Birth of the Named One

Gaia lowered her head to look at the bullet hole piercing through her chest, her gaze gradually turning vacant.

Her hand loosened, and she fell from the rope.

Below, the [Investigators] continued firing their muskets.

"Michel, this won't work! They're getting higher and higher—they're about to fly out of musket range!"

"Damn it, damn it!"

The young priest shouted furiously. His clothes were stained with blood and mud, and he had long since lost his initial composure.

"That airship is clearly just a balloon—how has it not burst after taking so many shots?!"

The [Investigators] beside him glanced at him but said nothing.

They were all Transcendents. They had clearly seen the sparks flying when bullets struck the airship's gasbag. At the very least, its underside was armored.

Several more volleys were fired, but apart from shooting down a few of Gaia's doubles, they achieved nothing. Zoe had already pulled Beatrice into the cabin, and Gaia had climbed inside as well. There was no longer any need to use doubles to block bullets. They had completely run out of ways to deal with the airship.

"What do we do next, Michel?"

Michel turned around, but before he could speak, a burst of commotion came from outside.

The [Investigators] turned to look. A group of soldiers wearing the Candlelight Society's emblem had arrived—the Church's mortal auxiliary troops.

"These useless bastards, why are they only getting here now?!"

Michel's face darkened. He had intended to berate them, but seeing the looks around him, his mouth twitched and he ultimately said nothing.

This incident could not be blamed on the mortal auxiliary troops no matter what. It was they Transcendents who would have to explain themselves to the Secret Keeper Council.

"What are you looking at me for? It's not like the Secret