Jam, Tea, and Chaos Serpents

Oh my! Miss Rafina, these cookies are very delicious!

Mia happily expressed after another bite. The good thing about Mia is that if sweets are present, she can easily forget any ominous premonition. This is one of her strengths. Or maybe not?

Well, I am glad that you like them.

Rafina happily said while bringing her hands together in a clap. There was a good mood in the room, and it was filled with laughter. Then Rafina started talking.

By the way, that Jem guy you entrusted to me, I made sure to give him a sermon everyday as Mia suggested.

Oh, I feel sorry for that man but then again should I really be sorry?

Mia took a sip from her tea. Enchanted by the teas scent of fragrant flowers, she remembered Jems hateful face.

This feels good. I feel very refreshed. And here I thought there was something off.

Seeing Mia with a refreshing and cheerful smile, Rafina nodded while saying

Oh! So, you know all the time for whom he was working for! As expected of you, Mia.

Huh? Whos working for who?

Sion began speaking, taking away everyones attention from Mia who looked clueless.

What does you mean, Rafina-san. They are the spies from my Sunkland

Yes. They were Wind Crows, White Crows to be exact. Sunklands proud spy agency.

Rafina said with a bright smile.

Most of them were good and innocent spies who pledged allegiance to the country.

Good and innocent

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Everyone around was surprised at the way Rafina described them. Those descriptors are usually not associated with being a spy.

Nevertheless, Rafina continued in a light tone.

But that Jem he was the only one who is an exception. Everyone else had no problem to listening to me or reading the scriptures. But Jem alone showed a strong refusal and resistance to my sermons!

Resistance?

Mia was confused but also curious.

All the kingdoms in this region worship a single religion the Central Orthodox Church. And the centre of this religion is the Principality of Belluga. Their morality and beliefs were based on the Holy Book of Belluga. There may be slight differences due to local customs, but the overarching value system was deeply embedded within the vast majority of people.

Therefore, it should be normal if Rafinas sermons can be called boring because people are too familiar with it. It is very strange for anybody to be refusing and resisting it.

Working as a spy requires pragmatism, so even if they dont have religious belief, it should be easy for them to at least pretend to listen to the morality stories of a little girl. Jem, however

No, rather than just resisting it it was more like he was panicking.

People that have faith welcome Rafinas sermons. People who dont have faith can either listen to it or pretend to be indifferent. To be incapable of even ignoring it means that one has belief that is contrary to the preached faith. Which means

Oh no Is he a demoniac?

Tiona muttered fearfully.

Rafina was surprised to hear Tionas words.

Oh, thats right. I suppose there are such people.

God was opposed by an entity called the Archdemon. This Archdemon has lower ranking demons serving beneath him that could possess people. These possessed people are called demoniacs.

In the Principality of Belluga, exorcists are called to deal with those who are possessed.

But as far as I know, people who are possessed doesnt behave like that. They behave like wild beast rampaging. They usually dont form groups nor are they intellectually able to scheme like what Jem did. That is why I suspect Jems actions are motivated by something else entirely.

Something else? Based on the way you are saying it Rafina-san, it seems you already have an idea of what or who this something else is.

The latest_epi_sodes are on_the . website.

Abel said with a serious look. As a victim of the recent plot, the culprits true identity is very important for him.

By the way, Mia, who is also the victim on the previous timeline, was listening to all these revelations in a good mood. The reason for this is that Mia found a jam and was happily putting it into her tea. Mia is more interested in jam than Jem its not a pun.

Oh, sweet moons. I thought this tea and wild strawberry jam would go well, but it was more than that. This is exquisite.

Despite Mias discovery of tea and jam, the rest continued with the serious topic of Jem.

Yes. As Prince Abel said, Im suspecting that we are facing a threat that is more grounded in this physical world.

What do you mean by that?

Rafina paused a moment and gracefully took a sip of her tea. Then she continues in a quiet but clear voice.

In my Principality of Belluga, the Central Orthodox Church has an enemy who seek to destroy the world. They are a secret society who lurks behind the scenes. They are known as the Chaos Serpents.

Upon saying the name, the face of Rafina turned into a rare disgust.

Chaos Serpents Ive never heard of them before. Are they an evil cult?

Sion asked while frowning.

The worship of the Archdemon or the evil demons was not rare. Every now and then, an evil cult would appear. But they are usually shunned by people and so they would disappear like bubbles. Sion was asking if this Chaos Serpents were like that. However, Rafinas reply was crisp

Maybe but unfortunately, I dont know their exact doctrine. Rather, I know only two things about them. One is that they hate our divine scriptures. From this we can easily deduce that they worship the Archdemon.

Rafina cuts her words and looks around at the faces of everyone gathered

The second thing is that their goal is the complete destruction of any order humans created. I think this second thing, while theologically less significant, is a more realistic threat.

She told them in a heavy tone.

Destruction of order what exactly does that mean? (Sion)

Its all kinds of order. The country, the law, the culture, the academics even the peaceful daily order of activities.

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These people are enemies of the nations. No, enemies of the humanity as a whole. And these people are just allowed out in the free world to roam?

With a suspicious face, Abel asked.

Thats not the case, but they are everywhere. Sometimes nobles, sometimes merchants, sometimes peasants, sometimes civilians, and even commanders of the evil-cult subjugation army.

Rafina sighs annoyingly and shakes her head.

They are skilful in embedding themselves into our society. They are almost like spies. Although I didnt think to find one of them to be actually working as a spy.

They could be anywhere and anyone. And theres no way of telling who they are. Therefore, it is very difficult to deal with them.

Ordinary evil cults usually live in temples or gather together to live. Sometimes they band together and attack villages. But this makes them easy to stamp out. Whereas this Chaos Serpents seems to be more troublesome We dont know how to subdue themOh I see! So thats why you gathered us here today. Having already acted against the Chaos Serpents, you knew for certain that we are not among them

That was quick uptake. And I couldnt have said it any better, Prince Sion

Rafina nodded satisfactorily to Sions realization. Then she looked at Mia. In response to Rafinas gaze, Mia could feel cold sweat running through her back.

Huh? Am I caught again in one of those situations wherein I have no idea what they are talking but it is a bad idea to ask?

Mias cowardly instincts started kicking in. Sadly, it was too late for them. Mia was already involved when she was invited to this tea party. Or perhaps even earlier, when she proposed to push Jem towards Rafina during the Remno Kingdom incident.

Why am I even called here? Maybe she just wants me to update about Jem Thats right! Im sure it was important for us to know Jems background. And so, she is telling us. It has nothing to do with me specifically.

Mia was holding on to this thin sliver of hope. She looked back at Rafina who smiled at her.

Mia surely already knew this. But let me make it official. I, Rafina Orca Belluga, formally request all your aid in establishing a united font against the Chaos Serpents, as well as your participation to counter their activities.

Authors Note:

I hope to see you again on Friday

While translating this, I realized that Chaos Serpents can actually be translated to Good evening snakes so tell me if you want it to be called that way. Lol

And yes, you can actually add jam into your tea. Not to green tea, or Chinese tea, or any fancy tea. Those normal teas only. Add jam instead of sugar.

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