Paradigm Parasite

Holy knights were running around in a hurry.

I, José, an apprentice knight, was waiting for my colleague Sarisa and my master, Christella, to return.

This is the headquarters of the Gnostic Order of Sacred Knights, located on top of Mount Muslim Spirit in Medream territory.

Just when I thought peace had returned after the incident that disturbed the town a short while ago, it happened.

I don't know the details, but I heard that there was a big incident.

Because of that, the place became quite noisy.

Sarisa seemed to be asking around about it, but she seemed to be done with that and is now sitting next to me.

"Hey Sarisa, what's going on?"

I had nothing in particular to do, so I decided to ask Sarisa.

Sarisa took out her notebook with a complicated expression on her face and started to open it up.

"You know Oldia, don't you?"

Of course! It's where our alma mater is, how could I forget!

And it was at Oldia that I first met Sarisa!

I nodded in understanding.

"I heard there was some kind of problem there. I can't really say for sure, but the reports are that there was a big attack by Darzain..."

DARZAIN! That evil group, the worst of the worst!

That shady group that kidnaps people and uses them for shady rituals and summons shady demons with shady magic!

I will not allow them to attack the place of our memories!

My sword...my sword...well...anyway, I'm going to defeat them.

"I'm sure we'll know more after some time, but from what I've heard, the town has been destroyed, it's on fire, and a swarm of demons has sprung up from underground...I don't know if it's true or false..."

As Sarisa was speaking, Master Cristela came out from the back.

Cristela-sama walks toward us with a stern look on her face.

"I'm sorry to keep you both waiting. Now, let's go."

With that, she started walking outside. We followed her.

"Um... Christella-sama..."

"Please wait a moment. I will tell you the details in my office."

Sarisa tried to ask a question in a reserved manner, but was interrupted.

Is this something you can't talk about here?

After walking in silence for a while, we arrived at Cristela's room.

Once we entered the room, we were asked to sit down and we took our seats.

"Do you two have heard what happened to Oldia?"

"Yes, we have. It is only in the stage of rumors..."

Sarisa replied, looking unsure.

Without changing her expression, Cristela continued.

"I have been given a mission. The mission is to lead the Holy Knights to investigate Oldia. Currently, that city is covered by a black cloud, and we have no idea what's going on inside."

"A black cloud..."

Sarissa is wondering about the black cloud?

"The black clouds are very similar to the ones that appear during the large-scale rituals performed by the groups that deal with demons, such as Darzain and Tuke. Perhaps, the town has turned into a demon world where demons roam around. It's called an investigation, but it's definitely going to be a battle."

I gulped at the serious tone of Christella's voice.

"So, I want you two to stay here..."

"I'm coming with you!"

I interrupted unintentionally and raised my voice.

Christella looked at me with a surprised look on her face.

"I'm an apprentice knight, but I'm a holy knight too! I want to fight for everyone, I won't lose to anyone!"

"No, you can't. With your current abilities, you're just going to die."

I was unable to say anything back to her and turned my head down.

"Please wait. If you are going to lead the holy knights you mentioned earlier, that means Oldia has been taken and you are going to take it back, in other words, you are going to "recapture the holy land" reconquista, right?"

...Recon...what was it again?

I desperately recall the meaning of what Sarisa said.

Ah! I remember! Let's see...yes that one! It's the holy march to reclaim the stolen land!

According to the teachings of the Gnosis, this land is holy ground... and if it was taken from us by the wicked, we must take it back!

"Yes. That's right."

"Then, even better, take us with you. If there are more people, there will be more things to do. Procurement and management of supplies, confirmation of travel routes. Even after we start moving, we will have to eat, inspect our equipment, and do many other things."

Cristela-sama looked at Sarisa with a surprised face.

Sarisa continues to talk.

"I think we can at least reduce that burden considerably, don't you?"

Sarisa leans forward and makes a suggestion, but Cristela backs off a little.

I nodded frantically next to her, thinking that this was my moment of triumph.

I nodded repeatedly with the thought that I would do anything.

"I understand........ Then I would like you two to arrange the preparations. You may mention my name when you make the arrangements."

Christella-sama said this with a tone of resignation mixed in a little.

After that, Sarisa acted very quickly.

She took me with her and went around talking to various people and doing something that seemed complicated.

Later, I heard that she had talked to someone at the top about arranging supplies on our own, got official permission, and went around the city to buy what we needed.

I was watching from the back and had no idea what they were talking about.

Soon after the arrangements were made, we were on our way back home with our bags full of things we had bought.

After we were done talking, I had something on my mind, so I boldly asked Sarisa.

"Hey, Sarisa."

"What?"

"Why did you say you were going to follow Christella-sama at that time?"

Yes, she is. Sarisa is a very good listener.

If Cristela-sama says no, she usually simply accepts it and backs off.

But that was not the case this time.

That bothered me.

"That's right. Normally, I would have just backed down. But not this time. Because it's the "Reclaiming of the Holy Land". It's a rare event. Just by participating in it, my career will be enhanced. I'm telling you, I'm not lying when I say that I want to help Christella-sama, okay?"

Sarisa added, "Now that I've been accepted, I can't fail and I have to do my best."

Let's see. This kind of thing is something that rarely happens to people, so you want to participate? Is that what you mean?

"I'll tell you first, this mission is quite dangerous."

While I was thinking about this, Sarisa started talking and I listened to her.

Is it dangerous? Isn't that something that happens all the time?

She looks a little troubled, as if she can tell by the expression on my face.

"I only know about it from records, but I heard that when something similar happened before, there were quite a few casualties. I heard that the Cathedral knight was among them."

I was surprised to hear that.

A Cathedral Knight. The highest level of sacred knighthood. It is a high level that only selected people can become.

It is the place we are aiming for. The Cathedral knight was defeated. I know it's not a lie when I see Sarisa's serious face.

They must be dangerous opponents.

But still....

"I know it's dangerous, but it's impossible for Crystella-sama to lose!"

Yes, it is impossible for our Master, Christella-sama, to be defeated.

She is always... always... er... unbeatable! There is no losing!

Sarisa laughed when she heard that.

"I guess so. It's a little hard to imagine her losing, isn't it?"

Sarisa said, "Am I thinking too much?" Sarisa takes out a piece of fruit from her baggage.

"Let's cut the small talk short and have some food. We've been moving around a lot and haven't had a chance to eat, have we?"

I accept the fruit.

It's a red fruit called pumila...it's redder than anything I've ever seen.

And it's kind of heavy.

"I bought it at a new store that opened around here recently, and I hear it's quite popular."

I see.

I bite into the red fruit.

"Hm!?"

It's so sweet. Sweeter than any fruit I've ever eaten.

What? What is this? It's so delicious.

"What? What's wrong?"

Sarisa was surprised by my reaction and looked at me worriedly, but I ignored her and held out the pumila.

Sarisa, perhaps sensing what I was thinking, opened her mouth and bit into it.

She chews and her eyes widen.

"Wow. It's so sweet. What? Is this what pumila tastes like?"

"Where did you get this?"

Sarisa pushed the luggage she was carrying to me and took out a notebook from her pocket and started to roll it up.

"Let's see? The distributor is Patrick's Trading Company. I've never heard of them, so they must be new merchants."

She looks at her notebook as she says this.

She has a habit of writing things down in her notebook whenever she is curious about something.

This time, too, she must have been curious about the new store, so she asked around briefly.

"The supplier of the goods is... Oratorium? In the countryside?"

Oratorium...that doesn't sound familiar. I don't remember hearing of Oratorium.

"Sarisa. Where is Oratorium?"

Sarisa's expression hardens.

"Josee, what is the name of this territory?"

"Medream Territory."

What is the obvious question? Of course I know that!

"Then what is the name of the neighboring territory to the northwest of here?"

Northwest? Let's see, ...... what is it? I've never been there, so I don't know.

She looked at me, at a loss for an answer....

"... it's Oratorium Territory."

...she told me the answer.

Oh, so it was right next to us.

"It's true that the main source of income there was vegetables and fruits...but I'm sure it wasn't enough to produce such high quality products... I wonder what happened there?"

Sarisa tilts her head.

"Has Sarisa ever been to Oratorium?"

Yes, I have. I went to the church in Oratorium once, a long time ago. I had a quick look at it, and my impression was that it could be maintained, but not developed."

"I see."

It was quite frank.

Sarisa looked at the notebook for a while, then exhaled lightly, closed it and put it back in her pocket.

"Let's go back. I have to finish my report."

"Wait-"

Sarisa quickens her pace.

I finished the rest of the pumila and ran after her.