having to turn around. After catching the shield that came back like a boomerang without looking, I put it back on my left arm and asked Setsu-chan again.

"……What, is that true? Are you playing pretend with your new friend? "

　In response to my words, as if to reaffirm her point, she shook her head silently again.

"……What does that mean, Irene? "

"……Well, I was going to explain it in order, but now that she's here, I'll just explain it as it is. Setsu, come here."

　When Irene said this, Setsu-chan walked over to Irene and climbed onto her lap. Setsu-chan seems to have taken a liking to Irene.

"……The Snow Queen, hates Devils! "

"Don't say things like that. ……More importantly, is Devil-san okay? "

　Well, when they're like this, they look just like mother and daughter.

"Don't worry, she may seem like a wimp, but she's probably much stronger than us. ……Then, can you tell me about this self-proclaimed calamity child? "

　I re-took my seat and prepared to listen to Irene's story.

"First of all, I don't consider this child to be a disaster. No matter who this child is, she is my beloved child."

　Irene's eyes, which stared straight at us as she said this, were filled with a strong determination.

"No, the Queen of Ice and Snow is a calamity, who will destroy the wicked! The people of the temple are bad, so I'm going to destroy them! The Devil will also be destroyed because she made me angry! ……Hmph……"

　Setsu-chan was stubbornly standing her ground, but after Irene picked her up and started patting her back, she gradually started to calm down…… Maybe it was the power of a saint, or maybe she's just good at dealing with children in general.
　Irene continued her story after making sure Setsu-chan was fast asleep.

“Not long after we defeated the Demon King and I returned to this land, I began working with the church to take in children from the city. This child was originally one of them――――Or to put it another way, she was the first child I took in. She was standing frozen on the plain, not knowing her parents or family, and not knowing anything about herself except that she was the “Queen of Ice and Snow”. I found her and took her in."

　……Whoa, that means Setsu-chan existed before Hroboros. Were the calamities already manifesting, even before Hroboros began his destructive activities? ……As I was looking at one of those same calamities, the Devil, our eyes met and she smiled at me.

"Then, the number of children increased, and we welcomed elves, beastmen, mermen, half-breeds, and children of various other races into our growing family without distinction. This child is a very good girl who cares about everyone, acting as the oldest sister of the children."

　With those words, she looked lovingly at Setsu-chan as she slept, her eyes those of a compassionate saint.

"……It doesn't matter who this child is. Children should be loved and cared for by adults. And most of all, I can't just leave this child, who has no place to turn to in the world and who has been thrown out with no one to look after her. I took on the role of the saint because I didn't want the children to feel the way I did."

　When I heard Irene say that, I felt a sense of awe at the fact that she had her own will and sense of honor, unlike me, who had become a member of the hero party by chance.
　It's easy to be confused by her disappointing personality, but this woman named Irene is an adult woman who acts according to her own unwavering sense of values.

"……I see. The existence of the Devil and this child somehow made me understand what a calamity is. Each calamity is determined by the will of the individual. Then, why not have the child be protected by the saint? After all, even among the calamities, there are some strange ones that just follow ordinary people around."

"There are such strange people out there, huh? My oh my, Divine Bow-dono is well-informed."

　She's talking about you, Devil. ……Is what I'd like to say, but to be honest that's just a waste of words.

"So, I'm starting to get the hang of it. That kid took out the devout soldiers outside, right? "

　Irene replied to my words with a sad, silent expression.

"Yeah. ……I didn't want to do that, and I didn't want anyone else to do it either――――When she saw that I was about to use my 'secret weapon' against the attacking soldiers, she flew over without me being able to stop her and in an instant……
　Thanks to that, the invading army has withdrawn, and so far, there are no signs of them attacking again……"

　Speaking of which, I saw Irene's secret weapon during the trip, and I could tell that the situation was hopeless because she had no choice but to use it, but since Setsu-chan managed to turn the tables, I guess her power is real.

"……But if that child hadn't been there, you and the children here probably wouldn't be alive now.”

"……That's right. By letting this child get her hands dirty, we were able to be saved."

　Irene looked like she was in pain, but…… well, I don't think anyone feels good about making a child kill someone.

"I see. ……From now on, I won't let that child get her hands dirty. Especially if you say that child is your precious child."

　Irene tilted her head at my words.

"As for the church―――I will personally "see it through" that the devout are taken care of. I've decided, just now."

　As I said this, I looked at the evil sword at my waist, which looked like it was reflecting the sunlight in a dull color.

"……Yes, I agree with you that the violent mob of the devout are unpleasant. Or rather, if I were to bomb them, it should be over in no time."

　Falty went on to agree with what I said. Indeed, Falty seemed to have a strong dislike of “lowlife men”, perhaps because of what happened with Luqur. Whatever the case, Falty and I are in agreement about what to do about the Devout, so there's no need to have Setsu-chan fight them.

"No way, I can't get the two of you involved in something like this――――"

"You're not getting us involved, we're doing this willingly."

　As if to interrupt her, I repeated Al's favorite phrase, prompting Irene to look startled.

"Those are Al's words, remember? ……The people in front of you are the friends of the world's most meddlesome hero, you know? How could we ignore a situation like this?"

　Irene bowed her head as far as she could, although there were limits because Setsu-chan was there, but she lowered her head to the extent that she could.
　……Even if Irene, a non-combatant, continued to fight using her trump card, there would come a limit. Then it would be much better if I or Falty “watched over” the devout.
　Was it because Falty didn't like the gloomy atmosphere that she let out a sigh in response to Irene?

"―――Well, leave the rough stuff to us. So, how is it actually being surrounded by children? "

"I'm happy every day~! There are so many small, cute lives, and I'm happy every day! "

　……Uhhhwa. ……Eww…… If she didn't have this unfortunate habit, she would be a woman I could respect without holding anything back.

"――――Sorry to interrupt, but the devout faction of the church has returned! And there are a lot more than last time! "

　The lookout who had run in said those words, at which Falty and I looked at each other and nodded.

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