Chapter 413 Canaria Pilgrimage ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The “Holy Figure”¹ Loire-Rose and her party pressed on toward Canarias, the royal capital of the Canaria Kingdom. Having finally navigated the treacherous hills, they had at last crossed the border into the kingdom proper. But there was no time to breathe. Now that they were on Canary soil, the responsibility for the Pontiff’s safety rested entirely on the kingdom’s shoulders. For the Wielope Empire, it was the perfect moment to strike—a chance to kill her and blame their rivals in one stroke.
”For now, we should stick to the highway,” Cardinal Mork said, his voice steady but strained.
”I agree,” Rose replied, her fingers tightening around the rosary in her lap. “It’s riskier, but we can’t push the men or the horses any further.”
She glanced at her loyal advisor. The horses were spent, their flanks heaving after being driven ruthlessly through the pathless wilds for days. While the southern reaches of the Canary Kingdom were still largely uncharted, the crown maintained a network of main roads. They weren’t the grand stone highways of the Empire, but the flat terrain would ease the strain on the animals and, hopefully, keep the monsters at bay.
”How closely do you think they’re tracking us?” Rose asked, her voice low.
”As closely as ever, I fear,” Mork replied, his eyes scanning the treeline. “We must assume they see everything.”
”They always do,” Rose muttered, a grimace twisting her lips. “Those bastards have a knack for showing up at the absolute worst moment.”
She tried to keep her tone light, but the anxiety gnawing at her was impossible to hide. Information in the Wielope Empire moved with terrifying speed. When Sister Amelia had performed her ‘miracle,’ the news had outpaced them before they could even decide how to suppress it. Whether the Empire used a web of spies or some dark sorcery, their reach was absolute.
In a world governed by magic, common sense was a death sentence. The Church of Demon-Subjugation² had once held the monopoly on ‘miracles’ that defied magical logic, but those days were fading. The Empire had closed the gap.
Cardinal Mork’s face darkened with frustration. It wasn’t just their intelligence—their assassins were just as advanced. He stared into the treeline, wary of a magical sniper or an invisible blade. They were forced to maintain a constant, exhausting vigilance against an enemy they couldn’t even see.
”No use dwelling on it,” Rose said, breaking the silence. “We do what we can and keep moving.”
”…As the Heavens will it,” Mork muttered, his voice heavy with resignation.
They reached the highway by dusk. Rose steeled herself, refusing to let the sight of the road soften her guard. A main road meant traffic, and traffic led to the provincial capital. If Queen Cecile had received word of their arrival, they might find a proper escort there.
But the party had already decided to bypass the local lords. An army was a target—loud, slow, and prone to the kind of complacency that let assassins through the cracks. If Rose died in the middle of a ducal regiment, the Canary Kingdom would be held accountable for the failure.
”Are you sure about this, ‘Holy Figure-sama’?” Mork asked, his brow furrowed.
”Yeah,” Rose said firmly. “If there’s someone out there who can pull off an assassination even through a massive army, then we’re doomed either way. An army just makes us stand out, takes away our mobility, and makes everyone feel safe enough to get sloppy. Plus, it’s slower. Most importantly, if something happens, Secchan won’t have an out.”
Even now, she was protecting her friend. If the Holy Figure died while surrounded by the provincial army, the blame would lie unmistakably with the Canaria Kingdom. Regardless of who the actual killer was, the Kingdom would be treated as the culprit for failing to protect her.
”…I understand,” Mork said, though his expression remained troubled.
”It’ll be okay, Mork,” Rose said, forcing a smile. “Once we reach the royal capital, I’m sure we can figure something out. Just a little more, just a little further…”
That was the hope. The Canaria Royal Family likely possessed secret techniques that had allowed them to evade the Wielope Empire’s reach for years. If they could just reach the capital, they would be under that protection. Speed was their only priority.
After camping out a few more times, they continued their trek. Every time they passed a rare traveler, their hearts skipped a beat. They would pass a simple merchant, watching their retreating back with suspicion as they moved on. This cycle repeated until one particular evening.
”…Carriage ahead! Looks like a peddler,” one of the guards called out.
”Nn. Don’t let your guard down,” Rose replied, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger.
”””Yes, sir!”””
The men moved into their practiced defensive formation. Mork shielded Rose inside the carriage while the outriders flanked the wheels. The road was wide enough for two wagons to pass comfortably. As the other carriage drew near, the travelers raised their hands in the universal sign of peace.
But something was wrong. It was late, and the next town was far. Rose felt a prickle of ice down her spine.
Then, the world vanished.
A sudden, unnatural shroud of pitch-black darkness swallowed the road. It was as if they had skipped the rest of sunset and landed in the dead of night. Rose had no way of knowing, but it was incredibly similar to the “Concealment Magic”³ that Kento, the owner of the shop “Harvest,” had experienced not long ago.
”Se… Rose-sama!” Cardinal Mork spun around, calling her by the name they had agreed to use in public. The situation was clearly abnormal.
”I-I’m okay, I’m fine. But this is…” Rose stammered, her voice trembling.
”I will layer ‘Holy Defense Arts.’ Be ready to move at a moment’s notice!” Mork declared, his voice steady despite the chaos.
”U-Un…” Rose nodded, pressing a hand to her chest to soothe her racing heart.
In this crisis, Cardinal Mork was the calm one. The man who was usually just a nagging, stubborn old guy now had the face of someone who had accepted his fate.
That was when…
”Now, with this… gufoh!?”
”Mork-san!?”
Mork suddenly clutched his stomach, his body doubling over as he spat out a spray of blood. There had been no warning, no sign of an attack. No, he had definitely been hit.
In this moment that had finally come, Loire-Rose screamed.
—
Summary:
Loire-Rose and her group enter the Canaria Kingdom while under constant threat of assassination from the Wielope Empire. They choose to avoid official provincial protection to prevent a political scandal for Queen Cecile if Loire-Rose is killed. The journey ends in a sudden ambush when an unnatural darkness falls and Cardinal Mork is lethally struck by an invisible attack.
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Trivia:
- The political trap: If the Holy Figure dies in Canaria territory, it triggers a casus belli for the Empire.
- The technical decline: The Church used to have superior magic (Holy Arts), but the Empire has now matched or surpassed them.
- The connection to Kento: The darkness used in the ambush is the same ‘Concealment Magic’ Kento encountered previously.
- The sacrifice play: Loire-Rose is intentionally keeping her identity secret so that her death can be ‘erased’ to protect the Queen’s reputation
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Character Insight:
Loire-Rose shows deep selflessness by prioritizing Queen Cecile’s political safety over her own physical protection. Cardinal Mork sheds his ‘stubborn old man’ persona to reveal a battle-hardened, self-sacrificing protector in his final moments.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the phrase ‘Canaria-mairi’ as a wordplay on the historical ‘Oise-mairi’ (pilgrimage to the Ise Grand Shrine), highlighting the religious significance of the Holy Figure’s journey.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Loire-Rose – The current Saintess, possessing a divine appearance yet a modern, playful, and irreverent attitude that clashes with Church tradition. She has white hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and wears clergy robes.
• Mork – A central figure in the ‘Inquisition.’ Acts panicked and constantly looks sideways, seemingly pressured by the masked Inquisitor. He represents the rigid, fear-based opposition to the protagonist’s products. A Cardinal and the right-hand man to the Holy Figure. He is a skilled user of Holy Arts.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Cecile – A queen in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Slop – Leader of the hound-kin pack; Laika’s father. Has orange hair and fluffy tail.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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