CH 47

T/N: The pronoun use is very deliberate for the big reveal in the middle of the chapter.

There is a place called the Grand Church, where it is said that the “Holy Emperor” resides and gives out his orders to the Knight Order of the Holy Empire as they wage war against the Witches.

Lulurun was aware he existed, but she didn’t know what he was like, just a vague understanding as to how the most important person in the Order of the Holy Empire would be.

In this case, it was him recognizing Lululun’s existence and summoning her.

“This really is a huge building, isn’t it?” Lulurun said.

The large towering temple deserves to be called the Grand Church, Lululun was overwhelmed by its scale.

And as Lulurun gazed at it with an expression of surprise, Cain gives her the side-eye as he accompanies her.

“Don’t gawk so much, it’s embarrassing me,” Cain said.

“Hey, isn’t it normal to gawk when you see a building this goddamn amazing?” Lulurun said.

“Language!” Cain yelled.

“Oh, sorry, it’s normal to gawk,” Lulurun said.

Cain sighed, as she didn’t even seem to care the slightest about Cain’s saying, “Mind your language to not be rude to the Holy Emperor.” earlier.

“I’m begging you, please don’t be rude…” Cain said.

“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine, I’m good at sales talk,” Lulurun said.

“Sales talk?” Cain asked.

From now on, Lululun will meet the one called the Holy Emperor, the head of the Order of the Holy Empire who fought the witches, an authority figure that knights like Rhynes and Cain trust completely.

“What kind of person is the Holy Emperor?” Lulurun asked.

“Huh?” Cain asked.

“Sorry, I’m not that knowledgeable,” Lulurun said.

“You’re kidding me, aren’t you?” Cain asked.

“You don’t have to be so rude about it,” Lulurun said.

“Aren’t you doing jobs for the Knight Order?” Cain asked.

“Managing the outposts have nothing to do with the Holy Emperor, right?” Lulurun shot back.

Cain sighed with an expression that said he couldn’t believe it.

“Oh, for the love of…” Cain grumbled.

And though he was exasperated, Cain began to politely explain.

“In order to protect the world from the threat of witches, the Holy Emperor is an amazing person who gathered powerful people from all over in just a few years and used them to create the Order of the Holy Empire. While subjugating the witch-kin, the people who were impressed by the Emperor’s skill flocked to the Order, and then it has grown to this size.”

“Heh, so you’re one of them, huh, Big Bro Cain?” Lulurun asked.

“I was impressed by Lady Rhynes… no, that’s right!” Cain yelled. “I was impressed with the Holy Emperor!!”

“I see,” Lulurun said.

“That’s just how it is!” Cain yelled.

“But then, the Holy Emperor started the Knight Order alone,” Lulurun said.

“Yes, I don’t know how it happened, but it was created from a single person with a strong will,” Cain said.

“Amazing, to launch a start-up by yourself, it’s so incredible,” Lulurun said.

She feels a strange sense of déjà vu, though she’s never seen the Holy Emperor, Lulurun’s opinion of him has increased, and as for the trouble of launching a company all by yourself, Lululun could understand that feeling too painfully.

“The Holy Emperor is so amazing, Big Bro Cain!” Lulurun said.

""

“Yes, the Holy Emperor is amazing… umm, and can you stop calling me Big Bro Cain?” Cain asked.

“Aww, but you’re my Big Bro, Big Bro Cain,” Lulurun said.

“Forget it, do whatever you want,” Cain said.

Though Cain speaks dismissively and hostilely, somewhat like Rhynes, Lulurun looks at Cain with a smile that says, “You really like it, don’t you?”

“Don’t look at me with those creepy eyes!” Cain yelled.

“Yeah, it’s fun to talk with you, Big Bro Cain,” Lulurun said.

“Id-Idiot! I have my heart set on Lady Rhynes!! Don’t carelessly make such misleading remarks!!” Cain said.

“I’ll be careful, then,” Lulurun said.

“For goodness sake!” Cain yelled. “You are good-looking, so refrain from that attitude, it’s a sin!”

And so the teasing and serious responses continued.

“The Holy Emperor is not a king, right?” Lulurun said.

“The Holy Emperor is not a king, but they have the right to speak with the authority of the monarchs recognized by Ursa, Rokujo, Zayhon, and Kano. An organization that protects the safety of everyone, that is the Order of the Holy Empire, and we Knights deliver that justice.”

“I see,” Lulurun said.

In other words, the Holy Emperor is the No. 2 existence in this country, and that sort of authority figure is seeking a conversation with Lulurun…

Why?

To be honest, Lululun was wary. Even though she caused such a big incident, the only people who knew her true identity were Rhynes and Nia, who should have settled the matter by the Witch “disappearing.”

She doesn’t don’t know why she was summoned, or maybe her true identity was exposed for some reason, but in any case, meeting the top of the Order of the Holy Empire might be useful in this world, though the conflicting, serious emotions hit Lulurun like a sledgehammer.

After walking around the Grand Church for a while, they arrived in front of a large door.

“We’re here,” Cain said, confirming this was their destination. “Please don’t be rude.”

And at that, the big door opens grandly, like a heavenly gate.

“Holy Emperor,” Cain said, “I have brought Lulurun with me.”

Cain’s ostentatious and exaggerated behavior prompts Lululun to enter the room, bowing her head deeply as if she was worshiping the Holy Emperor.

And standing before the doorway was,

“Welcome, Lulurun.”

A beautiful woman with translucent green hair.

Cain forcibly bows Lululun’s head as she is dumbfounded by the appearance of the Holy Emperor, one that betrayed all her expectations.

“A woman?” Lulurun asked.

“Idiot! Bow your head!!” Cain yelled.

“Oh sorry, sorry,” Lulurun said.

As they both bowed their heads, however, the Holy Emperor urged them both to raise them instead.

“My apologies for calling you during such a busy time,” the Holy Emperor said.

“No, I was not busy, I don’t mind the timing,” Lulurun said.

As a freelancing magical girl who has yet to start her new business yet, Lulurun was inwardly saddened that she had so much free time to answer this summons.

“Cain,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Yes,” Cain said.

In contrast to the gentle voice she used with Lulurun, the Holy Emperor speaks to Cain with a powerful, straightforward voice.

“I wish to speak with Lulurun alone, can you please leave the room for a while?” the Holy Emperor said.

Just the two of them? Lulurun is confused, a sudden one-on-one, did the Holy Emperor have some kind of scheme to call her here alone…?

As the two bow obediently, the heavy door slams shut behind them.

As the “Bang!” fades, the Holy Emperor calls Lulurun to the parlor.

“Please sit down,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Ye-Yes…” Lulurun said.

Lulurun sat down as ordered, the Holy Emperor made tea with a set already provided.

Lululun continued to be wary of the Holy Emperor’s unreadable, completely opaque actions.

“My, my, don’t be so nervous,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Ye-Yes,” Lulurun said.

As the Holy Emperor serves Lulurun a cup, the small talk begins.

“It looks like Rhynes is taking care of you,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Huh? You’ve heard?” Lulurun said.

“Yes, I’ve heard from Rhynes, I’ve never seen her speak so happily… I can easily imagine just how indebted she is to you,” the Holy Emperor said.

What the hell did Rhynes say…? Lululun continues the conversation with a humble attitude.

“N-No, I’m the one who’s indebted to you,” Lulurun said. “I’m from the countryside, so I’m ignorant of the world… I’m always grateful for the help.”

“Is that so…?” the Holy Emperor said. “Rhynes is doing her job well for the sake of people, is she?”

“Yes, Rhynes, Cain, and Miris are all kind to me, I really appreciate it,” Lulurun said.

“Is that so?” the Holy Emperor said.

The Holy Emperor takes a sip of tea as she exchanges words with Lulurun, all in a soft-spoken manner. The atmosphere was gentle and deep as if it encompassed everything.

“I’ve heard about the Witch of the North from Rhynes,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Heh, is that so… wait, what?” Lulurun asked.

“I heard that you pacified the Witch,” the Holy Emperor said.

“PFFFFTTTTTTTT!!!”

The Holy Emperor speaks lightly of things that no one else should know.

Lululun unintentionally turns her tea into a mist.

“Huh? Umm… how much do you know, Holy Emperor?” Lulurun asked.

“This is nothing to talk about, Rhynes has strongly advised me not to speak about it, so don’t worry, Ms. Lulurun,” the Holy Emperor said.

Having said that, it would be terrible news if the Head of the Witch Subjugation efforts know that a Witch has gone into hiding instead… Lulurun chooses her words carefully.

“Aren’t the Witches an enemy to be defeated?” Lulurun asked.

“Yes, that’s right,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Then what I’m doing is an act of treason against the Knight Order, is it not?” Lulurun said.

The Holy Emperor pondered for a moment, then without changing her expression, she said,

“It depends on the time and situation.”

“Huh?” Lulurun asked.

Lulurun was surprised at the incredibly vague reply.

“We haven’t fully measured the nature of the Witches, but you’re stronger than the Witches, aren’t you?” the Holy Emperor asked.

“Huh? Um…” Lulurun muttered.

“You don’t have to hide it, you’re close to the strongest in the world when even Rhynes can’t do anything to touch you,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Well, that is true,” Lulurun said.

Lulurun is a little happy to hear that, relatively speaking, Rhynes is the strongest in the world.

“If that’s the case, then it’s only natural for us to think that it’s beneficial for us to have you take responsibility for managing the Witches,” the Holy Emperor said.

“But,” Lulurun said.

“A Knight-Captain of the Order of the Holy Empire told me to trust you unconditionally, and so I trust you,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Rhynes?” Lulurun asked.

“She loves you, you know,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Yes, she loves me… no, it’s not like that,” Lulurun said.

Perhaps she was just teasing a little, the Holy Emperor smiled at Lululun and proceeded with the conversation mixed with some more small talk.

“By the way,” the Holy Emperor said.

“Yes?” Lulurun asked.

“Why do you have the form of Lulurun?” the Holy Emperor said.

It took Lulurun a few moments to understand the question.

“What… do you mean?” Lulurun asked.

“You are Magical Girl Lulurun, aren’t you?” the Holy Emperor said.

She didn’t tell the Holy Emperor that she was a magical girl, did she hear that from Rhynes? No, she didn’t that Rhynes would say that, so what gives? Why did the Holy Emperor herself call Lulurun a magical girl?

“I want you to answer me, come on… Lulurun?” the Holy Emperor said.

A chill runs down Lulurun’s spine.