Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: A Very Small Helping Hand 1
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Holy Knights Nune and Tine were boldly smacking me across the back of the head with flashy flair, even though the excommunication decree hadn't even been carried out yet.
Despite this being a grace period of sorts—where I was supposed to quietly settle my affairs and leave—I could feel my insides boiling with rage as I watched these two Holy Knight bitches brazenly block my path with drawn swords. At the same time, a thick sense of bewilderment washed over me.
'Damn it... Am I really going to end up penniless like some beggar and have to leave just like this? The documents inside... No, if I could at least grab the money from the safe...'
Sorting out my assets could come later. Leaving without even travel money was absolutely impossible.
In this world, where transportation wasn't convenient like in the modern era, departing the city without a single coin meant I was practically primed to die on the roadside. And even if I somehow made it to another region, having capital or not was the difference between heaven and earth.
In short, if I got chased out from here just like this, survival would be impossible, let alone starting a new life or getting revenge.
However, these two bitches in front of me showed no signs of letting me pass easily, no matter how I looked at it.
'What do I do... Should I force my way through with brute strength? No, that might not be easy... Above all, causing more of a scene here wouldn't be good for me in any way.'
It was an absurd situation that deserved an explosion of fury, but even so, I could calmly discern the true reason behind their behavior without much difficulty.
At a glance, it seemed like they were simply acting as Holy Knights to reject an excommunicated heretic.
But I knew full well that these two weren't the type to be so devoutly faithful in their faith.
Despite bearing the title of Holy Knight, they hated anything bothersome while being obsessed with money. They were the kind of parasites who latched onto any opportunity for profit without hesitation, sucking out all the sweet juice.
Just a few weeks ago, when I was raking in profits without issue, they'd clung to me like they were ready to rip out my liver and gall bladder. For them to now spout nonsense about excommunication and the Lord's will—there had to be another reason.
And... what that reason was.
I figured it out without much trouble.
'So that's it... Is it because of that? No, it has to be. I can't think of any other reason.'
The reason these bitches were blocking my path with weapons drawn.
Considering their usual behavior, the answer was obvious.
Money.
To be precise, they were likely eyeing the not-insignificant fortune inside my room.
In the case of someone excommunicated, all their assets were seized by the Church the moment the decree was enforced.
The reasoning was pompous nonsense: since the sinner's wealth belonged to someone who had sinned against God, it rightfully became God's property.
However, that only applied after the excommunication was officially executed. Until then, even with the decree pending, I was still an ordinary citizen and had every right to liquidate my assets into cash and leave for another country.
From the perspective of the Archbishop who had schemed to target my considerable wealth, this was something that absolutely had to be prevented.
'Looking at it that way... the orders these bitches received from the Archbishop bitch are obvious. Somehow keep me from liquidating my assets. And if things go smoothly, a portion of it will surely drop into their mouths as scraps.'
With the situation grasped, I sank into even deeper rage combined with increasingly tangled thoughts about the complicated present circumstances.
'Damn it... What do I do... Should I try negotiating a deal for the assets inside? But... I don't even know how much they're asking, so betting blind doesn't sit right with me...'
Judging by how deliberately these bitches were acting, they were probably demanding a hefty sum.
But even so, leaving this place as a beggar was utterly ridiculous.
Thus, I reached the conclusion that I had no choice but to cut a deal with them, even at a significant loss. With a truly reluctant mood, I prepared to put it into action.
At that moment...
"Hey, what the hell is this?"
"Huh?"
"Who the hell are you?"
The next instant, another woman emerged from the door behind them.
Black hair and blue eyes.
And...
She appeared to be in her mid-to-late teens, with a slightly youthful and cute look... yet at the same time, a face that promised to bloom into stunning beauty once she matured a bit more.
At the appearance of this girl wearing the insignia of a Junior Holy Knight, clear irritation spread across the faces of Nune and Tine, who had been blocking my way.
"I heard the whole situation. Both of you, stop this rude behavior right now."
"Listen, this guy's an excommunicated heretic. We're just trying to stop a heretic from entering the Holy Knights' quarters."
"You're not thinking of siding with this wicked heretic who's been excommunicated, are you? If you want an easy time as a Holy Knight from now on, don't butt in and get lost quietly."
It was practically a threat disguised as a warning from the two.
However... despite their words, she...
Though she was a Junior Holy Knight who didn't even appear in the original story, this was the woman who had consistently shown interest in my affairs here and built a personal rapport with me.
Kazeros Sophia showed no sign of flinching whatsoever, even as the two Holy Knights radiated danger right in front of her.
"You've been going on about excommunication since earlier, but isn't what you're doing right now an overreach? Even if the excommunication has been declared, it isn't official until His Holiness the Pope issues the formal decree. Are you two claiming that your authority surpasses that of His Holiness the Pope, who sits upon the holy throne of Saint Rome?"
"Th-that..."
Kazeros invoked the Pope's authority in her words.
The two were instantly at a loss for words, and toward them, Kazeros continued in a voice utterly devoid of hesitation.
"Of course, things will change once a week passes and His Holiness's official decree arrives. But until then, Lord Santana is still a child of the Lord and holds the legitimate rights of a faithful granted by His Holiness. As the Pope's hands and feet, servants of the Lord, you're not trying to trample those sacred rights arbitrarily, are you?"
"Tch..."
Kazeros laid out the absurdity of the current situation with impeccable logic.
In response to her words, the two Holy Knights couldn't find any means to counter and simply maintained their frustrated demeanor.
If they had been reasonably clever, they might have come up with a suitable rebuttal to Kazeros's argument.
Fortunately for me, however, these two bitches weren't that smart.
Though their combat prowess ranked at the top among the Holy Knights, they were the perfect fit for the term "thick-headed idiots."
If I had been the one saying it, they could have dismissed it like before with something like, "Who cares about a heretic's words?"
But the one speaking now was a fellow Holy Knight, albeit of lower rank.
As an equal who could legitimately call out their conduct, they couldn't completely ignore her.
"You... we'll see about this later..."
"Let's see how long you last as a Holy Knight."
With that, the two ground their teeth and reluctantly withdrew from the spot. Then, Kazeros turned to me with a much softer voice than before.
"Well then, please come in, Lord Santana. You must have a lot to take care of..."
"Ah... Y-yes. Th-thank you."
Kazeros spoke with a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Watching her like this, I felt my heart skip a beat without realizing it, and I replied in a dazed voice.