The Price of Information
Explanation could wait. “Aigoo... my back.”
A moment later, as Vanessa cautiously rose to her feet, guards approached her.
“A nun? How did a nun get in here?!”
“...Ah, well... They said there might be injured people inside, so they permitted entry...”
“Don't lie! Access here was strictly controlled. No one would've let you through for a reason like that.”
Words weren't getting through...
“...I mean... it really was...”
“So you won't tell the truth, huh!”
The guards surrounded her, spears pointed at her throat.
So it comes to this after all?
Vanessa quietly steeled herself, preparing for a fight.
“Stand down.”
“...?”
But then a low, firm voice halted them. It was Mendes.
“This isn't someone you can just manhandle.”
“B-but...!”
“If she wanted, she could take on all of us without breaking a sweat.”
“Pardon?”
“And how could we arrest God's servant on mere suspicion alone?”
Mendes's gaze turned to Vanessa. “Isn't that right, Inquisitor Vanessa of the Third Rank?”
Vanessa furrowed her brow uncomfortably.
Slippery bastard.
He knew full well he was corrupt, yet he understood the Church's rules perfectly—no meddling in worldly politics like this unless absolutely necessary.
“Third Rank Inquisitor!?”
Leaving his stunned subordinates behind, he slowly approached Vanessa and extended a hand.
“Are you alright?”
“...Ah, yes...”
As he helped her up, he naturally emphasized her authority in front of everyone.
“Thank you for your help. If it weren't for the Inquisitor, who knows what would've happened to Lord Raymond... It sends chills down my spine just thinking about it.”
“I'm no longer an Inquisitor. Just a regular nun at Berna Monastery now.”
“Is that really true? I hear the Holy City is still hoping for your return.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Ah... please don't misunderstand. I just happened to hear it from an acquaintance I know well.”
Mendes flashed a meaningful smile, deliberately fiddling with the Restia insignia hanging around his neck. It was as if he wanted to flaunt his Church connections.
“...”
Just as tension was about to peak, Clementine approached Vanessa from behind, clutching her shoulder wound.
“...S-sorry to interrupt your conversation, but... could you heal me first?”
Her face was pale from the wound inflicted by the elf moments ago.
“...Ah, yes. Sorry. I'll heal you right away.”
Vanessa turned from Mendes, hurriedly guided her to a nearby usable seat, and extended her hand to cast healing magic.
As she finished treating Clementine and was slyly eyeing a chance to slip away...
“Uwaaaaaah!!! Where's my unicorn horn!?!?”
Raymond, who had been knocked out after hitting his head on the wall, suddenly woke and screamed.
“...Didn't the elf take it just now?”
“What!? Is that what you call that!? Do you know how much I spent to win the bid on it!!!”
His face flushed red with rage, harsh breaths puffing out like steam.
“Elf... right! What happened to that elf!? Did you catch her!?”
“Well... she got away.”
“She got away!? What were you all doing!? You let it slip because you couldn't catch one elf bitch!?”
“We're sorry. There must've been an accomplice.”
“Is that your excuse!!”
At that moment, Raymond's eyes locked onto Vanessa.
“Wait... you!? You're the one who kicked me earlier!! Guards!! Arrest this bitch right now!!”
Mendes stepped forward to calm Raymond. “No, Lord Raymond. The Inquisitor pushed you out of the way and saved your life in that moment of crisis.”
“Shut up! She's an accomplice too! She dared to kick me!!”
“...Lord Raymond, she is a Third Rank Inquisitor.”
“Inquisitor? What's that? Something impressive?”
Raymond blinked blankly, not understanding, so Mendes leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“......”
His expression soon changed.
“What!? On par with a high priest!?”
He'd clearly said something unnecessary.
“Aigoo, Inquisitor! I almost committed a grave offense without realizing your esteemed status.”
“...”
“I'm Raymond de Altenberg. As you may know, the younger brother of Leopold de Altenberg, lord of Dublin. As thanks for saving my life, I'd like to invite you to dinner. Does your schedule allow it?”
Vanessa fought to hide the tension around her eyes.
“No, sorry. I have a lot to do today.”
“Ah, I see. Then next time, when you have time, please let me repay you properly.”
......
An old wooden tavern near the Dublin branch of the Adventurer's Guild.
As Vanessa entered, the place was bustling even at this late hour with adventurers clinking glasses, boasting about successful quests and tall tales.
Near the entrance, the bulletin board was plastered with party recruitment flyers, and in the back corner, a few adventurers were gambling with dice.
Vanessa sat at an empty spot, and a server approached.
“Hey... Jane.”
“Oh, Vanessa~ Long time no see. How've you been?”
“Yeah.”
“...What's with the lukewarm response? Something happen?”
“I've been doing some rescue work until now. Kinda tired today...”
“Ah... I heard. There was a fire at the theater, right? You helped with the rescue there. Good job. Alright! On the house for my hardworking friend—drinks and snacks today. Anything you want?”
Jane said with a bright smile.
“Then... two glasses of Lumenberry wine first, some decent snacks. And call your husband over.”
“What? Did Nunyes cause trouble again!?”
“...Just checking.”
“That guy! Okay, wait a sec!”
The server left, and moments later, someone plunked down glasses of wine, smoked meat, cheese, and pickled mushrooms on the table, then flopped into the seat across from her.
The man had short brown hair, a lean build, faint stubble, and mischievous eyes—utterly ordinary at first glance. Completely different from how he'd looked at the theater earlier.
“Whoa... a nun drinking in a tavern? You sure that's okay? At least take off the habit before coming in.”
“Not in the mood for jokes, Nunyes.”
Vanessa picked up one of the glasses and wet her throat.
“So? What's up?”
Nunyes casually lifted the remaining glass, flashing a relaxed smile as he downed it.
“What's up? You're the one who said you'd tell me everything if I helped save her.”
“Did I? Maybe you misread my signal.”
Vanessa's brow twitched, a look of exasperation crossing her face.
“Fine, then... at least tell me who she is and why you wanted me to help her.”
“Hmm... how to put this...”
He hesitated.
“...”
“You know I'm an info broker first and foremost. All info comes with a price. Can't make exceptions even for friends.”
“So you want money?”
“...Not exactly... but close.”
Nunyes's mischievous eyes sparkled.
“How much?”
“Haha, money? A nun's salary won't cover it.”
He lightly tapped the glass with his finger, deliberately grating on her nerves.
“Fine... guess I have no choice.”
Vanessa poured the remaining Lumenberry wine into her mouth and slammed the glass down with a thunk!
“Then today, I'll collect some treatment fees to earn that money.”
“Treatment fees? Ha, come on... who're you gonna treat and charge on a night like this?”
“Got a patient right in front of me, don't I?”
As Vanessa gripped the glass tighter, it shattered with a crunch-crunch-crunch—
“Y-you... no way!?”
“...So, how much?”
Vanessa quietly stood from her seat. Her gaze fixed firmly on the man before her.
“H-hey, wait... Vanessa?”
“...Too expensive for a nun's salary, you said?”
Vanessa licked the Lumenberry wine from her hand where the glass had shattered, then cracked her knuckles.
“Wait! Vanessa?! Your eyes are scary! You know it's a joke, right?! I was gonna tell you anyway! It was just a joke!”
Realizing her intent, Nunyes panicked, trying to stand but tripping over his own feet and falling.
“Joke? I'm not joking.”
“Hold on! N-not in front of J-Jane, right!?”
“Don't worry. I confirmed she just went into the kitchen. I don't know how much that 'nun-salary-proof' price is, but break a few limbs, heal 'em, repeat—should fill it up before she gets back, yeah?”
And then—
Someone stepped in front of Vanessa.
“Haa... you two haven't changed a bit.”
He was a young man just past twenty, with neat black hair and sharp features—handsome at a glance.
“...Calix.”
“Let's move spots first. I'll explain.”
Vanessa glanced back carelessly to see most patrons had set down their drinks, watching with amused eyes.
Nunyes cleared his throat awkwardly as he got up from his seat.