"Why did we lose?"
Inside Havenlight's Grand Cathedral, the atmosphere in the main hall was grave. More than a dozen Paladin captains and the few bishops remaining in the country stood there. Hearing Grant's question, they looked at one another, yet not a single one could answer.
Compared to usual, the vast church hall held very few people, carrying an indescribable desolation. Grant's gaze swept over the crowd, and his expression... was not as furious or violent as before. Instead, there was a faint weariness in his voice.
"Why are none of you speaking? God is still watching over us. Have you already forsaken the faith in your hearts?"
The bishops quickly shook their heads. "No... We were only thinking."
"Then what did you come up with?"
"We..." After some hesitation, the eldest of the bishops finally spoke. "We believe that the main reason for our defeat in this battle was that demon force lying in ambush within the city. Before they charged out, we clearly held the advantage."
—Though he was the eldest, sadly, he looked only a little over forty.
"That force?" Grant gave a cold snort. "A force of barely over a thousand men had you spinning like tops?"
"This... That was absolutely no ordinary force! They definitely weren't ordinary people!" The bishop faltered for a moment before immediately continuing, "How could ordinary people fly into the sky and easily slaughter so many of our fellow priests? They must have been incarnations of demons, escaping from hell once more to wreak havoc upon the world!"
As he spoke, he could not help grumbling inwardly.
What else could they say? They could hardly admit... that the main reason they had lost this battle was that His Holiness the Pope could not defeat that Water Ball Demon, could they?