Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Holy Grail and a Companion
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After eating and waiting until sunset, I returned to my room.
The items I'd asked Keian about had arrived, including the Holy Grail I'd mentioned last time.
"So this is the Holy Grail."
The bizarre artifact with the grandiose name [Goblet of Bluish Dragon Blood] turned out to be the Holy Grail...
Its appearance was just that of a worn-out old drinking cup.
Well, yeah.
If it had looked shiny from the start, even I would have remembered its appearance.
It was definitely the item I'd bid on and won at the auction myself, but I'd forgotten even what it looked like until Lise mentioned it.
On top of that, the Holy Grail was shaped like a wooden cup, which by my standards felt kinda gross even to pour water into and drink from.
Still, Keian wouldn't have brought me a fake, so I grabbed it and headed to the infirmary.
Helsta in the infirmary was sitting at his desk writing something, his back turned to me.
He must have sensed my presence near the door, because a flat voice came out.
"All treatments for today are over. If your symptoms aren't severe, come back tomorrow... ?!"
He slowly turned his head and saw me, his expression changing dramatically. Looked like he'd bitten his tongue.
I gave him a gentle smile to put him at ease.
"Good day, Bishop. You look much better since last time."
"I-Is that so? Hahaha."
It came out a bit sarcastic somehow, but I meant it sincerely.
No empty words—Helsta really did look much improved.
It's generally hard for someone's impression to change this much in just a few days.
Unless they'd starved for three or four days straight, which wasn't the case here... Maybe a shift in mindset had affected his face.
Physical changes don't happen quickly without grueling training, but the mental side is different.
Given the right trigger, it can happen in less than a day.
Like someone who's spent years lounging around, eating junk, living lazily...
Then one day, they glance in the mirror, realize the pathetic slob staring back is themselves, and snap out of it.
Right from that moment, humans can change.
Even a simple resolve like 'From now on, I'll live properly' can alter their entire demeanor.
Honestly, I hadn't expected to see this kind of change in Helsta.
Did that mean he wasn't rotten to the core?
Truth be told, Helsta was a low-tier villain.
His deeds didn't match his lofty status—they were petty. Small-time, you know?
If he'd plotted something more malicious, a few beatings wouldn't have reformed him.
Of course, using "reform" for a guy his age felt off, but surprisingly, there are plenty like him among the nobility.
They look grown-up on the outside, but inside, they're just kids.
As I stared at him lost in these thoughts, Helsta spoke in a creaky voice.
"Would you like some tea?"
My throat was parched anyway, so I nodded. Helsta stood, pulling out a teapot and leaves with practiced motions and starting to brew.
In the few days since I'd last seen him, he looked like the room's owner.
By the time the tea aroma hit my nose, Helsta handed me a cup.
"Here."
"Thanks."
It was reddish black tea.
Piping hot, steam rising, but I downed it in one go without caring.
Helsta stared at me in surprise.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine. My constitution handles hot stuff well."
"I see. How's the taste?"
"It's okay."
"Oh."
He looked pleased for some reason, so I added,
"I said it's just okay."
"That's a compliment to me. My tea-brewing skills were awful before. A bit better than dirty water, maybe... But while staying at the academy, I learned from Professor Betty."
Helsta beamed proudly, and I found myself speechless. We weren't even arguing, but it felt like I'd lost.
"What have you realized while here?"
I had urgent business, but...
For some reason, what came out was a pointless question.
Helsta, who had just poured himself some tea, hesitated before speaking softly.
"It reminded me of my childhood."
"Childhood? Oh, right. You must have been a student once. Cartel Academy alum, by any chance?"
"No. I graduated from a religious school run by the 72 Churches. And it's not really school days I recalled. It was the dream I had right around adulthood."
"A grown-up's dream?"
"...When I was young, I really liked kids."
"......"
Speechless again.
As I gawked at him, Helsta scratched his temple awkwardly.
"...Just that."
"Hmm."
I nodded and held out my cup again. Helsta refilled it silently.
Slurp.
This time, I sipped more leisurely, organizing my thoughts, but no good words came to mind.
I just blurted out what felt right.
"You came to your senses not too late."
"You think so? I'm already over forty."
"Gasp."
He looked mid-thirties, so more youthful than expected. Still, separate from my surprise, my thoughts didn't change.
Thirty, forty, seventy—what did it matter? Enlightenment has no age limit.
"Good tea. Bishop Helsta, I have an important favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Finally, I pulled the Holy Grail from my robes and placed it on the table.
"Could you infuse it with some holy power?"
"Hmm...? This looks familiar..."
Helsta furrowed his brow briefly, then said, "Ah."
"Isn't this from the auction house?"
"Right."
Come to think of it, he'd been at the Abyss Auction too.
I said curtly,
"It's the Holy Grail."
"The Holy Grail? Hahaha."
Did he think it was a joke? He chuckled lightly, then saw my face and stiffened.
"You're serious?"
"I like jokes, but sadly, this time I'm not."
"...May I examine it?"
"Go ahead."
At my permission, Helsta snatched it up, squinting as he inspected every inch, his expression gradually turning grave.
About ten minutes later.
"Huhh...!"
An exclamation of shock burst out.
"I-It... it's really the Holy Grail...?!"
"Told you."
"H-How did you get this?!"
"Bought it at the Abyss Auction. You saw it."
"R-Right! But how did you know this shabby cup was the Holy Grail...? I didn't realize until examining it myself..."
Truth be told, without Lise's tip, I'd have treated it as junk and tossed it in some Soecheol Party warehouse.
"I've got a good eye. Anyway, I heard the Holy Grail needs wine infused with lots of holy power to work. That right?"
I decided to confirm what Lise had told me again.
Helsta nodded.
"That's true, but... it doesn't have to be wine."
"Good. My blessing proficiency is kinda low. Could our Bishop Helsta help out...?"
"Of course it's not hard, but..."
Helsta swallowed hard and asked cautiously.
"After using it, would you consider donating the Holy Grail to the 72 Churches...?"
"Wanna bet?"
"I'm sorry."
Helsta immediately bowed his head.
I glared at his crown and continued.
"I've got a tight schedule ahead, so I'd appreciate maximum speed. How long will it take?"
"Hmm... To maximize the effect, at least a day. I need to amplify the holy power through prayer too..."
"Got it. Back here tomorrow at this time?"
"That'll be enough."
"See you then."
"Ah, wait."
"What?"
As I started to stand, Helsta stopped me.
"Caron Woodjack has woken up."
* * *
As I told Seren...
From now on, I planned to head to Heros.
Normally, I wouldn't share my destination with anyone, mainly because I figured my journey wouldn't involve companions.
That had been my mindset right after regressing.
My ultimate goal of capturing Eldest Martial Brother and dragging him to Master was hard to share anyway.
But after various incidents and learning the world's truths, my thinking shifted.
The decisive trigger was the academy's underworld events—alone, it would have ended in tragedy and disaster.
Admitting that led to a clear conclusion.
Fighting solo has its limits.
I needed people to watch my back, or at least reliable ones around.
Caron Woodjack was one candidate, and I wanted him to come to Heros with me if possible.
But the Caron I met after so long...
"......"
To be blunt, he didn't look fine.
No visible wounds, but he seemed out of it.
Caron sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window—his right eye with poor vision and even his left lacked focus.
Even among the leaders, the one with the sharpest senses hadn't noticed my presence.
I had no choice but to knock on the open door a few times before he looked over.
"Ah-."
Before Caron could speak, I tossed him the item I'd brought.
His focus returned as he caught it deftly.
"This is...?"
"A get-well gift."
A spirit medicine from the auction. I'd grabbed it along with the Holy Grail.
One of the ones I got that wouldn't benefit me much right now.
"Isn't this valuable?"
"Dunno. Forgot the price."
"...I'll make good use of it."
I nodded vaguely, then noticed something off and asked.
"Someone visited?"
"...My father stopped by briefly."
I narrowed my eyes at Caron's words.
Obviously, Caron's father meant Hyde Woodjack, the empire's strongest ranger.
It threw me off a bit.
I'd never heard of that man leaving the marshlands even once.
Had he rushed over worrying about his son?
My guess was no.
In the lost past, when everyone got massacred at the training camp, Hyde Woodjack never showed.
Plus, Caron's expression didn't match having seen a concerned father.
"I need to head back to the marshlands briefly."
"Sure."
"What about you now, Brother?"
Lately, I'd been getting this question a lot, so I opened my mouth.
"Heading to Heros."
"Heros..."
Caron rolled the medicine vial in his hand and said.
"...I'll go to Heros too. Not right now, though."
"Lord Hyde told you to return first?"
"Yes. But this is my choice. When I go back this time, I'll tell Father I'm not ready to inherit the family business yet—that I need to see more of the world first."
Tricky.
If he'd been dragged back by force, that'd be one thing, but him declaring it himself left me little to say.
You respect that kind of resolve, basically.
"...I heard you went to great lengths for my treatment this time. Even persuading a 72 Churches bishop directly."
Not wrong, but...
Caron bowed his head.
"I'll repay this debt for sure."
"Good. Hang in there."
"Yes."
After that, we chatted idly for a bit before I stood.
As I walked the corridor, I smacked my lips.
'Things are getting complicated.'
The moment I thought I needed comrades, they were dropping off one by one.
Among the leaders, I had my eye on fewer than five, and I'd already lost two.
Sure, Seren and Caron—I'd reunite eventually...
'Hector probably isn't aiming for Heros.'
With Family Head as his goal, he'd likely return to the Bednickers.
No helping it? Guess I'd go to Heros alone... That's when it hit me.
"Found you at last-!"
A booming voice echoed, and someone appeared down the hall.
"No running in the corridors!"
"S-Sorry!"
The small guy approaching with heavy thuds like stomping—then quick tip-toes.
Right, I'd forgotten about him.
"Mir Giant."
"It's me! Ruan! There you were! Where've you been these past few days—."
"You free?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
I looked at Mir tilting his head and asked.
"Wanna go to Heros together?"
"Heros? Sure, why not!"
Good.
Got one.