Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: For Elise
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Three days had passed since I started investigating the slums. During that time, I'd changed into shabby clothes once to dig into their daily lives, and I'd also tried approaching them in plain everyday attire.
There weren't any real breakthroughs.
I'd just picked up a few more mentions of that keyword: "Eternal Life cult."
That's how my days went—mornings to afternoons canvassing the slums, then heading to the library afterward to research this world's religions. Everything else in my routine stayed the same as always.
Back at the inn, the three of us would have sex and stuff.
What else is there to do for fun in this world?
Claudy was avoiding the black mage, and Winia had started commuting to the Magic Tower to learn new spells, so I'd naturally ended up going solo.
Today, I headed out alone again from the morning.
My first stop was the Adventurer's Guild.
I'd been checking every morning to see if Lina was around. She'd grown up pickpocketing in the slums, so she had to know the area inside out. That's when I stepped into the back of the guild.
A quick scan of the room, and there she was—a petite nun in familiar robes with red hair, sitting at a table.
"...Elise?"
A surge of overwhelming joy hit me, and I yelled out on impulse.
"Elise! Eliiiiseeeeeee—!!!!!!"
"...Saint?"
My shout drew every eye in the guild straight to me. Elise turned to look too. It really was her! My divine friend! I kicked off the ground and launched myself at her like a rocket.
"What the—?! Why are you back here?! This is fucking awesome!!!"
I slammed my hands on both ends of her table, shoving my face right up to hers and exploding with words. Flustered, Elise glanced around before replying.
"Y-You seem really happy to see me...?"
"Of course I'm happy! How could I not be seeing you?!"
"W-Well... I mean..."
The crowd murmured. Probably because I'd yelled so loud—other adventurers started glaring and whispering among themselves. Elise's face flushed a bit.
This wasn't the best spot to show how thrilled I was.
"Hey, let's head outside first."
"S-Saint, wait...!"
I grabbed her hand and pulled her out. She followed reluctantly, letting me lead like I was kidnapping her. I dragged her a good distance from the guild.
"Man, it's been forever! Way too long, right? Aren't you happy to see me?"
"...Ahem. Of course I am, Saint. It's been about a month, I think... Could you let go of my hand first so we can talk...?"
"Oh, still holding on? Damn, has it really been a whole month already?"
I let go of Elise's hand. Something clicked in my head just then—we had so much to catch up on. What luck! Screw Lina now; with Elise, I had everything I needed!
"Anyway, had breakfast yet?"
"I haven't eaten yet..."
"Then let's grab food first. Anything you want? My treat!"
Elise was totally thrown by my enthusiastic affection. She started mumbling about how she should be the one buying, or how she'd already eaten on me last time, but I cut her off.
"Hold up."
Something I'd always wanted to do.
"I'll shout 'Divine!' super loud and stick out my arm. You shout 'Friend!' super loud and stick out yours too. Got it?"
Our arms would cross into a cross—the ultimate symbol of friendship!
"Huh? What do you...?"
"Ready? Here we go!"
I ignored her confusion and took a massive breath.
Lungs full to bursting!
And release!
"Diiiiiviiiiiiiine—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
My voice boomed like an explosion, drawing stares from every passerby. Elise flailed, trying to calm me down.
"S-Saint! Please lower your voice...!"
But...
It wouldn't work.
I wouldn't yield, hesitate, or waver.
That's who Kim Katt is.
"Diiiiiviiiiiiiine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Like a mandrake screaming in a horror flick, I kept yelling and thrusting my arm out. I could see Elise's face turning redder by the second.
Come on!
Make the cross with me, Elise!
That's the only way to stop me...!
"Uh, um... Th-That..."
"Diiiiiviiiiiiiine!!!!!!!!!!"
"F-Fuh... Frieeeend..."
Finally, her face as red as her hair, Elise muttered it reluctantly in a tiny voice and stuck out her arm. Our arms crossed into a cross, but it still lacked soul!
Not enough spirit...!
"Louder! Our friendship's worth more than that! Again! Diiiiiviiiiine!!!"
"F-Frienduuuh...!"
"Still not enough! Again! Diiiiiviiiiine!!!"
"FRIEEEEND!!!!"
Now we're talking!
Elise's face was on the verge of exploding!
More dynamite!
"Perfect! That's the spirit! This time for real!!!"
"A-Again?!"
"Diiiiiviiiiiiiine!!!!!!!!!!"
"S-Stop already! Everyone's staring...!"
"Divine!!!!!!"
"F-Friiiiend...!!!"
"That's it!"
—Shlick!
With that, our true friendship was sealed.
I held the cross pose, gazing at Elise with resolute determination. She was beet red, mumbling and avoiding my eyes—it was adorable.
How long passed in that silence? Finally, Elise calmed down and spoke.
"Hoo... H-How embarrassing. Doing this first thing in the morning..."
"What's wrong with it? I was happy to see you. Weren't you?"
"Of course I was, but we should avoid actions that might offend others."
"Damn, that hurts. Disappointed in you, Elise. Is that all our friendship means to you?!"
"N-No! That's not what I meant!"
"Kidding! We're besties!"
"..."
What a cute girl.
Anyway, I had tons to tell Elise.
Updates since last time, why she was back in Isvant, and the Eternal Life cult I was investigating now. Better to chat over food nearby than stand here.
Perfect timing since she hadn't eaten breakfast.
"Let's grab some grub. My treat. Forget last time. It wasn't like I bought it expecting anything back. Oh, and we got a lot to talk about... Super curious why you're here. Eh, we can chat over food. Let's go."
"Still, I can't keep accepting your favors..."
"It's fine! We're Divine! Friends!!!!"
"Ugh, you're extra embarrassing today, Saint...!"
We headed straight to a nearby restaurant. Elise hemmed and hawed about not letting me pay, but no way! I ordered two portions of what I wanted right away.
Once seated, my hyped-up energy settled down a bit.
Reading the mood, Elise placed a hand on her chest and exhaled.
"Hoo, you're moving way too fast, Saint. Please calm down a little."
"I just did. That was just 'cause I was so excited to see you."
"...Same here. And for the meal... I'll gratefully accept."
"Yeah, yeah."
We waited for the food.
What to start with? As I opened my mouth, Elise held out her palm like she was soothing a wild beast.
"Saint. Promise me one thing. No sudden shouting. I get you're happy, and I feel the same, but yelling during a meal isn't good."
"I'm already calm. Don't worry."
"Then I'll trust you."
She smiled at my firm answer.
A genuine, age-appropriate girl's smile.
"Alright, what to talk about first... Why'd you come all this way?"
"I should explain that first. Didn't you tell me last time how you smashed a heretic ritual site in the city's sewers?"
"Yeah."
I'd told her that when we went after the Kobold Queen. Wonder how that turned out. I'd reported it to the church once and forgotten about it. Used up all the high-grade holy water from it too.
"When I told the church, they ordered me to investigate it myself. I arrived last night and came to the Adventurer's Guild this morning hoping I might run into you."
"Talk about perfect timing. Nothing else going on?"
"Nothing special. Just rested at the church. And the Kobold Queen seems handled too. All thanks to you, Saint."
The food arrived then.
Hearty high-protein, high-fat meal loaded with meat. Elise thanked me again and waited for me to take the first bite.
We resumed talking over the meal.
"It wasn't all me. If anything, you've helped me more."
"Heehee. So humble, Saint."
"Nah. Anyway, Elise. Got something to tell you."
"What is it?"
I set down my fork.
"Ever hear of the Eternal Life cult?"
"...The Eternal Life cult?"
"Your reaction says no."
"Um... Yeah. Never heard of it."
"I've been looking into them lately."
I gave Elise a quick rundown of the Eternal Life cult in the slums I'd been investigating for days. Tracking traces of suspected heretics hired by a black mage.
"Pretty sure these Eternal Life guys are connected to those heretics from before. Certain, actually."
"..."
Elise's face turned deadly serious.
"So... heretics may have infiltrated the city."
"That's the gist. What I'm getting at is... wanna help investigate? Honestly been struggling with this mystery religion stuff solo."
—Tremble.
Her hand shook around her fork.
"...So you've been investigating alone to root out these hidden heretics...?"
"Pretty much."
"H-How reverent!!!!"
Elise shot to her feet.
"I'll help! Of course! How could I stand by while you're struggling alone? Count me in!"
Fury and joy mixed in her explosive outburst as she practically barked it out with passion.
"Elise... Everyone's watching..."
"...Ah."
She'd pulled all the aggro.
Every eye in the restaurant turned our way.
Feeling embarrassed again, Elise shrank back down.
"A-Anyway, I'll gladly help you, Saint. If anything comes up, consult me anytime—no burden too great. I won't ignore you doing good deeds."
"We're Divine Friends, after all!"
Elise, junior nun of the Radiant Cross Society! Her character shone so brightly it knew no bounds!
With her, smashing the heads of those back-alley heretic scum would be a breeze. Feeling lighter, I tore into the meat happily.
"Yes! We're Divine Friends!"
"Then let's start investigating together right away!"
"Ooh! Sounds good!"
We finished eating and stepped outside.
"Lead the way then, Saint..."
"Hold on, Elise. Got a place to stay?"
"Yes, nearby."
"Nice."
I explained my investigation so far to her.
Added that we'd need to change clothes to blend in for scouting. I'd come light, but she was in full battle nun gear. The slums would scatter at the sight of her—heretics or not, they'd bolt thinking she was trouble.
"Fair point... We do need to change."
"Yep. Let's swap and go."
"Saint, this might sound bad, but... I don't have any casual clothes."
"What?!"
A girl in her prime with no clothes?!
I won't stand for that!!
"No way!!!! Ridiculous!!!!!!!! I'll buy you some! Let's go!!!!!!"
"Ahh, Saint! Wait! Didn't you promise no shouting...?!"