The world of Gaia was split into seven great superkingdoms and seven religions, each aligned with one sin and one virtue.
Among them, Gluttony Foss—ruled under the authority of Echidna—was unquestionably the most powerful.
But the realm with the widest variety of races was the Wratharis Republic, homeland of the beast-kin and famously called the "kingdom of a hundred clans."
Wratharis followed the religion of Patientia, the virtue of patience, while its royal bloodline embodied Ira—the sin of wrath.
Blessed with vast lands and abundant resources, Wratharis prospered. Its coastal position had shaped it into a nation dependent on maritime trade, renowned as the world's greatest supplier of seafood. Only Slothstein surpassed it in overall wealth.
---
"Miko-sama! Miko-sama! Something incredible just came in!"
A young girl in white and red shrine maiden robes sprinted through the old temple halls, shock etched across her expression. Her blue eyes and golden hair stood out… but even more striking were the two fluffy golden tails swaying behind her and the fox ears twitching anxiously atop her head.
"Miko-sama!"
"Quiet."
Just as she reached the entrance to the main hall, an older voice silenced her sharply.
Once the girl fell quiet, the voice continued with a weary sigh.
"Sakura, how many times must I remind you? As my heir—and the next Miko—you must remain composed and dignified at all times."
The doors slid open to reveal a mature, stunning woman.
She had long golden hair, fox ears, whisker marks, and six shimmering tails. A loose kimono draped over her figure, revealing generous curves, and a monocle perched over one eye. In one hand she casually held a large gourd filled with some unknown liquor.
Her manner seemed bored, though elegance still clung to her every movement. But the moment she took a swig from her gourd—
"But Miko-sama! The Anbu just reported this—A Saint Fall was performed in Lustburg!"
—she choked violently.
"Pfft! Cough Cough—Dammit! How many times have I told you not to drop news like that while I'm drinking sake!?"
Sakura reddened while her dignified leader unleashed a string of curses that destroyed any trace of grace.
Once Kiku recovered, she turned away from Sakura and addressed the shadows.
"Ginkaku. Kinkaku."
"Kiku-sama!"
Two figures dressed head to toe in black appeared silently beside her. Their gender could still be easily guessed from their silhouettes—both were women.
Kiku plopped down unceremoniously onto a floor mat, crossed her legs, and took another deep drink.
"Ahh… that hits right." Her flushed face turned toward her two elite kunoichi. "Explain."
One stepped forward and knelt respectfully.
"As Sakura-sama said, word arrived from our spies in Lustburg. Several witnesses reported a massive pillar of light rising above the Church of Castitas. Based on prior intelligence, we estimate with 90% certainty that the ritual was indeed a Saint Fall."
Kiku's brows tightened before she exhaled slowly.
"And that ambitious young pup—he's heard about it, hasn't he?"
The second kunoichi answered.
"Yes. Even weakened after the events thirteen years ago, Lupus Ira still holds firm control."
Kiku groaned loudly and drank again.
"So skirmishes are inevitable. Damn it… Why did that girl use that spell? She doesn't even have an heir yet."
The seven religions weren't enemies, nor allies—tension existed simply because all fourteen goddesses operated under the Goddess of Order, making holy wars pointless.
"And that spoiled brat Patientia… would it have killed her to warn me? Another one of their twisted games, I'm sure…"
The three others pretended not to hear their Miko openly insulting the goddess she was supposed to serve. Judging from their expressionless faces, this certainly wasn't the first time.
Kiku sighed again.
"Whatever. Increase surveillance on that pup. He'll definitely stir up trouble in Lustburg. We fought too hard to keep peace—no way I'm letting some arrogant bastard ruin it."
With that, she rose and returned to her chambers.
"Dismissed."
"Yes!"
---
The imperial capital mirrored the symbol of yin and yang, split into two sweeping halves. The temple lay in the yin region; within the yang half towered the imperial castle.
The castle itself was crafted from a rare elven wood as tough as metal and highly conductive to mana. Structures built with it made magical formations easier to install and far more powerful—though acquiring such wood cost a fortune.
Inside the grand hall of the castle, a scene remarkably similar to that of the temple unfolded.
Two armored figures knelt before a man seated on a vast throne of gold, diamonds, and mana stones.
He was of average height with distinctive golden hair.
Eyes closed, he radiated an oppressive pressure that weighed heavily on the two samurai. When he finally opened them, the pressure vanished, replaced by a bright smile.
"My loyal samurai! This king is delighted. It appears the time for war has finally arrived."
The two warriors stiffened. The Wratharis Republic might have a king, but as a semi-democracy, every powerful clan held voting rights—especially the kitsune and blue wolf clans, each possessing three votes and a veto.
The king had considerable authority, but declaring war…?
"What? You disagree?"
The simple question froze their blood.
They remembered: they were soldiers. They weren't meant to think.
They dropped into a deep dogeza.
"Forgive us, Your Highness! Your will shall be carried out!"
Fear drenched them. Thirteen years ago, he had killed his own brother and sold his niece into slavery just to secure the throne. Killing two low-ranking samurai would be effortless.
"Hmph! Be grateful. This king has no interest in dealing with trash like you right now. Prepare the convention. I wish to see whether that old fox dares to oppose me again."
Bzzzt—Bzzzt
Golden sparks crackled through the air as his irritation flared, though the throne absorbed and redirected the electricity safely.
The samurai scrambled to leave before his wrath turned fatal.
"Wait."
They froze.
"Y-yes?"
'This is it… we're dead…'
"My worthless niece is still hiding in the Luxuria Kingdom, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then bring her back. She should be of age. It's time she became useful—she will bear a child for this king. Only our royal bloodline can create someone even more gifted."
He said it casually, as though asking his niece to conceive his child were no more unusual than requesting tea.
---
The world was stirring—not just Wratharis, but all five remaining kingdoms.
A Saint Fall meant the death of a Supreme Daughter. Each one was a force capable of shifting the tid
e of war. Losing her dealt a devastating blow to that kingdom's power.
What repercussions would arise from Camelia invoking such a spell?