The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Chapter 219

It was a funny story. For people with the name "Fangryphon" to feel tense over the name "Gryphon" itself—it was ironic.

Well, to be fair, we didn’t choose the name Fangryphon ourselves. Technically speaking, Fangryphon was the name of the one who ruled as the king of Gryphons during the chaotic era when the world was conquered.

And honestly, that was a figure from the mythological age. If such a story existed in the modern times I lived in, I’d dismiss it as a mere "founding myth" without much thought. Even in this world, there are people who despise the Empire and think of it that way.

However, this world runs "as the original plot dictates." If that’s the case, dismissing the myth as "just a myth" would be foolish.

“Honestly, isn’t it kind of ridiculous?”

Alice, trying to lighten the lingering tension, spoke up after hearing my story.

“To place a recovery device like this right ‘in front of the base.’ Logically, shouldn’t it be deeper inside? It’s practically inviting intruders to rest and recover.”

“Perhaps it’s for the guards stationed near the entrance?”

Charlotte offered her opinion, seemingly joining Alice’s efforts to ease the tension.

“No, even considering that, it would still make more sense to place it further in. It would be more effective to ‘reinforce’ the troops as needed.”

Charlotte’s faux-serious remark prompted everyone to glance at the recovery device.

Regardless of placement, the recovery device was undeniably effective.

Just moments ago, we had barely managed to fend off a swarm of monsters at the gate, yet now we were conversing as if nothing had happened.

Our clothes were torn to shreds, leaving us looking like beggars, and moments ago, Leo had been bleeding profusely. Mia had been staggering on the brink of collapse... but the recovery device had solved all of it.

“Maybe,” Lena, who had been quietly observing, rested her chin on her hand and shared her thoughts.

“Maybe they excluded it from deeper inside because it also heals enemies. If placed further in, it might keep the attacking intruders alive longer. Placing it outside for the defense force might have been a deliberate choice, relying on stronger forces within to handle things more decisively.”

Granted, the recovery device didn’t seem to work on the monsters.

“...Talking about this among ourselves isn’t going to give us any answers.”

Alice placed her hand on the massive door before us, brushing it as she spoke.

The door was enormous, adorned with intricate carvings reminiscent of Rodin’s Gates of Hell. The difference was that this door was bronze rather than cast iron and looked far larger than Gates of Hell.

And undoubtedly, the carvings were different. I couldn’t picture the Gates of Hell clearly in my mind, so I could only compare this to my vague impression.

“Do you think we can open this?”

“I don’t believe it’s locked.”

“...Why?”

Good question.

Alice’s gaze was different from usual when it turned toward me.

Typically, the information I provided to Alice came from my experiences of the future. Even when it wasn’t, Alice, knowing my ability, would usually assume as much.

But in this case...

Claiming I had “already been here” would be far too strange.

If I had failed previously and come back for help, we wouldn’t have made it this far. Knowing the exact way was also impossible. After all, we barely made it here as a group of ten. It would be absurd to think I came here alone, scouted the inside, rewound time, and then led everyone here.

Alice had occasionally cast questioning looks at me on our way here, but this time, her expression was markedly different.

Even with my improved ability to read her expressions, I couldn’t discern what Alice was feeling right now.

“...”

When I remained silent, Alice didn’t press further. She simply exhaled a long breath.

“Well, fine.”

Alice muttered to herself and glanced at Charlotte.

“So... ready?”

“Yes, I’ve been ready for a while now. What about everyone else?”

The voice was that of an elderly man, calm and kind.

“...Cardinal.”

The Cardinal of Belvur. I’d already encountered him once before.

“Your Highness, it has been a while. I did not expect to meet you in such a place.”

“I’m glad to see you’re in good health.”

I replied, and the Cardinal regarded me briefly before turning his attention back to Charlotte. His expression betrayed no interest in Alice.

“You asked why we are doing this, even beneath Belvur’s territory?”

“Yes. Why are you doing this?”

“For one reason alone—peace.”

“...Peace.”

“Yes. Under the goddess’s blessing, we seek a perfect world. We merely strive to fulfill the goddess’s will, restoring the ‘perfect world’ that the Fangryphon dynasty trampled upon.”

“The world of that era must have been utter chaos.”

Alice interjected, drawing the Cardinal’s gaze to her for the first time.

“We were merely reconstructing the world. Perfection requires removing imperfections.”

Ha.

That’s quite the interpretation.

But then again, fanatics are always full of nonsense.

“In that sense, you’ve disappointed me, Sophia.”

At his words, everyone turned to look at Sophia.

Her face had gone pale.

“We sent you to watch over Princess Sylvia, yet here you are, cooperating with her all the way to this point.”

“Was your attempt to monitor me...”

I cut him off.

“...merely because of my ability?”

“Ah.”

The Cardinal responded as if he’d been waiting for this question.

“Well, we still haven’t fully grasped who you are. At first, you seemed to be just a human with an impossible ability. Then we wondered if you might be a messenger of the goddess. But we still can’t decide.”

“If I were a messenger of the goddess, I wouldn’t be standing here before you now.”

“We cannot claim to fully understand the goddess’s will. In the end, the world will unfold according to her design. We merely strive to understand her intent and act accordingly.”

“...”

Hm.

Maybe the Holy Nation is falling apart, too.

Just as my existence has made the Emperor a more enigmatic and incomprehensible figure, perhaps the Holy Nation has been thrown into disarray because of me.

Well, no matter.

Whether their contradictory responses were to conceal their intent or reflected genuine confusion, I’d get the answers directly.

“Mia!”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

At my shout, Mia flinched momentarily before quickly raising her staff.