Not Entirely Welcome (1)

Although it was called "going to work," the Hero's office didn't actually have a structured set of duties. At most, I replied to occasional letters sent by the royal family or high-ranking nobles, or provided support if there was a monster subjugation that required the Hero's cooperation. Of course, I wasn't exactly wasting my time. Every spare moment was poured entirely into training. Frankly, replying to letters and showing my face at formal events were nothing but a waste of time for a Hero. I had to become stronger. Only then could I survive, and only then would the chances of defeating the Calamities increase, even if only by a fraction.

There wasn't much time left before we had to set out to subjugate the fourth Calamity. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠red X's slowly devouring the white squares on the calendar seemed to gnaw at my mind as well, fueling a restless anxiety.

"You look like you've got time on your hands," Georg suddenly spoke up.

I had just finished reviewing our strategy from when we fought the third Calamity. Since I didn't actually know anything about the original battle, my role had simply been to pretend to listen intently to Georg's breakdown. Aside from that, we had held a brief meeting about our future plans. It wasn't exactly the most productive use of time.

"Have you ever heard of a swan paddling furiously beneath the water?"

"Effort is something you must sustain even if others don't recognize it. After all, if a swan stops paddling, it sinks."

Georg was getting better at trading remarks with me. The only problem was that he wasn't joking this time. I let out a sigh and slumped over my desk.

Lately, the Holy Sword had been training me quite ruthlessly. She claimed that among mind, technique, and body, the body was the foundation that had to be established first. I had taken quite a tongue-lashing from her, with her demanding to know how I had managed to swing a sword all this time without any proper system. Since unlocking the Holy Sword had drastically boosted my body's recovery rate, I was able to cut back on sleep and immerse myself in training. A true 'miracle morning'—going to bed around two in the morning and waking up at five to start training again. What shocked me was that despite this schedule, I felt almost no physical fatigue. And the Holy Sword's voice, clicking her tongue and telling me this was nothing compared to the real deal, was even more of a shock.

"I brought some tea."

Daphne peeked her head out from the pantry. Her voice, clear as glass beads, was like a welcome rain. With a soft clink, she set a teacup on my desk, the ice rattling pleasantly inside. It seemed Daphne had cleverly brewed some cold tea. Wrapping both hands around the chilled cup, I savored the refreshing coldness. It was the perfect drink for early summer.

"It's starting to get a bit warm, so I thought I'd make it cold this time."

"You're the best, Daphne."

As I muttered the words with a grateful sigh, Daphne's face flushed slightly. Taking a sip, the perfectly balanced aroma of jasmine and green tea washed over me.

"This is great."

At my praise, Daphne beamed. Ever since her duel with Nella, her expression had grown noticeably brighter. Appreciating the smile that I could now see quite often, I took another sip of my tea.

Thud, thud, thud. Just then, the sound of someone knocking on the front door echoed from the first floor. Without a word, we all looked up, and I stood to greet the visitor. Daphne followed close behind me out of habit as I left the room.

"Who could it be? At this hour..."

"...I wonder. I just hope it's not another unwelcome guest like last time."

Feeling a prickle of unease, I reached the first floor and opened the door with a hesitant hand. The figure standing on the threshold was someone I wasn't entirely sure how to welcome.

"It hasn't been that long, but the weather is truly splendid today, Sir Hero."

Bishop Andre, dressed as always in his pitch-black cassock and silver rosary, wore his usual squint-eyed smile. An unwelcome guest... or was he?

"My, I hope my sudden visit isn't an intrusion."

Bishop Andre spoke with a chuckle, noting my flat expression. I shook my head reluctantly. Although he had coordinated his story well with mine during the recent hearing, he was fundamentally the head of the Heretic Inquisitors. He was someone I could never let my guard down around, let alone fully trust.

"Please, come in first." I stepped aside to let him through. Bishop Andre walked in, looking around the lobby as if admiring the view.

"You are staying in the kingdom longer than I expected."

"There are more matters to resolve while in the Kairos Kingdom than I anticipated. Thanks to Saintess Isis and yourself, Sir Hero."

Bishop Andre let out a low chuckle. True enough, since Isis had vanished after entering the kingdom, he would have to remain here for the time being to track her whereabouts or gather news. Since we couldn't just wrap up our conversation in the lobby like I did with the Minister of Internal Affairs' assistant last time, I decided to continue our talk in the office.

"What brings you here today...?"

"There are a few matters I must inform you of. I believe there is also some news that you will find quite welcome, Sir Hero."

Bishop Andre shrugged, as if telling me to look forward to it. When we reached the office, Georg, who had been guarding the room, spotted the bishop and offered a formal knightly salute.

"Welcome, Bishop."

"There is no need to be so stiff. Please, treat me as an ordinary guest."

Bishop Andre took a seat on the sofa meant for guests. I sat opposite him, while Daphne scurried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back to the pantry, murmuring that she would brew more tea. Glancing at her retreating figure, Bishop Andre murmured in admiration.

"She has grown. Miss Daphne, was it?"

"You have a keen eye."

"Indeed. I must offer my congratulations. It seems she has achieved quite a significant breakthrough. She has truly become a mage worthy of the Hero's party."

The bishop turned his gaze back to me with an amused expression. I began to feel a creeping anxiety, wondering what kind of bombshell that smiling face was about to drop today. Daphne returned with the fresh tea, and Bishop Andre took a sip of the jasmine green tea, the ice clinking in his cup.

"We have found Isis."

Through the narrow slits of the bishop's eyes, a pair of gray irises gleamed. I nearly spat out my tea. Swallowing the liquid that had gone down the wrong pipe along with my saliva, I blinked in surprise. Surely, this man hadn't broken his promise to me and done something reckless?

"You found... Isis?"

"I am not sure when she traveled so far, but she is currently in a city quite distant from the Royal Capital. She was spotted a few times at the Adventurers' Guild, and we hear she is now staying at an inn in Kolda. Since the Church is a place where information from all over the continent gathers every weekend, locating her was not particularly difficult."

"After all, leaving home only brings hardship, does it not?" Bishop Andre added.

"Isis has not yet visited a local church. Whether she has a specific purpose or is searching for someone, she seems to be constantly on the move. However, she cannot avoid the Church forever, so I expect she will show herself before long."

That 'someone' was undoubtedly Aryen. Had the two of them met yet? In the original novel, their reunion was one of the most touching scenes, but thinking about it now only made my stomach churn.

"What plan do you have for Isis?"

"Once we establish contact, we intend to ask her to help clean up the aftermath. Kolda happens to be near Vaktins, where the third Calamity appeared. I assume it would be fine to let her know what you said at the hearing, Sir Hero?"

Fortunately, it didn't seem like the Heretic Inquisitors were planning anything bizarre. As long as they didn't kidnap Isis or mess with the protagonist, it was all the same to me.

"...I see."

"Thanks to the testimony you gave at the hearing, Sir Hero, both the Holy Kingdom and the Saintess were spared from a very difficult position. I must express my gratitude once again." Bishop Andre let out a sigh. "While we will not send the Saintess back to a battlefield crawling with monsters, if the people demand it, you may have to face Isis again someday."

Isis. To be honest, I had no desire to involve myself with her or the protagonist any further. But as long as I remained the Hero and she remained the Saintess, our paths were bound to cross.

"Should such an opportunity arise, it is my hope that the misunderstandings and conflicts between the Saintess and the Hero can be resolved. Quite apart from the diplomatic relations between the Holy Kingdom and the Kairos Kingdom, of course."

I doubted anything good would come from meddling with a relationship that was already tangled beyond repair. It would probably just spark another conflict. I gave a noncommittal nod and drained the rest of my tea in one gulp. Seeing my lukewarm reaction, Bishop Andre shrugged with a wry smile.

"So, what is this welcome news you mentioned?"

Bishop Andre clapped his hands together. Seeing the anticipation gleaming in his eyes, I began to doubt whether this was truly news I would welcome.

"Regardless of the circumstances, the mercenary and the Saintess have departed from the Hero's party. It is an undeniable fact that your party's combat strength has been diminished."

"...That is true."

"Since the Holy Kingdom is indebted to you through this turn of events... we have prepared a small token of our appreciation."

A token? I tilted my head. "If you could give it to me in cash, I would be truly grateful." At my words, Bishop Andre burst into laughter. I wasn't joking, though.

"The Holy Kingdom is also in a tight spot financially these days, so we cannot offer monetary compensation. Instead, we have prepared something whose value cannot be measured in gold. I believe it will be of immense help to you, Sir Hero."

An item. Phrasing it like that only made me more suspicious. "Did you bring this item with you?"

Bishop Andre shook his head. "It is not something I can carry around personally. Even transporting it from the Holy Kingdom to this place required a great deal of care."

"Then where is it now...?"

"It is currently being kept under solemn guard in the basement of a church here in the Royal Capital." The bishop stood up as he answered. "Please, follow me. It may take some time, and since only you and I are authorized to enter the basement, the two of them..."

As the bishop looked back at Daphne and Georg, I shrugged and waved my hand. "There's no need to wait. You two can head home for the day."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Georg nodded and left first, and I practically had to force Daphne to go home, as she insisted on waiting with a worried expression. Bishop Andre watched the scene with an amused smile.

"You have excellent companions."

"...Let us go."

Contrary to my expectations, the church of the Holy Kingdom was not particularly grand. I had been anticipating the majestic scale of a Gothic cathedral, but what stood before me was a modestly sized church closer to the rugged simplicity of Romanesque architecture. I supposed those massive, towering cathedrals were mostly concentrated in the Holy Kingdom itself, not here.

"The churches in the Kairos Kingdom possess deep history and tradition. This is one of my personal favorites," Bishop Andre said as he pushed open the creaking wooden doors of the church.

Built with its back to the sun, the church held a chilly dampness despite the approaching summer. The bishop strode past the pews lining the nave.

"...There is no one here."

"It is a day without mass, and I asked the clergy to vacate the premises briefly, as I would be bringing the Hero today. They were happy to oblige."

I felt a sudden prickle of unease and instinctively touched the hilt of the Holy Sword.

...Well, the Holy Sword didn't seem particularly concerned.

"Now, it is here," Bishop Andre said, stopping before a heavy wooden door located in a cloister-like area behind the chancel.

Watching a Heretic Inquisitor open a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠door leading to the underground, I couldn't help but feel as though whatever lay beyond was a dungeon meant for locking away heretics.

"Shall we?" the bishop said, raising a lantern he had retrieved from somewhere.

I quietly swallowed my dry saliva and followed him into the darkness. It was already dim, but as we descended into the basement, the cool air sharpened into a biting chill that crept up my skin.

"There are things known as holy relics. Have you perhaps heard of them?" The bishop's voice echoed between our footsteps as we descended the stone stairs. In the swaying light of the lantern, his shadow stretched and vanished against the wall like a specter.

"Are you referring to the relics left behind by ancient saints?"

The bishop nodded with a smile. "Yes. And they often possess extraordinary power. Many of them choose their own masters as well. Much like the Holy Sword you wield, Sir Hero."

I glanced down at the Holy Sword at my waist. As if she had been waiting for this moment, she spoke to me.

Right. There was no way another weapon as powerful as the Holy Sword existed. If so, it would be more accurate to view the Church not as a religious institution, but as a military force armed with suspiciously powerful weapons.

"I intend to lend one of those holy relics to you, Sir Hero."

Upon reaching the basement floor, Bishop Andre hung the lantern from the ceiling. Beneath the flickering light, a glass case draped in black cloth caught my eye. The bishop approached the case slowly and pulled down the cloth. I let out a low gasp as I saw the holy relic resting inside.

"Long ago. In an ancient era unimaginable to us today, a saint left this behind."

Resting there was a crown woven from thorny vines, stained with dark spots here and there.

"It is the Crown of Thorns."