Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Cafe Bene (1)
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-Your patience has really grown.
-Pardon? What do you mean by that?
-Just a thought I had watching your recent behavior. The thing with McHart, the thing with Assistant Professor Cesar... It's a relief to see your temper has mellowed quite a bit.
I recalled the conversation we'd had that morning.
-Acting on impulse never leads to anything good. The cleanup afterward is always more trouble. Try to hold back as much as you can. I won't say a word if you eventually snap and let a curse fly after enduring it all.
That was what my master had earnestly impressed upon me.
-So, please hold back from any violence against people.
-Haven't you calmed down a lot lately? Make me believe in you, Raniel.
Remembering those words, I rubbed my chin.
"Hm..."
Indeed, my temper had mellowed quite a bit.
Lately, I'd been thinking that my patience had grown tremendously. Astonishingly so, compared to five years ago. I'd truly felt it just recently, when I ran into Kyle by chance.
Back then, I hadn't swung at him right away.
That alone was remarkable progress. If the hot-tempered me from five years ago had been there?
'I'd have started with a solid punch.'
I would've hurled a spell without hesitation.
I had every justification for it. Considering all the time I'd wasted because of Kyle, the fact that I'd settled for just one punch showed incredible restraint.
'And that was only because the bastard got under my skin.'
Otherwise, I would've just ignored him and walked on by.
'My patience really has grown a ton.'
People grow by enduring hardships and adversity, or so they say.
And it was true. The past five years had been a trial by fire for me.
I'd endured a lot.
Really a lot. If I'd ever let my true irritation show, I'd have had to deal with a full week of Sara and Remia's hysterics.
'Come to think of it, even back in the party... I don't think I ever laid a hand on them.'
During those five years in the party, sure, clothes got torn right in front of my eyes... but I'd never touched Sara or Remia.
Even when I was furious, I held back.
When they spouted nonsense, I fired back with curses. Looking back, those five years had toughened my tongue considerably.
-Fuck the gods, seriously. Do they feed you?
-Have you ever bargained with the stars? That god you worship, the stars—they're a hell of a lot pricklier than you think.
-If faith could seal a deal, I'd become a fanatic in a heartbeat, you know?
I'd throw facts at the saintess who whined about gods every day.
-Elves live in the forest, right? So why are you so worldly? Do you really need that? Did all the elves who make clothes from leaves die off?
-Don't elves live off dew alone, you bitch? If you can't taste properly, then you cook it. Hey, comparing monster meat to fine dining? Come on.
...I didn't hesitate to hurl racial insults when needed. Thinking about it, Remia probably did a lot to shatter the elegant elf image in my mind.
'...The racial insults might've been a bit much.'
Anyway.
The point is, I never resorted to violence.
Except once.
Just that one time.
"...That one was deserved."
"Pardon?"
To Resti, who tilted her head, I gave a wry smile.
"Just mumbling to myself. Oh, the cafe's almost here."
I paused and looked around.
I spotted a bench a short distance from the cafe. It was in a sunny spot.
"That looks good."
I pointed to the bench.
"Want to go sit? I'll grab the coffee and bring it over. Anything specific you feel like?"
"No, whatever you're having is fine, Professor."
"Alright, be right back."
I sent Resti to the bench and headed to the cafe. As I walked, I gathered my thoughts. Where had I left off?
Right, that one exception.
I recalled it.
2.
The memory went back a long way.
-What did you just say?
It was probably when the front lines collapsed, and we had to face the invading Demon King's army from a nearby village. The villagers had been cooperative with us at the time.
-Did I say something weird?
Because the saintess was with us.
The village was home to the Delorim Holy Church. Small as it was, their faith in the gods burned bright.
'That's why they reacted that way to Sara.'
To Delorim believers, the saintess held great significance.
In some ways, even more than the Hero.
-It's not wrong, is it?
At the time, Sara—who'd been practically idolized by the villagers—approached me while I was building a wooden barricade.
-...These people are meant to sacrifice for us. That's what the Delorim Church teaches. Believers are supposed to give their lives for the saintess.
And then she said it.
In a tone like she couldn't believe I was doing something so stupid, casually pointing at the barricade.
-So, Sara.
-I really hope I misheard you, but what you're saying is...
Let the Demon King's army trample this village,
and blow them all away with an explosion circuit? The whole village?
Use the villagers as bait entirely.
Plant traps in the village and wipe out the Demon King's army in one go.
That's what the saintess Sara had suggested to me.
-Wouldn't that be better? More efficient.
As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
-These people are Delorim faithful. The first chapter of Delorim's gospel says that those who give their lives for the gods go to heaven.
Invoking the gods.
-The Hero is the apostle of the gods, and I'm their proxy, right? So for our convenience...
-Shut your mouth, Sara.
At that moment.
-You're beyond saving, you fucking bitch.
For the first time, I struck Sara.
I smashed my fist into her cheek. Grabbing her pink hair—the symbol of the saintess—I dragged her through the village.
Then threw her out beyond the village limits.
-Hey, Sara.
Kyle didn't stop me either.
Both Kyle and I were refugees who'd lost our homes to that exact tactic.
-This is your last warning. If you ever spout that shit in front of me or Kyle again...
I yanked a stake from the ground with mana and aimed it at her head.
-I'll show you exactly how my hometown folks died. On you.
-I hope it never comes to that.
After that, I never laid a hand on Sara or Remia again. Kyle only went along with it that one time.
'...Thinking about it, Kyle must have no pride.'
Sticking with a woman who'd spout such lunacy... Yeah, probably. His parents up in heaven are probably crying.
'...That's why I can't even curse his parents.'
I knew them well.
Ate a ton of their home cooking.
How could I curse them? With a sigh, I reached for the cafe door handle.
'Better grab some coffee and clear my head.'
Dwelling on the past soured my mood.
I shook my head, shaking off the memories, and focused on brighter futures. Jet-black coffee. The intellectual's drink.
'Resti's here today—maybe grab some honey bread too?'
Honey-drenched bread dessert.
Even a little fills you up, so I don't eat it often... but since I skipped lunch, it should be fine today.
With those thoughts, I opened the cafe door.
The rich aroma of coffee wafted out the moment I did. Just the scent was healing. With a faint smile, I stepped inside.
"Your coffee's really good, barista."
"I'm honored you think so, Saintess."
Momentarily frozen.
"It'd be great if there were baristas like you on the battlefield too~ Isn't that a shame? Wanna come with me?"
"Ahaha... It'd be an honor to go with you, Saintess, but I don't think I could. I'm not exactly sturdy."
"That's too bad."
A familiar voice lingered in my ears.
Familiar, yet strange. Not her usual shrill tone, but forced, cutesy enunciation...
'Yeah, exactly the voice she uses to whisper to that bastard Kyle.'
I stiffly turned my head.
Gazed at the woman sitting in front of the barista.
"Oh? Professor Lania, you're here? You're a bit late today."
Right on cue, the barista called my name.
Looked at me. The cafe's sole customer turned to look too.
Pink hair swayed.
Pink like the Succubus Queen's—or Bitch Queen's.
That damn bitch blinked.
Grass-green eyes like weeds fixed on me.
'Fuck me.'
Delorim Church Saintess, Sara.
She was staring right at me.
"......"
My buoyant mood plummeted into the gutter.
My face twisted like I'd chewed a bug.
'I wanna deck her so bad...'
My fingers twitched.
3.
Saintess Sara was thrilled to be in the capital.
She'd come for some tedious business... but upon arrival, it was all done.
'And by that Raniel, no less.'
Ill-tempered guy, but his skills were the real deal. No need to worry about the aftermath.
'Remia's off in the forest recovering her energy for the first time in ages... So today should be relaxing.'
An unexpected vacation.
Couldn't feel bad about that.
"Hm, hmm~."
Sara hummed as she slipped a hand into her priestess robes. In it, a mirror. She pulled out the hand mirror and checked her face.
Her neatly combed hair was beautiful as cherry blossoms. Her light green eyes fresh as new sprouts.
Perfect appearance, anytime she looked.
No battlefield to mar it, so it shone even brighter. She flashed a smile at her reflection before tucking the mirror back into her robes.
Priestess robes bought from the Ashen Mage Tower.
With space expansion and protection spells, no worry of breaking even if tossed in.
'Bought it real good.'
Life was blissful without that guy nagging about the purchase.
"Your coffee's ready."
"Oh, thank you."
Sara smiled at the barista and inhaled the coffee's aroma. Divine.
She'd been coming here diligently these past few days.
The barista's skills were exceptional, so she'd practically lived at the cafe.
"Your coffee's really good, barista?"
"I'm honored you think so, Saintess."
The "Saintess" in his voice made Sara smile.
Admiration laced it. She loved that voice.
'Not something you hear on the battlefield.'
On the battlefield, no such admiration.
Voices calling her to save the dying or reinforce barriers were desperate.
Sara preferred this kind of voice.
"It'd be great if there were baristas like you on the battlefield."
"Ahaha... It'd be an honor with you, Saintess, but..."
As they chatted idly, the barista glanced at the door. Then greeted warmly.
"Oh? Professor Lania, you're here? You're a bit late today."
Sara looked where the greeting was directed.
A woman stood there. First thing that caught her eye: the hair color.
'...Ash-gray hair?'
Sara's eyes narrowed.
'Ash-gray hair, blue eyes.'
Features oddly overlapping with a certain man in her memory. Sara squinted at the girl. The impassive girl's first impression wasn't great.
Still, she was the saintess.
She mustn't show emotions outwardly.
Sara forced a smile and waved at the girl. Chose the softest tone possible.
"Nice to meet you. Professor Lania, was it?"
The girl's face soured at the words.
Like she'd chewed a bug. As if she'd seen something awful, she squeezed her eyes shut and glanced at the ceiling for a moment.
"This crazy... saintess..."
Her leaked mutter.
Sara's eyes widened round at the voice.
Usually, people looked at her with admiring eyes. But occasionally, there were those overwhelmed with emotion.
Yes, just like the girl before her.
The bug-chewing expression was odd, but... it could be interpreted as overwhelmed awe.
Sara straightened her posture.
'Almost offended her over a bad first impression.'
Almost slighted one of her fans.
Sara beamed sweetly, sitting demurely as she gazed at the girl. And smiled.
"You're a fan of mine?"
The girl's face soured further.