War.
That was a word that none of them could ignore anymore.
Up to that point, wars had occurred in areas marked by national boundaries, but this one was different. There were no national boundaries in a conflict between ideologies. It was possible that every part of the world could suddenly become a battlefield. There were no countries that could be considered safe and no areas that could be considered to have impenetrable defenses. There was even a danger of conflicts breaking out within a single unit.
"My eighth answer: This is a nice city."
Sasha was looking out of a large window.
"To explain further: There are not very many demonstrations being carried out by the Roman Catholic Church or the science side in London. Incidentally, Russia is in a very tense state at the moment. There is a fear of sudden riots even during the day, so more and more stores are closing their shutters."
The Anglican Church and the Russian Orthodox Church were both state religions, but the people of the country were not required to follow that religion. Because of this, there were plenty of Roman Catholic believers in Russia. And as for science, there were very few people who did not rely on it by that point.
Kanzaki was reminded of these facts before she began speaking.
"But why did you come to us? We are only one part of the Anglican Church and a single organization is forbidden to act completely on its own judgement. If you want to know what actions we will take in this forthcoming war, you need to go to St. George's Cathedral and talk with the Archbishop…"
"My fourth question: Is that really true?"
"What?"
Kanzaki, Agnese, Lucia, Angelene, Sherry, and the others displayed suspicious expressions at Sasha's words. Except, that is, for Orsola who looked like she was nodding off.
"My fifth question: Do you really intend to continue obeying the Anglican Church during this war?"
"…"
The words of the Russian Orthodox Church rang throughout the large dining hall.
"To explain further: Kanzaki Kaori and Agnese Sanctis are in a symbolic position as members of the former Amakusa Church and the former Agnese Forces respectively. And most of the other members of Necessarius are in the Anglican Church in order to accomplish their goals instead of being in Necessarius because they are a part of the Anglican Church."
Her words were blunt. She had clearly done at lot to prepare for this meeting beyond simply gaining entrance to England.
Sasha continued.
"To explain even further: In the Russian Orthodox Church's opinion, the Roman Catholic Church and Academy City are currently about equal when it comes to strength in a war. Therefore, third parties like the Russian Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church can have a great effect on the outcome. The Russian Orthodox Church has no real interest in this war. We do not mind who wins, but we would like to ally ourselves with the victor so as to have the upper hand when the war is over. We need to know what the British side will do in order to have a more accurate opinion."
The Anglican Church was a major influence in the magic side.
It did not get along with the Russians because of the differences between the denominations. At the same time, it had a special pipeline with Academy City.
It was difficult to predict which side this major magic organization would choose.
Not to mention that the Anglican Church also had a number of people like Kanzaki and Agnese who belonged to smaller organizations that were affiliated with the church. Individuals could be the same. Stiyl would go anywhere and do anything for this one small girl and it was unclear what side Tsuchimikado was really on. Sherry was a genuine member of the Anglican Church, but due to problems between factions, she had tried to kill Index, a member of the same organization.
The key movements in this great war that would shake the world were completely unreadable.
It was certainly worth looking into.
(…Or maybe she's trying to throw a stone to guide our movements in an easier to understand direction.)
Kanzaki Kaori thought about the meaning of the war after hearing Sasha's words that could be interpreted as telling them to split onto different sides.
She had already removed herself from the Amakusa Church, but that didn't change the fact that she still needed to protect them.
And the Amakusas had fought against the Roman Catholic Church when rescuing Orsola Aquinas. Since there were only 50 battle-ready Amakusa members, it was next to impossible for them to survive without the protection of the Anglican Church.
At the same time, the former Agnese Forces had truly become an enemy of the Roman Catholic Church ever since the Queen of the Adriatic incident. They would gain nothing by leaving the Anglican Church during this war.
And then there was the fact that, in the past, Kanzaki Kaori had had a number of people important to her saved by Academy City…no, technically it was by a single boy who lived there.
(My heart tells me to side with Academy City…)
If the Roman Catholic Church won this war and their influence spread throughout the world, the Anglican Church would lose some of its weight and the Amakusas and the former Agnese Forces could be destroyed. Thinking of that, she wanted to side with Academy City.
(But that's the science side…)
If Academy City won, it would still be a very dangerous situation. It was possible the science side would ride the wave of victory and annihilate the magic side all at once. Then it wouldn't matter how much influence the Anglicans had. All magical powers throughout the world would be destroyed and that would include the Amakusas and the former Agnese Forces.
This war had a great meaning behind it.
If the war ended in a standard winner/loser fashion, it seemed like the Anglican Church would lose quite a bit no matter who the winner was and who the loser was. That meant the Archbishop wouldn't let it end it like that. She must have some kind of plan prepared.
Sasha and the other Russians were worried about which direction England would take.
To get through this, they had to do a lot of planning.
And how England would act played heavily into that planning.
(Kh… It looks like we have no choice but to fight in this war.)
All this thinking with only the benefit of one's own side in mind was hard for Kanzaki Kaori.
(I have the magic name I do because I hate thinking like this, but I can't see any way of avoiding it right now…)
Depending on the situation, she may have to turn her sword on the "enemy".
She would have to have a set "enemy" and she would be fighting with the intent of killing instead of saving.
It was possible she would destroy the peaceful life that boy and girl had grasped with their own hands.
Sasha Kreutzev was here for the answer to one main question.
Which side would they choose in this war?
(I…)
Kanzaki instinctually gritted her teeth.
(I…!!)
"You don't have to worry about that," Orsola Aquinas suddenly said even though she had been dozing off up until then.
Everyone in the dining hall turned toward her.
It was unclear how much of the conversation she had heard, but her words were quite definite for someone who hadn't been listening.
"My sixth question: What do you mean by that?"
"I mean exactly what I said," she responded immediately.
She hadn't thought too deeply about it. Or perhaps she didn't feel it was something she needed to worry about.
"Whatever happens, what we need to do remains the same. If there are people asking for help, we will reach our hand out to them. If there are people in pain, we will heal and comfort them. If there are people who do not wish for conflict, we will arbitrate for them. Isn't that right?"
"My seventh question: This would not be a problem if we could do that. To explain further: The war that is starting is not so simple a-..."
"Even so," Orsola cut off Sasha's words. "What we need to do remains the same. Just because a war has started is no reason to deny those who are asking for help. Nor is it a reason to whip those in pain or to force a sword into the hands of those who do not wish to fight."
"…"
Sasha Kreutzev remained silent after hearing those decisive words.
Orsola Aquinas was an expert in spreading the Christian Churches in pagan lands.
She had been subject to hostility from all sides and ideological violence countless times and yet she did not carry a weapon. She was a person who accomplished what she felt she needed to do with her words alone.
"Do you understand the meaning of the small power we have?"
It was for that very reason that her words here held weight.
At least more weight than the words of someone like Kanzaki who picked up a weapon whenever a conflict broke out.
"That small power allows us to continue forward without giving in when faced with a dispute that seems inescapable or it seems inevitable a life will be taken. That power gives us the opportunity to save the future of our allies, to not have to deprive our enemy of their future, and to all gather here in a single building afterwards. …'He' had no power and 'he' did not have the proper background, but he was able to do it. So why are we not able to? If 'he' can save so many people on his own, just think how many more we can save if we work together. There is no meaning in giving up. If you want to find meaning, it is crucial that you never give up."
Everyone listened to her speak.
Agnese looked the other way and Angelene grabbed onto Lucia's clothes. Lucia placed her hand on her small colleague's shoulder and Sherry narrowed her eyes. The other nuns did pretty much the same thing. They all were reminded of a certain boy while listening to Orsola's words and their thoughts moved on from there. They began thinking about what path they should continue on from there.
Kanzaki was naturally reminded of the first time she had run into "him".
That boy's fist had been sliced by her wire-attack, Nanasen, he had received blows all over from Shichiten Shichitou's scabbard, and yet he still stood his ground before a Saint. She remembered what he had said at that time.
"Then what are you doing here!?"
She tried to…
"If you have that much power, if you have that nigh-almighty power…then why are you so powerless…?"
Kanzaki Kaori tried to remember what her expression had been.
"Then…" The one person there who did not know that boy cautiously asked a question. "My eighth question: How will you all act?"
"Do not place the decision on me alone. Everyone has their own things that they must do. But," Orsola Aquinas smiled as she spoke, "I personally do not at all see this in black and white terms of winning and losing. There is a third option. If we do not prepare the kind of happy ending where no one is defeated, we will not be living up to what 'he' would want."
A war was about to break out and yet she was able to say such a shining and pure thing and mean it.