"They've dealt with the enemies. We have secured all the evidence and are ready to sweep in, Your Holiness." A paladin kneeled in front of the Pope.
"I see." The Pope's expression turned solemn. "You have my permission. Don't forget. Although I have killed his demon, you shouldn't underestimate him."
"Yes. I will definitely capture him." The paladin nodded.
"Understood." The paladin lowered his head before taking his leave.
Meanwhile, the Pope looked up with a smile. "I see. They have done another great thing again. To think they're able to defeat opponents of that level. It won't be long before they will be able to kill a warrior class alien by themselves.
"I have heard about it from Sullivan… I guess they're aiming for the Bloodstone." The Pope looked down. "I guess I will tell Serafina about the Bloodstone as a reward as well."
While the Pope was wiping the Holy Kingdom clean, Nathan was bringing the children back to their city.
Of course, Nidhogg was the one flying them back while Anubis was present to carry all the treasures with his bandages.
"They're building a massive city?"
"Oi! Don't go toward the edge. You're going to fall!"
The children couldn't contain their excitement after seeing the city from the sky.
Iris looked at it carefully before asking, "Are you not going to make the wall, my lord?"
"A wall, huh?" Nathan shook his head. "It's not necessary, from what I see for the time being. The ash has made it hard for people to travel and we haven't installed the teleportation circle in that city, meaning it hasn't been connected to the rest of the world yet.
"That's why it's not necessary to have a wall yet," Nathan thought briefly. "Well, if I want to have a wall, I do have some designs in mind."
"Designs? Don't we just build a square wall? The bigger, the better." She tilted her head in confusion.
Now that he thought about it, the wall in this world was just square. Although they had some basic fortifications like trenches, there wasn't a lot of innovation yet.
Nathan raised a finger. "I'm thinking about creating a star fortress or to put it simply, a bastion."
"A bastion?" It was a term she had never heard before, even in her family.
"Yes. It's basically a fortification by building it at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow attacks in several directions." Nathan drew a bastion shape by changing the form of his ena. "Something .
"We can even create a second wall at a different angle, as well as ditches."
She couldn't help but gasp. "Such a thing… If the aliens attack from this tip… they will end up getting destroyed because the two tips on the sides can hit it. However, if they choose the gap in between, two of the walls can still rain down their attacks on them.
"This is basically a killing zone. And if we add ditches, we can actually create an impenetrable fortress.
"Of course, there's a problem with higher-level aliens, but this might be a future fortress design. A bastion, huh?" Iris blinked her eyes in disbelief.
"My lord… You are so wise. How are you able to think of something ?"
"Ahaha…" Nathan just looked away.
Iris thought for a moment. "Can I say something?"
Iris hesitated. "If you wish to build such a thing… Can I… actually participate in it?"
"Participate? Why?" Nathan looked amused.
"It's just…" Iris scratched the back of her head. "Although it's true that I was too young to read all the scriptures of my family, I have read a lot of them.
"I wonder if I can participate and create a barrier to tweak it further."
Nathan fell into deep thought. He wanted to perfect it himself, but this was a fortification, not his technique.
There might be no need to bring his value on this topic. Hence, Nathan nodded, "Sure. I don't mind. However, you have to study hard and make me able to trust your words."
"I will do my best!" Iris' eyes brightened.
Nathan chuckled. "We're about to descend. Once we land, I will have someone arrange your accommodation.
"Although I don't need to explain it to you, I plan to have these kids pick up something. This way, they will have a skill that might make them important in the future.
"Even if they can't become someone big, being able to earn money and lead an honest life is not a bad thing either."
Iris nodded. "I understand, my lord. I will definitely make sure that they lead a decent life. If not for circumstances, we wouldn't have become thieves.
"Besides, there are a lot of activities inside the town. We should be able to help the people and gradually pick up the skills."
"En. I will tell someone to arrange it. This way, they should be more open to accepting children. Still, those who are too young should focus on study." Nathan raised a finger.
"Yes. Being able to study is considered a luxury. However, even if it's basic math, it will allow them to have more opportunities in the future. I'm grateful for my lord's arrangement." Iris lowered her head politely.
Nathan nodded. "As for you, you can focus on your study and development. Becoming a summoner is important, so work hard."
"I will not disappoint you."
Nathan smiled. "In that case, let's descend. Nidhogg!"
"I know." Nidhogg gradually lowered the altitude. Because he was bringing children on his back, he had to move as smoothly as possible so that they didn't get thrown off.
Nathan and the others jumped off Nidhogg's body before helping the kids down.
Iris couldn't help but raise her head, looking at the city up close. After experiencing all that hardship caused by human stupidity, she never thought she could finally lead a decent life again.
She swore that she would work hard for the sake of her future as well as everyone's lives.