Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 7 Episode 4 (section)

===Part 1===

「Uu──, AAAaAAH……!」

Near the cathedral located at the north of the holy capital, inside a room of a lodging house for high ranked monk or Sanctuary Knight Order to sleep.

At the time of dawn where it was still dark outside, a high-pitched scream resounded.

「Haa, haah! Haa……! Haa……」

Mel was breathing roughly with heaving shoulders on top of the bed in sitting posture.

She confirmed the situation around her and embraced the Sword Device leaning on the wall.

「……How hopeless. Only this dream hasn’t changed since that day seven years ago.」

She embraced her body that was trembling from the lingering memory of the bad dream with her own two hands to hold it in.

The terror and despair from losing her whole family due to the rampage of Ruin seven years ago.

And then the burning rage inside the chest made Mel Gizalut’s body to tremble.

「Why, even though today isn’t that day……」

She bit her lower lip hard and let out a voice with a grieving expression.

「Even though I won’t lose if today is that day. Otou-samafather and Okaa-samamother too, Onii-samabig brother and Onee-samabig sister too──even my little sister, I won’t let them die if it’s today, and yet!」

She pulled out the Sword Device from the sheath and muttered while gazing at the beautiful blade of two colors that was glistening.

Divine Drag-Ride Ddraig Gwiber, it was a prize that was bestowed to Mel after she was defeated by Krulcifer at the military art tournament due to Bishop Orphel’s proposal to the archbishop.

Although she lost due to decision, but thinking about the future prospect and strength of her who polished her skill until that far in that short time, it was fitting for her to receive it. It seemed that was the reason, but Mel thought that surely it was just the reason at the surface.

Wasn’t it actually something like consolation reward for Gizalut house after dying in the line of duty and also because of all their contribution in the past as member of Sanctuary Knight Order that was directly subordinate to the pope? At first she was doubting it like that.

But──,

「Mel, you have nightmare again?」

*Knock knock* After that light knocking sound, Bishop Orphel entered inside the room.

「……I’m fine. It’s a usual thing.」

Seeing Mel wiped her sweat and said that, Orphel walked toward her with uneasy look.

She sat down beside the bed, then she hurriedly put on a coat above Mel’s white underwear.

「Bishop-sama is a worrywart like usual. Shouldn’t you worry about his eminence the pope instead as his aide?」

Even while talking sarcastically, Mel didn’t reject that good will and smiled.

Orphel who heard her words also didn’t look offended, she merely spoke with chiding tone.

「It’s no good for a girl to let their body get cold you know? You are a strong and smart child, but you are still careless in that kind of area.」

Saying that, she made Mel’s hand grasped a warm stone that was wrapped with fabric.

Her body that was starting to get cold was warmed, and her heartbeat was recovering its calm.

「…………」

The bishop with years of long service in the church──Orphel. Mel always thought that she was a mysterious woman.

In this country, bishop who engaged in politic and ceremony usually wouldn’t get deeply involved with the Sanctuary Knight Order that was military.

Because both sides shouldered important authority in the country, there was regulation so both sides wouldn’t be too closely connected.

And yet for some reason, since the incident seven years ago Orphel frequently came to check Mel’s condition.

Even though she never even heard that Orphel had particular friendship with Gizalut house.

(Really. Just what is this person thinking I wonder──)

No one was talking about it openly, but the number of fellow who talked badly about the relationship of Mel and Orphel wasn’t few.

Orphel was aiming for the hidden fortune of Gizalut house, or she was taking advantage of the lonely girl’s weakness, or she was trying to win over the powerful person who became a member of Seven Dragon Paladins, etc, etc. There were many kind of rumor.

Mel was a clever girl, so she immediately understood that kind of method with ulterior motive.

But for some reason, she didn’t harbor animosity toward Orphel.

She didn’t really understand why, but it might be because Orphel never gave her cheap consolation.

When she had only lost her family, various people called out to Mel in pity.

–

『You must not lose heart. Because god is always watching over your hard work.』

『Don’t lose. This too is a trial that is given to you.』

『Let’s offer a prayer. If you do that then surely the time will come when your heart too will receive salvation.』

–

──Don’t screw around.

That was what Mel was thinking even while nodding smilingly at the surface.

She didn’t know how much her heart was hurt until now by those very cheap consolations.

The people giving those consolations themselves didn’t have the slightest ill will, so it caused even more anger to well up inside.

Both her parents were devoured to death by monster before her eyes, her everything was suddenly stolen unreasonably. After such thing, how could she believe in god or anything?

It was only Orphel who had never said such thing even once to Mel.

She only asked things like, ‘is there something troubling you? Are you hungry? Don’t you feel cold? How is your health?’, and so on, after that she would talk about trivial thing with her, and stayed at her side longer than anyone else.

She visited the lodging house every morning, and looked after Mel when she was tormented by bad dream.

When Mel was injured or when she was sick, Orphel would nurse her throughout the night.

That was why, Mel was harboring emotion that was similar to deep affection toward this woman called Orphel.

She even thought, ‘If only she is my real mother……’.

(I too am foolish huh. Even this person, it’s highly possible that she is trying to use me, and yet──)

Her obtaining the Divine Drag-Ride Ddraig Gwibel, her becoming Seven Dragon Paladins too, everything was because of the endorsement of Orphel who volunteered as Mel’s guardian.

Of course, Mel herself had the conceit that her strength was the best even in Ymir Theocracy, but she could sense some kind of motive from Orphel.

But, even so, there was a side of herself who felt that the woman’s existence and feeling were pleasant.

(In the end, I too am still a child even if I’m called the prodigy of Ymir am I.)

Even while she was laughing at herself inside her heart, she couldn’t do anything at all regarding her feeling.

When human was weak, they would harbor good will toward their ally.

She was thinking that she didn’t want to be abandoned by this person, that she wanted to answer her expectation.

「Mel, you have talent. Proof it by obtaining achievement in the pilgrimage this time okay? If you do that, everyone will recognize you. You won’t──feel lonely anymore.」

「You cannot make use of me just by buttering me up you know?」

Mel chuckled and stood up from the bed.

「But, I’ll show you how I raise the greatest achievement as guard this time too, I will win against Krulcifer only for my own sake, that’s all. I won’t pray to both god and angel.」

「As expected, you can be charged with lese majeste because of those words.」

Even while smiling wryly at Mel who was saying such thing while being a believer herself, Orphel didn’t reprimand her.

「It will be preparation time soon. I’ll look forward to it, as your guardian.」

Orphel only said that and exited the room quietly.

From the grey sky that was visible from the window, light sleet was starting to fall.

–