Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 71
The daughter of rebels who tried to overthrow the nation.
At first glance, it was an incredibly tough sentence to link to the man Versia knewAsher Terbion.
She could barely squeeze out the word "child" to match it up with him, and even that felt forced.
Versia's mind went blank.
It was only natural to wonder just how a sprout from the rebels in some remote city had ended up as a 1st Class Knight of the Church.
Her eyes held a whirlwind of emotions.
But Asher, who always seemed oblivious at moments like this, just perked up from her words of comfort and kept chattering away energetically.
Stroking his chin with a serious look, scanning her up and downit was the kind of thing that made her think, not that she should, Is he insane?
Her head felt a bit fuzzy.
"Hmm. How can I make it so people see me and don't think of me? Embarrassing as it is, my features haven't changed that much since I was a kid. My face doesn't have those soft, sentimental lines, after all."
So that's it. Asher's still got his kid face.
"Dressing as a woman... sorry, but I don't want to do that again. It's not even me doing it, but still, no...!"
Cross-dressing's a no-go, huh.
"A wig...? Oh, I heard there's a potion at the market that temporarily changes eye color. If it's that...!"
Dyeing works, though.
She just kept reacting inwardly in a daze.
Then Asher asked her a question.
"Saintess, do you have any ideas?"
"......"
No clue. And Asher's a little scary right now.
* * *
After that day, Asher got busy.
Embarrassing as it was, since he'd drawn comfort and strength from the person he was supposed to protectVersiahis passion burned even hotter than usual.
The past couldn't be changed.
Facing that simple truth, what had blinded him before?
Asher pulled himself together.
He reminded himself inwardly what he was.
I'm Asher Terbion, the Saintess's escort knight. Not the cub lion of Baern.
So he had to act accordingly.
Versia needed to go to Baern.
What preparations were required?
That land couldn't be called peaceful, not even as a jokenot geographically, not climatically.
Clothes and other gear went without saying, but there was something even more crucial.
"I need a crystal compass."
"A crystal compass?"
"Yes. Baern's deserts have brutal sandstorms. The dunes constantly shift shape, so if you try to navigate by landmarks, you'll get lost and die of thirst in no time. That's why we use compasses, but with a special twist."
Make the compass needle from crystal, add various magical treatments, and you can embed constellations into it.
One constellation per compass. Three in total, so you can follow the stars even during the day when they're not visible.
Asher drifted into memories thinking of it, then snapped back.
"I said magical treatment, but any supernatural power workseven fighting spirit can activate it. If we infuse it with divine power, the compass can be used anytime. Just get the materials, and I'll make them myself."
"That's better than hiring a guide, for sure."
That wrapped up the compass discussion, more or less.
Next came supplies. The Church would provide support, so he listed out everything needed for the desert in advance.
Then, how to move and investigate once in Baern.
Asher had ideas for that.
His exotic homeland had its own unique culture, and no one knew it better than a native like him.
The plan was flawless.
"Lady Halia, you'll play a spoiled rich girl who came to Baern leading a mercenary band."
"......"
It was a meeting for departure preparations.
Halia shot him a look like, What did you just say?
But Asher just grinned.
Then Halia asked,
"...Versia."
"Yes, Lady Halia."
"A girl, sure, I like that. But... hmm."
Halia smacked her lips and scratched her cheek.
"I'm turning fifty soon. Thanks to the Parent God's miracle, I keep this appearance, but I'm not sure I can pull off the role. Wouldn't it be better if you did it?"
She's hesitant about playing the brat.
Asher understood, to some extent.
Halia was the eldest saintess and had served as a 1st Class Knight longer than anyone.
She probably felt a sense of responsibility.
Asher, thinking that without realizing, moved to persuade her.
"It's the most comfortable fit for you. Baern's culture draws all sorts of odd armed groups. The most common are mercenary bands formed by reckless kids chasing fame in the 'Land of the Strong.' You'll blend right in. Even if you look prepared, they'll just dismiss you as a kid who's done some prep."
"Hmmm... Is that what you heard, Sir Terbion?"
"Yes!"
"...No better options? Or at least something plausible?"
"Picking the best is easiest, right? If I take the role, you'll stick out. You're too striking as a martial figurepeople will spot you right away."
Halia's face soured.
But she couldn't argue further.
A knight's judgment must be rational.
That was one of the lines Halia always repeated in her lectures to squire holy knights.
Wearing her displeasure to the end, she finally agreed.
When Asher relayed this to Versia later, she smirked and said,
"Responsibility, my ass."
"Pardon?"
"That auntie's not uncomfortable because of responsibility or whatever."
"Th-then why?"
"She hates being looked down on."
"?"
"Playing a brat means people treat you like dirt. But you can't even smack them down yourself, so it pisses her off."
Asher openly looked dumbfounded.
How could someone like Halia balk at a mission over that and ask for alternatives?
But Versia tossed in one more line, like it was obvious.
"The idea that someone her age rocking pigtails is normal? That's the weird part."
"Ah."
It was oddly convincing.
* * *
Departure day arrived.
That morning, Asher felt a heaviness in his body.
He knew it was because he realized he was returning to his homeland.
He let out a wry chuckle at himself, then sorted his thoughts and got out of bed.
By the time he finished preparing, his mind was fully resolved.
No more dwelling on his hometown.
He washed up and changed into stealth clothes.
A dancer in thin garb with two curved swords at her waist.
The most beautiful mercenaries.
Masters of infiltration, assassination, and street fighting.
In Baern, they were a common sightthe "Touhee."
Easier to blend as one than a typical swordsman.
Especially with Versia's looks.
Better to make people think, That face makes her a Touhee, than A mercenary with that face?
I owed those ladies a lot back then.
Baern had so few children that Asher got doted on everywhere.
Especially female mercenaries like the Touheethey'd spoil little Asher with food.
I wonder if they're okay.
He knew the answer.
In Baern's chaos that day, the Touhee had been among the heaviest losses.
The gloomy thought wouldn't fade, so he slapped his cheeksmack!
Pulled himself together again and headed out.
At the rendezvous, his companions waited.
Halia sat with arms crossed, in a flowing dress, greeting Asher with a sulky face.
"You're here. Let's go already. I wanna sleep."
Her grumbling perfectly showed her mood.
Asher gave an awkward smile and held his tongue.
Turning his head, there was Halia's escort knightDiego, a mid-40s 1st Class Knight, twenty years Asher's senior.
"Good day, Saintess."
"Ah, y-yes...!"
He couldn't help tensing up.
Round shield on his back, longsword at his hip.
The fierce-faced man with graying hair neatly combed back had countless great achievements.
That's when it happened.
"Sorry I'm late. Prep took longer than expected."
Versia appeared.
And the moment Asher saw her,
"...Ah."
He flinched.
Sky-blue hair, blue eyes.
Matching his own colors, she filled him with a strange, unfamiliar feeling.
Versia reached Asher.
And with a bright smile, she said,
"Mercenary siblings role. Looking forward to working with you, Saintess."
That smile made Asher's stomach tickle for some reason.