Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The First XX
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I trusted the hormone called dopamine that exists in people's brains instead of trusting people.
That dopamine was secreted when receiving recognition from others, and also when feeling a sense of accomplishment.
It was released even when doing good deeds to help others and that brought positive influence back to oneself.
‘I just trusted the effects of the hormones that make up the human body more than people.’
In this fairy tale-like, dreamlike story, I who had planned all of this maintained a thoroughly dry attitude.
That was because all of this was simultaneously checking both the temple and the imperial palace, which were poised to become real threats to the Mirmod family.
I turned my gaze to the back and said,
“The atmosphere at the temple, how is it, Ted?”
I had noticed that the presence of the temple's ‘volunteer activities’ had significantly faded.
Faith in gods and faith in humans could go hand in hand at times, but in truth, the resource called faith was limited.
Believing more in humans inevitably weakened faith in gods.
“Shall I explain in detail?”
“Yeah.”
The holy knight who had betrayed the temple, Ted, smiled brightly.
“I heard from an old acquaintance at the temple that it's complete chaos. Apparently, the number of people actually coming to the temple has decreased.”
“What about the volunteer activities they're pushing out from the temple?”
“They seem to be continuing, but... it's not going well at all.”
I nodded. Everything was flowing more and more according to my plan.
“If my prediction is correct, the Pope and the Saintess will return soon.”
“You prepared for that time? Could it be that Lady Sien...”
“Yeah.”
“...You knew that the Pope and the priests' holy power is based on people's faith.”
I nodded.
They would be greatly flustered by the holy power that had vanished in their absence. When they realized people's faith had left them and began to move with their weakened power.
That would be exactly the moment for me to step in.
“Now we'll look for the next method. The kids receiving scholarships from the temple. Have you tracked them at all?”
“Ah, the kids who applied for scholarships from us but switched to the temple?”
“Yeah.”
“They're all fine, but there's exactly one whose whereabouts are suspicious.”
I skimmed over the parchment Ted handed me.
Name: Sorbon, Age: 13, possesses holy power, from the orphanage. Originally set to become a scholarship student of Sien Merchant Company, but went to the temple due to the orphanage director's dissuasion...
“Hmm, there's a problem.”
“Yes, definitely...”
Ted trailed off suspiciously.
I answered him firmly.
“Now, we just need to go find that child. That child will be our key.”
We had weakened the temple's forces and were making the Pope's holy power disappear.
It was about time to figure out why the temple was holding onto children under the pretext of sponsorship. There had to be some dirty scheme hidden...
With the thought that if I could just grab evidence, I could definitely weaken the temple's power, I clenched my fist and declared clearly.
“Let's find out what those guys are planning.”
“How?”
“The place where that child disappeared is near the Melting Temple, in A-Block, right?”
“Yes, correct. A-Block. And there's the orphanage where the child originally stayed.”
I smiled kindly.
“When you originally know nothing... you start with manual labor.”
We just need to search A-Block from beginning to end.
First, let's thoroughly check both the Melting Temple and the orphanage.
***
We decided to split into groups to search for the missing child.
Acid and I in one group, Ted and Leonhardt in another, Martin and the muscle maid sisters in the last.
The reason Acid and I were grouped together was nothing special. Excluding the last group, we had paired those with holy power and those without together.
Ted said he wanted to go with me instead of Leonhardt, but I shook my head.
“Ted and Leonhardt will scout the dangerous area near the temple as the vanguard, while Acid and I will check around the orphanage in the middle. Martin and the maid sisters will be the rearguard and join us if we get in danger. That way, everyone can protect me in the middle!”
Leonhardt clapped in admiration.
“Oh, as expected...! Smart little night puff!”
In contrast, Bench Sis ground her teeth.
“Rearguard, huh. Infuriating. I'll build up more strength and be vanguard next time...!”
I vaguely heard the muscle maid sisters' complaints, but anyway, we had set off divided into areas like that. Of course, we had firmly tucked communication magic tools into our pockets.
But...
“Acid.”
“Yes, Lady Sien.”
“We...”
I stared straight ahead without turning to look at Acid, who had his arm around my shoulders.
Strangely, my throat felt tight.
When Leonhardt hugged me, when Dad hugged me, I didn't feel like this. But with Acid holding me, my fingertips kept twitching.
Only then did Acid seem to notice his own hand on my shoulder and quickly muttered,
“...Y-Yeah, we're too close. B-But...”
I whispered softly.
“...Yeah, here we have to... stick a bit close. The area near the orphanage is like a super narrow maze.”
The orphanage we arrived at was in a relatively decent part of A-Block's high-crime zone, but the alleys were so labyrinthine it was dizzying.
We had to stick right together to pass through the alleys.
I quickly pulled myself together, checked the note in my hand with the info written down, and thoroughly searched around the orphanage where the child had stayed.
‘No clues near the orphanage.’
In my diligent walking and searching for clues, I had unknowingly arrived right in front of the orphanage gate.
As expected of those cunning temple bastards, they hadn't left a single clue when taking the child. I glanced around the bushes and near the orphanage, peering beyond the wall.
‘No signs of presence... No, wait.’
I stared blankly at Acid, then quickly looked around.
In the eerie atmosphere, a strange breathing sound came. It definitely wasn't ours.
Acid urgently pushed me against the wall. As the flustered me was about to speak through gritted teeth, he blocked in front of me and raised his sword.
A pure white light shimmered from his rapier.
The power infused with holy energy sliced the flickering barrier in front of us in half.
“It's a barrier spell to block intruders.”
“...The orphanage has that kind of magic?”
It was unexpected. As I bit my lip hard, Acid urgently grabbed my hand.
“Yes. And...”
“Huh?”
“We need to run, fast!”
Without even hearing the reason, I clasped hands with Acid and ran quickly. We dashed so breathlessly, breaking through the maze-like alleys without hesitation.
“Intruders went that way. Run!”
I saw men in black masks charging out madly fast.
Acid and I stood face-to-face in the alley, frozen without even breathing. I quickly slipped my hand into my pocket and pressed the communication magic tool. It meant retreat from this location.
And... now it was time to use the portable magic tool.
It originally could harm the body, so it wasn't used often, but better than getting caught by pursuers.
However, what I overlooked was...
Beep.
The moment the portable magic tool's barrier was released, it made a very small squeaking sound!
And apparently, that sound wasn't just for us.
Before long, the thugs' voices came from nearby.
“Sounds like it's coming from this alley?”
Snickering approached the alley.
“There are always lots of rats here. We know these alleys well.”
The portable magic tool took about 3 minutes to activate, but could we really escape?
I gripped the magic tool, calculating time inwardly, when Acid slowly turned his body. And at the same time, the pursuers started approaching the alley.
One step, two steps...
The moment my mouth went dry and sweat slicked my palms.
Regrettably, after about a minute with Acid's hand in mine, the black-masked pursuers finally appeared before us.
“Oh ho.”
The pursuer in a black mask over his face raised his sword and sneered.
“So you were hiding here.”
“Kill 'em quick and go. Just two small fry.”
Before Acid could raise his sword, he stared at me intently and said urgently.
“I've learned the sword, so I'll handle them. Lady Sien, stay here.”
“No, let's just talk a bit, then run-!”
Acid said with a rare cold expression.
“No, we have to subdue them all before they clearly see our faces.”
He left me in the alley and faced the pursuers. Before long, his sword drew elegant lines in motion.
I watched him while gripping the portable magic tool.
1 minute 30 seconds left.
‘Can Acid, a healer, buy time against professional assassins?’
I watched the situation anxiously.
And...
***
...Acid subdued them all in exactly 1 minute.
The pursuers collapsed to the ground like fallen leaves, unable to even groan. I looked down at the still-inactive portable magic tool with a troubled gaze and said,
“...Th-The portable magic tool still has 1 minute left to activate... They don't look like they'll get up anyway, so should we just walk?”
Acid sheathed his bloodied sword and said,
“Yes, that would be better. Portable magic tools are dangerous, no need to risk it.”
“Yeah, let's walk.”
I canceled the portable magic tool's spell.
After that, we stealthily walked toward where the maid sisters were.
In the pitch-dark path shrouded in shadows, I began asking Acid a few things. Like when he had learned to handle the sword so well, if he was mentally okay now, things like that.
Acid answered that he had diligently practiced sparring and that his holy power protected his mind, so it wasn't hard.
But there was something oddly bothering me.
“Acid.”
“...Yes.”
“Blood.”
I quietly grabbed his arm.
Seeing the blood on his arm, my whole body trembled uncontrollably. Acid gave a wry smile and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.
“I'll wipe off the blood. It reeks, right? And I'm supposed to be a healer.”
“...”
As I stared blankly only at his bloodied arm without speaking, Acid hurriedly continued.
“If it's uncomfortable, should I stay farther away?”