106 [2-40] Faith is heavier than life...! (2/2)

Marks with a tight smile. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

Patrick thought that it would not be disloyal to the motherland (Noah Curio) if he worried about Marks' stomach.

I'm sorry.

Patrick walked through the corridors of the castle, feeling doubly tired.

But he couldn't dwell on Erminio forever. He had decided to retreat, but he had to do everything in his power to make it work. To return to his homeland alive, Patrick would have to do one more thing.

Are you running away?

The voice was like a needle pricking him.

Patrick pauses. An old woman in an ominous red, brown, and white robe was watching him.

”......, Technical Advisor.

The Marquis of Edfelt can loan me out to help him. It's a shame to lose a country of people. We have to protect the crown prince.

But why are you guys leaving again? Even with your current strength, you might be able to win if you attack King's Landing.

Morgana said in her usual calm, but never retreating tone.

Patrick proceeded to tell Morgana about his army's retreat without her hearing it.

If Morgana, who only cared about fighting in the name of God, heard about the retreat, it would be obvious that they would not be able to come to an agreement.

He had planned to inform her of his decision after everything was decided and in motion, but somehow she had overheard the meeting.

Morgana said that if you get close enough to a holy beast, you can establish a psychic link and share senses and thoughts. She may have been listening through the ears of a holy beast.

Thinking that he was in trouble, Patrick explained himself.

Yeah, that could be it!　But it's a one-way ticket.

If you don't succeed, you'll die of hunger. Even if we succeed, we'll suffer a lot of damage if we run into them with our current forces. That's why the whole army is demoralized and wants to go home.

We can't afford to fight such a catastrophic battle!　It's better to be buried alive in a field than to fertilize the land.

If you suffer human loss in battle, it will haunt you for a decade.

Not to mention the knights, and the peasants will be the people who cultivate the land and pay the taxes when they return home.

We should not fight a war where we have to wear down our army to finally win.

However, Morgana was still unmoved.

”Well, maybe we can win after all. Then fight.

”Technical Advisor. I understand your deep faith. But you have other things to do than die for your faith.

They are God's children of Noa Curio. When they return home, they will cultivate the land, raise their children, and become a force to be reckoned with against the dark forces of the future. We cannot afford to lose them.

Sometimes you have to retreat for a greater victory. That's not too far off from what you want.

Patrick explained in a way that was in line with Morgana's thoughts.

In the temple, it is said that man is entrusted with the earth that the gods have created in order to accumulate strength to fight the evil gods. The farmers' cultivation of the earth is also a battle against the evil gods.

It is important for the five major powers, which are the cornerstones of the human world, to maintain their power. It is important for the five major powers of the human world to maintain their power. It is a matter of faith that it will not do any good if the country's strength is weakened by sending troops into a battle that is unlikely to be won.

Or so Patrick thought.

”Oh, I knew it.

Boy. You don't know what you're talking about. It's just a theory of the human race. ......

Morgana sighs deeply.

I'm not sure if you're aware of that.　In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of it.

Even if you, your knights, and the farmers you brought with you die, it will only be a ...... scratch. That hole will be easily filled. Even if there is no one left to till the fertile soil, someone will come along and take over. And they'll have children, and they'll nurture the 'power of the future.

”............

Patrick was stunned.

Royalty, nobility and people ...... do not think of Morgana as a person. It's as if she's moving pieces around on a game board, or looking at the world from a bird's eye view.

There is no greed, there is no mercy, there is only one thing to seek.

Victory in the name of God: ......

”But you know that the Rose of Hell is more than a match for you, don't you?

It's an evil that could threaten the world. If you can defeat it, you should. No amount of sacrifice here can compare to the enormous damage it could cause in the future.

”The Rose of Hell may gain strength in time. Or maybe she'll just run away. That's not good enough. But she's there now, isn't she?

Morgana's eyes were too steady, but to Patrick they seemed like inorganic golems.

Patrick gave up control of Morgana. Her values are too far removed from people. It's not a zealot, it's just a madman.

We've been treating her well because she's a formality from the Central Command and she has useful technology. But there's a limit to that. I don't need subordinates who don't do as they're told.

Let's just let Morgana go. She wants to fight the undead, so if we leave her with Ciel-Teira, she'll cooperate with Marks on her own, and if we leave her with support personnel, she won't refuse to cooperate.

If they can't talk to each other, then that's the only way to use them.

No longer seeing the usefulness of talking to Morgana, Patrick began to walk as if she were not there.

Patrick's attitude was seen as rejection.

It's apostate. ...... Go ahead.

In the courtyard, surrounded by cloisters, someone came down with a thud.

Men in monk's robes with masks covering their faces. They were incarnate holy beasts controlled by Morgana. They are based on humans, and usually mimic humans like this.

A swarm of masked monks rushed Patrick and instantly grabbed him and bound him.

What are you,......?

The red stains on Morgana's lab coat increased.