01x09 - May I Explain That This is Not Something That Just Anyone Can Do?

[bunniefuu]

7 Years Ago

Oh, I'm done with you, Mary!

I'm done with you, too!

Today, I'll read you a book about the saint.

Saint?

You should become like the saint, a kind person

who protects those who matter to her.

Like I ever could.

I had a fight with my friend just today

The saint had a mysterious power.

She used that power to protect

Who are you?

I pass the saint's power to you.

From this day forth, you are Saint Diana.

W-Wow!

Hey, everyone!

I think I'm the saint now!

Of course, dear.

Enough nonsense. Come help in the field.

Begone!

See? That's the saint's barrier!

I-It's real!

This is incredible!

We have to tell everyone in the village!

And that's how the life of an ordinary girl

born in a small village in Pallistan

was turned upside-down one day.

May I Explain That This Is Not

Something That Just Anyone Can Do?

So many people!

A popular girl never gets a moment's peace!

Hello, everyone!

Mary!

Sorry about before!

Let's make up!

S-Surely I'm unworthy, Saint Diana

Lower your eyes, now!

Um

We are the Dianan clergy.

We have come to take you

with us, Saint Diana.

Now, come along to those who await you.

Just like that?

Farewell, Sanya

Rather

Saint Diana.

I never should have told them

I'd become the saint.

The previous Saint Diana passed away.

From this day forth, you,

the newly awakened Saint Diana,

shall protect this kingdom.

I see.

Nobody wants plain old me.

Then if I use this power I was

gifted for the greater good,

and comport myself as the saint

It is a pleasure to meet you, Saint Diana.

This lady

She's the other saint!

Hey, Big Sister Scarlet

Yes?

Why are you so perfect?

I can't do anything

without the saint's power.

I'm just a worthless village girl.

Saint Diana.

When others see you

acting cheerful and bright,

it makes them smile.

This is not something

that just anyone can do.

That is not a power of the saint.

It comes from you.

That's not true.

I'm not bright and cheerful at all.

Inside, I'm always wishy-washy,

nervous about what other people think

and a deeply jealous person.

Yes?

Excuse me.

Prince Julius wishes to see you.

How is she doing?

She hasn't awakened yet.

You know, don't you?

That I betrayed all of you

The high-ranking Palmian we captured told us

that Diana and Dios leaked important

information about the Dianan faction.

That's right. It's all my fault.

It's my fault that she's in danger too.

What will you do? Arrest me?

The arrest of the saint would

send things further into chaos.

And if Scarlet were to learn something had

happened to you while she was sleeping,

she would surely be aggrieved.

You'll be allowed to go free

for the rest of the pilgrimage.

But I'd like to know the reason.

Why did you betray us?

Because—

What?!

That's the direction of the Holy Gem!

A pillar of light?

The light of love rains down upon us.

Amazing!

They're Palmians.

They destroyed the Holy Gem in an instant!

What a stately and beautiful act.

We have returned from our mission,

beautiful priestess of Palmianism,

Lady Terenezza.

Thank you for your hard work,

Lord Avelyn,

Lord Baroque.

And, to the members of the Eldrand Empire's

Paladins of Immaculate Divinity

I appreciate your cooperation.

I don't see Old Man Michelin

who headed for Vankish, though.

Did his negotiations fail?

Meanwhile, I trust you

spurred Falconia to action?

All went as expected.

I see. Then there's no need

to worry, I'm sure.

Vankish and Pallistan have been

feuding for years now.

Given this opportunity,

they'll surely accept our offer.

The Palmians are working

with the other realms?!

This isn't good.

I've gotta tell Scarlet and the others!

Why, Lady Terenezza,

there seems to be a dirty rat slinking about.

Shall I handle it?

No need for that.

Damn

Oh, I know you.

You're with Scarlet, aren't you?

I'm sorry, Scarlet.

I messed up.

According to the soldiers we sent to check,

the Holy Gem is completely gone.

At the same time, a gap

has appeared in the barrier

A large number of monsters

are heading toward Snowind!

How long until the monsters arrive?

Less than an hour.

How many are there?

Clairvoyance tells me several thousand.

Seeing non-herd monsters

acting as a unit is unusual.

The Snowind soldiers won't

last long by themselves.

Your orders, sir?

Bring the Holy Order here!

We must evacuate the people.

Split up by district to pass word along,

and gather all citizens to the plaza.

Then guide them out of town.

Sir!

Prince Julius!

What now?

Urgent message from the capital!

The Holy Empire of Eldrand

and the Principality of Falconia

have declared w*r on Pallistan!

Their armies are currently

advancing toward our borders!

I believe you should return

to the capital at once.

I knew that the gods liked to test us,

but I didn't know the gods of this world

were quite this perverse.

It's at a level that even I find shocking!

Leo, once the people are evacuated,

have the garrison return

with the saint's procession

to the Dianan cathedral in the capital.

Yes, sir.

I'll return to the capital ahead of you.

Let's go, Sigurd.

Sir!

They're all acting strangely.

That light really must have

been something serious.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

When others see you

acting cheerful and bright,

it makes them smile.

I can't make anyone smile like this!

My heart is wicked.

Why did I do this?

I love her more than anyone

in the world, and yet

I suppose I envied her just as much.

The prince and his crew must be preoccupied.

It was so easy to get in here.

I'm not going to be a spy anymore.

I won't give any more

information to the Palmians!

Have you forgotten?

Why you initially betrayed the Dianists

and joined the Palmians

I could never forget.

Clearly, your power will never return.

Not even the sacred staff used

by the previous Saint Diana has helped.

High Priestess, the current

Saint Diana is useless.

We shall have to pray

that a successor appears soon.

Hey, don't take it out on the staff.

Wh-Who's there?

It's a pleasure to meet you, Saint Diana.

I just joined the Holy Order this month.

My name is Dios.

What do you want?

Do you wish to recover

the power of your blessing?

Wh-What are you

Blessings represent the favor of the gods.

There's nothing humans

can do to bring them back.

But

The saint's blessing?!

The power of Goddess Palmia

can enable their return.

Are you a disciple of Palmia?

Yes.

I'm a Palmian spy.

And this is a barrier gem given to me

by a priestess of Palmia.

It contains Saint Diana's blessing.

Using one of these, you can take your

blessing back, as if you never lost it.

Take it back?

Without the saint's blessing, the Kingdom

of Pallistan will be attacked by monsters.

So many people would die

Leak one year's worth of confidential Dianan

information to the Palmians through me.

That's all it'll take.

But I'm the saint. If I do that

If you recover the power of your blessing,

the others will realize your worth again.

My worth

I'm worthless without my blessing.

But if I get my power back

Promise me.

Promise me you won't use the information I give

you to hurt people or make them suffer!

I could never forget. But

If you stop now, all of

your hard work will be for nothing.

Even so, I won't

I won't betray the people

who cared for me any longer.

I want to do what's right.

I want to live without shame.

Like my sister does!

In that case

I just need to get rid of that

precious sister of yours, don't I?

I won't let you lay hand on my sister!

Even if it kills me!

You've got some fight in you.

Truly, this is the best way to wake up.

I feel so much better.

Big Sister!

Are you unharmed, Saint Sanya?

It all happened while we

were out on the pilgrimage—

the destruction of the Holy Gem and

declarations of w*r from two nations.

There's a good chance

the Palmians are involved.

If Vankish takes advantage of this

to invade as well

D-Don't even suggest something so awful!

Well, if that does happen, we'll have to

wave the white flag, feign surrender, and—

Hey, Sigurd.

Do you have any white cloth?

Your Highness, you jest!

So that is you, Prince Julius.

I was hoping to cry mistaken identity,

but then you had to call me "Your Highness"

I believe your face

is well known, Your Highness!

Sorry to arrive on my mount.

I apologize for crossing your border

without leave as well.

I am Vice Captain Jinn of the

Vankish Imperial Redsky Dragoons.

I came here with a message

from Prince Alflame.

Not for the king or Scarlet, but me?

This is

Ow!

That's kinda harsh, y'know?

I'm already hurting here!

We patched you up so that you could talk!

After we deal with the monsters,

we're interrogating you.

Monsters?!

If you take off the ropes, I'll help you out!

Let's just k*ll him already.

I can't have that.

Lady Scarlet!

I have questions for this man.

Could you leave me alone with him?

I know where this is going.

Are you gonna tell me you love me?

You just punched me

to hide your embarrassment?

Saint Diana told me everything

that happened between the two of you.

What else could you

possibly want from me, then?

Information on the Palmians?

Your true feelings.

When her palanquin collapsed at the festival,

you were about to rush to save her.

You saw that?

In that moment, you looked like my

brother does when he worries about me.

I give up.

You're right.

Diana

Sanya is my half-sister.

Saint Sanya

She's your half-sister?

It's actually my mother that's an elf

and my father that's a human.

Sanya and I have the same father.

Have you told her that?

Nah.

I only learned about Sanya's existence

when I went to visit my father in secret.

I was hoping to dish out a punch to the

as*h*le who abandoned my mother and me

But there I saw

Sanya, smiling so innocently.

Hang on. Is my sister just the cutest?

That's what I ended up thinking!

Her confidence! Her personality!

Her compact little body!

I fell in love at first sight!

Oh, not in a romantic way.

Just a brother-sister thing!

That's the face of a man

in love with his sister.

So I wanted to do whatever it took

to restore her smile.

The reason I joined the Palmians

was because I didn't want to see her sad

about losing the power of her blessing.

I was hoping Terenezza was telling

the truth about being able to restore it.

But Sanya says she doesn't care

about getting it back anymore.

So I'm gonna turn on Palmia too!

I'm sure you don't believe me, but here.

Internal info about the Palmians

that only the inquisitors know.

What did you do?!

I acted on instinct.

But that was the only way

I could get you to believe me!

Do you think that a scrap

of paper would be enough

to make me believe you

after so much deception?

Even if you did it to

restore your sister's blessing,

you leaked information to the Palmians

and put innocent people in danger.

If you wish to restore my trust in you,

if you wish to continue

protecting your sister

a hundred words from your

lying mouth would be worth less

than simply opening your heart.

And

I understand.

But whatever the reason,

you have sinned by aiding in this evil act.

I know.

So after this is all resolved, you should

apologize for what you've done to everyone

and accept the appropriate punishment.

And for now

You should do everything you can, Saint Sanya.

I will.

I believe Saint Sanya

is much stronger than you think.

May I Cook This Thick Cut of Pork

Through With Body Punches?