Amelia's Tempting Offer and the Heretic's Tomb
The Anesa Church had established branches all across the continent. Officially, it was to spread the greatness of the goddess, but in truth, they were combat outposts built to fight monsters. That made the branch chief a pretty high-ranking position—something like a frontier lord.
"Krahahaha! These humans take money from people and blow it all on useless crap!!"
We'd been summoned by the branch chief, so off we went. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival was a flashy, imposing castle. I thought it was some grand sanctuary for worship, but no—it was just where the branch chief lived.
"H-Huh...! That's dangerous talk, Master Huu..."
Ludia flinched and made the sign of the cross, putting on a pious act. Normally, she'd be crying "Eek, that scared me!" or jumping in surprise, but given the place, she was trying to play the saintess candidate part.
"(It's not like anyone else can hear me anyway! So, what do you think? Does it feel like my personal love nest?!)"
"H-Huh... It's already..."
Ludia squeezed her eyes shut, unable to finish the sentence. Her cheeks flushed bright red—she was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
"Huu."
Sorry, Ludia. I'm trying to talk normally, but this damn ring... It's the ring's fault. The ring.
I tapped the ring with my finger, feigning innocence as I walked along the corridor. I've gotta behave today—can't cause trouble with important people around.
"...Do you think Mari's okay?"
Maybe the silence between just the two of us felt awkward? Midway through our walk, Ludia brought up Mari, who wasn't even here.
"(That prickly bitch is softer than she looks! If I pamper her in bed, she'll be bawling her eyes out! Annoying, but no choice—gotta comfort her! Krahahaha!)"
"Mari might look tough, but she's actually pretty delicate..."
Ever since that incident, Mari had holed up in her room and refused to come out. After tasting the dwarf ring's "flavor," her mind must've snapped. Even when we knocked on our way out, there was no response.
"(Don't worry, you big-titted bitch! I'll snap her out of it soon and pamper you both at once! Urahaha!!!!)"
"That's... a nice... sentiment... right...?"
Ludia rolled her big eyes cautiously toward me, her gaze half-worried, half-disbelieving.
...I nodded.
Ha. This goddamn ring. Why the hell did I ever put on this insane thing? If Ludia weren't such a good sport, I'd have been a total social outcast by now.
Regret washed over me—I wanted to scream.
"Oh my?"
"Eek!"
As we traded misunderstanding-filled banter with Ludia and rounded the end of the corridor, a woman across the way waved lightly. Her silhouette exuded elegance from the clicking heels and measured steps.
"Lady Amelia!"
"Nice to see you, Ludia. And you too, Master Huu?"
It was Amelia. She approached with a faint smile, her long golden hair swaying.
"Here to see the branch chief, I take it?"
"Y-Yes. He called us suddenly, but we don't know why... H-Huh?!"
"Uuh! (Whoa, the ring!)"
Ludia and I simultaneously locked eyes on the same spot, as if by prior agreement.
Amelia's right hand. On it was a wooden ring that looked familiar.
"Oh. Hehe... Just a common wooden ring. Does it suit me?"
Amelia deliberately raised her hand to show it off. The crude wooden band on her pale, slender finger was such a mismatch—anyone would think, Why wear that? But she seemed quite pleased, her lips curving up slightly.
"Th-That's the one Master Huu wanted to buy..."
"Master Huu likes these too? Oh my, what a coincidence."
"Uuh... (Agh, this damn bitch. She's totally mocking me.)"
Good thing my face was bandaged. Otherwise, my scowl would've been obvious.
Why was she messing with us like this? Last time, she'd tried luring me over; at the auction, she'd screwed us. Unlike the original story, she'd turned into a dangerous one, and I didn't want to get close—but we kept running into her. What a pain.
"What do you think? Want it? I can give it to you."
"...P-Pardon?? For real!?"
"Uuh? (Wait, for real??)"
But the unexpected offer perked up my ears. Why the sudden change? What was her game?
"Yes. I like it too, but if Master Huu wants it more..."
"Uuh... (Oh... Did you turn nice or something?)"
No need to overthink. Assume she'd repented.
My reason flew out the window at the sight of the ring. Bye-bye, fucking dwarf ring. I'll pry you off my finger somehow and switch to that one. It wasn't even on yet, but my heart was already racing. All this time, I'd been unintentionally spewing pervert talk at Ludia. Finally...!
"But... we don't have a thousand gold."
Unlike my excitement, Ludia faced reality. Her voice trailed off hesitantly.
Amelia smiled kindly and took Ludia's hand.
"Hehehe... It was anonymous, remember, Ludia? And did you think I'd ask for money?"
"Really!?"
"In exchange... one small favor."
"What is it?"
Amelia hugged Ludia gently, her smile benevolent. But for a split second, it turned sly.
"I just received a trial from the branch chief. It'd help to have someone strong with me."
"....?"
"Could I borrow Master Huu for a bit?"
"?!?!"
Ludia's big eyes ballooned in shock at the unforeseen request. She stammered meaningless words like "Uh... um... th-that..." in a total daze.
"It won't take long."
Amelia patted Ludia while hugging her, then looked my way.
"....."
Sly smile confirmed. Her large purple eyes gleamed with intense madness. So this is clear-eyed fervor...!
"But I might get a trial too... and then I'd need Master Huu..."
"Don't worry. I'll talk to the branch chief so our trials don't overlap."
"Then me too..."
"No, Ludia. Rest up. Master Huu just needs to help me out briefly. And I'll pay handsomely, of course."
"....."
"Not a bad deal, right? No burdens on either side."
Amelia released the hug and looked at Ludia, who smiled awkwardly. Her face was draining of color.
Separating from me—or revealing why she couldn't—both meant death for her. Her eyes trembled understandably.
"What do you say, Master Huu? I don't like losing to others either."
"Uuh... (Of course...)"
But what was the problem? Why separate? I couldn't fathom why Ludia was so cowed. Maybe I needed to toughen her up someday.
"(You damn bitch!!! Stop crying!! How dare you leave your master behind!!)"
"Hic!!!"
"?!"
...Right. The dwarf ring, damn it.
It's fine. I'm not going anywhere. Why did my normal words turn into that?
Ludia yelped in surprise, hiccuping.
"What's wrong, Ludia? Are you ill? You've looked pale..."
"N-No... no... H-Huhuhu... hic..."
"??"
Ludia wiped tears streaming from her eyes, still hiccuping and chuckling oddly. Amelia stared, baffled.
And... I shook my head.
The ring tempted me, sure. But no deal with you, you damn bitch!
...Hey, kid.
I extended my ring finger boldly.
"Uuh. (Yeah, I'm bummed, but this'll tide me over for now. If you really wanna give it, just say so.)"
I confidently showed off the dwarf ring with a wistful whine.
...Too clingy? Whatever—she wouldn't understand anyway.
**
"Hmm. Looks like there's definitely something between those two."
Amelia murmured to herself in the spot they'd left.
"....."
She stood there for a while. A chill unfamiliar breeze snapped her out of it, and she cautiously raised her hand with the wooden ring.
"...Well. Opportunities are made, and people change."
She slipped the ring off, then slid it onto her left ring finger. She admired the hand from all angles.
It was the exact spot where Huu had worn his earlier.
"This position suits it better."
Her voice was flat. The usual kind smile was gone from her face.
**
I had no memory of the branch chief. Well, I knew other branch chiefs, but Olledo was new to me. Grumpy old man? I wondered.
"Ho ho ho... Was Captain Dalton too stiff?"
"No. But you all swarmed in so suddenly—it startled us."
But he was a kindly grandpa with a bushy beard. He offered his hand first for a simple shake, but then gripped both of mine firmly, saying we'd been through a lot. He personally brewed several cups of precious tea, and praised our efforts in the recent battle without stint.
"Master Huu... where's your hometown?"
"(Krahahaha! This old geezer's already got dementia! How many times do I gotta say I don't know?!)"
"He says he doesn't remember well. He lost his memories in an accident as a child."
I nodded.
Then came the barrage of questions. He'd been so friendly and accommodating that dodging them would've made me seem like a jerk. My and Ludia's heads rang with the booming crude voice.
"Then who taught you swordsmanship?"
("Don't know! This body just knew it from the start! My bitch should feel honored to serve a genius hunk like me!! Krahahaha!!!!)"
"Ah, y-yes... I'll serve you well..."
"Huh??"
"?! Eep!"
Chatting with others via ring wasn't easy. No practice or anything.
Ludia clapped her hand over her mouth with an "Eep!"
"S-Sorry, Branch Chief... I was lost in thought..."
"Ho ho ho... It's fine, it's fine. You're as bright and cheerful as ever—good to see."
The chief laughed heartily, like Of course. The mood stayed warm and friendly.
"Now, to business, unfortunately. Can't avoid talking about the trial."
After chatting idly about church life and tasty desserts, he drew attention to the main topic.
"I'd love to give Ludia a break after her impressive trial, but..."
"No, it's fine. Can a saintess candidate dodge a trial?"
"Uuh? (Huh? What?)"
Was that really Ludia? Every time a trial came up, she'd whine "Ugh, don't wanna!"
"Ho ho ho... Always so positive. No wonder the Goddess Anesa favors you."
It felt foreign to me, but familiar to him. He chuckled and pulled a small scroll from his robe.
"Just participate in the subjugation. It's a tough one anyway."
"Wait... this is..."
Ludia unrolled it and trailed off.
"Yes. The Heretic's Tomb. It's become a full dungeon now, and they need more support lately."
"??!"
Heretic's Tomb? Sigh... Why did the difficulty spike all of a sudden?