Seeing the look in Theresa's eyes, Tifa and Lainer understood her meaning.
Since Theresa was confident she could handle this matter, they naturally had no reason to object.
But before that, there was one more thing they needed to brief Theresa, the leader, about.
And if the dragon was already under Bishop Theresa's control, perhaps they could try a different approach.
"Lady Theresa, do you recall those two individuals who opened the door without authorization earlier?" Lainer said.
"I remember. The two botanists sent from India, right?" Theresa nodded, assuming he was about to tell her they had already been dealt with.
"There's unfortunate news. Those two's actions may not have been of their own volition, but were guided by a demon."
As an American, even as a materialist, Lainer had grown up with enough cultural influence to harbor some religious reservations.
It was like how no matter how much we might not believe in certain old superstitions, we still avoid provoking them on purpose.
And in a world of gods and dragons, demons were simply part of that materialist reality.
"Huh?"
Theresa's first reaction was disbelief—was he joking, or had he actually bought some obvious lie? But she quickly considered the possibility.
And honestly, it seemed quite plausible.
Moreover, the fact that they had returned to their senses now was likely due to the divine blessing barrier dispelling the demon's influence.
"Where are they now?"
"I tied them up."
Lainer glanced toward the reconnaissance team not far away. "Bring those two over!"
Hoping to spot something unusual, Theresa examined the two carefully but still couldn't draw any useful conclusions.
The only thing she could confirm was that they weren't lying—their earlier actions hadn't been intentional.
"Could it really be a demon…"
Lainer's expression darkened considerably, because this meant a demon had likely already taken notice of them.
"It could be a demon, or it could be brainwashing or hypnosis."
Theresa didn't jump to a definite answer.
She hadn't expected to spot anything unusual right away—she simply wanted to see for herself whether they were telling the truth.
As for detecting magical energy, that might have been possible before activating the Elysion Pedion, but now it was out of the question.
"Lady Theresa, I have… a proposal."
Lainer took a deep breath before continuing.
"How about we return first? This time, we should bring more people—maybe even commission magical girls."
Commissioning magical girls was actually a last resort, because involving them would inevitably mean dealing with their magical mascots. And once the mascots knew about the situation, the evil organization would find out too.
While secrets never stayed hidden forever, commissioning magical girls would definitely speed up that timeline.
"…Commissioning magical girls should have been a final measure, but given the current situation, we really can't afford to hesitate."
Theresa nodded in agreement, which brightened the expressions of both Lainer and Tifa.
"Then we'll head back now… or rather, after we resolve the residents' housing situation…?" Lainer began planning out the timeline.
"But right now, we have no way to return."
Theresa's voice cut through his train of thought.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Lainer hadn't expected that response. He reached for the 'key' at his waist in confusion.
"I'm sorry… Due to Elysion Pedion, the key should have entered a silent state. Its functions rely on both magical and electrical energy—the barrier nullifies both. While we could recharge the batteries later… we currently have no means to do so."
Theresa's voice was low, and her words left the reconnaissance team feeling somewhat hopeless.
"So, if we want to return, we'll have to wait for the other side to come looking for us."
"This…"
That outcome weighed on everyone like a heavy stone.
There was a psychological difference between having something you chose not to use and not being able to use it at all.
Even though everyone had mentally prepared for an extended stay here, not being able to leave immediately was still…
"Then… how long until the other side notices something is wrong?" Lainer asked.
"I have the Valkyries send messages through the gate to the other side every four days. So, in two more days, Schicksal will know about our situation. But assembling a rescue team… that will likely take some time…"
"I see… Understood."
Lainer nodded, quickly adjusting his mindset.
The reconnaissance team members had no other choice either.
In this situation, all they could do was continue with their mission. And the immediate task was to ensure their survival, so they joined the town residents in collecting water from the stream.
Compared to the townspeople, who had little wilderness experience and had brought almost nothing with them, the reconnaissance team—though not carrying heavy gear—had essentials like canteens, lighters, and Swiss Army knives as part of their standard kit, all of which came in handy now.
Seeing that water collection was nearly complete, Lainer looked toward Theresa.
"We should find a spot near the water source, and then have Ilulu dig a suitable cave in the nearby mountains," Theresa said.
"A cave? One large enough for two thousand people?"
Lainer initially doubted the scale of such a project, but remembering that dragons were capable of leveling mountains, he didn't press further.
"A temporary shelter for two thousand people would need to be about the size of a football field."
Theresa continued, "Once I regain some strength, I'll go back to the town to check on that dragon's condition. If all goes well, we can start repairing the town tomorrow."
"We'll follow your lead."
Lainer naturally had no objections—by now, he held Theresa in high regard.
As for the Valkyries, it went without saying—most of them were practically superfans of Theresa. Even if Theresa took risks, unless she gave a firm order, the Valkyries couldn't really oppose her.
Since the next steps were decided, there was no need to let Ilulu sleep any longer.
Theresa quietly released the Oath of Judah's restraints on Ilulu. The sensation of magic flowing back was intensely soothing, and Ilulu quickly regained consciousness.
Just as her awareness fully returned, Theresa coldly tightened the Oath of Judah's bindings again.
The sudden shift from comfort back to discomfort left Ilulu feeling irritated and unsettled.
She opened her eyes, annoyed, and only when she noticed Theresa's concerned expression did she remember what had happened.
'Right… I was defeated by a human…'
Realizing this, Ilulu felt somewhat deflated, yet also strangely relieved, as if a weight had been lifted—a sort of 'whatever happens, happens' resignation.
Seeing her awake but silent, Theresa decided to break the ice. "Ilulu, are you alright?"
"Now hurry up and get to work."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.