Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Cooperation
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The Saintess silently scanned the interior of the gatehouse, taking it all in.
The walls and floor split open by the Hero's slashes, the door ripped off in the recent chaos.
It was a total disaster.
She pressed her fingers to her furrowed brow and let out a sigh, as if overwhelmed by the mess.
"Bro... hasn't it only been two days since you started here?"
"......"
I had nothing to say.
Hell, even I hadn't expected things to go this bad.
But come on, wasn't this difficulty level way too high? Honestly, just surviving with my Life Points intact so far was a miracle.
"Two days in, and the gatehouse is already in tatters. Repairs are gonna cost a fortune."
"...Sorry."
The Saintess clutched her head and ruffled her hair in frustration.
To be fair, if we were assigning blame, I'd feel a bit wronged.
The negative event had popped up out of nowhere.
How was I supposed to know Erina was Logan's wife?
The game settings didn't list every villain's spouse.
Still, I should apologize.
Ultimately, I was responsible for everything that happened here at the gate.
"No... it's fine. What'd you even do wrong? You followed the manual—back of the hand and all. As long as it wasn't harassment, it's good."
"...Yeah."
The Saintess patted my back reassuringly.
She was probably saying it because she trusted me.
These little acts of kindness were what made someone a Saintess, no doubt.
But... why was she talking like she'd seen it all herself?
No way... As a Saintess, she wouldn't have stayed up all night waiting after the Hero left, or cracked open the cradle door the moment the body search started to peek, or flung it open triumphantly when Logan showed up, right?
Yeah, even for a Saintess... that was too much speculation.
"...Anyway, Bro, you must be on your tenth life already."
"Tell me about it..."
Looking at the state of the gatehouse, something had to be done.
Everything except the chair and desk was smashed to bits.
And honestly, meeting her in person was scarier than I'd imagined.
Was it okay to be dealing with this already in the early game?
But I couldn't do anything about it.
Imperial law basically told me to drop dead. No weapons allowed inside the gate.
"That's why I'm gonna live here from now on."
"......Huh?"
"I'll stick by your side whenever you're on duty."
A bombshell dropped from the Saintess's lips.
As if to confirm I hadn't misheard, she repeated it clearly, word for word.
Did she really mean...?
"You seem more at risk than soldiers in the thick of battle. 'Living here' just means sleeping in the cradle like today, and jumping up to save you if you're in danger. Win-win for both of us, right?"
"......"
The Saintess placed a hand on her hip, looking pleased with her perfect plan.
She seemed utterly confident I'd agree.
But... I had to refuse, no question.
Even if she was asleep, she might wake up midway like before.
And if some weird situation popped up during a body search again, I'd be the one in deep trouble.
"I'm sorry, Saintess."
"Good thinki—Huh? Why? It's good for both of us."
"It doesn't make sense for you to come all the way here just for me."
The Saintess's eyelids fluttered—she clearly hadn't expected rejection.
She started fumbling for more arguments.
"L-look, even with a hundred or thousand soldiers at the entrance, they can't get inside the gatehouse. So I'll protect you, just like today."
I appreciated her intentions.
Having her guard me like this was reassuring.
But that was only if I were a normal gatekeeper.
I hadn't even imagined she'd bring the cradle inside today.
"Won't the supply base struggle without you?"
"Nah, Hans can come grab whatever he needs. I'm just a bandage shuttle anyway."
"......"
The Saintess smirked like it was ridiculous.
Why was she so fixated on the gatehouse?
I didn't want this much attention drawn here...
"Ugh, frustrating! Fine, what about that guy just now... Logan? Think other priests could take him? Sure, I'm weaker during the day... but I can handle that level. You got a guarantee they'll rush to you every time the Hero's in danger?"
"......"
Nothing to say to that. She was right.
Without her, it wouldn't be Logan getting dragged off right now—it'd be my corpse.
Hell, stopping him would've been impossible without her.
"A-and... I didn't wanna bring it up, but... you and Rain were doing lewd stuff here, right? You know that's not allowed at the gate. W-well, since it was Rain the Hero, it's fine, but..."
"It wasn't lewd stuff. It was a body search."
"...Whatever!"
In the end, the Saintess pulled out her cheat key—the one she'd been ignoring.
She fidgeted with her fingers, head bowed in embarrassment.
But I corrected her anyway.
Lewd stuff? No, body search.
"There's no reason to do a body search in underwear to begin with. Rain's the Hero—no need for one. A-and groping her butt like that... Hic!"
The Saintess hiccuped, suddenly recalling the scene.
She covered her mouth with both hands, mortified.
She seemed less resistant to this stuff than I'd thought.
"A-anyway, starting tomorrow, I'll sleep here in the mornings. Got it?"
"...Yeah."
The Saintess whipped her head away when I stared too hard.
I couldn't refuse anymore—pushing it would be rude to her.
All I could do now was hope she wouldn't wake up during body searches.
"Head home for today, then. Can't do inspections with the gate like this. I'll have it repaired by tomorrow."
"Thanks for looking out for me."
Thinking about it, she was doing this for my sake too.
I'd thought she was crazy... but now I got why she was the Saintess.
Letting me clock out early? Saintess material.
Hell, she seemed more human than the human Hero.
"From tomorrow, I'll be asleep nearby. Just wake me if needed, like today."
"......Yeah."
Couldn't dodge the sleep shuttle after all... but this might be for the best.
As long as I was careful with body searches, fewer things to worry about than before.
But... was I seeing things?
When I glimpsed through my fingers, it looked like her lips were curved up...
Nah, just my imagination.
...
I stepped out of the gatehouse and walked through the city.
The sky was still bright; shift ended early.
'Around 1 PM, I guess.'
Yesterday I'd crashed at the supply base out of necessity, but I needed my own place.
Time to handle a quest while I was at it.
And if time allowed, interrogate that terrorist I missed yesterday.
Luck willing, I might run into Logan too.
I entered an inn about thirty minutes from the gate.
[Dawn Inn]
The wooden sign was carved plainly, as if even painting it was too extravagant.
It looked so old, one poke might bring it down.
But I had my reasons for choosing this place.
I planned to get quest info here.
Western quests mostly had random dates.
Events happened at the gate, but clearing some required legwork for info.
This next one especially—it was a choice event where you picked one of two options.
No info here meant gambling on luck, so it was essential.
I pushed open the inn door.
*Ding.*
A musty, moldy stench hit me as soon as I entered.
"Hello."
"Welcome... What're you, a soldier?"
A bald guy dozing at the counter looked up, rubbing his eyes like he'd just woken.
Bald... yeah, the innkeeper.
Game confirmed it.
"Hm... base is kinda far. Wrong place? Soldiers get discounts—could hit somewhere nicer."
"Nah, I'm good."
"Heh... suit yourself."
The innkeeper stroked his scruffy beard and pulled a form from a drawer.
"Name and stay length. I'll bill the base later."
The west had solid soldier discounts.
That's why I'd grinded the slave ID forgery build so hard.
More gains like this than risks if caught.
"Place ain't pricey, so base pay covers it all. Hungry? Speak up."
The innkeeper chuckled heartily, in high spirits.
Base lodging stipends were generous, I knew.
Most soldiers stayed near base or in nice spots.
Rare to come to a backwater like this.
The longer I stayed, the more they'd profit beyond room rates.
But quests aside, I didn't wanna be too visible.
This out-of-way inn was perfect for a short stay.
I scribbled on the form and handed it back.
"Tch... ninety days? Stay longer, man."
He eyed the duration, stroking his beard wistfully.
Soldiers usually booked rooms for over a year.
Made sense.
But I wasn't planning long-term in the west.
Goal: escape in three months.
"Pick any key. No changes once chosen."
The innkeeper gestured vaguely at the wall, then propped his chin and closed his eyes.
I headed to the wall hooks laden with keys.
101, 103, 105, 106... scanning the row.
I grabbed the one marked 103.
Room numbers didn't matter.
What I wanted was the missing one.
102 and 104.
Especially 102's occupant.
I climbed the inn stairs slowly.
Creaky from neglect.
Down the long hall to 102.
*Knock knock.*
I knocked.
"......One moment."
A woman's voice from inside.
Whoever answered would decide my choice.
*Click.*
The lock disengaged; door crept open.
"...Who is it?"
Door almost fully open, but no one in sight.
"Down here."
I finally looked down.
And there she was—the woman I'd awaited.
Tiny stature, not even reaching my waist.
A bushy tail as big as her body, fluffy ears atop her head.
And two oversized fruits that looked burdensome for her frame.
Fleta Merchant Guild master's second daughter, squirrel beastkin 'Fleta Lulu'.
[Quest Information Activated: Fleta Lulu]
[Objective: On 'Day 5 in the West', refuse entry to Fleta Merchant Guild.]
[Upon Achievement: 'Quest: Fleta Lulu' begins.]
She's the first key to freeing my slave.