Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Very Small Helping Hand 2
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"What? It failed?"
The Archbishop Maxim wore an expression filled with rage.
Seeing her like this, Nune and Tine shrank back, their momentum crumbling as they spoke in trembling voices.
"S-Sorry..."
"Hah... But we had no choice. That woman brought up His Holiness the Pope's authority..."
"Even so, that's no excuse... Hah... No. It was foolish of me to trust worthless things like you even a little and entrust you with this."
The two of them mumbled without any retort to the archbishop's words.
Watching their pathetic display, the archbishop felt a slight headache coming on as she leaned back in her chair.
'I thought those fools might be somewhat useful, so I gave them the task... but it ended up like this. With things this way, I have no choice but to give up on the cash.'
At that moment, seeing the archbishop like this, the two spoke up cautiously.
"Um... Archbishop. What should we do now?"
"With this, not only the cash but even the house deeds and land documents inside..."
"No, you don't need to worry about that."
"Pardon?"
"Wh-What do you mean..."
The two showed bewilderment at the unexpected words.
Watching them, the archbishop smiled slyly.
"No need to worry. We can overlook the cash, but that fool can never sell off the building or the land."
"...?"
The two made faces as if they couldn't comprehend the archbishop's words.
As for that, she pushed aside her regret over the cash and decided to calmly wait for the next week to pass.
'The best would be to completely seal off that guy's movements until the formal excommunication is decided, but even if that fails, there's nothing he can do anyway. The massive fortune he's hoarded will soon become mine... no, the Lord's!'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thanks to Kazeros's consideration, I was able to enter the lodging, and before starting work, I was receiving treatment for my injuries from her.
Treatment using the holy power known as Aura.
Though the power Kazeros possessed wasn't that strong, it was at least enough to heal minor wounds like these.
"All done."
Confirming that the bleeding had stopped and the wound had eased, Kazeros spoke in a bright voice.
In response, I smiled and sincerely expressed my gratitude to her.
"Thank you so much. I nearly ended up chased out penniless. And on top of that, you even treated my wounds..."
"No, no. No matter that you've been excommunicated, as someone who received grace from Sir Santana, this was only natural."
Kazeros smiled with a hint of regret.
At her attitude, full of genuine consideration, a bitter smile naturally formed on my lips.
"But... are you really okay with this? You know who was behind what happened earlier, don't you? The archbishop. If she makes an issue of this..."
"It might be, but it's fine. At the very least, I didn't want to do anything shameful before the Lord as a Holy Knight. And..."
"And...?"
With those words, Kazeros showed a slightly flushed expression for some reason.
However, she soon erased the reddening from her face and continued in a calm voice.
"...No, it's nothing. Anyway, I'm truly sorry that this is the only help I could offer. The aid you've given Sir Santana over the years wasn't just a little..."
"Kazeros..."
Her face showed genuine regret.
Though nothing would change because of it, at least I felt a deep sense of emotion in one corner of my heart knowing there was someone who recognized, even a little, the efforts I'd made all this time.
At that moment...
"Um... and this..."
"?"
The next instant, she handed me a small pouch.
I carefully accepted it and checked its contents.
And what was inside was...
"This is...?"
"I'm sorry. But this is all I can give right now... You'll have a long journey ahead, so please use it as travel money."
"Hah... but how could I..."
"It's money we couldn't have saved without you, Sir. Please take it. Compared to what you've done for our Holy Knight Order all this time, this is nothing, but still..."
The pouch was filled with silver coins.
Though by my standards, who had amassed quite a sum through shrewd dealings, it wasn't a huge amount.
However... for Kazeros, a regular Holy Knight scraping by on a meager salary, this was practically her entire fortune.
Watching her such kind and delicate heart, I began to feel a lump in my throat.
'So, there are still proper people left among those called Holy Knights.'
Fools captured by desire, unaware of the approaching disaster, even cutting off the helping hands trying to save them with their own hands.
Yet... the fact that someone as good as her still remained filled me with emotion and deep regret.
'But in the end, if things stay like this, she'll die soon too, won't she?'
The moment those fools used baseless reasons to excommunicate me, the fate of the Holy Knight Order and the church was already sealed.
Flailing in the coming destruction, meeting death in agony or living on pathetically licking the dirt.
As for that, now that I'd been excommunicated and driven out, I had no need to feel responsible.
After suffering this treatment, I realized that the time of their downfall was truly their own doing.
'An individual's power can't change the flow of the world... Is that how it is? I thought it would work out, but I never imagined things would turn out this badly...'
However, separate from that future of certain destruction...
I wanted to save, somehow, the person right in front of me at this moment.
Kazeros. Her, at least.
At this moment when everyone turned their backs on me and trampled my efforts, she was the only one who acknowledged me and tried to help even a little.
Adding money to her meager savings... And above all, what she did just now to let me into this place.
Especially the second one might seem simple at a glance, but I knew the weight it carried was far from light.
'It was an act cloaked in principles, but she'll definitely use this as an excuse to make her life anything but smooth.'
Since it went against the archbishop's orders, it was clear she wouldn't see good days continuing as a Holy Knight here.
Moreover, as someone who'd already faced discrimination now and then due to being from a foreign land, it would be even worse for her.
And even if she somehow endured that, considering the hell to come afterward, I couldn't just leave her and go.
'But what to do... In this situation, even hinting at future events wouldn't help much...'
Dangers were visible even now from time to time, but no matter what, the idea that these signs would later turn this city... this country into a wasteland would be impossible to believe for someone who didn't know the future.
And considering that point, there was only one way I could save her at this moment.
Depending on the situation, she might refuse... No, honestly, coldly speaking, the chances of that were quite high. But even so, no other idea came to mind.
"Kazeros. This might seem sudden, but just once, for the first and last time, I have a request for you."
"A request? Please, say anything. If it's something I can do, I'll do it, no matter what."
She responded eagerly to my words.
But seeing her like this, I still thought there was a high chance she'd refuse my proposal, so I spoke to her cautiously.
"Kazeros... if it's alright, would you come with me?"
"...Pardon?"
As expected, Kazeros showed a flustered expression at my words.
And so, I extended a helping hand to her in what I considered the best way possible.
While pondering that if she refused... I might even have to tell her about the future, even if it got me treated like a madman.