Chapter 210
Chapter 210
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: For Elise
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Th-the Eternal Life Order!"
Lina shuddered at my savage question and answered.
"Yeah. Does our Lina know anything by chance? If you do, I'll forgive you. Of course, if not, you're dying right here. Dare to try using this big bro?"
"B-Big bro, hold on! Why are you asking about the Eternal Life Order?!"
"You trying to dodge the question?"
I raised my hand threateningly, and Lina screamed as she curled up. At least she knew she'd messed up. For the fair price of a hit job—one silver—I'll let it slide.
"Kyaaak!!! Please don't hit me!!! I know!!!"
"Yeah? You know?"
Still, hearing she knew something made the surging flames of my anger die down. I immediately pulled Lina to her feet and brushed the dirt off her shoulders. She was pretty enough, but running around filthy like this dulled her shine.
"Ugh... Y-Yes. I-I know."
"As expected, our Lina's the best! Tell me what you know quick!"
Lina knew the slums inside out, so she had to have some useful info. The heretics' stockpiled wealth shimmered like a mirage right before my eyes. I switched straight to friendly mode, flashing a warm smile as I gripped her shoulders.
"W-Well... Um... What I know is..."
Lina stammered, unable to keep up with my energy.
I shot her a silent warning that lies would land her like those sprawled corpses over there. She went pale and started trembling all over.
Ah.
"Ah, damn. Story's not moving. Calm down. I won't hit you. Just personally curious about the Eternal Life Order. Spill quick if you know anything."
"...Curious?"
"Yeah. Not like I'm joining or anything. Just a little interested."
"..."
Even after stripping out all the violence and speaking kindly, she just bit her lip and averted her eyes. It was frustrating enough to drive me mad.
Fuck, just talk already.
Should I smack her one?
I couldn't bring myself to hit a kid in front of Elise, so I summoned superhuman patience to suppress the violent urge.
"Talk before you die!"
"U-Ugh... Hic! Sniff!"
And then, out of nowhere, Lina burst into tears!
No way!
What the hell!
"Hey, what! Why are you crying!"
"Sniff! Hic...!"
"You little shit! Think crying makes me go easy! Hey! Cut it out!"
About then, Elise stuck close beside me and demanded an explanation of the situation. What the... She'd screwed up and now she's crying—what am I supposed to do about it!
"Hic, sniff...! H-Help me, big bro!"
As I started explaining to Elise, Lina cried out.
"What?"
Help?
"...She needs calming first. Holy Maiden, please step aside."
"Uh... Y-Yeah."
Elise stepped in front of Lina, mace in hand and dripping with sticky blood. In a perfectly calm tone, Elise urged her to stop crying. Lina seemed to settle a bit with another red-haired girl of similar height talking to her, and the sobs quieted.
Anyway, throwing a fit here was drawing way too much aggro, so we moved to a quieter spot with fewer people. Only then did the calmed Lina open her trembling mouth.
"So, what do you need help with? It related to the Eternal Life Order?"
"...Yes."
A response like she knew something.
Lina continued.
"Actually... that Eternal Life Order..."
"What, you owe them money or something?"
"N-No, it's not..."
A depressed tone laced with fear. Lina glanced around anxiously, then looked back at my face and started crying again.
Fuck, again with the tears!
"Hic, sniff! Our—our grandma...!"
"Grandma?"
Suddenly, memories of the festival flashed back.
Lina stealing my money.
The disaster that followed.
I stormed her house and collected 10 silver. Looking back, there'd been a sickly old woman lying there. Sympathy stirred, but what could I do? I wasn't living well enough to meddle in other people's lives.
Protect what's yours.
Collect what's owed.
"Hmm, grandma..."
No way her grandma passed, right?
Better keep my mouth shut on that.
...Or so I thought, but the bombshell from Lina's lips veered wildly off that track.
"Hic, grandma... sniff! Her illness got worse, so she went to the Eternal Life Order... hic! And there...! Hic!"
"...!"
Ominous vibes hit me instantly, and I glanced at Elise. She felt it too, staring back at me with wide eyes.
"...Holy Maiden."
"Ah, yeah. Something's there."
It clicked.
"Alright, Lina, quit crying. Keep it up and every scammer in town shows. So, grandma went to the Eternal Life Order—what happened?"
"...Sniff. Well..."
Lina spilled the whole tale in exhaustive detail.
To sum up: Desperate to save her dying grandma, she'd scoured everywhere and recently learned about the Eternal Life Order. Hearing they could cure even incurable diseases, she got hooked, dragged grandma to one of their gatherings.
"Haven't seen her since... They said baptism would s-save her... sniff, if I hadn't suggested it... hic!"
"So. She got baptized?"
"Y-Yes..."
The word "baptism" made Elise bare her teeth, exhaling a trembling breath. She looked utterly enraged by the heresy.
"So, I tried finding grandma myself..."
"Yourself... That why you got chased?"
"Y-Yes! Exactly!"
"Hmm..."
Dug deep enough to get hunted?
This might wrap up easy.
"So, did you find grandma?"
"Well... Not sure, but."
"But?"
"Just... feels like she's there..."
"There..."
From her story, Lina had roamed the slums hunting for grandma too. Got too close to the truth, earned pursuers. But with chasers just a couple slum rats, her hunch was probably off.
"Sniff, sniff... Grandma Susan... I miss you...!"
Hm?
"What'd you say? Su—what?"
"Huh? Su-Susan grandma. That's her name."
A name that rang familiar... Ah!
"The gathering!"
That mummy-like old lady from the gathering!
Her name was Susan, yeah!
"Elise! It clicked!"
"I sense it too. Lina, was it? Guide us there."
"Hold up. If we're going, need gear!"
"Right...! Holy war prep!"
Honestly felt unlikely, but it was the hottest lead. Better gear up—who knew what'd happen.
Dragged Lina straight out of the slums.
Time was tight, so quick dash to Elise's dorm for her battle nun garb, then mine for full kit. Cloudy and Winia were out. Who knew.
All geared up, threw ragged sackcloth over it. Time had slipped by quite a bit.
"Lina! Let's roll! Time to find grandma!"
"Y-Yes? For real?!"
"Obviously!"
Grandma schmandma—head there and figure it out. Trust Lina's sleuthing! I believe in your hard work!
Followed her deep into the slums' heart. Her local know-how shone—zero hesitation. Wanted to check before sunset, so straight sprints down shortcuts.
We arrived at a rundown shack on the outskirts.
"Th-There... Got chased scoping that place."
"Why chased? Something inside? Proof it's tied to Eternal Life Order?"
Final check.
"Y-Yes... Been hunting grandma nonstop. Staked out, investigated... Saw one of their priests head in there."
"Alright. Elise."
"Ready."
Hid in shadows, eyed the building. A few slum dwellers patrolled nearby. All gaunt and ragged, like the ones I'd hacked earlier.
Riddled with questions.
Time to break in?
"I'll come too..."
"You die, not my problem."
"Okay."
Shing. Sword drawn. Elise gripped her mace.
"Elise. Charge straight?"
"Hmm. Too noisy. Better scout and sneak."
"Yeah. Try that first. Fails, then smash."
Lina chimed in she knew a decent route.
"Nah. You got chased that way. Useless."
"Ah..."
"Dumbass. Use your brain."
Crept around undetected, but concluded: no quiet entry.
"Gonna get spotted no matter what..."
"Holy Maiden. Wait till full dark for ambush?"
"Hmm..."
Hated night ops... But night might favor us. Darkness blinds both sides.
"Uh. Look..."
Heads together, Lina pointed at the building.
Patrolling slumfolk all shuffled one way. Soon gone—building left alone.
"Dunno what's up, but chance! Moving!"
"Go!"
Crouched low, footsteps muffled, closed on the entrance. No clue why, but noise-makers vanished.
"In."
Slipped inside quick.
"Nothing stands out."
"Yeah. Lina, this the spot?"
"Not certain. Just screams suspicious..."
Inside dead quiet, like fully vacant.
Abandoned entirely? Quick scan: first floor trashed, second unremarkable. Just the emptiness was weird.
Building seemed hollow...
Hidden basement, bet.
"Suspicious stuff's always underground. Elise. Sweep first floor."
"Got it."
"Lina. Stick tight, hunt clues."
"...Yes."
Back to first floor, searched.
Basement access had to exist. Peeked windows for tails, probed floor for hatch.
"Holy Maiden. This rug..."
"Flip it."
Overlooked rug caught my eye. Lina and I watched flanks; Elise yanked it tense.
Whoosh!
"...There."
Basement door underneath. Quick outside check, then eased it open quiet as possible with Elise.
Creak.
"Stairs down."
"Pitch black."
Like entranced, we descended. Elise clutched her mace, face vaguely dazed. Lost to violence...
"Lina. Glue to my back. You die, oh well."
"Y-Yes..."
Slow. Step by step. Smashed the hinges shut behind. Half-open with rug draped... not perfect.
Anyway.
Guided by Elise's dim Holy Light, headed underground.
"...Holy Maiden. Whatever lies ahead, with the Divine Friends' steadfast faith and pious belief, no trial can defeat us."
"Well said. Slaughter every evil heretic and come out."
"I can't contain my rage anymore...!"
Stairs ended. Corridor ahead.
Orange glow spilled from its far end.