Are you really going home already?
Yeah, Viv did say you could rest there a few more days.
Well, it's Edwina's house...
Just so you get it clear...
Don't use your magic like before!
I'll do whatever it takes to stop her from being hit again!
Well, if she wouldn't use magic in front of people in the first place, then...
Well, if you hadn't let Michael know, then...!
Oh, stop fighting, both of you!
Hm?
"Maria the Virgin Witch"
"Story 8: Man Is a Wolf to Man"
This child took a stray arrow from the war.
So we came here to have a witch look at the child.
Wasn't your land originally further north of here?
Well, yes.
And what of the witches there?
They went elsewhere amid the chaos caused by the Duke of Buckingham's cavalry invasion.
Sorry to keep you waiting. You did good holding back the pain.
Recently, the cities of Falaise and Rouen have fortified their defenses,
and the skirmishes don't seem like they will subside any time soon.
The way things are, the fighting will probably drag on...
The area around here may be at peace for a while.
Why don't you rest here until you're healed?
Thank you, Maria.
We appreciate the offer, but we'll be heading back.
Humans have forgotten us, and we are much weaker now,
but that is where we were born and raised, after all.
I see...
I guess you're right.
You'll be back in shape in two or three days.
Thank you, Maria.
Now then, we should get going.
Be careful.
No matter who is at war, or where,
it's the weaker folks who keep getting thrown into conflict.
Excuse me?
Then people say that "God has pity on us,"
and that "God is grieving," and blame themselves.
Pretty hopeless, isn't it?
That's the logic of the church of the world!
I know that, but...
Ah, come to think of it, a young girl came by while you were gone.
Huh?
Maria! Maria!
Say, can I please get some medicine?!
Grandmother is...!
Did something happen to Martha?
Priapus, go to the village and see what's going on!
Right!
So Maria was wounded, and is still alive?
Yes.
But it seems she needs to rest for awhile,
so it may be advisable to refrain from relying upon her.
Hmph. No matter...
--Go on. --Yes.
Deliver that to Galfa.
To Sir Galfa?
Yes... I need him to lead the Red Arm Brothers Troupe now.
--Speaking of which, I heard she received blessing to become healed... --Isn't the monk Brother Bernard's...
Hm?
It's all thanks to you, Brother.
Why, just yesterday, she couldn't even raise her body.
Oh, no.
All I did was use the medicine I received from Brother Bernard.
Well, it is fortunate that your mother is a pious child of God.
That being said, Brother Bernard has asked if he could meet your mother at a later date.
Ah! Why, yes, yes!
Ann... Ann...!
Hm?
Shhh...
So, Martha's fine now?
Yes... The Brother's special medicine helped...
But...
What's the matter?
Um, well...
The Brother spoke with Father, who mentioned Maria's medicine.
Then the Brother said that Grandmother fell sick because of that medicine.
He said that she was being fed poison by the witch all this time.
--That's... --Priapus?
Maria wouldn't do such a thing, right?
Of course not!
Then, is the Brother lying?!
That's right!
Why would he lie?
That's...
Where is everyone...?
Ah, excuse me.
Where is Sir Galfa?
Hm...? Ah, you mean Chief?
Chief?
He's over there at the Chief's tent.
Thank you very much.
Hey, you...
What? Can you get back to me later?
I need to go to the armorer, and...
What are you thinking, treating that scum Galfa like a Chief, eh?!
S-Sorry! Sorry! But Le Comte...
Stop staring at me like that.
I'm sorry.
Of course he'd stare. After all, your arm isn't there no more.
Shut up.
But I suppose this is still better than being dead.
--My Lord, Le Comte... --Huh?
...sent this for you.
Perfect timing. I needed to ask you something.
And that would be...?
Why did Maria appear on the battlefield?
I thought you were supposed to convince her not to.
I-I'm truly sorry...
Were you deceived by her?
No, that isn't the case.
If I must say,
Lady Maria's actions were sincerely true to her beliefs.
Heh... So that resulted in us losing a winning battle.
I lost my arm...
...and Yvain lost his life.
And now I'm stuck leading the Red Arm Brothers Troupe.
I'm... truly sorry.
Like I said, those words don't mean a thing.
But...
So, what's that girl up to now?
What's taking Priapus so long?!
Maybe he's fooling around.
Doesn't that at least mean that Martha is safe?
Well, yes, maybe, but...!
O-Ow...!
So the situation is once again back where it was.
Excluding a certain issue...
There are rumors about her all over.
Rumors?
That the last battle was lost because of Maria.
Everyone is saying that.
Ah, but...
It isn't necessarily wrong, is it?
Go and let that witch know to stay put in the forest until things settle down.
Say... What is it you like about that kid?
Like?
Me? Like him?
--Yes. --What makes you think that?
Oh, you hadn't realized?
Well, no matter. Just do your best, Sir Chief.
We're short on coins, you know?
Heh. Stop acting like a wife.
Joseph!
Thank goodness! I've been looking for you.
Can you please come with me to Maria's place?
--What? --I'd like you to help keep Maria calm.
I have to tell her something she's not going to like.
Ah, in that case, you and I are in the same position.
You too, Joseph?
Yes. I was heading there now.
What?! Of course I wouldn't give her poison!
I've known Martha for ages!
Um, well...
What are they thinking?!
Me?! Poison?!
Um! Please calm down.
They're calling my medicine "poison"!
Urrh! Seriously, poison?!
Of course I can't stay calm after hearing that!
Lady Maria...
I know how you feel...
Huh?
But please, calm yourself.
What?! I would never poison Martha...!
Ann knows that, too.
But the monk is confusing her.
I see...
Where are you going?
--Martha's home. --No, you don't.
The village has been prejudiced against "the heretic Maria."
You'll just be a bother to Martha and Ann.
Bother?! Me?!
Unfortunately, I believe so, too.
It's not only Ann's village.
Misunderstanding of you has spread all over.
I do not think you would be in danger,
but I believe it is for the best to avoid rousing everyone--
Why...?
Why is this all happening?!
Why am I...?!
Isn't it obvious?
It's because you're a heretic.
I thought everyone would be happy if the sick were healed and war went away.
Was I wrong?
They will be happy...
But it isn't your place to bring that about.
You do remember that village that refused you, right?
--Hey! --You knew about the Great Pestilence?
Um, well...
Even if you try to look away,
the truth can't be changed.
You're a heretic in this world.
An existence where people throw stones at you in hatred given the chance.
Yet you act purely based on emotion, and that's why...
That's why... That's why...
...even at a time like this, you're treated as an outcast and rejected by others!
Why don't you understand this?!
If you honestly joined us, everything would work fine...!
Everything...!
If you keep acting on emotion and being stubborn, you'll end up all alone!
I...!
I...
Now, I must be going.
Sure...
Lady Maria.
I have seen firsthand more than anyone in the Church of your actions thus far.
Even if the world calls you a heretic, I do not believe your actions and beliefs are wrong.
Please walk your path as you see it.
Even if the world comes against you...
...I will follow you to the very end.
I will never leave you alone.
If you'll excuse me...
Thank you.
Th-That's...
L-Lady Maria...?
Huh? Ah, um, ah, well...!
Galfa, you killed Yvain, didn't you?
Really, Galfa?
Seems he doesn't know anything.
Heh, just as I thought.
Well, it doesn't matter if you two are in it together...
But isn't it a bit too good to be true to gain the Chief's position by stealing it?
Oh...?
Something like that has to be grasped by earning it, right?
Of course, as you are now, "grasping" isn't as easy as before!
Are you serious?
We're in the same mercenary band!
Well, now...!
This is what you scum did, too!
So you're telling me you want to be the Chief then, right?
Guess now's your chance, with Yvain gone and me missing my left arm.
Lolotte. It's time.
S-Sure...
Let me remind you that you can't shoot a firearm without a kindle.
It can't be...
When did you get such a thing?!
Say, how about joining me?
Don't ya think that good times have got to come 'round?
Tch! There's no way I'd join the likes of you!
I see...
Then you're my stepping stone, too...
Ezekiel calmed down, so I had her go to sleep already.
Sure... What about Priapus?
He's going to check out the rumors in the towns.
I see...
Did you "do it" with Joseph?
Are you stupid or something?!
Well, you took your time out there, so I thought something happened.
Nothing happened! Ow...!
Well, of course not.
Joseph doesn't look the type to start things off out in the open.
You're so dirty!
--Weird, isn't it? --Hm?
Just a while back, it was only me and you here...
But now, the place is livelier than before.
What are you saying?
You know what?
Ezekiel, Joseph, Priapus... Everyone is worried about you.
I'll do my best with my duties until you heal, so you stay put here.
Deal?
And while I'm at it, I'll slap and force myself on anyone who speaks ill of you.
Oh, come on...
Wh-What...?!
What is it, Cernunnos?
Huh? This?
Witch Maria. The clan from the north visited, did they not?
Why? Do you know them?
They are ones whom I have known in the past.
But compared to when I knew them,
they have weakened quite a bit.
Look who's talking.
So true, familiar.
Oh? Pretty honest, aren't you?
This is merely the law of nature that rules over all.
It rules over me, too.
It rules over that clan...
...and you, Maria.
--I...! --It is about to occur.
When the people decide to remove your acts from their lives,
they will forget us with surprising ease.
They are not that wise...
--But... --Why did you come?!
Get out of here!
Witch Maria.
Why do you do so much?
Why are you trying to stop wars?
Become our companion, as that is--
Begone!
Heave... ho!
That's quite something!
Yeah, I'll have fun with this for sure...
Oh? So this is the rumored...
Ah, yes. This is the location where Archangel Michael is said to have descended.
If only we had been there to witness the Archangel's coming.
I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes.
Yes, indeed. Hm?
Are you the renowned Brother Bernard?
Thank you very much for coming.
Labor is a small price to pay to know the virtue and authority
of our great Father in the heavens.
What profound verbal jesting the church of the world engages in.
How do you feel?
I feel quite fine, thanks to you.
That is good to hear.
It is all because of your medicine, Brother.
No. God's grace has healed you.
I have never heard of recovery in such a short time before.
The healing may have been a miracle.
Could that be...?
I offer my prayer of thanks to God.
But I heard that you have been receiving medicine
from the witch in the forest, Maria, for a long time now.
That is...
Witches cleverly approach people and enter their hearts.
They are quite cunning, after all.
But I am glad I came here in time.
You will sever your ties...
...with the witch, yes?
Ah... That is...
Associating with witches is beneath the lambs of God.
But God is merciful.
Martha, will you make confession for the sake of your son and granddaughter?
I understand...
Please...
I have a confession of sin to make...
...to God Almighty and to the Church.
I have associated with a witch...
Witch Maria, was it?
I pledge my oath that I shall refrain from associating with the witch Maria evermore.
Grandmother...!
Ego Te Absolvo...
May your sins be absolved.
Amen...
Hear me.
Many lives have been lost in the confusion brought about by the witch Maria.
Why does she do such a thing?
It is because Maria is a witch who embraces chaos.
It is because the purpose of her existence is to intervene in conflict.
She is needed because there is conflict.
It is akin to one struck with disease who seeks medicine.
A world without disease and land without conflict is our very desire.
And these things can be attained by our own power and with strength in faith.
Witches are not needed.
The witch Maria is an existence that should be forgotten.
The Church will support all.
May the witches, enemies of all that is right, lose sight of the sun.
To assist, Gilbert here has been assigned
as magistrate of the Inquisition by His Holiness, the Pope.
The rare faith and knowledge he holds shall surely bring righteous faith to this village.
Let us all walk the path of God.
--Amen. --Amen.
Please take care of the rest.
Ah, but... is this fitting for one so lowly as myself?
This is a result of your faith.
Please accept.
I shall do my best!
If she loses her purity, her magic will disappear.
In other words, regardless of how she loses her virginity...
...once it is lost, she will not be able to act in her current manner.
You're telling me to do that?
You were planning on doing that, weren't you?
I do believe it would serve well in terms of vengeance.
You've got a devil inside...
There's a devil inside everyone's heart.
That is why we need God.
I have prepared a special medicine as well.
I'll let you decide how you want to handle things.
I am not versed in such ways, after all...
How did I come to want to stop wars?
Ouch...
What did I want to do...?
Is irrationality the reason why we need faith?
But Aristotle said that affirmation and negation cannot be both true.
If so... If so...
No, wait. Is consideration of the unchanging as a premise wrong from the onset?