"The Royal Capital's Guardian Barrier was built using the physical body of a Saint...?"
Edward had apparently been unaware of that information as well, and he let out a startled cry.
In the game world, the barrier that was destroyed by the plot was always restored by the Saint's awakening. I had assumed it was just a convenient plot device, but there was a concrete reason for it after all.
"A past Sage who managed to access fragments of the [Akashic Records]—the texts left by the Ancient Sage—recorded a prophecy: the Reincarnated Saint would awaken in a specific year. That year is this one."
Wendy continued her explanation.
"By harnessing the power of the awakened Saint, it is possible to re-establish the Guardian Barrier and rewrite its authority."
"What happens to the Saint?" I asked.
In Edward’s route, Mariana restored the barrier using her Saint’s power. The epilogue clearly showed her living on to support the kingdom alongside Edward. That meant the process didn't have to be fatal; she had survived.
"I do not know the details," Wendy said, shaking her head. "However, House Pentagram and House Slash operate under the assumption that it doesn't matter what happens to Patricia Kindred. Their only goal is to obtain authority over the Guardian Barrier and use it to usurp the throne."
If Patricia's goal wasn't merely to steal the role of the protagonist, but to seize control of the barrier itself, then her decision to discard Edward made perfect sense. She didn't want a reverse harem; she wanted the throne.
Nation-stealing... she certainly has grand ambitions, Patricia Kindred.
It was just a guess, but she would likely survive even if she redeployed the barrier. She was a woman capable of manipulating those in power using only game knowledge; she wouldn't act unless she was confident she would make it out alive.
"So, they intend to unveil Patricia Kindred and rewrite the barrier during this month’s Sage Festival?"
"Exactly."
The plan would begin with an attack from the Duchy. With that as the signal, the barrier would be dropped. Then, Patricia would use her power as the Saint to restore the barrier and usurp its authority. As for how they would seize the throne from there, the logic was simple: to the citizens, the Guardian Barrier was a symbol of absolute safety. The conspirators could simply claim the current Royal Family had failed to maintain it.
It was absurd that a single barrier could destabilize an entire nation. Relying on such things only makes people weak.
"To think there was such a scheme..."
Edward maintained a somber air while Patricia’s name was mentioned, looking as though he were deep in thought. I wondered if he still harbored feelings for her.
"But the past is the past," he suddenly proclaimed. "The present is what matters. To have become the [Shadow] to your [Recklessness] like this... truly, it must be fate! Fuhaha!"
Never mind. He clearly didn't care. Damn that Patricia Kindred for foisting this absolute buffoon on me.
"Still," Edward said, his mood shifting instantly, "I doubt our neighbor, the Continent Duchy, will simply dance to the tunes of House Pentagram and House Slash. Do you know anything more about that, Wendy?"
The sheer emotional whiplash of his personality was exhausting.
"I understand why the Continent Duchy—who were driven out of the Royal Capital by the Royal Family in the past—would cooperate in a coup. But there's no way they would help just to hand everything over to the Marquess families, right?"
I expected as much; they’d likely attack the moment the barrier fell. That was always how it went in the game. The Duchy was a nation that lived for any chance to strike at the Capital.
"Our consensus within [Bloody Week] is that they are indeed aiming for the throne," Wendy replied. "However, once I left the barrier, my blood contract was severed. This is strictly a deduction. The Duchy only cares about gaining authority over the barrier. They have built their strength on a policy of not relying on it, using the Brave blood as their crucible."
The Brave Territory was essentially their training ground. I’d thought it was just local skirmishes, but we were caught in the crossfire of a national conflict. Unbelievable.
"My role in [Blood Week]," Wendy continued, "was to ensure the Duchy didn't overreach while the barrier was being reset. The Marquess families are naturally wary of them, which is why they sent me to warn House Brave—the one variable they feared—to stay off the stage."
"If they had said nothing, I wouldn't have known to interfere. It was a massive blunder on their part," I remarked. Did those families hate House Brave that much?
"Precisely," Wendy said. "But more than that, they despise the idea of the Sage, the Saint, and the Hero’s line—the Brave bloodline—all gathering in one place."
"Hmph! Naturally!" Edward interjected, puffing out his chest with unearned pride. "With the Brave blood involved, any disturbance is bound to draw them out to annihilate the enemy. They would tear the very stage the conspirators built to pieces!"
Wendy shot him a look of pure disgust before returning to her stoic mask.
"Hero this, hero that..." I muttered. "What are you even talking about?"