Adlet wanted to protest and insist that the conversation wasn’t over, but he dropped it. Mora’s plan was more constructive.
“I have already spoken of this with Goldof and Fremy, but Chamo, Nashetania, and I have investigated the construction of this barrier,” Mora explained. Adlet and Hans nodded. While the two of them had been checking out the borders of the barrier, Mora and the others had been deciphering the book on the altar written in hieroglyphs. “Getting to the crux of the matter: There were no methods of deactivating this barrier recorded in the text. There is a possibility that a method exists, but at this point in time, we know it not.”
“Meow, what a disaster,” Hans muttered.
“However, there are still two ways to do it,” said Mora. “First, the one who activated the barrier should also be capable of deactivating it. Alternately, if the one who activated it were to die, the fog would be lifted.”
“And you’re certain of that?” asked Adlet.
“Ninety-nine percent sure. Theoretically speaking, a barrier that can’t be deactivated even by the person who initiated it simply cannot exist. A barrier that remains operational even after the activator is dead would also be impossible.”
“I see.” Adlet remembered what had happened when the barrier had first been activated. The moment the doors opened, the armored soldiers had attacked him, and then the fiend behind him had let loose that shrill laugh. Someone had activated the barrier during that interval and then run away. But who on earth had done it, and how? Grasping desperately for clues or ideas, Adlet threw questions at Mora. “Is the person who activated the barrier still here inside it?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Whether human or fiend, we are all completely unable to escape the fog. That holds true even for the one who activated it.”
“Would it be possible to activate the barrier from outside the temple?”
“No.”
“Can the barrier be activated only by a human?”
Mora reflected for a moment before replying. “Yes. A fiend should not be able to operate a barrier created by a Saint.”
“In other words…this means there’s a human allied with the Evil God,” reasoned Adlet.
Mora shook her head firmly. “I cannot imagine someone like that could exist. If the Evil God were to be completely revived, it could well signal the extinction of the human race. No human would do that, whatever their reasons might be.”
“There’s one here among us, at the very least,” said Adlet.
“That’s why Chamo’s been saying it’s Fremy. Why can’t you guys get that?” Chamo whined, exasperated.
“We don’t know that for sure. I believe Fremy is one of us,” said Adlet.
“But I cannot imagine any other human would ally with the Evil God.” Mora tilted her head.
“They exist,” Adlet insisted. “Fiends abduct groups of people and threaten them into cooperating. Not everyone can refuse them under threat of force. Make no mistake, there are humans who will follow fiends’ orders.”
“I understand, Adlet. Then this means we cannot let our guard down,” said Mora.
That was when Fremy spoke. “You know…,” she began. All present turned to her in surprise. “You’ve explained a lot so far. But is what you say really correct?”
Mora glared at her. “I do not speak based on speculation. All of this is most certainly accurate.”
“That’s not what I mean. Sorry, but you have no proof that you’re actually one of us.”
“…”
“I’m not the impostor,” said Fremy. “I’m not the seventh. The seventh is one of you. From my perspective, you’re just another suspect, Mora. You said if you kill the person who activated the barrier, the barrier will be lifted, and that a fiend can’t trigger the barrier…but I have no guarantee that what you say is true.”
Mora faltered. Adlet was taken by surprise. Mora’s background was so solid, he hadn’t suspected her. But Fremy was right—there was no guarantee that Mora’s assertions held up.
“Fremy, I think Mora is telling the truth,” said Nashetania.
“Yeah, Chamo thinks so, too,” agreed the young Saint.
“Oh? But you can’t forget that one among us is the enemy,” countered Fremy. “One of us is lying.”
“You’re the most suspicious among us right now, Fremy,” said Nashetania.
“I’m not the seventh. That’s all I can say right now.”
“Then who do you believe is the seventh?” Goldof asked. Fremy didn’t reply.
Gradually, the terrifying fact that an impostor stood among them began sinking in. One of them was an enemy; one of them was lying. They had to suspect everything, even the slightest remark. Conversely, if Adlet said something careless, he could become suspect as well. He had to be careful in order not to be deceived, not to be suspected, and not to mistake the truth for a lie.
That was when Chamo cut into the conversation. “Come on, this is getting to be way too much trouble. We just need to kill Fremy and get it over with, right?”
“That again?” Adlet was starting to get seriously pissed at Chamo, even if she was just a kid.
“It’s like Chamo keeps saying over and over,” she stressed, “there’s no one it could be but Fremy. She was obviously the one who turned on the barrier, too. Could you break her neck for us, big guy?”
Goldof shook his head. “Chamo, when the barrier was activated, Fremy was right there beside the princess and me. Even if she is the impostor, she couldn’t have triggered the barrier.”
“Oh. Then let’s torture the answers out of her. It’ll be new territory, but Chamo will try hard,” said the girl, and she put her foxtail to her lips.
Chills instantly shot down Adlet’s spine. He didn’t know what she would use that foxtail for, but he knew it would be absolutely terrifying. “Wait! Stop!” Adlet yelled, putting his hand on the sword at his waist.
“T-torture? You can’t do that! Goldof, stop Chamo!” Nashetania ordered.
Goldof seemed hesitant. “Your Highness, I believe that we have no other choice. It is for your protection. Adlet, escort Her Highness outside.”
“Goldof! How can you say that?!” Nashetania sounded extremely
