This was back in the days when the battle against England was still ongoing.
There was a witch living near our village who hated wars.
That witch would not curse people nor do evil deeds...
...but instead used her powers to put a stop to the fighting.
Her name was Maria.
She held the same name as the Blessed Virgin...
...and shared her virginal status as well.
"Maria the Virgin Witch"
"Story 9: With a Grain of Salt"
In any case, we don't need to wake up Maria.
Right. Her magic powers are still weak, too.
--Um... --Hm?
Am I the reason why Maria is so troubled?
That's not the case.
Don't worry.
I'll try to be back as soon as I can after I finish my duties.
I'll step out for a moment, too.
--Where to? --She'll be back in good spirits if I bring Joseph, right?
Well then, I'll tag along.
--Huh? --You can't see well in the dark, right?
If I go with you, we can return before Maria wakes up.
Well... Um, please come with me.
Sure.
Graoully, chased by Clements of Metz...
...answer the calling of the witch of hearth...
...and show...
...yourself...
You're...
Tch! Guess it was too soon!
Despertar feliz!
Graoully, c-chased by Clements of...
M-My body...
W-Winds of Nerthus...
Quiet, or I'll kill you.
I wonder how many casualties you were responsible for.
Damn witch...
Shut up and take what's coming...
Guardian of the earth, Nerthus...
With your wind...
This is mercy...
What'd you do to Maria?!
Maria!
Get out of my way, or I'll...
Graoully... chased by... Clements of Metz...
...answer... the calling of the witch of hearth...
...and show... yourself!
Show yourself!
Huh?!
--My magic... --Can't use it, can you?
Can't use... magic...
The witch Maria can't use magic!
Her magic's gone!
Gone!
Did everyone take their antidote?
Get out of here, both of you...
What?
If you stay here... you won't be able to move, either... so...
Well then, you have to come too, Maria!
I can't...
Look at me...
Maria...
What should we do?
For now...
...take this with you...
Witch Maria.
You have been accused of heresy by the villagers near here.
You will be restrained.
Huh? Sir Galfa?
Hey...
--Ah... --This?
It's the artificial arm you brought to me.
Ah, that...
Hopefully it is of use to you.
Well, sure, a little...
I see.
Um... What brought you here?
I was called here by Priapus.
Sir Galfa?
Sorry, I have to run.
Lady Maria! Lady Maria!
Maria isn't here anymore!
Where's Lady Maria?!
What happened here?!
No...
Sir Galfa...?
It's true. Afterwards, the church of the earth came and--
What's this about the church of the earth?!
Did Maria get caught?!
Yes, so that's why we're going to--
--No... --Huh?
Lady Maria was... Sir Galfa did...
With that artificial arm...?
Magic... gone...?
I swear in the name of God that I saw her use demons.
I, too...
What is it?
I swear in the name of God that I too... witnessed it.
Witch Maria, these two have witnessed you using demons.
By the powers granted by His Holiness, the Pope...
...you will be restrained and put through trial to determine whether you are a heretic.
It's not a good idea to go out now.
If there's a fight, Ann and the villagers may get hurt.
But how did Sir Galfa learn of Lady Maria's secret?
It's my fault.
I told him that...
Stop saying things like that already.
But...
Word has it that this village was blessed by Archangel Michael,
and yet its faith was endangered by a witch.
What tragedy...
But it seems faith here has been protected.
With the divine blessing of God, an elderly woman was released from illness,
and the witch will be offered a chance for repentance.
That is, of course, if she seeks such.
May I ask a favor, Lady Martha?
I ask that you demonstrate an unwavering faith that denies pity to the evil witch.
For the sake of your family, which follows the teachings of the church,
I would like you to show everyone
that your family has no relationship with this witch.
That's...
Grandmother?
Grandmother!
Maria...
You mustn't do such a thing...
Now, let us pray from the bottom of our hearts
for Lady Martha's return to the fold as a lamb of God.
Ezekiel...
Coming...
This is a wonderful village.
God's divine blessing be with you.
If I hadn't spoken to that person, then...!
Enough of that!
In any case, we have to get Maria back.
Without magic, she's going to--
About that...
If Lady Maria lost her magic,
shouldn't something happen to you familiars?
Right... That's right!
Then Maria...
...is still a virgin?
I don't know, but there is a chance that her purity is still intact.
I see.
Also, the fact that we're still able to keep these forms
means that she must have recovered a bit.
Let's do what we can for now.
May I ask both Artemis and Lady Ezekiel to seek help from Lady Viv?
Understood.
I'd like to ask Priapus to see where Lady Maria is taken.
Got it!
I suspect she will be held somewhere in the monastery.
Um... Shouldn't we save her right away?
Well...
Even if the trial is held, she won't be branded a heretic immediately.
There will be time before she's sentenced.
In the meantime, let's do what we can.
Got it.
Please fare well!
Joseph?
Yes?
I'm sorry I couldn't protect Maria.
If you hadn't been there, things would have gone much worse.
There is nothing for you to be troubled about.
Huh?! Why's she caught?!
--Well... --She was struck immobile with smoke...
Edwina, where are the guild members?
They said they were off to visit Nice in Savoia...
Save Maria, you say...?!
You'll be branded a heretic, too!
I believe the actions taken were motivated by cowardice.
Lady Maria may be a witch, but she has saved countless lives.
Such facts should be considered in--
Joseph!
The words that you speak only cause problems for me!
Your father was a vassal of reason.
But you, on the other hand...!
Don't trouble yourself with unnecessary thoughts.
That witch will likely only be banished.
She won't lose her life.
Excuse me, but Sir Galfa's artificial arm--
I received word that England's survivors
will be joined by reinforcements, with plans to return here again.
This is why we should have annihilated England at that time!
Stop getting yourself involved with Maria already!
And if you intend to be my vassal...
...return home and prepare for battle.
He's all over that witch, as usual.
What's going on...?!
--Huh? --Maria's purity.
Why didn't you finish what you had to do?!
Well, a lot happened.
Did you feel bad for Joseph?
Surely you jest.
If you've taken the offer, why not actually complete your duty to the end?!
I was asked to make her unable to use magic,
not to have sex with her.
--But...! --Whatever the case, she can't use magic now.
That should be good enough!
B-But, if we don't do something now, she may regain the use of her magic.
Well then, why not have Le Comte's men prepared for her burning?
It does not work that way.
I will need to create a witness document with the priest of that village,
and her questioning must be recorded.
As magistrate, proper actions must be taken so as to not disgrace my predecessors.
--But... --That cannot be done.
I see.
Can you make something to eat?
Are you all right going alone?
I can't get in touch with the others, but we can't leave Maria alone any longer, right?
It'll be all right!
Why are she and Maria so intent on helping others?
What do you think?
Meow!
Gilbert is very thorough as the magistrate of the Inquisition.
After all, he did have a doctor look at you.
It seems you have not lost your purity.
But it seems you are indeed unable to use magic.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for you to remain caught like this.
I'm of no use to you already. Why did you come here?
There's something that bothered me.
Onward! We shall now regain our land from Le Comte!
With God's divine protection! With God's divine protection!
Viv!
Of all the times to appear!
Please wait, Archangel Michael!
Witch Viv. Are you going to save that one?
Yes, you should know that already.
Why do you act in such a way?
Because she's my friend.
Bladud, child of Rud Hud Hudiras...
Awaken from Trinovantum, and lend me your wings...
What is happening?! France's witch?!
Get back here!
You know what? I have to ask that you get off my friend's back.
All human acts in this world are determined by the heavenly Father.
God's will is immeasurable to all.
None such as you can overturn God's will.
That's just your reasoning...
...you damn puppet!
You urged the elderly woman in the village to toss the stone at you, didn't you?
By her doing so, that family's position can be protected.
They can return to their normal lives again.
Was your action in anticipation of that?
It's not that complicated an issue.
It was because Martha looked like she was in pain...
That was all I could do for her then.
Hm...
So you assumed this current result from the elderly woman's expression?
Yes.
One's sacrifice was made into reality from the expression of another?
I said it a number of times already-- I hate seeing people suffer in front of me!
Do you not fear God?
What you hate may be providence that God has ordained.
Providence?!
Seeing someone die a horrible death?!
Tell me something, then. Why did God decide on such a thing?
Trying to understand the will of our Father in the heavens is arrogance.
All we can do is listen to the words of the Holy Spirit and conduct acts of good.
Let's see you say that to someone who's about to die on the battlefield!
I do not know what meaning there is in death on the battlefield.
But God's love is universal.
Those who fall in battle shall, if they hold true faith, have their sins absolved.
That's absurd!
Even if he's everywhere, if words are all God gives, then it's the same as nothing!
Same as... nothing?
God?
Same... Same?
Same...?
Universal is the same as nothing?
No... Appearance is nonexistent in the first place?
All you're doing is preaching about doctrines that even you don't understand.
If God really appeared, everything would be resolved in an instant.
Instead of relying on a silent god, it's a lot better for us to handle the works of earth.
Think of a world without God's guidance?
Doubt... God?
Impossible.
Saint Thomas proved the existence of God by...
No! Guillaume of Ockham said that human reasoning cannot prove God's existence...
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?
After severely doubting the existence of God, what remains is true faith?
What happens if God doesn't remain?!
No, that can't be understood.
Humans live within the human world... Assume that universal didn't exist...
Esse est deus.
No... Is my awareness... an existence?!
Awareness and existence is by God--no! By me!
Assuming life in a world without God,
one must then save themselves by their own free will?
That's it!
As in Pelagius' doctrines, one must revere God, yet save themselves with their free will.
For greater prosperity and happiness, we seek peace for our souls...
...with God existing through our awareness!
If so, the world shall pass from God to humans, with faith and humans in harmony!
Viv!
Archangel Michael!
What are you saying?
I don't understand a single bit of it.
What we need in order to live in this world is...
What we need is...?
...to be able to stand on our own two feet.
Such a fine quodlibet indeed.
This was a very interesting discussion.
Thank you, Maria.
You inferior being with no knowledge of love, stop reigning over us already!
Was the mole that bad...?
Now! Please shame me!