Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Obsessed by the Pope's Daughter (2)
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-Tonight, before the moon passes overhead, at the temple of the guardian gods at the entrance to the holy site.
A letter with nothing else written on it.
I stared at it blankly for a long while.
"...What an impatient Knight Commander."
The sender was, of course, Aselina Radain.
Who else would send me a letter like this, anyway?
No way it was the Ferris Duke, smitten by my arm-in-arm flirting, sending a shy love letter full of longing to call me out, right?
And the even more absurd part was...
"Spreading rumors to manipulate public opinion that very night, and immediately summoning the person involved?"
Like sowing seeds in the field in the morning and harvesting in the evening?
"Ha..."
Observing her actions up to now, one hypothesis about her had been slowly forming in my mind.
"...No. It can't be."
If that hypothesis was true, things would really get headache-inducing.
...Wait a minute. Come to think of it...
"Aurelion."
-Yes, Master.
"Did you happen to see who delivered this letter?"
The holy sword doesn't sleep.
She must have seen the intruder.
-...Yeah. I did.
"Then why didn't you wake me?"
-I tried to...
"And?"
-...You wouldn't wake up. Master, you rode a carriage all the way to the holy capital, got caught up in an incident right away, so you were exhausted. You were sleeping so deeply that even when I called you loudly, you didn't wake up.
"Oh dear."
-B-but it was fine! From the moment the intruder entered the bedroom, I watched to make sure they didn't do anything weird! Luckily, they just left the letter.
"...If I didn't hear you trying to wake me, there's nothing to be done. Got it."
I must have been sleeping pretty deeply.
"Did you see what they looked like?"
-No... I didn't. They were covered head to toe in a black robe.
"Hmm. That's a shame. If you'd seen their face, I could've used it to grill Aselina later."
-...Sorry.
"It's fine. No big deal. These things happen."
-Really, really sorry, Master. I couldn't be of any help...
"I said it's okay."
-B-but I did my best? Really! And if the intruder had tried anything weird on you, I would've driven them off with my power of light! If that didn't work, even if it meant abandoning my holy sword status, I'd have used demonic power!
"No, I get it already..."
-So don't abandon me, Master? I'll work even harder from now on, okay? Please... Sob...
...She's having another mental breakdown.
"I won't abandon you."
-...Really?
"Really."
-For real?
"If you doubt me one more time, I might just consider it."
-N-no! I believe you! I do. ...Hehe.
What a troublesome holy sword...
But hey, this comes with the territory of being her master, I suppose.
"In return, make sure you protect me properly this time too. Got it?"
-Are you going to the place written in the letter?
"Have to, don't I? No choice."
-Got it! Just trust me!
I smirked with one corner of my mouth raised and sheathed the boldly assuring holy sword at my waist.
'Before the moon passes overhead' meant before midnight,
'Temple of the guardian gods at the entrance to the holy site' referred to the 'Temple of Purification' where I'd performed the ritual upon entering the holy site.
So the letter's message was: 'Come to the Temple of Purification before midnight.'
You might wonder why they phrased such a simple summons so mysteriously and grandly, but what can you do?
That's just how the upper crust talks.
They have to pretend to be refined, all while expressing their ugly true intentions, so their expressions end up all twisted and pretentious.
Anyway, grumbling such pointless complaints inwardly, I walked through the darkened inn.
The temple at night, with no one around, was utterly silent.
'You'd expect guards or night watchmen, but not even running into them means... Aselina must've pulled some strings again.'
I'd been counting on calling for help if needed, but looks like one escape route's blocked.
-Master. We're here.
I stopped at the holy sword's voice.
The massive doors of the temple I'd seen yesterday.
Giving them a light push, they creaked open slowly.
I entered just like that.
A grand temple where thirteen massive statues overlooked the center.
The Temple of Purification was exactly as I remembered, but with the night's darkness overlaid, it exuded a strange sense of intimidation.
And in the center of the temple, atop the spot where the sacred magic circle was drawn, someone stood.
Moonlight streaming down from the stained-glass ceiling.
Aselina Radain's beautiful golden hair and silver armor gleamed in that moonlight, sparkling in contrasting lights.
Time to don the mask of the Duke of the North again.
"You have unusual tastes. Choosing a place like this for our meeting."
Praying my voice wouldn't tremble from tension, I addressed her as casually as possible.
"Wouldn't it be better to have as few witnesses to this secret rendezvous as possible?"
"I have nothing shameful to hide from Lord God Juten and the twelve guardian gods."
"Even spreading false rumors and breaking into someone's lodging without permission?"
"How was it? My gift. For you, coming from the North... such refined central political maneuvers must have been a bit bewildering, no?"
Her face half-shadowed, Aselina smiled like some scheming mastermind.
"But all of this is for my sacred goal. Even the gods will understand."
"Your sacred goal. Becoming the Saintess?"
"..."
The confident smile vanished from Aselina's face in an instant.
"Mind your words."
"My apologies. I didn't mean to mock."
Her expressions sure turn fierce fast.
"...Fine. I know what kind of person you are."
"What kind?"
"Arrogant and bold. Yet at the same time, cunning to the extreme."
Thud, thud.
She walked from the temple's center toward where I stood at the entrance.
"I could only admire your exploits. Capturing His Holiness the Pope's favor, chosen by the holy sword—the new Duke of the North."
Now the distance between us was no more than a handspan.
"Up to that point, sure, you could chalk it up to insanely good luck."
I'd just hit the nail on the head.
If misfortune counts as luck, that is.
"But the boldness and confidence you showed against the Ferris Duke at the assembly's eve banquet... that clearly proves your achievements weren't mere luck."
She smiled again.
This time, a friendly smile that seemed to say 'I like you?', yet still laced with arrogance.
"Impressive. You've proven your worth. To me, Aselina Radain, the next Saintess."
She spread her arms wide, thrusting out her chest as if to say 'Behold me'.
...Which, unfortunately, emphasized certain massive, rather indecent assets in this sacred temple, but I pretended not to notice.
"This armor I'm wearing now. Do you see it?"
The brilliantly shining silver armor.
On its right shoulder was engraved a red rose emblem.
"This is a sacred relic permitted only to the Captain of the Rose Knight Order. I don't wear it just anywhere. Do you understand what that means?"
"...Who knows."
"It means I'm treating you with the utmost formality. That I consider you that important."
She extended her hand.
For the second time, following our first meeting yesterday.
"Come now. This time, you'll take my hand, won't you? Let's advance together."
"..."
"Of course, I'm not the type to just take without giving. I promise you this: help me become Saintess, and I'll grant you commensurate rewards."
I stared down at her right hand, gloved in silver, extended toward me.
'...Bingo.'
Tragically, my prediction about her had hit the mark.
'She's ridiculously impatient. And utterly inept at politics.'
Spreading baseless rumors, sneaking into someone's room to leave a letter—that's 'refined political maneuvering'?
'And she doesn't even realize it herself. She thinks she's reeled me in with masterful tactics, and firmly believes she's so impressive that I'll join her side.'
The core of negotiation has two elements.
Showing what benefits you can provide if they join you,
And simultaneously threatening what disadvantages they'll suffer if they refuse.
Yet Aselina offered nothing concrete beyond vaguely promising to 'grant' rewards if she became Saintess.
To show sincerity, instead of this flashy performance of showing up in armor, she should have proposed specific benefits for my territory.
Her threats are clumsy too.
Threatening me to take her hand or else, while trying to hold me with amateur politics.
She's swinging the whip wildly, but can't even land a proper hit.
A leader doing foolish things without realizing it. In other words...
'The absolute last type you want as a boss...!'
I could already see the endless headaches if I joined hands with Aselina.
No, getting entangled in politics at all would be nothing but trouble.
I'm busy enough reviving the Northern Territory—where's the time to get distracted by central power struggles?
And if she becomes Saintess, fine, but if she fails...
I didn't even want to imagine the backlash.
'Anyway, my best-case scenario for this Holy Capital Assembly is making some connections for moderate inter-territory exchanges and bolting back to the Northern Territory.'
Getting involved in the Saintess race is pure loss, and personally, I want no more nuisances.
"..."
But seeing Aselina's bold expression right in front of me stirred another conviction.
This woman is a pain.
A different kind from the holy sword, but still—who knows what tantrum she'll throw if I refuse.
-Master, that's mean! Comparing me to a girl like that...
"...?"
Aselina, still holding out her hand, tilted her head slightly.
Time was short.
I had to think.
How to get out of this without getting on her bad side.