Chapter 110: The Lord is With Us (31)
Chapter 110: The Lord is With Us (31)
A torrent of words poured out in an attempt to reassure Seria.
The Saintess and I were the same. Without either of us leading, we both began to stammer out excuses.
I didn't know why we were doing it. I just had an intuitive feeling that we had to.
"The Saintess and I aren't in that kind of relationship, Seria... Right, Saintess?"
"T-That is correct. As a member of the clergy tasked with sharing the grace bestowed by the Lord, I always maintain a certain distance from Brother Ian."
Despite our efforts, the murky, sunken look in Seria’s eyes didn't clear up immediately. To make matters worse, Celine was also glancing back and forth between the Saintess and me with a suspicious gaze.
Thinking back, the Saintess had previously had a bad encounter with Seria and Celine. She had a history of kicking them both out of my hospital room.
That fact seemed to be sharpening Seria’s suspicion. She continued her silent interrogation with a chilling stare.
In the end, it was the Saintess who grew indignant. She seemed quite flustered, perhaps not expecting to be lumped together with me like this.
"……I-It’s true. I am a Saintess. I don’t know what you think a Saintess is, but I am very strict about separating public and private matters!"
What did I think a Saintess was?
Didn't she call herself a 'Pouch of Divine Power' not too long ago?
I wanted to retort with that sarcasm, but for now, the Saintess and I were in a temporary alliance. At least until Seria was calmed down.
I nodded, adding weight to the Saintess’s claim.
"Exactly, Seria. The Saintess is a virgin favored by the Heavenly God. That Pouch of Divine Pow—"
Pinch. The Saintess stealthily nipped my side again. I gritted my teeth and somehow managed to salvage the situation.
"A-Ah, no… I mean, you can tell just by looking at her divine power. She doesn't harbor romantic feelings lightly. It could become a religious issue."
When the Saintess and I took such a surprisingly firm stance, Seria couldn't hold out any longer.
Gradually, the light began to return to her eyes. Snapping out of it, Seria bowed her head deeply, perhaps realizing her words might have been rude.
She began to speak hesitantly.
"……W-Well, that is true."
It was the Seria I was used to. If she tripped over her tongue now, it would be perfect.
It was proof that the situation was finally settling down. As I let out a sigh of relief, the Saintess looked unusually flustered today. The dark, composed schemer who was always full of leisure was nowhere to be found.
Still out of sorts, the Saintess eventually let a slip of the tongue escape.
"And besides, even if Brother Ian and I were in a relationship, you wouldn't have the right to say anything, Sister… Ah."
Silence fell once more. Seria’s expression turned icy, and Celine couldn't hide her displeasure either.
I whispered softly into the Saintess’s ear.
"……Are you crazy?"
"I-I just have a strong competitive streak."
The Saintess merely offered that awkward excuse, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush.
It went without saying that after that, the relationship between the Saintess, Seria, and Celine grew a bit more distant.
The demonic beast had been defeated, but the mystery surrounding it remained unsolved. To resolve this, I chose Reto as my first advisor.
He was someone who had always solved the problems I brought to him. I had no doubt he would play a major role this time as well.
As soon as Reto heard my story, he fell silent for a moment. Then, he let out a deep sigh.
"……It seems the demonic beasts are guarding something."
"Guarding something? Like what?"
"How should I know?"
Reto scratched the back of his head vigorously. He looked troubled. It seemed there were things even he didn't know.
"Regardless, it’s unusual. Demonic beasts are fundamentally living creatures. Naturally, they don't try to protect something at the cost of their own lives. But you said it held onto its sword until the moment it died?"
"Yeah."
"And they stay confined to a specific area?"
"Yeah."
Phew. A sigh escaped Reto’s lips. His face darkened instantly.
"……It’s obvious they’re guarding something."
"But is it possible for a demonic beast to do that?"
Even the well-read Reto seemed to have few ideas about that. Or perhaps he lacked certainty.
He clutched his forehead and agonized for a while before eventually shaking his head.
There was only one answer he could give for now.
"Go see Mr. Guildford."
Mr. Guildford was a veteran warrior who had lived as a mercenary for decades. Since he must have accumulated vast experience, seeking his advice might help.
That was the reason I was currently having a private meeting with Mr. Guildford.
Mr. Guildford quietly poured tea into my cup. It was cheap, but it was still tea. The fragrant scent tickled my nose.
He spoke with his characteristic benevolent smile.
"Thank you for donating the reward from the demonic beast subjugation for the children. Thanks to you, I won't have to worry about feeding them for a while."
"There’s no need to thank me. It’s a noble’s duty. It’s not like I’ll starve without that money."
Mr. Guildford nodded as if that were indeed the case. The gaze he directed at me was incredibly warm.
I felt restless because I could even sense a sort of admiration in that expression.
If anything, I was the one who should be admiring him. People as wonderful and kind as Mr. Guildford were rare. It would be one thing if I admired him, but I wasn't a good enough person to deserve the admiration of someone so great.
Unable to bear the ticklish atmosphere, I had no choice but to get straight to the point.
"……Mr. Guildford, you said you were a mercenary in the past, right?"
"I was, once… I had my share of achievements, but that’s all in the past now."
Mr. Guildford quietly closed his eyes at my question. As he lifted his cup and sipped the tea, his expression became steeped in nostalgia.
Mercenary life tends to make one rough, but not a trace of that was visible in Mr. Guildford. Only a kind and gentle old man remained.
I found that fascinating. I continued my questions.
"In that case, have you ever hunted demonic beasts?"
"Countless times… Have you perhaps heard of the Great Sea of Trees, Young Master?"
It was an unexpected counter-question. I was speechless for a moment.
The Great Sea of Trees—the largest jungle on the continent, located in the Southern Kingdoms. It was said that countless resources and legends slept there, but few ever set foot inside.
It was because monsters lived there.
Legendary demonic beasts that hadn't been subjugated for a thousand years resided in that place.
"……The habitat of the 'Vampires'."
"Yes. The deeper you go, the stronger the demonic beasts that lie in wait. I once challenged that place as well. But the result was disastrous."
Phew. Mr. Guildford let out a sigh, and his eyes grew deep. His vision was likely scouring somewhere in the past right now.
"Dozens of my comrades were torn to death by the beasts. In the Great Sea of Trees, you couldn't even tell what was poison and what was medicine. In a place where we couldn't even get proper drinking water, I was facing death from hunger and exhaustion."
Mr. Guildford’s eyebrows quivered as if he were recalling the terror of that time. It was rare for such a ripple to appear on his usually peaceful face.
His lips opened and closed. After hesitating, he finally squeezed out a sentence.
"I saw it then—Hell… Since then, I’ve been quite reluctant to face demonic beasts."
Mr. Guildford’s story wasn't particularly long. However, it was enough to guess what a painful trial he had passed through.
I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what words to offer.
Then, Mr. Guildford shook his head with a faint smile. It was a sign not to worry.
"It’s all in the past. This old man let his tongue wander. Now, what was it you wanted to ask?"
"……The demonic beasts are guarding something."
At those words, Mr. Guildford inhaled as if caught off guard.
Then, he gave me a bitter smile and spoke.
"……It sounds just like the Great Sea of Trees."
If that was the case, Mr. Guildford added, there was only one cause.
A Fiend—a human who has turned into a demonic entity.
They were subordinates who had made a contract with the Evil God Omeros, and they could control demonic beasts.
The 'Vampire' of the Great Sea of Trees was the most famous among them.
It was the moment the difficulty of the request jumped several levels at once.
A Fiend, huh? I was lost in deep thought even as I left the Head Nun's office.
There was no physical evidence yet. That made it even more difficult. If I had evidence, I could have reported it to the city office or the temple.
That was the nature of Fiends. Monsters who had abandoned their humanity in pursuit of power; this was an issue that required at least the mobilization of a knight order.
It wasn't something that we, who were merely students, could handle. My face darkened naturally.
I felt depressed.
I felt like I needed a change of pace. As I was about to pass the cafeteria, my footsteps suddenly stopped.
A small shadow was visible inside the cafeteria. I could guess her identity just by the brown hair and the large pointed hat.
It was Senior Elsie.
And standing next to her was a woman with brilliant golden hair. She had a dissatisfied expression. On top of that, her eyes showed she had no idea why she had to be doing this.
It was obvious who it was. Senior Delphine.
I hesitated for a moment, then suppressed my presence and slipped into the cafeteria. When I made eye contact with Senior Delphine, I brought my index finger to my philtrum.
Shh. It was a sign to stay quiet.
Senior Delphine, whose eyes widened at my sudden appearance, eventually avoided my gaze, acting flustered. A complex current of emotions flowed through her eyes.
Ever since we returned from the forest last night, Senior Delphine had been like that every time we met. I couldn't fathom the reason why.
Regardless, I had only one goal right now. Senior Elsie was wiping a table, unaware that I had even arrived.
It didn't take long to reach her side without being noticed. I immediately placed my hand on Senior Elsie’s shoulder.
Senior Elsie’s body instantly sprang up like a coil.
"……H-Hieeeeeek?!"
Startled, a blue electric charge formed in Senior Elsie’s hand. It looked like she was attempting a counterattack. Her fierce gaze turned backward.
Then, our eyes met. Her face, which had been full of vigilance, quickly turned into one of bewilderment.
I gave Senior Elsie a wide smile.
"Hello, Senior Elsie."
"I-Ian-nim… A-Ah, no! It’s you!"
Senior Elsie seemed extremely flustered. Her pupils shook, wandering aimlessly as she stammered. Her trembling voice betrayed her tension.
It was a reaction slightly different from fear. I didn't know why she couldn't look at me properly, but it seemed her perception of me had improved a lot. I was inwardly pleased.
Senior Elsie hesitated like that for a long time. Even so, I didn't say anything, keeping my arms crossed. It was because the sight of her fidgeting was quite cute.
In the end, it was Senior Elsie who couldn't stand the silence. A cautious question was tossed my way.
"……W-What brings you here? Do you need something?"
"No, not really. I just stopped by to say hello. And to see your face, Senior Elsie."
It was just a typical polite greeting.
However, at those words, Senior Elsie’s face brightened noticeably. She still couldn't meet my eyes properly, but a shy yet joyful aura could be felt from her clear smile.
After hesitating for a moment, she looked up at me with those deep blue eyes. It was a determined gaze, as if she had made a major decision.
"……I-Is that so? Then, do you have anything you want me to do?"
Of course, I had nothing in mind.
Something to do? Not really. Honestly, it didn't look good to boss a senior around, and I could do most of the things I needed to do myself.
But I couldn't bring myself to disappoint Senior Elsie’s expectations.
Her eyes, looking up at me, were filled with anticipation. As if she would immediately carry out whatever I ordered.
It was troublesome. I truly didn't have anything to ask of her right now.
After swallowing hard for a moment, I let out a deep sigh as if giving up. For now, I had to order something—anything—to satisfy her expectations.
"……Then, could you get me some water?"
It was a truly trivial errand. Personally, I was worried Senior Elsie’s pride might be hurt, but she instead looked delighted and nodded.
"Y-Yes! I understand! Just wait a mom—"
"Here."
However, Senior Elsie’s joy didn't last long. Before she could even finish her sentence, a glass of water arrived in front of me.
Senior Elsie’s eyes went blank. Her gaze slowly moved, and there stood the person who had offered the glass.
Delphine Yurdina, the Lioness who protects the northern part of the Empire.
"……It’s a glass of water. You needed it, right?"
She spoke awkwardly, pointedly avoiding my gaze. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, as if she were a bit embarrassed herself.
Ahem. Senior Delphine cleared her throat, and her eyes met Senior Elsie’s in mid-air.
Crimson eyes resembling rubies, and deep blue eyes resembling blue sapphires.
Even their colors were a stark contrast.
After a moment of silence, Senior Delphine snorted and turned her head away. And on her lips, a blatant sneer was formed.
Senior Elsie’s eyes turned cold in an instant. Her face, which had been glowing with joy, immediately became frigid.
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew taut.
It was just a simple errand for water.
I was left utterly dumbfounded.