Raymond Zarg closed the file and looked at the document Certain Death.
"For the past six hundred years, every so often, people have descended from the heavens to appear in this world. They possess power far beyond the comprehension of this world, and they change the course of this world."
"Higashino Makoto and Momon are very likely among the new batch of people who have appeared out of nowhere."
Certain Death fell silent.
She remembered what Higashino Makoto had said—
"You can see me as a cold-blooded butcher, Hero who saved the Re-Estize Kingdom, or a fallen paladin—it's up to you."
She remembered the way he looked when he ate the egg pancake--
With sugar icing on his lips, he looked like an ordinary person.
She remembered the tone of his voice when he said, "Home isn't a place, it's a feeling."
Simple, but earnest.
She remembered the way he looked as he left.
It gradually disappeared into the morning light, without looking back.
"Cardinal."
She spoke, her voice very soft.
"What should we do if they really are players?"
Raymond Zarg did not answer immediately.
He walked back behind his desk, sat down, crossed his arms on the table, and looked at Certain Death with his gray eyes.
What do you think?
Certain Death thought about it for a moment.
"We cannot be enemies."
She said it with certainty.
"Reason."
"First, we can't beat them."
Certain Death raised one finger.
"He alone could wipe out the entire Black Scripture, and he alone could kill the Elf King and his Primal Earth Elemental. The strongest forces in the Slane Theocracy, including myself, are no match for him."
She held up her second finger.
"Secondly, he harbored no hostility. He came to the Slane Theocracy without killing, destroying, or attempting to seize anything. He simply enjoyed the scenery and then casually ended the war that had dragged on for over a hundred years."
She held up her third finger.
Third, he's useful.
Raymond Zarg's eyebrows rose slightly.
"It works?"
"Right."
Certain Death lowered his hand and leaned back in his chair.
"Cardinal, think about it. The Six Great Gods taught humanity magic. The Eight Greed Kings broke the Dragon King's rule over everything. The captain of the Thirteen Heroes defeated the Demon God. What did each group of people who descended from the sky leave behind? What will Higashino Makoto and Momon leave behind as well?"
"Perhaps it's Peace."
She paused.
"Maybe it's something else."
Raymond Zarg stared at her for a long time.
You've changed.
He finally said.
Certain Death was stunned for a moment.
"What?"
You wouldn't have said something like that before.
Raymond Zarg's tone was calm, but a complex light flashed in his gray eyes.
"Before, you would only say 'kill them.' Now, you would say things like 'we can't be enemies,' 'they're useful,' and 'leave something behind.'"
Certain Death fell silent.
She looked down at her hands—hands that were once stained with blood, but were now clean.
"Maybe."
She said it very softly.
"Perhaps it's because someone showed me that there are other things to do besides killing."
Raymond Zarg didn't ask who the person was.
"Certain Death."
"Um."
"If, and I mean if, one day, the Slane Theocracy and that person clash, whose side will you stand on?"
Certain Death raised his head, his heterochromatic black and white eyes looking at the Cardinal.
That day will never come.
She said.
"Why?"
"Because the Slane Theocracy wouldn't be foolish enough to make enemies of such people."
Raymond Zarg fell silent.
Then he smiled, a bittersweet, relieved smile.
"You're right."
He leaned back in his chair, his gray eyes staring at the ceiling.
"The Slane Theocracy wouldn't be foolish enough to make enemies of such people."
He paused.
"At least, not while I'm alive."
Certain Death stared at him for two seconds, then stood up.
"Cardinal, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
"Go."
Raymond Zarg waved his hand.
"Nazel's egg pancakes, bring me two."
"... Don't you dislike sweets?"
"As you get older, your tastes change."
Certain Death no more words. She walked to the door, picked up the armor and scythe leaning against the wall, pushed open the door, and went out.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the empty room.
Raymond Zarg sat alone behind his desk, his gray eyes staring at the closed door.
"Higashino Makoto... Momon..."
He murmured the two names, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"I hope you can truly bring Peace."
No one answered.
Only the candlelight flickered in the wind, casting dim and intermittent shadows on the wall.
When Certain Death walked out of the temple headquarters, the sun was shining brightly.
She squinted, adjusting her eyes to the change in light, and then walked down the steps.
The silver-white armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, a scythe was slung over his shoulder, and long black and white hair flowed behind him.
Pedestrians on the street made way for her.
Certain Death didn't care about those stares. She just walked, through the crowd, through the streets, through that familiar alley, and arrived at the door of that familiar shop.
"Aunt Nazel, two egg pancakes."
The old woman peeked out from behind the counter, saw her, and gave her a kind smile.
"Why are you ordering two pieces today? Aren't you eating alone?"
"One piece is for the Cardinal."
"Oh? That old guy has finally come to his senses?"
The old woman smiled and took two pancakes from the oven, wrapped them in a paper bag, and handed them to her.
Certain Death took the paper bag, took out a silver coin from his pocket, and placed it on the counter.
"Keep the change, please."
"You're always like this, child."
The old woman shook her head, but did not refuse.
Certain Death turned around, walked out of the shop, and sat down on the steps.
She took out a piece of egg pancake, took a bite, chewed it, swallowed it, and then stared blankly into the distance.
Sunlight shone on her, casting her shadow on the stone slab, solitary and slender.
"Higashino Makoto..."
She murmured the name, then continued eating her omelet.
The pancake was still warm, and the icing sugar melted on the tip of my tongue, so sweet it made me want to cry.
But she didn't cry.
She simply sat there, quietly eating her egg pancake in the midday sun of the Divine Capital.
One piece for the Cardinal.
One for myself.
But for some reason, she felt--
It tastes sweeter when three people eat it together.
Temple headquarters, offices.
Raymond Zarg took the omelet that Certain Death handed him and took a bite.
"... It is too sweet."
Didn't you say your tastes had changed?
"Things have changed, but not by that much."
Certain Death sat down opposite him and took a bite of his own omelet.
The two sat facing each other, eating their egg pancakes, neither of them saying a word.
The office was quiet, with only the faint sounds of chewing food and the occasional chirping of birds outside the window.
"Certain Death."
Raymond Zarg suddenly spoke.
"Um?"
"You mean that person? Will he come back?"
Certain Death remained silent for a moment.
He said he would.
"You believe me?"
"Letter."
Raymond Zarg looked into her eyes for two seconds, then nodded.
"That's good."
He didn't ask any more questions.
He didn't say anything more, not even about Certain Death.
The two continued eating their egg pancakes, quietly waiting in the afternoon sun of the Divine Capital.
Waiting for that person to return.