In answer to Isabella's question, Maya explained why.
There was still nearly a year until the Seven Star Sword's seal could normally be lifted-the Red Moon Night that came once every hundred years.
After hearing this important information from the two generations of priestesses, Gion and York, who knew the "truth," independently thought of several possibilities.
"Lieutenant York, what do you think?"
Gion turned to ask York, who sat on the bench behind her.
With his enormous frame, York looked as though he were sitting on an elongated footstool rather than a normal-sized wooden bench. He bent his knees, rested his elbows on them, and propped up his chin.
"Huh... I'm a technician. I don't really understand this stuff."
York tilted his head cutely at the question, his wavy blond twin tails falling to one side. His enormous frontal armor left the village's young men a little dizzy.
"But~ normally, you'd just behave like a regular Marine and wait until the Red Moon before acting... unless they have some special way to break the seal early."
He continued in an airheaded tone, but his words hit the mark.
This was also the main reason the higher-ups had yet to find anything suspicious about the Marine Dojo.
After all, Vice Admiral Momousagi knew his identity. Playing completely dumb would have been too unnatural.
Around Gion, York maintained an image whose intelligence and knowledge "matched" his identity, but whose emotional intelligence was low-a timid, goofy personality.
"Another way... impossible. The Seven Star Sword was bestowed by the Seven Star Gods. It was once a holy sword. Its seal can only be lifted on the Red Moon Night."
Granny Ilensa did not believe there was any other way.
Gion and York fell silent.
"...Um... you two... please say something..."
Watching the pair fall