Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Sickbed Visit - (1)
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I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
The room was a makeshift sickbay in the academy's main building. Apparently, I'd been out cold for four straight days since collapsing that day.
My shoulder was wrapped tight in bandages. The silver lining was that swift treatment had prevented any lasting aftereffects—thanks largely to the fact that I'd blacked out in the grand cathedral, surrounded by masters of healing magic.
"Phew..."
I let out a sigh of relief.
'And with that, Act 3 is finally over.'
Regardless of how it had all gone down, I'd safely cleared the third act. What a relief.
'...That was close.'
I'd anticipated the original plot twisting, but I hadn't expected Archbishop Balua to kidnap Elise several weeks ahead of schedule.
Without timely backup from Ciris and Beatrice, things could've ended in disaster.
I figured I owed Ciris a thank-you at least, but she was too busy handling the aftermath to visit. Fair enough.
For me, it was probably better not running into her. She was a regressor. I was a possessor. Our fates weren't meant to intertwine.
'...Not like a princess would bother visiting a lowly priest anyway.'
The fallout from the grand cathedral incident was massive—far worse than the Full Moon Festival or the Twin Towers affair.
The church's shadow had rooted deep into the kingdom, and now it was exposed.
The cathedral lay in ruins. Archbishop Balua was dead. Even Gregory, the Papal Knights' captain Otilie had faced, had perished when his body collapsed.
The knights and corrupt priests loyal to Balua were all rounded up.
The church was in chaos, but the royals and Papal Inquisition had stepped in, framing it as the archbishop's personal deviance to contain and close the case.
Thanks to that, the academy was slowly but steadily regaining its calm.
'Should be peaceful for a while...'
Of course, I needed rest too.
They'd ordered at least a week of bed rest, stranding me here without even returning to the chapel.
It wasn't so bad. Meals came regularly, and they'd brought a few books, so it wasn't pure boredom. Act 4 wouldn't kick off until after summer break anyway, giving me some breathing room.
But there was one unforeseen issue...
"Um, Elise?"
"Yes? What's wrong?"
"How long... exactly do you plan on staying here...?"
A white-haired woman sat by the window in a dragged-over chair, grinning at me nonstop.
Saintess Candidate Elise.
The cathedral cleanup should've kept her swamped, yet every day after work, she'd show up and stay until I dozed off.
Thus, my recovery unfolded in an intensely awkward atmosphere.
"...Does my presence bother you, Father?"
"No... not exactly."
Lies.
It bothered me immensely.
Especially how her outfits grew bolder with each passing day.
I got that she rejected the saintess role, so no vestments—just casual clothes—but the exposure level was off the charts.
Today's look: a thin silk slip dress with ample cleavage. Even I, from the 21st century, felt my face heat up. In this conservative fantasy society? Scandalous.
"Elise, isn't that outfit a bit... too revealing?"
"Is it? It's peak summer now, you know? I overheat easily."
She had the unbeatable shield of summer break.
I dropped the matter, enduring the awkwardness with nowhere to look.
"Ahem."
I shifted topics to ease the tension.
"So... you're quitting as saintess candidate?"
Elise shrugged at my question.
"It's not that simple. They say the Papal See will summon me by year's end for an investigation and to confirm my wishes... but there's no replacement for a saintess."
True enough.
Elise was the sole candidate of her era. Her shirking duty would be unprecedented for the church.
"Guess I'll have to stay on as candidate through graduation. My family's in an uproar too—the whole house is under Papal investigation because of this."
Elise tilted her teacup with a wry smile.
"Got a letter recently. Called me the wretch who ruined the family."
"Who said that?"
"My father."
"..."
I sighed softly.
Her father had been Balua's accomplice, after all. Her life had been destined from birth to be a vessel of divine power.
I could only imagine her misery.
"You're so kind, Father."
Reading my expression, Elise softened her smile.
"Don't worry. From now on, I won't live as de Lua or saintess candidate. I wrote back home too—told them to quit bothering me."
"Good call."
"Yeah. Blood doesn't make a family."
Elise gently took my hand.
"Time to find a new one."
"A new family?"
"You said you'd take responsibility, right?"
She smiled slyly, and I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"..."
An embarrassed silence followed.
Elise broke it.
"So... what will you do now, Father?"
"What do you mean?"
"The cathedral's gone, and the church plans to pull out of Erebos for a while. You're the only cleric left active at the academy."
Her words hit me anew.
I wasn't cathedral staff—just a low-rank academy priest. With the cathedral gone, I was the academy's sole priest.
"Chapel services are gonna be packed."
"Yep. Probably."
Elise grinned, tilting her head cutely.
"On that note, wanna skip mass sometime and go on an outing with me?"
"...I'll think about it."
"Okay!"
She beamed, satisfied.
Sophia Aquilova underwent interrogation over the incident.
Given her traitorous bloodline and involvement in the prior two events, the scrutiny was thorough and severe.
But First Princess Ciris vouched for her innocence, and staff who'd witnessed her heroics at the cathedral testified on her behalf. She was cleared.
"Phew."
Sophia stretched, inhaling the muggy summer air.
Interrogation over, but procedures like statements lingered. Especially since Knight Beatrice—First Princess's guard for some reason—had summoned her.
"Gotta see Master, but..."
Bottom line: no time for sickbed visits.
She'd heard Priest Leo had woken, but couldn't squeeze it in. Regrettable.
"Oh, if it isn't Sophia."
Thus, seeing Elise leisurely coming and going from the sickbay made Sophia grind her teeth.
"...That damn white mutt..."
Sophia bristled. She was stuck writing reports while Elise—this incident's epicenter—hogged time by Master's side.
Elise carried a fruit basket, en route to visit. Her outfit was tacky as a harlot's. Seducing Master with that body?
As Sophia's face soured, Elise smiled brightly, tossing her a red apple.
"You look peckish. Want this?"
"..."
Sophia had no habit of refusing food, so she took it meekly. Crunch. She bit in.
"Why're you always glued to Master?"
"...And what business is that of yours?"
True—she had no right to interfere.
Sophia's face twisted. Elise was the nuisance, yet she got more time with Master?
Then inspiration struck.
"Hmph."
Sophia snorted.
"Master got kidnapped because of you. Hurt bad because of you. All because you fell short."
"..."
"Nuisance incarnate. What gall lets you stick by him? Any shame, you'd scram."
Elise's pupils shook.
Direct hit. Or so Sophia thought—
Something unexpected happened.
"...You're right. It was all my fault... I messed up."
Elise's eyes welled up suddenly, tears streaming.
Once started, they wouldn't stop. She squatted by the road, burying her face in her sleeve, sobbing.
"Huh?"
Sophia hadn't expected tears from her.
As she panicked, the sniffling Elise continued in a drenched voice.
"Just like you said, I'm hopeless—a walking disaster. *Sniff.* That's why... I'm atoning by visiting Father..."
"Ugh..."
Sophia groaned.
The knight academy cadets she'd beaten had spat hate, not broken down crying like this.
Tears were her kryptonite.
She surrendered.
"F-Fine! Stop crying! It's weirding me out! Do whatever—atonement or not, just go!"
Sophia bolted.
But...
"Maybe I have a talent for taming?"
Alone now, Elise's tear-streaked face twisted into a sly grin—unnoticed by Sophia.
Sophia headed straight to the academy's main building.
"You're here."
Knight Beatrice Ludendorff, First Princess's guard, waited inside.
She sat at a desk with the student roster open to Sophia's page.
"..."
Sophia eyed her sullenly.
A woman with blinding golden hair, beauty itself.
Rumored kingdom's top swordmaster.
Sophia wanted to snub her, but Beatrice had saved Master. She opted for courtesy.
"Why'd you call me."
"Casual speech from the start?"
Beatrice chuckled dryly and got to it.
"Sophia Aquilova, by order of Her Highness the princess: for the rest of summer break, I'll oversee your swordsmanship training."
"...Sword training?"
"Yes. From what I saw in the last battle, your talent is exceptional. But to fully bloom, you need a master knight's guidance. No slight to Erebos's knight instructors—they're just... inadequate for you."
"So you're gonna teach me?"
"Something like that."
"Hmph."
Sophia scoffed.
"I know you're strong. Grateful you saved Master. But why should I train under you?"
"Refusing?"
"Obviously. Don't buy you're that great."
Sophia had clearly seen Beatrice's prowess, of course.
Just pride talking.
Beatrice eyed her with interest.
"Rebellious streak, huh? Differs from what Her Highness described. Another distortion?"
"Quit mumbling."
"Best set the hierarchy straight."
Beatrice stood. She towered a head over petite Sophia.
"Sophia Aquilova, I can beat you barehanded, sword unsheathed."
"What?"
That she couldn't ignore.
Sophia scowled.
"Cut the crap. Swordmaster means you can slice without drawing?"
"Formless Sword, perhaps?"
"...What's that?"
Instead of answering, Beatrice raised her hand like a blade. She swung at the half-eaten apple Sophia had gotten from Elise.
Then, impossibly—
Slice. The apple split in two, hitting the floor.
"Master sword aura, and you can pull off crude tricks like this. Elders call it Mind Sword; I say Formless Sword."
"..."
Sophia swallowed hard.
'True strength isn't in swinging the sword—it's the nobility to win without.'
Master's old advice.
Instinct told her: this was the path to true power.
"I-I wanna learn."
"Hm?"
"Please teach me."
"...Suddenly?"
Beatrice blinked in surprise.