After speaking with Cyril for a while, Ikanser left the lounge. He was responsible for protecting Cyril during this period, but not for guarding him personally.
Outside the lounge, at the end of a mural-lined corridor, Carlson looked at Ikanser beside him and asked curiously:
"Captain Ikanser, surely protecting just one person doesn't require you to handle it personally?"
"Wouldn't tracking down that High Sequence Demoness be more important right now?"
Ikanser shook his head slightly. "It's the Archbishop's arrangement."
"Besides, Demonesses are skilled at tracking and counter-tracking, and that's even more true of a High Sequence Demoness. With the Primordial Demoness watching her, we'll have little chance of finding her unless she reveals a clue herself."
"Finding out why she came to Backlund is more important than tracking down a Demoness."
"I see." Carlson nodded as if he'd suddenly understood, then jogged off down the corridor.
Ikanser looked toward the lounge where Cyril was staying and fell into thought. He'd asked Archbishop Horamick how he should treat Cyril, and the latter's answer had been to keep an eye on him, but not disturb him.
Keep an eye on him, but don't disturb him.
Compared with Archbishop Horamick's personal attitude, this seemed more like a decision from headquarters—or even the Council of Gods.
So, was I here to keep an eye on him both to guard against danger and because the High Sequence Demoness from the Demoness Sect might be targeting him?
Above the Gray Fog, inside the grand and ancient palace.
Cyril leaned back in his high-backed chair and turned toward the World at the bottom of the table. He said calmly:
"I'm still in a Church of Steam, and there are members of the Machinery Hivemind nearby. You'd better keep it brief."
Besides, summoning someone inside a church