Whew... I think that did it.

I thought it seemed like the enemies were thin on the ground here. I guess that was your doing.

Yes...

...but there were too many of them for me to handle them all.

At the moment, we're holding off the God Army attacks on the main and east gates...

...but it seems as though more enemies are getting in from the breached west gate than we anticipated.

Indeed.

By the way, why are you here, Sirius?

Oh, I'm...on my way to the palace.

The palace?

I'm telling you this because you'll probably hear it anyway, even if I try to hide it...

...but there are rumors that father has vanished from the palace.

What?!

I hope they're not true, but...

...even so, I'm on my way to find out the truth.

Hey, Sirius?

What were father and Selvia planning?

Wh-What are you talking about?!

Well, I know that much.

I knew that father and Selvia were doing something in extreme secrecy.

And I knew that you were getting caught up in it, Sirius.

But in the end, I didn't manage to find out what the plan was actually for.

......

Come on, tell me! You know, don't you?!

I'm a member of the Imperial Family, too! I have a right to know!

Radia, you're right. You deserve to know.

Father was attempting to gain a new power...

...in order to fight against the gods, and protect the Bariura Empire.

A new power?!

Apparently, there's a divine beast with the power to seal gods on a certain otherworldly plane.

He intends to travel to that world and tame the beast.

Or...at the very least, he intends to take its power.

He also plans to return here afterwards, and to destroy the God Army with its power.

The power to seal gods?

Could he really gain that so easily?

No, he probably couldn't.

It could take two or three years, or even longer.

Unbelievable!

Then what happens to the people here in that time?!

Well, as our elder sister said...

Even if all of the civilians here perish...

...so long as we members of the Bariura Imperial Family live on, we can rebuild the Empire.

She also said that it's the only way we have left to protect the Empire under the circumstances.

......

That seems like something that Selvia...or rather, that Father would say.

......

What do you intend to do, Sirius? Will you go with Father?

I'm not sure.

I just wish I could find a way to protect the people, and to defend the Empire from the God Army.

......

Regardless, I have to get to the palace to see what's really happening in there.

If Father and the others haven't left for the other world yet...

...then I'll try again to persuade them to find another way.

I see...

What will you do?

I'll do... Or rather, what I must do won't change, regardless of father's intentions.

We of the Bariura Imperial Family have upheld the Empire so far by oppressing our people.

And that's precisely why I can't turn my back on them now...not in my position.

Even if that means that I will die beside them.

Very well. I understand how you feel.

Then there's really nothing more I can say.

But since you're staying, please help Berdette. She's just over that way.

She's also fighting for the people, all by herself.

Yes, I'll do that.

By the way, I just heard that a powerful disciple has entered the city.

If you're going to keep heading that way, be careful.

I will. Thank you.