In the valley, just as Samael was figuring out how to keep fooling the princess beside him, a brilliant flare shot into the sky with a piercing blast, lighting up the deep night.
That was...
Seeing it, Samael's pupils contracted slightly. He abruptly rose to his feet.
Arcueid noticed Samael's unusual reaction and instinctively stood as well, asking after him.
"What is it?"
"A signal flare. Looks like Natalia has run into trouble!"
The Ancient Serpent narrowed his eyes and answered gravely, gazing toward the distant source hidden beneath the night.
Natalia?
"My teammate. She took the child you saved earlier and went to take shelter near the village."
Seeing that Arcueid had not caught on yet, the Ancient Serpent added in a low voice.
Arcueid's expression immediately turned stern.
At the same time, east of the village, outside the livestock farm.
Two slender figures blended into the darkness faced each other across the woods.
"By the law of devotion, open the Gate of Heaven. My Lord above, bless the world with radiant light, grant mercy, grant punishment, grant reward, grant rest..."
Ahead, the Church Executor dressed in immaculate black clerical robes and wearing a Golden Cross on his chest lowered his eyes and chanted. The six Black Keys that shot from between his fingers glimmered with golden divine radiance under the command of the holy words.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Shirou Kyomine spread his arms with a wave of his hand, the six Black Keys shot forward, aimed directly at the black-haired girl lying on the dead leaves, apparently fast asleep.
This weapon was a type of talisman used by the Holy Church for exorcism. It was a Conceptual Weapon, imbued with the concept of "nullifying restorative curses." Its short shape allowed it to be used in close