Communication

Never mind whether Klein was present—Even if he hadn't been, Alice wouldn't have wanted to see a massive stampede happen right under her nose. If she hadn't seen it, that would have been another matter.

But since she had seen it, Alice decided to do something. Those about to fall barely managed to steady themselves, while those about to step on others noticed just in time and narrowly avoided them.

But this didn't solve the underlying problem. Alice frowned. She had already noticed soldiers beginning to maintain order, but that was nowhere near enough. There were simply too many people. What the crowd needed most right now was someone to rally around...

Who would that be?

...Don't tell me you didn't arrange for anyone!

Alice glanced at the lightning in the sky again, then changed her mind.

No, perhaps their original plan wasn't this heavy-handed. Maybe it was supposed to be more discreet, and something unexpected happened on the Lord of Storms' end...

As more and more people joined in maintaining order, Alice gradually had enough attention to spare to speculate about what had happened in the underground ruins.

She couldn't concentrate for long, because the sight of George III, struck beyond recognition by lightning, suddenly brought a term to her mind.

—Divine retribution.

Struck dead by heavenly lightning during a grand sacrifice ritual, coupled with Loen's abnormal weather lately... Yikes...

Alice shook her head slightly and sidled up to Klein, lowering her voice to ask:

"Say, if I went out there dressed like this and played the prophet...

"Would I get beaten up?"

"...I don't know." Klein swiftly moved away from her. "I don't know you."

Alice had her answer. Although this was an excellent opportunity to gather believers, she still abandoned such a crude public appearance.

—The main