The Water Magician

At the Von Church, an attack was already underway.

“I don’t really like this kind of thing…”

The one who murmured was a beautiful woman with long, dark green hair and large black eyes.

Her outfit was elegant, featuring a red base with green designs.

But what stood out the most was her sword.

A slender and slightly curved sword… no, anyone who looked closely would surely call it a 'katana.'

She named that sword 'Kotetsu.'

Her name is Marie Cloche.

“Hmm, I wonder how far a mercenary is supposed to go?”

This was Marie’s first time working as a mercenary.

“Probably, everyone who charged in together with me is dead now.”

The ones protecting this church were strong.

“The fact that so many strong people are stationed here means they're telling us there’s a target here… but then again, they can't not be stationed, can they?”

Clang.

She deflected an attack from a black-robed figure that came from the shadows.

After blocking the first strike, Marie overwhelmed the black-robed attacker.

The right arm of the black-robed figure was sliced off.

However, they managed to escape the finishing blow from Marie’s sword and created some distance.

She pierced the heart of a soldier who had arrived in their place.

In the meantime…

“[Extra Heal]”

“That’s it.”

Marie grimaced as she saw the black-robed figure chanting and regenerating their arm.

“Why are there so many people who can use [Extra Heal] here?”

Saying this, she glanced at the soldier who had fallen at her feet.

Of course, Marie was the one who took him down…

“And these soldiers are disposable.”

The black-robed figure used [Extra Heal] and withdrew from the front line.

Seeing them staggering, it seemed that [Extra Heal] was a heavy spell for them too.

Or maybe it was the effect of the blood that had been shed.

In any case, the fallen soldiers would not be recovered.

Rip.

She tore through the soldier’s clothing.

On his chest was a star-like emblem.

“This one has it too. This is probably a magic circle…”

It was not a typical magic circle based on a circle.

But…

“There’s a star-shaped one among the layered magic circles I received from Hal. What kind of alchemy system is this?”

Marie murmured.

It was a magic circle she had never seen in the Eastern Nations outside of the layered magic circles.

Shaking her head slightly, she began to search the rest of the room.

“I’ll check all the guest rooms, but there’s no target. Next is the bishop’s office across this dining hall… should have checked that first.”

She muttered and sighed.

The reason she sighed was that she found a troublesome opponent in the dining hall.

This one was different from the black-robed figures before.

First, their attire was completely different.

“A scarlet robe? A cardinal? They have female cardinals?”

Marie was genuinely surprised.

Marie was a reincarnator.

So she had knowledge of the Catholic Church on Earth.

She had heard of cardinals, but she had never heard of female cardinals before…

This sparked her interest a bit.

“Um, I’m a mercenary hired by the Eastern Provinces. I came to take the life of someone named Ramun Fess, who is under your protection.”

“…”

“Ah, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Marie Cloche. Cardinal in the scarlet robe, what is your name?”

“…Inquisitor General Stefania.”

“I see, Ms. Stefania. Just to ask, would you be willing to hand over Ramun Fess? You’re from the Western Church, right? You don’t owe anything to the Western Nations Federation on the dark continent, do you?”

“I refuse. I have been ordered to protect Lord Ramun Fess.”

Stefania responded, drawing her sword from its sheath.

“Well, I expected that.”

Marie also unsheathed 'Kotetsu' and took an upper stance.

The upper stance is meant for a single lethal strike.

There’s no defense.

The fastest downward strike!

Clang.

Marie invaded Stefania’s range with a lightning-fast dash and brought her sword down, but was deflected by an invisible wall.

At the same time, Stefania thrust her sword forward.