Chapter 209: Dammit...(4)
Chapter 209: Dammit...(4)
Somehow, Kate ended up joining us for the meal. With Marie and Cecile occupying the seats on either side of me, she naturally sat across from us, right next to Lina.
When I asked if she had eaten, she said she’d already had a meal. Because of that, she sat quietly and waited for us to finish.
It’s not like she did absolutely nothing while waiting, though. Every time I glanced over, I saw her with her eyes closed and hands neatly folded in prayer.
Thanks to her, our meal concluded quietly. Once we ordered dessert, the real conversation began.
"First of all, how did you know I was here?"
"I followed the scent of lilacs. This was where it led me."
"... ..."
Her first answer was already absurd. She wasn't some professionally trained hound, yet she followed a scent?
The lilac scent my body gives off is strong, sure, but Kate’s case was definitely on the peculiar side.
Kate met each of our gazes one by one before speaking up in a slightly cautious, tentative voice.
"By the way, Isaac-nim. Is it alright to speak here...?"
"Ah. You don't have to worry; everyone here knows who I am."
"I see. However..."
Kate trailed off, her eyes darting between Marie and Cecile, who were sitting snugly on either side of me.
Sensing that strange gaze, Marie pouted and wrapped her arms around mine, while Cecile gave a beaming smile and leaned against me. Anyone could tell we were lovers.
Kate seemed to realize something as she watched them and nodded.
"I didn't expect you to have two fiancées."
"I'm the only official fiancée for now. Cecile is unofficial."
Marie was subtly asserting her position as the first. Cecile didn't seem to have any complaints about that, as she remained silent.
I gave a wry smile at the two women's display of affection before looking back across the table. Lina, sitting next to Kate, was just sipping her tea, seemingly content to just watch.
"So, why did you come looking for me? If you start prattling on about that 'seed' again, I'm kicking you out, so consider yourself warned."
"I would like to offer my sincere apologies regarding that matter. My useless obsession caused you discomfort, Isaac-nim, so I will gladly accept any punishment you deem fit."
"Huh?"
What? It felt like her character had suddenly changed.
I was actually taken aback by Kate bowing her head and politely asking for forgiveness. Marie, who had been bracing herself for a confrontation, looked just as surprised.
This was the same Kate who had been pestering me for the seed at every opportunity for the past two days. For her to suddenly show up and apologize today? Unless something had happened in the interim, it didn't add up.
There was only one likely cause. Recalling Kate’s fanatical side, I decided to take a jab.
"Did Lord Luminous scold you by any chance?"
"...Yes."
At my question, Kate’s face darkened, and she lowered her head slightly. I had suspected as much, but I was spot on.
Luminous might strike down the profane with divine punishment, but he is a benevolent god to his favored believers, like Kate or myself. He rarely scolds them, let alone raises his voice.
But for Kate to be this depressed, he must have given her quite the earful.
"He must have been really angry."
"...It was the first time he ever shouted at me. He asked me what on earth I was doing and said that, regardless of the reason, my behavior was nothing short of rude. He told me to apologize immediately."
"... ..."
If he went as far as shouting, Luminous must have been truly furious. Well, she had almost caused harm to someone else under the guise of doing it for him.
Luminous was benevolent, but he also had a strict side, so he couldn't have let this slide.
It was like a child almost committing a theft(?) to please their parent; any normal parent would scold them severely.
I guess there won't be any talk about the seed for a while.
I stared at the dejected Kate and felt a sense of relief, sensing that the seed talk was over for the time being. Since Luminous had shouted at her, Kate had likely given up.
"Alright. Since Lord Luminous already scolded you, I'll let this matter go. So, what is the real reason you came to see me?"
"It is possible that Xenon-nim's..."
"Just call me Isaac. You might make a mistake later."
"Understood. It is a matter deeply related to your personal safety, Isaac-nim."
"My personal safety?"
My eyes widened at the mention of my safety. Even Lina, sitting next to Kate, had a look of curiosity in her eyes.
Was something about to happen to me while I was enjoying this peaceful time? Kate was someone who had traveled the world on her pilgrimage.
She would have a much clearer grasp of the current state of affairs than those of us stuck in the Academy.
She looked me straight in the eye, her green pupils filled with a strength unlike before, and began to speak.
"Yes. As you all know, I have been traveling the pilgrimage route, subjugating demon worshippers spread across the world. Even just before arriving in the Minerva Empire, I was busy hunting them down."
"Demon worshippers..."
Originally, demon worshippers operated in the shadows, hidden from everyone. Most regions with high missing person reports were deeply involved with them.
The reason no one noticed until the "Why Is This Real?" incidents started happening one after another was simple: judgment dulled by long years of peace, carelessness, and indifference.
The Demon War had broken out a staggering 3,000 years ago, and even the elves' memories of it had faded. Naturally, interest was low.
"Before the Xenon Chronicle, people didn't even know demon worshippers existed. But now, their existence has surfaced, and their power is gradually dwindling day by day. Do you understand what this implies?"
"Are you saying Isaac might be targeted by the demon worshippers?"
Cecile immediately answered Kate’s question. Kate nodded in affirmation.
To be honest, I had roughly expected this as soon as demon worshippers were mentioned, but hearing it confirmed by Kate felt different.
"Yes. Even if the Xenon Chronicle was a coincidence, it directly exposed the existence of demon worshippers. Naturally, they are biding their time to eliminate Isaac-nim. This is a directive that has already spread widely among them."
"A directive...? Have the demon worshippers formed an actual organization?"
"It's not certain, but you can consider it almost a fact. There are traces of their activities spanning at least a hundred years."
This was more serious than I thought. Now there was one more reason why I couldn't reveal my identity.
I had reliable guard knights around me, but until the demon worshippers were completely wiped out, there was a high possibility that my acquaintances would be in danger.
Since I didn't know how strong the demon worshippers were, I needed to act with more caution.
"Furthermore, most things related to the underworld are touched by the demon worshippers. From drugs to smuggling, and even the black market. It will take a long time to completely eradicate them."
"Are you telling me to stay hidden and not even publish books until then?"
"You may continue to publish your books. I am simply asking you to be careful not to let your identity be discovered. I also plan to stay here for about a month before moving on. If I stay here too long, it will arouse suspicion."
Perhaps because she had been properly scolded by Luminous, Kate explained everything in her usual calm voice.
She was completely different from the person who had been asking for the seed at every turn. The discrepancy was a bit jarring, but I was satisfied enough.
"Cardinal, do you believe there are demon worshippers in the Minerva Empire?"
Lina, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. Since it was her own country, it was only natural for her to be worried.
"Of course. Demon worshippers are like cockroaches; they multiply unless you crush their heads. The Minerva Empire is no different. Perhaps we might even find evidence of that organization here."
"If you wish, Cardinal, I can provide military support."
"I appreciate the gesture, but I must decline. Demon worshippers are like insects; if a large presence is revealed, they hide immediately. Secrecy is paramount."
As I’d heard, she seemed to treat anything related to demons as lower than insects.
To think she could crush the heads of demon worshippers with such an innocent face and then ask me for my seed... Honestly, it was hard to believe.
I’d heard she held the title of 'Blue Flame' because her blue mana flickered like fire, but I couldn't tell just by looking at her.
"I understand. Is there anything else you wanted to say?"
"There is one more thing, Isaac-nim."
"Yes?"
"It might be unpleasant, but it's regarding the seed."
I wondered when this would come up. As soon as Kate brought up the topic of the seed in earnest(?), the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Marie, who had been wary since Kate’s appearance, was one thing, but even Cecile, who had been acting amiable, changed.
Finally, Lina sipped her tea elegantly, her expression becoming even more focused.
Feeling the atmosphere turn strange, I spoke up, sounding a bit bewildered.
"Didn't you say you were just scolded by Lord Luminous?"
"Yes. But I haven't given up. Since both of you are here, I will make a formal request."
Pausing for a moment, she spoke confidently, her emerald eyes shining brightly.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, may I receive Isaac-nim's seed?"
At the same time, a sharp answer came back.
"Absolutely not."
It wasn't from me, but from Marie. Marie tightened her grip on my arm and spoke to Kate.
"Cardinal Kate. Do you love Isaac?"
"... ..."
"See? You don't even love him, yet you want to have a child for Lord Luminous's sake. Do you really think Lord Luminous would be happy about that? No. He would surely be saddened. It would be as if a child he loves is sacrificing her own body for his sake."
That's it. My girlfriend sure knows how to talk.
Since Marie was making perfectly valid points, Kate seemed to have nothing to say and kept her mouth shut.
Her lips were twitching as if she wanted to say something, but she was clearly outmatched.
The problem was that Marie wasn't the only one.
"Marie is right. Marie and I love Isaac, which is why we promised our futures to him. On the other hand, what about you, Cardinal? You're just coveting the divine power Isaac possesses. It makes me wonder if you'd just move on to another man if someone with even stronger divine power appeared."
"Lord Luminous would never forgive that."
Cecile landed a heavy Fact Bomb right in Kate’s solar plexus. Kate immediately protested, but since the remark cut to the core of the issue, that was the end of it.
Since my women were saying everything I wanted to say, I just had to sit back and watch. Kate didn't throw a tantrum like last time, likely because of the scolding she’d received from Luminous.
Seeing Kate remain silent, Marie seemed to think she had won and continued triumphantly.
"Even if you were to win Isaac's heart, I would never acknowledge you. There is nothing more despicable than using love as a means to an end."
"...I see."
"And most of all! I find your behavior insolent. Even I, his fiancée, don't have a child yet, and you're trying to have one just like that? Even if it were possible, you'd have to wait at least four years."
Since graduation from the Academy was roughly around that time, we would likely have our official wedding then.
Kate seemed to have no strength left to argue against Marie's continuous criticism and simply nodded. Just when I thought it was finally over...
"Then..."
"Yes?"
"If I were to truly love Isaac-nim, would it be alright to receive his seed?"
A question flew out that showed her sheer determination to get that seed no matter what. Not just me, but everyone else was taken aback by that question.
In the meantime, Kate wore a somewhat warm smile, placed her hand over the center of her chest, and spoke quietly.
"It's true that Lord Luminous scolded me, but afterward, he said this: that I should find the happiness I truly desire, rather than devoting everything to him. He said that a believer's happiness is his own happiness."
"... ..."
"Hearing those words changed my mind. I decided to find happiness by truly loving someone. By loving someone, I will bring happiness to myself and, by extension, to Lord Luminous. And the person I will love is..."
She then looked me straight in the eye and confessed shyly, her face flushing.
"The author of the Xenon Chronicle, who is favored by Lord Luminous... Isaac-nim."
"... ..."
"Just thinking about it makes my heart race and my face feel hot. The lilac scent coming from Isaac-nim feels like a drug, and I feel as if his divine power is seeping into me."
Son of a...
"Is this... what love is?"
Just what kind of thought process leads to a development like this?