Chapter 593
Chapter 593
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 593
Chapter Title: Is Spring Coming?
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"Of course I heard it. I heard it so well it's seared into my heart. Hell, I even talked it over with Claudia based on what I heard."
Elise seemed to be worrying a bit too much. Though, as my Divine Friend, that was only natural.
Time to ease her concerns a little.
"To be honest, I've always been like a stone when it comes to women. Didn't I just overcome that succubus's temptation last time?"
Hildegart and I ended up as Demon Friends, but I did resist the seduction itself.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a while. Next time I'm out of the city, I should call her over and say hi.
Every time I see an Alraune, she comes to mind.
"I never succumb to desire."
"That's..."
She tilted her head at my firm declaration.
"...Yes, I see. You're right. No need to worry about that side of things. My concerns were overblown."
"See?"
Elise seemed convinced.
Even with five wives, if I'd overcome a true demon like a succubus's temptation, there was nothing to fret over.
Elise was just too pious for her own good.
"Still, a succubus is a demon, isn't it? You're so devout that you'd purge any demon on sight, but with humans, you tend to go a bit easier."
"Fair point."
I did have a tendency to soften up against people.
I drew a hard line between monsters and humans, so if it was a person rather than a monster, I held back a little.
It was one of my flaws.
That's why I was always working to compensate for it.
"But my wives aren't going to try to harm me, right?"
If I couldn't trust my own women, who could I trust in this world?
"Of course not. I would never think your wives would hurt you."
Naturally, Elise wouldn't entertain such a notion.
"What I meant was other women. If you become a Paladin, plenty of them will come sniffing around for your status. You're heading to the capital, aren't you? It's bound to happen."
What?
"Women targeting my background...?"
"Exactly. Those depraved sorts approach men on purpose, leading them to ruin. Probably after their wealth. Our church has records of such cases. We use them in lessons about resisting temptation."
"Such things...?!"
A church that valued justice and morality would absolutely document those incidents and use them to teach the faithful.
Elise must have seen them and was warning me now.
"They're no different from demons!!!!!!!"
"They're devils in human skin. You need to be suspicious of them."
If I rose to a high position like she said, such women might indeed come crawling.
"Mosquito bitches swarming to leech off Paladin me!!!"
"Precisely. That's what I'm worried about. Seems like you misunderstood a little."
Elise smiled brightly as she continued.
"Thanks, Elise!"
I needed to take this seriously. Claudia seemed fine with me adding more women, but who really knew what was in her heart?
Of course, I didn't think I'd fail to spot something like that. And with Elise's advice on top, I was set.
No way I'd fall for such tricks.
"Don't worry, it won't happen. If some woman like that approaches, I'd notice, and so would my wives."
I gave her a confident assurance, and Elise stared at me.
"...Is that so?"
"Yeah. So no need to fret. I can say this to you as my Divine Friend: trust me. Bit awkward to say, but I know women inside and out."
I met her gaze as I spoke.
"...I see."
Elise held my eyes and slowly replied.
"That's fine, then."
She gets it.
"I only said it out of worry."
"Elise. Truth is, I worry about you just as much as you worry about me."
"What do you mean?"
Truth was, I worried about Elise plenty.
Religious folk like her lived as good as throwing their lives away. No matter how strong you were, death was commonplace in this world.
She could bite it on some dangerous mission.
"Once you go back and become a mid-level nun, you'll be handling even riskier jobs. All alone."
"No different from usual. I've often done missions solo. Of course, not seeing you would be disappointing and inconvenient."
We'd overcome all sorts of trials together so far.
But if I went to the capital, I couldn't help anymore.
"...But I couldn't rely on your help forever anyway. Yes, I might have leaned on you too much."
Elise said it apologetically.
"Nah, it was mutually beneficial, so it's fine. And it was only natural. We're Divine Friends."
"Divine Friends... Still, I think I depended on you too much."
"You lean when you can. Can't when you can't."
Anyway, I was worried.
"Elise. No matter what, keep your cool and don't lose your head. Rushing in recklessly will just get you killed."
"I know that well. Giving in to momentary rage leads only to ruin. I'm here to serve the descent of paradise, not to become a martyr. Don't worry."
"Heh heh, seems like all we do is tell each other not to worry."
"...You're right."
Well, we both had plenty to fret over.
"..."
Elise fell silent, her eyes fixed on mine.
Then she nodded.
"...Truth is, there was nothing to worry about. I just felt that way thinking about us parting. I'm not used to goodbyes like this, so my mind went there."
No peers her age at the church.
Strictly speaking, I wasn't her peer either, but we were close in age as Friends.
Regret doubled the worry, no doubt.
"Same here."
Elise was one of the few friends I'd made since coming to this world.
The early ragtag bunch from my newbie days all died in that kobold den. Only Kobson and Elise were left.
Naturally, thinking of parting from my Divine Friend weighed heavy.
"Seeing you less often just makes my heart sink."
"You too, Saint?"
"Obviously."
She smiled at that.
"Somehow, that makes me relieved. Yes, my heart feels heavy too."
"Heavy, but relieved?"
"Hee hee, just is. Anyway, watch out for temptresses. That's all I wanted to say."
"Heh heh, got it."
No matter who approaches, I'd remember Elise's words.
"Elise. When are you heading back?"
"..."
She paused at my question.
"...Tomorrow."
Tomorrow, huh.
"Planning to leave tomorrow. Need to report this incident to the church soon. I've lingered too long."
"Tomorrow..."
"Saint. Even in the capital, you mustn't forget me."
Only one answer to that.
"Duh. You're my one and only Divine Friend. No forgetting till I die."
"Hee hee, Divine Friend... Yes, I am."
Elise stood up.
"I'll always think that way. So, Saint. Since I'm leaving tomorrow anyway, how about we tour the city together today?"
"Yeah, let's do that."
Elise got ready to head out.
She was leaving tomorrow anyway—might as well spend today with her. We'd talked it all out this morning, so coming back late wouldn't be an issue.
And so, Elise and I stepped outside.
We ate as usual, wandered the city. Thought about hitting the arena, but only beast fights today, so skipped it.
Dropped by the slums, checked the building where we'd taken down that evil giant last time. Nothing but ruins—the structure was gone.
"Looks like the Brass Celestial Society handled the cleanup properly."
"Yeah."
Elise said as she surveyed the wreckage.
"As long as no other wicked cult sneaks in..."
"Won't happen twice. Anyway, that's their jurisdiction. No worries—they'll handle it. What about Krasheim slums?"
"Ah, after wrapping up last time, we did a full sweep. Nabbed a ton of illegal crime syndicates, but nothing special beyond that."
Seemed special enough.
"Child trafficking ring targeting kids, but no ties to heretics. All involved executed, of course."
"Fucking hell."
No need to spell out their purpose for buying and selling kids.
"Hee hee, it was a while ago, so it slipped my mind... Anyway, glad it's handled."
"Heh heh, me too."
I spent the day with Elise, bustling around until sunset.
Regret made me extra active, but nothing special happened.
"So... leaving tomorrow morning? Meet at the gates. I'll come early."
"...Yes. See you then."
Elise stopped and turned to me.
"Saint. Today was truly fun. Fun enough that I want to do it again."
"Same. We'll meet again. See you tomorrow."
I felt the same reluctance.
"Saint, wait."
As I turned to go, she grabbed my wrist.
"Hm? What?"
"Uh, no..."
I looked at her face—she was fidgeting hard.
"...It's nothing."
"Heh heh, just reluctant?"
"Hee hee, probably. Did something out of character. See you tomorrow."
With that, Elise left.
I dragged my heavy feet back home.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning, I headed to the gates to see Elise off.
"Saint. Next time we meet, should I call you Paladin Saint?"
"Heh heh, just Saint."
Elise looked quite reluctant.
Probably same as my face.
"Hee hee, alright. But thinking it's the last time gives me this weird feeling beyond just sadness."
"...Me too. But it's not the last."
I'd said it before—going to the capital didn't mean we'd never cross paths. Wandering around, I'd hit Krasheim eventually. Plus, as a Paladin, staying in touch would be easy.
"Still, not seeing you right away is what's getting to me. You're... my one and only Divine Friend."
Elise said it with real regret.
Tears were welling up.
"Elise... I'm about to cry here."
"Don't. I don't want to see you in tears."
As I teared up, Elise smiled and comforted me.
"We're off!!"
A man's shout rang out, and the merchant caravan started moving.
"...Saint. Time to part."
"Elise...!"
She bowed her head and turned.
"Take care!!"
"Stay well. Farewell."
Elise followed the caravan.
Her figure grew smaller and smaller.
Won't see her for a good while after today.
I immediately braced myself.
"Eliiiiise!!!! Diviiiiine Frrrrriend!!!!!!!!!!"
I bellowed at her departing form.
She'd stick with the caravan for days on the road.
—...
Did my shout reach? She turned back mid-stride.
"Frrrrriend!!!!!!!!!! Saint! Until next time! Remember what I said!!!!"
"I'll watch the women for sure!!!!!"
And so, Elise headed to Krasheim.
"Waaaah!!!!!"
I ended up crying.
Winter's finally at an end, huh.