Outside the orphanage, a group of knights in full armour were steadily approaching, with the leader of the group shouting for those inside the orphanage to come out.

  "What's going on?"

  Jaya looked startled, her face betraying her arm.

  "By the sound of it, they’re not here for a friendly visit," she muttered.

  In contrast, Misako's expression twisted into one of distaste.

  During her conversations with the children and Jaya, she had come to understand their nature. They were certainly not vilins. On the contrary, it was these knights, with their harsh tone, who seemed to be the ones looking for trouble.

  "This is the st time I’ll call out. Those inside, step forward!"

  "Jaya, what should we do?"

  "...There’s nothing we can do. We’re just an ordinary orphanage in the slums. We can't resist the knights."

  Though Jaya understood that the knights weren’t here with good intentions, defying them would only invite more trouble.

  "Everyone, please leave quickly. This doesn’t concern you."

  After leaving these words, Jaya stepped forward alone, exiting the orphanage.

  "…Captain, according to our investigation..."

  While the leader of the knights listened to his subordinate’s report, Jaya had already arrived before them.

  "Honoured knights, may I ask what brings you to this filthy pce?"

  From the way Jaya spoke, it was evident how powerful the church’s influence was in this holy city. Even the uneducated residents of the slums knew how to show deference.

  "Hmm... We are knights from the church. Recently, we’ve heard that there’s a child here suffering from a terrible illness. The Bishop, moved by the plight of the young, has sent us to bring the child back for treatment."

  The leader of the knights spoke with a tone of supposed benevolence, though his expression betrayed a completely different emotion.

  Especially when he looked at Jaya—she could feel the greedy gaze he cast upon her.

  "...It is indeed a great honour to receive such charity from the Bishop, but the child has already been fortunate enough to receive aid. You need not trouble yourselves any further."

  "What!? ...Ahem! That’s wonderful, but just to be sure, it would still be best to have the Bishop take a look."

  By this point, even the slow-witted could understand the knights' intentions. They were likely trying to take the girl.

  But why? She was just an ordinary orphan—nothing special. What could they possibly want with her?

  "The Bishop has far too many matters to attend to. It’s truly unnecessary for him to concern himself with people like us."

  "..."

  However, this time, it seemed something was different.

  "The Bishop has given his orders. The child must be taken today."

  The leader of the knights signalled to the others, and the group began to move forward, attempting to push past Jaya and force their way into the orphanage.

  "Wait! Do you know what you’re doing!?"

  "Do we not know?"

  The leader of the knights took a step forward, looking down on Jaya from a towering height.

  "You've been blocking us from entering. Could it be that you have something to hide? This is the slums, a pce where all kinds of filth could be lurking. I suspect you are harbouring illegal goods or suspicious individuals. We’re taking you into custody now."

  "You…!?"

  One of the knights reached out to seize Jaya.

  "...What do you think you're doing?"

  Suddenly, a bck-haired girl in a white dress stepped forward, grabbing the knight's wrist with startling speed.

  At the entrance of the orphanage, a group of children poured out, with Veridith at the forefront, creating a barrier of protection around the others.

  "You... dare to obstruct justice?"

  "...Dare to ignore me?"

  "Hmph! Ahh!"

  Aris, with barely any force, twisted the knight’s wrist, the sound of cracking bones echoing through the air, followed by the knight's agonised cries.

  The hand, which she had grabbed, was now twisted and contorted, the bones shattered beyond recognition.

  "Wait! Aris... didn’t I tell you not to be impulsive!?"

  Misako, who had rushed over in the nick of time, managed to stop Aris before she went any further, holding her back with all her strength.

  Even Farkonia had joined in, helping to restrain Aris just to be safe.

  "..."

  Thankfully, Aris was willing to stop, releasing the knight’s wrist. But it was too te—the knight’s arm hung limp, completely useless, as though dislocated.

  "Ugh... damn it..."

  The knight clutched his injured arm, his face twisted with fury, his veins nearly popping out of his neck.

  "Obstructing justice and assaulting a knight... that’s a crime in itself! Everyone, move!"

  "Cease this at once."

  Just as the leader of the knights gave the order, a voice rang out, halting them in their tracks.

  From a nearby alleyway, a woman in a simple white nun's habit slowly stepped into view.

  At first gnce, she appeared to be just an unremarkable, delicate woman. But her golden eyes gave her an air of something unusual.

  However, upon closer inspection, the golden ten-pointed star pendant around her neck revealed her true identity.

  "The Shien family..."

  The name slipped from the knight's lips, and judging by his expression, there appeared to be some tension between them.

  "What do you think you’re doing here? These women have obstructed justice and harmed a knight. They are criminals. Are you here to shield them?"

  "Is that so? Because from where I stand, they were merely defending themselves from unreasonable knights. Or perhaps you think that as the current head of the Shien family, I am merely spreading falsehoods?"

  Despite appearing to be a humble nun, there was a palpable sense of pressure radiating from her, one that surpassed even the leader of the knights.

  "...Tch... Fall back!"

  Faced with someone who outranked him both in position and strength, the knight had no choice but to retreat, signalling to his subordinates to pull back.

  Before leaving, however, he still threw a hateful gre at Jaya and Aris.

  "…Apologies for the trouble caused by the church," the nun said, bowing deeply to Jaya and the others as the knights departed.

  "Ah! You don’t need to do that!"

  Seeing the nun bow to them—someone wearing the ten-pointed star, which indicated her rank just below the Pope—Jaya was so stunned that she didn’t know how to respond.

  It took the nun a great deal of time and effort before she finally straightened up.

  "Er... may I ask who you are?"

  "Ah, I should have introduced myself earlier. My name is Cortana, and I am the current head of the Shien family."

  In the Holy City, there were once three prominent families, all said to be descendants of those directly blessed by the Goddess of Light. After many years, only the Shien family remained with any significant power.

  Currently, the Shien family was the most influential family in the Holy City, second only to the Pope, who held the ultimate authority.

  "...Everyone, the Bishop has already set his sights on you. This pce is no longer safe. Please, come with me."

  ShoujoDirector