"Is the Church of Light's Embrace really not going to do anything? Even if this isn't a natural disaster, they have churches in the Avak Region, don't they?"
As the team advanced toward the northern sewers, Ian "complained" to Teres. It was the sort of question someone his age and theoretical status ought to ask.
Ian had always grasped the essence of role-playing, so no one found anything strange about his question.
No country or organization truly liked the Church of Light's Embrace.
But when the crucial moment came, everyone hoped the Church of Light's Embrace would help them.
That was precisely because they never intervened in disputes between nations, and because they had never missed even a single natural disaster.
"The Church of Light's Embrace really won't interfere."
Teres shook a finger. "Before I set out on this mission, I asked an acquaintance to find out what the Church of Light's Embrace thought about the Avak Region."
"The result was that the Church of Light's Embrace considered the incident in the Avak Region not a natural disaster, but man-made. Even by the gravest interpretation, it was merely a war among humans. They could not intervene, and they would maintain that stance even if extremely serious consequences followed."
As he spoke, the knight imitated the tone of a Light's Embrace priest with considerable solemnity. As a wind-aspected ascender, his imitation was lifelike. "However, out of indignation over the destruction of the 'Light's Embrace Church' and the deaths of numerous 'believers,' the Church of Light's Embrace permits 'Paladins' to form relief teams in their personal capacity and enter the Avak Region."
"Oh? That is good news. If Paladins are involved, perhaps the survivors really can be saved."
This news left Ian rather puzzled. He looked around at the surrounding streets and