Chapter 420: Proof of Existence (8)
Chapter 420: Proof of Existence (8)
The orphanage was dotted with open spaces.
There were playgrounds, vegetable gardens, and the like.
Given the sheer scale of the orphanage, the potential uses for the land were endless. Some of the children might have even harbored secret ambitions of declaring these spots as their own personal territories.
Of course, none of them had the guts to act so bold in front of unfamiliar nobles.
While not all the children followed the Saintess, that didn't mean the ones who stayed behind weren't wary of us. As Senior Elsie and I sat down on a fallen log in the clearing, no child dared to disturb us.
Instead, they simply cast guarded glances our way from a distance.
It was only natural for them to react that way to strange adults. Unless it was an orphanage located in the heart of a city, most orphans tended to perceive adults as potential threats.
To them, the world operated strictly on the logic of the predator and the prey.
Naturally, they couldn't help but feel intimidated in the presence of a predator. The lower one’s social standing, the further they were removed from the protection of law and system.
Feeling a pang of bitterness at the thought, I turned to Senior Elsie and asked, "Senior Elsie, what brings you to the Holy Kingdom?"
It was a formal question. Regardless of the excuse, the real reason was obvious.
She must have followed me.
In the past, I might have dismissed such a thought as ridiculous. Why would a woman of Senior Elsie’s stature bother following me around? I would have laughed it off, thinking I was being far too full of myself—but not anymore.
Senior Elsie was prone to jealousy. The possibility of her chasing after me was quite high.
However, Senior Elsie looked unexpectedly indignant.
"Do you think I wanted to come here?! I mean, no... of course I wanted to, but..."
"But?" I asked, half-doubting her.
While not quite on my level, Senior Elsie’s reputation had been soaring lately. As one of the contributors to the defeat of a Subordinate of the Evil God, it was only natural. These days, even her own family wouldn't dare treat her lightly.
The idea of her being dragged to the Holy Kingdom against her will was something I couldn't quite fathom.
"I didn't plan on coming here so recklessly! I was going to make it look more like a coincidence, you know? I wanted to join up with you naturally!"
"That’s actually not a bad plan, coming from you, Senior," I said with genuine admiration.
This was the same Senior Elsie who used to be just as clueless as I was when it came to romance. The fact that she’d even thought of a way to save face was impressive.
When I patted her head out of pride, her expression immediately softened.
"Ehehe, really? A-actually, I did get some advice from a commoner... but anyway!"
Her silly grin didn't last long, though.
Senior Elsie clenched her small hands into fists and ground her teeth. Her eyes, resembling blue sapphires, burned with intensity.
"Uncle ruined everything...!"
There were many people Senior Elsie might call 'Uncle,' but only one had the authority to compel her actions.
Sir Reynold.
And that happened to be the very point I was curious about. What motive could Sir Reynold possibly have for traveling all the way to the distant Holy Kingdom?
The conversation naturally shifted toward him.
"Speaking of which, why did Sir Reynold come to the Holy Kingdom?"
"How should I know? He said he had some personal business to attend to..."
Senior Elsie even snorted as she said it. The way she shook her head made her feelings quite clear.
Even she, who had been dragged along so abruptly, hadn't received a proper explanation.
As the mystery deepened, I shifted my gaze to the side, trying to focus my thoughts.
The clues were still too scattered.
The Saintess and the traitor, the orphanage, family, and the sudden appearance of Sir Reynold.
There was no decisive link to tie all these keywords together.
While I was lost in thought, Senior Elsie asked tentatively, watching my reaction.
"B-but I did hear the reason why he brought me along."
Her strangely hesitant manner was suspicious.
When I turned my eyes toward her, she scratched her cheek, her face flushing red. The way she fidgeted with the brim of her pointed hat was quite cute.
Actually, Senior Elsie was cute no matter what she did.
Lately, I’d been feeling a bit confused. I couldn't tell if she looked that way simply because she was beautiful, or if it was because I’d grown so fond of her.
Either way, it was clear that I held a great deal of affection for her.
The news that broke my train of thought, however, was unexpected.
"I heard that Father has been getting impatient lately."
"Count Lainella?"
Why would the head of a prestigious magic family and one of the few Archmages in the Empire be so anxious?
At my bewildered reaction, Senior Elsie began to stammer even more.
"W-well, you see... I-I have to get married, don't I?"
"Ah," I let out a soft exclamation as the realization hit me.
At the same time, I couldn't help but groan and look away. This was a problem deeply connected to me.
Senior Elsie and I had long been bound by fate.
She had openly declared herself my pet, and since she had rejected even Count Lainella’s final lifeline, she had no other choice. Her only future lay with me.
But as time passed without any talk of an engagement, Count Lainella couldn't help but grow anxious.
My reputation was rising by the day. At this rate, no one would object even if I were to marry one of the princesses.
Or perhaps the successor of one of the Five Great Noble Families.
If that happened, the Lainella family would be left high and dry.
"So, I think that’s why Uncle Reynold came..."
Seeing my grim expression, Senior Elsie shrank back even further.
She was a woman who had already been rejected by me once before. Naturally, she didn't want to hear another negative answer.
Part of me wanted to comfort her.
The problem was that my relationships had become quite complicated in the meantime. Unlike with Senior Delphine or Emma, a relationship with Senior Elsie was likely to be officially recognized immediately.
In other words, it would be impossible to gloss over my other entanglements.
I already had Senior Delphine and Emma.
Moreover, hadn't I told Seria to wait for me? What if Seria heard that Senior Elsie and I were engaged?
'Senior Ian, I see you've gained a second bitch in the meantime?'
I could already see Seria smiling brightly while drawing her sword.
Then she would probably swing it, saying, 'As I thought, one pet is more than enough, don't you think?'
It was a terrifying future.
While I was lost in serious contemplation, Senior Elsie, unaware of my inner turmoil, couldn't help but lose heart.
She tried her best to act brave, her voice sounding forced.
"D-don't worry too much! I know it’s not time for Master to make up his mind yet... I-I'll handle Uncle Reynold somehow."
Her mature response only made me feel worse.
Did Senior Elsie not have feelings of her own?
She was a woman with a fragile heart. It was only natural for her to feel sad and pathetic about her situation, unable to get a firm answer. And to have to explain that situation to a family elder... how painful that must be.
Suddenly, I felt like I was being incredibly selfish.
I couldn't bring myself to let go of her, yet I was only offering empty promises. My behavior felt pathetic and disgusting.
And so, I spoke impulsively.
"...There’s no need for that."
The answer came after a long hesitation, but my voice was surprisingly calm.
Senior Elsie tilted her head, looking puzzled. She didn't seem to grasp my meaning at all.
I declared once more.
"I just need to reassure Sir Reynold, right?"
"Y-yes? I mean, that’s true, but..."
Having become completely timid, Senior Elsie had even reverted to using formal speech. It seemed she hadn't entirely broken her old habits yet.
Regardless, I continued with my promise.
"I'll take care of it. As for the marriage... well, even if we do that later, I need to give them some certainty for now."
Now it was Senior Elsie’s turn to be flustered.
Her eyes widened, and she froze on the spot. No answer came for a long time, and just as I was about to clear my throat awkwardly...
"Ugh, hic..."
The sound of stifled sobbing reached my ears.
Teardrops began to well up in the corners of the girl's eyes. The beads of moisture soon rolled down her cheeks.
Before the transparent glass beads could hit the ground, her small body lunged into my arms.
I had no choice but to hold her.
A soft, ticklish sensation filled my chest.
"I-I'll do my best. Hic, I'll really be good... waaaaaah..."
Listening to her broken sobs, I could only manage a bitter smile.
Senior Elsie must have been very anxious. That was probably why she’d been so jealous and acted out.
If this was all it took to make her happy, I could make this promise a thousand times over.
Though, it seemed there might have been a bit of a misunderstanding.
I hadn't meant we should get engaged right this second, but I suppose that’s something I’ll have to clear up later.
Still, a few thoughts crossed my mind.
First, an ominous feeling that the Saintess’s mood was about to get even worse.
And second, the presence of this new figure, 'Reynold.'
Why had he come here?
Since I had a promise to keep with Senior Elsie anyway, I decided to go find Sir Reynold immediately.
However, my plan hit a snag right from the start.
"So, the young lady came here to trade monster carcasses."
"Yes! The monster industry has been booming lately. I heard there’s been a massive influx of monster remains in this area."
In the clean building that seemed to be the VIP residence provided by the orphanage, a discussion was in full swing.
It was primarily a conversation between Ria and Sir Reynold.
Ria was explaining her business plan with a confident air.
"There are certain regions where monsters periodically appear in large numbers. This area is one of them. I heard they've been appearing here every few years for decades now."
"I’m aware. I used to work as a mercenary around here in the past."
"Oh! Then do you happen to know if there are any mercenary groups left in the vicinity?!"
"Well, I’d have to look into it..."
Sir Reynold’s indifferent gaze flickered toward me.
Perhaps sensing my eyes on him, he spoke to Ria in a casual tone.
"I’m sure there are some left. Since we’re practically going to be in-laws soon, I’ll see what I can do. I might even be able to help you procure some transport."
"I-I appreciate that, but..."
The term 'in-laws' caused a crack in Ria’s composure. She was holding back because he was an elder, but if this continued, an explosion seemed imminent.
The glares Ria kept shooting my way were terrifying. It looked like I’d have to set aside a long time to explain things to her later.
Since they were in the middle of a business discussion, I couldn't very well interfere as her brother.
I clicked my tongue and stepped out of the residence. Outside, the Saintess was surrounded by orphans, giving them a gentle sermon.
"And so, the eyes of the Heavenly God Arus became the moon, and his liver became the sun, burning eternally. This is why wicked beings who defy the natural order are burned before the sun. The liver, you see, is the organ that removes toxins."
She was even mixing in some strange medical knowledge.
With that benevolent smile on her face, the Saintess looked like a sacred icon. Even I, knowing her true nature, found myself staring blankly at her.
The children were now listening to her story with rapt attention. They seemed to have grown quite close, as bright laughter occasionally broke out.
In the midst of it all, the Saintess looked... well.
She looked happy. At the very least, her gentle gaze didn't feel like an act.
It was a peace I hadn't felt in a long time. So much so that it was hard to believe a terrifying conspiracy lurked beneath this scenery.
Maybe we could enjoy this peace for at least a few days?
Looking at the Saintess’s gentle smile, I thought so. I could tell just by looking at the letters—the Saintess had suffered greatly as she became entangled in the events to come.
Could I not let her be happy for just a little while? I felt a sudden fear of shattering this tranquil painting.
A voice broke through my reverie.
"...Did you come to take us away too, Mister?"
My consciousness immediately snapped back to reality. I looked toward the source of the voice with a bewildered expression.
It was a small boy. He looked to be about ten years old, and he was stammering his question with a visibly dejected face.
"You're from that merchant guild, right? The ones who always carry those strange loads..."
At that moment, I remembered the boy's face.
It was him. One of the children who had been blankly watching me when I first caused a scene with the Head Nun.
However, the girl was nowhere to be seen. Since she had seemed quite timid, the boy might have stepped forward as their representative.
I immediately narrowed my eyes and asked, "Merchant guild? Did those people take you away?"
"D-don't pretend you don't know. That lady and the old man were just talking about something similar."
Before I could urgently ask what he meant...
A sudden chill began to creep over me.
Sensing an instinctive threat, my eyes snapped forward again. There sat the Saintess, listening intently to a child's account while nodding quietly.
"And then, because that sister was crying, that brother hugged her!"
A child's slender finger pointed directly at me.
The Saintess was still smiling, but all warmth had vanished from her face. Breaking into a cold sweat, I glanced sideways at the boy who had been standing next to me.
The boy, sensing the ominous atmosphere, had long since fled.
It seemed God had truly forsaken me.
"So, are those two dating, Saintess?"
"Hmm, I wonder... Love is a very difficult emotion. There are many things you can't know just by looking at the surface."
After answering in a soft tone, the Saintess slowly stood up.
Her kind smile didn't falter. However, with a terrifying lack of expression, she walked toward me with light, graceful steps.
Before I could offer any excuse, the Saintess’s hand snatched the back of my neck.
Then, a whisper reached my ear.
"What exactly happened with that little bitch?"
Your language is quite foul, Saintess.
I sighed and muttered to myself.
It seemed the Saintess had finally reached the limit of her patience.