I blinked. It felt like a long time ago, even though it wasn’t.

“Is that enough qualification?”

“It’s enough for no one to blatantly kick you out in front of me.”

My head ached.

‘Is this okay…’

While I was worrying, people started entering the conference room three by three.

Among them, I recognized only two.

William and Tobias.

The others were faces I had seen once or twice as they passed by.

Most of them were surprised to see me but didn’t dare to ask directly, except for one who gathered the courage.

“Is the Saintess also attending today’s conference?”

“Yes. She will continue to attend in the future, so know that.”

No one asked again after that.

I shifted uncomfortably.

I couldn’t say it was because of Schuzachin’s threat, but the atmosphere inside the castle that had been friendly to me was rapidly changing.

Of course, it was becoming hostile.

The person who was most against me…

‘It’s Sir William.’

I smiled bitterly.

He had shown signs of disliking me from the start, but that didn’t mean this situation wasn’t uncomfortable.

‘I wish it would end soon.’

Unfortunately, the conference lasted over three hours. Considering Hades’s schedule, it usually wouldn’t have gone on for so long, but today seemed particularly serious.

“Will you rely on luck as last time?”

The voice of Typical, a Count who came from a territory near the duchy, grew loud.

“You may not know, living luxuriously in the castle, but there are people outside! Every time the demons attack, my people lose their homes!”

“Luxuriously? What do you mean by that?”

An elderly bureaucrat bristled.
“The castle is the very barrier that keeps the demons at bay, is it not? You should be grateful that you’re not even slightly harmed thanks to His Grace, the Duke, and stop whining about several houses being destroyed!”

The bureaucrat spoke with a face filled with irritation, brandishing his cane.

“If you feel so sorry, then take the money out of the Count’s hefty coffers!”

I glanced at Hades.

He was staring at the opposite side with a dry and inscrutable expression, seemingly having no intention to resolve the situation.

I sighed.

The most problematic issue was whether to build a barrier behind the Duke’s castle in preparation for the invasion of the demons.

Although the Duke’s castle protected the people, including Hades, a significant number of houses were collapsing due to the demons breaking formation or the quakes caused by the battle itself.

The problem was that if a barrier were erected, the Duke’s castle would be completely isolated.

“The ingratitude…”

Naturally, the reaction from those inside the castle was not favorable. I could understand why.

While we were fighting for our lives, they were demanding a barrier to protect their collapsed homes and dead livestock.

“Let’s say everything the Count says is correct. Then who will build the barrier? And who will finance it?”

Another official chimed in.

“The demons will surely attack the barrier, so where will the repairs come from?”

The typical Count did not back down.

“Obviously, we must contribute from the whole Donovan. Is this a problem only for my territory or the Duke’s castle?”

I frowned. The Count’s words were undoubtedly right.

Now we were only suffering damage to buildings and livestock, but there was no telling when there might be casualties.

‘…There is a solution, but it’s not the time to talk about it now.’

I had thought of a solution for quite some time.

As soon as I figured out what they were fighting for, I thought of the solution.

But I had no intention of expressing my opinion right now.

After the meeting, I would quietly talk to Hades and let him propose the solution at the next meeting. That would be much better.

However, my plan was quickly shattered.

“What are your thoughts, Holy Lady?”

Suddenly, no one but William, the Knight, asked for my opinion.

‘Is he… mocking me?’

But William was a serious person.

Though he might dislike and oppose me, he was someone who wouldn’t let personal feelings influence official matters.

I chose my words carefully.

I had to solidify my position until the delegation returned, and I didn’t want to be hated for saying the wrong thing in a situation so complex.

“It’s such a difficult issue that I don’t think I can offer an opinion.”

“If we don’t listen to the opinion of the one who has protected us from the demons, whose opinion should we listen to?”

William was more persistent than I expected. Just as I was about to say that I couldn’t think of anything, an unexpected voice was heard.

“The Knight is right.”

Hades looked straight at me.

“It’s rare to find someone who has faced the demons as brilliantly as Angel. So, Angel, what’s the plan you’ve been pondering since earlier?”

…When did this man learn to read minds?