Wh-What is that?
H-How is it moving?!
Bearabbit.
Okay, bear!
Ladies and gentlemen!
I am...
a god!
Everyone!
Watch closely!
Wha?!
Th-The obelisk disappeared?!
Well? Impressive, isn't it?
Now, here's a gift from God Akatsuki!
That's...
Mayonnaise!
Good!
It's really good!
Now, everyone, have faith in God Akatsuki!
Those who worship him and have faith shall find salvation!
This is the power of a god!
It Seems Akatsuki's Becoming God Akatsuki!
Man, business just picked up!
Yes, it did.
Hmm? What's the matter?
To be honest, I haven't been able to thank Tsukasa for saving me yet.
Oh, really?
Now, everyone, worship your god!
Worship me!
I can't believe Akatsuki's our god.
I thought it would be best
to use the power of religion if we hope to unite the region.
Declaring ourselves a nation wouldn't be enough to win over the people.
Thus the magic show, huh?
Yeah.
A religion will be easy for them to understand.
Also, portraying ourselves as a god and his messengers
will enable a smooth transfer of power
to the people of this world when we do return to our own.
I see.
We're also calling ours the Seven-Light Faith.
We might eventually be contacted by someone who knows the real one.
Oh, so that's the Ruruck Mountain Range.
Are we really going?
Of course we're going.
I have to get information on Buchwald, after all.
It's snowing a lot, though.
No problem, no problem.
The world's top journalist isn't about to lose to a little snow.
Now, let's go, El!
Y-Yeah.
It's Akatsuki and the others from the Seven-Light Faith.
Attention, everyone, we have a gift from Akatsuki!
It's mayo time!
I'll follow you forever, Lord Akatsuki!
Me, too!
Seven-Light Faith!
Seven-Light Faith! Seven-Light Faith!
Dormundt is finished.
I need to escape with my family as soon as possible.
Come in.
I'm leaving here tomorrow morning.
Prepare my things...
And where do you think you're going, Mayor Haizerad?
Y-You're...
of the Seven-Light Faith?!
Mikogami Tsukasa, one of the angels serving God Akatsuki.
Wh-What are you doing here?!
I came here to talk.
I had a feeling you had the wrong idea about us.
Wrong idea?
We haven't come here to persecute nobles or throw this city into chaos.
In fact, we'd like to cooperate with you and the nobility.
After all, there's work that only you all can handle.
Of course, we'll guarantee a fair wage for you.
Or would you prefer to flee to some unknown land,
exhausting the scant assets you take as you live in fear of both us and the empire?
What are you asking me to do?
Would you continue serving as Mayor of Dormundt
and show allegiance to us and the Seven-Light Faith?
Mayor Haizerad has an announcement?
Why is he with the Seven-Light Faith?
What's going to happen to Dormundt?
I am the Mayor of Dormundt, Walter Von Haizerad.
Here today I henceforth proclaim
that this city shall be governed by the Seven-Light Faith!
Seven-Light Faith!
I'm glad.
Tell me about it.
What is this?
Right?
It looks so good on him, it's kind of creepy.
My, I think he looks cute and lovely.
I-Indeed.
Besides, in order for Tsukasa
to sneak into the H-Haizerad mansion without raising suspicion,
h-he had no choice but to disguise himself so.
On Reconnaissance
Also, this one's...
A low-angle shot...
He's wearing his suit underneath?
Yes.
Th-This...
U-Um, um...
I'll send it to you later.
Th-Thank you.
If you all are enjoying it this much, then it was worth disguising myself.
So, what do we do now?
We've united Findolf, but...
Yeah. I'll focus on domestic affairs here in Dormundt for a while,
and shore up our foundation.
You all can return to Elm Village and get some rest.
I've worked you all too hard for the last few days.
Thank God.
I'm all worn out already.
It's been a while since we were in Elm Village.
Hmmm? What's the matter, Keine?
I have a small request.
Okay, what is it?
We're running low on medical supplies,
so I'd like a facility to produce antibiotics.
Could you spare me some labor and capital?
Of course I don't mind doing that,
but are you sure you don't need any rest?
Yes.
Compared to the battlefield, things have been relaxed here.
All right.
Then get me a list of what you'll need,
and I'll have it arranged.
Thank you.
Aoi, I'd like you to stay with Akatsuki while you take your break.
Understood.
I shall remain at his side and protect him at all times.
Hey, at least leave me alone while I bathe and use the bathroom!
I will not!
Wha?!
Also, Ringo.
We're starting to run low on electricity.
I'd like to have a new power station,
though a small-scale one is fine.
I-If you're okay with thermal power, I-I can get that ready in no time.
That's fine.
Merchant can get you any materials you need.
Yeah, leave it to me!
We've got plenty of money right now, so I'll get you anything.
Oh, right, Tsukasa.
Hmm?
There are quite a few soldiers
between those from Findolf Castle and the Dormundt watch,
but what's your plan?
Yeah, I'm thinking of combining them into a Seven-Light Faith Knight Order.
You'll need a leader, then.
I have an idea for that.
There's one man I would absolutely love to entrust that to.
Hey, did you hear?
The entire watch is being incorporated into the Seven-Light Faith.
Yeah,
I heard we'll get better pay than before, too.
Wow, really?
I'm out.
Huh?
C-Captain?!
May I join you?
You're the angel...
I'm Mikogami Tsukasa.
Feel free to call me Tsukasa.
You would be the Silver Knight, Zest Do Bernard, correct?
You're right, that's my name.
Though only Imperial Knights get to have "Do" added onto their names.
So that doesn't fit who I am anymore.
Well then, Bernard.
I took the liberty of looking into you.
You've demonstrated great courage,
your fellow soldiers have great trust in you,
and you're a reliable man, capable of making calm judgments at all times.
I'm honored by all your praise.
So what did you need from me?
There's something I'd like to ask of you.
About our order of knights...
Order of knights?
Sorry, but I've already left the watch.
Oh? Why is that?
Because you all have come here.
What do you mean?
You all seem relieved after taking over Findolf
with your mayonnaise and your divine power,
but the empire will come attack you.
This place will become a battlefield.
There's also something else that I have to do.
If I can't do that, then there's no point in being a knight.
So I'm quitting.
Choosing your own job is a part of this democracy you're propagating, right?
So, sorry, forget about me.
How'd it go?
With your candidate for head knight?
He was exactly the kind of man I thought he'd be.
But he said he's stepping down as a knight.
Huh? What's that mean?
So what's the plan now?
No problem.
I'll just go talk to him again tomorrow.
You came all the way out here?
What do you need, angel?
I hadn't yet had the chance to discuss the key issue.
Key issue?
We would like you to be the leader of our knights.
Huh? I already told you, didn't I?
I'm done being a knight.
We would still like to ask it of you.
I'm more certain than ever after yesterday.
I believe we need a man like you.
Listen, angel...
Papa!
Airi?
What's the matter?
I thought you were going out.
I missed you, so I came back.
Oh, really?
I missed you too, Airi!
Yay!
Your daughter?
That's right!
Papa's my papa!
She's the precious treasure left to me by my wife, who passed away in an epidemic.
Airi, Papa's having a discussion with this young man.
Could you go play over there for a bit?
Yeah, okay!
Angel, I served as a knight so I could live with Airi.
There's nothing more precious to me than my daughter.
So I'm willing to do anything if it means I can live with her.
But I can't make any choices that would sacrifice my family.
If it means I'll be sent off to fight when this town becomes a battlefield,
or that I won't be able to live with Airi,
then I have no reason to remain a knight.
That's the only reason I ever became a knight in the first place.
There are plenty of other knights with great loyalty
who do it for the empire or the emperor.
So I don't think a pathetic man like me
would be good a fit for the leader of a nation's order.
What makes you say cherishing your family above all else is pathetic?
Bernard, you're perfectly welcome
to continue putting your daughter first and foremost.
What we're seeking isn't loyalty.
It's companions who will fight alongside us.
Companions?
We're not like the rulers you've known before us.
Our goal is to create a democratic nation where everyone can live free.
I'm sure you've had these thoughts before:
"It's not right for heritage and other unreasonable factors
to determine whose life has value when we're all the same."
We aim to destroy that world.
But to do that, we'll need people like you
to change the way you've lived and thought before.
We'll need you all to take part in the revolution.
After all, it won't be a real people's revolution
if you, the people, don't have the drive to shape this world yourselves.
Are you saying you can really create a world where everyone
is free to decide their future for themselves?
With your help, we can.
What is a knight?
What is a sword?
Is a knight not someone who fights to protect what's truly important?
Is a sword not a tool wielded by those knights to protect what's precious to them?
Bernard,
if you'd like to stay with those you love,
then we'd like you to once more, of your own free will, choose to be a knight
and show the world as the leader of our knights
that the future belongs to each and every individual living on this earth.
I suppose it might be a better to fight to seize our own future
when the empire attacks us anyways.
I, Zest Bernard, shall dedicate myself to this huge responsibility.
We'll be counting on you.
That silver-haired brat!
Angel, my foot! Sounds shady!
You've drank too much.
He'll hear you.
Huh?
I don't care if he hears me.
Nobles, huh?
I expected some opposition there.
However, I'll need to keep an eye on their behavior moving forward.
What?!
Findolf was attacked by a rebel army?!
I-Is that true?!
Yeah.
We heard it from a knight who fled, so it must be.
Scary!
Do you think they'll come here, too?
Y-You'll be fine.
That's what we're here for, after all.
Besides, there's more than just us Buchwald soldiers here.
We have a large army from Arclide, and the main knight unit here, too.
So once spring comes, we'll blow that rebel army away!
Wow! That's so good to hear!
But, you know, Duke Fastidious is telling us to go right now.
When you say Duke Fastidious, do you mean the lord of Gustave?
Uh-huh. He's an incredible man.
His martial prowess is amazing, but so is his magic.
During the last battle with the Yamato Empire,
he stood on the front lines himself firing away.
It was the first time in history
that a knight was granted the title of Duke and the authority
to govern the northern lands.
Amazing!
It is.
He swore absolute loyalty to the emperor,
and now he's a merciless perfectionist to those who oppose the emperor's will.
Wow!
I didn't know Lord Gustave was such an incredible person!
She's taking her time coming back.
Oh, you're back, Elch.
When did you?!
Did you hear anything interesting?
Not at all.
It's all talk about how they're going to march on Findolf once winter passes.
I see.
How about you?
Well, I heard there's this amazing mage, a special mage officer.
Oh, you mean Gustave, Duke Fastidious?
But while people say he's incredible,
there's not much information about how good he actually is.
Hmm...
Okay, I've decided!
Huh?
Let's go meet this Duke Fastidious they're talking about!
Go meet him?
What?!
P-Please, gracious Gustave,
I-I would like to request your aid in restoring the land of Findolf.
You are a proud imperial knight, and yet you've shamelessly clung to life?
Those damn rebels...
I, Oslo El Gustave, shall burn them all to the ground.